World-famous haggis maker Macsween of Edinburgh will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its vegetarian haggis at the Royal Highland Show next week.

Jo Macsween will prepare three specially commissioned new vegetarian haggis dishes together with Val Brunton, owner of the Sunflower Restaurant in Peebles (Scottish Borders).

 

The two will prepare the following vegetarian recipes:
· Vegetarian haggis stack with aubergine and mozzarella cheese with a tomato concass
· Savoury haggis cakes on a bed of seasonal stir fried vegetables
· Scottish bureks with a pea and mint puree

First developed in 1984, Macsween’s vegetarian haggis has since shot to fame as a versatile, meatfree dish, changing the traditional image of haggis in the process. The company’s vegan-friendly haggis now accounts for one quarter of all Macsween sales. Approved by the Vegetarian Society, this nutty alternative is popular with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike.

Director Jo Macsween said: “Haggis used to be seen as the culinary centrepiece of Burns Night, but the vegetarian haggis has really changed that. We’ve been working with chefs over the last couple of years to develop recipes that best complement the nutty flavours of our veggie version. And because it’s such a light ingredient and works well both hot or cold, vegetarian haggis really is fantastic for summer.”

Macsween will be exhibiting at stand G09 during the Royal Highland Show, which takes place from Thursday 25th to Sunday 28th June 2009 at Ingliston, Edinburgh. Two cookery demonstrations are planned for Thursday, 25th at 11.15 am and Sunday, 28th June at 2.45 pm.

Val Brunton has been a professional chef for the past 25 years, and the owner of the Sunflower restaurant for the past ten years. Her passion lies in creating dishes which are packed with flavour and use locally sourced produce. Val has recently published two Sunflower cook books, which will be available at the Macsween stand.

Notes to editors:

For questions, interview requests, recipes or photographs, please contact:
· Andrea Krug, Krug Communications, Tel. 07740 245 867, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
· Mike Groves, Director, Great Circle Communications, 0131 225 4646, 07798 892 045,
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