I take Lily/Hello Kitty to school, write in the morning and then head into London for a lunch/meeting for the forthcoming International Wine Challenge, where for the third year running I am acting as a Panel Chairman/dictator. The venue is “Providores”, Peter Gordon’s superb restaurant in Marylebone, his fusion cuisine as daring and sublime as ever. The two week blind judging in April is always exciting, a welcome and much-needed antidote to the bravura of the Bordeaux primeurs the week before. One minute it is Petrus and Lafite, the next a flight of Romanian Pinot Noirs. Then during pudding, I receive an e-mail on my Blackberry: an invitation to a once-in-a-lifetime tasting that climaxes on what would be the oldest wine I have ever tasted (excluding fortifieds, the current record is 1870.) I find myself shivering with excitement.
After lunch I nip down to Notting Hill boutique “Matches” to pick up Tomoko’s ultra-chic “Issa” dress that I bought her for Christmas, said dress having had some loose stitching around the sleeve. When I pay that much for a dress, I want it perfect thank you very much.
Of course, once I have picked the dress up, I am paranoid about leaving the bag somewhere. Losing the Issa dress would result in instantaneous death, so I clutch the bag as if my life depends up it. Which it does.
I walk down to Quotidien internet café near Liberty’s where I always feel productive, accompanied by others slaving away over their Air Macs. I manage to type up a slew of Spanish tasting notes from last year, then walk to Mayfair where my good friend Jude is celebrating her birthday. After a couple of bottles of house white, our party moves to a pizza restaurant opposite for further libation. The conversation turns to wine since my neighbour is intrigued about my vocation, so I order a decent bottle of Quinta do Crasto to show that you don’t have to pay much. I do not take a tasting note, since I become embroiled in a deep discussion with Jude’s brother about the ethics of childbirth. He has the viewpoint of being a qualified Harley Street doctor and having delivered 12 babies. My viewpoint is that of a dad. Anyway, it is a lively conversation over a chicken pizza and crispy squid.
I depart around 11p.m. to catch the last train home after an enjoyable evening with old friends. The Issa dress makes it home safely. I live another day.
Filed under: Uncategorized Tagged: | childbirth, international wine challenge, issa, jude, providores, quinta do crasto
Great blogpost, thanks loads!