Among the many appeals of Scottish culture, food is at the top of the list. As you read in my last blog post My Connections to Scotland, Scottish food is a big part of my experience when I “cross the pond” to visit my family in Kirkcaldy. There are places and shops that try and replicate these delicacies, and as tasty as they are, they don’t compare to the true, authentic Scottish dishes. Among these well-known dishes that I have tried are fish and chips, haggis, bangers and mash, Scottish smoked salmon, and last but not least, sticky toffee pudding. These are some of the tastiest foods I have enjoyed while being in Scotland, and foods I often crave while being home in the United States awaiting my next visit.
Fish and chips is easily my top favorite cuisine while there. (Note: fries are known as chips in Scotland, and the rest of Great Britain.) This dish is simple and savory -- and tastes best when ordered at a local chippy shop, served in a take out box, and enjoyed by the sea. I spent my first night in Scotland during my most recent trip in the charming little town of Anstruther doing just this. (These small village-like towns have the best hole-in-the-wall chippy shops)! In Anstruther, I munched down the biggest box of fish and chips, on a bench looking towards the peaceful ocean. The only downside of fish and chips is the fact that it's basically greasy deliciousness, with little nutritional value -- a heartattack in a box. But.... when in Scotland, right?!
I know what you’re thinking: “Ansley, I’ve seen fish and chips on a million pub menus before.” I am here to say, having tried many Americanized versions of my favorite dish (such as the one pictured to the right), nothing compares to what Scotland has to offer. The fish never reaches that level of flaky or fresh.
Haggis is another well known Scottish dish, and probably the one that stands out most in people’s minds. Haggis -consisting of sheep’s pluck (lungs, liver, and heart), oatmeal, diced onion, and other spices- is often seen as abnormal to many Americans (including my mom), but to many Scots, it is a true delicacy. That being said, with my Scottish heritage, it was necessary for me to try it. Initially, I was hesitant to try haggis because of the stigma surrounding this polarizing dish. Sheep insides? Mixed with oatmeal? "EW," I thought. But, although there is a unique grainy consistency, it is flavorful and appetizing. It is essential when visiting Scotland to try their national dish!
After eating meals such as fish and chips or haggis, what’s better than a sweet treat? The sweetest treat I have tried in Scotland is sticky toffee pudding. With a moist sponge cake base, covered in sweet toffee sauce, topped with a refreshing scoop of vanilla ice cream, sticky toffee pudding makes the best dessert. I ate this one evening after dinner in Edinburgh and was blown away… is this their version of a chocolate molten lava cake (like the ones from Chile’s)? I think so, and I have to say, toffee pudding takes the cake.
Scotland is unique in their delicacies, and also unique in their perceptions of popular foods. For instance, bacon, to Americans, is thinly sliced, often cooked to a point of crispiness. When my dad handed me a “bacon sandwich” for breakfast one morning in Scotland, I was shocked to see thick, chewy ham-looking pieces of bacon in between two pieces of white bread. My dad smirked and said, “Ansley, this is how bacon is done. This is a real bacon breakfast.” A similar instance occurred while walking down main street in Edinburgh, looking for a McDonald’s to grab a quick bite. According to my dad, a Scottish native and an American citizen, McDonald’s is simply better in Scotland. It tastes different. The moral of the story here is: when you visit Scotland, it is important to note that your perceptions of certain staple foods differ from the Scots. Stuff your face with as much food as possible, you will not regret it!
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