Cuisine of Isle of Man

Dating back to Celtic times, the cuisine of Isle of Man is blend of seafood and game, highlighting the Manx fascination for the great outdoors. In spite of its tiny size,  Isle of Man has its fair share of unique dishes like Manx Kippers & Manx Queenies. The Manx have always been avid fishermen and understandably, the typical local fare is ocean-centric.

Most farms on Isle of Man sell garden produce, milk and eggs. Apart from the Dairy, locally bred sheep, cows and pigs ensure an adequate supply of milk, dairy products and meat. The Isle of Man has many unique local specialties, which have evolved on the island over its long history. The Manx people have long enjoyed fresh fish from the sea surrounding the island, as well as local produce.

Manx specialties

The national dish of the island is 'Spuds and Herrin', boiled potatoes and herring. A distinctive Manx delicacy is the Manx Kipper, a tradition on the Isle of Man since the late 1800s. A great hit amongst sea-farers, kippers are essentially herrings that are cut, salted and smoked with oak chips to give them a special flavor. They are available at almost all local restaurants, pubs and groceries. Herrings are caught locally during the months of July and August. Then they are then processed at local factories, where they are cut, salted and smoked with oak chips to give them a unique flavor. Kippers can be bought from shops or restaurants.

Another popular favorite are the Manx Queenies – local scallops served with a luscious white or cheese sauce. A quintessential fixture on the Manx culinary landscape is the traditional tearoom, serving piping hot tea and bonnags – crumbly, scone-like cakes. Despite the mind-blogging array of meat dishes, the islands have healthy appetite for fresh local veggies.

The smokeries also produce other specialities including smoked salmon and bacon. Crab, lobster and scallops are commercially fished. Cod, ling and mackerel are often angled for the table, and freshwater trout and salmon can be taken from the local rivers and lakes, supported by the Government fish hatchery at Cornaa.

Manx ice cream / chocolates

There is a real treat in store for the sweet-toothed - traditional Manx ice cream is rich, creamy and comes in 60 flavors. Davisons Home Made is the largest producers of this unique icy specialty and most of the corner shops (newsagents), tea rooms, and ice cream parlors proffer Davison ice cream. Davison are also known for producing most luscious chocolates.

Beverages

Okell’s, the sole authorized Manx brewery, produces ales and lagers, served in the ubiquitous pubs around the Isle of Man. A brew indigenous to the island nation is Manx. Matured in oak casks, this re-distilled alcoholic beverage is imbued with a distinct flavor and aroma.

To know more about Manx culture, crafts and sample some great Irish cooking, pay a visit to Tynwald Mills Craft Centre.

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