Celebrity Cruises celebrates anniversaries

 

Champagne At Home, On the Balcony, Or In Your Hotel Bedroom For Xmas and New Year

 

   

Planning New Year? When I was a teenager I waited for an invitation to a New Year's Eve party. I rang several friends, who said they also had not been invited anywhere. I said to my mothers, 'If they aren't invited anywhere, why don't they hold a party?'#My mother replied,

If you aren't invited anywhere, and your friends are free, why don't you hold one?

So I did. Two or three of my guests reciprocated by inviting me to their parties in the next few months.

Nowadays many restaurants and club restaurants hold two sittings for New Year's Eve. An early dinner. Later just the drinks event. 

If you are celebrating at midnight at home, or hosting an event in a restaurant, you can organize personalized coasters to go with Champagne, prosecco, wine or gin.

Sparkling water can be served to children and drivers.

For festive meals at home or for restaurants

Gold and transparent coasters and table mats for celebrations

https://www.temu.com/uk/-60-120pcs-round--placemats-polyester-woven-disposable-table-mats-heat-resistant-for-wedding-birthday-holiday-dinner-party-bbq-home-kitchen-table-decor-festive-utensil-accessory-g-601099853973903.html

Hearts, stars and Xmas themes

https://linddna.kontainer.com/folder/937268/file/1036234#token=fKjopXtfjG&type=direct

UK Wine Shops

https://www.majestic.co.uk/pages/wine-pairing-the-best-sweet-wines-for-christmas

More on Amazon.

Prosecco, wine, gin coasters on Ebay, sets of 24 from about ten pounds.

I also tried making coasters from the tops of jam jars. And you can cut wrapping paper in circles with a slit across the middle to cover the top of the base of a Champagne flute.

Happy Christmas. Happy New Year!

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Indian restaurant Social Dhaba

 People come to Hatch End from all over London, from Northwood, Watford, Ruislip. Hatch End has so many restaurants. If you are looking for Indian restaurants, there are four. Vegetarian. Or meat. My husband is a meat eater, and Social Dhaba was his first choice recently. If you are coming from further away or meeting friends, the restaurant is easy to find on the corner of Hatch End Broadway and Grimsdyke Road.  Bright lights and colours outside. The same jollity inside.       

We had to book on the Tuesday before Xmas. Early sitting.  6 to 8 pm.

Tuesday evening, two nights before Christmas Eve. 

Fabric napkins.

Metal plates and water carafe.

Champagne

Starting with Champagne. Good Champagne, says my expert. Reasonably priced, too. Cheaper than their cocktails. I should have asked to see the bottle and noted the label.

Anything to add. Yes. The prices that restaurants charge for just a glass of Champagne, or a whole bottle, they should add some decoration. two small pieces of fruit on a skewer across the top, or the word champagne on the base of the glass, or a tiny ribbon around the neck of the glass. or a tray with a painted flower holding two glasses, or a fancy coaster, or an ice cube containing an edible flower, or edible glitter in the drink or on the base. Or a teeny coaster saying greetings.

Starters

Three starters: 

Onion bhaji, great, soft centre.

Chicken chunks coated in green.

Fish, salmon coated in sauce.

3 condiments. Good white yogurt was the first. Watch out for the spicy third.

Naan

Peshwari naan containing coconut.

Peshwari nan. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Our main dish was lamb stew. We ordered white rice.

Delighful Dessert

The dessert was delighful.

Gulub Jamun

 Perfect gulub jamun with vanilla ice cream.

Chocolate Filled Samosas

 Very crisp triangular envelope containing a thick almost gritty filling. Not over sweet nor over chocolatey. Once I got past the surprise, I stopped the thought of, wow, that is a hard outside, so I might break a tooth, and instead thought, crunchy, munchy, a bit like eating nuts.

I ate my half share of the hard samosa with the soft gulab jamun and ice cream and it was a perfect combination. Plus the visually appealing and healthy looking slice of strawberry.

Toilets

The bill came up in a metal box containing a chocolate in smooth gold foil for each diner.

Verdict - vunderbar!

That is German for wonderful.

