Scottish Food Guide

Scottish Food Guide – the ethical and independent award-winning guide to the best places to eat and our finest produce.
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Slow Food Ark of Taste

Ark of Taste is Slow Food’s virtual vessel with an online port of call to catalogue rare heritage foods and food culture lest they are lost or forgotten. As industrial farming methods and food processing diminish our biodiversity, Slow Food supports saving traditional breeds, varietals and seeds.

It is a privilege to be Leader for Scotland's Slow Food Ark of Taste and here is where to source this produce, where possible.

Fife Farmhouse Cheese

Pittenweem

This is a hard regional cheese associated with Fife where there has been Friesian herds since the late 1700’s due to the trading with the Dutch ships and changing of farming systems. Throughout this part of Fife you can see

Birchwater

Perth

This is a fascinating, refreshing and healthy thirst quencher that brings with it the essence of mountain air and clear lochs. Birchwater is an ancient drink, harvested sustainably from birch woodland and sold beautifully bottled for the table & whisky

Salted Dry Cured Ling

Shetland Isles

There is archaeological evidence that this preservation method of curing ling & cod has been going on at least since 900AD on Shetland, Orkney and Western Isles. The large well-built boats allowed them to catch great quantities from the deep

Shetland Kale

Trondra

Shetland Cabbage/Kale is the oldest known Scottish local vegetable variety and has been grown on the Shetland Islands since at least the 17thC. Used as a vegetable, the outer or dropped leaves are also used as winter fodder for cattle

Isle of Colonsay Wildflower Honey

Scalasaig

Isle of Colonsay Wildflower Honey is unique, not only because of its taste, although amongst honeys it is ranked with the best; but also because of its provenance, as bees and quality honey are something of a rarity on small

Prestonfield Rhubarb

Edinburgh

Prestonfield is a private hotel with the Prestonfield Rhubarb in their walled garden where their chefs have access to it and diners enjoy it. Thanks to their enthusiasm they sometimes share if/when they can. Cuttings have already been shared with

Hebridean Sheep

Yetts O’Muckhart

They are direct descendants of the ancient North European short tailed sheep that came to Scotland 8 thousand years ago. Small, hardy and lively ewes rarely weighing more than 40kg. Originally from the Hebrides and now very few flocks left. Their

Salt Herring

Scalloway

In the late 19th century, Scotland became the world’s largest producer of salt herring. 90% was exported in wooden barrels to Eastern Europe, Russia, Scandinavia and Germany where the Scottish cure was highly esteemed. The curing method handed down through

Cambusnethan Pippin

Glasgow

This is a good firm eating apple with an interesting history and very specific geographical significance. Once, like many heirloom varieties, it was remarkably popular and enjoyed throughout Scotland; nowadays lost its fame and popularity. The Cambusnethan Pippin has been

Gordon Castle Plum

Fochabers

The Gordon Castle plum was bred by John Webster, head gardener at Gordon Castle near Fochabers in Moray and first recorded in 1864. It is a late dessert plum from the north of Scotland. It has large yellow oval fruit,

North Ronaldsay Sheep (Mutton)

Orkney

Scotland’s first Presidium. North Ronaldsay Mutton is highly seasonal but freezes beautifully. Look out for it, usually in March/April. It is regularly on the menu at Lynnfield Hotel on Orkney and sometimes features on the menu at l’escargot. Check out

Scottish Artisan Crowdie

Stewarton

Crowdie is a traditional fresh Scottish cheese dating back to the Viking era, and possibly even Pictish. Traditionally made in every farmhouse on a small scale with milk from their traditional house cow – Ayrshire or Galloway, Highland, Black Angus,

Selkirk Bannock

Crieff

The Selkirk Bannock is a famous Border baked treat, a richly fruited bread dough, individually hand made, traditionally served at afternoon tea. It is recorded as the only thing that Queen Victoria would eat when she visited Sir Walter Scott

Uradale Farm – Native Shetland Lamb & Shetland Kye & Sassermaet

Shetland

Ronnie and his family farm Uradale organically with SOPA (Scottish Organic Producers Association) Membership. They are dedicated to the heritage breeds indigenous to the Shetland Isles : Native Shetland Lamb, beef from the Shetland Cow (‘Kye’) and organic Native Shetland

Original Arbroath Smokies

Arbroath

Local haddock hot smoked in barrels in small batches under hessian – white fragrant flakes with no additives or dyes. Arbroath Smokies originated in the tiny village of Auchmithie where the Scandinavian influence brought about this delightful delicacy. Fishwives originally

Beauty of Moray Apple

Bankfoot

The Beauty of Moray is an old Scottish cooking apple, first recorded in 1883, a favourite in the North of Scotland. Hardy, moderately vigorous tree with attractive small pink blossom, noted for its beauty – hence the name. It flowers

