Menu decided......

Another busy weekend looms and the days leading up to it are also pretty much full too so that means Sunday dinner will be started this evening...4.5 days or preparation for a special dinner for our special guests.

I'm going for the traditional 4 courses - Starter, Fish Dish, Meat Dish & Dessert. The Dessert is actually being supplied by the guests. (But I would have done Rhubarb Crumble)

Because of that I'll do a pre-starter which is going to be my "Not so Bloody Mary". It involves making a virtually clear consommé of tomato which can itself take a couple of days.

To make this you get a whole bunch of really tasty tomatoes and blitz them into a pulp with some fresh Basil then drain the whole lot, in a fridge, through several layers of muslin or a couple of tea towels into a bowl and what you get is a clear liquid that is completely packed with gorgeous tomato flavour.

I then serve it up in shot glasses with Vodka from the freezer (not too much, just a bit will do), a very thin stick of Celery, a couple of drops of Olive oil that has been mixed with Tabasco Sauce, Worcester Sauce and Black Pepper.

The idea is that you use the Celery stick to stir the shot mixing in the oil mixture and then down the shot (eating the celery after is of course optional).

Now not only does this get the meal off to a wonderful start but it also cleanses the palette and gets those tastebuds ready for the starter which will be......

Starter - Cheese Souffle

Another "Not so Bloody Mary"

Fish Course - Hot Smoked Salmon with Beetroot salad and Horseradish Cream.

Another "Not so Bloody Mary"

Meat Course - Confit Duck with Triple cooked Chips and a Redcurrent Jus. Sides of Chilli Peas with Panchetta, Cumin Glazed Carrots and French Beans also on the table.

Another "Not so Bloody Mary"

Dessert - Oooh what will Big Nick & Melanie bring ?!?!?

Anybody hungry?