Robert Burns' dinner last evening - a new experience! (also known as, I ate Haggis and lived to tell about it!
 

Hi all, <BR><BR>I had quite the interesting evening last night. I was invited to a Robert Burns' dinner, as a guest of Baroness Liz Barker, of the Liberal Democrats party. <BR><BR>I met a number of really interesting people - not the least of whom was Alan Beith, the MP from Berwick on Tweed. He gave the 'Toast to the Lassies' and his wife gave the 'Reply from the Lassies'. There was a gent who played the bagpipe as the Haggis was brought out, and he also quoted a poem by Robert Burns.<BR><BR>I had Neeps & Tatties, as well as real Haggis. and whiskey & wine too. v. good!<BR><BR>more later, must dash off again. <BR><BR>Beth

I feel the need to point out to my good friend that Alan's wife is the Baroness Maddock in her own right, and not just an appendage:)<BR><BR>The poem is the "Address to the Haggis".<BR><BR>And was there not a speech about Burns himself? "The Immortal Memory"

I wasn't completely sure of her whole title which is why I didn't quote it here.<BR><BR>She had quite an interesting rejoinder.

ps. am meeting HB for lunch today..

Beth, that sounds really, really nice. Hope you have a good time at lunch today and have a great weekend, too!<BR><BR>~MaryC : )

Beth,did you wear a tartan? a kilt? did the men? need more details as I am living vicariously through your travels ~C

Um...Alan who?

Pardon my ignorance, but who or what is HB?

Hey Tony; it's part of the Liberal support for Scottish Nationalism. Alkan think's he's in a Scottish consituency:)<BR><BR>HB is a mutual friend. Please accept my apologies for the "in" nature of this thread

TTT for Beth fans

OK, Beth, I know that the whiskey tasted good - but how did the haggis taste? Is it like shepherd's pie-ish kind of meaty/starchy/mixed up together? Or was it more like kidneys in stew? I'm dying to find out. BTW, thanks for the latest installment of your "adventures".<BR>ja

I would be shocked if they were served "whiskey"<BR><BR>(we spell it "whisky" here. Anything with an "e" is a pale imitation of the real thing:)

Scottish societies throughout the US also have Burns dinners. The last one I went to, I was the only man not wearing a kilt

At our (infrequent) Burns suppers (Jan. 25, by the way) we always make a point of reading his poem written in honor of George Washington's birthday. <BR><BR>Can anyone help me find the hilarious "Address to a Vegan Haggis" so I can recite it to one of the several non-offal eaters in our dinner group?

I am going to a Burn's Night this Saturday...I am quite nervous about it (or the haggis I should say!) My first Burn's Night...any tips? I wanted to wear a Gordon plaid tartan, but don't have one and don't have time to get one...so I am going tartanless! I am looking forward to the speeches though!

Don't be nervous, they're great fun. Where are you Amy? Can I send you something?<BR><BR>If you don't already have a kilt, wear a white highnecked blouse witha dark skirt and a sash over one shoulder, prefereably with a pin or a buttonhole of white heather.<BR><BR>Just leave the haggis if you don't like it. Or ask for the veggy version.

Sorry about the mispelling of"whisky" - I'm a vodka martini woman myself. Oops!<BR>ja

I live in Riga, Latvia. Yes..feel free to send stuff! I am told that this is going to be a black tie affair. I have no idea what to wear! I wanted to wear a nice dress with a Gordon plaid tartan across my shoulder, but as I said, I don't have a tartan. So I don't know what to wear! You may email me so I don't bore the fodorites with my Burn's Night fashion dilemma! <BR>P.S. I was told that last year there was just haggis, soup, and whisky...is that typical? No more than that?

Hi!<BR><BR>Haggis - I have had it twice now. Once in Applecross, in Western Scotland (you can see the Isle of Skye from there & Sheila I forget the name of the crossing! Baillach nam Bo? yes? no? close?)<BR><BR>and on this occasion. They were a little different I think - at the dinner, it was much richer/stronger. The one at the dinner was darker and the barley grains appeared to be more 'whole' than the one in Applecross - it was good, but I didn't finish it as it was so rich. <BR><BR>can't describe it in relation to kidney as I don't believe I have ever eaten it. <BR><BR>I didn't wear a kilt, alas. <BR><BR>sorry about the 'e' - I always get the two mixed up. whisky vs. whiskey..<BR><BR>Beth

Beallach nam Bo.<BR><BR>Very good Beth- phonetic pronunciation perfect.<BR><BR>I'm pretty certain that the Burn's Supper you were at uses MacSween's<BR>which is reputed to be the best.<BR><BR>Amy-email on the way. The menu traditionally is Scotch Broth, Haggis neeps and tatties, and sometimes trifle. The toasts are normally in whisky. But nowadays there is usually an alternative.<BR><BR>You may find the following of use<BR><BR>http://www.rabbie-burns.com/burnssupper/