Christmas Daffodil at Angelus Restaurant 2015

London. Saturday 05-December-15

Not actually a Daffodil Dining Club event but we improvised. The usual Christmas "Daff" did not materialise which left us in a quandary for our usual works Christmas lunch. It is essential to make use of the taxman's allowance for annual parties and other social functions. So we rounded up the usual suspects Pete and Amanda and booked a meal at Angelus.

This restaurant was a one off venue for the Christmas Daff in 2010 and really impressed. Ever since then I have wanted to make a return visit. We had a lovely meal, so much so that we ate it rather than photographed it. Not sure whether we can have a work's party next year if we have retired, maybe it depends if the company is still registered.

For more about this fine restaurant see Open Table reviews.

Christmas Daffodil at Toto's Restaurant 2014

We were into November and no word on the Daffodil Christmas meal. It was a bit of a last minute panic: for us - what will become of our work's christmas party? - and for John the organiser - will it take place, when and where? Then mid-November the call went out for a straw poll - 6th or 13th of December?

In the end a date of the 6th of December was fixed upon. We duly dressed in our finery, took the 87 bus and turned up at the regular venue, Roux at Parliament Square, only to find the doors locked and the lights out.

Oh sugar, was it actually going ahead, had we got that date wrong, was it being held elsewhere? A quick phone call revealed "Yes, "No" and "Yes" respectively. Into a taxi for a 6 minute ride to Toto's Restaurant in Lennox Garden Mews where an apologetic John welcomed us.

So another break from tradition after almost unbroken decades of devotion to Michel Roux, Jnr. However I knew the food and wine would be good because John (on the right below) organised it.

The food was, of course, superb but it is all about the company, the dish is the accompaniment to the conversation.

The pairing of food and wine was all planned in advance, as per usual.

Daffodil Lunch @ Toto's

Saturday, 6th of December 2014

Aperitivo

Valdobbiadene Prosecco DOCG, Ville d’Arfanta, 2012

~ ~ ~ ~

To share

Burrata di Andria with grilled vegetables

Raw & cooked artichoke salad, pecorino shavings

Romagna DOC, Trebbiano Le Coste, Poderi dal Nespoli, 2013

~ ~ ~ ~

Tagliatelle with mixed mushrooms

Campania IGT, Greco Ponte Pellegrino, Fattoria Alois, 2012

~ ~ ~ ~

Cod fish with Mediterranean sauce

Toscana IGT, Donna Patizia, Buccia Nera, 2011

~ ~ ~ ~

Baby chicken, diavola sauce

Barbera D’Alba DOC, Piani, Pelissero, 2010

~ ~ ~ ~

To share

Tiramisu’

Selection of cheeses

Porto, Fine Tawny, Taylor’s

Sweet bites will be served with selection of coffee and tea

In terms of wine the standout was the Greco Ponte Pellegrino; for the food it was a tough call between the Tagliatelle and the Baby chicken but for seasonal correctitude the fungi nosed into the lead.

Another M&M works Christmas party successfully concluded.

Christmas Daffodil at Roux at Parliament Square 2013

Parliament Square, London. Saturday 07-Dec-13

What more can I say - living in style. Once again the M&M Enterprises office Christmas Party is the Daffodil Dining Club Christmas meal at Roux at Parliament Square.

Amanda, Mary, Pete, Mark (me)

It is a year since we last saw best man Pete and his wife Amanda, at the previous Christmas Daff. We resolved not to make it so long this time so we've sent them a list of our Italian dates in order to tempt them out to Puglia.

No pictures of the food unlike last year's meal. As usual the chef and sommelier talked us through the menu and the wine pairings. We had our own table of four for a serious meal.

