anniversary weekend
As usual, we went away together for our anniversary rather than exchange gifts. Much better to celebrate our marriage making memories with one another rather than scrambling for a trinket as a token of our love.
Starting with a day at the cricket on Friday. Third day of the third test against India, with a couple of momentous achievements. Cook got 294. England secured their status as #1. Probably not the most exciting day of cricket, but it was good to have been there for those moments. Mostly, it was just a great day out. After lunch -- mostly liquid -- the crowd livened up a bit. There was a lot of banter, chanting, throwing hats and balls about, etc. Once, when their beach ball went over the side and the guard refused to get it despite furious heckling (good-natured), everyone started chanting "We've only got one ball." Very amusing. In the evening we went to the Balti Triangle for a curry with our friends, one of two things I wanted to do in Birmingham. Friends went home after dinner, and the wife and I found a cheesy dance club next to the hotel with cut price drinks and spent a few hours shaking off the cobwebs. Very therapeutic. The next day we paid the obligatory visit to Selfridges before heading out of Birmingham.
The main event was a couple days together in Ludlow, staying at a Michelin starred restaurant with rooms [is how they describe themselves]. The room was quite small but perfect for us: china tea cups, exceptional tea, freshly ground coffee in a press, homemade shortbread, large bath sheets, powerful shower, and nice shampoo and soap. All in a lovely riverside location. Also, it's just upstairs for the restaurant, which is handy after a four hour meal with plenty of wine and drinks. ;)
Dinner I think exceeded fairly high expectations. Eight course menu, you get whatever they are cooking that day (though they did serve my wife chicken instead of venison, at her request that morning). I think the garden sorrel soup was my highlight, but the duck liver custard with sweetcorn jelly was pretty special (particularly with the sweet madeira type wine pairing). Wife's highlight was the thai-scented brill. The venison was much better than I -- or my wife -- expected. I had a bizarre dessert of beetroot sponge, carrot ice cream, and pea sauce. It did seem to fit in the dessert end of the meal, but it also tasted of allotment. Quite fun. Wife opted for the cheese plate, which had at least 8 cheeses. It was just my sort of meal. Very refined, but actually not that fussy. Everything tasty and well-executed. We had a bottle of 07 Puligny-Montrachet (wish I wrote down the producer!) after some guidance by the owner. I also had a glass of red from Lebanon, which was a Rhone blend, but not Mussar (a recommended match and perfect). So yeah, another amazing anniversary meal.
The rest of the time we spent walking by the river, trying local beers, wandering about the market (bought an earthenware pitcher from the potter) and shops (nice wine shop!), and reading in the garden terrace or our room.
Love on tour.
--
As an aside, it seems if I've got the right book, I do like reading. Also, I really need to keep a wine journal with me at all times.
Starting with a day at the cricket on Friday. Third day of the third test against India, with a couple of momentous achievements. Cook got 294. England secured their status as #1. Probably not the most exciting day of cricket, but it was good to have been there for those moments. Mostly, it was just a great day out. After lunch -- mostly liquid -- the crowd livened up a bit. There was a lot of banter, chanting, throwing hats and balls about, etc. Once, when their beach ball went over the side and the guard refused to get it despite furious heckling (good-natured), everyone started chanting "We've only got one ball." Very amusing. In the evening we went to the Balti Triangle for a curry with our friends, one of two things I wanted to do in Birmingham. Friends went home after dinner, and the wife and I found a cheesy dance club next to the hotel with cut price drinks and spent a few hours shaking off the cobwebs. Very therapeutic. The next day we paid the obligatory visit to Selfridges before heading out of Birmingham.
The main event was a couple days together in Ludlow, staying at a Michelin starred restaurant with rooms [is how they describe themselves]. The room was quite small but perfect for us: china tea cups, exceptional tea, freshly ground coffee in a press, homemade shortbread, large bath sheets, powerful shower, and nice shampoo and soap. All in a lovely riverside location. Also, it's just upstairs for the restaurant, which is handy after a four hour meal with plenty of wine and drinks. ;)
Dinner I think exceeded fairly high expectations. Eight course menu, you get whatever they are cooking that day (though they did serve my wife chicken instead of venison, at her request that morning). I think the garden sorrel soup was my highlight, but the duck liver custard with sweetcorn jelly was pretty special (particularly with the sweet madeira type wine pairing). Wife's highlight was the thai-scented brill. The venison was much better than I -- or my wife -- expected. I had a bizarre dessert of beetroot sponge, carrot ice cream, and pea sauce. It did seem to fit in the dessert end of the meal, but it also tasted of allotment. Quite fun. Wife opted for the cheese plate, which had at least 8 cheeses. It was just my sort of meal. Very refined, but actually not that fussy. Everything tasty and well-executed. We had a bottle of 07 Puligny-Montrachet (wish I wrote down the producer!) after some guidance by the owner. I also had a glass of red from Lebanon, which was a Rhone blend, but not Mussar (a recommended match and perfect). So yeah, another amazing anniversary meal.
The rest of the time we spent walking by the river, trying local beers, wandering about the market (bought an earthenware pitcher from the potter) and shops (nice wine shop!), and reading in the garden terrace or our room.
Love on tour.
--
As an aside, it seems if I've got the right book, I do like reading. Also, I really need to keep a wine journal with me at all times.