Making the most of Scottish Food (with a hint of gin!)
Luskintyre Beach
Oban Sunset
Tentatively looking for August holiday accommodation on Scotland’s West Coast (I yearn for those turquoise seas and glorious sunsets), I was tempted to check out the nearest supermarket, possibly even a book a delivery slot, but something stopped me.
I realised, that when I encourage visitors to come to my home area of Speyside, I enthuse about the local craft butcher, the amazing deli with their vast array of cheese, the baker’s tempting fare, the distilleries, both whisky and gin, the fresh fish delivery service, even the local Chinese takeaway. Yet here was I planning to ignore all of that, in favour of convenience. (I also realised with a cynical chuckle, that the result would be me producing the same food as we eat at home, because I would be selecting it all from the same supermarket menu, i.e. not much of a holiday at all, for me or my family).
So instead I looked for local Scottish food producers, and I found them, boy did I find them!
I now have a ‘must-do’ list, indeed a route around the region (which I thought I knew) determined not by the conventional visitor attractions, but by local food and drink destinations. I now long for eating mussels straight from the mussel beds, estate venison within a few miles from where it last ‘monarched’, lamb from those salty shores, and cheese made from milk enriched with all of that spring sunshine even lock down couldn’t stifle.
Not to mention shellfish and sea fish caught by the boats I can watch bobbing in the harbour. Imagine the excitement of planning your menu around what’s freshest, what’s available, and what you fancy, rather than with the laptop, several weeks prior, via a supermarket’s virtual basket?
#SupportLocal
Now I’m not saying the odd tin of beans and packet of pasta might not creep into the packing as back up, but if you too are considering a self-catering holiday, or even just a day out in Scotland this year, PLEASE consider supporting not just the accommodation, the hotels, bars and coffee shops (goodness knows they need you as much as you need them right now), but get stuck right into the local food too.
Once shopping locally becomes a habit for most of us, those creative, resourceful and determined businesses may be able to rise again, to greater success than ever they were, and we’ll all reap the rewards of better quality food, lower food miles, fairer prices for producers, and the gorgeous variety driven by regionality and the seasons. Plus, it gives us a great excuse to explore more of this wonderful country, and all of its riches!
To get you started, here’s a few to consider:
