SATURDAY marks Burns Night - the annual celebration of the life and poetry of Scottish poet Robert Burns. People across Scotland will be celebrating with haggis, neeps and tatties as they join in carnivals, storytelling and drama.

But the parties will go much further than the legend’s homeland, and will be felt throughout the world.

To join in, head to Watson and Woollard, Kendal, where traditional Lancashire haggis is priced at £6.90 / kilo.

Higginsons Butchers, Grange, are also prepared, with chicken McHaggis (which brought on a bit of rapping down the phone from those working at the shop), at £2.95 each. These are boneless chicken legs, stuffed with tasty haggis, oven baked for 45 mins. Traditional haggis is also available in a range of sizes, with prices starting at £4 each.

Perfect for mopping up any leftover bits is honey and spelt soda bread from Hazelmere Bakery and Cafe, Grange. At £2 a loaf, this rustic bread would also go down well with a bacon and egg breakfast.

Burton Community Stores would also like to talk about bread, to let people know that they are now selling their own crusty bread in store. Fresh fish can also be found there every Thursday.

You could also team your bread with some lovely Scottish cheese from Baba Ganoush, Kendal. There you will find Blue Monday, a soft blue cheese, at £2.30 / 100g, which would go well with the shop’s very own red onion marmalade, at £1.70 / 100g.

Andy Swinscoe has two ‘Burns Night spectaculars’ at The Courtyard Dairy, near Settle. St Andrew’s cheddar, which is a really traditional, strong powerful cheddar is £25 / kilo, and Criffel, a washed-ring ‘interesting’ cheese is £26.50. Listed as one of Scotland’s best cheeses, Criffel supposedly ‘flares the nostrils and stays with you long after the initial tasting’.

It will soon also be the season to think about getting out the glass jars and starting on the marmalade making. Growing with Grace, Clapham, can provide Seville oranges, at £2.35 / 100g bag to get you started. You will also find Jerusalem artichokes, £2.90 kilo, and watercress, at £2.35 / 100g bag.
 

And at Kendal Fisheries, pie mix, which contains cod, haddock, smoked haddock and salmon, is £5.50 per 1lb pack, or two packs for £10, and Arbroath Smokies are £6.16 / lb.