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The City of London Finest Luncheons

The River Thames Luncheon Club

November 2023

 

The River Thames Luncheon Club 10th November 2023

 

                              MENU                                                                           WINE                                                                 DATES                     

Menu

Roasted Parsnip & Butter Nut Squash  Soup

Selection of Breads

 

&&&

Roasted Fillet of  Sea Bass

Champagne Sauce

Samphire Salad

 

&&&

Medallion  of Balmoral Venison

Grand Veneur  Sauce

Bryon Potatoes

Organic Baby Vegetables

 

&&&

The Old Contemptible British

Expeditionary Force

Autumn Crumble of Pear & Blackberry

Classic English Custard Sauce

Clotted Cream Ice Cream

 

&&&

Filld Mushroom with Blue Cheese Stilton Souffle

Corn Salad Washed in Truffle Oil

&&&

Fair Trade Rich Roast Coffee

Tregothnan Cornish Estate Grown Tea

Chocolate Truffles












Wines

 Chilled Lillet Blanc

French White Wine Aperitif,

 &&&

 Vermentino 2020

IGP Pays d'Oc

Domaine de la Provenquière

 &&&

 Rioja Crianza 2019

Bodegas Muriel

Spain  

&&&

 Gewürztraminer 2021

 Late Harvest Spätlese

Austria

 &&&

 Barão de Vilar Port
















Dates 2024

January - Fully Booked

February - Fully Booked

 

Friday 8th March

Friday 12th April

Friday 10th May

Friday 14th June

Friday 12th July

 No Luncheon August

 Friday 13th September

Friday 11th October

Friday 8th November

Friday 13th December

 

 

 

Past Menus on

www.thecokkandthebutler.co.uk




















 
          

The River Thames Luncheon Club  Friday 10th November 2023

 

A Solider of the First World enjoying a daily ration

First World War Army food was basic, but filling. Each soldier could expect around 4,000 calories a day, with tinned rations and hard biscuits staples once again.

But their diet also included vegetables, bread and jam, and boiled plum puddings.

 This was all washed down by copious amounts of tea.
 

The 'reserve ration' was carried by every soldier in his backpack. It included canned meat, dried bread, sugar, coffee and salt.

It was meant to be used when, for whatever reason, it was not possible to eat the food prepared in the






 

    The Unknown Warrior



At the west end of the Nave of Westminster Abbey
is the grave of the Unknown Warrior, whose body
was brought from France to be buried here on 11th
November 1920. The grave, which contains soil
from France, is covered by a slab of black Belgian
marble from a quarry near Namur featuring this
inscription, composed by Herbert Edward Ryle,
Dean of Westminster, engraved with brass from
melted down wartime ammunition.
Beneath this stone rests the body
Of a British warrior
Unknown by name or rank
Brought from France to lie among
The most illustrious of the land
And buried here on Armistice Day
11 Nov: 1920, in the presence of
His Majesty King George V
His Ministers of State
The Chiefs of his forces
And a vast concourse of the nation
Thus are commemorated the many
Multitudes who during the Great
War of 1914 – 1918 gave the most that
Man can give life itself
For God
For King and country
For loved ones home and empire
For the sacred cause of justice and
The freedom of the world
They buried him among the kings because he
Had done good toward God and toward

His house

A year later, on 17th October 1921, the unknown
warrior was given the United States' highest award
for valour, the Medal of Honor, from the hand
of General John Pershing; On 11 November 1921,
the American Unknown Soldier was reciprocally

awarded the Victoria Cross





 

October 2023

     

The River Thames Luncheon Club Friday 13th October 2023 (72 Days Till Christmas)

 

                              MENU                                                                           WINE                                                                 DATES                     

Menu

Sweet Potato & Coriander Soup
Selection of Breads

&&&

Serb Ceviche Sea Bass Cocktail
Pomegranate Compote

&&&

Ballantine of Cornfed Chicken
Rich Mushroom & Pisco Peruvian Brandy Sauce
Potato Cake
Stir Fried Vegetables

