I’m in Edinburgh and, as I’m sure you’ll agree, one of the best parts about traveling to a new country is discovering new vocabulary.
Now, besides reading, I also have a fascination for anything taboo or provocative (not necessarily for enacting these behaviors, but for exploring why they are taboo or provocative; why they sometimes make us uncomfortable).
So, I was excited when my two passions crossed paths when reading a menu at a restaurant in the Royal Botanical Garden of Edinburgh this Sunday.
hmmm, should I have the “hairy tatties” or the “cock a leekie”?
LOL! Tough call!
I know, right?
Oh boy…
It turns out that the ingredients are much more innocent than one would expect! hahaha!
Definitely the cock a leekie…Delicious! Then wash it down with some warm-reekin haggis–great chieftain o’ the puddin-race. You’re a lucky lass!
Now THAT sounds like a meal! Bon appetit to me!
Hahaha Which did you end up choosing?
Just wanted to come by to say thanks so much for stopping by our blog and for the follow! You have a great blog here and I’m looking forward to following along
Hairy tatties with a garden salad…. it was the middle of the day after all
I love the spirit of your blog – am looking forward to reading more about your adventures!
I don’t know what hairy tatties are – some kind of potato dish I assume. Cock-a-leekie soup on the other hand, that I know! These names are reminding me of an expression that my Scottish grandfather used to bandy about, i.e. “It’s better than a slap in the face with a wet hattie.”
Yes, hairy tatties are potatoes mashed with fish (which give it its ‘hairy’ feel). I like your grandfather’s expression! Having just returned from Scotland, I can hear it said with the accent and it sounds just fantastic!
: )
the menu messed my tiny asian brain, but i would have both and say: this one without hair, please
hahaha
then you would have to ask for a “naked tattie”!
LOL
Having grown up in Scotland, and recently returned from a family holiday there, you should certainly have tried hairy tatties and cock-a-leekie! My mouth is watering even as I type this!
Didn’t get a chance to try the cock-a-leekie but the hairy tatties were delicious! I loved Scotland and hope to return there next year, so you’ll have to recommend other culinary treasures if I do!
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151032664076214&set=a.10151032650286214.488862.685561213&type=3
If you follow this link, you’ll come across a picture of a deep-fried Mars bar. Yes, that’s right – a Mars bar dipped in batter, and deep fried. This utterly disgusting item is available only in Scottish chip shops. Well – our teenage daughter enjoyed it!
oooo, that is fantastically disgusting! I looked for it when I was there but could not find it and it is more horrible than I had imagined – thank you for sharing it with me (although I’m sure I am going to be having deep fried nightmares now!)
Interesting options. Which do you go with? Better be tasty w/a name like that.
the hairy tatties
(turns out it’s just fish and potatoes!)
You must have been relieved.
Decisions decision lol. Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and for the follow.
I admire your writing style and look forward to following your posts