This week our readers have been left fiercely divided over the authentic Scottish roll being sold at a Greater Manchester market.
Known as the ‘well-fired roll’, pictures of the striking delicatessen sold at the Bread Stall in Hyde Indoor Market were shared on a local Facebook page to a polarising opinion. Some residents described the baked good as ‘beautiful’ and addictive, while others opted to stay clear, making fun of its look and even calling it dangerous.
Bread Stall owner, David Brown, said the rolls have been flying off the shelf with many satisfied customers - but admitted it left people divided. "You either like them or you don’t it’s a Marmite thing isn’t it," he said.
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So what does it taste like? I went to the market on Clarendon Street to see for myself. Spoiler alert, I can't exactly say I was a fan.
As I stood patiently waiting, the mesmeric sound of the crispy base crunching as the roll is sliced by the bakers knife lulled me into what can only be described a false sense of security. The aroma of burnt bread as you open wide and lift the freshly baked roll to your mouth for consumption left me thinking maybe it tastes better than it looks.
That wasn't the case for me, though. I have never eaten coal but I can’t imagine it tastes too dissimilar. The healthy spread of butter on the roll is doing some major heavy lifting while my brain and tongue are in an epic battle to stop me from painting the Hyde Indoor Market floor with what was my breakfast.
Many people have spoken about what best to have the roll with. Some opt for cheese, ham and tomato, while others stick with soups or just a good old brew. I wish I’d heeded their advice during my taste test because swallowing was just as hard as chewing, one big gulp felt like the roll was lodged in my throat with nothing to wash it down.
Then came the aftertaste. For the rest of my day the back of my throat felt and tasted like a BBQ left out too long by a lazy dad until I was able to get home and use mouth wash as as a pallet cleanser.
While it certainly wasn’t for me, though, that definitely isn't the case for many who give it a go. David told the MEN how he has had to double up on orders of the roll and how Scottish customers have flocked to the store for a little taste of home.
The 55-year-old said: “Each day this week since your story I’ve doubled my order. On Wednesday I was sold out by 9:30am and we don’t open until 9am. A Scottish guy who lives in Bolton came down and wanted five dozen, I had to let him know I didn’t have that much, poor thing!.
“We used to live in Salford and there was a food hall in the market and they used to sell them there. When we took over the Bread Stall I said to my wife to try and get some ‘black buns’ which is what we used to call them. You either like them or you don’t it’s a Marmite thing isn’t it.
Have you tried it? What do you think? Have your say in our comments below.
"I love them! I have with ham and tomato but you daren’t have them if you’re heading out. You’ve got to have them at home so you can brush your teeth!
“If anyone comes and says anything I give it to them to try it and I tell them they’re going to come back for more." According to David, they’re cooked by baking them normally and then the rolls are placed at the top of the oven with the heat turned to the highest setting to burn the top.
In 2018 Scotland's food standards agency warned consumers to limit their intake of well-fired rolls and other foods rich in starch to guard against acrylamide - a cancer-causing chemical. However, according to Cancer Research UK, acrylamide from burnt toast, burnt chips, or crispy potatoes is unlikely to increase the risk of cancer.
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