I have been sorting through some papers this week and came across a menu from an 80th retirement dinner that my late father attended in 1938.
This was held at The Green Dragon Hotel in Hereford, Herefordshire, the oldest hotel in Hereford, possibly dating back to 1079 when it was called The White Lion.
Ten courses were served - TEN! I have been trying to find out what all the courses on this French menu mean. I have not succeeded with all of them, perhaps some members can fill in the gaps?
A choice two dishes for the FIRST COURSE - Hors d'Oeuvre Massena and Grapefruit Cerisette. Basically appetizers and grapefruit with a morello cherry maybe?
SECOND COURSE Consomme Tortue Clair with Crème Germini. So turtle soup with cream ? No idea what the latter word Germini is!
THIRD COURSE Boiled Wye Salmon, self explanatory, but why boiled I wonder? Served with sauce Hollandaise and cucumber.
FOURTH COURSE Now we have Supreme of Chicken Maryland with fresh French beans and Dauphine potatoes. The easiest course to understand! Only difference is my image has peas and jacket potatoes!
FIFTH COURSE A Grand Marnier sorbet, this sounds good to me! I wonder if cigars were passed around. I would have said no to the cigar!
SIXTH COURSE Goodness now there is Roast saddle of Welsh lamb with salad japonaise.
SEVENTH COURSE To cool one down an Ice pudding Sarah Bernhardt , Mousse Rubani and Corbeille de Friandises.
According to the website, Sarah Bernhardt, the great French actress, captured Danish hearts to such an extent that they named these special chocolate mousse topped meringue cakes after her. So why this course is described as an ice pudding, I have no idea. Served cold I presume?
EIGHTH COURSE A Canape Riviera, no idea I'm afraid!
NINTH COURSE Dessert - no explanation what this could have been!
TENTH COURSE Finally, Cona Coffee.
The Cona website states 'Cona has evolved from a partnership formed in the 1850s as an import and export company. Cona is famous for producing the Cona Coffee Machine in about 1910, which was the original all-glass coffee maker.'
How did they eat all this food???!!! Especially the lady who was 80 years old! Not a dinner party menu I would like to attempt!
What is the greatest number of courses you have ate or cooked?
