Thursday 18th January 2018?

[AHB]

I'll be in London for the day on Thursday 18th January and would be happy to stay on for the evening if anyone else would like to meet up.

If we do, it could be an opportunity to visit Bar Douro, Max Graham's Portuguese petiscos themed restaurant in Flat Iron Square. Max has offered to do us a deal over the private area if he's not busy.

Or is it too soon after meeting up on January 2nd?

When: Thursday 18th January 2018 at 18.30
Where: Bar Douro, Flat Iron Square but the space only accommodates 10-12
Theme: "A 1982 Port if You Have One and Nobody Else is Bringing it. Otherwise a Port not From 1982." Note that this deliberately brings LBV and colheitas within scope. 1982 has been chosen since Irayna is joining us and she is a 1982 baby.

Who:

1. Max (but possibly only for a quick drink);
2. Irayna (Smith Woodhouse 1982, bottled 1986);
3. AHB (Churchill 1982);
4. IDJ (Niepoort 1982);
5. JDAW (adopting from TC);
6. CPR (Dow 1980 bottled 1982);
7. TC (Croft 1982, Messias Cachao 1982);
8. WS1 (Sandeman 1982);
9. SCD (Sandeman 1980, bottled 1982);
   
   Possibles:
   
   Not Attending:
10. RLC;
11. DRT.

Current draft of the placemats.

[idj123]

I believe I can accommodate but for 82 can only offer a N or Ni.

[jdaw1]

I believe I can accommodate but for 82 can only offer a N or Ni.

Please may I adopt the other?

[idj123]

I believe I can accommodate but for 82 can only offer a N or Ni.

Please may I adopt the other?

Of course.

[Cookie]

Yes please.

[CPR 1]

Yes please. I would need to adopt is only 82, but I could bring a 80 bottled in 82?

[AHB]

I don't think Irayna will be particularly fussed about 1980 or 1982 or any other vintage for that matter - and I haven't yet asked her if she'd like to join us. If she's around tomorrow night I might broach the subject.

[Doggett]

Can you pencil me in please... I will need to check Zachary care after Christmas. I could offer a Sandeman 1980 bottled in 1982?

[forest26]

Can you put me down for this

[AHB]

SCD and TC are confirmed. Further attendees will have to wait until after Christmas when I can confirm numbers , glasses etc with Bar Douro.

[WS1]

Hi,

if possible I would like to attend too. I would bring a Sandeman 1982.

regards

WS1

[AHB]

I've just heard back from Bar Douro, who have confirmed that they can accommodate us.

Max Graham will join us, but probably only for a quick drink and not for the entire evening.

We have 8 people confirmed, including Irayna and Wolfgang. Since this is partly a thank you for the way Irayna has looked after us at the Boot & Flogger, I suggest that we split her food between the 7 of us.

Does anyone NOT want suckling pig?

Suckling pig for 8 plus a couple of tapas dishes each plus service would work out to be £80 per head, give or take. If we don't go for the suckling pig we would be down to our normal £50(ish) per head. I'm running a poll to see which we go for - suckling pig requires the unanimous consent of the voters. Voting will stay open until Sunday noon.

I've promised Bar Douro we'll order in advance. Take a look at the menu and tell me what you would like to order. My advice is 1 Petiscos, 1 or 2 from Garden / Sea / Land / Cheese & Charcuterie , 1 dessert. If we have the Suckling Pig I would strongly advise to order only 1-2 dishes. When you advise your menu choices please give me two options - one with Suckling Pig and one without.

I'm also flexing the theme slightly to be "A 1982 Port if You Have One and Nobody Else is Bringing it. Otherwise a Port not From 1982." Note that this deliberately brings LBV and colheitas within the scope of the evening. Please declare what you will bring — we are doing this as a sighted tasting.

