A Traditional Scottish Christmas & New Year

“Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never though upon;… That thou canst never once reflect on old long syne.” – Robert Burns

A season full of celebration and yuletide cheer! Although it is argued that no one can do the festive season quite like the Scots. As a result of this theory, which as a traditional Scottish food manufacturing company we fully support, we have put together some top tips in how to have a most traditional Scottish Christmas & New Year:

Rise of the UK’s Top Celebrity Chefs

“Anyone who’s a chef, who loves food, ultimately knows that all that matters is: ‘Is it good? Does it give pleasure?’” – Anthony Bourdain

As purveyors of high quality produce we think very highly of those who have the same sentiment towards food as we do – chefs, and in particular, celebrity chefs. How does one go from merely enjoying food to making a high-flying celebrity career out of it? We look at some of the top UK chefs and their rise to fame & success:

How to Cook Traditional Scottish Puddings

“The proof is in the pudding!” – Unknown

The savoury Scottish pud - a delicacy that graces many Scottish dinner plates. Whether you’re eating black, red or white there’s a way to do it. Many a Scot will just pop into the local chip shop and eat them fried in batter and served with chips – and there’s certainly nothing wrong with that! 

A Winter Warmer… Food for Cold Nights

“Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments, embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.” – John Boswell

There’s no doubt about it. Scotland does winter food remarkably well. It’s very likely this is to do with the often bitterly cold climate, the not so hot summer days and the harshest of winter winds. 

Robert Burns Halloween – Then & Now

Boo! It's that time of year again - Halloween is drawing near and, as a food manufacturing company that specialises in traditional Scottish produce, we look back in time to the most celebrated Scots poet – Robert Burns.

Old ‘Rabbie’, was famously a big fan of all things mystical and spooky. He even penned a whole poem dedicated to All Hallow’s Eve – the night where the veil between living and dead is said to be thinnest!

Food Festivals Around the World

"One cannot think well, love well, sleep well, if one has not dined well." - Virginia Wolf

All around the world there is one thing we have in common – food. We all eat it, we all love it and many of us celebrate it. As a Scottish food manufacturing company, we specialise in traditional food, sourced locally from the vast landscape of Scotland. We encourage and admire the celebration of local food, which is why we have put together some of our favourite food festivals from around the world.

10 Facts About the Scottish Food & Drink Sector You May Not Know

"If the current rate of growth continues we will have an export rate similar to that of the North Sea oil & gas industry... that is remarkable!" - Richard Lochhead, Scottish Food & Drink Secretary

As a Scottish food manufacturer, Speyside Specialities is part of an industry that is key to Scotland’s economic strength. We are proud to supply traditional Scottish food products to supermarkets around the UK and abroad - haggis, black pudding, sausages and various other traditional Scots puds. In fact Speyside Specialities is the worlds number one oatmeal based white pudding supplier!

How to Eat Sausages in Autumn

September is here, which means summer is well and truly on its way out! Gone are the beach hats, sunburnt noses and sizzling barbecue sausages for another year. Autumn has arrived and with it a whole new wardrobe, a whole lot of rain and a whole new menu to go with it!

Grass-Fed Over Grain-Fed!

We’re extremely excited about the first ever fitness and nutrition SFN Expo later this month. So much so, that we have booked our very own stand in the kitchen quarter. We’ll be serving up samples of our new power food burgers to fitness and nutrition enthusiasts from all round the UK!

Is Haggis in for a USA Revival?

 "It was the haggis, a brownish lump sitting unobtrusively to one side of the plate, that drew the most riveting attention." - Tom Knapp 

Since the 1971 UK foot and mouth outbreak, haggis imports have been banned in the USA resulting in millions of Americans missing out on Scotland’s most famous pud.

Unsurprisingly, this has caused a lot of distress among our American counterparts. Millions of Americans claim Scottish ancestry, and enjoy celebrating Scottish holidays.

Taste of Grampian Leaves A Great Taste of Scotland!

There is no love sincerer than the love of food - George Bernard Shaw

Speyside Specialities had a fantastic time at the Taste of Grampian food festival last month. The annual event aims to showcase the wide variety of food and drink the North-East of Scotland has to offer.

Weird and Wonderful Eating Trends Around the World!

“My theory is that all of Scottish cuisine is based on a dare.” – Mike Myers

Someone once said that Scottish cuisine was based on a dare. Blood sausage, haggis, white pudding … to some, these dishes may sound a tad on the eccentric side, but to the Scots, and many others around the globe these dishes are seen as a delicious norm!

