Tag: food and drink

Aldi addresses the haggis with Simon Howie this Burns Night

Aldi customers can now pick up their Burns Night favourites produced by one Scotland’s top meat suppliers, Simon Howie, in all 91 stores across Scotland. Continue reading Aldi addresses the haggis with Simon Howie this Burns Night

Vegetarian haggis launches in US for Burns Night

  • Macsween of Edinburgh is celebrating its first export to the US in half a century with the launch of its vegetarian haggis in time for Burns Night
  • Branded as “Scottish Veggie Crumble” in the US, the vegetarian haggis will be available in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut
  • Latest figures show Scottish goods exports to the United States were worth £4.3 billion, an increase of 8% on the previous year

Macsween of Edinburgh has launched its vegetarian haggis for the US market in time for Burns Night, making this the company’s first export to America in nearly 50 years.

Branded in the US as “Scottish Veggie Crumble”, Macsween’s haggis is available in 14 Fairway Market stores across New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Despite there still being a US import ban on traditional haggis, Macsween decided to export its award-winning vegetarian haggis for the free-from, planted-based and vegan market. The launch of the “Scottish Veggie Crumble” means there’s a seat at the table for everyone this Burns Night no matter your dietary requirements.

James Macsween, Managing Director of Macsween of Edinburgh, said: “We at Macsween are delighted to be exporting again to the USA after 49 years!  

“Finally, Americans and the expat community can enjoy the UK’s most loved haggis brand known for its award-winning taste and texture. This is a huge milestone for Macsween to be expanding internationally and leading the way in plant-based food exports.

 “My grandfather, Charlie, would be very proud to see how far we’ve come from his original butcher’s shop in Bruntsfield which he opened back in 1953. My father John Macsween would also be proud as he invented the world’s first vegetarian haggis in 1984.”

Macsween has already sent 360 cases of “Scottish Veggie Crumble” to the US this month, and the iconic haggis producer is currently in the process of appointing a sales agent in the US to support its international expansion.

The US remains the top destination for Scottish goods, and in the year to September 2019 Scottish goods exports to the country were worth £4.3 billion. This was an increase of 8% on the previous year, with food and drink accounting for 30% of exports.

Meanwhile in the UK, Macsween is the most loved haggis and vegetarian haggis brand with a 60% share of the vegan haggis market according to a ScotPulse survey in November 2019.

International Trade Secretary, Liz Truss said: “It’s great to see Macsween enter the US market for the first time, giving Scots in America a taste of home this Burns Night. 

“The US is the second biggest export market for Scotland, and a new free trade agreement will make it easier for businesses to sell their goods in the US, which will encourage growth and create jobs for people in Scotland.”

In 2017, Macsween made history when it became the first company to export haggis to Canada since 1971, after developing a new recipe that meets the country’s food safety regulations.

Burns Community Ceilidh at Royston Wardieburn

An evening of music, poetry, dancing and food!

Our 6th annual Burns Community Ceilidh: A multicultural community celebration, featuring Burns poetry recitals, live band and other performances, ceilidh dancing, and food!

Tickets £3 (under 5s free). We strongly recommend purchasing tickets in advance as this event is likely to sell out.

Search is on for Monarch of the Stovies!

– City centre café is on the hunt for 31 recipes for January –

AN EDINBURGH eatery is calling on proud home cooks to share their secret recipes for the perfect stovies – for them to be replicated by professional chefs and served to the public.

Café 1505 on Nicolson Street hopes to ignite the capital’s passion for the age-old comfort food by serving a new recipe each day in January, as part of its ‘Burns Month’ campaign.

At the end of the month, the café, which is operated by Surgeons Quarter, hopes to use customer feedback and sales figures to award the city’s ultimate recipe – crowning a member of the public as Edinburgh’s Stovies Queen or King.

The traditional potato-based stew typically contains leftover meat and onions, but recipes and ingredients vary widely across families and regions.

Scott Mitchell, Managing Director of Surgeons Quarter, said: “There are some fiercely proud cooks out there who have carefully-honed recipes passed down from generation to generation.

“Likewise, there are those who adapt the traditional formula by adding new, potentially controversial, ingredients and flavours.

“We’re urging the public to hand over their precious recipes for our catering team to prepare. Who knows, we might just settle the city’s ultimate stovies recipe once and for all.”

Café 1505 is owned by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCSEd) and owes its name to the year of the historic institution’s inception.

It is operated by the college’s commercial arm, Surgeons Quarter, and all food is prepared on site by the same award-winning catering team that serve the thriving conference business and Ten Hill Place Hotel, Edinburgh’s largest independent hotel.

Alan Dickson, Executive Chef is looking forward to working with his team to do justice to the public’s recipes.

Alan said: “I’m really intrigued to find out what resonates, and whether the traditional or modern take on stovies is more popular with customers.

“One thing is for certain, my money is on a granny coming in first place – I’d be amazed if any of the younger generation can compete!”

Applicants are encouraged to hand their recipes to the Café 1505 team, send them a message on Facebook (Café 1505 @ Surgeons Quarter) or email them to:

cafe1505@surgeonsquarter.com 

between now and the 31st of January.

The winning recipe will receive a 2 night bed and breakfast stay for two at Ten Hill Place Hotel.

Surgeons Quarter promotes, sells and manages all commercial activities held within the RCSEd campus. All profits support the charitable aims of the College which are education, assessment and advancement in surgical standards worldwide.

Shock as charity reveals the Brussels sprout is not Scotland’s favourite Christmas side dish!

Mary’s Meals has revealed that Scotland’s favourite Christmas side dish is not the Brussels sprout!

The shocking news comes after people in Scotland were asked what side they prefer with their Christmas dinner. Roast potatoes claimed victory with almost a third of the vote, pigs in blankets came second (23 per cent) and the seasonal sprout scraped in at third place (20 per cent). Continue reading Shock as charity reveals the Brussels sprout is not Scotland’s favourite Christmas side dish!