We asked for the leftovers as a takeaway. They gave us aluminium boxes to fill. I prefer to fill the boxes myself. I can be sure I have got everything. Lids firmly secured. No waiting.

Next day we had a meal from our leftovers. Still just as good.

I said, 'I could eat this every day.'

We could cut the cost and order delivery, or collect it ourselves.

Useful Websites

https://socialdhaba.uk/

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Angela's Seasonal Xmas Quiz for travellers

 Where will you find a black cake at Christmas? What does Feliz Navidad mean? 

Do the quiz and check the answers to compare the number you get right with other members of your friends and family.  Learn the answers, and get all completely right by doing the quiz again.

See how many points you get. I hope it is not pointless.

 A The word croissant means

1 Crescent, in French

2 Cooked, in French

3 Cross shaped in French

4 Crescent in Italian 

B Spumante means

1 Sparkling in Italian

2 Sparkling in French

3 Spilled in Spanish

C Rosé means

1 Rose coloured in French

2 Rose shaped in Spanish

3 Rose perfumed in Italian

D Whiskey

1 Comes from Scotland

2 Comes from Ireland and America

3 Comes from Native Indians

E Whisky

1 Comes from Scotland

2 Comes from Ireland

3 Comes from Antarctica

F Christmas Pudding

1 Traditionally contains only a silver sixpence

2 Traditionally contains a three penny bit, sixpence, pea, bean or thimble

3 Traditionally contains a gold coin or gold foil wrapped fruit

Xmas crackers

G Christmas Crackers

1 Are named after the sound they make when pulled

2 Are named after the two creases

3 Are named after their appearance when pulled apart

H Christmas Crackers were invented by 

1 Tom Smith

2 Tom Jones

3 Billy Bunter

I In England at Christmas at tea time you eat

1 Christmas cake

2 Mince Pies

3 Christmas cake or mince pies

J The Yule Log comes from

1 England

2 Scotland

2 France

K Stollen comes from

1 Germany

2 Russia

3 Canada

L Panettone comes from

1 Spain and Italy

2 France and Portugal

3 Australia and New Zealand

M At Christmas in Belize they eat

1 White cake

2 Black cake, sometimes with Yellow cake

3 Green cake 

N Champagne comes from

1 France

2 Spain

3 Italy

4 France, and the USA under license

O Cava comes from

1 France

2 Spain

3 Italy

P Prosecco comes from

1 Spain

2 Italy

3 Portugal

Q Sherry comes from

1 France

2 Spain

3 Madeira

R Madeira comes from

1 Spain

2 Madeira which is Portuguese

3 Italy

S Christmas Day is Dec 25

1 In the lunar calendar

2 In the Gregorian Calendar

3 In the Julian Calendar

T Dec 26 Is

1 Boxing Day only

2 St Stephen's Day only

3 Both Boxing Day and St Stephen's Day in different countries

U A hanukiah is

1 The same as the menorah - 7 branches, for 7 days of the week

2 Has only 8 branches, for the 8 day festival

3 Has 9 branches, 8 plus the helper candle to light the others

V

Champagne is 

1 The shape of the bottle

2 A region of France and name of the drink

3 The name of the man who invented the bubbly drink

4 The name of a grape

W The Star of David (Jewish star, also called the seal of Solomon by Moslems)_

1 Has 5 points

2 Has 8 points

3 Has six points

4 Has any number of points

X Feliz Navidad is Spanish for

1 Happy Birthday

2 Congratulations

3 Happy New Year

4 Happy Christmas

Y Traditionally in the UK you kiss under

1 Holly

2 Mistletoe

3 The Christmas tree

Z What is the official name of the UK royal broadcast on Christmas Day

1 The Queen's Speech or the King's Speech

2 The Christmas message because the Queen's Speech or King's Speech opens Parliament

Answers

A1 B1 C1 D2 E1 F1 G1 H1 I3 J2 K1 l  L1 M2 N1

O2 P2 Q2 R2 S2 T3 U3 V2 W3 X4 Y2 Z2

-ends-

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If you love sweet and/or sparkling wine try these

I like sweet wines, semi-sweet, late harvest, Muscat grapes. 

