Weekend
It was L's birthday last week, so come Friday I arranged for us to go out as a surprise.
All she was told that we were going by taxi at 7:45pm and that she should wear something comfortable but not jeans.
The taxi arrived, I made sure that the driver didn't mention where we were going to her, to prolong the surprise.
She figured it out quite quickly, but was still nice when we pulled into the Grange Hotel. http://www.altontruffles.co.uk/menus.html
Our friend is currently the Acting Head Chef there, so he had kindly noted in the booking diary that we were friends of the chef.
Arriving inside we chose to go the bar for a drink where we were treated to a complimentary glass of Champagne. The menus were bought over and we started to choose from which of the set menus we were going to eat from.
We settled on the three course meal rather than the gourmet 7 course menu. The Somelier bought the wine list over and said that our friend would like to buy us a bottle of wine to go with our meal, and that we should not worry about the cost, so we settled on a bottle of New Zealand Cloudy Bay, which due to it's difficulty in sourcing was £50.
We were shown through to our table, the restaurant was very quiet indeed, which helped add to the romantic atmosphere.
Having chosen our respective starters, main courses and desserts we settled down at the table still sipping champagne and the wine.
Our first course arrived, a Carrot and Swede soup appetiser, served in a cup the size of an expresso cup, which was the first of our additional courses courtesy of our very generous Head Chef friend.
Next to arrive were our actual starters, I chose the Scallops, having never had them before, L chose the Ham Hock and Foi Gras terrine, both of which looked and tasted superb.
Next to arrive was a oak smoked chicked wrapped in pancetta, another additional course, it was served with artichokes and a sweet tasting chutney, again very good indeed.
Main courses, L chose the Fillet of Beef with a herb crust, I chose the venison.
An apple sorbet cleansed the pallet and then our desserts of Chocolate Fondant with Praline ice cream arrived.
All in all a fabulous meal, portion sizes were immaculate along with the flavours, style and service.
We retired to the bar for coffee then a quick pint and a vodka and coke for L before the return taxi arrived at 10:45 to take us home.
Anybody who lives near(ish) to Alton should definately pay the Grange a visit, it is an eating experience that cannot be re-produced in the area.
Enough about food already I am starved.
So came the big game Sunday afternoon as Manchester United became the next challenger of Arsenal's unbeaten home record at the Emirates.
A slow start by the home side allowed the visitors to comfortably control the ball for the first 15 minutes Arsenal solidly defending and United probing and passing well.
Arsenal came back into the game as they regained more and more of the ball and looked continuously dangerous, Henry firing a short straight at Van Der Sar then latching on to a perfect ball from Adebyaor, but the Arsenal skipper could only direct his header into the waiting arms of the keeper.
0-0 Halftime, and quite an even game.
The second half was even until Patrice Evra overlapping down the left wing strode away from Fabregas to centre, the ball flicking off of the ever impressive Kolo Toure and stright into the path of a lurking Wayne Rooney who stooped to head brilliantly home past Lehman, could the unbeaten run be in danger.
Arsenal plugged away as United dropped deeper, Carrick and Scholes generally marshalling the midfield, but with Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas and Rosicky looking lively and dangerous.
Mr Wenger waited until 20 or so minutes to go before replacing Hleb with Robin Van Persie then Flamini with Baptista.
The equalizer came following good work from Rosicky who's cross evaded the leaping Henry and the lunging tackle of Ferdinand, Van Persie who had been still at the edge of the box as the ball was crossed, overtook Neville to meet the ball perfectly and fire high into Van Der Sar's net, giving the goalkeeper no chance. An 83 minute equalizer and the unbeaten run was saved.
Van Persie unfortunately fractured his 5th metatarsul whilst scoring so will be absent for around 5 weeks or so, a crule blow for a young man who's form had been ultra impressive this season.
Arsenal were in the ascendancy, and pushed for an unlikely winner. United were defending deep and when in the 93rd minute Rosicky and Eboue combined to rob Scholes, Ebouse's one-two with the Czech international sent the right back away and past Evra.
Eboue's pin-point cross cut out both Vidic and Ferdinand and Thierry Henry who had been mostly anonymous, met the cross perfectly and powered his header past Van Der Sar. 2-1 a brilliant result and thanks to Adebayor back in September, the double was completed over the old enemy.
Roll on Wendesday's Carling Cup Semi Final first leg game against Spurs.
