The Wine Explorer Graham Mitchell book signing at the Vintners Hall

Author Graham Mitchell book signing at the Vintners' Hall.

We started reading the book on the train on the way home. Chapters start with quotations, mostly about wine. The book is published by University of Buckingham Press. I met two of the publishers.

I tasted a Prosecco, a champagne and the sweet Beaune de Venise. We had crackers and mature cheddar from Waitrose. Graham's company sells the wines by the case. His aim is to find affordable, mostly moderately priced wines. I tried a Prosecco, a Champagne, lots of dry reds and a sweet Beaune de Venise.

The Wine Explorer provides wine courses at your office - minimum number 12. Wine tasting events. After dinner speakers. Gift list for weddings. Corporate gifts distributed throughout the UK.

email cellars@thewineexplorer.co.uk

tel:01985 840853

www.thewineexplorer.co.uk

For more about the Vintners' Hall, see my previous post.

Angela Lansbury, travel writer, author: twenty books including two on quotations for speakers: Quick Quotations. Who Said What When? See Lulu.com ; Facebook; LinkedIn; YouTube Angela Lansbury author, comic poet, restaurant etiquette.

Vintners' Hall, London, see swans and hear a swan song

The city and bank area of London near St Paul's cathedral is full of wonderful old and new buildings, statues and surprises. Take the tube (as Londoners fondly and metaphorically describe the underground railway) to Westminster and you are in a sic fi underground world. The architecture is staggering. It resembles Dhoby Ghaut in Singapore. But why has London's Westminster this hideous unadorned grey concrete and steel? (Luckily most other stations have lovely colours, murals and historical scenes.) Admittedly it is a contrast with the old world above. Five stops east on the circle line you come to Mansion House station.

Emerge into the light, or darkness in winter after 5 pm, lit by the street lights. St Paul's dome is around the corner. Emerge from Mansion House station and you come up to a futuristic cable stay pedestrian bridge. The 'cables' look diagonal but they are bent mid-way. 

When you get to the other side of the road, here's a statue of a man in a frock coat with a swan. This harks back to the time the Vintners (wine merchants) had rights over swans on the Thames river.   

Across the road is the Vintners' hall. You can walk into the lobby and see statues with more swans. 

If you are invited to attend a wine tasting event (see their website for events) you will see the main hall. 

The website is a delight. Play the vintner's song.

http://www.vintnershall.co.uk/?page=Vintners_Song

More about the Vintners and swans on this page of their website. Keep on that page because the pictures change until you reach one showing the swan banner.

http://www.vintnershall.co.uk/?page=gassiot_swan_rooms

More about the Vintners Hall and a wine tasting in a later post.

Fellini restaurant fun - The Magic of Calabria - In Hatch End, North West London

Yesterday, November 10th 2014, Fellini was promoting an evening with Barry Cryer, the comedian who lives in Hatch End. Tonight, 'Fellini proudly presents The magic of Calabria'.

CALABRIA
The flyer says Calabria is Italy's sunshine region. Looking at the map, it's the toe of Italy.

  Tickets cost £30 and for that you get 'a delicious four course meal with free glass of wine. Plus meet the wine maker and the pasta grain farmer'.

 Book early to avoid disappointment they suggest. The event starts at 7 pm. So if you are interested, call now.

FELLINI

About Fellini Acaffe Restaurant Hatch End

www.felliniacaffe.co.uk/

Also today:
Yapp brothers Tasting. (See next post.

Angela Lansbury
Author, travel writer, comic poet, caricaturist. See YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Lulu.com for books by Angela Lansbury

JOLLY PICTURES OF THIS EVENT IN NEXT POST INCLUDING HOST AND BIRTHDAY CAKES!