The Scottish diet is not all that it could be but the last ten or so years have seen the country’s restaurants make huge progress.
We have some of the best natural produce in Europe and our top chefs turn it into dishes which would happily compete on the world stage.
And yet what is the most emblematic food stuff in Scotland?
According to one PR company, it’s the deep-fried Mars Bar.
Onken yoghurt are running a UK-wide competition to find the best recipe using their product. To attract entrants, they have sent out releases praising the culinary highlights of specific regions.
Aberdeen is noted for its fishing industry. Inverness is noted for its Clava Brie. OK but can you guess what is singled out as Glasgow’s contribution to the Scottish culinary arts?
Yep, it’s the deep-fried Mars Bar.
Maybe I’m just grumpy this morning but does anyone else feel that the whole Mars Bar thing has gone beyond a joke?
Even the most cursory glance through 5pm’s Glasgow restaurant listings will come up with hundreds of dishes that showcase what chefs in Scotland can do with the food we produce here.
The deep-fried blasted Mars Bar doesn’t get a look in.
Onken yoghurt is made by the Dr Oetker company which was founded in Germany. Their representatives saying that the deep-fried Mars Bar is the culinary highlight of Glasgow is like the Scottish Chefs Association saying that the favourite food of Berliners is pig’s knuckle boiled in lederhosen.
Deep breath. Rant over.