On haggis and Burns Night
I love my Scottish husband. I would do anything for him. Give up my career, spend my days wiping dirty bottoms, make endless meals from morning ’till night.
But I absolutely, resolutely refuse to eat haggis.
Never will a forkful of that oatmeal/lamb innards mixture pass my lips. I don’t care if it is a national dish. Or if my marriage depends on it. The thought of it makes my tummy turn.
I know this is not fair. I know that many people relish haggis, enjoy it even. Especially on the 25th of January, Burns Night, the birth date of the beloved Scottish poet Robbie Burns.
When I was dating future Scottish husband, I quickly learnt that this poet had cult-like status. Upon meeting future Scottish mother-in-law, I was given a Robbie Burns tea towel, thus my collection of Robbie Burns merchandise started. I guess she didn’t quite know what to give the American career woman that was occupying her son’s time. On each meeting, I received more — thimbles with the poet’s face, small books about his life, an apron. Maybe she thought I would develop an appreciation (I did).
But never for haggis. In an attempt to get me to try the concoction, future hubby would often recite the beginning to Burns’ Address to a Haggis:
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race!
Problem was, I had no idea what he was saying.
When we were planning our Scottish wedding, we went traditional. An old country house on Loch Lomond, kilts, an 18-piece pipe band. The food was all sourced locally. So I guess future hubby wasn’t out of order to want to serve haggis.
No way. What would the American guests eat. There would be an alternative. OK, maybe. Then my mind quickly conjured up images of little mounds of lambs innards sprinkled on the plates of my guests, eaten by drunk men in kilts, downing beers and swearing up a storm. I had to put a stop to it. What was he going to ask for next, fried Mars bars for dessert? If he wanted to pay for the wedding, maybe, but since he wasn’t…
We did end up offering haggis as a choice at dinner the night before. And many of our American guests tried it. I politely passed and had the smoked Orkney salmon…
Photo credit: case de queso
Elizabeth | 4th Dec 09
I am scottish and love haggis but hate meat so I go for the veggie haggis and it tastes just as great.
Really, you should try it!
nixdminx | 3rd Feb 09
That’s hilarious. I’d never eat it but I’ve tried the vegetarian one which was ‘mealy’!
21st Century Mummy | 3rd Feb 09
Now I quite agree. Haggis. Spleuhg! 😀
Maureen | 31st Jan 09
I’ve never tried haggis, and I don’t ever plan to try it. It sounds absolutely disgusting. I’ve never tried a fried Mars bar either. It makes my teeth hurt just thinking about it!
Jo Beaufoix | 30th Jan 09
Heh heh. I tried haggis at Brownie’s when I was about 8 and thought it tasted ok. Now I know what’s in it, or what it is traditionally ‘in’, I don’t think I could do it. I’m veggie though, so I don’t have to worry about such things. 😀
Mud | 30th Jan 09
LOVE haggis! And pigged out on it at a Burns Night last weekend. I know the thought of it is pretty gross – but it is no worse than what goes into sausages.
Deep fried Mars Bar on the other hand – yuck!
More than Just a Mother | 29th Jan 09
Susanna, I’ve tagged you over at mine – you’ll enjoy it, I promise 😉
http://morethanjustamother.blogspot.com/2009/01/multi-tasking-mummy-milk-bar.html
Amy | 28th Jan 09
I nominated you for an award because I enjoy your blog.
http://everydaymamadrama.blogspot.com/2009/01/my-first-award.html
A Modern Mother (Susanna) | 27th Jan 09
OK, OK, I will try the VEGGIE one and let you know how I get on.
Also, on cue, got another book on Robbie Burns in the post today. From Scottish Grandma of course!
TooManyHats | 27th Jan 09
Okay, I am so with you on this one. I doubt I would ever try it. My dh on the other hand loves trying new things and would probably happily down some.
Treemama | 27th Jan 09
thankfully, it’s never been forced my way. i can’t say i blame you one bit everyone must draw the line somewhere.
and maybe as an expat you will know that’s why i banned no foods, but “the electric slide and the macarena” at my wedding. i would have much rathered the pipe band.
