27/01/2025
Our Burns Night of 2025 was nothing short of extraordinary.
Thank you to the wonderful front of house team Nick, Toby, Beth, Sommelier Kelvin and the rest of their hardworking team for letting us host our Burns Night with you, and what a Burns Night comeback it was after 5 years.
Everything flowed seamlessly. The attentiveness of the staff, the military precision of the kitchen team headed by Chef Director Jamie Park, and the overall slick operation were a true testament to exceptional training. It’s something that stands out in today’s hospitality scene, and it was refreshing to see true professionalism and passion in action.
And then, of course, the food, the heart of the evening. Each dish was a celebration of tradition and innovation, crafted with the same passion and precision that defined the entire evening.
We indulged in a feast that started with black pudding haggis bonbons, followed by bread and crispy chicken skin butter, and the most divine cheese doughnut. The Loch Duart salmon pastrami with butter pickles was a perfect balance of flavours, but the real showstopper was the brioche baked Orkney scallop with leeks and smoked butter, a dish unlike anything I’ve seen before. Encased beautifully in delicate pie pastry, it had to be carefully shucked open with a knife, releasing a gentle steam that carried the most incredible aroma - simply unforgettable. Thoughtfully, they even provided homemade elderflower spritz for hand sanitisation afterwards.
For the main course, it was a classic Balmoral chicken with haggis, neeps, and tatties, followed by a truly moreish rhubarb cranachan, featuring a mousse cream and delightful pops of pink peppercorn, an unexpected twist that worked beautifully in a sweet dish.
I would like to give a huge thanks to Brandon Tuffery - Bagpipe player, Gary, Peter, Gregor, Natalie, and David, whose contributions made the evening all the more special, from piping in the guests, delivering the iconic Address to a Haggis, heartfelt toasts, and soul-stirring poetry and song, it was an unforgettable experience, and I’m beyond grateful for everyone who joined in and to the The Tartan Fox Pub team for hosting us.
I'm looking forward to doing it all again next year. I think Robbie Burns himself would have been proud. 🏴