Archive for Food

Fun Food & Frolics

// July 4th, 2004 // Comments Off // Food, Gossip

Friday saw us off to Il Pappatore in Bushey with My Parents & our neighbours, Sara & Kev, to celebrate my Dad’s birthday and – gasp – Sara’s 40th! Yummy food, a couple of bottles of red & a jolly good start to the weekend.

Saturday night was a party at Kev & Sara’s, jugs of Pimms all night, that got stronger & stronger. Excellent food by Sarah up the road, good music & fun friends & neighbours. We partied well into the wee small hours, but thankfully Sunday allowed for a lie in.

After a lunch in front of the Grand Prix (go Schuie) it was time to visit the Moor again as the Oldies haven’t been for a couple of weeks. Mr & Mrs Swan paraded 8 cygnets for us to admire, they are getting very brave & come quite close to the dogs, which is challenging, then on our way back the cows were across the path. No problem, pop Bel back on the lead and go through slowly….nope a couple panic & skitter off, then they all line up behind and trot after us. Hmmm worrying thoughts of tales of people & dogs being trampled come to mind. Then I think, perhaps they are usually elderly people with yappy dogs….so Keith dropped behind with Emily on a flexi, which seemed to entertain them. So there we are walking 5 dogs & a herd of Cows! Where is the camera when you need it.

Back home we bid fond farewell to the Mothership Van as it made its way off to it’s new home, all in all a good few days.

Booker Prize for Excellence

// June 24th, 2004 // Comments Off // Food, Work

Earlier this year I was lucky enough to do some Judging for the Booker Prize for Excellence in the Catering Categories. This involved eating lots of nice food – no hardship there for me! – filling in lots of forms, and wielding a mean video.

Today saw the Black Tie Dinner for 550 people to make the Awards, and I was invited along to this. As a VIP, I got the whole package, including overnight accommodation at the 4 Star Forest of Arden Hotel, very comfy.

The Dinner was held at Arbury Hall in a marquee in the grounds of the Stately Home. We looked out across the lake to the fairy tale house, rather lovely for watching the fire work display.

I was lucky enough to be seated on Frankie Detorri’s table, great fun, the compere was Sanjeev Bhaskar (from the Kumars at No 42) and the lovely Gordon Ramsey made a typically bleep rated guest appearance.

All in all a good night out.