&&&

Aunt Pastuzo Bread & Butter Pudding
Marmalade Ice Cream

Marmalade sandwiches are Paddington Bear's favourite food in the world.
Paddington's Aunt Lucy taught him how to make marmalade sandwiches back in the jungles of Darkest Peru. His Uncle Pastuzo always kept a marmalade sandwich under his red bucket hat
 'in case of emergency

&&&

Warm Spinach & Feta Tart
Caramelised Red Pepper Drizzle

&&&

Fair Trade Rich Roast Coffee
Tregothnan Cornish Estate Grown Tea
Marmalade Chocolate Truffles



 

Wines

Barão de Vilar White Port


Badgers Creek Semillon Chardonnay 2022
South-Eastern Australia Blends


The {SUM} Shiraz 2021 Castelli Estate, Denmark, Western Australia


M17 Muscat Moelleux Blanc
Meknes
Morocco



Barão de Vilar Port

 

 




















Dates 2024

Friday 12th January

Friday 9th February

Friday 8th March

Friday 12th April

Friday 10th May

Friday 14th June

Friday 12th July

No Luncheon August

Friday 13th September

Friday 11th October

Friday 8th November

Friday 13th December



















 
          

   Paddington Bear - A fictional character in children's literature.

   He first appeared on 13 October 1958 

A Bear Called Paddington a classic character from

English children’s literature, makes his debut.

and first published in October 1958

Exquisite illustrations by Peggy Fortnum, The friendly spectacled bear from "darkest Peru" – with his old hat, battered suitcase, duffel coat and love of marmalade – has become a classic character in children's literature.The man behind the marmalade-loving character is author Michael Bond.

Bond based Paddington Bear on a lone teddy bear that he noticed on a shelf in a London shop near Paddington Station on Christmas Eve 1956, which he bought as a present for his wife. He was inspired by the sight, during World War II, of Jewish refugee children from Europe arriving in Britain and of London children being evacuated to the countryside, the evacuees bearing labels perhaps similar to that attached to the bear Paddington "Please look after this bear". The bear inspired Bond to write a story and in ten days, The book was given to his agent, Harvey Unna. “A Bear Called Paddington” was first published by William Collins & Sons.
    Oct 13th  Paddngton bear 2023

Paddington Beara British icon and friend to Queen Elizabeth II.

Abear from Peru, where he was brought up by his Aunt Lucy

after he was orphaned following an earthquake when he was

just a few weeks old. When Aunt Lucy went to live in the Home

for Retired Bears in Lima, she decided to send him to England to live. Becoming popular after the Second World War.

When of course he was invited to Buckingham Palace to have Afternoon Tea with his friend The Queen Elizabeth II.

Oct 13th Paddington 2023

The very first Paddington bear soft toy was

designed in the UK by Doncaster-based Shirley and Eddie Clarkson who ran a small design business and made a prototype for the first Paddington stuffed bear in 1972, which they gifted to their son (Top Gear)Jeremy and daughter Joana for Christmas.

 


September 2023

     

The River Thames Luncheon Club Friday 8th 2023

                              MENU                                                                           WINE                                                                 DATES                     

Menu

Rodney On Del Boy's Cooking !!!

"If you had been in charge of The last supper it would have been a take away."

Menu

Sid’s Café - Soup of the Day

Mike Said: ‘Ere, Del. You speak a bit of French, don’t ya?

Del: What? Potage bonne femme.”

Leek and Potato Soup

&&&

The Star of Bengal Indian Restaurant in Peckham

which Derek "Del Boy" Trotter his brother Rodney Dine Fish on Friday

Tempura of Red Mullet Indian Spices

&&&

Del Boy On Ordering Food In France

"One of my most favouritist meals is Duck à l'Orange,

but I don't know how to say that in French."

Slow Cooked Brest Magret Duck

Caramelised Orange Sauce

Chateau Potatoes

Glazed Baby Vegetables

&&&

Pudding

Del “Don’t worry, Rodney, this time next year we’ll be millionaires!”:


Peckham Markets Finest Pina Colada Fruits  with Cushty Biscuit

“Millionaire Cheese Cake”

&&&

Del Said:  As Macbeth said to Hamlet in 

A Midsummer Night’s Dream,

‘We’ve been done up like a couple of kippers.’

