Macsween is a Scottish family business which specialises in the production of traditional Scottish haggis, the national dish of Scotland.  The Macsween family recipe, handed down from generation to generation, is still used today.

The earliest references to haggis date back to ancient Greek texts, and there are claims that the dish may well have come to Scotland in a Viking longboat around the time of the Nordic invasions in the ninth century.

Haggis reached literary fame in the words of Scotland’s famous poet, Robert Burns, in the 18th Century.  It is largely through the celebrations  of his birth on the 25th January each year, that the eating of haggis has become a certain ritual.

Burns wrote The Address to a Haggis, now a world famous poem, recited at every Burns Supper all over the world.  To an extent, it is because of Burns that haggis has retained such a Scottish identity.

61% of British adults eat breakfast at home, but the younger you are, the less likely it is you will eat it in your own kitchen. Only half of British 15–24 year olds stay at home for breakfast, and 20% enjoy it in front of the TV.

More than 30% of Brits would like to see black pudding banned from the traditional British fry-up. “Black pudding should be saved for supper,” comments restaurant critic Terry Durack, “it just gets in the way at breakfast-time.”

Just 1 in 10 people eat breakfast at their work desks. Another 4% grab something on the way to work and only 1% have breakfast in a café or restaurant.

1 in 10 of the people questioned aged between 25 and 54 admit to never eating breakfast at all during the week.

Marmalade is the favourite breakfast toast topping, and it seems that the older you get the more you love it. Of those questioned, 35% said marmalade was their top spread, although just 10 per cent of 15–24 year olds voted for it. Almost 60% aged 65 and over gave it the thumbs up. Marmalade appears to be most popular in the West Country, where 50% named it number one. Most people in Scotland, meanwhile, prefer just butter on their toast.

Only 12% said they opted for Marmite on their toast. Paul Hartley, author of The Marmite Cookbook (Absolute Press, £7.99) says: “I coat my toast with a layer of marmite and one of marmalade. The sweet and savoury combination is to die for.”

Those aged 15–24 years old prefer jam to marmalade.

2 out of 10 adults would like to see fried bread removed from the fry-up menu. “Why would anybody want to put a piece of fried bread in their mouth? It makes me heave just thinking about it,” says chef of London restaurant Aurora, Allan Pickett.

35% of 15–24 year olds said their favourite breakfast drink was orange juice. A minority like something a little stronger, however: 3% of 15–24 year olds said their favourite drink at breakfast is Champagne.

The most popular breakfast drink is tea, with 45% voting for it. Those aged 65 and over like it most: 63% said it was their preference. “Breakfast tea must be the proper leaf variety, made in a pot,” says chef Rowley Leigh of London’s Kensington Place.

Only 6% dislike baked beans, but The Times restaurant critic Giles Coren is among them. “They are just sugar and salt for hungover students and fat chavs.”

8% of those questioned said they like honey on their toast, but just 4% eat peanut butter at breakfast.

The Ultimate Fry Up

In addition to our NOP survey, WFI asked 100 chefs, critics and food experts about the ideal cooked breakfast.

Though 80 per cent of our experts opt for fried eggs, 12 per cent like them scrambled.
60 per cent prefer smoked bacon to unsmoked.
90 per cent only eat free-range bacon.
55 per cent say frying is the best way to cook a sausage.
10 per cent prefer chipolatas to large sausages.
35 per cent named the Cumberland sausage as their banger of choice.
70 per cent hate fried bread.
54 per cent specified sourdough as their bread of choice, and 8 per cent only eat wheat-free or rye bread.
42 per cent only cook with seasonal British tomatoes.
48 per cent say a dab of Heinz Ketchup is a must, and 20 per cent are HP Sauce fans.

Between 24 and 26 June the NOP Telebus survey spoke to 1003 adults aged 15 and over. This survey is designed to be nationally representative of Great Britain.

It’s official. Despite producing famous world- class chefs and more Michelin starred restaurants than most of our culinary refined cousins, when we move abroad, we want traditional British comfort food.

Sarah Daykin, MD, Distant Brits, www.distantbrits.co.uk the international on-line grocery and shopping service for ex-pats has been compiling the top 10 best sellers for the last three years commented:

“One of the biggest surprises is the amount of Haggis we sell at Christmas and New Year. Even our most urbane customers based in exotic or sophisticated locations hanker after child-hood favourites especially at this time of year. Christmas crackers and decorations are a must along with Advent calendars for their pets. English sausages and bacon are bought by the kilo by our European customers for their traditional breakfast.”

