Our favourite Ayrshire beaches
19th June 2017
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20th July 2017
We know North Ayrshire has a lot going for it and its food is no exception. We might get a bit of rain but it provides us with land that produces wonderful tasty treats.
Ayrshire’s grass is perfect for feeding strong, healthy cows and pigs and our beautiful coastline gives us access to delicious fish and shellfish. The produce we have here is such good quality that it makes it easy for you to whip up a lovely meal in no time.
Read on for our favourite food suppliers so you can discover North Ayrshire’s wonderful flavours for yourself.
Traditional butchers
Robertsons’ Fine Foods in Ardrossan is run by the Robertson family and they’re all about the pig. They’ve been supplying prime pork, bacon, sausages and cooked meats to local residents for the past five generations so they obviously know what they’re doing! They’ve recently opened up a specialist cooked meats shop in Irvine too.
If you’re venturing into Largs, head to A.D. Paton’s. They’re also family run and have been going since 1840. They’ve won awards for their steak pies, sausages and black pudding. This is the place to go if you’re looking for fantastic beef, lamb, pork and haggis. They also sell sliced sausage in almost any flavour you can imagine, including Irn Bru!
A taste of the sea
Ayrshire is rightly famous for its fish and there is no shortage of fisherman around to prove it. When it comes to shellfish, a lot of the local suppliers sell direct to restaurants and markets and aren’t open to the public. They supply all kinds of shellfish from oysters to lobsters and brown crab.
Our favourite place to go for fresh fish and shellfish is Fencebay in Fairlie, near Largs. They sell local fish, catching a lot of it themselves from their boat, Pegasus. Their smokehouse also produces some wonderful stuff, including smoked trout, salmon and kippers. They don’t just sell fish either. They smoke their own bacon, chicken and duck and have a farm shop selling a range of local produce too.
Say cheese
Did you know that Ayrshire cows produce milk that’s perfect for cheese making? Well, now you do. You can find some lovely local cheese in the shops but we’d recommend a trip to Dunlop’s Dairy, near Stewarton. They have their own cows and goats with plenty of room to roam. You can buy their delicious cheese in their own shop and enjoy a cuppa in the tea room too.
A bit of everything
We’d be neglecting you if we didn’t mention the Wee Deli in West Kilbride. They describe themselves as ‘a tardis of food delights’ and we think that’s spot on. You can get a whole range of delicious local food including their famous pate. They make their own savoury pastries and hot soup to warm you up on a cold day. If you just want a quick bite to take on your travels they can let you have a takeaway or even a whole hamper.
If you’ve discovered a local favourite, don’t be shy, let us know in the comments below! We hope you enjoy your dinner.
