Giving Credit where it's due...

When eating out in the Hebrides - and partiuclarly North Uist -  is discussed, the place that most commonly comes us is Langass Lodge. Renowned, and rightly so, for the fabulous food that they serve, Langass is generally upheld as representation of all that is good about food in the Western Isles. Dig a little deeper though and there is a whole world of fantastic food out there on a far less purse-stretching budget too! The food above was our lunch last year on the final day of our holiday at the Claddach Kirkibost Centre's fabulous little cafe, one of our favourite spots to eat on the Island. Crispy jacket potato with smoked salmon, home made coleslaw, and the most divine salad - definitely a good meal! Whether you want a light lunch, something a little more substantial, tea & cake, or Sunday brunch, you'll find something to suit, and what's more you will be eating it with THE most fabulous view! The best way I can find to summarise just what makes the food here so special is the side salads - fabulously fresh & crisp, this is no limp lettuce added to the plate to fill a gap and probably pushed to one side and left - this is a real part of the meal and to be actively looked forward to.

We use self-catering accommodation, so inevitably tend to eat at "home" a fair amount in the evenings, and the western isles has plenty of opportunities for fantastic food to cook for yourself too, from cockles or mussels collected from one of the beaches, to the fantastic seafood available from places like Kallin Shellfish - we usually try to bring some of their scallops back home with us too! Best picnic lunch on a glorious white sandy beach? That will be Flaky Smoked Salmon from South Uist, with some crusty, freshly baked bread, or perhaps some Peat Smoked Salmon Pate from Hebridean Smokehouse with MacLeans bakery oatcakes.....

Food does play a big part in our holiday - and that's no surprise when the quality and range are just so good. "Taking a packed lunch" is no hardship when the food you've packed is a world away from a cheese sandwich, and even the  hotel bars offer local meat and locally caught fish on their menus - we're noticing a real increase in not only the amount of local produce on offer, but also the fact that is now made something of, seen as something to be proud of, and actively marketed. Brilliant! Long may it continue!

Robyn