Wine

• Viognier 'Cuvee Michel Roux & Michel Chapoutier' "Biodynamic"
  Ardeche, France, "Gavroche Label", 2011
• Chateau Cabezac Rose
  Minervois, Specially selected by Albert Roux, 2011
• Bourgogne Chardonnay
  Domaine Bachey Legros, Burgundy, France, 2011
• Bourgogne Pinot Noir
  Domaine Bachey Legros, Burgundy, France, 2011
• Muscat de Rivesaltes
  Jean-Marc Lafage, Languedoc Roussillon, France, 2011

Menu

• Whisky and treacle cured salmon, Guinness soda bread
• Tartare of Scottish venison, sloe gin, Douglas fir, walnuts
• Charred Cornish mackerel, heritage beetroot, horseradish
• Blanquette of Norfolk turkey, chestnuts, Brussels sprouts, cranberries
• Christmas pudding, brandy butter ice cream
• Coffees and petits fours

I tell you - if you are going to have an office party this is the way to do it :-)

Christmas Daffodil at Roux at Parliament Square

Parliament Square, London. Saturday 15-Dec-12.

Once again the Daffodil Dining Club Christmas meal is nominated as the M&M Enterprises works christmas party. That is where the directors (that's us) treat the staff (that's us) to a function costing up to £150 per head under the HMRC rules concerning Annual parties or similar functions, page 9.

I think you'll agree that a meal at Roux at Parliament Square makes a damned fine annual party.

Mary

Friends Pete and Amanda

Menu

Amuse bouche


Citrus cured Organic salmon, Dill pickled cucumber


Goats cheese alternative for Amanda


Mosaic of game, spiced pear chutney and salad


Ravioli of Native Lobster, celeriac remoulade and hazelnuts


Fish alternative for Amanda


Roast turkey, fricassee of Brussel sprouts, redcurrants & almonds


Christmas pudding parfait, griottines, brandy and hazelnut crumb

Coffee and petits fours - vanishing mince pies!

Amanda had forgotten to forewarn them of her food intolerances but the chef whipped up some superb alternatives at a moment's notice - customer service, indeed.


Wine
Pinot Blanc 2009 Leon Beyer
"Fridge Chilled" Moulin A Vent 2009 Henry Fesse
Le Gavroche Viognier 'Cuvee Michel Michel' "Biodynamic" Michel Chapoutier
Croze Hermitage 2010 Domaine des Remizieres
Maury Grenache Noir 2009 Jean-Marc Lafage


And after all that we got a tour of the kitchen with Head Chef Toby Stuart



Another year celebrated in style!

Daffodil Dining Club November 2012

Roux at Parliament Square, London. Friday 02-November-2012

The first non-Christmas Daff we've been to in a long time. A chance to catch up with Pete and Amanda who we hadn't seen for ages in the indulgent surroundings of Michel Roux's second restaurant Roux at Parliament Square.



We were seated with a mixture of "Daffers" old and new; some we had met before and some not, but always charming and sociable

Beforehand the chef came out and described the dishes he had planned. Then the sommelier explained the matching wines she had chosen to complement the food.

At the end our host and organiser, John Amiry, did a victory lap and a chat. We are indebted to him for organising these events.

Next up - The Christmas Daff aka The M&M Enterprises works Christmas party!

The wines:

Cremant de Loire - Langlois-Chateau, By Bollinger Champagne

Vondeling 'Babiana' 2008 - Voor-Paardeberg, Paarl, South Africa

Les Vignes de Bila-Haut "Biodynamic" 2010 - Michel Chapoutier, Cotes du Roussillon Village

Chateau Cabezac 'La Garrigue' 2010 - Minervios, France

Maury Genache Noir 2009 - Jean-Marc Lafage, Languedoc Roussillon, France

The food:

Canapes

Parmesan custard, ragu of chanterelles and chestnut, pumpkin veloute

Ballontine of Loch Duart salmon, salad of beetroot and watercress

Roast pork tenderloin, sage emulsion, white onions, pickled apple

Selection of French artisan cheeses Jacques Vernier

or

Classic dark treacle tart with walnut ice cream

Coffee, infusions and petit fours

Christmas Daffodil at Angelus 2010

London, England. Saturday, 18-December-2010.

Tidying up and filing I came across the menu from the M&M Enterprises work Christmas party from back in 2010 which I did not blog at the time. So this is the most extreme retro-blog post yet.

Angelus is a post-La Gavroche venue founded by Thierry Tomasin, the sommelier from La Gavroche.

