We made it! It’s officially spring. A season of firsts; the first pops of colour and, if this Bank Holiday weekend is anything to go by, a taste of the longer, warmer days to come. Indeed, we have been lucky to enjoy a number of our own ‘firsts’ this month at ARAN and LON.

Our first ARAN Easter postal treats, Robins Eggs Macarons, were sent on their way. Each package contained six almond macarons filled with chocolate ganache, placed in an egg box and tied with ribbon (following Granny Joan’s failsafe ribbon tying technique!). We hope they made for a tasteful addition to your Easter table and spring celebrations.

For many of the ARAN Bakery staff, our recent involvement in Expedia’s Local Lens: A brothers’ guide to Scotland was our first taste of the world of TV and film. We are delighted to have been asked to feature in this short film, following Ewan McGregor and his brother Colin as they travel around Scotland in search of the Northern Lights. It was an added bonus to be able to mention some of our fantastic suppliers, including Great Glen Charcuterie; we think Ewan and Colin were suitably impressed by their Venison and Radicchio sandwiches! If you fancy viewing the video, click here…

(What feels like) the first glimmer of warmth and sun in many long months signals it’s time for a menu change. From next week we will be updating our menu in correlation with the produce and flavours of Spring. This will include in the welcome return of our Wild Garlic, Asparagus and Goats Cheese Danish, using local asparagus from Denhead Farm. We will also have a salad of New Potatoes with Capers and the first of the greens! Sadly however, this does mean that current items including Paris-Brest and our Blood Orange Meringue danish will be coming to an end soon, but if you hurry they will be on the menu for one last week from tomorrow (Tuesday 2nd).

If Spring is the season for your first clean and clear of the year, then look no further. LON Store will soon be equipped with all the utensils and motivational snacks you need in order to achieve your annual ‘Spring Clean’. LON’s current stock also includes gorgeous Alma Proust seedling packets, zinc flower pots and vases and fresh McConnell Blooms bunches (as modelled by the lovely Madeleine below).

ARAN Bakery and LON Store are delighted to have been invited back as a joint stall holder at the Guardswell Evening Markets. Dates will be announced soon, so make sure to keep an eye out for updates on our instagram. We hope you join us there!

Finally, it is with heavy hearts we bid a fond farewell to Flora and James’ first flat together, and the first home for Ivo baby and Sorrel dog. The flat sits above the bakery, and was fully renovated by the two of them at the same time as Flora set up ARAN. It has been home (and the best commute possible) for the past 7 years. Now with a growing family the are on to pastures new, but thankfully still near by! We will all miss 4 Atholl Street as it has been the backdrop for many a staff party, work “meetings” over tea, jam and toast and Christmas chaos wrapping centre. It’s heartbreaking to say goodbye to this lovely space, but we are equally excited for the new beginnings ahead, and hope the new owner has as happy a time there as we all have had.

And so concludes our list of firsts! We hope you had some of your own over the past month. You know where we are if you fancy popping in to tell us about them.

We hope you had a lovely Easter break and enjoy those pockets of sun, warmth and colour.

With love,

Team ARAN x