All she was told that we were going by taxi at 7:45pm and that she should wear something comfortable but not jeans.
The taxi arrived, I made sure that the driver didn't mention where we were going to her, to prolong the surprise.
She figured it out quite quickly, but was still nice when we pulled into the Grange Hotel. http://www.altontruffles.co.uk/menus.html
Our friend is currently the Acting Head Chef there, so he had kindly noted in the booking diary that we were friends of the chef.
Arriving inside we chose to go the bar for a drink where we were treated to a complimentary glass of Champagne. The menus were bought over and we started to choose from which of the set menus we were going to eat from.
We settled on the three course meal rather than the gourmet 7 course menu. The Somelier bought the wine list over and said that our friend would like to buy us a bottle of wine to go with our meal, and that we should not worry about the cost, so we settled on a bottle of New Zealand Cloudy Bay, which due to it's difficulty in sourcing was £50.
We were shown through to our table, the restaurant was very quiet indeed, which helped add to the romantic atmosphere.
Having chosen our respective starters, main courses and desserts we settled down at the table still sipping champagne and the wine.
Our first course arrived, a Carrot and Swede soup appetiser, served in a cup the size of an expresso cup, which was the first of our additional courses courtesy of our very generous Head Chef friend.
Next to arrive were our actual starters, I chose the Scallops, having never had them before, L chose the Ham Hock and Foi Gras terrine, both of which looked and tasted superb.
Next to arrive was a oak smoked chicked wrapped in pancetta, another additional course, it was served with artichokes and a sweet tasting chutney, again very good indeed.
Main courses, L chose the Fillet of Beef with a herb crust, I chose the venison.
An apple sorbet cleansed the pallet and then our desserts of Chocolate Fondant with Praline ice cream arrived.
All in all a fabulous meal, portion sizes were immaculate along with the flavours, style and service.
We retired to the bar for coffee then a quick pint and a vodka and coke for L before the return taxi arrived at 10:45 to take us home.
Anybody who lives near(ish) to Alton should definately pay the Grange a visit, it is an eating experience that cannot be re-produced in the area.
Enough about food already I am starved.
So came the big game Sunday afternoon as Manchester United became the next challenger of Arsenal's unbeaten home record at the Emirates.
A slow start by the home side allowed the visitors to comfortably control the ball for the first 15 minutes Arsenal solidly defending and United probing and passing well.
Arsenal came back into the game as they regained more and more of the ball and looked continuously dangerous, Henry firing a short straight at Van Der Sar then latching on to a perfect ball from Adebyaor, but the Arsenal skipper could only direct his header into the waiting arms of the keeper.
0-0 Halftime, and quite an even game.
The second half was even until Patrice Evra overlapping down the left wing strode away from Fabregas to centre, the ball flicking off of the ever impressive Kolo Toure and stright into the path of a lurking Wayne Rooney who stooped to head brilliantly home past Lehman, could the unbeaten run be in danger.
Arsenal plugged away as United dropped deeper, Carrick and Scholes generally marshalling the midfield, but with Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas and Rosicky looking lively and dangerous.
Mr Wenger waited until 20 or so minutes to go before replacing Hleb with Robin Van Persie then Flamini with Baptista.
The equalizer came following good work from Rosicky who's cross evaded the leaping Henry and the lunging tackle of Ferdinand, Van Persie who had been still at the edge of the box as the ball was crossed, overtook Neville to meet the ball perfectly and fire high into Van Der Sar's net, giving the goalkeeper no chance. An 83 minute equalizer and the unbeaten run was saved.
Van Persie unfortunately fractured his 5th metatarsul whilst scoring so will be absent for around 5 weeks or so, a crule blow for a young man who's form had been ultra impressive this season.
Arsenal were in the ascendancy, and pushed for an unlikely winner. United were defending deep and when in the 93rd minute Rosicky and Eboue combined to rob Scholes, Ebouse's one-two with the Czech international sent the right back away and past Evra.
Eboue's pin-point cross cut out both Vidic and Ferdinand and Thierry Henry who had been mostly anonymous, met the cross perfectly and powered his header past Van Der Sar. 2-1 a brilliant result and thanks to Adebayor back in September, the double was completed over the old enemy.
Roll on Wendesday's Carling Cup Semi Final first leg game against Spurs.
posted by Matt at 12:22 PM
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