Every year in January, my dance studio hosts a Robert Burns Night in order to raise money. Robbie Burns was a Scottish poet, and every year on his birthday Scottish people from all over celebrate by having a big dinner, reciting his poetry, playing the bagpipes, and having Scottish Highland dancers perform. Special Scottish dishes for the occasion include peas and carrots, neaps and tatties, whiskey, and the most important food of all, haggis. One of Robbie Burns's poems was titled "Ode to the Haggis" which is recited every year in his honor. The speaker drops into a deep old-timey Scottish accent, and proceeds to recite the poem while dicing up the meat in a dramatic and messy manner.
Not many Scottish people actually like haggis, but it's one of those dishes that you have to have present at an event like this. Essentially haggis is a boiled sheep stomach stuffed with diced up liver and kidneys (yum). I've asked my Scottish family about their opinion on haggis. My cousin loves it and heaps it onto her plate the moment she sees it. My aunt on the other hand hates it and questions why we have to eat it in the present day. Haggis to me tastes a bit like meatloaf. It's decent but should only be consumed in small quantities. It's good for celebrating on one special day of the year, but it's important to only have it on that one day.
No comments:
Post a Comment