My posts are few and far between at the momentĀ as I struggle to find focus andĀ think of things to write about. Thank goodness for Ailsa’s latest travel theme on Where’s my backpack? as I have some paths to share from my 2016 trip to Scotland.
SomeĀ might think that it is difficult toĀ eat well in Scotland, but I’ve got the ‘now too tight pants’ to prove otherwise. Not to mention the numerous photos that I am sharing with you. The availability of goodĀ wines from all over the world didn’t help with maintaining a balanced, healthy diet nor did the clotted cream fudge orĀ the divine chocolates from the Cocoa Tree in Pittenweem andĀ Iain Burnett, Highland Chocolatier in St Andrews.
In Fife we stayed at Dairsie CastleĀ and enjoyedĀ gourmet evening meals provided by Christopher Trotter, a local chef and Fife ambassador. Meals were prepared using local, seasonal ingredients includingĀ nettle, wild garlic, seafood and lamb. ScottishĀ cheeses such as Crowdie and Clava were served with oatcakes and fresh fruit, the wines chosen by individuals at the Cupar Tescoe. Day trips to seaside villages such as Crail, Pittenweem and St Monans gave us the opportunity to try more local specialities in spectacular settings. Surprisingly, I did manage to get some painting and sketching done in between all the tasty food stops, there is only so much one person can eat š
Gardenstown is a fishing village in the highlands, located on the Banffshire Coast not far from Macduff and Fraserburgh. There is no supermarket in the town apart from a small convenience store and only threeĀ choices of places to eat: Teapot One, a nice little cafe serving homemade soups and cakes; The Garden Arms Hotel, a cozy little pub open for dinner a few nights a week; and the Harbour View Restaurant,Ā for fine dining near the pier. We ate regularly at the Garden Arms, the atmosphere was cozy and congenial and the owners looked after us well. The Teapot One was the perfect spot for grabbing fresh fruit scones as a snack or an afternoon pick-me upĀ hot chocolate,Ā and the Harbour View Restaurant was a nice changeĀ and they served a most delicious sticky toffee pudding with vanilla ice-cream. On one wet and misty day we ventured into Macduff to wander around the woodlands near Duff House, it was the perfect weather for sitting down to a bowl of delicious Cullen Skink, a soup of smoked haddock, potatoes and onions. The smell reminded me of the smoked fish my family in New Zealand served up, one of the few fish dishes I ate as a child.
When staying inĀ Edinburgh IĀ ate at the Cafe Rouge and at the restaurant in The Place Hotel, I couldn’t resist the charcuterieĀ platter or the duck or the mussels or the snails so I tried a bit of everything.Ā There are plenty of great places to eat and drink in Edinburgh, so whyĀ a French restaurant? After a couple of weeks of enjoying traditional Scottish fare and ingredients I was lookingĀ for something a little different and I’ve always been a sucker for french food. It wasn’t only the food I enjoyed but the coffee, it was relatively easy to find a decent macchiato or espresso although the service was a little hit and miss in some places, much like here in Australia.
Enjoy!
Two Black Dogs 