ThePortForum.com

AHB organising, as PW now unable to attend (thanks Alex).

Date: Monday 9th February
Venue: The Green Room in The Boot & Flogger, 10-20 Redcross Way, London SE1 1TA, tel +44 20 7407 1184 (streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk, bing).
Theme: Port from the 1970s
People:

1. MPM;
2. JDAW;
3. AHB;
4. IDJ;
5. CPR;
6. RDA;
7. PW.

Alternative theme postponed for future use:
(1) Did Avery get it right? (Av63 vs F63, T63, S63; with other ?63 assuming >4 people)
Having never tried the Avery '63, this is an idea I have had for a while, but have been hesitant to suggest as yet as I don't have any of the 4 primary ports! However I do have other '63s I could bring along, if the idea was of interest and the initial four were covered.

Current draft of the placemats.

Date looks OK for me. For theme one I have a Cr63 handy at home. Have a few '70s handy which would work for theme two.

Subject to permission from SWMBO, yes please.

No ’63s to hand: help!

The date is in my diary, although I can't confirm yet whether I can attend.

But I have a thought - Hawkesmoor Restaurants offer a corkage rate of £5 per bottle (actually, £5 per cork) on Mondays. Is there any interest in investigating whether one of their restaurants might be interested in hosting us on the 9th Feb?

Avery also did their own blend in a number of other years, I've had their '66 in the past. We could widen the challenge to any years where we can get a bottle of Avery blended port! I have surprisingly few '63s on hand until I get myself organised with another visit to off-site storage - but that should be reasonably easy to manage during January. And I don't have very many '70s either! Only one at home (Graham).

I think I need to get myself better organised...

AHB wrote:But I have a thought - Hawkesmoor Restaurants offer a corkage rate of £5 per bottle (actually, £5 per cork) on Mondays. Is there any interest in investigating whether one of their restaurants might be interested in hosting us on the 9th Feb?

I'm always happy to try an new venue, though being out of town would not be likely to visit/check. For now I'll assume B&F but won't book until nearer the time - if in the meantime you are happy to drop by on of the Hawkesmoor restaurants and all seems suitable, then please feel free to book and let us know; otherwise I'll be interested to see what the B&F is like.

AHB wrote:Avery also did their own blend in a number of other years, I've had their '66 in the past. We could widen the challenge to any years where we can get a bottle of Avery blended port! I have surprisingly few '63s on hand until I get myself organised with another visit to off-site storage - but that should be reasonably easy to manage during January. And I don't have very many '70s either! Only one at home (Graham).

We could certainly open it further to include other Avery years and the bottles they were formed from, if we know them and had enough people; or we could do a different year from '63 on similar basis; At the moment, no owner of an Avery bottle has offered to put it forward (I was too slow and missed out at FV last year), so we may well be defaulting to blind 70's - not a hardship, though I'd like to do the Avery idea at some future date if it is not viable at this time.

I'm up for this and either theme is fine by me (eg I can lay my hands on T63, G63 and D63).

Since posting this suggestion I see that an Avery '63 was opened at the Dr Dirk tasting just before New Year; I'm therefore going to set the theme for 9th Feb will be "Blind 70's" and save the "was Avery right" theme for a later date.

Alex - you mentioned a possible alternate venue you would like to try; I have not yet booked the B+F (indeed I have not checked if they are available as yet) and would be happy for us to try Hawkesmoor if one of their venues might suit; does anyone have any experience of them?

AHB wrote:Hawkesmoor Restaurants offer a corkage rate of £5 per bottle (actually, £5 per cork) on Mondays. Is there any interest in investigating whether one of their restaurants might be interested in hosting us on the 9th Feb?

There is a Hawkesmoor very close to my office and about 100 yards from the Davy's used for recent tastings. They have a private room in the basement that would be ideal for a large tasting. They also have the best rump steak I have ever tasted.

Unfortunaately i am out of the country from the previous Friday for a couple of weeks

DRT wrote:

AHB wrote:Hawkesmoor Restaurants offer a corkage rate of £5 per bottle (actually, £5 per cork) on Mondays. Is there any interest in investigating whether one of their restaurants might be interested in hosting us on the 9th Feb?

There is a Hawkesmoor very close to my office and about 100 yards from the Davy's used for recent tastings. They have a private room in the basement that would be ideal for a large tasting. They also have the best rump steak I have ever tasted.

Would you be able to drop by their place and see whether they would be willing to accommodate us under their £5 Mondays deal?

AHB wrote:Would you be able to drop by their place and see whether they would be willing to accommodate us under their £5 Mondays deal?

Will do.

Sounds good, and the date now works

Thus count me in!

Has anyone had the opportunity to drop in and check venue suitability and book the Hawkesmoor? If not then tonight I will try and book the B+F for us on this occasion (which would fine, as I've not been there yet and would be interested to try it, though just as happy to accomodate other's preferences to try a Hawkesmoor and even more happy to .eat highly-rated steak)

Sorry, haven't managed to get there yet so suggest B&F for this one.

