Six Scottish eating experiences make the world’s top 500

Eating fish and chips on the pebble-strewn beach of Stonehaven in north-east Scotland has been named one of the world’s top food experiences in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist, published today.

In the much-anticipated follow-up to Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Travelist, Ultimate Eatlist celebrates and ranks the world’s top 500 food experiences.

Whether it’s baozi in Shanghai, steak tartare in Paris or clam chowder in Boston – food and place are inextricably connected. Whenever we eat while travelling, we don’t just taste the dish itself but experience the whirl of people, languages, aromas and sounds that are unique to that destination.

At number 31 on the list, fish and chips is the UK’s top entry – and one of the highest-ranking food experiences in the world, with the experience at Stonehaven particularly recommended.

Lonely Planet’s food-obsessed writers, bloggers and staffers noted: ‘Sailing boats bob in the harbour; rockpools teem with crabs and sea stars; gulls ride on the breeze; and in the distance, the leaden horizon of the North Sea. Completing the scene, halfway along the beach is The Bay Fish & Chips, whose fish is wild-caught from Marine Stewardship Council-certified stocks.

‘Considering the setting, the sustainability and the beautifully cooked fish, is it the best fish and chip shop in the world? The constant queue suggests so.’

Tasty haggis, with neeps and tatties

A total of 29 of the 500 featured experiences can be enjoyed across the UK and Ireland, with five more Scottish entries including smoked salmon in the Outer Hebrides (number 39), revel in a Burns Night knees-up with haggis (number 162), Arbroath smokies from Scotland’s east coast (number 163), langoustines in ‘the pretty little fishing village of Ullapool’ in northern Scotland (number 221) and chicken tikka masala in Glasgow (number 450).

Each entry in Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist details an experience, the culture behind it, and what makes it so special. The book also includes favourite food experiences as nominated by 20 of the world’s top chefs and food writers, from José Andrés to Andrew Zimmern.

The top 10 ranked experiences are: 1, Pintxos in San Sebastián, Spain; 2, Curry laksa in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; 3, Sushi in Tokyo, Japan; 4, Beef brisket in Texas, USA; 5, Som tum in Bangkok, Thailand; 6, Smørrebrød in Copenhagen, Denmark; 7, crayfish in Kaikoura, New Zealand; 8, Bibimbap in Seoul, South Korea; 9, Pizza margherita in Naples, Italy; 10, Dim sum in Hong Kong.

Lonely Planet asked its food-obsessed writers, bloggers and staffers to name their favourite, most authentic gastronomic encounters. With this long list to hand, we sought to rank the entries: where should you go for the world’s must-have food experiences? The team of expert food editors were aided by a panel – made up of chef and TV presenter Adam Liaw and food blogger Leyla Kazim – that evaluated the entries according to the taste of the dish, its cultural importance, and the special atmosphere of the location.

The result is Lonely Planet’s Ultimate Eatlist – 500 delicious dishes around the world that will thrillingly put you in touch with a place, its people and their way of life.

Click HERE for more details about the Ultimate Eatlist, priced £24.99.