Eat This: Epcot’s Food and Wine Festival – Scotland Booth

I finally had the chance to take on Scotland today. I’d been looking forward to this one and had probably only taken this long because it’s hard to get deep into the UK section of Food & Wine with enough of an appetite for lox and stew. But I’m getting ahead of myself….

The Scotland booth is of course in the UK area, past Rose & Crown and the Ireland stand as you walk toward Canada. This year they are offering two savory dishes and one sweet, along with a handful of drinks (which I skipped for now).

• Fresh Potato Pancake with Scottish Smoked Salmon and Herbed Sour Cream ($5.25)

I am sitting here looking at this picture and wishing I had another one of these in front of me. It’s so simple and perfect and good and I’m thrilled that it’s back this year. A healthy little pile of lox and generous dollop of herbed sour cream sitting on top of a warm potato pancake. I’m not dainty with it – I just pick it up with my fingers and bite into it. The combination of no frills ingredients works so well together. Go have one for a late breakfast tomorrow. Then have another for lunch. You’re welcome. 😉

• Traditional Scottish Lamb Stew with Neeps and Tatties ($4.75)

I admittedly had to google neeps and tatties. They are a sort of turnip and potatoes, mashed here, under the stew. This was so good. Simple, again – just a mild stew, not too much salt – thank goodness, lamb and veggies – carrots and onions. Nothing about it is wildly different. If you’re looking to try the 5 most inventive things at Food & Wine, this isn’t going to be on the list. But it’s delicious and if you happen upon Scotland and are hungry, it will do the trick quite nicely. I am again sitting here looking at the picture and wishing I had some more.

• The Tipsy Laird: Whiskey-soaked Cake with Lemon Cream and Toasted Oats ($3.50)

This is a pretty little layered dessert. It has a berry compote at the bottom with cake, oats, lemon cream, and a dollop of whipped cream and fresh raspberry on top. It’s moist and creamy and has lots of flavor. I was expecting it to be the sort of syrupy reduced liquor taste that you’d find in, say, a rum cake – but I honestly didn’t taste the whiskey at all. Still, at $3.50 this is a lovely little dessert.