A LOVE of travel inspired Mel Grossman to bring a taste of the exotic to Glasgow's South Side.

The Glaswegian who runs Middle Eastern food company Habibi Kitchen is the brains behind a new shopping experience.

Southside Souk takes place at the Old Barn, at Drumbeck Stables, in Pollok Park, on Saturday, showcasing the city's multi-cultural talent, from music and books to arts and crafts.

"The idea of the souk is that people come down, get some lunch and hang out for the day," explains Mel, from Shawlands. "There are loads of different things going on and the last one a couple of months ago had a real festival.

"That is kind of what the barn ethos is all about: getting everyone together from different cultures and backgrounds and just having a great day."

There will be food from Soul Sisters, a Govanhill-based social enterprise that specialises in world foods, as well as artisan coffee.

Expect to find on the menu vegeterian masam curry and vegeterian green curry. And their Malaysian chef will also be cooking egg noodles with soy sauce.

A workshop run by Saltmarket Design will provide ideas to freshen up old furniture, and there will be a fun children's craft area with Eilidh's Box Bike.

"It's done by Eilidh Graham and she offers arts and crafts for kids from her bike," says Mel.

"She trails a box on her bike that opens up to a table for arts and crafts.

"Loads of kids came to the last souk, it's a great family day out."

Among the stalls will be Hamilton-based Palm Africa selling a range of products from that continent, including clothes, teas and chutneys.

"They are really colourful and great for present ideas," adds Mel.

Oxjam, the music side of Oxfam, will be selling bric-a-brac and there will be jewellery, hand-made soaps and beauty products.

"We have a really wide variety of stalls so people can support local producers," says Mel.

Stock up on adult and children's books at the Bookery Project, a charity based at the Barn which sends books to South Africa, while indulging in their tea and home-baking.

"We're very excited about the entertainment on Saturday from the Osiligi Maasai, a seven-piece group from Kenya who perform tribal song and dance plus their celebrated Maasai jumping," says Mel.

"They are currently on a UK tour which helps support their community via a small charity - Osiligi Charity Projects - which has built water stations and a new primary school in recent years."

Mel set up Southside Souk with the help of Claire Bell, from Pollokshields, who owns the Old Barn.

A shared love of yoga, music, travel and culture brought them together.

"We both wanted to set up a market that celebrated the diversity in Scotland and helped local businesses; somewhere people could do shopping but also eat good food in a beautiful location."

The next Southside Souk is pencilled in for nearer Christmas.

Southside Souk runs at Old Barn, Dumbrek Stables, Pollok Park, Glasgow, on Saturday from Noon to 5pm.

angelamcmanus@ eveningtimes.co.uk