A Robert Burns Supper in Warsaw

Mark and I were invited to a "Robert Burns Supper" by one of his colleagues from another company. This person is from Scotland but has lived in Warsaw for 16 years. 

We thought it would be fun to attend a Scottish event here....so we accepted the invitation.

 We did not know anything about Robert Burns so before the Saturday evening (Feb. 11) event, we went online and read as much as we could about him, and why the Scottish people honor and celebrate him and his poetry every year. 

We learned that Robert Burns lived over 200 years ago, but people have celebrated his life with a special dinner and poetry readings every year since his death in 1796!

Robert Burns was Scotland's most famous poet...writing over 500 poems. 

He is the author of "Auld Lang Syne" also! 

Scotland

Poland

Robert Burns

1759-1796

 The "Robert Burns Evening" was at the Freta Galeria restaurant

in Nowy Miasto (New Town). 

As guests entered the restaurant, two men were playing bagpipes...I didn't realize how loud the pipes were until standing right next to them. 

Mark is waiting in line to check in our coats, scarves, and winter wear.

The fare consisted of starters of Scots Broth (soup) and Haggis, a main course of

"Breast of Chicken with blanched spinach in a cheese sauce" and apple pie and vanilla ice cream for dessert.  All menu items were Scottish except for the delicious Polish apple pie!

Below is a picture of haggis and tatties (mashed potatotes).  It is traditional to include neeps (mashed turnips), but tonight's menu only had the tatties.

What is haggis anyway?  Haggis is considered the national dish of Scotland.  It is the heart, liver, and lungs of a sheep or lamb, chopped very finely, and combined with oats, suet, and other herbs and spices. It is cooked in the sheep or lamb's stomach. 

When eaten, it has the consistency of something like a course meatloaf.  The potatoes were delicious...and the haggis tasted fine.  Our host said that it was spicier than normal this year.  Mark ate all of his haggis and I ate a 1/3 of mine. As I ate my haggis and tatties together...I tried not to think about what I was really eating! 

After our soup was served...

a bagpiper came into the room followed by a waiter bringing the haggis on a tray.  When the haggis enters, all guests arise (like when the bride or president of the country is arriving) while the piper and waiter carry it around the room.

  

Then the haggis is placed on a table, and the Burns poem "Address to a Haggis" is recited, followed by a toast to the haggis.  The Scotsman above is reciting the Haggis poem.

Throughout the evening we were entertained by bagpipers, and people reading Burns poetry.
We also stood up and sang "Sto Lat" on this special evening. "Sto Lat" is a Polish song that is traditionally sung on people's birthdays here in Poland, but also for special events like this one.
I was glad I could sing along...as I have learned the words to this energetic song!

Here we are with most of our table guests.... David (Scotsman married to Honorata from Poland), Mark and I, and another Polish couple Adrian and Beata.  

David...the Scotsman and Mark.

We were the first guests to leave...party started at 7pm and we left at 11:20pm...we're not sure how long the party lasted...but it seemed not to be winding down when we were leaving. 

We had a good cultural experience....seeing the Scottish and Polish people coming together, enjoyable food, new experiences and great conversations!

How fortunate for Mark and I to have received this  invitation and enjoy this cultural event together.