RedTwoster Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 (edited) We have a soft drink thread, a hot sauce thread and all sorts of other food threads - but nothing, as far as I know, to recommend good grub from your local area. That's what this thread is for. It doesn't have to be a local delicacy (though it can be) - rather, something shit-hot that somewhere local to you does particularly well. With it (kind of) being summer, and people going on holiday, I thought a thread like this might be useful. Plus, I'm a bit of a foodie so I'm all for recommendations! I've travelled a bit this summer through work, though only in Scotland - but this gives me some great recommendations to share. Some of these, if you're Scottish, you might be aware of - others, not so much. So here are my recommendations: Fisher & Donaldson Fudge Doughnuts Where can I buy them? Dundee, St Andrews and Cupar in Fife. Some farm shops sell them too. Why should I buy them? These are pretty legendary in the Tayside area, and for good reason - they're the best doughnuts I've ever had personally. As soon as you pick them up, you'll notice they're different to other fudge doughnuts - they're actually quite heavy, and that's because of the custard inside, which is thick and delicious, just like the fudge icing on top. We've all had fudge doughnuts, but this is a real elevation of that. If you visit Dundee or North Fife and don't try these, you're missing out. The Marshmallow Lady Where is it? Edinburgh - although you can buy their products online here. What is it? A shop this time, rather than a food - although I am recommending the food it sells which, unsurprisingly, is marshmallows. The Marshmallow Lady in Edinburgh is Scotland's only dedicated Marshmallow shop, and it's sensational. Why should I buy these? They make their own marshmallows - and like the fudge doughnuts, they take their speciality and elevate them quite significantly. The marshmallows are light and not at all chewy - they basically melt in your mouth. They're just divine. The flavours are really creative too, and the shop usually has free samples allowing you to try before you buy. My recommendations would be the Strawberries and Cream, Vanilla Bean and Lemon Soufflé. But they're pretty much all really tasty. Luca's Irn Bru Sorbet Where is it? Edinburgh (in the Morningside area) or Musselburgh - their ice cream is sold elsewhere in the city too Why should I buy it? I like Irn Bru, and I like sorbet. And loads of ice cream shops around Scotland sell their version of Irn Bru sorbet, though none have perfected it like Luca's, in my opinion. Even better, they sell tubs of the stuff that you can take home. It's tangy and delicious - total perfection and one of my favourite things on this list. The Fish Works Where is it? Largs, about 50-mins drive from Glasgow. But well worth the trip. What is it? Scotland's best fish and chip shop, if the National Fish & Chip Awards are to be believed. Why should I go there? Because it might just be Scotland's best fish and chip shop. Truth be told, the competition is tight - and I could list plenty of rivals, including one I liked better (Deli-Ca-Sea in Ullapool - but it's a bit of a trek to get there) - but it deserves the praise it gets. One benefit of visiting The Fish Works is that Largs is a half-hour ferry ride away from the Isle of Cumbrae, a tiny but beautiful island that you can cycle around. Sitting outside The Fish Works, watching the ferry go back and forth and enjoying the atmosphere is an experience in itself. And the fish and chips is fresh, reasonably priced and tasty. So go to Largs, get the chippy, take a trip to Cumbrae, then have another chippy when you arrive back on the mainland. MacTassos Where is it? Glasgow - near the Kelvingrove museum, or at The Fort. What is it? Gyros - and it's street food, so it's very reasonably priced. Why should I buy it? By my estimation, this is the best street food I've ever had. It's cheap, but doesn't compromise on quality, and the meat is so juicy and full of flavour. Like other things on this list, it's taking something you'll know and elevating it. I've lost count of how many of these I've had during my time in Glasgow, and I still don't feel like I've had enough. If you visit Glasgow, you owe it to yourself to try these. Edited August 12 by RedTwoster Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironic Indie Lad Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Not to DOX MYSELF but The Fish Works is my local chippy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedTwoster Posted August 12 Author Share Posted August 12 18 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said: Not to DOX MYSELF but The Fish Works is my local chippy Ah, I had no idea you lived in the area! I'd be eating myself into obesity if that were my local. