2004 Gung Haggis Fat Choy poster.
Designed by Honey Mae of Azimuth Designs. Photo by Don Montgomery.
This poster is lots of fun. I think it really captures the essence of Gung Haggis Fat Choy. Definitely something old, something new, something borrowed, something wacky!
Yes… that is me, Toddish McWong, the man beneath the mask.
I posted a new photo to Photos.
Gung Haggis Fat Choy has been quite a journey from 1999 to 2004. It's pre-history started in 1998 with 16 people in Gloria Smyth's living room. Having never before attended a Robbie Burns dinner, I did my research at the Vancouver Public Library.
I cooked most of the courses, while other people contributed dishes and other things. Fiona brought a haggis, Gina made a Buddha's Feast, Rod picked up the Beef Lettuce Wrap. I cooked up Wintermelon Soup, Snowpeas with Scallops, Steamed Salmon with Ginger and Sesame Oil. In between each course, somebody read a poem or performed a song.
In 1999 I transformed the dinner into a fundraiser dinner for my dragon boat team – 40 people attended and we made $50 but at least I didn't have to cook anymore. I brought my accordion and led singalongs of Scotland the Brave. Guests such as Jim Wong-Chu read poetry and Sean Gunn played guitar and sang his Chinese Canadian folk songs.
Each year the dinner has roughly doubled in size. In 2001, we maxed out the New Grandview Szechwan Restaurant at 100 seats. In 2002, we maxed out the Spicy Court Restaurant with 200 seats in a snow storm. In 2003, we filled 390 seats at the Flamingo Restaurant on Fraser St.
Each year the number and quality of performers has increased. Catherine McLellan came as a co host and singer for '00 and '01. Pat Coventon first performed as accompanist in '00 and expanded to band leader, and featured performer every year up to '03. Along the way Trev Sue-A-Quan and Joe McDonald with Brave Waves were added. Sonia Bakker became a co-host when Catherine moved to California, and Ula Shines became a co-host in '03 after being a singer for '01 and '02. 12 year old Alex Sachs was featured on violin in '03.
For 2004, Gung Haggis Fat Choy expands to two nights – Jan 24 & 25. CBC television will also broadcast a performance special titled Gung Haggis Fat Choy – based on the concepts of my dinner. More details and links to the tv special later on…
I am grateful to all the friends and supporters that have enjoyed Gung Haggis Fat Choy: the dinner. But especially to all the performers over the years… Without their contributions, there would be no show – just the food. It is the performances that give the cultural context to each dish.
Performance Highlights have included Jim Wong-Chu's poem “Recipe For Tea” that breathes new meaning to the migration of tea from China. Sean Gunn's songs describe the hardships of the Chinese pioneers in Canada. Joe McDonald's bagpipes have become a traditional staple alongside the rice, noodles and haggis. Pat Coventon's musical support in this wacky idea along with his sound system that we have also outgrown along with 2 smaller restaurants.
I hope that this weblog created with Roland Taglao, will continue the expansion of my wacky view of multi/intra-culturalism. I mean… any dinner that expands from 40 to 800 people in 6 years, is featured on national radio and spawns a CBC television special… must be doing something right, eh? Peace & Blessings, Todd
Gung Haggis Fat Choy
By Todd Wong
What is Gung Haggis Fat Choy?
It is the inter-section of Chinese and Scottish cultures.
In a new land,
In a new voice,
In a new vision.
It is Gung Hay Fat Choy;
the traditional Chinese New Year greeting meaning “Longevity and Fortune.”
It is Robbie Burns Day;
the celebration of the Scottish poet Robbie Burns, and all things Scottish…
including the national dish of haggis:
Oatmeal and sheep organs mixed together and cooked in the stomach of a sheep
Just like some perverse mix of multi-culturalism.
Re-constructed
Re-constituted
Re-gurgitated
Gung Haggis Fat Choy!
The Chinese called this land Gum San (Gold Mountain)
And the Scots gave it the name of Nova Scotia
Westerners became Easterners
The Far East becomes the Far West
Gung Haggis Fat Choy!
It is the play on words.
It is the play on cultures
It is the play of time and place.
It is simply the play of Canadians…
Gung Haggis Fat Choy!
Something Old
Something New
Something Borrowed
Something B-r-e-w-e-d…
Gung Haggis Fat Choy!
It's quirky
It's surprising
It's enlightening
And arising…
Gung Haggis Fat Choy!
It's a vision
It's a belief
What you see is what you get.
And you don't get what you can't see.
Ó 2003 Todd Wong