Isle of Barra Snails

Isle of Barra

The unique natural clean island maritime air, the banning of pesticides on Barra and the herbage of the machair make this island snail unique. Gerard MacDonald, The Isle of Barra Oyster Company, who lives on Barra made it his business

Reestit Mutton

Scalloway

Reestit Mutton is mutton from Native Shetland Sheep (Ark of Taste) salted in brine and hung to dry traditionally in the rafters, reest, of the house above a peat fire. The peaty smoke helps to season the meat and after

Orkney Boreray

Finstown

Orkney Boreray Community becomes Scotland’s 2nd Slow Food Presidium August 2021 Here is proof, if ever it was needed, that Orkney is indeed a very special place! Orkney Boreray is named the second Slow Food Presidium in the whole of

Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop Cheese

Stewarton

This cheese has 17thC roots. In 1690, a farmer’s daughter made it a mile from this very farm, with huge success. She taught the making of this ‘sweetmilk’ cheese that became known as Dunlop. Her whole milk recipe creates a

Buttery

Aberdeen

The Buttery or Rowie is a unique breakfast item with a distinctive crispy, flaky, flattened structure similar to a croissant, associated with Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. It has a pronounced buttery, salty taste. The buttery is produced commercially but with fats

Golspie Mill & Ark of Taste Peasemeal

Golspie

Now also with a super-pretty new shepherd’s hut ‘Am Bothan,’ set in a tranquil spot in their grounds with the mill nearby. Click on their website for booking arrangements. The story of how peasemeal came to be at Golspie is

Tappit Shetland Hen

Trondra

Unavailable. Another breed entirely thanks to the Isbisters at Burland Croft. These hens are very rare and all originate from only the Shetland Isles. They have been breeding Shetland Hens since the 1970’s at Burland Croft on the island of Trondra.

Rouge d’Ecosse Wheat

Saint Monans

Wholemeal certified organic wheat flour freshly milled from Scottish heritage wheat variety Rouge d’Ecosse. This grain was almost gone and thanks to enormous effort from Andrew Whitley of Bread Matters http://www.breadmatters.com and a few enthusiasts, they have enabled a viable quantity

Guga

Port of Ness

Unavailable. They don’t come much more unique than the Guga, Gaelic for Gannet, harvested and prepared by a special group of 10 Ness men once a year for 2 weeks on the isle of Sùlaisgeir (Gannet Skerry), Sula being the

Bloody Ploughman Apple

Errol

Due to the memorable story of its inception, it is an apple that engages the imagination and it is also both beautiful and delicious. The story goes that a ploughman was caught stealing apples from the Megginch Estate and shot dead

Mountain Hare

Aviemore

Unavailable. These are alarmingly threatened by extinction and are not for consumption for the forseeable future. The mountain hare is genuinely native to the UK, unlike the more common Brown Hare or even the rabbit, both of which are introduced

Original Fresh Blood Scots Black Pudding

Uphall

Essentially a blood pudding, the ordinary folk of Scotland thrived on this healthy cheap food whilst those who could afford it would be eating the prime cuts of meat. Over the years it has become industrialised and although still popular

Cadzow Cattle

Haddington

The Cadzow cattle are the remaining fold descended from the white cattle that roamed wild in the Caledonian Forest, with populations established in these ancient woods that at one time stretched from the west coast over to Blair Atholl. When

Scots Dumpy Hen

Golspie

This are not available for eating due to scarcity. If you would like to keep hens, they could be perfect for you. This ancient landrace breed existed over 700 years ago. It has a large, low heavy body. There is

Shetland Geese

Trondra

This is not available for eating due to scarcity, unless you breed some yourself. Their eggs are available locally in season. The Shetland Goose is considered to be a domestic bird with Greylag ancestry and valued for its ability to thrive on

Papa Stour Shetland Hen

Trondra

Exceptionally rare & unavailable. Another breed still in existence entirely thanks to the Isbisters at Burland Croft. These hens are very rare and all originate from only the Shetland Isles. They have been breeding Shetland Hens since the 1970’s at Burland

Meadows: The Swedish Farmer & The Scottish Cook

Aberdour

“MEADOWS: The Swedish Farmer & The Scottish Cook” by Bosse Dahlgren & Wendy Barrie. Sustainable recipes, self-sufficiency, biodiversity, food security and conservation doesn’t even come close to describing the topics covered in this 424 page fully illustrated book. Exploring food

Traditional Finnan Haddie

Inverkeithing

A true Finnan Haddie is a split, whole gutted fish, not the mass-produced dyed boneless fillets. The delicate smoke gives it a wonderful flavor. It has a long association with the famous Scottish soup Cullen Skink, also poached in milk

