A Burns Supper With A Difference
SMAC or the Scottish Macaroni Appreciation Club to those of you who think we’re all doing heroin is a monthly get together of mac cheese addicts at Sloans in Argyle Street, Glasgow. The annual round of Burns Suppers took place last week, and the Scottish Macaroni Appreciation Club gave the humble haggis a macaroni makeover. This was my second taste of SMAC and it just keeps getting better and better.
On arrival, we were piped into the Grand Ballroom. With all its splendour and charm I couldn’t think of a better setting for a Burns Supper. This was my first time in the ballroom and it’s certainly a step up from my first Burns Supper at primary school in the school gymnasium.
The night was slightly different from normal but it kicked off in the usual way with us pledging allegiance to all things macaroni:
The night always consists of four gourmet macs including Sloans Legendary Mac and a Mystery Mac. DUN DUN DUUUUN! As well as that there are plenty of sides for you to help yourself to, including chips and salad. It’s hard to believe but I willingly put salad on my plate. It actually goes really nice with mac cheese. Don’t worry it doesn’t take up any valuable plate space, I usually just pile it on top of the mac.
The first course was a Macaroni Broth which was served to us at the table. Yes, it fitted in with the theme perfectly but I have to be honest I would have preferred an extra mac cheese. Macaroni floating in a broth is vile – take my word for it. But credit where credit is due – they certainly are inventive. Anyway, I’m not going to moan about it because it could have been a lot worse, it could have been a mac cheese with creepy crawlies. Yes, they actually did this at Halloween.
Don’t let this put you off because most of the time they hit the nail on the head with their menu. At the next one in February they will be serving up BBQ Pulled Pork Mac; Avocado, Feta Cheese and Chill Mac as well as Sloans Legendary Mac and the Mystery Mac. Sounds amazing, right?
Once the bowls were cleared from the table it was time for the next course. At a Burns Supper it’s a tradition to pipe in the haggis but in this case, it was mac cheese. The traditional Address to a Haggis was also given a mac cheese twist:
“Get yon cheesy pasta in your face,
Great chieftain o’ the macaroni-race!
Aboon them a’ ye take your place,
Haggis, neeps or tatties:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace,
As lang’s riddy arm.”
For the main course, there was the choice of two macs – Sloans Legendary Mac and Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Mac. Of course, I asked them to pile them both onto my plate. Living up to its name Sloans Legendary Mac was unbelievably creamy and cheesy with just the perfect amount of kick. The Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Mac was everything I dreamed of and more. Carbs with carbs…oh hello.
The evening finished off with the Mystery Mac and a recital of Tam O’Shanter – all 20 verses of it. I’m impressed! Tam O’Shanter was brilliant but unfortunately, I can’t say the same about the Mystery Mac which turned out to be a Mac Raspberry Cheesecake. I’m not usually big on desserts but I was loving the cheesecake – that was until I started finding bits of macaroni in it. Boak!
With our bellies full of mac cheese we voted for the new Mac of the Month at Sloans. Sometimes the classics are the best but this time around the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties Mac stole the crown.
Even though I wasn’t keen on some of the food I still had a mac-nificent night. It was definitely a Burns Night to remember. If you love mac cheese you’ll love the Scottish Macaroni Appreciation Club at Sloans so come along and pledge your allegiance!
