ThePortForum.com

My wife and I will be travelling through London on Friday, August 14th, and would love to get together for some Port and dinner. We arrive in London from Seattle that day, so an earlier gathering is probably better or we might fall asleep at the table.

1) Will anyone be available?

2) Is 5:00 or 5:30 too early to start? (We'll be lucky to remain upright much past 9:30... 10:00 at the latest.)

Venue: The Brasserie, Davy’s at Woolgate (25 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5HA, tel +44 20 7600 5216, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk, bing.com).

Draft food order, selections being taken from the Davy’s Woolgate food menu for August 2015.

Current draft of the placemats (and parameters by which made).

(Parameters GlassesCirclesFadingFactor and GlassesCrossedOut added to the software for this tasting. Comment welcomed, ideally in the software thread.)

Subject to matrimonial orders, include me in. I’ll reserve the Green Room at the Boot & Flogger.

Given your likely exhaustion, the theme could be ‘Bring a Bottle, Perhaps of Tawny’.

Excellent, thank you. Davy's Holborn was under renovation during my last trip, but the Boot & Flogger was not yet the new standard.

SCP-DFS, aka Mrs. Tawny, also tends to enjoy Tawny more than VP. A mix would be lovely. But the company matters more than the Port, so that's already a win.

I knew that the Elliotts were a tawny family.

SCP-DFS wishes that I make it clear that other Supreme Commanders are also invited, should they deem us worthy. "Us" meaning TPF denizens, not Mr. and Mrs. Tawny.

Mr & Mrs B are delighted to accept. 5.30pm is probably the earliest I could start but I don't know what time the B&F kitchen opens for dinner in the evening.

It would be good to see Glenn again (and meet better half) and so consider me in-I will apply for a pass out forthwith.

Splendid! I don't believe that I have met Mrs. B; I look forward to the opportunity.

Ian - bring the pass issuer with you!

On Monday 8^th I emailed the B&F to reserve the Green Room. As the B&F hasn’t replied, and our party is growing, I’ve called and upgraded us to the Red Room. Reservation for 16:30, but we might have to wait at the bar if the lunch team hasn’t yet gone.

But there is a problem with Glenn’s date choice. Indeed, Glenn is making a habit of useless date choices. The B&F’s kitchen will be refurbished some time in August, though the precise date hasn’t yet been chosen. If it clashes with us, we will be told.

Note for future use: The Boot & Flogger, 10-20 Redcross Way, London SE1 1TA, tel +44 20 7407 1184 (streetmap.co.uk, bing, maps.google.co.uk).

I'm in.

jdaw1 wrote:But there is a problem with Glenn’s date choice. Indeed, Glenn is making a habit of useless date choices. The B&F’s kitchen will be refurbished some time in August, though the precise date hasn’t yet been chosen. If it clashes with us, we will be told.

Boo!

Are there any other establishments that TPF feels are in need of refurbishment? If so, let me know and I will arrange to visit them.

SCP-DFF wrote:I'm in.

Yay!

Unfortunately, DRT and SCP-DFC will be approximately 450 miles too far north to join this event

Have fun!

DRT wrote:Unfortunately, DRT and SCP-DFC will be approximately 450 miles too far north to join this event

Have fun!

We will try!

Blind or sighted? I suspect that at least some of our better halves would prefer sighted, but perhaps not all.

jdaw1 wrote:Blind or sighted? I suspect that at least some of our better halves would prefer sighted, but perhaps not all.

Sighted, I think. Mrs. Tawny likes Port, but doesn't like trying to figure out what she's drinking. She likes to hear the story of the Port (if any) while she's tasting it.

Glenn E. wrote:Sighted

Then, for placemats purposes, people are asked to reveal.

The Wisemans will bring:
• A 1980s Warre LBV, precise year to be revealed later;
• Ramos Pinto 1983 (being the backup bottle provided by RP for the Ramos Pinto vertical on Tuesday 21^st October 2014).

jdaw1 wrote:

Glenn E. wrote:Sighted

Then, for placemats purposes, people are asked to reveal.

Provided they arrive in time, the Elliotts will bring a Quinta do Mourao 60-yr old. They will have been (very) recently bottled, so should not suffer too much from travel shock.

We should probably adopt our second bottle to avoid said travel shock. If someone has a G83 available, I think that would be lovely side-by-side with the Wiseman RP83. I am otherwise open to suggestions/offers.

Oh no, a decision to be made in advance. Ho hum. Let me start procrastinating now in the hope of making a decision soon.