Further work issues have arisen which unfortunately means that I'm no longer going to be able to make it down to London on the evening of the 9th Jan Currently we have a small attendee list with several provisional; at present therefore, I have NOT booked the B&F as we might only be 2 or 3.

If people still want to go ahead, please could someone offer to take ownership?

I'm now a definite for this so I'm happy to take the lead.

JDAW - are you still provisional?

All - any dissent from a theme of vintage port from 1970?

AHB wrote:JDAW - are you still provisional?

All - any dissent from a theme of vintage port from 1970?

I have permission. Thunderbirds are go.

I don’t have a ’70 within reach. Could adopt, or could bring a suitable other bottle.

AHB wrote:I'm now a definite for this so I'm happy to take the lead.

Thanks Alex; Could an admin please alter the ownership of the first post to AHB if that is possible, please?

AHB wrote:All - any dissent from a theme of vintage port from 1970?

Sounds good. Blind or sighted?

flash_uk wrote:

AHB wrote:All - any dissent from a theme of vintage port from 1970?

Sounds good. Blind or sighted?

It seems that I don't have a great deal of port from the 1970 vintage at home or easy to get at before Monday, so I have taken the unilateral decision to relax the theme to now be "Port from the 1970s".

We'll do this blind, then we can have some fun.

AHB wrote: It seems that I don't have a great deal of port from the 1970 vintage at home or easy to get at before Monday, so I have taken the unilateral decision to relax the theme to now be "Port from the 1970s".

We'll do this blind, then we can have some fun.

Very good. That opens up more possibilities!

Placemats added to first post.

Thank you for the placemats. I will print these on Monday.

AHB wrote:I will print these on Monday.

Monday week. Don’t print early.

Tentatively in.

jdaw1 wrote:

AHB wrote:I will print these on Monday.

Monday week. Don’t print early.

Good point.

Makes my diary and travel arrangements much easier that we are getting together Monday week.

B&F's Green Room has been booked for 6-8 people from 6.30pm on Monday 9th February (2015).

I have been reminded that B&F closes at 10pm on Mondays.

AHB wrote:I have been reminded that B&F closes at 10pm on Mondays.

Any chance of an early start?

Works for me, any time after 17:30

Yep I could start a bit earlier too.

Let's aim to start at 6pm.

I'll do what I can to be there for 6pm.

Hi everyone, just worked out I am not going to be abroad on Monday, would love to join, will find a suitable bottle to bring!


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Do we need to give a food order in advance, or is that only needed for a larger group?

flash_uk wrote:Do we need to give a food order in advance, or is that only needed for a larger group?

We should. Post in thread by midday Friday your choices from the B&F ‘Dining Menu’ please and I’ll assemble.

JDAW:
Truffle Mac & Cheese;
Gammon, egg and chips with black pudding,
Peas and beans with mint lemon and butter.

For Flash:
Potted shrimps
Sirloin - rare, no sauce
Side of peas and beans
Fries rather than chunky chips if poss

I remember there being only one type of chips. You get what you’re given, and then say “thank you Miss”.

Potted Shrimps
Sirloin steak - Black and blue and a side of spinach

Looking forward to it

Potted shrimps
Sirloin steak, black and blue with bearnaise sauce and fries

Missing Ian.

Others at www.jdawiseman.com/2015/20150209_ThePortForum_food.pdf. When Ian has posted an inspection will be requested. But premature inspection might be helpful.

DRT wrote:Tentatively in.

?

jdaw1 wrote:Missing Ian.

And missing Rupert (cedars28).

flash_uk wrote:And missing Rupert (cedars28).

PM’d, and added to placemats.

When you send the food order would you remind them that we will need around 80 white wine glasses please.

Potted Shrimps (v. good last time) and the Sirloin steak and fries done the Alex way (as he was impressed last time) with a side order of Peas and beans with mint lemon and butter. Any dessert tbd on the night.

Thanks

Ian added to food order. As I’ve never had the potted shrimps, and they are heavily praised, I’m changing my starter to that.

Awaiting Rupert, who has also been emailed.

By email, jdaw1 wrote:Hello again.

We’re still coming to the Boot & Flogger on Monday 9th February, in the Green Room — yes please. Most people have sent me their food orders, and what I have is at
      www.jdawiseman.com/2015/20150209_ThePortForum_food.pdf

If Rupert contacts me I’ll add his request, which might or might not happen before you download the page.

Also, please could we have about 80 white-wine glasses.

Thank you.

— Julian Wiseman (and organiser Alex Bridgeman).

By email, the Boot & Flogger wrote:Hi Julian

Many thanks for sending this through.

We look forward to seeing you on Monday.

Best wishes

Kasha

jdaw1 wrote:

DRT wrote:Tentatively in.

?

In!

Scallops; Sirloin Steak medium rare with skinny chips.

Sorry for lateness, have not been paying attention.

Hi
Sorry for delay

Mushrooms
Rare sirloin steak
Spinach

Please!

Many thanks and look forward to seeing you all

Derek and Rupert added to the food order. B&F re-emailed.

And DRT added to the placemats.