When Fiona Hamilton swapped the Moray coast for the south coast more than 15 years ago, she knew she was in for a change.
Her new home of Brighton was very different to her native Elgin. But there was one thing Fiona couldn’t leave behind – butteries!
The 38-year-old travels back to Elgin every Christmas where the Hamilton household maintains their long-standing tradition of a Christmas morning buttery for breakfast.
Me and My Buttery spoke to Fiona about why butteries are the true spirit of Christmas, and why they remind her of home.
Fiona, it is an honour to welcome you to Me and My Buttery. Can you tell us about your family’s Christmas buttery ritual in Elgin?
Some people that have one every day, but for family Hamilton, they’re definitely just one a year.
And they’re highly anticipated every Christmas morning, due to their rare appearance on the kitchen table.
What’s the Christmas Day schedule?
It’s definitely not Christmas without a buttery.
I mean, you shower, get dressed, then have a cup of coffee and a buttery. This is all before you open the presents. We then go out for a long walk along the beach.
Why do you keep doing it?
It’s all part of the family coming together, isn’t it? I’ve been away from home for years – I went to uni in Sheffield and then travelled to Sydney and came back and lived in Brighton. So it’s all part of getting everyone around the table.
How do you eat your buttery?
I would say just butter, and definitely hot. Stick it in the oven. Grill it.
The oven, not the toaster?
I think the oven makes a crispier buttery. Well-fired. Well-fired and slathered in salted butter.
Has your opinion of butteries changed since you left home?
I think I view them more fondly. It’s one of those things that reminds me of home.
Forget the haggis, shortbread or deep fried Mars bars. My loyalty lies with a buttery – it’s the king of Scottish treat foods.
Have you managed to introduce them to anyone?
I’ve taken packets home and dished them out to friends. A friend’s husband, he loves them. He thinks they’re definitely one of the better exports from Scotland.
I’ve got other friends who treat them with mild disgust.
You think they’d go down well in Brighton?
If we marketed it right, yeah. We could set up a stall and sell them on the seafront. I reckon we could convert a few passers by!
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