New Carluccios, Silverburn Shopping Centre, Barrhead Road, Glasgow, G53 6QR | Tel: 0141 876 4326

AS they say in the business, the early bird catches the worm and the same goes for Christmas shopping.

The Moll was desperate to get started on her festive bargain hunting so we left Tec Towers, rammed the Buick into top and headed down the M77 for our first experience of the classy out of town shopping mall that is Silverburn.

As you all know old gumshoe here isn't a fan of shopping trips but blondie begged me to drag my carcass out of bed and get started early doors.

The only thing that got my ears pricked up was the promise of some free scran at the end of it.

I can honestly say that I was struck dumb for the first time in my life when The Moll said: "Tec, if you take me shopping I'll fork out for a slap up lunch at that new place in Silverburn".

She was taking about that famous chain of Italian eateries Carluccios and one of them had just opened up at Silverburn so it seemed like too good to turn down - I never look a gift horse in the mouth.

Parking the tank wasn't a problem even though it was a Saturday morning, what with 4500 spaces to choose from and we got a prime spot near M&S so we could pick up a few nibbles on the way out.

Standing around in a mall waiting for The Moll to make her mind up about new threads for her work bash and Christmas presents for her long lost rellies isn't my idea a good time.

I have to admit that it wasn't too painful with Silverburn's open plan layout and luxurious marble floors with plenty of seats for the guys outside the upscale stores and boutiques.

But after two hours of hanging about the place I was starting to get a bit edgy and wondering how blondie was going to pay for all that stuff.

I was up to my neck in shopping bags of all shapes and colours and my stomach was telling me enough was enough and it was time to take the weight off with a well deserved break.

I eyeballed the fast food joints which were cheaper that Carluccios but the missus insisted we stick to the plan and head over the other side of the mall for a look at the menu in the new restaurant.

The minute we sat our derrières on the seat a lovely young waitress strode towards us with a selection of menus and her ladyship didn't waste a minute in ordering a glass of the hard stuff in the shape of a glass of house red and a half Nastro for yours truly.

For starters we plumped for tasty bruchetta with fresh ripe tomatoes, roasted peppers, basil and oregano on garlicky chargrilled ciabatta and I went for the usual foccacia which was mouth-wateringly good.

I kept some scraps to dip in my main course of pasta con funghi which was egg pappardelle with a mix of shiitake, oyster, porcini and button mushrooms.

Surprise, surprise toots went for one of the most expensive courses on the menu - tortelloni di cervo made with fresh tortelloni filled with wine braised venison and I had to admit it was well worth the £9.35.

The atmosphere in the new place was great and very authentic with great staff and the toilets were spotless.

The good news was that we were stuffed to the gunnels by the end of it and we had to abandon the rest of the Christmas shopping to head home - I for one was totally gutted about that!

The only thing on my mind was getting home for a snooze on the sofa and I didn't even have to worry about how I was going to pay for lunch as toots picked up the tab which didn't break the bank.

The bill £32.25

Starters - bruchetta £3.50 foccacia £3.50

Mains - pasta con funghi £8.25 tortelloni di cervo £9.35

Large glass of house red £5.25 Half pint of Nastro Azzurro lager £2.40