‘Great chieftain o’ the puddin race

While in Scotland, I discovered two really good haggis producers, although there are probably lots of small local butchers producing equally good versions. Simon Howie started in the trade as an apprentice in Rattray’s butchers in Perth. It was an old-fashioned shop that made use of the whole carcass, and a part of that process was, of course, haggis. Simon ended up buying the shop at the height of the BSE crisis in 1995 and continued the haggis-making tradition with a few personal tweaks on the way. He has won many awards since, including the Best Butcher in Scotland and the Best Shop in Scotland.