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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4696
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 12:27 am: |     |
The Argyle Restaurant Kearny NJ
proudly presents
Robert Burns'
A Birthday Celebration
now through January 25th
Featuring
Bagpiping, Highland Dancing, & Haggis
The anual celebratory tribute to the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796)
A group of us went tonight and it was great fun. I suggest you call ahead for reservations if interested...
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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5159
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 9:29 am: | |
how was the haggis? |
Eats Shoots & Leaves
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 2923
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 9:50 am: | |
I fondly recall that Burns once included in a poem an end rhyme of "haggis" and "gag us". |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1392
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 11:47 am: | |
Aye wuud walk a mael fer haggis.
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Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1393
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 11:48 am: | |
bet onny weh wheskey drezzled on et. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4699
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, January 21, 2006 - 11:59 am: | |
The Selkirk Grace
Some hae meat
and canna eat.
And some wad eat
that want it;
But we haqe meat,
and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord
be thankit...
ADDRESS TO A HAGGIS
Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' yet tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.
The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a dist5ant hill,
Your pin was help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.
His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready eight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin!
Then, horn for horn, they strech an'strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! On they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.
Is there that owre his Fresnch ragout
Or olio that wad staw a stow,
Or fricass wad make her sprew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneerin, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?
Poor devil! See him owre his trash,
As feckles as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' blody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!
But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' hands will sned,
Like taps O' trissle.
Ye Pow'rs wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o'fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinging ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratfu' prayer
Gie her a haggis! |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4701
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 1:20 am: | |
BTW, to each his own...
The Scots have Robert Burns Birthday – January 25th
The Irish have Saint Patrick’s Day - March 17th
The Americans have Independence Day – July 4th
The Italians have Columbus Day – October 9th
...and of course the whole world has Auld Lang Syne.
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Chris Farrow
Citizen
Username: Evrtnjrsy
Post Number: 45
Registered: 3-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 1:31 am: | |
Let's not forget St George's Day - April 23rd - a much ignored saints' day...maybe I will have to do a St George's Day event at Cent'Anni
Cry God for Harry, England and Saint George!
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4702
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:21 am: | |
...sounds good to me Chris. Listen, Karen Duncan at Matters is interested in doing a story on the Scots and Robert Burns.
Not unlike the Irish, why not the Scots and the English having great days for the world to celebrate. Hey, on St. Patrick's Day everyone wears the green. On Columbus Day everyone is Italian, and on the 4th it's Red, White, and Blue...
Listen, the wearing of the tartan, fish & chips, and single malt scotch will make a party as good as the Irish any day... IMHO, the patron Saint of Scotland, St. Andrew, is as worthy as the patron Saint of Ireland (Patrick) and the patron Saint of England, St. George...
So, Chris, let the party's begin....
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Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5161
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:39 am: | |
The Deadheads can celebrate St. Stephen's Day.
I like St. Crispin's Day myself...alot of Brits might be fond of it too. Although, my mom would make a cake for me on St. Henry's Day when I was growing up. |
LazyDog
Citizen
Username: Lazydog
Post Number: 120
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 11:41 am: | |
Let's not forget St David's day, the patron saint of Wales. March 1'st. |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 5164
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 12:31 pm: | |
today is the Feast of St. Vincent, patron saint of wine producers...we can all cross national boundaries and drink to that. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1400
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 12:50 pm: | |
Let's not forget these few whose "feast days" come up in the next couple of months:
St. Senan of Iniscathy (Seanan)March 8
St. Oengus Ceile De (Aonghus)March 11
St. Abban mac ua Cormaic March 16
St. Tigernach of Clones (Tiarnach) April 4
St. Bearchan April 6
St. Tigernan of County Mayo (Tiarnan)April 8
St. Ruadan, Abbot of Lorrha April 15
St. Eochaid, Abbot of Lismore April 17
St. Ceallachan April 22
St. Eoghan and St.Ibor of Beggerin Island April 23
And let's not forget the significant commonality: Scots, Irish, Welsh, Bretons, Manx---- they're all of Celtic blood.
"They were Celtic when Celtic wasn't cool."
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ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4707
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 22, 2006 - 3:42 pm: | |
...sounds like we have the makings of another British invasion party right here in Maplewood/South Orange!
So, who's hosting what? We've got the watering holes; the Italian Pizza King Bunny's, the Irish Guinness Champ St. James Gate, the Royalty of Cent'anni's, and the Ladies from Hell Scots at Here's to the Arts...
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Brett Weir
Citizen
Username: Brett_weir
Post Number: 1206
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 12:22 pm: | |
Celebrated Bobbie Burns and the Haggis at the Argyle several times- it's a blast! Owner John Nesbit does the readings and the haggis just right. It's a pleasurable and entertaining evening, and very reasonably priced. Non-haggis eaters can enjoy other dishes, including a superb Fish-n-Chips. Great store attached for finding Scottish/Irish/English treasures. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1406
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 2:35 pm: | |
Well, I'll agree to disagree with Mr. Weir. The Argyle's haggis was haggis all right, but it was too mushy, like fine pate, whereas I prefer a more coarsely chopped variety with a little more spice to it. And they were out of neeps last night.
I did manage to nick a bit of their whiskey to drizzle on the haggis, however.
And their black pudding is nothing short of "home." |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 377
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 10:36 pm: | |
The haggis at the butcher, Stewarts of Kearny, is better than the Argyle. It isn't exactly like home, but it is good.