Gewurztraminer is a grape variety, from Germany and many other places where it is known unofficially as one of the four noble (i.e. best) grapes of Alsace, alongside  Riesling, pinot gris and muscat. The name, gewurztraminer, means spicy. 

The sparkle in wines distracts the drinker and disguises the dry taste. But Champagnes come in a range of dryness to passably semi-sweet.

For sparkling wines, the expensive French wine is from the region of Champagne, the bottled Champagne from the Loire valley, places near Paris in the North, are favourites for Christmas Dinner (actually mid-day lunch), New Year's Eve and weddings.

Cheaper in price, but increasingly catching up in quality and price,

Photo by Angela Lansbury.

is Cava from Spain. Barcelona region, mostly. 

Finally, my favourite, Italy's cheap and cheerful Prosecco, for everyday prices.

From Italy, Prosecco marketing and popularity has apparently overtaken the 1960s favourite, Asti spumante (sparkling) and Asti Gancia. Asti is the place name. Spumante means sparkling.

From France:

In France you can tour the Champagne cellars. Wine with bubbles not from the Champagne region is called cremant (creamy - becasue of the white froth). I have a few more favourites from further south.

Beaunes de Venise - the older the better.

From the south

It is very expensive to make, picked grape by grape.

Port wine with dessert.

Perfect Prosecco? - Perfect Price!

From Tesco

Small bottles of Prosecco. A reduction if you buy three.

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Perfect Anniversary dinner at Villa Bianca in Hampstead

Two storey Villa Bianca Restaurant in Hampstead. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

Location, Location

Hampstead is a lovely area. Lively. But the hotel is a few steps down a quiet side street.

. It is in a wuite side street just off the lively main street of Hampstead on the hill.

 The name of the restaurant means white house

Seating Area - Up or Down?

The last time we visited was two years ago when we sat downstairs in the window by the door. I think upstairs suited us better.

This time, in April 2024, we had a table for seven upstairs at Villa Bianca for an anniversary dinner. We were beside the grand (samll grand - that sounds like an oxymoron)) piano upstairs. I thought the music would be too loud for conversation but we managed okay.

Upstairs also has the advantage that the toilets are only steps away. 

Drinks & Service

We started with the house Champagne. The male and female servers were smiling and helpful and a delight. Our Portuguese but multilingual waiter was charming.

The menu has a range of prices from the mushrooms on toast which was huge, three pieces, enough for two people and a piece to take home.. I was saving myself for the main course and dessert. 

Food

My main course was chicken. We swapped around. The others were happy with their liver and fish.

The dessert was chocolate pudding, oozing. I would say everything was above average. Nt Michelin standard but very satisfying. Faultless.

All in all an excellent evening.

Anniversary

My husband said he had told them it was our anniversary. They did not do anything but I had my own paper plate with the word Joyeux Anniversaire and we ordered Champagne, and our guests brought cards and gifts so we did not notice not having the word happy anniversary on a plate.

I think that restaurants seeing you order Champagne might ask if you are celebrating and if so do something special.

Our three year old got up to change places and collided with a waiter and she burst into tears. The manager found her some complimentary breadsticks which instantly distracted and consoled her. My husband said, we got freebies, we have no complaints.

Prices

If you ordered lobster or different drinks and Champagnes you could have a much larger bill if you are looking to spend more and are seeking more. But we were happy with things which suited our budget and have happy memories.

Useful Website

https://villabiancagroup.com/villa-bianca/

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Singapore Airlines Champagne Label Explained

 

Champagne on Singapore Airlines. Photo by Angela Lansbury. Copyright.

On a Singapore Airlines flight in December 2023 I saw on the back of the top of the trolley a tall bottle with a waisted cork covered in foil. The heavy corks, normally covered in a wire net like a tennis net, are to stop the expanding gassy bubbles blowing the cork out. I was sitting in Economy, so I thought it must be a cheap Prosecco or sparkling wine, even a non alcholic drink imitating Champagne. 

It was good enough to please me. Although it was slightly too warm, and not very bubbly. I don't know how long it had been opened. 

