We met up with Norman, Valerie, Viv and Bill to see the Degas to Picasso: Creating Modernism in France exhibition at the Ashmolean. Lovely sunny day with lunch at the cafe in the crypt of the University Church of St Mary the Virgin. Fabulous walk around the University Botanic garden where there was a brilliant display of tulips. While we were sitting admiring the pond we met Robot Wars judge Lucy, whom Rosemary knows from her exercise class and daughter knows from Toastmasters.
Hot sunny day on Saturday July 10th, we ventured forth to a sculpture exhibition nearby in Asthall Manor, Asthall, Burford, Oxfordshire, OX14 4HW. The exhibition was by various artists and can be seen on the site onformsculpture.co.uk. Not only was some of the sculpture impressive, so was the house. Setting the sculpture in a garden setting was a fantastic idea.
Food was not a success for the day, we had intended having lunch out. We spent too long in the gardens, only to find any decent eating places closed. Eventually had a cream tea in Woodstock.
The sculptures may be viewed here.
Rosemary and I had a special meal out at Carluccios’s in Bicester Village. This is a chain of restaurants with the name of celebrity chef Antonio.
The meal was a themed Italian meal with selected wines. We started off with a glass of Prosecco and some excellent Canapes. The deep fried spinage was excellent.
The menu was.
Gamberi e Bianco
A Salad of prawns on marinated fennel
Accompanied by
La Segreta Bianco
Fresh and rich with a long slow finish. Made from a blend of Grecanico, Chardonnay, Viognier, Sauvignon and Fiano grapes. Tropical fruit flavours, with a lingering dry finish.
Risotto al Vino Rosso
Creamy red wine risotto
Filetto di Bue alla Griglia
Fillet steak served with sauteed mushrooms and garlic and roasted Rosemary potatoes
Accompanied by
Capello di Prete
A rich red balanced red with mellow flavours of cocoa and cherries. Made from 100% Negroamaro grapes.
Crema di Noce con Cioccolata
A delicious hazelnut panna cotta served with a chocolate sauce
Accompanied by
Aleatico di Puglia
An incredible red dessert wine, produced from Aglianico grapes. Medium sweet with spice and cherry flavours.
After the meal had an espresso and some grappa. Meal was good, especially liked the marinaded fennel. Marinaded in lemon juice and zest. Steak ordered rare and was served rare, excellent.
This weekend we went into Woodstock. Rosemary felt we had not been there for some years. Checkout out some expensive antique shops, you can tell where the market is aimed at when you see the newsagent selling the Herald Tribune.
Afterwards into Oxford to sit in traffic jams for a long time. Looking for more second hand shops, which we never found.
After visiting Woodstock and Oxford, we drove home across country. As we passed the National Trust Boarstall Tower we saw it was open. This is a superb gatehouse to Boarstall House, which was demolished in 1778. The owner had decided the house was evil. The tower is rented out to a tenant for over £4,500 a month, but is available for guided tours on Saturday. The tower is bounded by a moat on three sides. The fourth side had been filled in many years before.
To celebrate the 21st birthday of Selina, and Steve’s up coming 50th birthday, the Blasdale family went out for a meal. That is Selina, Graham, Rosemary and Steve went for a meal at Raymond Blanc’s Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons. Edgcott Taxis delivered us to the door for 7.30.
Selina looked pretty in her lovely pink skirt with the white top and pink panels. She had black shoes (posh suedette sandals with closed toes) and a black and silver sparkly scarf round her waist as a belt so the blackness of the shoes was not quite so striking.
They were ushered out into the garden for and a tray of hors d’oueves (sadly only 2 each of 5 flavors so they had to share). The flavors were:
While they were choosing from the menu, sitting out in the warm September evening, Graham and Rosemary took a short walk around the garden. They saw all the fat ducks and the immaculate vegetable gardens.
After a while they placed their order for the seven-course menu gourmand and were later called in when their table was ready. They were seated by the waitress, asked if they wanted the wine they had ordered (which was poured by the wine waiter who kept their glasses constantly topped up. The wine was not kept on the table!) The waitress brought round bread rolls of various flavors:
An appetizer was served, guacamole in a slight tower shape, with a mixture of puréed avocado and lumps of avocado, topped with crabmeat and a garnish of reduced balsamic vinegar.
The first starter was fois gras with sour toasted bread, some leaves that had been coated with something that made them a little more bulky than leaves, and gave then a crunch when bitten. Final garnish of sour cherry pickled in alcohol.
The second starter were panned fried sweet breads, minute mushrooms, almonds and cauliflower puree.
The fish course was Brill on fennel with green beans.
The Meat course was medium rare duck with a towered potato, French beans and redcurrant jus. The potato was partially fried/roasted I think.
First sweet was exotic fruit soup with mango sorbet.
Second sweet was tiramisu (DELICIOUS!) with a latticework of chocolate strands.
Next was coffee in the lounge. Selina had tea The wine waiter followed them into the lounge with the remains of the second bottle of wine. The lounge was very posh. You should have seen the waiters plump up the cushions when a guest left. With coffee there was at a tiered tray of sweets (again only 2 of each type, but everyone else was so full only Steve and Selina ate them all!).
During the meal Geri Halliwell walked by within inches of Steve, wearing what could only be described a belt. Unfortunately Selina and Steve with their backs to her missed the event and can only take the word of Graham and Rosemary. Not sure if there were any other famous people that that evening. There was a large Bentley and chauffeur waiting at door as the Blasdale family left.
At eleven Edgcott taxis came and whisked the party away. They had a very nice evening, which is well worth repeating. The staff were very attentive, but not overbearing. Each course was described briefly. The service was immaculate. The surroundings were beautiful
Today the Plough and Anchor drinkers decamped to Hook Norton for a brewery visit. The brewery still operates a steam engine to power the water pumps, grain hoists and milling machines. The whole place is a wonderful piece of Victorian engineering, and much of this is still operated.
I intend going back there during the day when the machinery is in operation.
After the visit we had a few drinks in the brewery visitor centre, and then onto another pub for sandwiches and chips.
Went to Oxford to have lunch at Raymond Blanc’c, Petit Blanc Brasserie. We elected for the fixed price menu and had a very reasonable meal. The service was very attentive.
We canned our planned trip to Wales because of the weather forecast. So instead we headed to Withshire. First we drove on on the B4057 and stopped off at the Uffington White Horse. This is the highest spot in Oxfordshire.
The we drove to Marlborough where we had lunch at Pollys. I had an excellent Smoked Salmon Pate, While Rosemary had a Brie Salad. Looked at the shops, all selling expensive things that I don’t want.
Next a quick trip round to Milk Hill, Rybury, them back past Avebury and on to Swindon. On the way home stopped at a Landrover garage and looked at the Freelanders.
