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...otherwise known as Uncle Tom's Birthday Party.

Last night I had the great honour to attend one of these events for the first time. It was also my first time in full "Black Tie" penguin suit and dicky-bow. It was held at The Dial in Elmdon - a nice traditional pub that seemed to serve good ale.

Tom, I and his 36 other guests feasted on the fillets of 6 cows, all of which seem to have been cooked to perfection. Being the Birthday Boy Tom had a 48oz fillet, 1 oz for each of his 48 years. I and the others had to make do with the smaller 22oz fillets

The meal was accompanied by a magnificent array of wines - Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc 2002 and 2007 (02 better than 07) with the smoked haddock starter and D'Issan 1988, 1989 and 1990 (90 magnificent, 89 very good, 88 seemed to have a flaw) with the cow. Singapore Sling and Murph cocktails were thrown in for good measure.

Last but not least was the Port course - accompanied by tropical fruit salad, Montezuma chocolate and Stilton for those who could still eat. There was Offley Boa Vista 1983 for the masses and Delaforce 1935 for those who could appreciate the difference. Both showed very well.

After dinner we were entertained by the magical powers of Phil Perry and then some good old beer swigging English folk music from The Walden Buskers - think Morris Dancers without the sticks and bells and you'll get the idea.

Back at Tom's we polished off the remains of a Delaforce 1960 and a SW Madalena 1988. I think they were good but by then things were getting slightly hazy.

An excellent evening for which I am extremely grateful to have been invited to attend.

Thanks Tom, and happy birthday.

Derek

Happy birthday Tom.

A 1960 baby then. Now I know the occasion to open my remaining fortuitous bottle of Nacional 1960!

Happy Birthday Tom. Another one from a declared vintage.

Happy birthday Tom. Sounds like a stellar event.

I can still remember how amazed I was by the sheer pleasability (if that's a word, but you know what I mean) of the Offley 1983 at the Christmas offline. A lovely port.

Did Tom actually finish his steak or did he have a platoon of dogs around him to help?

RonnieRoots wrote:Did Tom actually finish his steak or did he have a platoon of dogs around him to help?

At a guess I would say he ate just more than half. Apparently the remainder will be consumed cold over the next few days accompanied by Branston Pickle

Tom, Happy Birthday!!!

Derek T. wrote:

RonnieRoots wrote:Did Tom actually finish his steak or did he have a platoon of dogs around him to help?

At a guess I would say he ate just more than half. Apparently the remainder will be consumed cold over the next few days accompanied by Branston Pickle

The way you lot like your steaks cooked, wouldn't the other half just get up and resume it's life in the field?

(Most of them like a steak from a cow, that ran through a kitchen where a cooker used to be....)

Not long left now Tom, drink up.

Alan

Now I know the occasion to open my remaining fortuitous bottle of Nacional 1960

728 days time might be a suitable occasion!

Did Tom actually finish his steak or did he have a platoon of dogs around him to help?

I got through two thirds of it on the night, and finished the rest yesterday - without canine assistance.

Thanks for attending Derek, and thanks again for the bottles - especially the one we didn't open!

Tom

sounded like great times!

happy bday Uncle Tom.

I must admit upon reading the topic, I thought one of you might have dabbled in the old Bulletin Board System.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_the_Dead_Cow

I thought one of you might have dabbled in the old Bulletin Board System

No, just big steaks - hence 'Dead Cow'

Tom

uncle tom wrote:

I thought one of you might have dabbled in the old Bulletin Board System

No, just big steaks - hence 'Dead Cow'

Tom

I just realized that between work and travel, I've been in london for half a year and have never eaten british beef. Is there such thing as a steakhouse in London?

Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Geburtstag, Tom

as well from the other side of the channel.

Axel

Thanks Axel - how did we survive before Google language tools?

Also makes me wonder how you could possibly translate the song 'Happy birthday to you' - into German??

Tom

g-man wrote:I just realized that between work and travel, I've been in london for half a year and have never eaten british beef. Is there such thing as a steakhouse in London?

There are some good places to get steak in London, but there are some real tourist traps that are best avoided. Next time you come over to London, let us know and we'll dig out a few recommendations.

Alex