Later, I went to the galley and asked to see the bottle. To my surprise, it was real Champagne, that is to say, from the Champagne region of France. Champange is a protected name. You cannot legally call your drink Champagne unless it comes from the place in France called Champagne (or in recent times, from the USA, run by a French Champagne company). You can say Champagne method, which is not the same as coming from Champagne, with their soil, water, grapes, and centuries of expertise. (And probably payment to some collective marketing company and lawyers fighting to remove fakes pretending to be from your region when they are not.)

I do not know Charles de Casenove. I am more familiar with Moet et Chandon and Veuve Cliquot.

Here's a quick reminder of what the French words mean. Et is French for and. Veuve is French for widow. 

On the label on the bottle in the photo I took you can read these words:

Champagne - the region of France

Cazanove is from the Occitan for new house.

Occitan (English: /ˈɒksɪtən, -tæn, -tɑːn/;^[10][11] Occitan: occitan [utsiˈta, uksiˈta]),^[a] also known as lenga d'òc (Occitan: [ˈleŋɡɔ ˈðɔ(k)] ^ⓘ; French: langue d'oc) by its native speakers, sometimes also referred to as Provençal, is a Romance language spoken in Southern France, Monaco, Italy's Occitan Valleys, as well as Spain's Val d'Aran in Catalonia; collectively, these regions are sometimes referred to as Occitania. It is also spoken in Calabria (Southern Italy) in a linguistic enclave of Cosenza area (mostly Guardia Piemontese). Some include Catalan in Occitan, as the distance between this language and some Occitan dialects (such as the Gascon language) is similar to the distance between different Occitan dialects. Catalan was considered a dialect of Occitan until the end of the 19th century^[12] and still today remains its closest relative.^[13]

Occitan is an official language of Catalonia, Spain.

de means of in French. (Charles de Cazanove, Charles of Cazanove)

Maison fondée ) à Reims en ...  means in English - house (business) founded at Reims in

acute accent (l'accent aigu) é 

pere is French for father

fils is French for son

tete de cuvee

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/name-origin?surname=cazenove

Blanc de blanc Abele Champagne

Abele Champagne. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Blanc de blancs is French for white of whites.

 It means white wine made from white grapes. Only white grapes. No surprises there. But actually, black or red grape skins are used in blush wine. Think of it this way. Some small amounts of the strongly flavoured dark skins of dark skinned grapes are added to modify or enhance flavour. Would you believe, Champagne. Look at the grapes listed in wine descriptions. You can add sugar to porridge in England, and salt to porridge in Scotland. It is a small amount. You don't see it. The colour of the porridge does not change but the flavour is different. Those in the know, who like to check ingredients, when buying. Or drinking, and to have their thoughts confirmed.and to prove a point to sceptics, are pleased to see the grapes ingredients listed.

Champagne is an area of France. In the EU you can only call your sparkling wine as Champagne if it is from the Champagne area of France. 

Useful Websites

New Year Champagne, from France and tall Champagne glasses - news to you? News to whom?

Angela Lansbury with a Champagne glass containing Champagne on New Year's eve, 2021 (actually after midnight and already January 2022). Photo by Trevor Sharot.

I was wondering whether I was stating the obvious when I described a Champagne glass and bottle. 

Champagne comes from the French region of Champagne. 

However, I was asked about Champagne by a Sri Lankan engineering student. He was part of a group of us from an online only Toastmasters club meeting online on New Year's Eve 2021. 

He asked, 

'What does Champagne taste like? We don't drink it in Sri Lanka. And we don't celebrate New Year. Our New year is lunar and it will be on April 14th (in 2022).'

Champagne Flavours

What does Champagne taste like? Nothing much, to me. Expert wine tasters will say that this one smells of bread or yeast. I taste a lemony after taste lingering in the mouth. After reading the notes on the Champagne, my husband tastes more flavours, but wonders if this is auto-suggestion. If so, well and good. Just read the notes to enjoy more aroma, and taste.

The magical effect is the fun of the bubbles, and getting tipsy, not quite drunk, happy and tired.

I like the sweeter Prosecco for flavour. I am a typical woman, and British, and of a certain age, my tastes rooted in the (nineteen) Sixties.

