Day three: living on local foods

Much has been made in recent times of the quality of food produced in Scotland and the need to cut down on "food miles".

BBC reporters Angela Soave, in the Scottish Borders, and Giancarlo Rinaldi, in Dumfries and Galloway, have decided to set themselves a related test.

Over the space of a week they are trying to survive on only food produced from their respective regions.

Below are their reports on how they have fared so far.

Scottish Borders Dumfries and Galloway

ANGELA SOAVE IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS

Last night I dreamt I went to Tesco once again ... No, actually, I did (buying rasks for dogs).

But I checked out their Borders produce while I was there.

It was the weirdest sensation - surrounded by a stunningly extensive array of food, none of which was any use to me.

There were a lot of Saltires denoting Scottish goods, which was excellent. But few labels were any more specific.

Confession time: I bought some half-price Angus strawberries, to put in the freezer for after this week. You can take the girl out of Dundee...

I did find Broughton ales (Joe, Greenmantle is all you promised). Along with Polish and Lithuanian lager (no, I didn't buy them).

And I was hugely disappointed to find the Border Biscuits were made in Lanarkshire. Not even a chocolate ginger!

Asda being just across the road, I decided to have a gander round there too.

Their stuff is marked more specifically - potatoes from Ross-shire to Suffolk.

They did have Borders meringues. But no sign of the Sandyknowe yoghurt drinks from Kelso they used to stock.

Although (drum roll and fanfare, please!) I got some wine.

It was made by the Peelwalls cider company in Ayton. Haven't quite decided whether to try the Peach Chardonnay or the Blueberry Blush first?

But today ... ah, today. The highlight of my week.

I made it across to Eyemouth, for a fish supper.

There's something about chippers right by the sea.

The fish is so fresh you'd think it hauled itself straight off the boat into the fryer - which, admittedly, is practically right on the harbour.

I've tried others, including the undoubtedly excellent Anstruther Fish Bar - but the Berwickshire Riviera is the absolute best.

And the chocolate chilli ice-cream too ... mmm-hmm.

Just as well I had my healthy breakfast of pinhead oatmeal porridge and blackcurrants.

Tonight, I doubt I'll need any tea, but will roast some vegetables, with Borders oil and garlic.

My tea craving persists - despite, as one of my colleagues pointed out, mine being so weak it's practically homeopathic.

Minna in Finland also suggests herbs in water. I did try basil, which wasn't bad.

And thanks again for suggestions - from West Linton to Massachusetts - about beef, the Fife Diet, local produce generally and the extra cost - I'll let you know about that one.

Also about making my own pasta - I will get round to it.

I may not be eating convenience food ... but I'm certainly not losing any weight!

You can e-mail Angela at selkirk.news@bbc.co.uk or by clicking here.Return to top

GIANCARLO RINALDI IN DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY

It is day three of my local food diet and I have been afflicted by a strange ailment.

I'm going to call it One Ingredient Missing (OIM).

One of my favourite pastimes is concocting new dishes in my head but, no matter what I come up with of late, I always fall just short.

For example, I want to make spaghetti carbonara.

I have local eggs, bacon and even a substitute for parmesan cheese.

But I have no pasta.

No problem, I thought, I can make my own tagliatelle but, guess what, I can't get the flour.

My desire to cook a Chinese meal has been similarly thwarted by my lack of noodles and rice.

Scientists have tried but, so far, no cure has been found for OIM.

However, there have been bright spots too as a visit to Castle Douglas this morning confirmed.

I got a lovely piece of steak, some local fish and - what the hell - some handmade chocolates.

I also now have a tin of Moffat Toffee on my desk courtesy of a colleague.

I do think I have, in general, dined well.

Two local lamb chops, along with some courgettes and tomatoes bought at a nearby farm shop were a real treat.

Forthcoming book

If I was serving it in a restaurant I would have called it something like agnello alle brace con zucchini e pomodoro and charged you £14.99.

If you want the recipe it will be in my forthcoming book which somebody will surely commission after reading this.

My other favourite experience of the last 24 hours was a big bowl of ice cream with some baked apples and blueberries.

Delicious and it almost took my mind off coffee for a full five minutes.

But now I must get back to research into OIM - I will not let it beat me.

Giancarlo is on the lookout for suggestions of Dumfries and Galloway produce and where to get it.

Contact him at dumfries@bbc.co.uk or click here.Return to top

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
Scottish Food Fortnight
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