Author Archives: allancho

Bagpipes, Dragons, and Fire Horses! Robbie Burns Gung Haggis Fat Choy 2026 Returns

What do you get when you mix Robbie Burns Day, Lunar New Year, haggis, dim sum, kilts, and dragon dances? You get the one-and-only Robbie Burns Gung Haggis Fat Choy Celebration, galloping back in 2026 — the Year of the Fire Horse!

Part Scottish, part Chinese, all Canadian — Gung Haggis Fat Choy is Vancouver’s quirkiest, tastiest, most musical cultural mashup. Founded by local legend Todd Wong (aka Toddish McWong), the celebration has been defying cultural boundaries since 1998, proving that bagpipes and chopsticks really do belong at the same table.

This year, we’re adding an extra spark with the Year of the Fire Horse — a zodiac sign famous for boldness, creativity, and a little bit of mischief. (Sound familiar? That’s pretty much this event’s spirit animal.)

The celebration kicks off at Floata Seafood Restaurant (#400-180 Keefer Street, Vancouver, BC) on February 1, 2026.

About Gung Haggis Fat Choy
Born from a small dinner party in 1998, Gung Haggis Fat Choy has grown into one of Vancouver’s most unique traditions — part cultural exchange, part comedy, part feast, and 100% fun. Bagpipes meet dragons, kilts meet cheongsams, and Robbie Burns meets Kung Fu Panda.

LiterASIAN Festival 2025 – An Eventful Celebration of Asian Canadian Writers and Community Builders

Allan Cho and Todd presenting the ACWW Community Builders Award to Bonnie Nish

Allan Cho and Todd presenting the ACWW Community Builders Award to Winnie Cheung

Allan Cho, Catherine Clement, and Todd presenting the ACWW Community Builders Award to Larry Wong

Allan Cho, Catherine Clement, and Todd presenting the ACWW Community Builders Award to Larry Wong

Presenting the 2025 Jim Wong-Chu Emerging Writers Award to Samantha Jade MacPherson

Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia (CCHSBC) Dinner Honouring Winnie L. Cheung

Last year, Todd and Catherine Clement (curator and author of the Paper Trail) were co-winners of the Larry Wong Prize from the Chinese Canadian Historical Society of British Columbia (CCHSBC). This award honours individuals and organizations that impact the public history of Chinese Canadian history and heritage.  This year’s CCHSBC’s Annual Celebratory Dinner honoured our friend Winnie L. Cheung, educator, community-builder, and co-founder of The Pacific Canada Heritage Centre – Museum of Migration (PCHC – MoM) Society and former board member of ACWW.  

Todd Wong, Prairie Chiu, Effie Pow

Catherine Clement and Todd

Allan Cho and Steven Wong

Winnie L. Cheung

Gung Haggis Fat Choy — Sunday, January 26, 2025, 12.00pm

JOIN US for this cosmic countdown to start your year! Enjoy an afternoon of intercultural fusion at Gung Haggis 2025 with food, music, readings, and scotch!

This year’s schedule of events include:

  • A dinner menu with the now world-renowned haggis wonton
  • More readings, more music, and more fun!
  • sneak peak of the menu from previous Gung Haggis Fat Choy dinners

About Gung Haggis:

It was 1998, and as the Chinese Lunar New Year fell only two days away from Robbie Burns Day, which is always January 25, Todd decided to celebrate the Scottish Bard’s birthday along with the Lunar New Year. “Gung Haggis Fat Choy!” said Wong, “I can celebrate two cultures at the same time.” And thus was born the Vancouver cultural premiere that culinary and media personalities have come to celebrate this cultural mashup that features deep-fried haggis wontons, haggis dim sum, and haggis lettuce wrap with a glass of scotch each year.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy started Twenty years later, it serves dinner at the biggest Chinese Restaurant in North America and has spun off a CBC television performance special and the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games.as a small fundraiser of 16 people in 1998 in a crowded living room. Twenty years later it serves dinner at the biggest Chinese Restaurant in North America, and has spun off a CBC television performance special, and the SFU Gung Haggis Fat Choy Canadian Games.


“Gung Haggis Fat Choy is the ultimate fusion feast.” – Georgia Straight

“Haggis wontons? Robbie Burns Night meets Chinese New Year.” – Globe & Mail

“Gung Haggis Fat Choy: This Canadian Celebration Combines Robert Burns Night and Chinese New Year.” – Smithsonian

“Haggis and Chow Mein Collide at Seattle’s Gung Haggis Fat Choy.” – Vice

“Hold the sheep’s stomach lining.” – MacLean’s Magazine

For more information, visit https://www.gunghaggis.com/.Join us for an afternoon of intercultural fusion at Gung Haggis 2024 with food, music, and poetry!


Tickets are available for individual purchase or a table of 10!

LiterASIAN 2024 — (Re)Dress

Embarking on a poignant literary exploration of Canada’s historical tapestry, this year’s festival examines the challenges and successes of the meaning of redress.  Join us for a compassionate and informative literary dialogue, where writers will explore the importance of amplifying Asian Canadian voices, promoting cultural understanding, and fostering a society that embraces diversity with open arms. This literary festival is an invitation to collectively embark on a journey of reconciliation, where acknowledgment, education, and empathy pave the way toward a more equitable and inclusive Canada.

Gung Haggis Fat Choy — Sunday, January 28, 2024, 12.00pm

Join us for an afternoon of intercultural fusion at Gung Haggis 2024 with food, music, and poetry!

Food Menu:

  • A selection of dim sum
  • Including our deep-fried haggis wonton dumplings
  • Traditional Scottish-Cdn haggis served with traditional Chinese-Canadian lettuce wrap
  • Chinese chicken wings
  • Chow Mein/Long Life Noodles
  • Dessert

Tickets are available for individual purchase or a table of 8!

2024 Asian Heritage Month’s Pan-Asian Recognition Award Winner is . . .

With friends Carol Hamshaw (President of VAHMS, Ujjal Dosanjh, Eric Li, Effie Pow, and Wiley Ho

Honourees for the Pan-Asian Recognition Awards are selected for:
• Leadership or support for Pan-Asian arts, education, or culture
• Significant contribution towards social integration of Asian-Canadian communities through cross-cultural, or multicultural exchange
• Achievement or contributions to promote Pan-Asian cultural heritage
• Enhancement of multicultural identity, education, or experience through cultural or artistic expression
• Collaboration with individuals or institutions promoting the advancement of inclusive learning

Other winners: Mena Film Festival and Kasandra La China