Champagne is dry. The word brut, French, sounds like brute, meaning dry. 

The opposite of doux, literally soft, but, in the context of wine, sweet. Or sec, sweet wine. 

Looking at the label of the bottle, this Champagne is Laurent-Perrier.

Angela with Laurent-Perrier Champagne bottle on New Year's Eve. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

The Champagne Glass

The glass is not a tulip, more like a flute. The company Reidel produces glasses for red and white wine and organizes tastings where you try drinking the same wine from different shaped glasses.

I am small, but with a big nose. So, for me, glasses with a narrow top are a nuisance.

Look at that Champagne bottle again. It has a cap designed to keep the fizz in.

Useful Websites

https://www.laurent-perrier.com/en/

https://www.riedel.com/en

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne

The Author

About the Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 Please share links to your favourite posts.

Books by Angela Lansbury
How to be the best man. (Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Wedding Speeches and Toasts.(Ward Lock / Cassell.)
Unforgettable British Weekends.
Poetry Workshop Workbook.
The Tailor and the Spy. (Lulu.)
Larry The Talking Labrador. (Lulu.)
Writing Poetry for fun.

Quick Quotations

Who Said What When

 

Which Champagne For New Year? And Which Travel Resolutions?

 

G H Mumm Champagne Brut Cordon Rouge.  Photo by Angela Lansbury.

My husband chose this Champagne for Christmas. Champagne comes from the Champagne region of France. It is a dry wine, hence the word Brut, meaning dry. 

Angela and her husband Trevor drinking Champagne on Christmas Day. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

Champagne is a sparkling white wine, made with red skinned grapes. I kid you not. This one is made from a grape called pinot noir. Noir is French for black. In English we describe grapes as red and black grapes but in wine-making most grapes are black.

Rouge is the French word for red. The word rouge in English has also come to mean red cosmetics applied to the cheeks for colour.

Cordon rouge, like cordon Bleu, (Bleu is French for blue) refers to the cordon, which is a sash. You see it here on the Champagne worn diagonally. It is on both the bottle and the cap.

Other Champagnes sold in the same supermarket were made from Chardonnay grapes. My husband prefers the fuller flavour of pinot noir. Most people are happy with a best selling cheaper wine.

For New Year, for a change, my husband might buy a blanc de blanc, meaning a white wine made from white grapes. And what about New Year resolutions and travel?  My plans include:

1 Keeping A Travel Wishlist

2 Learn a new language each year. Finish a course in that language on Duolingo.

3 Learn the words from every bottle of wine. (Even if you are not a drinker, you can learn the words from the wine bottles, the wine list, and the menu.

I have been to many Champagne cellars in Rheims, as well as wineries around the world.

According to their website, the Mumm company has installed art and architecture making it an award winning tourist attraction. So they are on my wish-list for a destination as soon as Covid-19 caused restrictions are lifted and I and my family can fly to the UK and on by ferry to France. Meanwhile, a happy New Year to you and yours.

Useful Websites

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Champagne

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G._H._Mumm

About the Author Angela Lansbury

BIOGRAPHY

Angela Lansbury B A Hons ACG ALB PM5 EH5 DL5 VC5 
The Author of several books including  Etiquette For Every Occasion. Wedding Speeches & Toasts. How to be the Best Man. Quick Quotations. Who Said What When.

Blogs travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com

dressofthedayangela.blogspot.com

translateforfun.blogspot.com

Braddell Heights Advanced Toastmasters Speakers Club Vice President Public Relations (VPPR), Previous President

Join BHA 1st Wednesday 7pm and 3rd Saturday 2 pm Singapore time 

Vice President Public Relations (VP PR) of Tampines Changkat Advanced;

Secretary of weekly online Singapore International Dynamic Toastmasters Speakers’ Club;

Member and past president of Harrovians toastmasters club, UK; Past member of HOD Toastmasters, London. Past member in Singapore of: Toastmasters Club of Singapore (TCS); Tiarel; and Senja Cashew.

More details from Toastmasters International find a club.

Regular attendee at annual Swanwick Writers’ School, England.

Regular attendee at annual Writers’ Holiday, Wales.