Just a Plane Ride Away | 26th Jan 09
I have not had the, um, pleasure of trying this dish. I think I’ll stick to the veggie version.
Expat Mum | 26th Jan 09
Oh please – just close your eyes and try it. How can we tell our little ones to “just try one mouthful” with this attitude? And when you’ve tried haggis, you can move on to black pudding and tripe!!
More than Just a Mother | 26th Jan 09
Oh for heaven’s sake, you big wusses! Haggis is delicious and very good for you. Anyway, by eating haggis you are supporting the haggis farmers in these times of financial strife; it’s hard work chasing little haggi (sic) round a field, and they’re a bugger to milk.
Working Mum | 26th Jan 09
It’s just not necessary to eat haggis in the 21st century, is it? I will only eat it if accompanied by sour cream – not very traditional!
Potty Mummy | 26th Jan 09
You’ld think with a Scottish maiden name I would like it. But – no. You have an award over at Potty Mansions, by the way…
cartside | 26th Jan 09
Eat the vegetarian version. It’s very very nice. Apparently so is meaty haggis according to my Scottish hubby. If I ate meat, I wouldn’t have a problem with the innards bit as such, heart, kidney and liver are quite nice so why not haggis? And you can’t recognise it for what it is (ignorance is maybe the best way forward!).
Liz@VioletPosy | 26th Jan 09
My Grandmother was Scottish and used to try and feed me Haggis every year – yuck!!! I was a great disappointment to her, I’ve not even been there LOL!
Btw I’ve given you an award 🙂 http://tinyurl.com/d5przw
Homeofficemum | 26th Jan 09
Me either. I can’t bare even looking at it. My husband was in a SCottish army regiment and we’re frequently invited to Burns Nights out. INitially I thought – what a fun idea. Then I realised that it involved eating haggis, neeps and tatties (hardly my meal of choice), while someone prattles on reciting the poem. It’s all frightfully dull unless you’re scottish and like haggis. The only way to get through it is to drink a lot of whisky. Which is at least one scottish thing I like
Tammy | 26th Jan 09
Yeah, I would not try haggis either when I visited Scotlad. The thought of the ingredients was enough to turn me green!!
We stayed a week at Loch Lomond. Beautiful area.
We never did find fried Mars bars~~our frend wanted to try one!!
Iota | 26th Jan 09
It just tastes like ground beef, you know. I had it before I knew what it was, which is the best way.
A Modern Mother (Susanna) | 26th Jan 09
Thanks for the comments ladies.
I’m sure there are more haggis fans out there … where is Little Mummy? Highland Mum?
Somehow I can stomach the thought of veggie haggis, it’s the innards part I have a slight issue with…
And yes, Audrey, being a good cook would help.
Audrey | 26th Jan 09
I am sooooo with you on this! We went to a Burns night supper this weekend and if I didn’t know that the host cooking was one of the best cooks I have ever had the pleasure of being fed by, I would have eaten before hand. As it was, it was sort of nouvelle hagis and he did the impossible: made it good! But it was a small course in a four course supper, the main course being venison so helped!
Antonella | 26th Jan 09
I love haggis, well I used to love haggis before I found out what was inside! Now I eat veggie haggis with neeps and tatties on Burns Night. Every year, religiously. Roberts Burns was my favourite poet at school! I love Scotland and everything related to it. Above all I love the Scottish accent. Lucky you, I always wanted to have a Scottish husband, instead I had to “settle” with an English one. Ciao. Antonella
Thatgirl39 | 26th Jan 09
I have eaten Haggis as I’ll usually try most things to see if I like them. I actually liked it yet Im not normally a lover of things that contain (as my lovely Grandad used to so eloquently put it), lips, hooves and arses! I found it quite spicy and do like spicy stuff so perhaps there was some masking going on there!
Tawny | 26th Jan 09
Yuck Yuck! I am in total agreement with you, the thought of it turns my stomach!
Laura | 26th Jan 09
My Dad is Scottish. I spent many a holiday visiting my relatives near Edinburgh as a child and can honestly say I have never come close to eating haggis … nor would I be tempted.
I don’t do internal organs.