Menu Twenty

This weekend there will be a birthday gathering at our table. We will be serving:

To start

Our signature tuna three ways: mousse; carpaccio; seared (last served ten suppers ago).

To follow

Bouillabaisse, homemade sourdough .

To finish

Iced ginger meringue slice, pomegranate.

Chicken soup for the soul

After a record October, we were in need of a break. A chance to sleep, eat properly and gather our thoughts, inspiration and motivation.

Last week, we did just that, with a stay at home holiday. We even moved into our spare bedroom for the occasion.

Here are some of the (predominantly) edible highlights:

Roast chicken

Carved

Stock in progress

We cooked this curry, finally got round to trying Sarah Raven's chinese spiced pheasant soup (which worked surprisingly well, with young, shredded pheasant breasts) and caused much discussion at supper fourteen, roasted chicken, made stock, made "basic" bread, ate Bowers bacon rolls at Leo's Beanery, stopped off at Tollcrust, tried Patisserie Madeleine's wonderful creations (below), wrapped up warm and wandered to Welch's in Newhaven Harbour, revelled in an extra hour in bed, Autumn sunshine and dined, at home, with an exciting chef, more on that soon.

Praline choux bun and macaroon

Chocolate orange delight

The Water of Leith

Our week of comfort and restoration is over and we're ready for November.

Supper Nineteen

Yesterday was finally one of those Autumn days requiring both sunglasses and a scarf. It put a definite skip in my step. It was a great day for a brisk morning walk to three of our fabulous suppliers, George Bower (for streaky bacon), G Armstrong (for seabass) and Herbies (for the most deliciously scented vanilla pods - the last two in the jar).


Back home, it was a great day to watch the sky from the window and warm up with some cooking. The preparations produced the following feast for a group of old friends, and, we met some new friends too, hello Lesley!


Charlie and Evelyn's Table with anenomes.

To amuse Munchin pumpkin with pumpkin, sweet potato and apple soup.

To start Roasted beetroot risotto, parmesan crisps.

To follow Seabass, creamed cabbage, bacon, crispy potatoes.

To finish Warm chocolate pudding, ginger, vanilla ice cream.

Supper Eighteen

For this colourful supper we returned to flavours of italy for inspiration and welcomed a wonderful group of friends from south of the border and a couple of almost neighbours from Leith!

To welcome House selection of crostini

Pea, mint and pecorino.

Mozzarella, fig, mint and chestnut honey.

Canellini beans, garlic and rosemary.

Tomatoes, olives, chilli and basil.

To amuse Petite pizza, mozzarella, tomatoes, roasted baby peppers.

This was so successful on its first outing, we decided to serve it again.

To start Pumpkin, sage, pecorino open lasagne.

To follow Schaicciata di manzo con aglio, rosmar ino e funghi, zucca al forno{Flash roast beef with garlic, rosemary and giroles, roasted squash}.

In our opinions a superior and delicious alternative to bread and butter pudding:

To finish Panettone pudding, softly whipped cream.

Menu Nineteen

To start
Roasted beetroot risotto, parmesan crisps.

To follow
Seabass, creamed cabbage {bacon}, crispy potatoes.

To finish
Warm chocolate pudding, ginger, vanilla ice cream.

Perhaps the world ends here

I just took a quick break from tonight's preparations to look online. This poem, shared, with love, here, stopped me in my tracks.

It's by Joy Harjo.

The world begins at a kitchen table. No matter what, we must eat to live.

The gifts of earth are brought and prepared, set on the table. So it has been since creation, and it will go on.

We chase chickens or dogs away from it. Babies teethe at the corners. They scrape their knees under it.

It is here that children are given instructions on what it means to be human. We make men at it, we make women.

At this table we gossip, recall enemies and the ghosts of lovers.

Our dreams drink coffee with us as they put their arms around our children. They laugh with us at our poor falling-down selves and as we put ourselves back together once again at the table.

This table has been a house in the rain, an umbrella in the sun.

Wars have begun and ended at this table. It is a place to hide in the shadow of terror. A place to celebrate the terrible victory.

We have given birth on this table, and have prepared our parents for burial here.

At this table we sing with joy, with sorrow. We pray of suffering and remorse. We give thanks.

Perhaps the world will end at the kitchen table, while we are laughing and crying, eating of the last sweet bite.

"Perhaps the World Ends Here" from The Woman Who Fell From the Sky by Joy Harjo. Copyright © 1994 by Joy Harjo. Used by permission of W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., www.wwnorton.com.

Source: The Woman Who Fell From the Sky (W. W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1994)

Supper Seventeen

A gathering of lovely ladies left their children and husbands at home to enjoy:

To welcome Mozzarella, basil and tom berry tomatoes.

Charlie and Evelyn's Table, all set.

To amuse Sweetcorn soup, truffled popcorn.

To start Pumpkin, sage, pecorino open lasagne.

To follow Venison stroganoff, sweet potato straws.

To finish Toffee apples, frangipane, apple sorbet, Earl grey syrup.