Venue....check!

The ball is rolling, we are ticking the boxes...
Check out Ocean's Edge in Brewster on the Cape, even thought the wind was crisp and the leaves have dropped off the tree where the out door ceremony will take place, we can dream about what it will look like next September.







Christy and Doug were all smiles!

Anne was a beautiful MOB!

The McGrath-Eichenseer Wedding was perfect ... it was everything you would expect from a wedding planned by Anne! It was beautiful, classically elegant, and although planned with precision, looked effortless! Proud Papa Tom and Julie walked down the aisle of the Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago at half after two. The reception was at the very impressive University Club starting at six and lasting until .... morning! We are still talking about the fantastic band that never took a break. Here are a few amateur photos of Julie and Ben on their special day and some of our friends we were able to reconnect with!

Gastro Pub Quiz

Everyone loves a pub quiz, especially combined with a bunch of friends, food and drink. I found this one in a "foodie" magazine....see how well you know your food trivia! (Answers at the end)

1. Whose first banquet featured roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops, lamb chops, sausages, bacon, steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, chips, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup and mint humbugs?

2.A classic Martini is garnished with an olive. What's the recognized garnish for a a Gibson? (Mr. Rick knows this one!)

3. The name of which dish is derived from the Tamil word for "sauce"?

4. According to a book of children's literature, whose intake in one day included chocolate cake, ice cream, a pickle, Swiss cheese, salami, a lollipop, cherry pie, a sausage, a cupcake and a slice of watermelon?

5. Which on one of the following was the first of Heinz's 57 varieties?
a) tomato soup b) ketchup c) prepared horseradish






6. Coriander leaves and stems are used for cooking, but to which vegetable is coriander closely related?

7. What is added to Guinness to make a Purple Velvet?

8. What grows on the outside of nutmeg?






9. What is the principle ingredient in mock turtle soup?

10. Tempura, the method of deep-frying in a light and airy batter, originated in which country?

11. Baked beans are a firm favorite in the UK - but what type of beans will you find inside the tin (can)?

12. If you asked for your steak to be cooked "Englisch" in a German restaurant, how should it be cooked?









Bonus question!
Whose last meal included a choice of: oysters, consomme Olga, fillet mignon Lili, saute of chicken Lyonnaise, lamb with mint sauce, roast duckling with apple sauce, sirloin of beef, chateau potatoes, punch romaine, roast squab and cress, Waldorf pudding, peaches in Chartreuse, jelly and eclairs?



Answers:
1. Harry Potter
2. cocktail onion
3. Curry
4. The Very Hungry Caterpillar
5. horseradish, marketed in 1869
6. carrot
7. Port
8. Mace
9. a calf's head
10. Portugal
11. haricot
12. rare
Bonus - First Class passengers on the Titanic

How did you do on your first Pub Quiz?

Are you ready for some American Football?

The 2010 NFL International Series game will see the San Francisco 49ers take on the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium tomorrow. I will be there with over half a million people, many American expats living in London!



First we stopped at the Texas Embassy for a little "American" refreshment (Oh so good!) and then we walked to Trafalgar Square for the first-ever NFL fan rally! Whoo-hoo, just in time for the 49er's cheerleaders, they call themselves "The Gold Rush".









I guess if you couldn't decide which team to cheer for, this is the perfect jersey to wear!
And then ..... it rained!

Look closely!

The younger, more fashionable cousin of Harrods 'Harvey Nicks' started out life in 1813 as a simple linen shop. Today this classy retail store offers designer clothes, furnishings, and food. The Fifth Floor Cafe has spectacular views of Knightsbridge and a great spinach salad! But my favorite part of Harvey Nicks is the window displays. They are always sleek, innovative....avant-garde!


Just look what they have done with clothespins.......





and spiral notebooks.......




and yellow pencils......




The Christmas window displays are going in this week - can't wait to see them!

Please don't feed the peacock!

Leeds Castle sits alone on an island and is the result of over 900 years of alterations and changes. It has Norman foundations, a mediaeval gatehouse, a Georgian tower, and is still decorated as an elegant country residence. In fact, the wealthy American heiress, Lady Baillie embarked on a complete refurbishment including a swimming pool and golf course. Today the castle is part of a trust and can be rented for conferences, banquets, and WEDDINGS!
Can you imagine?
















The castle is surrounded by a 3,000 acre estate. Beyond the gardens is an aviary, a vineyard and a maze. Wondering around the grounds are dozens of peacocks and black swans, the symbol for the castle, as Lady Baillie was the first person to import them to the UK from their native Australia.

We STARTED the day with wine!

Well, we started our day at the Bodega Talai-Berri vineyard and after hiking to the top of the vineyard - what a view! - we had a glass of wine. Txakoli (pronounced chack-oh-lee )is a local white "fizzy" wine from this region and people enjoy it throughout the day. Even the grape pickers were having a glass with bread for their morning break. It is poured from a great height so the wine breaks in the glass, oxidizes, and releases the aroma and flavor. It is a fun, light, bubbly, wine that goes well with seafood, especially anchovies and bonito tuna.























Jon, our fabulous guide, dropped us off for a brisk walk along a rocky coastal path with waves breaking and showering us with sea spray. Our destination was a tiny fishing village at the end of the path.









Once we reached the quaint fishing village of Getaria and caught up with Jon, we were treated to a lunch of grilled fish BBQ style. The fish were cooked in wire cages and placed right on the grill...I actually watched the chef remove the hook before he cooked the fish for us! FRESH fish has a whole new meaning for me!






OK, now who wants to go back to San Sabastian and do this all again???