16 Ways to Celebrate Scottish Food & Drink for Burns Night

From trendy street food in Edinburgh to Britain's remotest pub in Knoydart, Scotland is a food and drink hub just waiting to be discovered. Here's 16 great things to do for Burns Night...

1. SCOTTISH MEAT Scotland is famous for its amazing meat, and specialty butcher Simon Howie has some of the best available. Selling everything from super tender beef (strictly conditioned on the bone for a minimum of 21 days to develop texture and flavour) to grass-fed highlands lamb, and the most incredible haggis and black pudding, the two shops in Perth and Auchterarder are heaven for meat lovers. Selected products are available from supermarkets around Scotland, or you can browse the full selection online at thescottishbutcher.com 2. SAY CHEERS TO RABBIE BURNS There will be lively celebrations happening all over the country this Burns Night (25 January), but if you're heading to Scotland's capital, Ghillie Dhum – a cavernous two-floor bar, restaurant and ceilidh venue – always promises a riotous knees up. Expect a four-course Scottish feast, plenty of whisky and lots of live folk music to toast the haggis.               ghillie-dhu.co.uk 3. TRY SCOTTISH VENISON CHARCUTERIE The world of British charcuterie has never been more exciting, and Great Glen produce some of the UK's finest using top quality wild Scottish venison. Owners Anja and Jan Jacob are artisans of the highest order, expertly creating mouth-watering delicacies like venison Bresaola, chilli chorizo and our favourite, green pepper venison salami. The taste is unbelievable, and it's no wonder they now stock some of Scotland's top restaurants. You can also buy online. greatglencharcuterie.com 4. VISIT BRITAIN'S MOST REMOTE PUB A trip to The Old Forge in Knoydart – named as Britain's remotest pub by the Guinness Book of Records – requires an 18-mile hike over a mountain pass or a seven-mile ferry crossing in a fishing boat, which only departs twice a day. Talk about working for your pint! But the journey is half the fun, and once you arrive you're guaranteed a warm welcome, with seafood platters, real ale and plenty of whisky. theoldforge.co.uk 5. GET MESSY WITH SEAFOOD AT THE LOBSTER SHACK For seafood lovers it doesn't get better than sitting on the waterfront, tucking into freshly cooked lobster as you watch the fishing boats come in. The Lobster Shack is a hidden gem located on North Berwick Harbour where you can gorge on fish and chips, seafood chowder or the house speciality, grilled lobster smothered in garlic butter, served with a heaping pile of chips. The shack is closed over the winter, so check the website for opening times. lobstershack.co.uk 6. GO ON A GIN JOLLY!  Pickering's was voted Britain's Best Gin in the 2016 Great British Food Awards, so we'd highly recommend a pilgrimage to the distillery in Edinburgh to try it out straight from the source. Take a guided tour to learn more about this fantastic company, then head next door to the Summerhall arts hub for an afternoon of culture. Finish your day with a perfect G&T at The Royal Dick pub, helpfully located next-door to the distillery! pickeringsgin.com 7. GORGE ON SMOKED LOBSTER, SCALLOPS & MORE! Scotland is best known for its smoked salmon, but the clever folk at Hebridean Smokehouse have also turned their smoking expertise to the freshest local shellfish. The company's smoked lobster and scallops are truly luxurious and make the ultimate Burns Night starter. Of course, the smokehouse also makes a cracking selection of smoked salmon, from delicate herby gravlax to deliciously robust peat-smoked salmon. hebrideansmokehouse.com 8. CHECK OUT EDINBURGH'S STREET FOOD SCENE The street food scene in Edinburgh is showing no signs of running out of steam. There are markets and pop-up events galore all over the city, but the weekly Stockbridge Market (every Sunday 10am-5pm) is always reliable for a spot of shopping and a delicious meal. Look out for fabulous haggis Scotch eggs from Aye Love Real Food and tattie scone wraps from Scoff Foods. stockbridgemarket.com 9. CELEBRATE SCOTTISH BEEF Scottish beef is world famous, so you can't visit the capital without trying a steak. Some of Edinburgh's finest are served at Chop House, which has two branches in the city – one on Market Street, the other in Leith. Steaks are sourced from Shaws Fine Meats in the Scottish Boarders and are dry-aged in house for a minimum of 35 days before being cooked over an open flame charcoal grill for medium rare perfection. The Sunday roast and full Scottish breakfast are also highly recommended too. chophousesteak.co.uk 10. DRINK BRITAIN'S BEST CRAFT BEER Our judges named the Obsidian Imperial Stout made by Cumbernauldbased Lawman Brewery as Britain's best craft beer in the 2016 Great British Food Awards, so you know it's a good 'un. Lawman is a truly artisan microbrewery and there are only a few bottles of the special edition stout left to buy (£3.15 from alesela. co.uk) so snap them up while you can! Otherwise, you can buy delicious ales from the brewery's core range at pubs across North Lanarkshire, as well as indie stores like Independent Spirit of Bath. lawmanbrew.co.uk 11. TRY SCOTTISH TABLET ICE CREAM Tablet is a Scottish speciality loved by those with a serious sweet tooth, made from three simple ingredients – butter, sugar and condensed milk. It's similar to fudge, but slightly harder and more grainy, and utterly delicious. And the clever folk at Mackie's of Scotland have used it to make the most mouthwatering ice cream, guaranteed to satisfy the inner child in all of us! £3.89 from ocado.com 12. GO ON A 'WEE FOOD TOUR' Visitors and locals alike rave about Madeline Miller's lively and informative walking tours of the city. The Wee Food Tour basically involves a fun afternoon of tastings, experienced in six different restaurants, speciality shops and independent, family-run businesses that are experts in their dishes and products they make. You'll be able to wrap your mouth around over 20 different food items that even some locals have never tried! weefoodtour.com 13 EXPERIMENT WITH HAGGIS! Rich, meaty, peppery and utterly delicious, haggis most definitely isn't just for Burns Night – we love it in burgers, fritters, even in ravioli! But how ever you choose to cook it, Uncle Roy's Haggis Sauce is the perfect accompaniment. Made with redcurrants, malt whisky and horseradish, it certainly packs a punch and is also delicious with all kinds of meat or cheese. £2.95 from uncleroys.co.uk 14. EMBRACE LUXURY ON THE ISLE OF SKYE With roaring fires, incredible food and the cosiest of bedrooms, Kilnoch Lodge on the Isle of Skye is the ultimate rural escape. Whether you want an action-packed trip embracing the gorgeous countryside or something a bit lazier, the estate can organise it all, from cookery classes and spa treatments to wild country walks, fly fishing and deer stalking. kinloch-lodge.co.uk 15. TRY TRADITIONAL HEBRIDEAN FLAKY SALMON Located on South Uist in the Outer Hebrides – an unspoilt island with an abundance of wild life, including sea eagles, otters, and wild deer – Salar Smokehouse makes some of the finest smoked salmon we've ever tried. Owner Iain MacRury specialises in 'flaky' salmon, which is hot smoked to perfection on site and sold all over the world. A true taste of Scotland. Buy online at salarsmokehouse.co.uk 16. DRINK ARTISAN COFFEE IN GLASGOW Suppliers of coffee and tea in Glasgow since 1841, Thomson's were sourcing and roasting top quality coffee beans way before the hipsters got involved! These days the company's ethically sourced coffee is served in some of the UK's finest restaurants and cafes – especially those around Glasgow. You can also buy online at thomsonscoffee.com