Scottish groceries: A few suggestions

A few last grocery ideas.

The lamb steak is awesome in Scotland. Anything with lamb is good in my book from lamb curry to lamb mince (which I put in spagetti sauce). However, the mince gives off an odd smell when cooked. The mince is inexpensive. The lamb steak on the other hand, is expensive. It is odd for a country full of sheep to have such high lamb prices but that's just the way it is.

I've never had a deep fried Mars bar, because my cholesterol level would kill me afterward. But a deep fried Mars bar is supposedly the coveted cuisine of the tourist looking to experience the unique ways of Scots. I always suggest keeping something in your travel bag to help you fend off hunger. You'd be better off filling up with candy than go into a restaurant or grocery store famished.

You can get Haggis, Neeps and Tatties in the frozen foods but it is not worth it. As you experience haggis in your travels you will experience the different quality. You will know what a good haggis tastes like if you have been properly served in a fine restaurant or B&B. For your first taste of haggis, don't go to the frozen food aisle or buy a can. Bring a can back or open one up after you've had the better haggis. Your first experience should be pleasant. A fresh haggis can taste wonderful. Even my wife agrees, there is a difference in haggis and a quality dinner is very good.

You may look at the rows of soup and not know what brand to buy. I actually preferred the cheaper soup, Granny's. It is inexpensive but tastes very good. It has a bit more sodium but the soup was a staple in my daily life. The soup went well with a sandwich. I highly recommend it for a cheap lunch.

Scottish groceries: Slang

Chips or crisps?

In Scotland, chips are french fries. Crisps are potatoe chips. Both are a staple of Scottish life. Crisps can be very pricey compared to the United States. The bags are smaller and have less content but the varieties of crisps is quite expansive. You can find "baked" crisps but they are very rare. Scots like the traditional crisps. Chips are served with everything. I have witnessed dozens of combinations of dinners with chips as part of the meal. I even witnessed a young girl eating lasagne with chips.

The government understood the health risks of chips and began to take them out of the school. The parents did not support the idea, instead, showed up at the school gates with fast food, crisps and chips for their kids.

Another slang term is "take-away". Instead of "drive-thru", they have take-aways.

Also, you don't stand in line, you stand in a queue, pronounced "cue". It is very important in the UK to stand in queue properly. Cutting in line or being rude is a big mistake. Be patient and stand in queue politely.

A hint: Americans are noisy and obnoxious...if you fit the stereotype. When in queue do not talk about your life, the fascinating things you see, or ramble on about anything. Be quiet, stand in line, and listen to the people around you. You went on vacation to soak in the culture. You will learn a lot about the culture by standing in queue properly. Watch, listen and take it all in.

Save Money Traveling: Groceries

Not to fulfill the Scottish stereotype, but to help you keep your vacation within budget I recommend a few tips. Here's a couple of ideas that may save you money, or allow you to put more money into other things such as purchasing souvenirs or something else.

Self-catering saves you money but it may limit your mobility. If you pick a central location and stay in one place, you can fill up your shelves and refrigerator with stuff. At the same time, you can experience living in Scotland like a local. The grocery store experience puts you in the same circles of the locals.

Instead of buying expensive soda buy this unique product. Fruit Squash.


It is concentrated fruit juice. Mix it with bottled water and you can make it last and spend pennies a day. You can carry it with you as you travel. If you plan to go hiking it is something to think about.

Breakfast is a must, as it fuels you up for a vigorous day of travel. You can buy breakfast foods at the grocery store, experience a good Scottish breakfast and save money as well. Most restaurants are not open for breakfast. I have found the breakfast restaurant is an American thing. The B&B provides a great breakfast, as well as hotels provide something to nibble on in the morning but you may have to wait until lunch to get any food on the road. So if you self-cater, you will need to load up on breakfast goods. You can get a pack (see picture) of good Scottish breakfast staples. I do not like black pudding and you may as well. It is basically pig or lamb blood. Yuck. But some love it.


