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The Scots Kitchen

The Scots Kitchen

Classic Recipes and Traditions

by F. Marian McNeill

Edited by Catherine Brown

Illustrated by Iain McIntosh

Imprint: Birlinn

7.5 x 9.2 in, b/w line drawings throughout

Paperback
9781780279275
May 2025
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$29.95

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Description
Authors
Praise

The Scots Kitchen, first published in 1929, gives a delightful account of eating and drinking in Scotland throughout the ages, with definitive recipes for all the traditional national dishes.

Cookery writer and broadcaster Catherine Brown describes the impact this pioneering book has had on the whole of Scottish cuisine and traces the fascinating life story of Marian McNeill herself. Notes explain how to use the book so that its treasure trove of recipes, covering the whole gamut of Scottish cuisine, can be explored in the modern kitchen.

The contents includes:

Soups * Brose and Kail * Fish * Game and Pultry * Meat * Vegetables * Sauces * Snacks and Savouries * Puddings and Pies * Sweets * Bannocks, Scones and Tea-breads * Cakes and Shortbreads * Preserves * Sweeties * Beverages

F. Marian McNeill (1885 - 1973) was a journalist and writer with a deep love and knowledge of Scots language, lore and traditions. The Scots Kitchen, her most popular book, first published in 1929, gives a delightful account of eating and drinking in Scotland throughout the ages, with definitive recipes for all the old national dishes. It is widely regarded as the most important book on Scottish cookery yet to appear.

Catherine Brown is one of the most well-known cookery writers of her generation. A former professional chef, she wrote an investigative food column for The Herald for many years which was credited with three Glenfiddich food-writing awards. She also presented Grampian TV's Scotland's Larder, and in 2001 was the Guild of Food Writers' Food Journalist of the Year. She has written numerous books,including Scottish Seafood (2011), and recently edited and introduced a major new edition of F. Marian McNeill's The Scots Kitchen.

A wonderful book for those who love food - so much more than a cookery book, splendid though the recipes for food and drinks are. It is a book extolling the whole love and craft of cooking, social habits and customs of this country' ~Hamish Coghill, Evening News

Every Scottish household should have a well-thumbed copy tucked in the kitchen shelf - now is the time to replace it ~Elizabeth Luard, The Scotsman

Another classic work on the cookery of these islands ~Elizabeth David

Charming ~Delia Smith

If I were asked to name the best book ever written about Scottish food there would be no doubt in my mind. My award would go to F. Marian McNeill for The Scots Kitchen ~Derek Cooper