La Trompette and Hughenden Manor

[lathany]

bateleur and I decided to treat ourselves this holiday to a meal at a restaurant we had really liked when we went there for our anniversary some years ago. The restaurant in question was La Trompette and the meal was utterly excellent. I had:

• Pithiviers of quail, ham and cèpe and globe artichoke purée and maderia sauce - this turned up looking like a quail pastie, but tasted absolutely wonderful.
• Herb crusted saddle of lamb with shallot purée, baby artichokes and cocottee potatoes - Very nice, although I guess also my least favourite course, it was the most traditional-looking of the three.
• Vairhona chocolate marquise, vanilla ice cream, macadamia praline, carmel, chicory crème - the chocolate part was the main thing, a decent size and utterly yummy.
• 2005 Vacqueyras, Domaine du Grapillon d’ Or, Bernard Chauvet - Red wine from France, in other words and very good.
• 20 years old Tawny Port, Graham’s, Bottled 2004 - needless to say, 20 years made it an excellent port.
• and coffee - served with four large caramel-chocolate truffles.

We also managed to fill my remaining holiday with a few other bits and pieces:

• Hughenden Manor - Following a call from mrlloyd, we arranged to meet him and his family (which, for some reason, included TheHattedOne) on Friday at the country home of the Victorian statesman Benjamin Disraeli. We wandered around the grounds admiring well-kept gardens and then discovering that the rest of the grounds are somewhat less accessible (and include plenty of cow pats). However both Maria and mrlloyd proved expert at manoeuvring their pushchair (which seemed to convert into everything but a helicopter). We had lunch at the little restaurant and then wandered around the house itself. The place was beautifully preserved and had a wide range of things from the little hook which TheHattedOne asked about the use of (and was consequently pursued by every historian on the site with a different theory to what it was - the one I remember is that it was for cleaning pipes) to the monument on the hill (seen from upstairs windows) built as a surprise for him (from his wife), to the World War II set up in the basement after it was seized by the Air Force to use as a base. Lisa was extremely well-behaved all day and didn't object (much) to me carrying her. Afterwards, we returned TheHattedOne to London, whilst the others drove back to Whitney to pack for the journey home.
• Magnolia - We watched this the night before last, for the first time. It's good, but not really my sort of thing due to the lack of plot (although it certainly managed surreal, particularly at the end). The performances were all great - Tom Cruise is excellent in a sleazy role - but, as bateleur said, it so wanted to be Pulp Fiction.
• Giving blood - I think this was my eighth or ninth visit and this time Beatrice came along too (plus Ryan again). The whole process went smoothly, although she looked worried when I turned away from them putting the needle in, and she wants to go again. I think that the nurse doing the drinks was amused when Bea asked about stickers - and got the "My mum gave blood today" ones out on request.

And tomorrow, it's all over. I think I have a video conference meeting to minute late in the afternoon. Ah well, it's been a very good holiday.

Comments

[bateleur.livejournal.com]

needless to say, 20 years made it an excellent port

Actually, having had a 20 year old Port before I'd say this one was really quite a lot better.

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I think I agree - although it was a while back and also tasted excellent at the time.

[almostalady.livejournal.com]

Magnolia makes me laugh. And your meal sounds fab (and makes me think that my coffee-and-apple breakfast will just not cut it. Starbucks here I come.)

I wanted to ask about giving blood. I've never done it before (I'm very squeamish) but recently decided this was pathetic and have signed up to go in a week or so. Presumably, since you've been so many times, you're not as much of a pansy as me. Is it ok for us big girls' blouses? Is the needle very big? Does tha actual blood bit go on for a very long time? (It's occupying quite a large part of my consciousness at the moment so forgive the questions!)

[lathany.livejournal.com]

I've never watched either the finger jab or the blood donation needle - so I've no idea how big it is! In other words, I'm a big girl's blouse too. The process never seems to last very long, about ten minutes I think. Also, if they catch on to the fact your nervous they'll come and chat throughout the process.

[secretrebel.livejournal.com]

Did you spot the carriage door mounted on the wall "in memory of a perfect wife"?

[lathany.livejournal.com]

No, although I'm not surprised by its existence!

[mrlloyd.livejournal.com]

It was lovely to see you both. We're going to add the alternative bit to the pram today (Lisa might be big enough for a pushchair) so maybe we'll find the helicopter mode in there.

What's a pithivier?

[lathany.livejournal.com]

What's a pithivier?

Apparently it's a pastie!

<checks Wikipedia>

Aha! It's a "round, enclosed pie usually made with puff pastry. The pie is traditionally finished with a distinct shine to the top of the crust, either by egg-washing or by the caramelising of a thin layer of sugar at the end of the cooking process".