Dining in Shetland

my last dinner in Shetland

 When I first visited Shetland 35 years ago, I stayed with my grandfather's younger sister who was probably not much older than I am now (70). My grandfather had left Shetland when his sister was only 10 years old and had never returned. My aunt and her husband, being extremely hospitable, treated me to a lamb dinner at one of the dark panelled hotel dining rooms of the day.

Shetland is the home of many sheep. They dot the fields and wander along the roads. Lamb dinners are listed on every Shetland menu. However, the fare on the modern menus is quite different from the lamb, tattie and neep dinners of earlier visits. Since I visited 6 years ago, a few new restaurants have opened. 

The restaurants are small, bright and popular. Reservations are essential.

Sheep wander on country roads.

My dinner at NO.88 restaurant in Lerwick was comprised of slow roasted lamb, a lamb chop

and lamb belly arancini. Broccoli stems and a bit of potato finished the plate. I'm not usually a meat eater but this dinner was delicious.

Shetland food is locally sourced.

Shetland's fisheries contribute about 320 million pounds to the islands' economy. Shellfish are plentiful. 

Last night, Daughter ordered crab in white wine broth. Chips and salad accompanied her dish. We ordered a glass of wine each. No grapes grow on the islands so there is no local wine but there is the local Skapa whiskey and Reel gin. 

delicious crab

We shared many meals with relatives in Shetland restaurants but I was shy to bring out my phone to snap photos. 

It is interesting to notice the skill with which the Shetland people have adapted the local foods to suit 

the tastes the twenty-first century.