1988 Bordeaux’s – April 2018

It was for a second time that a small group of invited guests gathered to enjoy a collection of wines from a mutual friend’s cellar. Our first gathering in 2017 was to experience 1982’s (menu and wines listed below)

Aperitif

Champagne Delamotte and Champagne Tattinger

-o0o-

Prawn and Scallop Melange

Rheingau Rauerenthaaler Bauken Reisling Ausele 1990.

-o0o-

Château Cheval Blanc, St. Emilion, 1er Cru Classe, 1982,

Château Margaux, Premier Grand Cru Classe 1855, 1982,

Coq au Vin

Collation of Vegetables

Crusted Celeriac Potato Mash

Château Calon Segur, St Estephe, 1982

Château Montrose, St Estephe 1982

Château Cos D'Estournel St Estephe 1982

Cheese selection

Oxford Blue - Fourme d’Ambert - Brie de Meux -Comte (6 months)

Aldwych Goat Log-Somerset

Château Pichon Lalande, Pauillac 1982

Château Canon St Emilion 1982

-o0o-

Tarte Tatin with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream

Château Filhot, Sauternes, 1983

-o0o-

Coffee with handmade chocolates

Malmsey Solera 1863

-o0o-

Champagne Lanson

2018 gave us a collection of 1988’s to taste and enjoy over long deliberations and expounding our varying thoughts on the styles and qualities of the wines. It is interesting to have such an experience. Of course, it isn’t a comparative tasting but never the less one can express preferences for one or another. The interest all being the same vintage is challenging enough despite their different locations in Bordeaux. Styles vary and of course grape varietal mixes. One thing that did come out was that the reputed most famous and expensive were not necessarily the best either in value or quality.

The collection speaks for itself. Numerous experts have endless scripts on the internet should you wish to peruse any individual listing. It is an extraordinary and most privileged position to be in and to be able to experience. A collection of wines with such historically famous names and provenance. Enjoy the listing.

1988 Bordeaux Lunch – Sunday 22^nd April 2018

Menu

Ruinart Brut

Mexican Langoustine and Prawn Cocktail

Chateau Lynch-Bages, Blanc de Lynch-Bages 1995,

-o0o-

Seared Scallops with Chorizo with Red Wine and Creamed Cauliflower

Chateau Leoville-Las Cases 'Clos du Marquis', 1988 Saint-Julien,

Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarrosse, 1988 St. Emilion

Château Durcu-Beaucaillou,1988 St Julien

-o0o-

Fillet of Venison en Croute with a Cranberry Jus

Celeriac and Carrot Muffins

Fagots d’Haricots Verts

Château Petit Villages, 1988 Pomerol

Château Cheval Blanc, 1988 St Emilion

Château Pichon Baron de Longueville,1988 Pauillac

-o0o-

Blue Cheese Souffle

Château Dom de Chevalier, 1988 Graves

Château Lynch Bages, 1988 Pauillac

-o0o-

Choux buns with Vanilla Ice cream and Chocolate Fudge Sauce

Château Pape Clement, 1988 Graves

Château Gruard Larosse, 1988 St Julien,

-o0o-

Coffee & Tissanes

Blandy’s Madiera Sercial 1940

Boys Dining Club Dinner - March 2018 - Institute of Directors Pall Mall

A Splendid Evening and enjoyed by all attendees, Members and Guests.

Thanks also to the IoD Staff 

Boys Dining Club

    Tuesday 06^th March 2018       

                     

Reception

Macon Uchizy, Burgundy France 2016 

*****

Seared scallops, quinoa, salted carrots and carrot emulsion

Sauvignon Blanc, Spy Valley Marlborough New Zealand 2016 

*****

Rabbit and ham terrine, pea mousse

Pinot Noir, Wild Rock Martinborough / Wairarapa New Zealand 2014

*****

Lamb saddle, slow cooked neck fillet navarin , wild garlic, ricotta gnocchi

Rioja Reserva Vina Albina, Spain 2013

*****

Choux pastry with hazelnut crème diplomate

Muscat Beaumes de Venise, Côtes du Rhône, France 2014

`

Coffee and chocolates

Boys Dining Club Dinner August 2017

Menu

Crostini of Foie Gras

Alain Thienot 1996, Blancs de Blancs Brut

Champagne Thienot 1999, Grande Cuvee

Champagne Deutz, Brut

-o0o-

A Beetroot & Carrot Rosti with Smoked Salmon and Oscietre Caviar

Frangy 2016, Rousette de Savoie

-o0o-

Open Ravioli with Scallops, Lobster Tail and Prawns, Sauce Vin Blancs and Gruyere

Touraine Chenonceau 2016, Domaine du Vaux Saint Georges

-o0o-

Barbecued Prime Rib of Beef with Sauce Choron

Roasted Chunky Wedges

Warn Salad of Assorted Mushrooms

Hermitage La Chapelle 1996, Paul Jaboulet Aine

-o0o-

Blue Cheese Souffle

Vito Curatolo Arini, Marsala Superiore Secco, 5 Anni

-o0o-

White chocolate and Honeycomb Mousse coated with Dark Chocolate Fondant and served with Balsamic marinated Strawberries