Contributor to poetry readings, and after tea courses on: Speaking On Radio To Promote Books; and Plots And Character.

Winner of many club and area speaking contests in the UK and Singapore.

Language advisor to Empire Toastmasters club in Indonesia.

Language and speech workshops in Singapore.

Speaker on radio and TV in England, Scotland, the USA, and Australia.

Compiler of a school course on public speaking for teachers to prepare pupils for school open days with attending ceremonies before government ministers, Singapore.

Former member of Harrow Writers’ Circle, London, and two writing groups in Singapore.

Angela is on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Twitter. She would be delighted to link up with new friends.

 Please share links to your favourite posts.

 

Belated Birthday dinner at the Tanglin Club, Singapore

Covid-19 Restaurant Restrictions Eased

The Tanglin Club restaurants in Singapore were closed in early June 2020 because of Covid-19 restrictions. When the restaurants reopened it was only for tables for two. As soon as the previous restrictions were lifted the available bookings were snapped up. We spent ages changing days and trying different times which we didn't want to be sure the restaurants really were fully booked at the popular times and not showing fully booked due to a glitch or the booking site not being updated. 

Time and Space

In the end, we booked for 6.30 although we wanted to eat at 7, reckoning that by the time we ordered drinks it would be getting on for seven. On the night in the large Churchill Room restaurant the tables were widely spaced out and all set for two, very different from the usual layout. The restaurant was never completely full. We guessed that the bookings were limited not because of too many diners, but because of too few staff.

 

Entry

Your taxi drops you outside the front entrance. Up a flight of red carpeted steps. Temperature control past an automatic machine. In the olden days doorman used to open the front door. Now your credentials are checked carefully.

The Churchill Room restaurant has a picture of Winston Churchill by the doorway.

Decor Of Orchids

The Tanglin has an orchid display outside in the hallway. The centre of the Churchill Room has another orchid display. A third orchid display was at the side.

Set Menu Choices

The menu online was not the same as offered in the restaurant, but gives you an idea.  

We started by ordering drinks. I had a glass of Prosecco. My husband ordered a reasonably priced Champagne.Then a glass of red wine.

Complimentary Bread

We were brought a little bowl of breads. The white bread roll with seeds was hot. Melted the butter. The black bread I saved for later. 

The crisp in a tall triangle contained blackened sesame seeds and was delicious, very more-ish. Crispy, salty, tasty.

Complimentary Amuse Guele

Dice size vegetarian mousse with contrasting green peas.

We chose two different starters and main courses and desserts. 

Choices included

Starter

Salmon mousse. Mushroom soup. Foie gras. 

I liked the salmon. That was my choice. 

I was disappointed in the foie gras. Just another smooth pate and less flavour than chicken liver pate. If I had to pay extra for it, I would not.

Main Course

Beef.

Barramundi Fish. 

Pork - excellent. 

Vegetarian option.

Main course - Served Under Domes

Served smartly under domes which are lifted simultaneously. No serving one person who has to wait feeling frustrated for the other person to be served. Nor one person starting and being told off for not waiting.

Dessert

I chose the mango mousse dessert, with ice cream. I thought the fruit was a healthier option.  Mango - excellent choice, looked great.

Why not the chocolate desserts? I admit I hesitated. Mango was a change from chocolate, which we eat a lot of at home and are offered at almost every restaurant and coffee shop location. Chocolate we could eat later at home. 

One of the options was salted chocolate. That must be very tasty, and salt is an ingredient of savoury chocolate dishes featured in a film about France. Sugar and salt does not sound healthy. 

Vanilla ice cream, often tastes of nothing. Or it is drowned by the chocolate flavour.

Nonetheless, I was hoping my husband would opt for one of the chocolate desserts. I told him so. 

He retorted, "It's my birthday dinner. I want to choose what I want to eat."

My husband chose the cheese board. It looked great. Wooden platter. Several cheeses, hard and soft, including a blue cheese. Circular crackers. Some grapes. 

He said the cheeses were a bit industrial. He is a connoisseur when it comes to cheeses.  He buys from speciality cheese shops such as the Cheese Arc. He looks online.

My dessert came up with the happy birthday words written in chocolate and a candle in a blue candle-holder.

