In attendance: Amy, Alex, Claire
We had a lovely Wine Wednesday today, I think partly because we weren’t expecting it. There had been no mention of lunch this week, we are all far too busy working, coughing and moaning away for such frivolity. Alex had foresight though, he knew what was good for us and on the spur of the moment proposed a ‘relaxed lunch’ at the Maltings Café.
We worked out that it has been nearly two months since we had been to the Maltings; definitely too long. Generally I am against the view that absence makes the heart grow fonder, but on this occasion, I concede there might be something in it. Although I actually think we had just forgotten how good it is there.
Under scattered seasonal showers and buttoned up in our matching bright red coats, Claire and I met Alex. We waited for about 15 minutes for Ricky before our appetite and anticipation got the better of us and the three of us bundled off to lunch, with Alex turning his coat inside out to show the red lining so he could be part of the gang!
Autumn suits the Maltings, it is warm, cozy and relaxed, and with baby pumpkins on the table, the atmosphere was comforting. The food was also perfectly heart warming with a real autumnal feel. Alex and Claire had pork, which Alex said was the best meal he has ever had there, but I know, he says that every time! I had pappardelle pasta with courgette, Parmesan cheese and a beautiful lemon flavor. Alex said for vegetarian food, it looked good and he definitely doesn’t say that every time!
Over lunch we enjoyed a glass of Château De Pez St. Estephe 2006. Having been opened for 24 hours this had really opened up with less astringency on the tannin front. Herbal and blackcurrant flavours with an earthy character that was a perfect accompaniment to the shoulder of pork.
Conversation was as always entertaining as we considered cryptic crosswords and whether milk makes you tall. We were intelligent, funny and civilized and it may just be coincidence but for the first time ever the ratio of females to males was skewed in our favour. I am just saying.
We didn’t take much persuading from Claire to share a chocolate and ginger cake, with our coffees before we got the bill. Alex’s ‘relaxed lunch’ lived up to its title; a change of scenery, good food, wine and company did the trick. No sherry this week, perhaps due to the absence of Martin – sadly this was the first time The Original Trio was not fully represented and we missed him. Come back Martin!
No comments:
Post a Comment