Scalped

On of the problems with living in a building that dates back to the time when Zeus ruled from Olympus ( the mountain, not the camera) is that whilst its all very picturesque, solid and substantial..its all a bit higgedly piggeldy inside.

The staircases, for example, are so windy and so steep that Hector is banned, under threat of being whacked around the head, from ever attempting to climb or descend them. The one up to my quarters almost requires crampons.

The ceilings are all a bit random. Some high, some low with doorways to match. Hence, this morning, I stumble out of bed, walk to my bathroom and THWACK I have taken the top of my head off. I have actually scalped myself and now have a big egg head lump on skull. This causes much merriment amongst the staff.

We took our first Christmas booking last night. 25 people on Friday the 15th of December. This is despite not having put together our Christmas menu yet, nor having priced it. So this morning was spent running around deciding what would be good and what wold be affordable. Not the easiest thing to do with two Polish chefs whose idea of Christmas is baked carp on Christmas Eve. Anyway, this is what we have come up with:

                                        Pears Stuffed with Stilton
                                                Gravadlax
                            Butternut Squash & Chestnut Soup
                                        Wild Game Pate
                                        ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                    Roast Turkey breast Stuffed with Cranberries and Ricotta
                                Venison Stew with Dumplings
                                    Cider Glazed Fillet of Salmon
                    Squash galette Stuffed with Goats Cheese and Sage

                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                                            Christmas Pudding with Brandy butter
                                                Roasted Tangerines with Rum
                                                                Truffle Torte

                                                  ~~~~~~~~~
                                                                    Coffee
                                            Selection of Somerset Cheeses

We will do 2 courses for around $ 20 and four courses for around $ 35...I think.

I think it looks both quite splendid and also quite manageable. The latter important as we will be running the normal menu alongside the Christmas party menu.

Comments

[moizza]

If that menu is a result of the Thwack you should do it more often.

[Dawn]

Sounds great! Sign me up as well. . .or wait I think I'm busy on Christmas day.

[pea]

Wow, that sounds delicious!

[Jenny]

I think that's very reasonably priced. In my mind's eye, you are still quite short and I can't imagine you ever bumping the top of your head on anything really. Interesting.

[Dawn]

Is Stephen short, Jenny? I've always pictured him about 5'11".

[Stephen]

Stephen is 6 ft, Dawn. Jenny has always felt that I am dwarf, much to my consternation.

[Dawn]

oh. . .well that would make you not at all short then.

[Jenny]

If Sveta will vouch for your height, I'll try to rearrange my mental picture of you (which has you about 5'8'' or so).

[Stephen]

Sveta would not vouch for my height as she finds it amusing to tell me that I am short. This is because my father, 6ft 3, likes to refer to me as the runt of the family and Sveta finds this terribly amusing.

[Cris]

Well, Jenny, he is very tall alright also as dumb, as seen in his recent posts! But other parts are ahem...not that big lets say. Truth must be told Ste!