Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear. A lot of things have changed since I wrote the last blog and you’re forgiven for thinking I went off somewhere and died a quiet death. I went off alright, but didn’t die, though one step in the wrong direction would have easily provided a gory end to the infrequent writer. So NO, Cyril, the Blog is NOT defunkt quite yet. Here’s what happened: As you may recall, our barman Ash went off to the DeKuyper bartender’s competition (no, he didn’t win) in Amsterdam and both Eddie and I followed him to cheer him on (though if we’d known he wasn’t a winner..). Anyway, all went well, it was a very well and thoughtfully organised event and it was high time for Ash to get exposed to a different culture. (Bit too high, maybe?) Eddie has pictures of the event and will post them hopefully soon, so you can see your favourite waiter “dans des situations compromitantes”. Of coures when we got back the renovation was in full and interminably slow swing. Think The Pit and The Pendulum and you get an idea of what it was like, so no time to write, see. 

And now at last, at long, long last the thing’s finished, the place looks great, a large chunk of money has been spent and we could all relax if it wasn’t for the approaching Merriment of  a season that in the kitchens tends to be intemperate. Christmas, if you hadn’t figured it out.  All of this is not really a good excuse and my new years resolution is to mend my wicked ways and trot the path of righteousness. At least on Fridays?