The Last Gathering of the Popular Millennium

19991225
Obviously, given the date, we didn’t meet on the second Sunday that month – I imagine it was an “orphan’s” Christmas, as many (NY-ers in particular I think) are wont to call them – all the folk who are stuck working during the holiday period and won’t have time to go spend it with family, or those who simply don’t want to go be with their families, or don’t have them. A group of us tended to rotate around a different person’s home each year. Not that I celebrate Christmas, but any excuse for a good dinner with friends!

jerusalem1The ‘Trip To Jerusalem’ Inn in Nottingham is the oldest pub in England, dating from 1189 AD. It is so named because it was visited by the knights on their way to the crusades in the Holy Land. Many of the interior rooms of the inn are caves carved from the rock. Assuming Robin Hood actually existed, there is little doubt he ate here. His statue stands in the courtyard…

In merry England in the time of old, when good King Henry the Second ruled the land, there lived within the green glades of Sherwood Forest, near Nottingham Town, a famour outlaw whose name was Robin Hood. No archer ever lived that could speed a gray goose shaft with such skill and cunning as his, nor were there ever such yeomen as the sevenscore merry men that roamed with him through the greenwood shades. Right merrily they dwelled within the depths of Sherwood Forest, suffering neither care nor want, but passing the time in merry games of archery or bouts of cudgel play, living upon the King’s venison, washed down with draughts of ale of October brewing…

The Last Second Sunday Supper Circle Gathering of the Popular Millennium
December 25, 1999

Wild Pheasant Springrolls in Scotch Whiskey Sauce
Young’s “Winter Warmer” Dark Ale

Oxtail Soup & Olde English Parsley Bread
E. Lustau “Peninsula” Palo Cortado

Capon & Roasted Egg Croquettes basted in Stout & Honey Reduction
1982 Charles Heuyer Musigny Grand Cru

Celeried Venison Roast with Shallot Chutney
1982 Torres Gran Coronas Reserva “Black Label”

A Selection of Little-Known English Cheeses:
Spenford, Isle of Mann Cheddar, Beenleigh Blue
1979 Château Petrus Pomerol

Hazelnut Torte
1976 PIper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne

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Comments (2)

  1. David

    And what a dinner it was!

    Reply
    1. Dan P. (Post author)

      It was a good time!

      Reply

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