Chips, Peas & History – Dundee’s Famous Fast Food Returns
Dundee children have stepped back in time, discovering how the city became home to Scotland’s first chip shop and sampling the famous “pea-buster” that made it a local favourite.
The summer holiday session at The Roundhouse Community Hub in Whitfield, home to charity Signpost International, saw local history expert Alistair Heather bring Dundee’s food heritage to life through storytelling, quizzes and, of course, chips!
Youngsters learned where potatoes come from, made their own traditional paper “pokes” and recreated Victorian chip stalls, discovering how the city’s first chip sellers served hungry customers more than 150 years ago.
The “pea-buster”, also known as the “Dundee Buster”, was a simple but filling meal of hot chips topped with slow-cooked marrowfat peas and a generous splash of malt vinegar.
Its story began in the late 1870s when Belgian immigrant Edward de Gernier and his French wife, Julia, settled in Dundee. Spotting an opportunity in the bustling Greenmarket, where the Caird Hall now stands, Edward recreated the stalls that were popular in his homeland, while Julia added hot peas and vinegar to create what became the city’s signature fast food. Workers and market-goers would warm themselves on wooden benches while eating their pea-busters from ceramic saucers or paper pokes, and the dish quickly became a cheap, filling staple for Dundee’s mill workers.
Alistair said, “The pea-buster was an affordable working-class meal that arrived at exactly the right time. People were working long hours and didn’t have the time or money to prepare elaborate meals, so this combination of chips, peas and vinegar was perfect. Developed in Dundee by migrants who brought their own food traditions with them, it became synonymous with the city.
“Food has an incredible ability to bring people together and spark conversations. We made our own pokes, recreated the old chip stalls and, of course, debated the all-important question of what should go on your chips!”
Steph Dolan, Education and Community Worker at Signpost International, added, “We’ve had an amazing summer at The Roundhouse and this event was another fantastic success. Children loved hearing Ally’s stories about the pea-buster and, even more, trying one for themselves.
“Understanding where food comes from can make children much more willing to try new things, especially when learning is fun. Like all of our summer activities, this session also encouraged families to cook and bake at home using surplus food that might otherwise have gone to waste, helping them save money while reducing food waste.”
The event formed part of a free programme of family activities at The Roundhouse throughout the school holidays, all celebrating Dundee’s food heritage. Funded by the Alex Ferry Foundation, Northwood Charitable Trust and The Volant Trust, every activity has used surplus food donated by local farms and supermarkets.
Signpost International, based at The Roundhouse in Whitfield, rescues surplus donated food and transforms it into nutritious community meals, distributed through local foodbanks and larders. While rooted in Dundee, Signpost International supports communities worldwide. Through global partnerships, the charity empowers people to tackle poverty and injustice, helping to build thriving, resilient communities. Its work focuses on four key themes: food security, sustainable livelihoods, water, sanitation and hygiene, and global citizenship, impacting 30,000 to 35,000 people annually.
For more information about Signpost International, visit https://www.signpost-international.org/
ENDS
NOTE TO EDITORS Alistair Heather is an award-winning television presenter, tour guide and writer with a passion for history. He presents BBC television programmes such as the BAFTA-nominated Burns Night & RTS award-winning BBC Scottish Traditional Music Awards, and has written and presented acclaimed BBC Radio 4 documentaries. He writes regularly for magazines and newspapers on history, culture and politics. Known as @Historic_Ally on social media, his videos about interesting Scottish stories have pulled in millions of viewers. He is fluent in Scots and English, and lives in Dundee.