More Photos will be added shortly.

Useful Websites

https://www.tanglinclub.org.sg/

http://www.thecheeseark.com/locate-us/

About the Author

About the Author

Angela Lansbury is Vice President Public Relations of Braddell Heights Advanced, and Tampines Changkat Advanced, speakers' training club which are part of Toastmasters International. The USA has several Spanish speaking as well as the English speaking clubs. You can pick up Spanish from buying or reading online their Spanish clubs welcome pages and manuals. 

In The USA, UK, Singapore and worldwide, there are many clubs which are English speaking, as well as Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, French, Tamil, Malay.

The inauguration of Tampines Changkat Advanced was Tuesday 29th 2021, online on  zoom. Their meetings are on the fourth Tuesday evening of the month. They hope to hold meetings with a few people meeting physically, the others online, as soon as the Covid-19 conditions allow.

You can find the club through their Facebook page as well as through Toastmasters International find a club. 

https://www.facebook.com/tampineschangkatadvTMC

The meetings are free for visitors. Visitors can watch, and join in speaking by introducing themselves and volunteering to do a 2 minutes impromptu  speech in table topics.

If you wish to join for a year, it costs about 190 US dollars, to have monthly meetings online, a mentor, a magazine, and one of the 11  Pathways, consisting of 14 projects. Each project starts with 3 speeches of your choice of subject, lasting 4 to 6 minutes, then 5 to 7 minutes. The Pathways include the most popular Presentation Mastery. I chose  humorous speaking as my second Pathway, costing 20 dollars. Then my third was a leadership course. Come and see for free.

The club also has meetings in person in Singapore

You can also contact my other club, smaller Braddell Heights Advanced, which is a cosy little club with more chances to speak.

Login through bha.learncool.sg/meet/bha 

That will link you through to Zoom or googlemeet. 2 pm to 5 pm.

BHA meets the first Wednesday evening each month, starting at 7 pm Singapore time. 

Then an extra meeting on the 3rd Saturday afternoon, starting at 2 pm Singapore time.

To check your time zone,  

https://24timezones.com/difference/singapore/ 

Meetings will be on Wed July 7th and  Saturday July 17th.

Contact either of these or other clubs through Toastmasters International Find a Club.

World's Best Vineyards - and a tipple or two

What makes the world's best vineyard? The one where you get the best photos? The tour which explains everything? The best lunch? The best shop selling souvenirs of scarves with grape designs, jewellery and items for yourself and friends? The tasting which tells you which wines to buy?

My favourites


USA California
Drive north from San Francisco


UK
London has tours of breweries and wineries and places producing spirits.

Drive from London.
Denbies. Outdoor tours in summer. Indoor tours. Must book. Huge busy place.

England has many more. Get a map and pick your favourite.

France
Champagne in Rheims.
Numerous tours in the Champagne region.
Drive from Paris


Spain
Rioja in the North. Drive from Santander.
Numerous establishments around the wine capital, all grouped around the old railway station.

Some surprise wines
For Jews who don't drink much wine

Sabra Chocolate orange liqueur

More details of my favourites
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-best-vineyards-to-visit.html

Official current awards
 https://www.worldsbestvineyards.com/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-8521055/Worlds-50-best-vineyards-2020-named-years-Argentinian-winner-No1-overall-again.html

Travel and wine information

Victoriana Nursery
https://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/Grape_Vines/
top vineyards around the USA
https://www.travelandleisure.com/food-drink/wine/best-vineyards-yelp
visittheusa.co.uk
visitbritain.com
visitengland.com
https://www.denbies.co.uk/tours-and-experiences/
https://www.denbies.co.uk/events/forthcoming-events/

https://www.denbies.co.uk/
To learn languages to translate wine labeles
duolingo.com
memrise.com
translate google

https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/07/the-best-vineyards-to-visit.html
https://travelwithangelalansbury.blogspot.com/2019/06/english-wine-white-sparkling-rose-and.html

About the Author
Angela Lansbury is a travel writer and photographer, based in the UK and Singapore. Her family has also lived in Spain, Switzerland and the USA.

