When heading to Glasgow on a business trip there are a number of traditional Scottish foods you simply must try! Whether dining in Glasgow alone or taking colleagues out for dinner, Scottish cuisine is truly unique and no business trip to Glasgow would be complete without trying some culinary delights. From haggis to deep fried Mars bars, this guide to Scottish food has you covered for your stay in Glasgow!
1) Haggis
Coming in uncontested in first place is haggis. This famous dish represents Scotland as much as tartan and bagpipes. Haggis is made of sheep liver, lungs and heart and minced with oatmeal, herbs and spice. Traditionally, it is stuffed into a natural casing of sheep intestines before being boiled or baked. Don’t let the gruesome sounding ingredients dissuade you from trying haggis. Scotland’s national dish represents the very best of Scottish food and is a must for any business traveller visiting Glasgow. Its unique flavour is perfectly complemented by neeps and tatties, foods which are discussed below. We highly recommend Stravaigin on Gibson Street for a truly authentic Scottish experience.
2) Neeps & Tatties
Typically served with haggis, neeps and tatties are a Scottish food delicacy in themselves. Both ingredients feature in a number of Scottish dishes, with ‘neeps’ being turnips and ‘tatties’ being potatoes. Both are incredibly tasty and the perfect accompaniment to haggis when dining in Glasgow. On the Orkney Islands at the northern tip of Scotland, the locals add butter and chives to the mix to create clapshot. This might be difficult to find in Glasgow, but neeps and tatties will be aplenty!
3) Seafood
Scotland is famous for producing salmon. Supermarkets and high end restaurants around the world serve Scottish salmon, with the fresh waters of the Atlantic coastline creating the perfect breeding ground. Scottish salmon is widely considered the best and certainly worth a try on a business visit to Glasgow. Lobster, mussels and oysters are Scottish seafood dishes that are popular, alongside crab and haddock. Gamba and Crabshakk are two seafood restaurants offering a great dining experience in Glasgow.
4) Grouse
The Famous Grouse is a popular Scotch whisky, but the grouse is also famous for culinary reasons in Scotland. The prize bird is a local delicacy and lives in the British moorlands, with many residing in Scotland. The shooting season lasts from August until December, with this traditional Scottish food highly coveted. Scottish game is distinctive, with grouse dishes providing a mild, gamey taste with unique flavours. Grouse is delicious roasted or stewed in a casserole. It is expensive, but incredibly tasty.
5) Cullen Skink
This traditional Scottish food is an understated local dish that originated in the town of Cullen on the northeast coast. Cullen skink is a thick Scottish soup made with smoked haddock, onions, leek and potatoes. Scotland is famed for its hearty soups, with Scotch broth and cock-a-leekie being two other favourites. This dish is perfect to try in a traditional Glasgow pub and provides a comforting winter warmth. When dining in Glasgow, visit Café Gandolfi on Albion Street for a truly delicious recipe.
6) Porridge
Porridge is vital to the Scottish diet, with the breakfast dish having been consumed across Scotland for centuries. It is a healthy option still eaten today and is ideal in winter to counter the chilly weather. Porridge can be savoury or sweet, with Scott’s Porage Oats a famous brand in operation for 140 years. Although porridge was not founded in Scotland it has become synonymous with the country. Be sure to sample this Scottish food as well as a traditional Full Scottish Breakfast, a slight variation on the Full English Breakfast served with haggis, tattie scones and oatcakes, when visiting Glasgow.
7) Shortbread
Shortbread is one of the most famous Scottish foods. This Scottish biscuit is famous around the world. It was originally invested as far back as 1736 and is often served as a dessert with other ingredients. The buttery taste of shortbread is perfectly complemented by cranachan, a traditional Scottish dessert. Cranachan was originally a celebration of harvest and is made with raspberry, oats and whisky. Shortbread is ideal to have with afternoon tea or coffee and is often gifted on special occasions.
8) Deep Fried Mars Bar
Saving the best until last! This Scottish food is not really a Scottish food, more of a novelty invented in Scotland. A deep fried Mars bar is exactly what is hinted in the description. Served in fish and chips shops up and down Scotland, a Mars chocolate bar is covered in batter before being deep fried in oil. Not exactly a healthy option, this oddity is spectacularly divine. The batter keeps the sweet, melted chocolate contained and creates a wonderful flavour. This is a must try on a business trip to Glasgow!
Well there we have it. Eight traditional Scottish foods (and more) you simply must try when visiting Glasgow. Traditional Scottish food is truly unique and sampling these dishes will leave you wanting more! When planning your business trip to Scotland, be sure to check out our extensive range of serviced apartments in Glasgow.
