Quick! What’s something you can get eat in Scotland and (probably) nowhere else?
Haggis, right?
Well, that’s not all!
You can also get something that is probably even worse for you than the Monster Thickburger at your local Hardees.
Actually, there are several deep-fried somethings that you can buy in Scotland but nowhere else.
These are so uncommon that even many Scottish officials thought they were mythic, but they did a survey and discovered they were not. (Unlike the Loch Ness Monster, apparently.)
In fact, they found that 22% of "chip shops" (whatever a "chip shop" is) sell them and another 17% used to.
What are they?
Well, for a start . . .
HOW ABOUT DEEP-FRIED MILKY WAY BARS?
Only in Scotland they call them "Mars Bars."
“Chip shops” are take-away stores specialising in fried food, especially chips and fish deep-fried in batter. “Chips” in this instance does not refer to a bag of potato chips (which we call “crisps”) but to deep-fried potatoes (like french-fries but fatter). Traditionally, fish and chips would be covered in salt and vinegar, wrapped in yesterday’s newspaper and carried home. They don’t use newspaper any more but chip shops are still going strong.
I’ve often heard stories about deep-fried Mars Bars but have never actually seen one. Perhaps a trip north-of-the-border is called for.
Thanks for the clarification, Kurt!
Incidentally, chips are now more properly called “freedom fries” here in the States.
That’s not to say that’s what most people call them (yet). Actually most people just call them “fries” as in the ubiquitous drive-through phrase “Do you want fries with that?”, which once tickled a Britisn Morris dancer who I met who was visiting the States.
It also seems that what y’all call “take-away” is what we would call “carry-out” or “pick-up”–not to be confused with the pickups we drive around our very large highway system–something that also tickled the Morris dancer. He and his friends (mates) wanted to go down to a bar (pub) and they were told to get to a nearby one they should get on a particular highway and drive. Turned out it was thirty miles down the road!
Wow! It seems that we really are “separated by a common language”.
Wikipedia offers an interesting (or frightening) recipe for deep-frying your own Mars Bars as well as helpful explanation of the different types of Mars Bar on sale around the world.
And I’ll remember to call ’em “freedom fries” whenever possible.
I have heard that the origin of the English calling french fries as “chips” is the same origin as Americans calling them freedom fries.
“Personally, I think that most Scotish food is based on a dare.”
From one of my favorite movies of all time: “So I Married An Axe Murderer”
In this neck of the states, we generally call it “take-out.”
And, for all non-Americans — never ask what carbonated non-alcholic beverages are called in the US.
Funny thing, Mary: I’m preparing to do a post on just that subject.
I will brace myself for a LONG post, probably followed by a LONG comments exchange.
0:)
Actually in Scotland they use Mars bars that are the same as the Mars bars we have here they have almonds and nougats and are amazing. They do not, however, use Milky Ways. (Well I suppose they could if they WANTED to….)
I worked in a Scottish Pub & Eatery for a time back in the mid 90s. We served that delicacy as a desert witha scoop of cinamon and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. MAN WAS IT GOOD! If you ever get a chance, DO try this bizarre but tasty treat! (For the record, some of the other employees and myself DID on occasion ask the chef to deep fry other types of candy bars we gout out of the vending machines in the break room… KitKat was the LEAST popular…)
Joseph
(who comes from a state where we drink “pop”)
I’m writing about Scottish food,but I’venot been lucky yet.Could anyone tell me which thing is the tastiest?