Cairo Lunch

Dad, who died 42 years ago at the very moment of posting this blip, would have loved to come for lunch, here, within the Royal Palace which lies at the heart of the Marriott Hotel in Cairo.

He loved his food and never spared any expense when it came to family lunches or dinners out - we were not as well-off as some families, he just prioritised differently!

Favourites were the Pickwick Hotel in Ayr, the Buchanan Arms in Drymen, the Ugadale Arms in Machrihannish, the Douglas in Brodick, as well as all the hydro hotels from Pitlochry, Crieff and Dunkeld, to Dunblane and Peebles.

Under his tutelage, I was introduced to hors d'oeuvres, sweetbreads, scallops, lobster, kippers, duck a l'orange, T-bone steak and Knickerbocker Glories . . . and all before the age of twelve! Maybe that's where I get it from - my near inability to eat in, although it has to be said that Dad was also a great cook, presenting his butcher meat at it's best on Sundays at home!

So, today, in his honour I've settled down to a lunch of sizzling shrimp in coriander, sautéed chicken livers, pickled cucumber and potato salad with mayonnaise, accompanied by Melba toast and a glass of red wine.

Cheers, Dad!

Posted at 3.30 pm BST, from Cairo, Egypt.

PS
For anyone interested and who may have missed them first time round, clicking back a year at a time will bring you to some stories I have written about by my father.
Bb