Glenn E. wrote:
Ian - bring the pass issuer with you!

I am working on Mrs J although it will require us having to find a babysitter (hopefully the mother-in-law can step up to the plate). I'll confirm when I can (and also then the Ports we will be bringing).

If Mrs B, SCP-DFF, Mrs Tawny and possibly Mrs J are attending I will assume that all like Champagne.

I will therefore bring a bottle of Cask 33 (hopefully) and a bottle of Bollinger Grand Annee 2000. Please note that this means I will be relying heavily on you other chaps to make sure there is no shortage of proper red port!!

I can confirm that Mrs. Tawny does indeed enjoy bubbly.

I should also say that I am happy to offer a G83 for adoption - a trade rather than a purchase preferred. Perhaps if you have a QH11 to spare?

Glenn,

Regrettably I will be about 1000 miles South of DRT that night - somewhere near La Rochelle. Sorry to miss you both. I've been waiting for an opportunity to pick your brains about BBQ / Smoking. We are about to move house and a new smoker is on my list of 'I want' items!

Ben

Mrs J has indicated her attendance in principle (subject to availability of a babysitter). Now what to bring...if we're on a '83 theme, how about a SW83 to accompany the RP and (potentially) G? And the other bottle-should this also be red or perhaps an aged white?

Current draft of the placemats added to the first post.

jdaw1 wrote:But there is a problem with Glenn’s date choice. Indeed, Glenn is making a habit of useless date choices. The B&F’s kitchen will be refurbished some time in August, though the precise date hasn’t yet been chosen. If it clashes with us, we will be told.

I have just called to ask whether the date of refurbishment is yet known — no it isn’t — or, failing that, whether it is yet known when the date of refurbishment will be known — no, that meta-knowledge is not yet knowledge.

jdaw1 wrote:I have just called to ask whether the date of refurbishment is yet known — no it isn’t — or, failing that, whether it is yet known when the date of refurbishment will be known — no, that meta-knowledge is not yet knowledge.

Now we know that you know that they don't know, nor know when they will know. Thank you; we shall hope to know more soon.

AHB wrote:I should also say that I am happy to offer a G83 for adoption - a trade rather than a purchase preferred. Perhaps if you have a QH11 to spare?

I just noticed that I had failed to respond to this. I have no QH11 on hand, but will check Trader Joe's and report back.

It hardly seems a fair trade, though, as QH11 was last available for $40/bottle and G83 is generally north of $80. Perhaps 2 QH11? I know the supply is short in the UK.

Alas, the supply is apparently also short in Washington. Luckily, though, I have now secured the last QH11 available in Sammamish, Issaquah, or Redmond.

I would like to attend but cannot confirm yet since the supervision of the roof renovation of my mothers house in Germany may need attention. Please put me down as a possible to confirm early August.

regards

WS1

Happened by the B&F with my wife last night (she gave it her seal of approval !) Chap reiterated that he still hasn't been told when the kitchen upgrade was likely to take place nor how long it would take for that matter (he had thought one week but the builders had suggested two to three weeks). He was obviously getting increasingly irritated by this as he's taken a number of bookings in August.

jdaw1 wrote:But there is a problem with Glenn’s date choice. Indeed, Glenn is making a habit of useless date choices. The B&F’s kitchen will be refurbished some time in August, though the precise date hasn’t yet been chosen. If it clashes with us, we will be told.

On Friday 14^th August 2015 the Boot and Flogger will be open, but will not have a kitchen. At Tuesday’s tasting we discussed this with Domhnaill, the on-duty manager. He suggested that he could make a cold menu for us, but hot just wouldn’t happen.

Today, by email, Domhnaill wrote:Thank you for last Tuesday, you all seemed to have a really good evening.

Following our conversation about your booking with us on August 14th I have drawn up a menu of cold foods which I think will satisfy you and your American guest. I will of course understand if he and you all would rather go somewhere that you can get a cooked meal, however please let me know and I will make the necessary arrangements. The menu I propose is attached here, if you have any comments then please let me know.

I hope to see you in a few weeks.

Kind Regards

Domhnaill

The enclosure is at www.jdawiseman.com/2015/20150723_BootFl ... 50814.docx.

Glenn: your decision.

