“Warm-Reekin’, Rich” – from the Robert Burns poem, Address to a Haggis.
Written in 1786 not long after Burns arrived in Edinburgh, Address to a Haggis has become the centerpiece of Burns Suppers and it can be argued that it has been as influential as any of Burns' poems in presenting the popular image of the poet that most people are familiar with today.
In continuation of our 100th Anniversary Celebration, we invited Katie Landeck from the Providence Journal to introduce her to the National Dish of Scotland. Katie began her adventure by interviewing our own John MacLean, while Chef Donald Blais and Br. Enoch Valentine prepped the kitchen for making the haggis. Ms. Landeck was ‘all in’ and eagerly assisted throughout the haggis-making process, completely won over by the savory smell of spices and toasted oats that filled the kitchen. You can read Katie’s feature story in the Providence Journal here.
Our 100th Anniversary Celebration was held October 22, 2023 at the Crown Plaza in Warwick, RI. The festivities included Calling of the Clans, performances by Scotland’s Jim and Susie Malcolm, Grammy Award-Winning Storyteller Bill Harley, Piping performance by a contingent of the RI Highlanders Pipe Band, and Ceilidh Dancing. We were also honored to have in attendance Ms. Eilidh MacKinnon | Deputy Head of Scottish Government USA to share a few words honoring this momentous occasion.
We hope the haggis-making video and the haggis recipe inspire you to make your own haggis! And if you are wondering what to do with this versatile dish, here are some recipes for you to try: