In Search of Scottish Oatcakes

Even the most casual traveller to Australia, could not fail to notice the liberal application of Scottish place names that punctuate the maps of this vast country. Towns, cities, rivers, roads and forests all echo familiar and emotive Scottish names. Names that were brought by early Scots explorers and pioneers; set down in romantic homage to the old country that many must have known they would never see again.

Campbelltown, MacDonald, Scone, Aberdeen, Hamilton, Lithgow, Invergowrie, Glencoe, Apin, Lorn, Melrose, Dysart, Bannockburn, Argyle, Dundas, Esk and Stirling, are just a few of the many names that remind one of home.

So with such a deep Scots connection, you might think it would be easy to get hold of that most fundamental of Scottish savoury cuisine, the humble Oat Cake?

And yet, its really not that easy, let me tell you!

[The Elusive Scottish Oatcake]

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I have now searched for oatcakes in three Ausie states and with very mixed success. Most of the big supermarkets do not have them and only the occasional health food, or import store, even knows about them.

I have spent much time explaining what oatcakes are to bemused and uncomprehending store assistants. I quickly learned that the term 'cake' confused them immensely and invariably directed me down the 'sweets and deserts' aisle of any store. The realisation that it was most effective to describe my desire as, "a sort of savory oat biscuit", helped somewhat, but did not improve my ultimate success.

I do not believe that Queensland knows the simple pleasure of the oatcake at all. Similarly Victoria is not overly familiar, though I did find them in one city centre store. New South Wales was perhaps the most 'oat friendly' state, but only in Sydney and they were not easy to find. Yet they could be found - usually occupying some obscure corner of the special import sections - surrounded by fancy European pastas.

When I did find them, my happiness was unbounded. However, they were expensive and I was forced by their very scarcity to buy in what may have appeared as suspicious bulk.

[Ahh, the promised land at last!]

Ok, so searching for oatcakes may have become something of a sad obsession, but as everyone knows, a good Scotsman needs his oatcakes at least two or three times a week to maintain a happy disposition. What else can one do?