Scottish breakfast roundup
/After returning from our Scotland research trip, we thought we’d post some pictures of the (sometimes huge) Scottish breakfasts we had, with a bit of explanation.
Breakfast was included in every place we stayed save one (which offered it as an add-on). This is different from Ireland: Pre-pandemic, Irish breakfasts were always included, but post-pandemic it is not uncommon for breakfast to be an extra you pay for. At first we were a little disappointed with that, but that was because our imagination was greater than our stomachs. After a week+ of full Irish breakfasts, having a day or two off is a nice break.
And so we have learned that lesson again here in Scotland, where we had full Scottish breakfasts available every day. Generally the breakfast includes eggs to order, bacon, sausage, black pudding, haggis, mushrooms, beans, fried tomato, and potato scone, PLUS tea/coffee and toast, AND access to a buffet of cereal, yogurt, juice, water, and fruit. To eat, you know, before breakfast.
Rooms and food in Scotland are more spendy than they are in Ireland (even accounting for the currency exchange), and Ireland is already more spendy than it used to be only a few years ago. However, when you figure that you are eating approximately 4839392837 calories for breakfast, you really don't eat any lunch, and that opens the door for you to have something really nice for dinner, since this is generally the one daily meal to pay for.
In addition to the Full Scottish always on offer, there is usually a vegetarian Full Scottish as well, plus often an eggs and fish option (e.g., smoked haddock or kipper with poached egg, or salmon and scrambled), and a porridge option.
(And don’t forget breakfast at dinnertime… In the evening, technically you’ve been fasting since breakfast; so before dinner, have a breakfast in the form of a pint of something delicious!)