More Tastes of Scotland

This vessel seems a bit grim...

Although the weather may seem rather uninteresting, this is a subject I report on regularly.  It is certainly worth noting that today is absolutely beautiful: thss Sunday gives us plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the 50s, maybe bordering on the low 60s.  A veritable heatwave.

Anstruther Harbor

This past weekend we visited St Andrews and Anstruther, the latter located in the East Neuk of Fife.  Pictures are forthcoming of our jaunt to St Andrews and the activities of today (including the Edinburgh Zoo), but we have been busy sampling some of Scotland's finest dishes, among them fish and chips.

Something fishy going on here...

No caption needed

Anstruther is the largest of the villages in the East Neuk, and a bus from St Andrews enables you to arrive in this harbor town within thirty minutes.  The main reason we ventured to Anster (as some refer to Anstruther, pronounced AINT-ster) was for its yummy fish and chips.  No, not potato chips; British chips are rather akin to potato wedges (but better).  Thus is was that we ended up at the Anstruther Fish Bar for the best in Scotland and in the UK (well, at least in 2009).  Truly tasty, the fish fillets are lightly battered and very flaky, and the chips are cooked to perfection.  Little grease to speak of here, as none is needed to enhance the flavor.  

The squeal deal

For those who do not like fish, why not sample some barbecue?  You might think that barbecue sandwiches from Virginia and North Carolina are second to none, but we ate at a little establishment in Edinburgh appropriately named "Oink" that just might offer stiff competition.  For a truly gastronomical delight, order the Grunter - which approaches a half of a pound of pork - topped with haggis and chili relish.

Those pesky seagulls...

And if you have room after eating fish and chips or a mound of pork, millionaire shortbread is an excellent choice as a dessert.  With layers of shortbread, caramel and chocolate, this treat lives up to its name in taste (but the price is right).

Sunset in Edinburgh, from the Thistle Golf Course