On 21st July 23 members of Manchester Branch, 2 guests & Keith & Nadia McCann, Chairman and Secretary of Mid Cheshire & Merseyside Branch Paul and Valerie Bishop enjoyed a wonderful summer lunch at Linthwaite House, near Bowness on Windermere in the Lake District. Ron Cowley and Tricia Fletcher were the main organisers and what a great job they did.
The menu was as follows:-
Canapes were accompanied by Cloudy Bay Sauvignon from New Zealand 2012
Foragers Soup
Gin cured salmon, lemon puree, tonic sorbet
Chablis, Domaine Daniel Dampt & Fils 2011
Seabream, lemon fregola, olive, tomato & basil dressing
Brouilly, Chateaux des Tours, St Etiene 2011
Poached pear, whtie chocolate granola, Kopparberg ice cream, chocolate sauce
Coffee and petit fours
The Cloudy Bay drank well as an aperitif, with good grassy aromas and gooseberry fruit with a stylish tangy finish.
The salmon course was an absolute delight. The fish was succulent and tasty, and the gin added another dimension. The Chablis complemented the dish.
The Seabream – an explosion of flavours, cooked to perfection with a crisp skin, topped with tomato concasse and green olives, sat on a bed of fennel. The baby tomato black olive tapenade with basil and fregola was unique.
For the red wine drinkers – the Brouilly was well received.
The dessert was based on a great classic, Pear Belle Helene, with a modern day touch, the white and dark chocolate complemented the poached pear and Koppaberg ice cream to perfection.
The sun shone and with the view over Lake Windermere - we were in heaven!
Bob Lloyd (Chairman) & Patrick Trodden