Assault and Battery in the city has the best British style fish and chips around, I think, but I like The Pipers Cove for general Scottishness when I am homesick.
I am reading the Address at a Burns Supper on Wednesday. |
Dave
Supporter
Username: Dave
Post Number: 8457
Registered: 4-1997
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 10:40 pm: | |
I 2nd St. David's Day. Brilliant!
And a wee dram of Macallan's 18yr single malt would do fine on a cold February/March eve. |
Brett Weir
Citizen
Username: Brett_weir
Post Number: 1210
Registered: 4-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 10:43 am: | |
Sorry for the mushy haggis, Innis. It's been a few years but my recollection was of a firm and hearty dish- just as good as we ate years ago in Halifax. I hope yours was an aberration. |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 697
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 1:19 pm: | |
Only a tiny percentage of Scots celebrate Burns Day...I have fairly gruesome memories of Burns Suppers at university but we didn't really celebrate it at home. Few people do. |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4722
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 3:44 pm: | |
...well we plan to change your perspective on all that Bookgal!
The Scots I know and love NEVER miss an opportunity to celebrate their heritage, or Robbie Burns Day!
I think you need to read a New York Times Bestseller, "How The Scots INVENTED the Modern World"... This is a true story of how Western Europe's poorest nation created our world and everything in it, by Arthur Herman. |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1408
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:10 pm: | |
Frankly, I believe that we all carry "gruesome memories" of some of the forced celebrations at home. Just the same, it's poignant what a few thousand miles and a few years will do.
I hated black pudding as a child, and it's not exactly what I might think of ordering at Barbetta or the Four Seasons. However, when I eat it in a small, unpretentious place like the Argyle, black pudding does have all the virtues of an extraordinary "comfort food."
I'd also venture to say that Robert Burns's birthday is feted with more enthusiasm, in my experience, in Canada, the US, Australia/NZ, and South Africa than it is north of Berwick upon Tweed. |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 698
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:03 pm: | |
Well, that's the nature of the expat beast I suppose. I've never felt the need to participate any sort of expat things. We didn't do anything about St. Andrews Day either, who does? Is it still a bank holiday?
I don't like all the teary eyed sentimentality "wha's like us"? Crying in our drinks over the Immortal Memory (he was a mediocre poet, at best). Let's not forget for many years, women weren't even welcome at formal Burns Suppers. Maybe it is generational, maybe it is an urban experience vs. a non urban experience, maybe even religious background comes into play (for Scots that would hardly be surprising). I always imagine St. Andrews Societies as being populated by men with secret handshakes. Not really my thing.
But, I've always loved Black Pudding. |
LazyDog
Citizen
Username: Lazydog
Post Number: 122
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:13 pm: | |
AJC, I thought Al Gore invented the modern world ??
sliced black pud, fried in lard...Mmmmmm |
ajc
Citizen
Username: Ajc
Post Number: 4727
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:47 pm: | |
You guys will have to excuse be on the finer details of Scottish lure, at least until I get to speak with the wife.
Black Pudding and all that other stuff is her thing, I'm more a meat and potato man myself.... |
Innisowen
Citizen
Username: Innisowen
Post Number: 1413
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 5:59 pm: | |
AJC, black pudding, for the Irish and the Scots, is the perfect way to use all those parts of the animal that don't make their way into roasts, chops, ribs, etc. It's a little of the philosophy of "parts is parts" with spices added. And you needn't look too closely at the original parts. |
LazyDog
Citizen
Username: Lazydog
Post Number: 126
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 6:05 pm: | |
Black pud is not just for the Irish and Scots...very popular in Lancs and Yorks. You can't beat a good northern fryup. Innis, your'e right - sometimes thinking about ingredients is not such a good idea  |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 699
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 8:04 pm: | |
LazyDog,
So funny that you mention Lancs...I don't suppose you remember the Goodies and the Ecky Thump skits?
(god, I'm aging myself...I was just a kid at the time) |
LazyDog
Citizen
Username: Lazydog
Post Number: 127
Registered: 6-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 10:03 pm: | |
Oh yeah ! We were all kids once. |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 378
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 10:32 am: | |
I think it is geographic, too, bookgal. I'm from the Highlands and most people I know attend Burns Suppers and St Andrews nights. When you live in a rural or semi-rural place, they are a good excuse for a ceilidh. I don't suppose the same is true if you grow up in the cities.
I'm an ex-pat but not a US citizen and all my family are still in Scotland. We go at least once or twice a year and it is very important to me that my children grow up knowing their Scots heritage. They have Scottish names and the older does Highland dancing. I wouldn't say by any stretch that I am a professional expat weeping into my drink, but my homelands and heritage is very important to me, especially now I have children. |
bookgal
Citizen
Username: Bookgal
Post Number: 701
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 11:09 am: | |
I am not a citizen either. And, yes...good guess, I am city girl through and through. No Highland connections whatsoever for many generations. We go back every few years, mostly my family comes here. I think the first ceilidh I went to in my life was at university and I'm sure it was very formal. Where does your kid do Highland dancing? Do you mean Scottish country dancing? Strip the Willow and all that? |
akb
Citizen
Username: Akb
Post Number: 379
Registered: 12-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 1:13 pm: | |
No - Highland dancing (fling, swords etc). When they are older, I hope they will learn some country dancing if only to manage weddings and so on.
I went to uni in Glasgow and ceilidhs there were a more formal affair than at home. |
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