More Come Dine with Us

The Jan winos, being some what rebelious, enjoyed a menu consisting in part of
Starters
Croquetas,
Parsnip and Celeriac soup, truffle oil and manchego cheese
Prawns, Cecina, Chilli and Garlic

and Mains
Seabass, roasted winter vegetables and Salsa Verde
Partridge,escabeche and Jamon Iberico

We gave dessert a miss but washed the starter and mains down with a few bottles of Honoro Vera, Monastrell 2010.

Now if you are wondering how you are going to compete when next you host, its simple just set up a restaurant!

No seriously With the original host unable to do Jan I stepped in and offered but as only 2 of the group could actually make it in the end we opted to go to Pizarro and let them do the cooking instead. So two winos and a willing extra can thoroughly recommend a visit.

Cheats! Sounds lovely though.

The Gourmets met last night for a very chilled Friday evening. After usual nibbles accompanied by Conegliano Prosecco, we enjoyed Plum's fresh pasta and salmon for starters with a High Dive Chardonnay 2010 (US) and a Shawsgate Pandora 2009 (UK).

Brice mustered up a lovely chicken escalope parmigiana with aubergine parmigiana, served with a fricase of mushroom and tomato sauce. This served with a Touraine Sauvignon Blanc by Alain Marcadol 2010 (Fr), and a Marquis de Beaulieu Bordeaux 2010 (Fr).

Carol's dessert was a chocolate and orange brioche and butter pudding, served with a Recito della Valpolicella 2001 (It)

A nice start to the weekend

Mark

The Winos met last night for a very pleasant evening. We started with Villa Garducci sparkling rose as well as cava.

The first course was Mike's fiery salmon mousse tarts accompanied by green salad and a 2005 Vouvray white wine from the Le Mont vineyard.

Andy's main course was a spiced lamb cassoulet with roasted squash & parsnips and carrots & spring greens (all veg purchased from Bermondsey Square market!), and a very smooth Chianti Reserve 2008 from Cortebella.

Alison's pudding was a baked apple, cinnamon & banana cake, served with fresh cream, and Do Maule Valleey (Chile) sauvignon blanc dessert wine called Late Harvest.

A nice end to the weekend!

Slightly late with their Feb dinner, the cookies enjoyed

Tomato and mozzarella brushetta washed down with a bottle of Prosecco (Tesco finest!)

Butternut and sweet potato soup
with a selection of breads,
accompanied with Gerwurztraminer 2011 (Sainsburys) This slighlty sweet wine went very well with the slightly sweet soup excellent choice.

Salmon Baked in filo pastry with spinach and fetta cheese
Crushed piquant potatoes
green beans
Villa Maria East Coast Rose 2010
The Anvil Foundry reserve 2010 (Virgin wines -SE Australlia)

Lemon Posset and homemade short bread
Camenburt cheese and biscuits
Chassenay d'Arce Champagne
Maule Valley Late harvest Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Chile)


A lovely evening as always, and the girls will be surprised to know that all the glasses (and there were a lot) were washed before retiring by myself and not left for Mr Jac to do in the morning, although he did get left the rest of the clearing up.

The last dinner for the Cookies this season!

We started with some Champagne and toast with codfish liver.

Chèvre wrapped in prosciutto on a bed of spinach and watercress salad, accompanied by a Chateau Marotte Bordeaux, 2009

Roast pork fillet witb lentils and apple and green beans along with Arthur Metz Pinot Noir, 2009

Lemon Cheesecake with blueberries and limoncello. In addition to that we drank a Waipara Chardonnay, 2009

It was a glorious evening and we enjoyed it very much!

Dinner party last night hosted by myself and MrsR with Plum, and Juanita, and respective +1s.

nibbles - bombai mix, and mini popodoms, with a Special Cuvee Prosecco

a lovely starter of spicy chicken legs, with an Asian salad. I thought they were very spicy, but was told that this was a mild version, no chilis in the salad!
The starter wine was 'Villa Maria, Sauvignon Blanc Marlborough, 2009 private bin'

The Main was Monkfish in a dill mustartd sauce, with Bubble and Squeak, and mixed leaf salad.
Main Wine was 'Domaine Estelle du Rocan Vaucluse'

Dessert was a fruit Pavlova (Strawberries, and kiwi)
with 'Vintage codorniu rose, moscatel de valencia'

a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

The Gourmets met last Saturday but due to Orlando and I only just getting back from Spain I've not been able to let you know what happened!

Sadly one of our number was struck down, fortunately we had some Cava lying about so had some more Kir Republics with some marinated olives in some of our olive oil and oregano.

We used up the Cava with a wonderful, and very delicious prawn and watermelon salad, provided by Sue which I must still ask the recipe for! It went down so well I think we all had second helpings!

The Main Course was a slow cooked Cassoulet of Lamb with Mash. Since we made it I will just say I think it went rather well. It was washed down with a Castillo de Albai Crianza 2008 Rioja which held its own with the lamb.

Mike and Una provided the dessert - a highly decadent Chocolate Almond Cake with crème fraiche and fresh raspberries. Exceedingly indulgent and delicious and matched rather well to their 2003 Château Luduiraut Sauternes.

I would say that finished everyone off but we proceeded onto some Port and some Spanish Brandy and some singing to ABBA!

Thanks to everyone for making it a great evening!

Daniel and Orlando

The Foodies met on 31st March and due to me being in Wales for the past week it is rather belated post.

It was a very small and cosy affair however a nice evening was had.

Kir Royal Cocktails started the evening off followed by Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Juanita prepared some delicious Salmon burgers served with side salad to start. The wine served was Ocean's Edge 2011 Sauvingnon Blanc.

The main course was a sage, lemon and garlic stuffed leg of lamb with mint/ parsley crust served with dauphinois potatoes, buttered carrots, spinach sauteed with garlic and olive oil. The wine served was Lalande De Pomerol 2004.

For dessert Alison prepared a scrumptious pear tart with creme fraiche followed by a selection of cheese and biscuits. No wine was served with dessert but we finished off the champagne !

It was great fun and I look forward to more come dine with us !

Thanks Julie, it was an excellent evening - there was so much food, wine & champagne, it was incredible! I couldn't face eating the day after ....

Well done on hosting your first SE1 dinner.