Celebrations are being prepared ahead of January 25th's Burns Night, which sees a wee dram raised to the Scottish icon Robert Burns and a traditional toast to the evening's haggis. Here are just a few of the festivities happening in 2020.
Mac & Wild shall be throwing a two day celebration from its official Spitalfields site, featuring traditional Ceilidh dancing to get you in the swing of things, as well as an array of traditional whisky and food. A cocktail menu has also been specially curated by Copper Dog for those seeking something more unusual than the familiar spirits toasted with on Burns Night. Food across both days will include Haggis lollipops, Haggis chips, vegan Bloody Roots Burger and a Venison burger which includes cheese, haggis hash and crispy onions. For those wanting to get their hands on a haggis too, they shall also be running workshops at their haggis making station.
Soho's Sussex shall be dishing up a special Burns Night version of their signature Beef Wellington, reimagining it with loin of lamb and haggis, with spiced offal, and hispi cabbage; served alongside neeps and tatties in a whisky sauce of course! For the full experience, those dinning at the Sussex will also be serenaded with a rendition of the famous Burns' poem Ode to a Haggis before the dine, before heading home with a copy of their own to remember the occasion.
Fortnum & Mason are offering a typical Scottish banquet at their Fortnum's City restaurant, with a four course menu which is certainly a feast to be relished, including their own Piccadilly smoke salmon, haggis with neeps & Arran Victory tatties; as well as Atholl Brose cranachan and Lanark Blue with chutney.
34 Mayfair are celebrating with a warming dish of Isle of Mull scallops, served with a haggis crust, for a true Burns Night touch. However, it looks to be the dessert offering which is to tempt guests through the door, having created a raspberry and whisky cranachan for the special occasion, topped off with a deep fried Mars bar for a contemporary twist.
Spitalfields will also see Hawksmoor offer up a Burns Night celebration, thanks to a unique collaboration with Visions Canteen, to produce a range of unusual sandwiches to be paired with Craigellachie single malt Scotch for an alternative take on the festivities. This is to be a no haggis, no poems and no kilts zone, focusing instead on sarnies such as the traditional Scottish Fish Supper (fried cod, Sichuan potato noodles and XO mayo) and the Mumbai Medley (Amchur Potatoes, kachumber, tamarind chutney and raita.) If that was not enough to pique your interest, sides likely to seal the deal are bacon fries, salt & vinegar chicharonnes and Kilmarnock style steak pies.
Whatever or wherever you choose to celebrate Burns Night, it is certain to be a great evening of fun for all.