Arbroath Smokies Fish Cake

&&&

Fair Trade Rich Roast Coffee

Tregothnan Cornish Estate Grown Tea

Chocolate Truffles

Wine

Barão de Vilar White Port

&&&

Chardonnay 2020

IGP Pays d'Oc

Domaine de la Provenquière

&&&

Rioja Crianza 2019

Bodegas Muriel

&&&

Muskat Ottonel Late Harvest Spätlese 2018

&&&

Tayors 2012

Late Bottled Vintage Port


















Friday 8th September

Friday 13th October

Friday 10th November

Fridat 8th December
































 
Friday 8th September 2023 Only Fools and Horses BBC TV Sitcom started  filming of the first series May 1981, and the first episode, "Big Brother", was transmitted at 8:30 pm on 8th September 1981. It attracted 9.2 million viewersThe British television sitcom created and written by John Sullivan. Set in working-class Peckham in south-east London, it stars David Jason as ambitious market trader Derek "Del Boy" Trotter and Nicholas Lyndhurst as his younger brother Rodney Trotter. Critically and popularly acclaimed, It was voted Britain's Best Sitcom in a 2004 BBC poll.
   
The Cast
Grandad - Lennard Pearce . Dels Wife - Raquel -Tessa Peake-JonesRodneys Wife - Cassandra - Gwyneth Strong Used Car Sales Man - Boycie - John Challis Road Sweeper - Trigger - Roger Lloyd-PackLorry Driver - Denzil - Paul BarberSpiv - Mickey Pearce - Patrick Murray Boycie Wife - Marlene - Sue Holderness Landlord - Mike - Kenneth MacDonald

The Trotters attempt to become millionaires through questionable get-rich-quick schemes and by buying and selling poor quality and illegal goods. They have a three-wheeled Reliant Regal van and trade under the name of Trotters Independent Traders, mainly on the black market.

Initially, Del Boy, Rodney and Grandad were the only regulars, along with the occasional appearances of road sweeper Trigger  and pretentious used car salesman Boycie . Over time, the cast expanded, mostly in the form of regulars at the local pub The Nag's Head.

The plots of many early episodes were primarily self-contained, with few plot lines mentioned again, but the show developed a story arc and an ongoing episodic dimension in later series.

The Trotters finally become millionaires.

John Sullivan Lyrics

The Opening Theme

Stick a pony in me pocket
I'll fetch the suitcase from the van
'Cos if you want the best ones

But you don't ask questions
Cause where it all comes from is a mystery,
It's like the changing of the seasons
And the tides of the sea
But here's the one that's driving me berserk:
Why do only fools and horses work?

Rodney On Del Boy's Cooking !!!

"If you had been in charge of The last supper it would have been a take away."

&&&

Sid’s Café Soup of the Day

Del Boy's: Saying No problem - "Mange tout

 

Mike Said: ‘Ere, Del. You speak a bit of French, don’t ya?

Del: What? Potage bonne femme.”

 &&&

 

The Star Of Bengal Indian restaurant in Peckham

which Derek "Del Boy" Trotter his brother Rodney Dine

 &&&

Del Boy On Ordering Food In France

"One of my most favouritist meals is Duck à l'Orange, but I don't know how to say that in French."

Trigger said; Don’t know what your worried about I’ve been eating beef all me life

 

The Nags Head Beef Stew Pie

Uncle Alberts Navy Gravy

 &&&

  Pudding

“Don’t worry, Rodney, this time next year we’ll be millionaires!”:

Peckham Markets Finest Fruit Millionaire Cheese Cake

 &&&

Cushty Biscuit

             

 

 

Del Said: As Macbeth said to Hamlet in A Midsummer Night’s Dream,

‘We’ve been done up like a couple of kippers.’