Beremeal

Birsay

Beremeal is flour made from Bere, an old variety of six-row barley described as having an earthy, slightly astringent, nutty flavour. Traditionally used to make a bannock, a specialty of Orkney, Shetland and the Western Isles. Beremeal was widely used throughout

Original Belted Galloway Cattle

Mochrum

This specific fold is rarely available at butchers however research is being carried out into another possible source. In the meantime, if seeking out Belted Galloway, ask about its provenance and look for pure bred. There is written evidence there

Scots Grey Hen

Golspie

This is not available for eating due to scarcity but you may wish consider breeding them yourself! The Scots Grey is an old breed of domestic chicken originating in Scotland in the sixteenth century. The chicken has barred feathering of

Hill Bred Pedigree Highland Cattle

Tobermory

Highland Cattle are iconic on picture postcards, yet few are aware how they have become heavier and ‘developed’ to give larger carcass and bigger cuts. This Hill Bred Pedigree Highland Cattle is an old strain that has not been developed

Native Bred Aberdeen Angus

Gordon

Dunlouise & Hardiesmill are the only two farms that currently meet Ark of Taste standards & criteria for Native Bred Aberdeen Angus. Hardiesmill in Berwickshire rear Scotch Assured pedigree Aberdeen Angus, Ethical Scotch Beef, in the traditional way, fed on grass

Dulse & Pepper Dulse

Anstruther

Pepper dulse (Osmundea pinnatifida) is a red seaweed with smaller leaves than Dulse, another Ark product. It delicious raw or dried with a unique intense garlicky and truffle taste. When dried it has an umami flavor. Seaweed has been eaten

Scottish Food Studio

Aberdour

Courses in Fife – Cheese Lovers – Hygge – Slow Food Ark of Taste – Fika, and more. Scottish Food Studio is Wendy’s Nordic inspired kitchen by Fife’s Coastal Path where she offers a range of popular bespoke courses and

Soay Sheep

Berneray

The Soay has the most primitive appearance of any British sheep breed and takes its name from the island of Soay in the St. Kilda group in the far north of Scotland. The meat is delicious, dark and full flavoured

Isle of Skye Sea Salt

Dunvegan

Isle of Skye Sea Salt is 100% harvested from Loch Snizort and evaporates using only the power of the sun’s rays, creating a delicious, unique and eco friendly product. With evidence of local salt production traced back centuries, this superb

Scottish Heritage Potatoes on Slow Food Ark of Taste

Auchterhouse

Scotland has a delicious range of heritage potatoes on the Ark of Taste. They are varied in flavour, colour and texture and fascinating to grow, harvest, cook and eat! Support biodiversity and go for heritage potatoes! There are currently 9

Wild Scottish Juniper

Aviemore

Found in the wild across Scotland, it thrives in drier areas where trees enjoy bright sunshine and open space. The foliage consists of needles and its fruit a blue and aromatic berry. The young shoots were also used for seasoning.

Kye Sassermaet

Uradale

Only Jakob’s sassermaet labelled Native Shetland Kye (pictured) is the Slow Food International Ark of Taste. This is a unique preserved meat product that is only made from a Shetland Kye on Shetland, using the cheaper cuts efficiently to create

James Grieve Apple

Bankfoot

It is considered a very Scottish variety with strong historic links to Edinburgh. It is sharp and juicy – a delicious and attractive apple. Mr Grieve bred his own variety of apple whilst working at Dickson & Son Nursery. The James

‘Anster’ Cheese

Pittenweem

In Scotland, the old cheeses were named after the nearest town or region and Anster is the old name for Anstruther and still used by older generations to this day. Jane has revived this fine traditional farmhouse cheese at St Andrews

Musselburgh Leek

Aberdour

Musselburgh leeks are a short variety with thick white stems. They differ from the “London leek” that have more evenly spaced leaves around the stem. Soils that are fertile, rich and well drained provide ideal growing conditions for leeks. Lowland

Shetland Wet Salt Cured Ling

Scalloway

The method of wet salt-curing is to de-head and split the fish open so it can be laid flat. Often they are filleted but the skin is left on. It is laid in coarse salt for one week as with the dry

Shetland Duck

Trondra

Unavailable for eating due to scarcity, unless you breed some yourself. Eggs are seasonally available locally on the isles. Another breed entirely thanks to the Isbisters at Burland Croft. Thanks to them the true breeding Shetland Duck is still in existence. These

Native Scottish Goat

Acharacle

Goats first appeared in Scotland before sheep and date back as far as 8 thousand years ago when there was still ice in Scotland, yet there are those authorities that wish to deem it an invasive ‘alien’ species to enable

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