Gung Haggis Fat Choy:
Celebrating Robbie Burns
and Chinese New Year
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CO-HOSTS for the evening were Christine Barr and Todd Wong. |
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MAYOR SAM SULLIVAN was among the honoured guests who enjoyed the evening at Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year dinner. |
VANCOUVER - Scots Canadians outnumbered Chinese Canadians at the tenth annual Gung Haggis Fat Choy: Toddish McWong's Robbie Burns Chinese New Year Dinner.
The unique fusion of Scots and Chinese cuisine is held at the Floata Chinese Restaurant on Keefer Street and features traditional and contemporary performances along with food which has been described as a "quirky fusion/mix/buffet of Scottish Canadian and Chinese Canadian culture 10-course Chinese banquet dinner."
Whew! Some of the menus in years past have included Gung Haggis Won-Ton, haggis served with plum or sweet and sour sauces, and haggis lettuce wrap.
Catherine Barr, second generation Scottish-Canadian co-hosted the evening along with Todd Wong, a fifth generation Chinese-Canadian. Catherine's father Robert Barr was born in Glasgow, and is a past president of the Burns Club of Vancouver. Wong's Canadian lineage dates back to 1896, with arrival of his maternal great-great-grandfather Rev. Chan Yu Tan in Vancouver.
Some of the highlights of the evening included Joe McDonald and Todd Wong performing the "Haggis Rap," Catherine Barr leading a kilted male chorus in a "Toast to the Lassies," and the Celtic band Blackthorn performing on stage.
Among guests for the evening were Vancouver Mayor Sam Sullivan, City Councilor Raymond Louie, and MLA Gregor Robertson.
Next year, in honour of the 250th Anniversary of Burns' birth, Gung Haggis Fat Choy will hold one of the biggest Burns Dinners in North America on January 25. This will coincide with the eve of Chinese New Year, so it will be a spectacular event.
Todd Wong says to expect more suprises for 2009. He said, "Floata Restaurant can hold 1,000 people.... but we will probably limit it to 700." For more details, visit: www.gunghaggisfatchoy.com.
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