Of course, as we chatted about this at Speyside HQ, we started to think of all the weird and wonderful dishes that we ourselves had come across around the globe. Some dishes were more surprising than others!

Top Tips For The Perfect British Barbecue

“My first outdoor cooking memories are full of erratic British summers, Dad swearing at a barbecue that he couldn’t put together, and eventually eating charred sausages, feeling brilliant!” – Jamie Oliver

As we hurtle through May, most of us will be wondering how on earth the year can be flashing by so fast. The great British summer is almost upon us, and that can only mean the most traditional of British pastimes is just around the corner - the barbecue! Hopefully we get some good weather this year....(unlike today - its raining on and off like a good UK summer tends to do!).

The Perks of Shopping Online!

“I love shopping for things online, because when they arrive, it’s like a present to me … from me!” - Unknown

Excitement levels in Speyside HQ have been particularly high in recent weeks. We have all been working harder than ever to keep up with the growing demand for our traditional Scottish products.

What’s the reason for this? We have just launched our new online shop, where you can buy all of our products straight from our website. From our oatmeal stuffing, and our variety of puddings, to our brand new food for fitness beefed up burger range - all of which we can now personally deliver straight to your door! Perk! Get online and check it out – tell us what you think!

Eat Like You're Running A Marathon!

“We need delicious healthy food that we want to eat, enjoy eating and just happens to be good for us. To that end I’m so delighted to see Speyside Specialities launching their Power Food range.” – Dr Joanna McMillan

Millions of people across the world tuned in to watch the London Marathon on Sunday - including myself. It was fantastic to see all of those runners taking on the challenge of a 26.2-mile run for a good cause.

 I enjoyed watching the stories of the different runners; each and every one had their own reasons for doing the marathon - I found all of them incredibly inspiring!

Happy & Hungry! Why We Eat When We’re Feeling Good …

Aberdeen Football Club won the Scottish League Cup last week – and boy has Scotland heard all about it! For many, this triumph brought exceptional happiness, but inevitably, for those out there that are Inverness Caledonian Thistle fans, the victory might be a seen as a bitter defeat – alas, not everyone can be a winner. 

Seafood … See Food … and Eat It!

“The quality of food and drink that Scotland has to offer is world-renowned and our premium produce is increasingly cultivating an impressive reputation overseas.” – Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland

It was national scallops day in the USA this week and as an avid seafood lover, I certainly made the most of the day!  I cooked one of Speyside’s Specialities’ delicious featured recipes – black pudding and scallops with orange cardamom syrup. As I sat and enjoyed the distinctively Scottish meal, I started thinking about the Scottish seafood industry.

The Great Debate: To Photograph Your Food, Or Not To Photograph Your Food?

“The quality of food and drink that Scotland has to offer is world-renowned and our premium produce is increasingly cultivating an impressive reputation overseas.” – Alex Salmond, First Minister of Scotland

It was national scallops day in the USA this week and as an avid seafood lover, I certainly made the most of the day!  I cooked one of Speyside’s Specialities’ delicious featured recipes – black pudding and scallops with orange cardamom syrup. As I sat and enjoyed the distinctively Scottish meal, I started thinking about the Scottish seafood industry.

Legend of the Haggis - A True Story

I was so attached to the dear, dear Highlands and missed the fine hills so much. There is a great peculiarity about the Highlands. – Queen Victoria

A dish that epitomises Scottish tradition and culture, the haggis is loved and revered around the world. The small pudding, with its oaty texture and unique spiced flavouring makes for an interesting delicacy; and with anything interesting, we as humans want to know more about it!

Although world famous, there is still a certain mystery surrounding the dish. What is it made of? Why is it so loved in Scotland? Is it really an animal that is hunted in the Highlands? 

Have a Traditional Burns Night Wherever You Are

"O Scotia! My dear, my native soil! For whom my warmest wish to Heaven is sent." - Robert Burns

We Scots love our traditions. In fact we are famous for it. That ingrained national pride is often the envy of the world, or so WE like to think. Whether we’re strutting around in kilts, busking with our bagpipes, or singing a well-known Scots tune at every opportunity we get – we are proud of our heritage. Therefore, it comes as little surprise that with Burns Night fast approaching this weekend, us Scots will be throwing ourselves into it with all the gusto only a Scotsman (or woman) can muster.

New Year, New You – Stay on Track!

“There is no diet that will do what eating healthy does. Skip the diet. Just Eat Healthy!” - Unknown

Every New Year, the majority of us vow to change at least one of our bad habits; whether it’s smoking, drinking, or spending too much money. We also like to take this annual opportunity to start doing something new, something we have wanted to do for a while - aka a New Year resolution.