By Mark Ambrogi
Tina’s Traditional Old English Kitchen will be bringing a healthy helping of Scotland to Carmel this time. Burns Night suppers are a tradition in Scotland on the birthday of famous Scottish poet Robert Burns.
The Carmel tea room restaurant, 30 N. Range Line Rd., will hold a dinner from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 25. Tina Jesson, a Great Britain native, said she has hosted Burns Night suppers before in previous locations.
“We specialize in British food so we thought British-themed literary events would give people an experience like no other —well not without hopping on a plane and visiting the UK,” she said.
Jesson said it also gives her restaurant a chance to show the amazing array of foods offered in the British Isles. Jesson said while Great Britain natives come to her events “we find is that our American guests are very supportive of experiencing a slice of Britain here in the center of Indiana.”
Jesson said there are plans for bagpipers and Scottish dancers. Someone also will likely read passages from Burns’ famous work.
Restaurant manager Claire Hollenbaugh, another native Brit, said they are seeking a person with a true Scottish accent to read his poem “Address to a Haggis.”
Among Burns’ other famous poems is “Auld Lang Syne.”
Hollenbaugh said it’s a Burns Night tradition to hang the Scottish flag.
The five-course dinner (costs $45 including tax) includes:
Scottish Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
Scotch Broth
Haggis (ground lamb with oats special seasoning) with Neeps (turnips) and Tatties (mashed potatoes)
Cranachan is a traditional Scottish dessert made from a mixture of whipped
cream, honey and raspberries and oatmeal.
Coffee and Scottish Shortbread
(The link to purchase tickets for Burns Night supper can be found under events at tinastraditional.com).
