Wednesday, January 26, 2005
♫Oh What a Night!
Well, another Burns Night Dinner is history at the Rare Bird Review World Headquarters, and it was a special night indeed. The staff, of course, has today off to recover, and more than a few of them will need it.
The evening began with our piper, Angus MacPherson, entertaining guests in the lobby of the World Headquarters with a forty minute concert while the guests sipped on single malts. 
At precisely 7:03 P.M. the guests were admitted to the great hall and after they were seated and imbibing in some single malts Angus returned to pipe in the haggis to the tune of Scotland the Brave.
Mairi MacDonald from the commissary staff then brought in the formally dressed up haggis (photo to the right). The haggis this year was set decoratively with pheasant and grouse feathers behind it, mixed with a few dried wildflowers from the Highlands which were collected last summer. The silver tray was adorned with neeps on one end and tatties on the other end, while the front of the presentation was set with a large display of parsley. Parsley is needed to clear the breath of the revellers after eating the haggis.
After much celebration and pomp and during the recitation of "To a Haggis" Robert Allen, visiting the RBRWH from Scotland was given the honor of plunging the dagger into the entree to officially begin the dinner. The pre-piercing of the haggis by the commissary staff did the trick this year and the haggis did not explode. Single malts were flowing as the throng enjoyed the dinner and the great company.
Not all the folks were partaking of the single malts, so the Caledonian Brewing Corporation shipped more than several barrels of ale for the non-whisky drinkers. Of course, those folks were more than willing to take advantage of Bird's hospitality, and Bird was only too happy to see the crowd having a great time.
Shortly after the meal the program was the hit of the evening and Bird's recitation of Tam O'Shanter drew a standing ovation from the multitude. As the formalities ended much dancing broke out, spilling from the great hall and back into the lobby as party goers all joined in highland flings, fandango mahons and other Scottish folk dancing while consuming after dinner drinks.
For unexplained reasons everyone became quite warm but as the evening ended the revellers were totally relaxed and found an outstanding way to cool off by using the reflecting pool in front of the headquarters building.
The evening began with our piper, Angus MacPherson, entertaining guests in the lobby of the World Headquarters with a forty minute concert while the guests sipped on single malts. At precisely 7:03 P.M. the guests were admitted to the great hall and after they were seated and imbibing in some single malts Angus returned to pipe in the haggis to the tune of Scotland the Brave.
Mairi MacDonald from the commissary staff then brought in the formally dressed up haggis (photo to the right). The haggis this year was set decoratively with pheasant and grouse feathers behind it, mixed with a few dried wildflowers from the Highlands which were collected last summer. The silver tray was adorned with neeps on one end and tatties on the other end, while the front of the presentation was set with a large display of parsley. Parsley is needed to clear the breath of the revellers after eating the haggis.
After much celebration and pomp and during the recitation of "To a Haggis" Robert Allen, visiting the RBRWH from Scotland was given the honor of plunging the dagger into the entree to officially begin the dinner. The pre-piercing of the haggis by the commissary staff did the trick this year and the haggis did not explode. Single malts were flowing as the throng enjoyed the dinner and the great company.
Not all the folks were partaking of the single malts, so the Caledonian Brewing Corporation shipped more than several barrels of ale for the non-whisky drinkers. Of course, those folks were more than willing to take advantage of Bird's hospitality, and Bird was only too happy to see the crowd having a great time.
Shortly after the meal the program was the hit of the evening and Bird's recitation of Tam O'Shanter drew a standing ovation from the multitude. As the formalities ended much dancing broke out, spilling from the great hall and back into the lobby as party goers all joined in highland flings, fandango mahons and other Scottish folk dancing while consuming after dinner drinks.
For unexplained reasons everyone became quite warm but as the evening ended the revellers were totally relaxed and found an outstanding way to cool off by using the reflecting pool in front of the headquarters building.
It was a grand time!
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