Family Celebratory Lunch

This bit of meat is Scottish Highland Rib of Beef on the Bone.

Very nice raw material for a special lunct today. Both our children were visiting: Carol has just returned from Christmas in Tenerife, and Andrew is staying in London until he and his wife return to San Diego on Tuesday 7th. Unfortunately, Andrew's wife, Beth, could not join us because she is ill and thought it wiser to stay warm in London. That was a pity, because we had a fun time, with some good food and drink.

Here you see the children decanting (and filtering through muslin) the 1948 port (Taylor).

Here are the wines ready to serve. To the left of the bottles is the decanted Taylor 1948, and to the right the decanted Chasse-Spleen 1986.

The table is set, and smoked salmon and gravadlax ready.

Beef out of the oven.

Andrew was prevailed on to prepare for us his renowned roast potatoes yet again (after his efforts on Christmas Day). They are truly outstanding: very crisp outside, moist and delicate inside. He parboils the spuds in advance, but says the key part of the trick is to use Maris Piper potatoes.

On the plate!

Carol compares the 1963 (Quinta da Noval) and 1948 (Taylor) ports!

These are Carol's home-made salted-caramel chocolate truffles (even the caramel home-made). Yummy! Beth missed out on a good time, but Andrew took some truffles back for her to cure her cough and cold...

Several of my photographs from the afternoon are collected together here.