You can get breakfast cereal easily and it is the same stuff as in the States. Sometimes they put it in different packaging, but you will figure it out.

If you don't want to spend much for dinner, I recommend the margherta pizzas. You can get a two for one pizza deal in any of the grocery stores pretty easily. They are pretty good for frozen pizzas. I would have one every Friday night.

The strongest suggestion to you is to enjoy one really good meal. The lunch menu is usually good until 5pm...so if you eat early you will also save money. But if you take care of getting a good breakfast in the morning, you can have a few extra pounds for a good dinner out. Maybe an extra pint or two.

Scottish groceries: For the self-caterer.

When you look into vacations in Scotland, be aware of the self-catering option. Basically what it means is you buy your own food. As I have said many times, the grocery stores are very good in Scotland and they range in price and quality. The low end being Somerfeld, the middle Tesco and the high end Sainsbury's.

Scottish orange juice comes from South Africa.

Yogurt is available in stores for a good price. Look for deals, similar to the ones in the States...5 for a pound, etc.

Salmon is a good deal. This salmon was on sale for 4 dollars a pound.

Beer is much cheaper in the store, just like in the States. You can get a 12 pack for the same price you would pay in the States. Tennents is the most popular and common beer in pubs.

If you want an American beer, there is Budweiser but there is also Miller. The Miller tastes a little different than the American version and you can get good deals on buying the full pint cans.

You can get Pespi and Coke products the same as you can in the States. They usually come in smaller cans.

For coffee, instant seems to be more popular. Most self-catering accomodations will have hot water kettles. I recommend you go with good old Nescafe or else you may get some really strong Scottish coffee you may not enjoy.


If you really wanta to try something new and uniquely Scottish, you must try Irn-Bru. It is an orange-type soda natives love. Rumor has it, it is good for hangovers. But you will find more Irn-Bru then Coke or Pepsi. My suggestion is you give it a try. It may grow on you.

BLACK CURRANT: Scottish food

One thing I found frustrating while in Scotland was the jam I could buy. I could not find regular grape jelly. Welch's does not sell anything overseas and so, concord grape jelly is out.

The only thing close was black currant jam. And if you ever had it, you may like it but I find it too tart and did not mix well with peanut butter.

I would make a sandwich and go for a hike. Unfortunately, I would take out my sandwich, start to eat it and my face would pucker up with dislike for the fruity jam. It ruined my PB&J.

You could find other jams such as strawberry and raspberry, but I'm a grape jelly guy.

If you stay in Scotland for a vacation it is not a big deal. You can handle the black currant for a week or two. In fact, don't miss a Scottish breakfast if you can help it. The breakfasts are fantastic and will get into more of that tomorrow.

But if you had to eat black currant as your own grape-like jam, you'd get sick of it as well. It's an American thing I guess.

If you have a peanut butter and jam sandwich this week, think about the wonderful taste you take for granted.

Hidden Gem: Loch Ericht

Loch Ericht is a hidden gem, nestled off the train station at Dalwhinnie. It is easy to get to by train and requires no car. If you can walk, you can enjoy the loch. I suggest you pick a nice day, however, so you can sit on the shore and take in the scenery.




The estate at the Dalwhinnie side of the loch offers lodging.



Click on the picture of the Lodge and get a booking form and see the costs of a stay.

















Click the map to see the location of the loch and get directions as well.





To get a good view of the loch, play the video below. It is a remote place you will enjoy for a good day of contemplation, relaxation and reflection.



There is a very nice pub near the loch with a fine restaurant inside. You can rent bikes at the pub. I suggest you get there at the beginning of the day and make the rental fee worth the price.






This is a picture of the pub and restaurant.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RABBIE!

Today is Robert Burns birthday. If you are a fan of Scotland, then you should be celebrating today. For Robert Burns was a great man, a great Scot, and worthy of a holiday.

Burns was a romancer, a farmer and a patriot. He is Scotland's favorite son.

He was born on January 25, 1759. He came from a poor farming background. Although he recieved a good education despite his family situation. He had a zests for the life of poetry, nature, women, and drink.

