Is the ink dry in Street Food Glasgow? Scotland’s changing culinary landscape
Scotland’s cuisine culture is changing faster than you can shake a porridge spurtle at. If big, bold tasty, street food flavours using locally and sustainably sourced seasonal ingredients, served with a social conscience is your thing you must allow us to include Glasgow on your Scotland food tour map.
Since 2012 we’ve specialised in curating the country’s best food and drink tour itineraries. We seek the hidden gems, we take you to iconic must visit restaurants for memorable dining experiences, we visit whisky distilleries and craft brewers. We love small scale producers and traders. When we started Glasgow was still a city that people didn’t really get too excited about when we suggested it as part of a vacation or day tour itinerary. What most people didn’t know then was that the seeds of a new Street Food revolution that would leave the generic burger and chip vans and follow in the footsteps of some of the best street food centres across the world, were beginning to be sown. Edinburgh was and still is Michelin star capital (and we love it for it), but Glasgow’s urban food scene is thriving and showing no signs of slowing down.
Surely there can be no question now whether Glasgow is the most exciting street food city in Scotland. Take the last few months for example. ‘Big Feed’ – Scotland’s biggest indoor fully licensed street food market celebrated its first official birthday over the weekend with a wide range of street food trucks offering an eclectic range of global flavours with vegan and coeliac friendly offerings, complimented with freshly brewed artisan coffee, Prosecco on tap and a local bar. In true Glasgow style the party went on until the last of the revellers went home! Happy Birthday Big Feed!
I’m also pleased to note that as of last week Platform; a Street Food market right in the heart of the city centre opened its doors for a Friday – Sunday service in The Arches; the former iconic music venue. For those in the CBD this offers a deliciously tasty treat at the end of the working week; given that the other street food venues are only open on the weekend. Good luck Platform!
In November 2017 Dockyard Social a new street food and bar hub in Finnieston (the current west end place to be seen in ‘Gastro Glasgow’ food circles) declares that ‘Global comfort food is our vibe’. The Dockyard Social is also the move progressive in the drinks front so plenty of innovative cocktails and the like to be enjoyed there.
The Barras area in the East End of Glasgow is of hugely significant historical importance to the city. The Barras Art and Design space (BAaD) with a seafood restaurant, an multi-purpose atrium and The Backyard at BAaD, made entirely of shipping containers combining an indoor bar, outdoor barbeque, covered seating area, beer garden with gourmet food trucks is encouraging locals and visitors to the city to spend time in this iconic area.
The majority of street food hubs in Glasgow have one other thing in common aside from serving up local food at affordable prices and that is their focus on supporting great charity causes and initiatives across the country and internationally.
That leads me to think about why Glasgow does the Street Food thing so very well. After much searching and aside from the fact that there are plenty of large unused warehouses from its former days as a great tobacco merchant city, I’m back to my original thought. It’s quite simply about the people. It starts and ends with the local people and their abundance of spirit. Wherever you go in Glasgow you’ll see the neon pink and white signs stating proudly that ‘PEOPLE MAKE GLASGOW’. Glaswegians love the laid back vibe of street food. They love the social aspect of relaxed urban dining. They work hard and they like to play hard. They like places where they can meet their family, bring their dog and enjoy the next batch of musical talent to hatch from this historically iconic city of music. Glasgow is Scotland’s friendliest City and it’s a city that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Life is after all for living.
To include a day or more enjoying this culinary revolution contact us at info@tastingscotland.com
