Tag Archives: haggis

Welcoming Scottish-produced haggis to Canada

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This must be the place!

Had a massive craving the other day for a savoury pudding containing sheep’s pluck (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, traditionally encased in the animal’s stomach.

Luckily, Brits in Toronto had been invited to a networking reception to taste the very best of Scotland’s food and drink. Keith Brown MSP, the Scottish Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Jobs and Fair Work, was also in attendance to celebrate the arrival of Scottish-produced haggis to Canada for the first time in 46 years.

It was organized by Scottish Development International and took place at the Berkeley Bicycle Club, a pretty nice venue on Jarvis.

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Guests were treated to this fine assortment of Scottish fare

To meet Canadian regulations, offal is not included in this particular haggis, but it was still very tasty via the samples we tried. The haggis was even piped in:

Keith Brown made a speech and then posed for photos. Here he is with Chef John Higgins:

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Chef John Higgns (left) and Keith Brown

It was a really fun evening with some great Scottish food and drink on offer.

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Scottish salmon was a big hit

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For those with a sweet tooth

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Whisky tastings for those who fancied a tipple

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Or feel like some Scottish gin instead?

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And last but not least — don’t forget me!

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Totally biased product review by me — The Caledonian

the-caledonian

The poshest haggis you’ll ever see on these pages

We finally did it. Been on our to-do list for a loooonnngggg time but we never got around to it. Now we have.

Yes — we went to The Caledonian, hoots mon! And was it worth it.

First things first … the Toronto crowd love their Scottishness. The place was packed and we wished that someone in our crew had thought to make a reservation. But luck was on our side and we got squeezed in. It was loud. The kind of place where you have to shout to the person sitting next to you.

Feel like a whisky, perchance? Don’t think we misheard the bartender who said they have 350 kinds on offer. A lot of them were in special cases on the wall, to be gazed on, fantasized about as you feast on …

… a savoury pudding containing sheep’s pluck (heart, liver and lungs), minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, traditionally encased in the animal’s stomach. HAGGIS!

Check the photo above for our serving, sitting atop the traditional neeps and tatties. Extremely, extremely good. There’s also a veggie version too with a whisky sauce.

Want more? How about sausage rolls and deep-fried pickles? Yes. Superb too.

Tired of the numerous whisky flights? How about a Scottish stout unique only, worldwide, to The Caledonian. Had two of those. Sublime.

Safe to say we love this place and give it a solid Brits in Toronto 5/5 stars.

Where to get your neeps and tatties on for Robbie Burns Day in Toronto

Haggis enjoying a neeps and tatties menage a trois

Haggis, neeps and tatties have never looked so good

Robbie Burns was recently chosen as the Greatest Scot of all time. And his birthday is coming up on January 25. We highly recommend you head out and find the best events in Toronto celebrating that fact.

Many thanks to blogTO for putting together this excellent list.