Jancis Robinson's Gastronomic Weekend

We mentioned in Les Soeurs Anglaises' latest newsletter that, for those interested in good food and drink, we would copy a list of the menus and wine that were served last weekend at the Gastronomic Extravaganza we held with Jancis Robinson, and her restaurant critic husband, Nick Lander, here last weekend (see jancisrobinson.com/articles/a20100722.html). To quote Jancis, "Last weekend Nick and I had the pleasure of sharing a weekend of very senior wines in the Dordogne in aid of the Cambodian Children's Fund, courtesy of our hosts Mike and Katie Armitage and the generous winning bidder, Purple pager François Feuillat ... and his partner Jean Paul . We were all looked after superbly."

So here goes (and be prepared to eat your heart out connoisseurs):

FRIDAY EVENING

Oysters

Langoustines

Salt-baked Fresh Salmon

Champange Vilmart, cuvee Creation 1995

Pol Roger, Brut 1990

Bollinger RD 1988

Lanson Brut Magnum 1976

Chanoine, Cuvée Marie Leczinska 1964 Champagne

Tomato Salad

New Potatoes

Fresh Strawberries

Ch Tirecul la Graviere 1999

Ch Tirecul cuvee Madame 1998

SATURDAY EVENING

Papillote de Merlu, Aioli et Tapenade Noir

Meursault les Charrons 2001

Michel Bouzereau

Corton Charlemagne 1995

Jadot

Canette Roti

Sauce Abricots

Pommes de Terre Nouvelles a la Menthe

Corton Clos de la Vigne au Saint 1964

Louis Latour

Romanee St Vivant 1964

Haricots Verts

Dom. Marey Monge

Bonnes Mares 1959

FB Hasenklever

Plateau de Quatre Fromages de Chevre

Grands Echezeaux 1959

LB Corney & Barrow

Tarte au Citron

Vin de Constance 1991

SUNDAY LUNCH

Toasts with Stilton, Smoked Salmon and Foie Gras

Maximin Grunhauser

Abstberg Riesling Auslese 1990 von Schubert

Clos St Hune Riesling 1989 VT Trimbach

Clos Jebsal TPG VT 1989 Zind Humbrecht

Slow Roasted Lamb

Celeriac & Potato Mash

Smoked Aubergines

Ch Lafite , 1ere cru,1973 (Magnum)

Ch Giscours, 3eme cru, 1970 Margaux

Ch Ducru Beaucaillou, 2eme cru, 1966 LB

Selection of Cheese with green salad

Ch La Clotte 1949 St Emilion

Ch Ducru Beaucaillou, 2eme cru, 1920

Apple Tart & Peach Tart

Massandra Black Muscat 1932

"THANK YOU BOTH...So much for looking after Nick, myself, in fact all of us so superbly over the weekend. Not only were the food and wines delicious, we really enjoyed everything we SAW. Thoroughly appreciated every detail, inc. bedlinen, pictures, garden,etc etc. We were so delighted to play a tiny part in helping the Cambodian Children's Fund."

Jancis Robinson

Roger McGough and Julie Arkell

I cannot believe it had been almost two months since my last blog; tempus fugit! We have had such a mad, mad time at Les Soeurs Anglaises but it has been a joy meeting new (and old) faces and sharing our amazing new studio space and accommodation.

Roger McGough's three day workshop in June was a first for us and a delight. The days were divided between group sessions and one-to-one tutorials and everyone went away with a copy of a compilation of poems written over the workshop and sporting an introduction by McGough himself. He has promised to return next year for a longer stint and we are looking forward to it enormously!

Julie Arkell arrived at the end of June for her five days of Stitching, Knitting and Collecting, followed shortly thereafter by thirteen participants, some from as far away as Australia and the United States. Despite the jet-lag, everyone threw themselves into the extraordinary jumble that is Julie's creativity, ready to be inspired by her sense of colour, design and adventure. This was particularly evident on the evening of the Fourth of July when we put on our glad-rags and headed out for the evening.

Julie appeared in a concoction that was a cross between Paul Revere and a sans coulotte impressing both the Americans and the local French in one fell swoop.

As for our beloved new l'Espace, some of the more sociable participants had plumped for the new dormitory space above the workshop which overlooks the magnificent studio:

This space obviously doesn't suit everyone, but is a cheaper option that allows you nevertheless to benefit from all the other little luxuries at Les Soeurs Anglaises. In future we will be posting photographs of the various accommodation so that everyone understands, well in advance, the limitations and advantages of this unique shared sleeping area.

Meanwhile, tout la monde had an opportunity to relax each afternoon by the pool, enjoy the fresh food, fine wine and good weather whilst making and renewing friendships - more requests for recipes mean that a cookbook will be a probable project this winter for some of us.