27 Jan 2015
All your bags are packed, you're ready to go; but what are the 'must-tastes' in Scotland?
As it celebrates the Year of Food & Drink 2015, VisitScotland has gone to Scotland lovers everywhere to discover their picks for a 'bucket list' of the ultimate food & drink experiences in Scotland for 2015 and beyond.
From Scottish personalities including chefs Tom Lewis and Carina Contini, golf professionals at Gleneagles, to Festivals Edinburgh director Faith Liddell as well as VisitScotland's loyal social media following of thousands, everyone has their own taste of what make Scotland the place to visit*. VisitScotland received over 140 suggestions in total.
From a plate of freshly caught fish, enjoyed whilst taking in the beautiful scenery of the Orkney Islands, to an adventure picking wild berries on a trip to the Scottish Borders, to trying a genuine Arbroath smokie or Aberdeen buttery, Scotland has a variety of food and drink experiences to be savoured around every corner of the country.
The list covers the top picks of the ultimate food & drink experiences in Scotland across the 15 regions…..
- Fish & chips at the harbour in Anstruther
Faith Liddell is a fan: “The award-winning Anstruther Fish Bar is a legend with some of the best fish and chips in the UK. Waiting in the queue, watching screens with images of local fishermen struggling in rough seas to catch your dinner, makes that deep fried fish taste even more marvellous.”
- A meal at the Andrew Fairlie Michelin Star Restaurant, the Strathearn or afternoon tea at Gleneagles
This was a choice of Chef Tom Lewis, from the Monachyle Mhor Hotel in Perthshire, who said: “One of the dishes had a couple of pistachios on it. Still to this day, one of the best pistachios I have ever eaten.”
- Wild berry picking in the Scottish Borders
According to Chef Carina Contini, owner of restaurants in Edinburgh including Contini Cannonball: “The idea of free fruit on a hedge along a country walk. My children get as excited as I did when I was their age.”
- A meal at one of the restaurants on Thistle Street in the Capital, including Iris and the Bon Vivant
Andrew Jowett, Gleneagles' Head Golf Professional suggested: “Bon Vivant, on Edinburgh's Thistle Street. [It] is a really atmospheric night out. They do tapas-style dishes with a twist – like haggis bon bons and chorizo in cider – and have a cracking cocktail list.”
- Frankie's fish & chips, located in the village of Brae on the shores of Busta Voe in the Shetland Isles
As suggested by Facebook fan Silvestre Selvatica who added: “[Shetland] is a place out of the world, with breathtaking views, dramatic skies and lots of puffins so friendly that if you sit on the grass on the ledge they will eventually come to you .. Making you feel like you're melting into nature.”
- Enjoying a Scottish breakfast, including Ayrshire sausage, during a stay at one of the many seafront guesthouses and B&Bs in Ayrshire
Facebook fan John Anderson said: “Brekkie in the By the Sea guest house in Ayr...truly heroic.”
- Eating a genuine Aberdeen buttery in Aberdeenshire
Including Facebook fan Carol Taylor who loves these savoury delights which are also known as “Rowies, morning rolls in Aberdeen!”
- A meal from Tobermory on the Isle of Mull
Facebook fan Fi Cawley gives her vote to “Fresh scallops and langoustines on Mull at Cafe Fish.”
- A trip to Castle Douglas, a designated Food Town boasting some 50 food & drink outlets
Facebook fan Julia Cliff loves
“Haggis from Ballards butchers in Castle Douglas.”
- Trying a genuine Arbroath smokie!
Including Facebook fan Peter Marsh who enjoys a “proper Arbroath smokie!”
- A visit to BrewDog in Glasgow or the Artisan in Wishaw
Those who suggested this included Facebook fan Simon Bernard who said “The Artisan in Wishaw [has] the best selection of whisky in the world!”
- A pilgrimage to the Isle of Skye, home to globally revered restaurants such as the Three Chimneys
Facebook fan Jackie Godward enjoys
“Freshly picked mussels on the Isle of Skye. We picked them at Broadford and took them back to the cottage to cook them with wine, chilli and garlic. Best mussels ever!
- A picnic by Loch Lomond
This would be the choice of Facebook fan Julia Knauf who added that “plenty of shortbread” would make the experience extra special!
- A meal of freshly caught fish in Orkney
Orkney lovers include Facebook fan Eileen Kinnaird who would choose “Fish of the Day at Pierowall Hotel, Westray, Orkney.”
- A visit to the Temple café on the Isle of Harris
Including Facebook fan Robbie Alberre Gibbon who loves the Temple Café – the building is made of stone and looks like an ancient temple.
To read more on the places mentioned, please visit The Distillery Blog www.visitscotland.com/blog
ENDS
For information and images and press trip requests, please contact:
Erin Hickey
PR Executive
VisitScotland
Tel: (0131) 472 2030
Notes to Editors:
*VisitScotland's Facebook community (466,441) and Twitter followers (113,000) were asked in December 2014 for their ultimate food & drink experience in Scotland. In addition, the following individuals and representatives of the following organisations provided their choices. The most popular choice for each region was chosen from the total responses.
Andrew Jowett, Head Golf Professional and Alan Hill, Director of Food & Beverage at Gleneagles
Julie Trevisan Hunter from The Scotch Whisky Experience
Nina Nesbitt
Paul Hart, Executive Head Chef at the Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh
Faith Liddell, Director of Festivals Edinburgh
James Watt, BrewDog co-founder
The Ship Inn
Carina Contini
Tom Lewis
Brenda Anderson, Director at Tasting Scotland
Sheila Fleet
Howie Nicholsby
The Seafood Trail
Edinburgh Gin Distillery
Calum Richardson, The Bay Fish & Chips
Craig McLellan, editor of www.thefinestcut.co.uk
Glengoyne Distillery
Loch Fyne
The Soil Association
• For attraction and accommodation offers go to www.visitscotland.com
• VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. Its core purpose is to maximise the economic benefit of tourism to Scotland.
• For VisitScotland's press releases, tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to www.visitscotland.org
PLEASE NOTE
This copy was correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information and accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by the reliance on the information contained herewith, or in the event of any company, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded.
