All The Goodness Coffee & Bakeshop — Restaurant in Scotland

We visited the All the Goodness Bakeshop for a short stopover after having been to the Eilean Donan Castle. Very friendly owners and cosy atmosphere for a cup of tea and one of their famous sticky buns. Really, really nice and pleasant people, once again - I almost feel sorry not to chime in into the other reviewers’ shared public seizure of excitement over OMG cinnamon buns with sugar glaze. Without being picky, the buns are nice, but no revelation. They are the type of yeast buns everyone of us has had in the one or the other variation produced by never-baked-before guys for 8-yr old’s birthday parties. The glazing is not fondant or anything sophisticated, just sticky sugar-slime. For me the fact that you can create collective ecstasy with trivial bakeware like this rather describes the degree of knowledge-deterioration about baking in general and about different types of dew with their specific challenges among the younger generations. For example, self-made puff-pastry as a base for cinnamon buns would have been technically much more of a challenge and quite an eye-catcher for somebody without professional training as a baker or patissier … and would have given the buns a much more refined, lighter and crispier texture. For me the real genius of this shop lies in the money-making, or let‘s call it conceptional purity ;-) The owners must correctly have realized, that a cosy, comfy cafe is obviously missing around the highly attractive castle nearby, and the absence of any competitors around gives them the freedom to dictate the prices and maximize profit with at best mediocre products. And, boy, have they learnt their lesson! The buns cost 4 £, making sticky buns at Harrod‘s Food Halls in Knightsbridge, London, a bargain in comparison (elaborate braiding, fondant glaze - 3,50 £, see photo). Pudding bar 3,50 £. Espresso/Dark Chocolate/Salted Caramel Cake, looking like the soggy, messy nightmare you kindly decline when a coworker brings a tray into the office, 3,80 £. I must, however, acknowledge the effort to maximize salt consumption, keeping up the excess of 130% daily salt intake above international recommendations in Scotland. Once there are more than five customers present, you have to calculate with 20-30 minutes before you are at the front of the queue because even simple coffee takes 5-10 minutes in preparation. Why? Don’t know, there is no magic move visible that would explain this slow pace. So here is my humble suggestion: Bring it on, guys, show that the laws of supply and demand work and RAISE your prices. Sticky buns could earn 6,50 £, pudding cakes 6 £, coffee 4,50 £ - who could stop you? Don‘t worry about your patent absence of talent as bakers, nowadays people cannot tell...

For anyone traveling through the area, there is all but two or things to do in Dornie. Go to Eilean Donan or the local pub which cater to the tourists coming in and out of these facilities. As a pretty well travelled tourist I use my travel card religiously for fraud purposes, to better track spending, and to rack up the miles. So, I was very disappointed when All the goodness doesn’t have a card reader?!?! Are you kidding me? The local pub across the way, the 13th century castle all take cards but you don’t? I unfortunately didn’t have cash as I had spent it a couple nights before at a place who’s card reader died on them. There isn’t an ATM for 11 miles making that a 20ish minute round trip ride to an ATM, no thanks. I asked if I could use some American Cash and I was told “if that’s all you have I guess we can work something out”. No thanks not in the mood to do you the favor of maybe working something out. The pastries everything looked delicious: I’m not bagging the food; but rather the customer experience. On my way back through Dornie from Skye I had stopped at an ATM and drove by this place, but didn’t stop on principle at this point. It’s a cashless society All the goodness. I’m just one guy, my review won’t hurt them I’m sure, but again it was all in principle...

Unbelievable, is only open 3 days a week but we still visited 4 times during our week in Dornie. Everything they sell is off the scale. Will def be back when next in the area.

Update - luckily had family passing by Dornie so had to 'instruct' them to drop in and get us some supplies. As before, everything was perfection. I implore you to visit if in the area.

Second Update! - we visited a few times last year when we stayed close by. However, this year we found ourselves staying just outside Drumnadrochit. But, we still only wanted to go to one place for breakfast, regardless of the distance to travel. I said it before, the amazing food is off the scale. Mark and Lorraine have created perfection, all I can say is thank you. See you next time.

Third update! - No other words needed in addition to what I have said before but will repeat my thanks to both of you for the wonderful creations you make. Long may you continue to enjoy feeding the lucky people who...