Some of his writings were political in nature...

Some were romantic...

And some downright scary....

The death of Robert Burns was very sad. The doctor advised him to go swimming in cold water to cure his rheumatic fever and instead got pneumonia. He died at 37.

Enjoy a good Burns Night and in the spirit of Burns, I write:

'Tis but more we wish and none we get,

A broken vow and promise.

Of which God sees and tells us,

We are frail afterall.

No bonnie reason for such tirade,

To swear to Him that is betrayed.

Of men of arms, and golden tributes,

We break bread as well as arms.

But in the heather is true blood,

Cast due to loyalty and of oath.

We celebrate the patriots who died,

And scorn those who fled.

For patriots are born to die,

And louts to wed.

We make peace by making war,

And taking her to bed.

BURNS CLUBS: A man is a man for a' that

Robert Burns Club in Ayr

Robert Burns is a National Hero in Scotland. His life is celebrated and honored as much as George Washington's in the United States. Some places in the US, will hail the fact the Washington slept there. The same thing happens in Scotland where towns claim to be a place where Burns lived. Click on the pictures in this entry to go to the various clubs. On their sites you can learn more about Burns and get a true impression of how Scots feel about Burns. It is something very unique.

If you would like to join a Burns club, here's a start. The World Federation.

Click on the image of Burns and join.

Click the picture to the left and watch a video to get you in the mood for Burns Night.

TO A HAGGIS by Robert Burns

1.Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,

Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!

Aboon them a' ye tak your place,

Painch, tripe, or thairm:

Weel are ye wordy of a grace

As lang's my arm.

2.The groaning trencher there ye fill,

Your hudies like a distant hill,

Your pin wad help to mend a mill

In time o' need,

While thro' your pores the dews distil

Like amber bead.

3.His knife see rustic Labour dight,

An' cut ye up wi' ready slight,

Trenching your gushing entrails bright,

Like onie ditch;

And then, O what a glorious sight,

Warm-reeking, rich!

4.Then horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:

Deil tak the hindmost, on they drive,

Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve

Are bent like drums;

Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,

'Bethankit!' hums.

5.Is there that owre his French ragout,

Or olio that wad staw a sow,

Or fricassee wad mak her spew

Wi perfect scunner,

Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view

On sic a dinner?

6.Poor devil! see him owre his trash,

As fecl;ess as a wither'd rash,

His spindle shank a guid whip-lash,

His nieve a nit;

Tho' bluidy flood or field to dash,

O how unfit.

7.But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,

The trembling earth resounds his tread,

Clap in his walie nieve a blade,

He'll make it whistle;

An' legs, an' arms, an' heads will sned

Like taps o' thrissle.

8.Ye pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,

And dish them out their bill o' fare,

Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware,

That jaups in luggies;

But if ye wish her gratfu' prayer,

Gie her a Haggis!

Burns Night

Burns night is January 25th. It is a ritual similar to Thanksgiving but with many differences. The first thing you will notice is the dress. Men wear kilts and woman in tartan dresses. The mood is extremely festive.

The haggis. It is the most important part of the night. It is going to be eaten and addressed (spoken of). You will not understand most of what is said, as the speeches are written in old Scottish tongue. But you will get the point.

Right now, Scotland is considering lobbying the United States to lift a ban on hagis, in hopes of boosting the sales of the sheep-stomach-based national dish. (click here for the full story)

I was lucky to be used as prop in the filming of how a proper "Burns Night Dinner" should be done. I was the "virgin American" and it was a great experience. The boys got in an argument on the pronouncation of one word. I can't quite remember what word although it was a fiery debate between the president of one Burns Club against the other. That's how serious it is.

"To the Haggis" is the first poem spoken and the one that cuts the haggis for the dinner to commence. Kind of like carving the turkey.

I went to an informal Burns night and the same poem is read but not one measures each word and action. It is said and dinner starts, however, part of their dinner was reading poetry about the guests and it was very fun.

The idea is to have fun. Burns loved to have fun and so to keep his spirit alive, Burns Nights should be exciting, with loud voices, good drink and food plus dancing.

