Open Jaw :: On The Town ::

A bevy of knees and a swirl of tartan

Michael Russell, Minister of Culture,
External Affairs and the Constitution (and music buff)

Chef Tom Lewis hard at work

with Martha Chapman
09APR09

Clash Of The Tartans

It’s not every day that a Scottish gentleman shows me the contents of his sporran.

But when he does, and he’s the Minister of Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution (the Constitution!) that makes my day indeed.

In fact that was just one of the highlights of the all-things-Scottish at the St. Andrews Club in downtown T.O. A combination of Scottish music, cooking (including smoked salmon, naturellement), whiskey and a general love-in for the tartan crowd. The evening also helped mark the 250th anniversary of national poet Robbie Burns.

And this is Homecoming Year, when everyone with Scottish heritage (or just wannabe Scots) are being encouraged to return home and soak up a little highland hospitality. “Our only concern is that five million people will come, slightly outnumbering us,” Michael Russell, the above-mentioned Minister, told an appreciative crowd. “So please form a queue and be prepared to share a bed.”

In the crowd were travel industry types, academics, business people and many with strong family ties to Scotland, all of whom were evidently having a smashing time.

The only slightly jarring note was the attire. It was a battle of the plaids, with some duds (flaming red plaid trousers?) coming dangerously close to being fashion felonies. Never mind, it seemed one and all were proud to show off their Scottish roots.

And what does a gentleman keep in his sporran? I had asked the Minister what his favourite Scottish band was and he paused for a moment, reached into his sporran and pulled out….his iPhone. “Ah yes,” he replied, after checking his favourite tunes. “Idlewild.”

Now that’s one hot Scot!