Robbie Burns’ Night at The Little Inn of Bayfield
January 23, 2010, 7:00 pm
The annual celebratory tribute to the life, works and spirit of the great Scottish poet, Robert Burns (1759-1796). Celebrated on, or about, the Bard’s birthday, January 25th, Burns’ Suppers range from stentoriously formal gatherings of aesthetes and scholars to uproariously informal rave-ups of drunkards and louts. Fitting for a man sometimes labeled a drunken philanderer and sometimes called Scotland’s Shakespeare! Robbie Burns remains Scotland’s most celebrated, best-loved national figure, and the best known of the poets who have written in the Scots language (or Lowland Scots, to distinguish it from Scottish Gaelic).
More widely celebrated than Scotland’s official national day, St. Andrew’s Day, most Burns’ Suppers fall somewhere in the middle of the range. They typically conform, more or less, to a time honoured custom that includes the eating of a traditional Scottish meal, the drinking of Single Malt Scotch whiskies, and the recitation of works in the spirit of the Bard.
The Little Inn of Bayfield has faithfully celebrated this tradition for the past 21 years, and 2010 will be no different. This year marks the 251st birthday of Scotland’s favourite son, and Innkeeper Darren Erb can’t wait. Yes, the meal does include haggis (how could it not?!) but according to Darren, “It’s so good that all the local Scots rave about it!” He goes on to say, “Metzger makes it, you know,” referring to Metzger Meat Products of Hensall, winner of the 2008 Huron Manufacturing Excellence Award, and The Little Inn’s trusted supplier of locally grown, hormone-free meats.
While haggis may not be universally appealing, Burns’ poetry is timeless. Considered one of the world’s greatest love poets, he is also regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic Movement and has been a compelling influence on Scottish literature. Rebuking one historian’s disparaging remarks about the Bard’s questionable lifestyle, a spokesperson from the Scottish government declared that “[Burns] was both a man of his time and of all time. He wouldn't have been human without flaws, and his egalitarian ideals have helped cement his universal and timeless appeal.” Charismatic and sometimes manipulative, he led a controversial life and often put things into words that not everyone wanted to hear. His political and civil commentaries, written mainly in English, were particularly biting.
Whatever you think of Burns the republican or Burns the adulterer, his sense of fun and lyricism have made him an international cultural icon, and the 2009 celebration of his life and work will certainly be an interesting and fun dining experience at the Little Inn of Bayfield. The five course meal, prepared by Chef Joseph Petrinac, is sourced locally, at least as much as it can be. The Little Inn’s award winning kitchen has been practicing the “Farm to Table” philosophy for more than 20 years now, but salmon and oyster are hard to come by in Huron County.
Creatively presented and paired with five Single Malt Scotch whiskies, the Little Inn’s Burns’ Dinner will be held Saturday January 23rd at 7:00 pm. Actor Rob Bundy of the Blyth Festival and Gairbraid Theatre will be on hand as the Bard himself. From the Selkirk Grace and the Address To a Haggis to A Red, Red Rose and Auld Lang Syne, the evening is sure to be full of music and laughter. Advance reservations are required. Please call toll free: 1-800-565-1832. Dinner is $120 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and the menu can be viewed online at www.littleinn.com/dining_robbieburns.htm
Looking to make it a weekend away? Located in the picturesque village of Bayfield on the shores of Lake Huron, the Little Inn boasts 28 historic rooms and suites luxuriously appointed for your every comfort. With great off-season rates and a full calendar of Wine and Dine Events to be kicked off with Robbie Burns’ Night, the Inn is a welcome respite from the pressures of everyday life. A founding member of Ontario’s Finest Inns, the Little Inn of Bayfield has received the coveted CAA 4 Diamond Award for both Lodging and Dining for 11 consecutive years. Offering suites with double whirlpool tubs and gas fireplaces, the Inn is the perfect destination for a romantic winter getaway on Ontario’s West Coast. Overnight packages including the Burns’ Dinner start at $435 per couple, with two-night packages starting at $627 for this iconic celebration.
For more information:
Lori Carter
Marketing
The Little Inn of Bayfield
26 Main Street North, Box 100
Bayfield, Ontario N0M 1G0
1.800.565.1832 or 519.565.2611
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