What an amazing evening!
Coco mooted the idea of a regular dinner party at her country home near Melton Mowbray before Christmas, and as is her way it had to be executed properly.
The response to the idea was enthusiastic and steps were put in place to organise what can only be described as a fabulous evening. We dined in the oak room on a table for 12, which was bought specially at auction for these dinner parties.
The menu:
- Homemade Stilton soup – I can’t abide blue stilton and loved it.
- Smoked salmon and caviar
- Raspberry sorbet
- Chicken main course
- Chocolate Tart
- Cheese and biscuits
- Port
All courses were presented to a very high standard by Robert, the chef, with Coco, Natasha and myself waiting at table.
Each course came with an accompanying wine from Coco’s cellar and I can only say she didn’t stint in that department. We drank out of Edinburgh crystal and I’m now regretting not taking a few photos of the table layout – next time.
They were a lovely group of people, a mixture of old and new acquaintances and the conversation flow kept up with that of the wine and port.
Everyone had either gone to bed by 2am or left to go home. Coco, Natasha and I retired to the drawing room to mull over how it had all gone with Coco insisting I finish off the remaining bottles of bubbly. An onerous task – not. :)
We finally retired to bed at just gone 5am whereupon I’m advised that I fell asleep on contact with the pillow. That may be so, but out of the three of us I was the only one up at 8.30am helping Robert to clear-up what little remained of the glassware form the night before. That and seeing guests were provided with a continental style breakfast before departing by 10am.
Would I do it again? I’ve already put my name down on the list for the one in April as there’s only a maximum of 10-12 places available.