400310 Thu May 10 11:36:08 -0700 2007 3 42 U.K./Ireland 0 2558618 Hello foodies -- from Canada. My wife and I will be driving around Scotland for a week and are looking for some hidden gems along the way. We're coming on the ferry from Belfast, staying in the Dumfries area the first night, on to Edinburgh for a couple of days, then up the east coast about half way, staying near Banchory, then back down to Glasgow at the end. Looking for your recos for interesting places on the way. We've been known to detour for food!!! Thanks in advance, John and Linda Thu May 10 11:36:08 -0700 2007 14196 DUH CAR 1 2561470 Assuming your trip up the East Coast will take you through Fife (toward St. Andrews), the Anstruther Fish Bar in Anstruther. Absolutely wonderful fish and chips in a great little seaside town. Of all the "fish suppers" I tried when last in Scotland, the Anstruther Fish Bar was the best by a fair margin. I must warn, this is not high-brow dining, and there could be a wait. If you like real cask ales, stop in at the Dreel Tavern...also in Anstruther. Fri May 11 09:18:30 -0700 2007 2558618 38463 DFWGuy 2 2567439 Thanks y'all. Mon May 14 06:43:05 -0700 2007 2561470 14196 DUH CAR 1 2589678 I think you're spending time in the one area of Scotland we skipped! We went from Edinburgh along the west coast and into the Highlands. Most of our meals were either in a castle or distillery cafe or in the hotel restaurant. While they were okay, I probably wouldn't send a foodie there. I just wanted decent food, I wasn't looking to spend more money than we already were. One thing I found about Scotland - everyone recommends the salmon, Scottish beef, venison, or lamb. But I found that the mussels and local fish were wonderful (I had mussels, my boyfriend had fish). I don't know how it is in Canada, but when I order mussels in California, chefs seem to think bigger is better and more often than not I get a bowl full of slightly chewy mussels. The ones I had in Scotland (in 3 different towns, the best in Oban) were smaller, but flavorful and perfectly cooked so they melted in your mouth. It's completely spoiled me now. In Edinburgh, we ate at Cafe Rouge, which had good food (moules frites and an Aberdeen ribeye) and wonderful service. If you make it to Sterling Castle, the cafe there has the tastiest baked potato (with a variety of things to put on top) I've ever had. I'm sure you're looking for more sophisticated meals, but those are the ones that we enjoyed. Mon May 21 16:03:30 -0700 2007 2558618 42944 leanneabe