Treats for the palate at Grandfather Mountain Highland Games

BY JAREN GRAGG

While at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games if visitors get a craving for some good authentic Scottish food, it’s just a short walk away. For food aficionados wish for something that is more close to home, then there are also a number of local delicacies that are sure to fill any hungry Scottish Highlander’s belly. Some of the many vendors that will be up for the GMHG this year will include Brick Oven Pizza, Steele’s Concessions, local favorite Crossnore Volunteer Fire Department, along with Appalachian Concessions. There will also be longtime vendors making their way back, such as Cameron’s British Food. GMHG also has some newcomers to the Games such as What The Cluck?! food truck and Happy Belly. For those with a refined taste in food, Stone Walls will also be serving food for the first time in MacRae Meadows, offering a veritable plethora of dining opportunities to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters.

“We have had a big concentration on increasing the number of food vendors. We’ve also concentrated on things that will feed people,” GMHG President Steve Quillin shared. “In other words, we didn’t add a cookie guy or somebody selling peppermint candy. You can go to (food vendors such as) What the Cluck truck and get a meat and two vegetables and make a lunch out of it.”

If any festival goers want to grab authentic Scottish cuisine, get in line at Cameron’s British Foods. Scottish meat pies, traditional Celtic fish and chips, the ever-popular haggis, along with the most popular seller for Cameron, the Scottish Egg, will be on offer. The latter just happens to be Don Cameron’s personal favorite dish, and Cameron learned how make his culinary dishes from three generations of chefs within his lineage.

“There are some real, true, diehard haggis people up there. I’ve had customers come looking for haggis first thing in the morning for breakfast,” Cameron said about his customers at the Games.

After festival attendees finish up their meal and are wanting something sweet to sink their teeth into, they can always visit Jack’s Treat Truck for dessert or Mookie’s Marvelous Kettle Korn for a sweet and savory snack. If you want to get into the Highland Games spirit, however, visit

House of Douglas Bakery which offers Scottish baked goods.

For those looking to quench their thirst, there are also a variety of options, including Sips Soda Shop, which offers craft sodas, and Crusher’s

Fruit Drinks. Not to be omitted, all of the many coffee lovers out in the Meadows can partake from Mr. Coffee

Concierge, providing that useful extra kick of caffeine following a long night of fellowship, music and fun.

Grandfather Mountain Highland Games