Over the past year, it has become clear that we’re experiencing a baked potato renaissance. What was once a meal almost exclusively enjoyed at home is now the dish of choice for people when dining out.
This is for several reasons. Tatties are a versatile, affordable and comforting food. Perhaps more importantly, they’ve also gone viral.
Businesses like The Spud Brothers have gained millions of followers. Their posts are an ever-present feature of social media.
It was one such post that led Dean Duncan to open The Topped Tattie at Mains Castle in Dundee this May.
How The Topped Tattie started
“My daughter was nippin’ my head about it,” Dean tells me from the other side of a picnic bench. We’re sitting in an idyllic courtyard just outside The Topped Tattie on a sun-filled and blustery day.
“On social media she’d seen it was very popular, so I just jumped on the bandwagon before anybody else did.”
This is a typically honest answer from Dean who has been hosting and catering events at Mains Castle in Caird Park for over a decade.
His experience came in handy when he opened The Topped Tattie in May.
“It was steady the first day,” Sandy Duncan – a family member who also works at The Topped Tattie – tells me.
“But when we opened the doors on the second day, the queue stretched all the way up the path.”
“We were open for five days and sold over 1,000 tatties,” Dean says.
And now?
“I reckon, at the moment, we’re selling 1,200 tatties a week, easy.”
Originally housed in a shed next to Mains Castle, Dean has recently moved the business into the castle’s kitchen.
“It works better. It’s a better layout so customers are served faster,” he says.
Freshly made tattie toppings
Even a cursory glance at the menu lets you know that The Topped Tattie offers much more than just standard cheese and beans. Toppings include everything from hand-rolled beef meatballs to macaroni.
“It’s all about the quality of the tattie. It’s all freshly prepared,” Dean says.
As a result, those in the kitchen have their work cut out. Not only do they have to deal with a near constant stream of customers, but they also have to prepare new batches of homemade toppings throughout the day.
To make matters even more complicated, The Topped Tattie’s menu also has a build-your-own option.
“If they ask for something and we’ve got it, we’ll try and make it,” Sandy says.
Dean adds that, as with the other menu items, these build-your-own tatties rarely cost more than £7.50.
These kinds of prices – and the promise of some exceptional tatties – see people visit The Topped Tattie from as far afield as Aberdeen.
After gazing at the menu for a minute I can see why people travel so far. Options like the Porky Walloper (£6.95) – which includes slow-cooked pulled pork, a honey glaze sauce, cheese, jalapeños, bacon and crispy onions – make my stomach rumble.
What are the tatties like?
I decide to order three tatties: The Porky Mac (£7.95), The Buttery Chicken (£6.95) and The Scottie (£7.25). After just a few minutes, all three of them are ready.
I try The Porky Mac first. It is smothered in barbecue-marinated pulled pork and macaroni. In fact, the toppings are so generous that I can’t see the potato.
So, I get to work.
The pulled pork is extremely satisfying to eat. It is tender, and the sauce carries a nice balance of sweet and smoky flavours with just a hint of spice.
The macaroni – which I was slightly worried about – is far from overcooked. It still has a decent bite to it.
Once I get to the tattie, I’m relieved to find that the flesh is fluffy. Thanks to a healthy amount of garlic butter, it too is packed with flavour. The tattie also boasts a crisp skin that’s to die for.
Next is The Buttery Chicken. This tattie has fewer components, but it is no less flavourful. This is thanks to a generous helping of buttermilk sauce that saturates the tattie.
A cheese topping adds another dimension while chives and crispy onions provide some welcome texture.
However, the star of the show is the chicken. Several large pieces sit atop the tattie. Despite their size, the meat remains moist.
My third and final tattie – The Scottie – is a recent addition to the menu. Dean put it on after receiving advice from the owner of a food truck in Glasgow.
The Scottie is a celebration of Scottish produce with black pudding, haggis and peppercorn sauce all featuring.
Thanks to these ingredients, The Scottie boasts a tonne of flavour, not least from the peppercorn sauce.
It is loud and bombastic – the perfect choice if you like your meal to knock you round the chops.
I can see why The Scottie is one of Dean’s best-selling tatties.
What the future holds
The Topped Tattie at Mains Castle has proven to be far more successful than Dean dared hope.
Because of this, he has been able to expand his team and donate to several different charities and local organisations.
The idea of making people queue in the rain and wind does not sit well with Dean. Because of this, it is likely The Topped Tattie will close during the winter months, probably from November to March.
Until then, The Topped Tattie at Mains Castle is open from 12pm to 7pm on Monday, Thursday and Friday and from 12pm to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday.
If you pop along during these hours, you’ll soon discover why the tattie renaissance is one we should welcome with open arms.
Information
Address: Mains Castle, Mains Loan, Dundee DD4 9BX
Website: https://www.facebook.com/people/The-Topped-Tattie-at-Mains-Castle/61575101439235
Price: £22.15 for three large tatties.
Scores
Food: 4.5/5
Service: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
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