He gave us an introduction to the restaurant and explained the nature of the style and ambience he was aiming for: quality cooking, of course, but with an informal brasserie style and a relaxed convivial atmosphere (I paraphrase from memory).

Then his chef appeared and gave us a run down on the menu explaining his approach to the dishes, the sourcing of the ingredients and the rationale for his choices. I cannot remember who explained the wines but they were all interesting choices.

Image courtesy of  Angelus

The food was wonderful and wine pairings all worked really well. Like all Daff meals it went on until the restaurant ushered us out in time for the evening sittings. Another superb M&M works Christmas party.

MENU
Champagne Angel'us - Brut NV
Home smoked chicken, ham hock and foie gras terrine, spiced prune puree, toasted sourdough bread
Rose - Chene Bleu VoP du Vaucluse -2009
****
Veloute of Jerusalem artichoke, cep tortellini, white truffle oil
La Guita - Manzanilla Rainera Perez Marin
****
Seared stone bass, potato beignet,
braised leeks and lemon verbena
Domaine Coste - Viognier Grenache 2008
****
Roast breast of pheasant, wild mushrooms,
braised red cabbage, black pudding spatzle
Allegria Tribu d'A 2008
Coteaux du Languedoc
****
Port poached pear, crushed amoretti biscuit,
truffle mascarpone ice cream
Les Vignerons de Maury "Solera" 1928
Cask 886 NV
****
Selection of cheese
Coffee and petits fours

Office Christmas Party

Once again the M&M Enterprises Christmas party was held in the Michelin 2 star venue of Le Gavroche. The tax man allows GBP 150 per employee for staff entertainment so we use ours to subsidise a very fine afternoon of eating and drinking. And we came in under budget!

Le menu

Les vins

Tartare de thon au gingembre pimente et huile de sesame

Raw marinated tuna with spicy ginger and sesame dressing
Chateau de sours 2004 bordeaux blanc

Petit souffle suissesse

Cheese souffle cooked on double cream
Champagne henriot 1995

Fricassee de st pierre bouillabaisse

Roasted fillet of john dory in a light broth, fennel, mussels and garlic crouton
Domaine Gavoty "cuvee clarendon" rose 2006 cotes de provence

Escalope de foie gras chaud et pastilla a la cannelle

Hot foie gras and crispy pancake of duck flavoured with cinnamon
Banyuls "reserva " domaine de la tour vieille

Noisettes de chevreuil a la sauce poivrade et airelles

Loin of venison with a pepper and cranberry sauce, wild mushrooms and caramelised vegetables
Chateau vieux sarpe 2003 st. Emilion

Buche de Noel

Traditional french chocolate christmas cake
Vin de constance 2002 klein constantia

Cafe, petits fours et mince pies

See also "Christmas Daffodil at Le Gavroche"

Pictures from Le Gavroche

I might have taken a leaf out of Rosa's book or Welshcake Limoncello's and taken photos of each exquisite course but I only had my camera phone with me which cannot handle close-ups. I had forgotten that I had taken these piccies when I did yesterday's post so here are a couple to go with that...

Mary Discusses Her Brooch

Amanda Raises Her Glass

Pete at Le Gavroche

Dining Room at Le Gavroche

Those that wanted could have a tour of the kitchen and be amazed that so much world class food could emanate from such a tiny space. We did that in previous years so left it for other diners to have a peer round.

Daffodil Dining Club at Le Gavroche (2006)

Yet again at this time of year we joined John Amiry and 80 or so like-minded gourmands gourmets at the Michelin Starred "Le Gavroche" for a long lunch of the finest food and wine. We started at 12:30 and they chucked us out at 5:00.

