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.

Reestit Mutton

Scalloway

AVAILABLE VIA ON CONTACT BUTTON 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

Mountain Hare

Aviemore

NOT AVAILABLE 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

Shetland Geese

Trondra

NOT AVAILABLE This is not available for eating due to scarcity, unless you breed some yourself, but their eggs are available locally. The Shetland Goose is considered to be a domestic bird with Greylag ancestry and valued for its ability to

Boreray Sheep: The Orkney Boreray

Finstown

A primitive breed of sheep, with a small, slender frame, their wool is known to be fine and good for spinning. All have heavy spiraling horns and their meat is flavoursome and usually eaten as hogget or mutton to allow

Scottish 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

Beremeal

Birsay

AVAILABLE ONLINE/ ENQUIRE ON CONTACT BUTTON/ ALSO DISTRIBUTED VIA GREENCITY COOP 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

Wild Scottish Juniper

Aviemore

A WILD FORAGE BERRY WHEN IN SEASON Rare to find so good luck! Found 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

Original Arbroath Smokies

Arbroath

CONTACT IAIN DIRECT ON CONTACT BUTTON FOR UPDATES ON AVAILABILITY 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

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

Tappit Shetland Hen

Trondra

NOT AVAILABLE 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

Scots Dumpy Hen

Golspie

NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE 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

Cadzow Cattle

Haddington

Watch this space for new Ark entry very soon…. No butchery on site, only cattle grazing. When there is meat available from a butcher it will be posted here. (last edited May 12th 2021)

Original Belted Galloway Cattle

Mochrum

NOT AVAILABLE This specific fold is not available for eating due to scarcity. RESEARCH IS BEING DONE INTO WHERE THERE MAY BE A SOURCE. There is written evidence there were Galloways in Wigtownshire 400 years ago and developed in the

Uradale Farm – Native Shetland Lamb & Shetland Kye

Shetland

AVAILABLE MAIL ORDER VIA CONTACT BUTTON 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

Shetland Wet Salt Cured Ling

Scalloway

AVAILABLE ONLINE VIA CONTACT BUTTON 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

Briggs’ Native Shetland Lamb

Shetland

POSSIBLY AVAILABLE – CLICK ON CONTACT BUTTON TO CHECK Native Shetland Lamb happily exist in the most rugged land and extreme climate but their dainty size and slow growing characteristics make them unfashionable and less profitable in the eyes of commercial

Bloody Ploughman Apple

Errol

YOUNG TREES AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE VIA CONACT BUTTON 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

Salt Herring

Scalloway

CURRENTLY AVAILABLE IN COLLABORATION WITH BLYD O’IT & THULE VENTIS – ENQUIRE ON CONTACT BUTTON 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

Musselburgh Leek

Aberdour

SEEDS AVAILABLE FROM WB £3.50 INLCUD P&P IN UK – CLICK ON CONTACT BUTTON 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

Isle of Colonsay Wildflower Honey

Scalasaig

AVAILABLE MAIL ORDER – CLICK ON CONTACT BUTTON 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

Rouge d’Ecosse Wheat

Saint Monans

AVAILABLE ONLINE/ ENQUIRE ON CONTACT BUTTON/ ON FARM COLLECTION/CLICK ON WEBSITE FOR STOCKISTS 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

Kye Sassermaet

Uradale

AVAILABLE MAIL ORDER VIA CONTACT BUTTON This is a unique preserved meat product that is made fresh from oneShetland Kye, when it is butchered, so it is only from one beast and that beast is also on Ark of Taste.

Traditional Ayrshire Dunlop Cheese

Stewarton

AVAILABLE VIA AYRSHIRE FOOD NETWORK / ENQUIRE FOR STOCKISTS ON CONTACT BUTTON/ ON FARM COLLECTION 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

Gordon Castle Plum

Fochabers

CURRENTLY NOT AVAILABLE. ALL HARVEST BEING USED FOR ARTISAN GIN PRODUCTION. THAT IS AVAILABLE. 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

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

Prestonfield Rhubarb

Edinburgh

NOT AVAILABLE JUST NOW 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

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

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

Cambusnethan Pippin

Glasgow

YOUNG TREES AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE VIA CONACT BUTTON 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

Guga

Port of Ness

NOT AVAILABLE No contact details. Local knowledge required. 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

Selkirk Bannock

Crieff

AVAILABLE VIA ON CONTACT BUTTON – CRIEFF SHOP ALSO OPEN FOR COLLECTION 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

Original Fresh Blood Scots Black Pudding

Uphall

AVAILABLE FROM LAWSONS BUTCHERS – CLICK ON CONTACT BUTTON. SHOP OPEN & LOCAL DELIVERIES. Essentially a blood pudding, the ordinary folk of Scotland thrived on this healthy cheap food. Over the years it became industrialised and although still popular it

Dulse & Pepper Dulse

Isle of Bute

WILD FORAGED IN SEASON 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.

Scottish Artisan Crowdie

Stewarton

AVAILABLE VIA AYRSHIRE FOOD NETWORK / ENQUIRE FOR STOCKISTS ON CONTACT BUTTON/ ON FARM COLLECTION 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

Papa Stour Shetland Hen

Trondra

Salted Dry Cured Ling

Shetland Isles

AVAILABLE MAIL ORDER FROM THULE VENTUS – CLICK ON CONTACT BUTTON 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

Shetland Cabbage

Trondra

NOT AVAILABLE Fairly unavailable – currently researching seed specialists. This has been saved thanks to the efforts of the Isbisters who you will read all about on these pages. They grow a small crop on their croft where it

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

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

Beauty of Moray Apple

Bankfoot

NOT AVAILABLE 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.

Buttery

Aberdeen

NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE – SLOW FOOD ABERDEEN MAY HAVE THE RECIPE 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

Native Bred Aberdeen Angus

Gordon

AVAILABLE MAIL ORDER/COLLECT FROM HARDIESMILL FARM SHOP, BERWICKSHIRE – CLICK ON CONTACT BUTTON OR WEBSITE Native Bred Aberdeen Angus beef has fine marbling that gives juicy flavoursome meat. It must be grass fed and suitably hung. The meat is less

Birchwater

Perth

AVAILABLE ONLINE FROM THEIR WEBSITE ON LINK 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

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

‘Anster’ Cheese

Pittenweem

NOT ONLINE YET BUT AVAILABLE THROUGH GOOD DELIS & CHEESEMONGERS 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

Golspie Mill & Ark of Taste Peasemeal

Golspie

Peasemeal is a versatile, healthy and nutritious flour used in cooking and baking since Roman times. Unique to Golspie Mill, yellow field peas are roasted, caramelizing some of the sugars present, darkening them and increasing the nutritional value, giving higher

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