LOL, it's just food, guys. Food is great and all, but seriously? A friendly arguement over it even seems silly to me. I know it's all in fun, but really...Couldn't we focuse on things other than haggis and New York style pizza? :)

I agree, though -- everyone is entitled to their opinion, whether it seems silly to others or not.

Melissa will probably live out her days without every trying Haggis -- and that is fine. Just like I will never try Black Pudding. It's all good. ;)

( I am now wondering, however, if I snuck some Haggis into a shepards pie instead of hamburger if Melissa would notice the difference...I hear it's sort of similar...():-) )

Griffie :D

I've only been to Scotland once. I was there for 5 weeks and stayed mostly in the East Lothian area (Edinburgh, etc). I actually found a very good authentic italian restaurant in Edinburgh.

Anyway, I was never brave enough to try the haggis. However, I think the one thing that sounds worse than Haggis is Black Pudding (aka blood sausage). Who in the right mind decided, You know what sounds delicious? Congealed Blood! Mmm. Iron.

LoL. Just joking. Anyway, i hope everyone's having a good day.

Chicagogirl, I would never in a miillion years be insulted if someone came up to me and said, ,"Ravioli! YUCK!" I might disagree, I might think they're nuts, but insulted is taking it a bit far. It's an opinion, and I have one, and no one should ever make apologies for that. :)

Well, mom (She is part Scottish) has been saying that there is no way they would put Haggis in HP theme park but I would think that they would ask Chef Gordon Ramsey (Mr. Hell's Kitchen who swears too much) since he is a scotsman about what you could put into a theme park that is traditional. I personally think it will have meatpies, because when I think of Scottish/British food, I think meatpies (and a certain barber). And maybe some fish and chips.

Sorry Melissa, but I'm glad that Neil from Scotland called you out about the haggis thing. It's not a matter of how good or awful it really tastes...people have different tastes. But it just came off as rude on the podcast (I'm sure not your intention). There is no faster way to offend a culture or people than by insulting their food, and their national food at that. I was surprised because you are usually the one that is very pc.

And while we're on the subject of food I have something to say about Chipotle. I am a Latina and had never tried Chipotle because I assumed it was just like Taco Bell. Well after hearing podcast after podcast of John going on about Chipotle. I finally tried it and I LOVE it! I got a lot of my friends hooked on it too. So thanks John!!!

The way I originally phrased it was way grosser but I didn't want to put anyone off their food. anyways I hope I don't come off dogmatic, no sweating here, actually I have only been to Scotland like once. I just feel like I have been in their corner ever since I found out that they decided, no it's not enough to have a candy bar that wraps nougat and caramel in chocolate, we have to dip it in batter and then deep fry all of that goodness. It seems like the epitome of Americanness, kind of like those bowls KFC has that contain fried chicken, potatoes, cheese and gravy ALL AT ONCE. (Or poutine in Canada, which is actually really amazing.)
I was just saying a lot of foods will sound kind of crappy if you just go by the description.

...That and also that they have the hottest accent in the whole world.
But yeah, dropping it.

That's what it sounded like to me Christian, but it was kinda hard to hear. I've had Haggis and grew up eating it, it's nasty. I know tons of people who love it, but it's just not my thing. You either love it or hate it. Guess the book was fun.

It's 2.09 am here so I ask, who cares about grammar M???!! Lol!

Melissa, I hope I haven't come across as a stroppy Brit because it would take a lot more than a conversation about haggis for me to be offended. However, based on my experience of, you know, living here, I just wanted to point out that not ALL of out food is that bad. As far as I'm concerned, we're just having a friendly debate!

As for recommendations, The Vine Leaf restaurant in St Andrews is fantastic. It's only a small place, but the food is wonderful, the wine is lovely and the staff are sooo friendly!! They take the best Scottish ingredients and do beautiful things with them. Next time you're over here, let me know and I'll take you and your friends. Oh, and there's not a deep fried mars bar in sight!

http://www.vineleafstandrews.co.uk/

As I said, it's after 2am so I'm going to bed. Hope you all have a good evening!

(And please ignore the grammar terribleitrocity in that last comment. That's right, I'm not editing it. Wrong apostrophe and pluralization and all. FINE.)