Les Vins

Le Menu

Chateau de Sours 2004 Bordeaux Blanc

Coquilles St. Jacques Pochee Parfumee au Gingembre

Carton Blanc 1998 Domaine Chandon de Briailles

Gratin de Langoustines et Escargots au Persil et Pimet d 'Espelette

Domaine Gavoty "Cuvee Clarendon" 2005 Cote de Provence

Fricassee de St. Pierre façon Bouillabaisse

Gewurztraminer "Blason de France Vendange Tardive" 1998 Leon Beyer

Escalope de Foie Gras Chaud et Pastilla a la Cannelle

Clos des Litanies 1996 Pomerol

Noisette de Chevreuil a la Sauce Poivrade et Airelles

Le Pinacle Syrah 2002 Domaine Sainte Rose

Le Plateau de Fromages Affines

Vin de Constance 2001 Klein Constantia

Christmas Pudding
Cafe, Petits Fours et Mince Pies

They have learned from previous years and been more restrained on the wine pouring. Last year they topped up my white wine glasses so often on the earlier courses that by the time we got to the meat and red wines I was in no fit state to fully appreciate the quality of what I was consuming. This year there were more courses with matching wines but more restraint in the measures. I enjoyed the meal more and did not need to go for a siesta when we got home.

See previously:
Christmas Daffodil at Le Gavroche (2005)
Daffodil Dining Club at Le Gavroche

Christmas Daffodil at Le Gavroche

Saturday was the Daffodil Dining Club's Christmas meal at Le Gavroche. We had the Scottish contingent down for the weekend: mother-in-law May, sister-in-law Sandra, husband George and their two children, nine-year-old Ross and five-year-old Sarah.

As it was Sandra's birthday on Saturday and George's on Monday we treated them to the meal as a double birthday present. Micheal Roux himself came round and signed their menus with birthday wishes which made for an excellent souvenir. We were also joined by usual suspects Pete&Amanda. Seven courses this time with the high-light being foie gras and the duck "pastilla".

Canapes

The House of Albert Roux "Lenoble" Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs

Ragout D'Huitres et Coquilles St. Jacques aux Truffes et Poireaux

Pernand Vergelesses 2001 Domaine Chanson

Escalope de Foie Gras Chaud et Pastilla a la Cannelle

Pinot Gris "Selection de Grains Nobles" 2000 Trimbach

Filet de Rouget au Vin Rouge et Crouton a la Moelle, Ragout de Pleurotes et Persil

Nuit Saints Georges "Vielles Vignes" 2001 Domaine Chevillon

Noisette de Chevreuil a la Souce Poivrade et Airelles

Chataux La Croix St. Georges 1997 Pomerol

Le Plateau de Fromages Affines

Chateau Cabezac "Belvize" 2002 Minervois

Christmas Pudding

Vin de Constance 2000 Klein Constantia

Cafe, Petits Fours & Mince Pies

Unlike the previous Daffodil the sommeliers hung back on the white wines so we were in a fit state to appreciate the reds *and* did not need a siesta when we got back home.

May had drawn the baby-sitting short straw and we returned to find the Christmas tree decorated by the wee'uns under her supervision: chilli lights from New Orleans - very festive :-)

Daffodil Dining Club at Le Gavroche

It's a dirty job but someone's got to do it. A five-and-a-half-hour lunch on Saturday at Le Gavroche. Courtesy of our friend John Amiry and his Daffodil Dining Club we ate and drank of the finest.

The food was as you would expect from Michel Roux, Jnr. and his Three Michelin Stars.
• Canapes
• Marbre Savoureux et Vinaigrette aux Truffes
• Petit Ragout be Langoustines Parfume au Gingembre
• Filet de St. Pierre Pane., Veloute au Safran et Coriandre
• Daube de Boeuf aux Olives et Pommes Mousseline
• Assortiment de Fromage Affines
• Le Roule Marquis aux Framboises
• Cafe et Petits Fours

The wines were all from Domaine Sainte Rose and Ruth Simpson herself was there to present the wines:
• La Canicule 2003
• Le Pinacle Chardonnay 2002
• The Barrel Selection Low Yield Rousanne 2003
• Le Pinacle Syrah 2002
• Le Soleil du Sud 2002

Of the three whites I preferred the La Canicule 2003 over the Le Pinacle Chardonnay despite the latter being nearly twice the price; maybe it was too subtle for my taste buds. The reds were excellent but my palate, such as it is, was well blunted by the waiters insistence on refilling glasses as soon as they got past half empty.

So we wandered in mellow mood out into the afternoon sunshine for the trip home and a belated siesta.