Today, I'm re-posting something I wrote for Team Rogue YA (see the original post here). I hope you're hungry. Although I don't eat seafood myself, I love the sound of the Isle's bonnag cakes! This post outlines some of the things that Bridey and her family eat in my YA debut novel, FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP. Enjoy!
Original Post:
When I tell people that my book takes place on the Isle of Man, I’m often met with the response, “I know where that is!” …only to have the person then point to the Isle of Wight, the Isle of Skye, random places in Scotland, or any number of other gorgeous, windswept locations in and around the U.K. But the Isle of Man is a unique destination!
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| Isle of Man, circled here in yellow; it’s a Crown Dependency, but not actually part of the UK! |
So today, I’m here to
share a little about the Isle of Man by introducing you all to an important aspect
of any culture: the FOOD! Hopefully, by the time you’ve read this post, you’ll
have at least the briefest of insights into what makes the Isle of Man a special
place to visit (or, you know, to use for a book setting!).
Food features prominently
in FEAR THE DROWNING DEEP: Bridey and her three sisters share secrets over
meals. Bridey’s da provides for his family by going to sea and filling up his
nets—until something scares all the fish away. Whenever Bridey’s in distress, she
can run to her mam’s kitchen and make her favorite oatmeal-currant cookies.
As you might imagine, I
had to do some delicious research on Manx cuisine! The food on the Isle, like
the rest of its culture, has both Celtic and Norse influences. Below are some
dishes that Bridey herself would recognize as authentically Manx.
#1: Spuds and Herrin’
This is one of the most popular meals on the Isle, and
is the Manx national dish! Despite Bridey’s distaste for seafood (she doesn’t
trust anything from the ocean!), her mam often makes spuds and herrin’ for
supper.
#2: Kippers
While Bridey may not care for these salted, smoked
fish (usually herring like the ones seen above), her mysterious crush, Fynn,
can’t get enough of them.
#3: Queenies
These Queen scallops, locally known as “Queenies,” are
another popular seafood on the Isle. They’re often served with bacon and garlic
butter. Mackerel, crab, and lobster are also frequently caught and consumed
here!
#4: Loaghtan Lamb
The Loaghtan is a type of sheep found only on the Isle
of Man! These Manx sheep have four to six horns, and their dark, rich meat is
considered a delicacy by many. Here’s a recipe for Manx
Broth, which could be made
with lamb or (if you don’t live on the Isle) regular beef.
#5: Bonnags
This Manx cake-like fruit bread, often served for
breakfast or tea-time, is one of Bridey’s favorite foods!
#6: Samson
A beverage made of treacle (molasses) and hops; Manxmen
of the early 20th century believed this drink to be good for a boost
of energy and strength! However, it isn’t made today.
And now, I’ll leave you with this adorable non-food
picture:
(Because no post about the Isle of Man would be complete
without the tailless Manx cat).
Thanks for reading! And
as Bridey would say, “Cair vie!”
–That is, “Fair winds!”
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