[idj123]

I see that unanimity has been downgraded to a consensus with regards to the suckling pig

For my own part (and trying to take Alex's advice) I will choose:

-the sausage croquettes

-the bacalhau (unless this version comes with egg in which case I'll change to the Pumpkin from the Garden section)

-cheese board (what else!)

-caramel mousse

Thanks

[AHB]

I see that unanimity has been downgraded to a consensus with regards to the suckling pig

Two dissentions would make it cost prohibitive, but one may not.

Thanks for the food order.

[jdaw1]

Is the menu tapas-style? If the pig is a no-no, then my backup would be
• Bacalhau à Brás;
• Prego no prato Onglet.

Do we know enough about the wines for placemats to be made?

[AHB]

Is the menu tapas-style? If the pig is a no-no, then my backup would be
• Bacalhau à Brás;
• Prego no prato Onglet.

Do we know enough about the wines for placemats to be made?

Yes, the menu is tapas style.

A pig is £250 and will feed several people. If 7 out of 8 people want pig then we can cope — more pig and less tapas — for circa £70 per head for pig eaters. However, I'm inclining towards asking whether we could have a plate of suckling pig as a special tapas order and not go for the whole pig.

[CPR 1]

Pig please if this works for the group

I plan to bring a bottle of Dow 80, bottled in 82

[Doggett]

Pig please if it works. I think I am all good to come but will confirm by the end of the week.

[forest26]

Hi
The pig theme is great for me

1982 I have

Croft
Messias Quinta do Cachao
Offley
Noval
Warre cavadinha

Let me know what you want....

[Cookie]

Apologies but I will not be able make this tasting after all.

[forest26]

Having read the header again - I can add Ramos Pinto LBV and Barros Colheita

[jdaw1]

The current draft of the placemats, also in first post, shows six bottles for 7½ people.

[idj123]

The current draft of the placemats, also in first post, shows six bottles for 7½ people.

We clearly require more bottles...

[AHB]

People, I have taken the following executive decisions:
Max may join us for a drink. It is possible he will want to contribute a bottle if he does so. Noval 1982 is on the Bar Douro wine list so this would be an obvious choice for him. Therefore, please no-one bring the Noval 1982 as I would not want to embarrass Max.

This means I'd like Ian to bring the Niepoort 1982 and for Julian to adopt from Tony. Please adopt the Offley.

Tony, please bring the Barros colheita. I will contribute a bottle of SW82LBV on behalf of Irayna. Between us we will have covered three different styles, which will give Irayna a good insight into what style of port she prefers.

Simon (if he confirms) will bring the Sandeman 1980, bottled 1982.

JDAW - this should somewhat ameliorate your concerns over thirst on Thursday. For the placemats, Irayna is right-handed and has ILD as her initials.

1. Max (but possibly only for a quick drink);
2. Irayna (Smith Woodhouse 1982);
3. AHB (Churchill 1982);
4. IDJ (Niepoort 1982);
5. JDAW (Offley 1982, adopting from TC);
6. CPR (Dow 1980 bottled 1982);
7. TC; (Barros colheita 1982)
8. WS1 (Sandeman 1982)
   
   Possibles:
9. SCD (dependent on childcare) (Sandeman 1980);

In a desperate emergency we can always either run round to the B&F and get something of ours from the cellar or we could purchase from the Bar Douro wine list - Dow 1985 would be about £25 each for a bottle.


I have food orders from 4 of 8 and partial food orders from 4 of 8. 7 of 8 have expressed a preference for pig. IDJ would prefer not to have to eat pig. The good news is that we can accommodate some of everyone's preference as follows:
…Sausage croquettes (1-2 each)
…Whole suckling pig
…Bacalhau
…Octopus
…Pumpkin
…Caramel mousse
…Cheese
Including corkage, service etc the cost will work out to be around £70 per person (other than Irayna).

[AHB]

Would people please plan on bringing their bottles double decanted. Although Bar Douro would be able to provide some decanters, it would be better to come prepared.