SEE/SHOP/EAT/SNACK/DRINK: German Christmas Market

[click on this blog post title to visit their website - all images courtesy of Glasgow City Council]

Looking for something a bit different in the run up to Christmas this year? If the storms that are battering Glasgow (and the rest of the UK!) will just take a rest, you could head down to St. Enoch square for a slice of continental life at our German Christmas Market.

This is the third year that folks have (literally) set up stall to sell us their crafts. I'm a regular at our close cousin's affair, on Princes Street in Edinburgh, and so I was delighted that Glasgow city council had made the effort to deliver something similar to the people out west.

Many of the stalls sell broadly similar goods to Princes Street but there are quite a few unique to Glasgow, not least the few stallholders that have decided to stock traditional Scottish products. Now, call me mad (you're mad!) but I don't really get the point of that. I really think the appeal of the annual German Christmas market is that, erm, it should sell me German goods. Not that the Scottish products aren't great products. In fact, they are - some amazingly good preserves made from Scottish berries and some fine cheeses and the like. But we already have a super outlet for these types of products all the year round across the many many good quality delis and in the regular Farmers Markets.

But, I suppose the real intent is to simple create the atmosphere of these foreign markets and it certainly manages that, with the little wooden chalets lining the square. And this year the council have organised a lot more live music to add to the magic. It really is worth a trip just to walk around and experience the sights, sounds and smells.

One thing that raises Glasgow above the standard set by Edinburgh is the amazing range of places to eat. And here, at least, I can happily report that it's all traditional continental fare. All delicious. (Well, I haven't quite managed to try it all... yet!) Quite a few stalls specialise in deli food like continental sausages and cheeses to take away.

And let's not forget the opportunity to hold a hot mug of gluwein. To the uninitiated that isn't as yuk as it sounds and doesn't involve anything remotely like glue (that I know of). I'm a bit of a fan of mulled wine and usually whip up a batch or two of my own in a big stock pan at this time of year. But there is nothing quite like glugging it from a big mug, standing outside, where you get the central heating and the hand-warming as a double-whammy.

Market Opening Times:

25th November until 23rd December, daily from 10.00am through to 7.00pm.