2007

1. HEINZ BAKED BEANS for the 3rd year running still the undisputed champion

2. WALKERS CHEESE AND ONION CRISPS replaced smoky bacon snacks

3. MARMITE moved up 3 places

4. CADBURY’S FLAKE fell one place

5. BISTO GRAVY moved up one place

6. MCVITIES DIGESTIVE BISCUITS, new entrant, completely ousting old favourites -Jaffa cakes

7. PATAKS CURRY SAUCES surprise new entrant with high demand in the East

8. TETLEY’S TEABAGS fell from 4th to 8th

9. BATTENBURG ousted Soreen Malt Loaf

10. BIRDS CUSTARD POWDER hanging in there.

Top 12 best sellers for Christmas

1. MR KIPLING’S MINCE PIES – undisputed champion

2. CHRISTMAS CRACKERS - family and luxury – are they a uniquely British institution?

3. DUCHY ORIGINALS CHRISTMAS CAKE – came from nowhere last year and ousted more traditional brands

4. TINS OF QUALITY STREET – down from 3rd place

5. FOXS FAVOURITES BISCUITS – moved up from 10th place

6. ADVENT CALENDARS – always popular and constantly in the top 10

7. CADBURYS CHRISTMAS STOCKING up from 9th place

8. BRITISH BACK BACON and WALLS PORK SAUSAGES for Christmas Breakfast – new entrant this year

9. BIRDS CUSTARD POWDER – always popular and moving up from 12th place

10. ROBERSTONS TRADITIONAL MINCMEAT
TANGERINE JELLYFOR TRIFLES – joint surprise entrants

11. DUCHY ORIGINALS CHRISTMAS PUDDING – down from 7th place

12. PAXO CELEBRATION STUFFING – a perennial favourite, but down from 10th position last year

Bournemouth based Sarah Daykin founder of www.distantbrits.co.uk, the international on–line grocery and shopping service for ex-pats is through to the final of E-Den, being held on 20th September in Winchester. The winner will receive 1-year free membership of the BowShot e-traders’ group, worth £1150 plus £5000 worth of web development from Bluhalo.

E-Den, based on the popular Dragon’s Den TV show is the e-commerce division of BowShot, the independent community of high performance entrepreneurs based in Dorset and Hampshire.

Devised by Nicholas Stevens, MD of BowShot, E-Den is a unique forum for business people, living in the South, who want to know more about operating on the web in general and web commerce in particular. E-Den competitors all have successful Internet companies but are now seeking to expand their web presence.

The players were given just 5 minutes to present their website to a mentoring panel of acclaimed commercial gurus. Each of the panel has a different expertise, from marketing to founding e-commerce sites. This combined knowledge gives the participants a unique critique of their own site, focussing on their most pressing ecommerce challenges.

Sarah Daykin said; “I was amazed to win the heat and am extremely grateful for the invaluable feedback from the ‘dragons’ in suggesting novel ways to reach British ex pats living around the world and can’t wait to compete in the final.”

Sarah Daykin Distant Brits: www.distantbrits.co.uk

Nicholas Steven: http://bowshot.org/eden.aspx

However, according to the Royal Society of St George, George is generally believed to have been born in Turkey, sometime around 280 AD. He served in the Roman army during the reign of Diocletian, a pagan emperor.

After converting to Christianity, George left the military to campaign against Rome’s persecution of Christians, but he was imprisoned and tortured in an effort to make him renounce his faith. He stayed true to his beliefs and was eventually beheaded at Nicomedia, near Lydda in Palestine, on 23 April, 303 AD.

The link between St George and England was formed in the 14th century, during the reign of Edward III. Edward founded the Order of the Garter in 1348, which he put under the patronage of St George. St George became the special protector of the English, whose soldiers were required to wear the sign of St George.

It wasn’t until 1415 AD that St George became the patron saint of England, when English soldiers under Henry V won the battle of Agincourt. In Shakespeare’s Henry V, the King famously invoked St George as England’s patron saint by crying: “Cry God for Harry, England and St George”.

With thanks to www.celebratestgeorgesday.com - a very informative website offering history, legend, events, and recipes for St Georges Day.

Sadly, they won’t list us on their site as an international supplier, in fact, they won’t even acknowledge our request. Shame really as Walkers Crisps are our best selling product range. They have recently launched three new flavours which are proving to be extremely popular with our Expats - namely Marmite, Lamb and Mint and Spicy Chilli, whilst they have replaced their Beef and Onion Crisps with Steak and Onion.

Whatever next?

Sarah.

Yes, believe it or not, Marmite has teamed up with Guinness to create Marmite Guinness. Yes, you heard correctly, Guiness. Launched on the unsuspecting British public just in time for St Patrick’s Day, and presented in a very smart black and white jar with a white lid, this limited edition product is flying off the shelves. Even the odd marmite hater has been converted by this non-alcoholic spread.

You can’t say these Marmite chaps are not innovative. Have you seen their website? Pretty cool and cleverly aimed at both Love it and Hate it fans.

Their first diversion from the ‘real thing’ was to replace the distinctive metal topped jars with plastic yellow lids. Apparently, marmite aficionados were so horrified, that they decanted their marmite into ‘proper’ jars with ‘proper’ lids.

Then, along came Marmite Squeezey. Love it or hate it, you can now buy your Marmite in squeezy plastic upside-down bottles. Great for British Expats as the shipping cost is much cheaper due to plastic being much lighter than glass and much harder for the courier to smash en route.

And then we had Marmite flavoured crisps by Walkers and even Marmite biscuits from Fudges Bakery in Dorset. I have to say that these crunchy wholemeal biscuits flavoured with Marmite are rather tasty and great topped with a piece of mature Cheddar cheese.

But for those who really can’t get enough of the black stuff, there’s the Marmite Cookbook available through Amazon by Paul Hartley. Nestled inside, you’ll find such delights as Panini with Marmite Tapenade, and Marmite Corn Fritters. Personally, my favourite vehicle for Marmite is to spread it thinly on a hot buttered crumpet.

Also on Amazon, and by the same author, you’ll also find The Lea and Perrins Worcester Sauce Cookbook (Worcester Roast Potatoes anyone?) and The Colman’s Mustard Cookbook for the famous heart-stoppingly hot condiment – both by the same author.

Some call it madness. Others call it genius.

Sarah