 

July 2023

     

The River Thames Luncheon Club Friday 14th July  2023

                              MENU                                                                           WINE                                                                 DATES                     

Soupe froide courgettes au fromage de chèvre fleur de solgne
                 Chilled Courgette & Fleur de Solgne Goats Cheese
Toasted Brioche

&&&

Bourride de poissons au safran
Mediterranean Fish Casserole
Saffron Sauce Reduction

&&&

Filet de boeuf a la moelle
Sauce Bourgogne
Pomme de terre anna
petits légumes garnis

Beef & Bone Marrow
Burgundy Wine Sauce
Pommes Anna
Petit Pois à la Francaise

&&&

Paris Brest
Sauce caramel glace praliné

Paris Breast
Toffee Sauce Praline Ice Cream

&&&

Petit munster au cumin en croûte
Munster Cumin Cheese En Croute

&&&

Café et
Cannelés

Café de Paris
Canneles
Lillet Blanc 

&&&

Touraine Sauvignon Blanc 2022
Antoine Simoneau

&&&

Famille Bouey
Vin de Fête de la Fédération

&&&


Muskat Ottonel Late Harvest Spätlese 2018

&&&

Barão de Vilar Ruby Port


















Friday 8th September

Friday 13th October

Friday 10th November

Fridat 8th December
































 
The Fête de la Fédération
July 14th Bastille Day in France
It’s the marking of the anniversary of the fall
in 1789 of the Bastille in Paris
Bastille Day is the common name given in English-speaking
countries to the national day of France.

Celebrations are held throughout France. One that has been reported as
"the oldest and largest military parade in Europe held on
14 July on the Champs-Élysées in Paris in front of the President of the Republic,
   
Paris was in a state of high agitation in the early months of the
French revolution. In Spring 1789, the Estates-General refused to dissolve, transforming itself instead into a constituent National Assembly. In July, King Louis XVI called in fresh troops and dismissed his popular Minister, Jacques Necker.
On the morning of July 14, the people of Paris seized weapons
from the armoury at the Invalides and marched in the direction
of an ancient Royal fortress, the Bastille.
After a bloody round of firing, the crowd broke into the Bastille
and released the handful of prisoners held there.
The storming of the Bastille signaled the first victory of the people
of Paris against a symbol of the "Ancien Régime"
Indeed, the edifice was razed to the ground in the months that followed.
                                                    Celebrations in The Rue Montorgueil in Paris
                                                                                                         Claude Monet

In the debate leading up to the adoption of Bastille Day as a National holiday, Senator Henri Martin, who wrote the National Day law, addressed the chamber on 29 June 1880

Do not forget that behind this 14 July,
where victory of the new era over the Ancien Régime was bought by fighting, do not forget that after the day of 14 July 1789, there was the day of 14 July 1790. This day cannot be blamed for having shed a drop of blood, for having divided the country.
It was the consecration of the unity of France. 
If some of you might have scruples against the first 14 July, they certainly hold none against the second. Whatever difference which might part us, something hovers over them, it is the great images of national unity, which we all desire, for which we would all stand, willing to die if necessary.
 

    June 2023

     

Men
 Menu

Corn Soup From The Field Duck Burg

Selection of Breads

&&&

The Sailor’s Hornpipe – Bucket of the Fantasea of the Sea Harvest
Atlantic Cod Scottish Salmon
Norfolk Samphire
Saffron Sauce

&&&

Confit of Daisy Duck
The Ludwig Von Drake Sauce
Pullet Potatoes
Medley of Technicolour Vegetables

&&&

Sweet Donald

&&&

Savoury of Duck & Waffle

&&&

Fair Trade Rich Roast Coffee
Tregothnan Cornish Estate Grown Tea
Chocolate Truffles

     Friday 9th June 1934

 

The Wise Little Hen first shown 9th June 1934 a Walt Disney's     Silly symphony cartoon, based on the fable The Little Red Hen.     The cartoon features the debut of Donald Duck, dancing to the Sailor's Hornpipe. Donald and his friend Peter Pig try to avoid work by faking stomach aches until Mrs. Hen teaches them the value of labour. Donald Fauntleroy Duck is a cartoon character created by The Walt Disney Company. Donald is an anthropomorphic white duck with a yellow-orange bill, legs, and feet. He typically wears a sailor shirt and cap with a bow tie.      Donald is known for his semi-intelligible speech and his mischievous, temperamental, and pompous personality. Along with his friend Mickey Mouse, Donald was included in TV Guide's list of the 50 greatest cartoon characters of all time in 2002, and has earned a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.                                    He has appeared in more films than any other Disney character, and is the most published comic book character in the world outside of the superhero genre






