IN PRAISE OF THE ARBROATH SMOKIE.

[Kandinskyesque]

I was at the hospital in Dundee on Tuesday afternoon (still ongoing).
Afterwards Mrs K and I decided to take advantage of drive on the Scottish east coast.
A fortnight ago it was the Fife coast (St Andrews) but this week we decided to head along the Angus coast, through Carnoustie past the golf course then on to the fishing town of Arbroath home of the famous Arbroath Smokie before cutting through Perthshire past the Bon Scott statue in Kirriemuir then home (130 miles).

For those of you unfamiliar with the Arbroath Smokie, it's now a 'protected' food, it can only earn the name if made within 5 miles of the town.
It's a Haddock, hot smoked over hardwood and has all the smokiness of a Jura whisky (if memory serves me correctly since it's 10+ years since my last Laphroaig).

We bought half a dozen Smokies, along with a pile of king scallops, mussels and some fresh halibut off the boat. A small fortune on fish but we're 25+ miles from a decent fishmonger at home.

Sadly that's the last of the Smokies eaten tonight, a nice spinach and smoked fish omelette. That said there's still half a caldron of my Cullen Skink (fish soup) left and some of Mrs K's Smokie pate to go with some oatcakes.
The past 48 hours have tasted like heaven.

Back to the hospital again in 2 weeks but that also means another coastal drive.
No doubt Arbroath again for some more smoky pescatarian delights.

 

[BigDaddyLH]

We should be able to attach this emoji to a post:

One small correction: Laphroaig is an Islay malt, not Jura

 

[Kandinskyesque]

One small correct: Laphroaig is an Islay malt, not Jura

True, no idea why I typed Jura, the next island I suppose.
Maybe it's the damage left from keeping the Ardbeg and Laphroaig distilleries in business for a few decades.

 

[Fendereedo]

What an absolute treat for you both. Love smokies, and it's been a good few years since me and the Mrs visited Scotland, we'll have to rectify that. God luck and best of regards for your up coming hospital treatment @Kandinskyesque

 

[Lawdawg]

Interesting, I've never had an Arbroath Smokie but they sound great. We have a local producer that makes lots of smoked and cured meats including the delicious smoked trout pictured below. It sounds like they use a very similar process to the one used to make the Smokies. If I'm ever in Scotland I'll add this to the list.

Best wishes on your hospital visit.

 

[trapdoor2]

I've never met a smoked fish that I didn't like. I have smoked my share of salmon. Sounds heavenly indeed.

 

[Flaneur]

Great town. A down to earth, blue collar place. Our band plays there regularly- at the wonderful annual music festival and at other times throughout the year. Venue owners are welcoming and hospitable, crowds are noisy and friendly. One of my favourite places to play, in the country.

There is a great Fish and Chip shop in the town, called.....'The O'. Fresh fish, like you only get, when you can see the trawlers, in the harbour.

 

[Kandinskyesque]

Great town. A down to earth, blue collar place. Our band plays there regularly- at the wonderful annual music festival and at other times throughout the year. Venue owners are welcoming and hospitable, crowds are noisy and friendly. One of my favourite places to play, in the country.

There is a great Fish and Chip shop in the town, called.....'The O'. Fresh fish, like you only get, when you can see the trawlers, in the harbour.

Disgracefully, I'd never been in the town before Tuesday.
I've neglected to explore that part of the coast between Carnoustie and Stoney for long enough, it reminds we of the Fife coast, very flat and fertile.
I've never been to Montrose either despite having fished both Esks upstream numerous times.
We got our supplies from a fishmongers (Lyons) right at the harbour.

A young(ish) girl that Mrs K has been mentoring at work for a few years has returned to live there on a WFH contract this year. Needles to say we'll be paying Arbroath a few visits.
Who knows, I might manage to catch you playing there.