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators neil Posted August 12 Moderators Share Posted August 12 20 minutes ago, Ironic Indie Lad said: Not to DOX MYSELF but The Fish Works is my local chippy Big mistake mate, the WAW lads will be round now they know this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ironic Indie Lad Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 4 minutes ago, RedTwoster said: Ah, I had no idea you lived in the area! I'd be eating myself into obesity if that were my local. It's fairly easy to avoid just based on how fucking busy it is to be fair. Whenever I walk by and think "might get a black pudding supper..." I am then put off by the enormous groups of people waiting outside for their order. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Lion_of_the_Midlands Posted August 12 Paid Members Share Posted August 12 (edited) This beauty is haslet. A Lincolnshire delicacy. Lincolnshire Sausage meat wrapped in caul fat and then roasted. You eat it cold in sandwiches or with salad or you can fry it and add it to a breakfast. Delicious. Mountains butchers of Boston do the best one. Edited August 12 by Lion_of_the_Midlands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Nexus Posted August 12 Paid Members Share Posted August 12 I have never tried fried up haslet. I will have to try that now. It's incredible food. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Lion_of_the_Midlands Posted August 12 Paid Members Share Posted August 12 I have been known to add fried haslet to a sausage sandwich, basically double sausage. Yet somehow my cholesterol is only 4.3. There is no justice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallicks Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 When we’re down in Devon, we always get fish and chips from Graylings in Okehampton. They deep fry everything in groundnut oil and it’s absolutely sublime. Haddock’s my favourite. Dunno if it’ll last forever but they also have a gluten free option on Mondays which is super handy for a couple of my crew. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Carbomb Posted August 12 Paid Members Share Posted August 12 2 hours ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said: This beauty is haslet. A Lincolnshire delicacy. Lincolnshire Sausage meat wrapped in caul fat and then roasted. You eat it cold in sandwiches or with salad or you can fry it and add it to a breakfast. Delicious. Mountains butchers of Boston do the best one. Whenever my grandma came to visit us, my mum would always go out and buy ox tongue and haslet (haslett?) for her lunch the next day. She liked her cold meat salads. Wasn't bad, though I must admit I've never tried it fried. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Healys Chutney Spoon Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Doesn't every chippy in Scotland claim to be an award winner of some description? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MungoChutney Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 4 hours ago, Ironic Indie Lad said: It's fairly easy to avoid just based on how fucking busy it is to be fair. Whenever I walk by and think "might get a black pudding supper..." I am then put off by the enormous groups of people waiting outside for their order. The Fish Works is definitely for visitors. It's a must any time I'm in Largs but if I was local I'd probably also avoid it. Marini's is decent, or their branch near me is at least. MacTassos isn't a million miles from me and has been endorsed by no less than Ange Postecoglou himself. It's excellent but has unfortunately inspired loads of gyros places, which are usually really shit, to open up nearby. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Merzbow Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 4 hours ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said: This beauty is haslet. A Lincolnshire delicacy. Lincolnshire Sausage meat wrapped in caul fat and then roasted. You eat it cold in sandwiches or with salad or you can fry it and add it to a breakfast. Delicious. Mountains butchers of Boston do the best one. It found it's way into seemingly every Coventry butchers, too. Back when I was a poor hostel living teenager I'd grab so much of it as it was by far the cheapest cold meat in the Co-op next door. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Lion_of_the_Midlands Posted August 12 Paid Members Share Posted August 12 1 hour ago, Merzbow said: It found it's way into seemingly every Coventry butchers, too. Back when I was a poor hostel living teenager I'd grab so much of it as it was by far the cheapest cold meat in the Co-op next door. Like any of your sausage based products there's good ones and bad ones. Mountains is very good, all the meat comes from a named part of the pig. Your cheaper haslet you don't want to know where that meat comes from. Another Lincolnshire cold meat delicacy is stuffed chine. Cured cut of pork neck chine stuffed with parsley Again delicious, though I do get terrible parsley burps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TibBo Posted August 12 Share Posted August 12 Mad O'Rourke's Pie Factory Tipton, West Midland They used to do a huge cow pie with pastry horns sticking out the top (a la Desperate Dan). If you managed to eat it all, the chef would come out and have a photo with you, shake your hand and give you a certificate. Also, their mixed grills are served on a shovel... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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