EDINBURGH - #1 FAST FOOD LOCATION: Over the last few months I have featured top fast food locations around the Glasgow area. This time, I visited Lynne's Scrumptious Snax at the Hermiston Gait Retail Park, the number one 'quick bite' location according to Tripadvisor. I try the Badass burger, and it lives up to it's name.
GLASGOW'S NUMBER ONE FAST FOOD: While playing around with Tripadvisor, I wondered what Glasgow's best and favourite 'quick bite' takeaway was. I guessed it would be something like kebabs, pizzas or fish and chips. The number one location was MacTassos who specialised in Greek and Mediterranean street food. Seriously surprised and seriously impressed.
POLISH SNACKS: I was inspired by Snack Crate, but as I believe shopping locally, in local shops which depend on local customers for survival, I had a friend buy snacks, drinks and chocolates from an unknown foreign supermarket and seal them in a box. I have visited Poland three times before and tried Polish snacks, but these were all new to me.
SCOTTISH SNACKS: What better way to learn about Scottish snacks and confectionery than from a Scotsman! Plenty of sugar, chocolate, coconut and crumbs. Items include Tunnocks Tea Cake, Tunnocks snowball, Tunnocks caramel wafer, fudge, tablet, macaroon, butterscotch, millionaire's shortbread, rock and Edinburgh Rock, Scottish shortbread, oatcakes and that unmentionable item!
I TRAVEL 120 MILES FOR A MAC & CHEESE TOASTIE: With an 87% excellent rating on Tripadvisor, I wondered if the famous Mac & Cheese Toastie from the Cheesy Toast Shark in St. Andrews was worth a journey of 120 miles (240 miles round trip). I visit St Andrews University, the old course (home of golf) and the sites of this historic town before sitting on the beach to enjoy one of the best cheese toasties I had ever tasted.
AMERICAN SNACKS: I open a mystery box of American snacks and candy which includes root beer. I try a Twinkie, Cinnamon Cheerios, Rap Snack, Snyders and flavoured Hershey's for the first time. In theory, anything can be a snack. These are some of the most popular types of food to satisfy those midday cravings. Supermarket shelves are full of different snacks - the fuel that keeps America going between meals. I also learn who Romeo Miller is.
NANNING STREET FOOD: After trying unsuccessfully to visit some museums, I walk to Nanning Zhongshan Snack Street. This is a food lover's idea of heaven. I bought spicy pork skewered strips, various fruits including the notoriously smelly durian, crickets and also a scorpion. I refused to eat centipedes and any sea food - just in case.
EGYPTIAN STREET FOOD: How possible is it to focus on a foreign country's culture, history and food without leaving your country? I explore Egyptian street food and do some Egyptian tourism - right here in Glasgow. I had planned to visit a couple of other Egyptian eateries, and museums with Egyptian artefacts, but the Covid-19 lockdown was announced with little warning, so I stopped filming.
LOUISIANA STREET FOOD: I was recently at the marina taking a short cruise to see the 'Sugar Boat' ship wreck, and I discovered a food van called 'Jax Snax'. Unlike most food vans in the Glasgow area, this one sold Oriental cuisine and Louisiana street food. I would love to travel to Louisiana, visit New Orleans, Lafayette and Baton Rouge, but until Covid-19 settles down, the best I can do is to visit this little food van near Greenock, Scotland.