 

[ndcaster]

I was at the hospital in Dundee on Tuesday afternoon (still ongoing).
Afterwards Mrs K and I decided to take advantage of drive on the Scottish east coast.
A fortnight ago it was the Fife coast (St Andrews) but this week we decided to head along the Angus coast, through Carnoustie past the golf course then on to the fishing town of Arbroath home of the famous Arbroath Smokie before cutting through Perthshire past the Bon Scott statue in Kirriemuir then home (130 miles).

For those of you unfamiliar with the Arbroath Smokie, it's now a 'protected' food, it can only earn the name if made within 5 miles of the town.
It's a Haddock, hot smoked over hardwood and has all the smokiness of a Jura whisky (if memory serves me correctly since it's 10+ years since my last Laphroaig).

We bought half a dozen Smokies, along with a pile of king scallops, mussels and some fresh halibut off the boat. A small fortune on fish but we're 25+ miles from a decent fishmonger at home.

Sadly that's the last of the Smokies eaten tonight, a nice spinach and smoked fish omelette. That said there's still half a caldron of my Cullen Skink (fish soup) left and some of Mrs K's Smokie pate to go with some oatcakes.
The past 48 hours have tasted like heaven.

Back to the hospital again in 2 weeks but that also means another coastal drive.
No doubt Arbroath again for some more smoky pescatarian delights.

Eye doan unnerstan haffa what yeou sayin, boot it soonds delish

 

[Crafty Fox]

Disgracefully, I'd never been in the town before Tuesday.
I've neglected to explore that part of the coast between Carnoustie and Stoney for long enough, it reminds we of the Fife coast, very flat and fertile.
I've never been to Montrose either despite having fished both Esks upstream numerous times.
We got our supplies from a fishmongers (Lyons) right at the harbour.

A young(ish) girl that Mrs K has been mentoring at work for a few years has returned to live there on a WFH contract this year. Needles to say we'll be paying Arbroath a few visits.
Who knows, I might manage to catch you playing there.

My sister lives in Arbroath, so I'll definitely be going there next time I get back home.
I've hardly seen any of Scotland and I'd love to have a visit.
Will you have a Forfar Bridie while you're up that way too?

 

[String Tree]

Hep M'Boab!!!
That sounds Delicious!!!
Best of luck with your time at the Hospital.

 

[stxrus]

I've never met a smoked fish that I didn't like. I have smoked my share of salmon. Sounds heavenly indeed.

I like some more than others but, so far, I’ve yet to meet a smoked fish I didn’t like

 

[Flaneur]

Disgracefully, I'd never been in the town before Tuesday.
I've neglected to explore that part of the coast between Carnoustie and Stoney for long enough, it reminds we of the Fife coast, very flat and fertile.
I've never been to Montrose either despite having fished both Esks upstream numerous times.
We got our supplies from a fishmongers (Lyons) right at the harbour.

A young(ish) girl that Mrs K has been mentoring at work for a few years has returned to live there on a WFH contract this year. Needles to say we'll be paying Arbroath a few visits.
Who knows, I might manage to catch you playing there.

Montrose is another historic, interesting place. Great bird life, in the Basin of the South Esk river.
Music festival, at the end of the month. Bring your binoculars/camera and I'll stand you both a non-alcoholic refreshment, at the George Hotel, afterwards. Our gig starts around 1:30......

 

[SuprHtr]

I appreciate a fillet that’s had some time in the smoke. I like to buy a BIG slab of steelhead and smoke it, eat some, and mix the rest into a dip with cream cheese and yogurt. It all gets eaten.

 

[ndcaster]

tip to young husbands

I made my wife a "boxty" with cream cheese, smoked salmon, chives, and chervil, and by God I now have to deal with being objectified and loved only for my fry pan skills

shouldn't she love me for my mind and all that

 

[Matt G]

. . . I've never been to Montrose either despite having fished both Esks upstream numerous times. . . .

Well, there's two of my favourite Scottish things in one post: Arbroath Smokies, and fishing the Esk.

p.s. good luck with the surgery!