Ah Scotland, home of whisky, haggis and the country’s second national drink, Irn-Bru, it’s also home to some rather strange food quirks that visitors often find perplexing. But to Scottish people, they are completely normal. So, what are these strange food quirks that we don’t find odd at all?
Well, first, let’s go with the big one: the battered, deep-fried Mars bar. It’s so wrong, some members of parliament even tried to ban it, but come on, don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. Yes, this one is an acquired taste, but if you have tried it, then you’ll know that it’s out of this world (and that could be a good or bad thing).
Sticking with deep-fried delicacies, we have the takeaway dinner that comes in a pizza box which is known as a ‘munchy box’. It’s handy because you have everything there right in front of you. Chips, burger, onion rings, the whole lot. However, there’s no doubt that it is a little different. Other folks see a pizza box, and they expect a pizza while the Scots see a pizza box, it could be a pizza, or it could be a wonderful mish mash of a full-on Friday night takeaway with a little bit of everything from the menu.
Moving along to something a little more traditional: well-fired rolls. Now we all know they are nothing more than slightly burnt rolls. They’re burnt, and they taste good, all you need is a big slathering of butter on there and you are sorted for a quick snack.
Staying on the topic of traditional-style quirks, we then have the first foot custom. Now, this isn’t that odd at all. In fact, it isn’t even a patch on some of the weird superstitions from around the world. But it is, however, a true Scottish tradition, and one that tourists and visitors often find perplexing. Whisky for the first person in the door even if it’s 8 a.m.? Why not!
Back to the food though, next, we have the fact that here in Scotland, anything can go into a pie, and we mean anything. Mince, curry, beans, macaroni. The pie is the ideal casing for any meal you can fit in there. And once you get your pie sorted, you can then put that pie inside a buttered bread roll (not a well-fired one though, that would be crazy).
Here in Scotland, you’ll also find that the traditional Scottish breakfast, which consists of a metric ton of meat and carbohydrates, is, in fact, a perfectly acceptable option for any time of the day. And should you fancy a curry in the evening but aren’t too fussed about eating rice, then just have chips instead.
So, there you have it. Scottish people have what you might call unique tastes when it comes to food. But while many of these may seem a little odd at first, once you’ve assimilated yourself into life up north, they become as normal as the cold weather. So, do yourself a favour, and if you ever find yourself in Scotland, try a deep-fried Mars bar at least. You don’t know what you’re missing.
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