Two employees in kilts paraded about the dining room carrying a tray of haggis.

Residents boldly asked what the women had underneath their kilts.

It was all in good fun and celebration of Robbie Burns Day at Maplewood in Brighton Jan.22. Nutritional Care Manager Don Houston, who has Scottish heritage, planned an authentic menu and organized the elaborate event for residents of the long-term care home. It wasn't just the one meal, but instead a day-long menu of all things Scottish.

"We prepared a full Scottish menu for the day," says Don.

For breakfast, residents dined on oatmeal and scones. For lunch, cockaleekie soup, wild greens and an egg salad sandwich on homemade brown bread whet appetites. But the real show was at dinner time.

Don carved the roast on the line, so residents could watch as their dinner was prepared. He also made clapshot - a turnip and potato dish - and of course, haggis.

Don said the Robbie Burns grace. He then "paraded the roast beef around the dining room." To his surprise, he ran out of haggis, as residents took a liking to the dish. Haggis is a mixture of ground sheep organs, onion, suet and oatmeal which is stuffed inside a sheep's stomach lining and simmered in water.

Don prepared a trifle in a punch bowl for dessert and served residents.

"The residents really got a kick out of," says Don of the celebrations. "We just had a great day."

Robbie Burns day is a Scottish holiday celebrated on Jan. 25 in honour of poet
and writer, Robbie Burns.