Burns Night Part II: Vegan Revelation Cafe at No. 28, Belper, UK

If you're going to do something, do it well! So why not celebrate Burns Night two evenings running?! So, following on from last night's post about January Burns by Freedom Feed Em, we now take a look at Burns Night part II, by Vegan Revelation Café.

A Burns supper is a celebration of the life and poetry of the poet Robert Burns, the author of many Scots poems. The suppers are normally held on or near the poet's birthday, 25 January, occasionally known as Robert Burns Day, Robbie Burns Day or Rabbie Burns Day, but more commonly known as Burns Night (Scots: Burns Nicht).

This evening saw us being taught some 18th century Scottish words, most of which seemed to be about whiskey, drinking and being drunk!

We were served a very fine vegan Cock-a-leekie (without the cock, of course), by Leise who was wearing a very tall chef's hat, and Alistair who was wearing a kilt and sporran.

Our haggis, tatties and neeps were next, with the haggis being 'piped in' by a man in a kilt, with very small child's bag pipes, Leise with her tall hat, and Alistair with a huge knife to slice open the haggis.

Our last course was Cranachan for pudding.

Alistair recited Rabbie Burns' poem 'Tam O'Shanter' from memory, with visual aids of a plywood church and a head torch. Here's the first verse:

When chapmen billies leave the street,
And drouthy neibors, neibors meet,
As market days are wearing late,
An' folk begin to tak the gate;
While we sit bousing at the nappy,
And getting fou and unco happy,
We think na on the lang Scots miles,
The mosses, waters, slaps, and styles,
That lie between us and our hame,
Where sits our sulky sullen dame.
Gathering her brows like gathering storm,
Nursing her wrath to keep it warm.

Much fun was had by all; here's a photo of @danpaulson enjoying the evening.