The Wise Little Hen of the title is looking for someone to help her plant her corn for the winter.                                                              Peter Pig and Donald Duck both feign belly aches to get out of the chore, since they would rather play than work. So, with help from her chicks, she plants it herself. Harvest time comes; again, Peter and Donald claim belly aches, but the hen sees through this when boards of their clubhouse fall off showing their little act when they shake hands with each other for evading responsibility. Upon wising up to their ruse, she and her chicks wink at each other upon knowing what to do with Peter and Donald later. She cooks up a tantalizing assortment of corn dishes, and heads over to Peter and Donald to help her eat them, but before she can open her mouth, they already fake their belly aches.                                                           

Once she asks them to help her eat the corn, they snap out of their façade and are excited to eat, but all she gives them is castor oil. As the hen and her chicks eat the corn themselves, Peter and Donald repent with all their might by kicking each other in the rump.








 

May 2023

     

Menu

The Bossin
Navy Bean Soup

Selection of Breads

&&&

Caramelised Irish Salmon
Samphire & Shalott Salad
Lime Hollandaise Sauce

&&&

Duo of Roasted Coastal Lamb from the West Country,
Confit Lemon Flavoured Jus
Fennel Hearts Barigoule Style

&&&

Bergeron Apricot Iced Parfait
Honey Ice Cream

&&&

The Coronation Quiche

&&&

Fair Trade Rich Roast Coffee
Tregothnan Cornish Estate Grown Tea
Chocolate Truffles

   May 2023
 

HMS Beagle 
Design and construction]
The Cherokee class of 10-gun brig-sloops was designed by Sir Henry Peake in 1807, and eventually over 100 were constructed. The working drawings for HMS Beagle and HMS Barracouta were issued to the Woolwich Dockyard on 16 February 1817, and amended in coloured ink on 16 July 1817 with modifications to increase the height of the bulwarks the sides of the ship extended above the upper deck by an amount varying from 6 inches at the stem to 4 inches at the stern. Beagle's keel was laid in June 1818, construction cost £7,803, and the ship was launched on   12 May 1820
The first reported task of the ship was a part in celebrations of the coronation of King George IV of the United Kingdom; in his 1846 Journal, John Lort Stokes said that the ship was taken up the River Thames to salute the coronation, passing through the old London Bridge, and was the first rigged man-of-war afloat upriver of the bridge

 
The ship was one of the first to be fitted with the lightning conductor invented by William Snow Harris

HMS Beagle in the Straits of Magellan at Monte Sarmiento,.

The Beagle Laid Ashore drawn by Conrad Martens 1834







 

    April 2023

The King's Men is the acting company to which William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
belonged for most of his career. Formerly known as the Lord Chamberlain's Men 
during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, they became the King's Men in 1603
when King James I ascended the throne and became the company's patron

Antony and Cleopatra - William Shakespeare
The play was first performed, by the King's Men at either
the Blackfriars Theatre or the Globe Theatre in around 1607

SCENE II
Rome. The house of Lepidus.
Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS.
Mecænas
Welcome from Egypt, sir.
Enobarbus
Half the heart of Cæsar, worthy
Mecænas!
My honorable friend, Agrippa !
Agrippa
Good Enobarbus!
Mecænas
We have cause to be glad that matters
are so well digested. You stayed well by 't in Egypt.
Enobarbus
Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance,
and made the night light with drinking.
Mecænas
Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a
breakfast, and but twelve persons th
ere; is this true ?

 

Dorset’s Peter Morgan of the Book & Bucket Cheese Company
Wimborne in Dorset makes a wide range of different cheeses named
after authors. Including several made with sheep’s' milk.
Here's Shakespeare, a beautiful soft cheese with a bloomy white rind.
Pasteurised, vegetarian.