More on Robbie Burns, tomorrow.

ROBERT BURNS

Robert Burns, poet, patriot and legend.

If there is one person you need to read about, it is Robert Burns. He is a legend in Scotland and his birthday celebration every year requires skill and knowledge to appreciate.

I was lucky enough to attend two Burns suppers in Scotland. In the next couple of days, I will provide ideas, stories and details about Burns supper. January 25th is his birthday and throughout Scotland, families, communities and all the rest will be celebrating with a dinner of haggis, neeps and tatties. A bottle of whisky will be emptied, songs will be sung, and dancing is a necessity. The joy of being a Scot will be celebrated.

Why? Robert Burns represents the spirit of Scotland for many reasons. He was a farmer and much debate is made of his farming. Some say he was unlucky and others say he was a poor farmer and much fiery debate will continue if you mention it.

As we prepare for the big night in the next few days, remember to be open minded and know that if you truly appreciate Scotland, you must appreciate this man. It is like not appreciating George Washington or Thomas Jefferson. In Robert Burns, his words define the nation.

MUSIC

Maire Brennan

Check out the new feature on this site. I found a great website called, Pandora. The site offers a chance to listen to artists who sound similar to the ones you like. I put a few tunes to the right for you to check out. However, if you like the Pandora site, I suggest you sign up. It's free and it offers great music while you work.

I enjoy Maire Brennan and create a channel with similar artists. I also like David Gray and his music cared me through many a long walk.

I'll keep putting up different tunes with Scottish overtones. It will put you in the mood for Scottish things.

Currency: The Curse of Tourism

Curry is a very popular food...at a good price.

Right now, the exchange rate is much better than it was six months ago. One US dollar is worth 0.511 British pounds. Or one pound is worth $1.95. The exchange was worse at over $2.00. You may not think it is a big deal, the 5 cents but it will all add up in the end.

Shopping in Inverness

It is only natural to be confused when you get to Scotland and because the numbers look smaller. 1.00 looks like 1.00...well really its 2.00. Double everything you see and you'll get a better idea how much you are really paying.

Downtown "High Street"of Stirling


Most "American" restaurants such as "Fridays"(in Glasgow) and "Longhorn Steakhouse"(in Stirling) use a menu you swear is from the United States. They got you. You may think you're buying a hamburger for 8.99 when you are actually buying it for 17.00. Comprehend? My advice is to avoid American restaurants (heck you aren't there to do American things). Pubs provide the best deal for the money.

From this sign, it looks like a mixed drink is $10.

I was able to purchase a bowl of soup, roll, and a pint for under 5 pounds in Stirling. A pint will cost you around $4 - $5 in most pubs, but remember a pint in Scotland is a beer and a half in the United States.

My "Thanksgiving" dinner from last year.


I know I'm throwing a lot of numbers around but the bottom line is to be careful eating out. Most restaurants will post their menus at the door. Take a good look and do the math. Edinburgh has some fantastic places to eat, unfortunately when you return home you will get your credit card bill and freak. Use your credit card when you can to get the better exchange rate. However, at the pubs use cash.

Anything resembling a touristy place, will rip you off. If you are not in Glasgow or Edinburh, things are cheaper. You can grab a nice lunch in many pubs. Pubs aren't like bars in the US. Pubs are community gathering places not havens for drunks. Although you may find a few (drunks that is), there is no reason to be afraid.

After a while you will understand how poorly the dollar stacks up against the pound. It is sad. You will wonder how Scots can afford things but I say the same thing when I go to New York City and pay $20 for eggs and bacon.

Avoid Heathrow Airport

Flying through Heathrow is a headache.

Okay, your travel agent says the flight is cheaper if you fly into or through Heathrow Airport. Yes, probably it is cheaper. However, you are flying into England to go to Scotland. That's a bit like flying into Canada to get to the United States. If your vacation is in Scotland, you're wasting your time, money and eventually you will avoid headaches and anxiety.