Edit:

Domhnaill, in the [url=http://www.jdawiseman.com/2015/20150723_BootFlogger_Picnic_menu_for_20150814.docx]Proposed Picnic menu for Port Forum 14th August 2015[/url], wrote:

Selection of cold meats; ham, beef, tongue
Game pie
Pork pie
Chicken liver parfait
Mixed leaf salad
Vivaldi new potatoes
Selection of English cheeses
Bread baskets
Choice of dessert

£25 per person

Bit torn about this-it would be good for Glenn to experience the ambiance of the B&F but I can perfectly understand it if after a long flight, a hot meal is preferable (in which case we can decamp to Woolgate). That said, the cold foods on offer (and price) seems decent and I'm sure that they'll ensure there is plenty to go around but as JDAW says this should be with Glenn to decide.

Kari and I discussed it this morning. While I would love to get the chance to visit TPF's latest default venue, I think hot food will be important after an international flight. Further bolstering my decision, Woolgate is walking distance from our hotel that night and so somewhat more convenient after the event.

Please thank the Boot & Flogger for the offer. Hopefully I will get to visit them with TPF in the future.

B&F informed. Who has best relationship with Woolgate?

Edit:

Tom at the B&F wrote:Good evening Julian,

Many thanks for the email. That’s a shame, but completely understandable!

We look forward to welcoming you back when our kitchen is back up and running again.

jdaw1 wrote:B&F informed. Who has best relationship with Woolgate?

I believe that Phil and Mike have booked in the past but of course they're not attending...

idj123 wrote:

jdaw1 wrote:B&F informed. Who has best relationship with Woolgate?

I believe that Phil and Mike have booked in the past but of course they're not attending...

I've made arrangements with Simon, Clare and Karl previously, who are all very helpful; Simon has been primary contact for organising events.

I have spoken to Alex at Woolgate, and reserved The Boardroom from 16:30 on Friday 14^th August 2015.

Note to self: The Brasserie, Davy’s at Woolgate (25 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5HA, tel +44 20 7600 5216, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk, bing.com).

jdaw1 wrote:I have spoken to Alex at Woolgate, and reserved The Boardroom from 16:30 on Friday 14^th August 2015.

Note to self: The Brasserie, Davy’s at Woolgate (25 Basinghall Street, London, EC2V 5HA, tel +44 20 7600 5216, streetmap.co.uk, maps.google.co.uk, bing.com).

You would find the boardroom a mite cramped for 9 I would say. See here for the pictures from Glenn's last visit.

Draft food order, selections being taken from the Davy’s Woolgate food menu for August 2015.

flash_uk wrote:You would find the boardroom a mite cramped for 9 I would say.

I said that. He denied. Sellers’ market, I thought.

jdaw1 wrote:

flash_uk wrote:You would find the boardroom a mite cramped for 9 I would say.

I said that. He denied. Sellers’ market, I thought.

Not at all. There are plenty of alternatives. Should I contact Ian Wright at Bangers and see what he could do for us? I certainly don't want to be cramped and agree that 9 of us in the Boardroom would be somewhat squished in.

And I do strongly want to have hot food if Mrs B is attending.

AHB wrote:Should I contact Ian Wright at Bangers and see what he could do for us? I certainly don't want to be cramped and agree that 9 of us in the Boardroom would be somewhat squished in.

No objection from me. An initial enquiry can’t hurt — Woolgate could be cancelled if there’s less cramped elsewhere. But if that is to happen it would be more courteous for it to happen soon.

I don't know where Bangers is, but if it's within taxi range of Woolgate (which is near our hotel) then it's fine with me. I trust the locals with picking a suitable venue.

But yes, hot food please.

Glenn E. wrote:I don't know where Bangers is, but if it's within taxi range of Woolgate (which is near our hotel) then it's fine with me. I trust the locals with picking a suitable venue.

But yes, hot food please.

I think Bangers (or is it Banger's?) is at Canary Wharf and is in easy reach from where you are on the Docklands Light Railway from Bank station.

Bangers Bar and Grill, 2 Wilson Street, Moorgate, London EC2M 2TE.

jdaw1 wrote:Bangers Bar and Grill, 2 Wilson Street, Moorgate, London EC2M 2TE.

Ah. So Ian has moved again?

Moorgate is much closer to Glenn's hotel.

jdaw1 wrote:Bangers Bar and Grill, 2 Wilson Street, Moorgate, London EC2M 2TE.

Most excellent, thank you.

It appears that Bangers is even more convenient to our hotel than Davy's at Woolgate.

Hello,

can confirm my attendance now. Am though still confused; where will the emergency take place?

regards

WS1

Ask AHB.