WHAT KIND OF FOOD WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?
A huge range - as well as all our excellent traditional dishes (which we'll talk about a little later) and 10 Michelin star restaurants, Scotland is a very cosmopolitan country and you'll find restaurants specialising in food from many different cultures.
Eating local is very important in Scotland and you'll find lots of restaurants that proudly serve dishes made from locally sourced ingredients. What could be better than trying a mouth-watering new dish in the place where the ingredients were farmed?
WHAT IS SCOTLAND'S NATIONAL DISH?
Haggis! AKA the 'Great chieftain o the puddin'-race' - as Robert Burns once called it. In Scotland, haggis is a real celebration dish and nothing quite beats tucking into a hearty portion alongside your nearest and dearest.
WHAT OTHER TRADITIONAL DISHES WILL I FIND IN SCOTLAND?
Keep an eye out for:
- Scottish smoked salmon
- Haggis
- Black pudding
- Stovies
- Bridies
- Scotch pies
- Aberdeenshire butteries
- Fish and chips
- Scotch broth
- Lorne sausage
- Cock-a-leekie soup
- Cranachan
- Clootie dumpling
- Dundee cake
- Shortbread
- Peppermint creams
- Tablet
Remember, each region boasts its own traditional delicacies so be sure to ask the locals what they would recommend too!
IS THERE ANY FOOD THAT I CAN ONLY GET IN SCOTLAND?
There are a number of Scottish foods that have been granted European protected status, a designation which identifies high-quality products that are unique to a particular region. Scottish delicacies with protected status include:
- Scotch beef
- Scottish wild salmon
- Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop cheese
- Arbroath Smokies
- Scottish Farmed Salmon
- Scotch Lamb
- Shetland Lamb
- Orkney Beef
- Orkney Lamb
- Stornoway Black Pudding
- Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar
You can buy these fantastic products throughout the world, but what could be better than trying them in the place where they are produced?
WHERE CAN I BUY LOCAL PRODUCE?
Local farmers' markets and farm shops are terrific places to find quality local produce and to meet the people behind the products. Some supermarkets offer local choices too.
IS THERE ANYWHERE I CAN SEE FOOD BEING MADE?
There are a number of cheese makers, ice cream makers and smokehouses you can visit. Some farmers markets also offer cooking demonstrations, so you can see the produce being turned into a tasty meal and pick up recipe tips.