A STILL WARM & SUNNY MANILVA ON TUESDAY;

TUESDAY 4^th / APRIL 2017.

I was up first this morning after ‘ Reina’ was dropped off for the day, she shot into her duvet, and we had a little lie in before getting the day on the go; we freshened up and Brenda shot down to the local Sub-Post Office to post a birthday card, watch out it could be you?! We then had our breakfast of ‘ Crispy Smoked Bacon Butties ‘ with mugs of steaming tea, Brenda is off again along to the Chemist’s in ‘Calle Mar’ for her prescription tablets, meanwhile I’m up in the office on the WWW.

The sun is around but it’s a little cloudy at the moment, there is a little breeze and it’s cooler, by lunchtime it will pick up, the forecast if for more warm sunshine, reaching 20degs, the rest of the week is going to be similar, by the weekend it’s due to pick up again, there is a little threat of rain in the air at the same time, down in Mojacar the forecast is also similar for the coming weekend, 19/20degs, sunny with clouds, fingers crossed, watch this space.

The ‘ Moffatt’s’ have sent us the itinerary for the weekend, they know that I love a good itinerary! We are meeting them at our Hotel ‘ Hotel Sal Marina ‘ which is on the front of the promenade in ‘ Mojacar Playa ‘ We are then catching a bus ( what’s that ?!) up to  ‘Mojacar Pueblo ‘ for the afternoon for lunch, followed by a ‘BBQ’ in the evening at their campsite. They have booked a table for Sunday lunch at their favourite restaurant, which happens to be near our hotel! We are getting very excited, they are to, we are looking forward to seeing them and catching up with all the news, watch this space.

NB; There will be no ‘Blog’ over the weekend, all will be revealed next Monday, watch this space!

This evening for our supper we are having ‘ Grilled Gammon Steaks ‘ topped with seared Pineapple rings and of course ‘ Campo ‘ Fried Eggs, Garden Peas & twice-cooked ‘ Frits’ on the side with ‘HP’ Brown sauce! On Wednesday evening it’s going to ‘Pan-Seared Calves Liver & Crispy Smoked Bacon’ ( See below )

As I was reading the newspapers this morning I came across a report and pictures, taken last night, of the 40^th Anniversary Party in London of “ Langan’s Brasserie “ – back in the late 70s/early 80s it was our favourite restaurant when down in London, it’s in Stratton Street, off Piccadilly, opposite the ‘Ritz Hotel ‘

See the pictures below;

At the time it was owned by Peter Langan, the Irish entrepreneur & notorious alcoholic, who later died in a fire at his home, he went into partnership with Michael Caine and then Richard Shepherd, who was the former Head Chef at the Michelin starred Capital Hotel. The ‘Brasserie’ was decorated with artworks, such as David Hokney, who also designed the Menu card, Lucian Fraud, Francis Bacon etc, the upstairs ‘ Venetian Room ‘ featured murals by Patrick Procktor.

The classic Brasserie Menu has not changed to this day; the starters all have history including the famous ‘ Souffle aux Epinards, sauce Anchois – Spinach Souffle with Anchovy sauce ’ I ‘borrowed’ this dish and put it on our menu at the Horizon Suite Restaurant at the Hotel Seventy Degrees’ – it took three waiters to take it to the customers table, one to carry it, slowly, from the hot-plate, one to hold the swing doors open and finally me standing by the ‘Gueridon’ Service trolley, were I made a small cut to the top of the soufflé and poured in the anchovy sauce!

We also adopted their ' House Champagne '  - the classic " Taittinger " as ours back at the hotel, we became friends of the ' Taittinger' family and on one occasion were asked over for lunch at the Chateau where a 'Michelin ** star Chef' was cooking! 

The Main Courses are all classic including ‘ Grilled Calves Liver with Bacon’ ( See above !) Grilled Dover Sole, Cod & Chips, Veal Saltimbocca, Bangers & Mash, Braised Lamb Shank, Fillet steak with Bearnaise sauce, Lancashire Hot Pot, Steak & Venison Casserole, Burgers, Roast Duck, Beef Wellington etc – does it sound familiar?!

The ‘ Side Dishes ‘ are legendary also, English Chips,  French Fries, Mash, Mushy Peas, Carrot & Swede Puree, Bubble & Squeak etc! Finally the Desserts, Cheeses & Savouries, bring back the long lost memories, Treacle Tart, Rhubarb Crumble, Rice Pudding,  Profiteroles and ‘ Welsh Rarebit ‘!!

We dined there on many occasions with family & friends, we gradually worked ourselves up on the table list, we started near the kitchens and ended up on Table 3 in the window, Table 1, on the left of the door, was Michael Caine’s table ( See the picture above!)  – the Irish ‘Maitre d’Hotel’ -  another Michael, gave me his private booking number to his desk, I used to call and ask for a table ‘ Sir’ Malcolm Sexton’ here! It worked every time!!

On one occasion we were down in London with friends and went for lunch at the Brasserie, in the evening we decided, for a change, to dine at ‘ Stringfellows ‘ I reserved a booth, in the next booth was some members of Led Zeppelin, Robert Plant & Jimmy Page, who were receiving all the attention,  we waited and waited but the service did not appear, so we walked out and I rang and booked a late table for dinner back at the Brasserie!  Happy days & Memories !!

Last night we watched episode six of ‘ Broadchurch ‘- two more to come, in the costal crime spot, an odd obsession and a porn hub were revealed, there are still 42 suspects left standing! Another past rape has been reported, one character drowned himself, his son was murdered in another series, by the husband of the main Lady Detective, her son is still into porn, Lenny Henry’s character is a stalker, all the main suspects are still suspect! Watch this space!!

Thoughts for the Day;  See above.

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