Antic Consolation, Rivesaltes Ambre 1985

-o0o-

Coffee

Water or Coke

WATER #1.  75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.. (Likely applies to half the world population) #2.    In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is mistaken for hunger. #3.   Even MILD dehydration will slow down one's metabolism as 3%. #4.  One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs   for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study. #5.    Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue. #6.   Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of    water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.  #7.   A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term     memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page. #8..  Drinking 5 glasses of water daily decreases the risk of   colon cancer by 45%, plus it can slash the risk of breast cancer by 79%., and one is 50% less likely to develop bladder cancer. Are you drinking the amount of water you should drink every day? COKE #1.   In many states the highway patrol carries     two gallons of Coke in the trunk to remove blood from the highway after a car accident.  #2.    You can put a T-bone steak in a bowl of Coke and it will be gone in two days. #3.   To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the   toilet bowl and let the 'real thing' sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china. #4.   To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers:     Rub the bumper with a rumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminium foil dipped in Coca-Cola. #5.   To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour    a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion. #6.  To loosen a rusted bolt: Apply a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes. #7.   To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan, wrap the ham in aluminium foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the drippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy. #8.  To remove grease from clothes: Empty a can of Coke into the load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle.. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains. It will also clean road haze from your windshield. FOR YOUR INFORMATION: #1    the active ingredient in Coke is phosphoric acid. It will dissolve a nail in about four days. Phosphoric acid also leaches calcium from bones and is a major contributor to the rising increase of osteoporosis. #2.   To carry Coca-Cola syrup! (the concentrate) the commercial trucks must use a hazardous Material place cards reserved for highly corrosive materials. #3.   The distributors of Coke have been using it to clean engines of the trucks for about 20 years!  Now the question is, would you like a glass of water?  or Coke? ? Quick!  Send this helpful info on to your friends health conscious or not!!!!

New Years Eve Dinner 2016/2017

West Mid University Hospital - Isleworth - West London

For sure I know I have no control over two aspects of my life, that of arrival and the other departure. The time in between is undetermined and I guess we all have a rather indoctrinated sense of self preservation and survival coping with our daily routines.

That survival and control of course is shattered when an unlikely event and without understanding illness arrives. Whether minor or severe – suddenly we have to depend on others goodwill and professionalism to try and guide us through what we don’t understand.

Every day we are surrounded by danger and hopefully never succumb to its consequences but for those who do the journey becomes a whirlwind of fear and sometimes angst.

Of course friends and neighbours rally, offering to supply anything they can provide, or to provide warmth of care and support. Then we have to give ourselves up to the Medical professionals.

A team of dedicated people that includes Doctors, Nurses and ancillary staff who work tirelessly with passion and devotion, trying to make the world a better and healthier place for us all. None of them enter the profession wishing to intentionally harm anyone and are forever mindful that life itself balances on a very fine thread.

Medicine has evolved to such complexity now, the expectations are ever higher of what we layman expect we are entitled to, and all for free.

No person is infallible but oh how we complain when our own selfishness is not satisfied, or we lose control of our very being.

My recent experience at WMUH has to be one of extreme gratitude and admiration for the teams in A & E, AEC and AMU for their joviality and persistence in striving to keep their moral fibre intact and getting the job done against a constant barrage of criticism from patients, media and press. It’s an irony isn’t it; hospitals could be great places if it didn’t have patients.

It takes no effort to be grateful, share a smile and to say ‘Thank you’ as many do, but it only takes one person to take the “cream off the cake”

I am a firm advocate of ‘Random Acts of Kindness’. A gift or a gesture offered to a deserving person or group who try by their very actions to make a difference to others lives selflessly and without expectation of a receipt of gratitude. If we all appreciated and respected each other, what a lovely world we would live in.

So to all the teams on A&E, AEC and AMU - a huge ‘Thank you’ for a job well done.

Thankfully you have enabled me to go out once more and do my work.

When Great Trees Fall

When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder, lions hunker down in tall grasses, 

and even elephants lumber after safety.

When great trees fall in forests, small things recoil into silence,

their senses eroded beyond fear.

When great souls die, the air around us becomes light, rare, sterile.

We breathe, briefly. 

Our eyes, briefly, see with a hurtful clarity.

Our memory, suddenly sharpened, examines, gnaws on kind words unsaid,

promised walks never taken.

Great souls die and our reality, bound to them, takes leave of us.

Our souls, dependent upon their nurture, now shrink, wizened.

Our minds, formed and informed by their radiance, fall away.

We are not so much maddened as reduced to the unutterable ignorance

of dark, cold caves.

And when great souls die, after a period peace blooms, slowly and always

irregularly. 

Spaces fill with a kind of soothing electric vibration.

Our senses, restored, never to be the same, whisper to us.

They existed. They existed. 

We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.

Maya Angelou