Dobbies: New Park Farm, White Myres, Lang Stracht, Aberdeen

I HAVE discovered that visiting garden centres can be habit forming – and we don’t even have a garden – it’s the food you see. We’ve found they do good food at not bad prices with the chance to do a bit of retail therapy thrown in.

Dobbies eatery offers an eclectic mix from pizzas to curries, sandwiches to salad bars. I was drawn to the latter lured by the challenge of how much I could get on one small salad plate (£5.25).

Quite a bit it turned out, including a quiche, five bean salad, coleslaw, pasta, potato salad, cous cous and fresh peppers.

And everything was fine, especially the hint-of-Mexican bean salad.

Mrs B had the simple tuna and cheese panini (£4.95). The generous filling was gooey and tasty, going well with the crisps and side salad.

And she was impressed by our littlest one’s lunch. For just £3.95 she was able to tuck into a choice of five things plus a drink. Her cheese sandwich was a perfect size, and she was delighted with her Pom Bear crisps, fromage frais, oatcakes and Jelly Tots.

Mrs B and I also shared a delicious creamy meringue that threatened us with sugar overload.

This penchant for garden centres is bearing fruit.