Rent Audit Dinner

The scene is set for the annual Rent Audit Dinner, yet another occasion on which dietary advice must be abandoned in the interests of professional duties ;)

The occasion is an annual one at which we entertain those of our tenant farmers who can get here to a warming Christmas lunch. In past times, the tenants brought their rents with them to hand over, and it might represent a journey of days on horseback from of the more distant properties, such as those in Northumberland or Scotland. They deserved a good meal, I think. Now, it's more a question of braving the snow in a 4×4, or getting away after milking the cows at 4am.

Here is the menu for the meal. Although 'vegetarian' and 'non-beef' options are available, our farmers don't set much store by such possibilities. Nor should they, when the beef is from our very own long-horn herd.

Here you see my plate with its nicely rare and very tender beef! Behind is a 'personal supply' of horseradish sauce and two kinds of mustard. The Yorkshire Puds were good, too, crispy and light, and the Ch Chasse-Spleen was a perfect accompaniment.

It could not be said that the pudding was designed for slimmers, either.

After a good few glasses of Grahams 1991 Port, we finally managed to slip away at about 5pm, after a 1pm start.

How heavily (now, literally) ones duties weigh one down!