It is timely to mention this little travel tip because yesterday they had a bit of an accident at the airport. A plane landed short of the runway and belly flopped onto the grass. No one was hurt. However it brings up a timely issue.



Weird things happen at Heathrow

Heathrow is a magnet for weird things and security issues. It is the largest airport in England and with it brings all the issues of a high profile place. Of course, Glasgow Airport had the weirdness of two guys wanting to burn themselves up by slamming their SUV into the entrance, so I can't single out Heathrow for weirdness. However, when I traveled through Heathrow here is what I learned.

Watch the monitors for gate departures closely. They will change on you without telling you or you want here the change. The airport is huge. Unbelievably big and thus getting from one gate to another can take a very long time. They will put you on a bus to move you from one terminal to the next and I swear the bus ride was an hour long.

Just be aware of what you are getting into when you buy a ticket. Traveling through Heathrow may seem like a cost saving but I would not recommend it. You'd be better off flying to Glasgow. Also, if you are flying to Edinburgh know that it is more expensive to fly to Edinburgh than Glasgow. And if you fly to Glasgow you can take the train to Edinburgh quite easily. The costs might offset, so be wise about what you plan to do. I find Glasgow airport very easy to get around. For New Yorkers, it's like going to the Albany airport. Not that big but big enough to host international flights.

Clans

Piping in full kilt

Sometimes I take for granted that everyone understands the Clan system of Scottish heritage. It may be difficult to fully describe because it is such an intricate system.

Basically, if you have Scottish ancestory in your family, you can trace your family back to a particular Clan. Some family names end up being a subset or a branch of the main Clan.

The Clan system is what evolved as protective states within the country of Scotland. Think of the tribal systems in North America. Some Clans were friendly toward each other and others were bitter rivals. Think Hatfields and McCoys.

If your name starts with Mac...well, that's a good sign you have Scottish ancestory. If your name starts with Mc...that's a sign you have Irish ancestory. Not a scientific way to determine the line, but a simple litmus test.

My Clan is Cumming...which is a branch of the Comyn Clan. The Comyn Clan goes back a very long way. Our great ancestor, Red Comyn was one of the heirs to the throne of Scotland but Robert the Bruce (the first King of Scotland) murdered him in a church. Which caused a huge ruckus...Bruce was excommunicated from the church, which means he could not be king until he was forgiven. While his friends were trying to get the Pope to remove the excommunication, Bruce went and terrorized the Comyn clan. All lands belonging to Comyn were sliced up and the family was left scrambling for safety. Some changed their name and some joined the protection of other clans. I visited the remains of Dunphail Castle in Forres where our family was starved and burned out. We were the keepers of the forest there (which means we had hunting rights and we permited those we deemed to hunt in the forest). The rights were granted to the neighboring Clan, the Randolphs. It ended badly for us.
The remains of Dunphail Castle

Each clan has a tartan color that is distinctive to the clan. There are many legends about kilts and tartans but you just need to know if you have a clan...you have a tartan. There are many different styles of tartan, such as hunting, ancient and modern. Depending on what you want you can have a choice. A simple google search can help you but if you go to http://kiltstore.net/ it could be a good place to start.

Cumming Clan Tartan (modern)

Once you know there are specific tartans for specific families, you will feel foolish in another family's tartan. Kilt's are expensive and are unique. If you waste your money purchasing a kilt because it "looks good", you miss the point and will regret it when someone asks you what family kilt you have. You know if your name is Jones and you were a Smith...they'll either think your are unloyal, stupid, or both.

Each clan has a crest and a slogan. Our slogan is "Courage". We wear our crests with pride. You will become very prejudice of your tartans and crest. We all think ours is the best. It fits us. You will take pride in your kilt and gear.

The crest and slogan of Clan Cumming "Courage"

I will spend more time on kilts later. But for now, no that if you have Scottish ancestory you belong to a Clan. Unless of course, your family immigrated from another country and landed in Scotland.

Best of luck finding your clan.

Here's a site for you to help your search:

scotclans.com (click picture)