‘A Scottish Feast, An Anthology Of Food And Eating’ is a wonderful book, gifted to me a while back by the creator/ editor of the book, Hamish Whyte. An extraordinary book which delves into our past and recent history of what we ate at various times and places for various reasons. It is an interesting factual book with records showing how poor the average family were, eating potatoes three times a day, with a pinch of salt and pepper and animal fat if you were lucky, and usually sprinkled with oatmeal to fill you up. And on to the posh dining tables of Edinburgh society, where lots of claret and fine food would have been eaten.

In this book there are poems relating to the subject in question or food item. Reading this book is like being Dr Who, jumping around like a time lord in different decades and eras. It is absolutely fascinating. Tales of what a traditional Skye kitchen was like in the early part of the 19th century.

I love how it reads ‘The fleeces of sheep which had been found dead on the mountain nailed on the walls to dry. Braxy hams were suspended from the roof, strings of fish were hanging above the fireplace, the door was almost continually open, savoury steam of broth and potatoes filled the air with peat smoke and dogs snarling and snapping Shepards legs sat at the table.’ Another entry is ‘A Good Scotch Haggies’ by our well-known Mrs MacIver. And a wonderfully written recipe for petticoat tails by Margaret Dods. The wording is hypnotic, the way it transports you to that place and makes you imagine you are there in your fancy regency attire, looking like a dandy supping from a cut glass and eating off pewter.

I love this book and thank you Hamish for the gift. Sadly Catherine Brown, who also edited this book, is no longer with us. She was a good friend and a huge inspiration. This is a lovely go-to book for a quick read and to dip in and out of.