Food in Glasgow, Scotland

The largest city in Scotland is Glasgow. Glasgow is also the third largest city in the United Kingdom, and has the pride of being the largest industrial center in Scotland. Visitors to Glasgow can always find something to do, whether it’s wandering through the beautiful hillsides or taking in the culture at the many museums. Scottish food has always been a bit different from other European foods, and in Glasgow, visitors can find delicacies that they have never heard of.

Haggis

Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish that is most commonly served to commemorate the poet Robert Burn’s birthday. It is also served at family gatherings and at most inns. Some consider it to be the “official dish” of Scotland. It is created using the stomach of an animal, usually a sheep. Oatmeal, fat, spices, stock, and a sheep’s heart, live and lungs are placed inside of the intestines and the entire bag is boiled. Most haggis is now created using a commercialized casing. Interestingly enough, there are many countries where making haggis is illegal. The United States, for instance, does not allow anyone to use lungs to cook with. This means that true haggis can not be made.

Other Traditional Foods

Scotland is full of foods that are native to the country. One of these is known as clapshot. Clapshot is often served with haggis, and is made from mashing potatoes and turnips together. Forfor Bridie is another meal that is created by putting minced beef, along with other spices, into a puff pastry, which is then baked. Clootie Dumpling is a traditional dessert in Scotland and is made of flour, dried fruit, sugar and bread crumbs. It is wrapped into cloth and boiled for a few hours. It is then dried in an oven.

Eating Out

Glasgow has some delicious restaurants to take advantage of. Some serve traditional Scottish cuisine, while others serve things that are a bit different. Gamba is one restaurant that is said to serve the best seafood in the city. The restaurant is in the basement of the building, meaning that it is cool, but the decoration is light and airy, giving a soft feel to the room. Swordfish, sole and sea bream are cooked with Asian flavors, and puddings can be found to satisfy every sweet tooth.

For Italian cuisine, head to Fratelli Sarti. This restaurant serves Tuscan food with a relaxed, wholly-Italian atmosphere. Checked tablecloths cover the tables, and there are pizzas and pasta to choose from. Tiramisu is served for dessert, along with some strong coffee to go with it.

The Salty Dog is above Princess Square, which is where the best shopping in Glasgow is. This restaurant is also a cocktail bar, and has a number of value meals during lunch time, including salmon sandwiches and sausage baguettes. Angus beef is available in the evening hours. Even vegetarians can enjoy the Salty Dog, as they have special vegetarian meals to offer, unlike some of the other restaurants in the city.