Death of the stottie?

Difficult to believe survey

Just looking at this little story in the Newcastle Journal which reveals that a survey shows that a third of under 24s don’t know what a stottie cake is! Apparently another third think it is minced eel patties fried in breadcrumbs.

I’m finding this a little difficult to believe, but applaud their efforts to increase recogition for our regional foods.

The stottie is part of our staple diet in South Shields, is it not? Available at every branch of Greggs, just about every small baker that I can think of in South Shields, and packed with chips and sold to schoolchildren (who prefer the less healthy diet) at many fish and chip outlets at lunchtime! Having witnessed an explosion of sandwich bars in the town over the past ten years I also know that the stottie cake is well represented in their offerings with a huge variety of fillings.

The round flat bread that was traditionally baked in the bottom of the oven (or black range) by our grandmothers with it’s elastic and chewy consistency ought to be one of the more instantly recognisable regional foods that we offer here on Tyneside. Greggs of Gosforth do their best to market the product throughout the UK, but I have noticed that their outlets further south than Yorkshire don’t carry or produce much stock of the Geordie’s favourite bread.

Still, some supermarkets have made a few moves to feature locally produced foods and reduce the amount of food miles - which should assuage the “green” consciences.

The stottie is not yet in danger of death, it just needs a little more support! Perhaps the Member’s Tea Room in the Houses of Parliament could be persuaded to offer stottie sandwiches - over to you messrs. Miliband and Hepburn.

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