Saturday saw the last in a line of birthday celebrations which have been very fancy indeed. And this was no less fancy.
We went to the Savoy for fancy lunch and to maintain the illusion that we are type of people who lunch in luxury.
I had the set lunch menu, which I started with a pheasant and beetroot salad…
It was small, but anything bigger would have taken up the space I was preserving for dessert.
Next I had a Jerusalem artichoke risotto (a big step for me as I never eat things with stupid names, eg, celeriac, artichoke, etc). It had trompette mushrooms, which threw me. What is a ‘trompette’ mushroom? Trumpet mushroom? Well, anyway, they looked like shitake mushrooms to me and were tasty.
As soon as the plate was set down, I caught a whiff of something? Truffle?! I hadn’t remembered seeing truffle on the menu though. I lifted the plate inelegantly to my nose. There was definitely truffle in my risotto! And it looked like there were some shavings of black truffle in it too. It was delicious.
The dessert choices were pretty good, with a banana and blackberry Eton mess or a lemon cheesecake with ginger ice cream vying for my attention. Eventually though, sticking to the Italian theme which has dictated my food choices since my return from Rome, I went for a rosemary panna cotta with caramelised plums. (Is panna cotta Italian? It sounds a bit Italian.)
After finishing dinner and congratulating ourselves that none of the children in our party had spilled/smashed/thrown/broken anything, we went for a wander. We found an amazing little chocolate shop, where a huge vat of melted chocolate was being stirred and delicate individual chocolates were being prepared.
You can buy slabs of pure chocolate there too, should you wish….
Or you could wander to one of the designer jewellery shops and purchase a little necklace, if the fancy takes you…
You could just see it and impulse buy it, you know. Sometimes you just HAVE to get something because it’s pretty. You could probably get it with whatever change you have lying about in your pocket.
Yes, you read that right. The necklace. The necklace in the previous picture. Is £42,000! Forty two. Thousand. THOUSAND. Pounds.
I did think about whether to get it but then I remembered my food processor broke the other day so I’m saving up for a new one of those.
And now, after days of piggybacking onto birthday celebrations which aren’t even mine, it’s back to reality. I have work in a few hours. I do not have a Michelin star chef making a mid-morning snack for me. Nor will anyone open a napkin and lay it in my lap when I sit down. I guess I’ll make a cup of tea and read a cookbook or something…..
Posted by David McGowan on October 1, 2012 at 09:27
I didn’t think they let Scousers in The Savoy.
Posted by lazylauramaisey on October 2, 2012 at 19:35
Sshhhh! You’ll give me away. I’m masquerading as a Southerner for my entrance in.
Posted by Carrie on October 1, 2012 at 09:59
Two great lunch adventures, nice! Everything looks delicious, especially the chocolate. I totally would’ve bought a bar of pure dark chocolate. 😉
Posted by lazylauramaisey on October 2, 2012 at 19:36
It was difficult not to, Carrie. Very difficult indeed.
Posted by My Little Italian Kitchen on October 1, 2012 at 10:26
I went to the Savoy long time a go for a cup of tea. Interesting place though and worth visiting at least once in your life. The food you had looks GORGEOUS and that neckless…!
Posted by lazylauramaisey on October 2, 2012 at 19:38
Yes, I’m glad I can say I’ve done it. On another important occasion I may stray back, but it will have to be a very importation occasion! The did was amazing. The risotto barely lasted a few minutes on the plate while I smelled the truffle. Then I gobbled it in a few minutes!
Posted by My Little Italian Kitchen on October 2, 2012 at 19:43
Mmmm…I would have done that too. Truffle is to die for!
Posted by lazylauramaisey on October 2, 2012 at 20:04
I’m in a very truffley place with my cooking right now. Truffle honey is next on the agenda.
Posted by pamasaurus on October 1, 2012 at 11:17
You’re just getting spoiled all over the place! You won’t be able to go back to ‘normal people’ food at this rate!
Posted by lazylauramaisey on October 2, 2012 at 19:39
I know. Ugh. Today I had toast as a mid morning snack. This is not good enough! The Queen wouldn’t stand for this. And nor will I!
Posted by Maggie O'C on October 2, 2012 at 21:45
I wish I could actually see you in the photo!!! You are truffalicious! That risotto looks yummy and I have never had pheasant. I need to hang out with you more often. Go to the grocery store when you are done with the yard.
Posted by lazylauramaisey on October 3, 2012 at 12:13
Ok, I will. And yeh, obviously I’m the kid everyone wants to hang out with. Mrs Truffalicious, they call me. I’ll see when there’s a space in my busy schedule for truffling with you.