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Culture > Cuisine

Cuisine Menu

"My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare."
~ Mike Meyers

Certain culinary dishes have become symbols of Scottish culture. What other fare has gained as much notoriety as haggis, the country's national dish? And then there's the penchant for tossing anything and everything into the deep-fryer, including pineapple rings, pizza, ice cream, and, most famously, the Deep-Fried Mars Bar. (This is perhaps a key reason why Scotland has one of the worst health records in Europe.)

Scottish Food
Scottish Food

But despite the occasional bad press, Scotland's rich natural larder offers an abundance of high-quality fare. Aberdeen Angus beef is world-renowned, while salmon from the Rivers Tweed and Tay add a touch of luxury to special meals. The cold waters of the north Atlantic feed the western sea-lochs with fine-quality oysters, lobsters, crab, mussels, and scallops, and haddock, which is plentiful on the east coast, can be found everywhere from fast-food restaurants to fine dining establishments. The Dundee region is famous for its raspberry fields, and potato industry contributes £100 million to the economy each year.

And let's not forget Scotch whisky, which distillers have spent centuries perfecting. While no one knows exactly when distilling first arrived in Scotland, the ancient Celts produced a beverage they called uisge beatha, or "water of life;" by the fifteenth century, this had evolved into Scotch whisky. Equally regal is the secret recipe for Scotland's other native spirit, drambuie, which was supposedly given to Captain John Mackinnon by Bonnie Prince Charlie in gratitude for sheltering him after his defeat at Culloden.

Kildare House
Kildare House

If you want to enjoy some hearty pub fare in Windsor, hit the Kildare House at 1880 Wyandotte Street East. Local Celtic rock bands (including Tartan Army, Celtic Cross, and The Diggers) entertain crowds from Thursday to Saturday.

Those who want to cook up Scottish food at home can hit MR Meat Market on Tecumseh and California for delicacies such as tattie scones, Ayrshire bacon, Scottish sausages, Scottish bread, and, yes, even haggis.

You'll find a few recipes for some Scottish favourites below. If you want a more comprehensive collection of traditional Scottish recipes, you can find a large index at RampantScotland.com
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