Blog #17: The Scotch Egg

What came first, the chicken or the egg? An age old question that had me pondering for a bit longer than I care to admit. All I know is that I LOVE eggs and with breakfast being, quite possibly, my favorite meal, I kind of feel like I can’t live without them. I could eat them every morning but I force myself to put them in an “every other day rotation” and sometimes, will only eat one, paired with other goodies such as avocados, spinach and cheddar or feta and herbs. 

I credit me dear friend Ali with introducing me to the Scotch Egg. Check out her youtube channel, Out-N-About with Ali, to get all kinds of fabulous tips on where to go and what to do and see in Las Vegas, often with a British spin (she’s a Liverpool gal- you’re going to want to watch all of them just for her amazing accent)! It was on one of her spots that I saw a high profile chef in Vegas cooking a Scotch Egg and I’ll admit, I was mesmerized. How had this egg connoisseur (that’d be me) not yet discovered this Scottish delight? So, I decided to seek one out. 

McMullan’s Irish Pub in Las Vegas is a lively Irish Pub (although, not so lively at 25% capacity and we’re grateful for that) with beer and pub grub that will surprise you in quality and flavor. They offer several British favorites such as sausage rolls and chips and gravy (you can get onion gravy or curry) and they are oh so very tasty. Even the black mussels with tomato, garlic and fresh herbs are surprisingly delicious. In Vegas, you simply cannot judge a book by its cover. So many great bar/restaurants are tucked away in some ugly strip mall in a building with no windows (it’s a gambling thing) but take my word for it, don’t let it deter you. There are great chefs and inviting ambiance everywhere you go. You just have to push past the sometimes nondescript or even slightly seedy exterior. 

On my last visit, I really had one goal: to try the Scotch Egg. To discover the undiscovered. It did NOT disappoint. The scotch egg is a fairly simple concept but requires quite a few detail oriented steps. First, you need a few soft or hard boiled eggs (soft boiled seem to be the more popular option). Then, you need some good, pork sausage (removed from its casing). Mash the sausage, make big meatball size balls out of it, and flatten to resemble a burger patty. Carefully wrap your peeled and boiled egg in this sausage patty (there seems to be an art to this). Dip in flour (shake it off), egg wash and breadcrumbs and deep fry. Mmmm. How could that not be delicious? The sausage can be spruced up with mustard powder and chives or anything your heart desires. I think part of the joy of this dish is the texture combination. The soft center of the egg and the crispy but slightly oily exterior from the fried breading that just creates the perfect little burst of flavor and feel in your mouth. McMullan’s served theirs on a bed of corn and greens with a mustard aioli (which is basically dijon mustard and mayo) on the side. It satisfied my every craving. This supposedly was once a picnic food in England. I may have to have a picnic soon (yes, we can still picnic in the winter in Las Vegas) just to have an excuse to eat more Scotch Eggs. Seeing as I am not a whiskey fan, I’d like to thank this culture for this food contribution to our world. 

I initially went to McMullan’s in 2012 when I was living a few blocks down on Decatur in my first apartment in Las Vegas. I was the cover (soon to be full time) singer for Cirque du Soleil’s,“O” at the time, a lucky first job to have in the city. I don’t know exactly how long it’s been around, but it’s just a great little spot, a hop, skip and a jump from the strip. I respect everyone’s wishes on dining out these days and have cut way back on it myself but I was also in the service industry for 10 years (on and off) and these establishments need our support. It breaks my heart to see how many staples have already shut down. If you feel comfortable dining out once in a while and you’re a Las Vegas resident who hasn’t checked this place out (doubtful)- do it. Or, at least order some take out. Cheers, mate! 

McMullan’s Irish Pub

4650 W. Tropicana

Las Vegas, NV 89103 

(just West of “The Orleans”)