A thousand words before lunch? Yum. Lunch.

In the last of this years seasonal lists, I am thinking about what I ate and drank this Christmas. A word of warning, this list may not be for the squeamish.

“I have been eating for 67 years and I haven’t got bored of it yet!” D. Murnane Christmas 2003

I am going to take the eating season starting in earnest from 4th of December


4th December
Clontarf Castle

Warm up lagers
Soup
Turkey and Ham
Dessert
Coffee
Guinness
Gin
Boogie Nights

Overall (out of 5): 2

Can’t remember all that much about the food, other then I ate it all. The turkey was that kind of wet turkey you get when you’re catering for 500. Expensive, I’m sure, but you have to factor in band. The evening moved into the surreal when some old, and I mean old, pervert at the bar started bemoaning the fact that in his day he could get a Hand job (or a rub down & toss as he said) in Dublin for £10.


7th December
Dunderry Lodge

Warm up Kir
Seafood platter
Peasant
Tiramisu
Wine
Coffee

Overall (out of 5): 4

What a nice place to have lunch. Seriously. The seafood platter was great, fresh and smoked salmon, tiger prawns and crab on a bed of lettuce, with a slightly tangy vinaigrette, followed by very gamey pheasant. Yum! The tiramisu was springy and light. All washed down with a St.Emilion. Coffee good too!


13th December
Milanos

Caesar Salad
Pizza Jalapeno
Beer (nazurro adzero?)

Milanos. The pizza express guys have been doing it a long time, and doing it well. No more to be said

Overall (out of 5): 4


17th December
Salamanca. Tapas.

Warm up lager
Pate
Hummus
Parma Ham
Olives
Calamari
Chorizo
Asparagus
Spicy potatoes
Deep fried monkfish
Chocolate muffin dessert
Vino
Coffee
Gin and tonic(s)
Guinness

Overall (out of five): 3

Hmm. The normally great Salamanca had a few flaws this time around. The antipaste (or whatever antepaste is in Spain) were great, delicious olives, hummus, ham and bread. I chose wisely on tapas, the chorizo, patatas and calamari all good. The asparagus, chosen by Glenn a touch overcooked, but nowhere near as overcooked as the fish. Eugh! Fish fritter. The desert was crunchy, heavy and horrible. Still, Salamanca lends itself to being sociable, and the waitress did offer to replace the dessert with any other off the menu. Expensive, and a few miscalculations on the menu.


19th December
Barcode

Some Starter
Turkey and ham
Some dessert
Coffee
Wine
Guinness
Lager
Baby Guinness
Smirnoff Ice
Gin

As you may notice this night wasn’t exactly about the food. When it did arrive it was horrible. Good night though.

Overall (out of five): 1


22nd December
Eden

Warm up Kir
Pan Fried Pheasant
Veal
Ice Cream
Cheese
Coffee
Wine

This place is great. Expensive. But Great. For the second time this December, good gamey pheasant, complimented by a good choice of red wine (Fleurie), the veal steak was huge, on a bed of creamy lentils, spinach and carrot, with baby roast potatoes. Perhaps not the perfect compliment to pheasant, but there you go. I felt like ice cream, so had it, and good it was. Just the cheese left, but I found room. Excellent, expensive but worth it

Overall (out of five): 5


24th December
Party

Mushroom volavents
Salmon volavents
Egg Sandwiches
Ham Sandwiches
Cocktail Sausages
Pizza
Sushi
Mulled Wine
Baked Cranberry and Brie

Yum. Good fun too. Won at table tennis.

Overall (out of five): n/a


25th December
Dinner at the In-Laws

Lobster
Turkey
Ham
Roast potatoes
Carrot and turnip mash
Sprouts with onion and chestnut
Pine nut stuffing
Cheese cake
Mince Pies
Trifle
Cheese
Coffee
Wine

First time at the In-Laws for dinner, I made the starter (didn’t have the boil the lobsters thank God). Lobster with tangerine on a bed of lettuce with a homemade mayonnaise and a small dripping of honey and mustard dressing. Yum. Turkey and Ham, well cooked for the first time this Christmas. Special mention for Sprouts. Cheese and dessert excellent. Wine - Wither hills for the lobster, a D’Arenburg Ironstone pressings for Turkey and a sweet muscadet for dessert. I enjoyed it so much I ate seconds of everything

Overall (out of five): 5


26th December
Still at the In-Laws

As above. Yum


27th December
Back to my folks

Pate
Dips
Spiced Ham
Roasted Parsnip
Red Cabbage
Roast Potoates
Meringues
Lemon Ice Cream
Trifle
Cheese & Port
Wine
Coffee

Thank God for Food. Just great. Special mention for the parsnip. Yum.

Overall (out of five): 5


28th December
Still at my folks

As above, but with Beef and horseradish.

Never, ever, eat beef without horseradish. Great.

Overall (out of five): 5


Well, Still eating. New Years Day promises to be the last of it, or maybe the first of it! Bon appetite!!