The best vineyards to visit? And wineries? And wine and spirits museums?

Singapore Flag

Singapore Sling. 

Driving around Bulgaria recently we found entire villages where every garden grew grapes on pergolas visible along the high street (which Americans call main street).

Every wine producing country has its grapes, vineyards, wine producers, spirits and cocktails. 

Vineyards Versus Wineries

First, some poeple would like to know the difference between a vineyard and a winery. You could grow grapes in a vineyard, and sell them to somebody else because you cannot afford to spend a thousand pounds on a new giant oak wood barrel, and to wait three or more years for the wine to mature in the barrel and then the bottle. 

It can take three or four years to get a vine to produce grapes. Then, if you get great grapes and mature in in the barrel and the bottle, more years to produce a vintage. Some growers say they are planting vines and laying down wines for their grandchildren. 

You could use your own grapes to make wine, having both an outdoor vineyard and an indoor winery (factory), which makes for a great visitor attraction. Especially if you add on a shop and a restaurant serving local food and wines.

Some people buy in grapes from several vineyards and blend them to make a wine which is consistent in taste over the years. They don't grow their own grapes, but buy locally, or import from other countries. 

Europe: France, Italy, Spain, Greece

France is famous for Champagne, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Beaujolais nouveau and Alsace. 

Italy is popular for Prosecco and Asti. Asti. 

Spain is known for Sangria and Rioja. 

Portugal produces Port - and Mateus Rose. 

Holidaymakers will remember ouzo from Greece. 

Spirits and Cocktails

Spirits are high in alcohol, burn your throat and get you drunk quickly. So they are mixed with juices to make a longer drink. 

Singapore Sling

Singapore's special symbolic drink is the Singapore Sling. Amusingly alliterative. A pink drink. Yes, Singapore Sling, the drink of Singapore.The place to have it is in the Raffles Bar in the Raffles hotel. Singapore Airlines serves it on request but in Economy it is not as exciting as in the hotel.

UK's Union Jack.

 Britain produced Gin. Whisky is from Scotland and Ireland. Guinness from Ireland. 

England has many vineyards and award-winning wines. Name one. Nyetimber, which means new timber.

Russian and Eastern Europe

Hungary, once known for Bull's blood is now known for its sweet wine, Tokaji. (Prounounced toe - kai.)

Russia and Eastern Europe are known for vodka. 

America wins with bourbon. 

Chile, South Africa, and New Zealand are also important wine producers.    

Best Vineyards to Visit
Best vineyards to visit on a family holiday? In North America I would say California, for a theme park and supermarket atmosphere, best place to buy corkscrews, aprons, books.


UK
In Europe I rate the UK's Denbies, supermarket and indoor and outdoor tours. See both the grapes growing on the hills, one hillside in the shade and another in the sun, so you can instantly understand why two adjacent plots of land produce different wines.

In London you can take courses in wine at WSET and Berry Brothers & Rudd. You can also enjoy wine dinners at assorted clubs and wine bars.

Drive south to Denbies. Or drive North. Climate change has put the UK on the world's wineries maps.

I look for a place with a restaurant, a shop and a nearby restaurant and hotel. For me and the driver. Some UK hotels contain wine shops, such as The Old Bridge Hotel, Huntingdon, England has a revolving menu with matching wines and a wine shop.

Cellar Door has made a map of 200 wineries.

My husband Trevor Sharot is writing a book on wines. He has found 700 vineyards in the UK, 120 wineries. Around Britain, there are more in Wales, 22 vineyards. Drive north for the causeway to the mead producing area. On to Scotland to find whisky. On the ferry over to Ireland, and you can find Guinness; what's more numerous shop, selling nothing to do with wine, often have a bottle or two or more for sale in the shop or displayed in the window.

Southern UK is also known for cider, which you will find on the supermarket shelves in London.

France
From the UK we would drive to Paris. Through Normandy to the apple and pear region for wines and spirits. But the destination in mind is bound to be  Champagne in France. Champagne is Champagne.

However, having done Champagne region and Rheims many times, my next  must visit vineyard region area is Alsace because I just love sweet wines, white, rose and sparkling wines.


Flag of Spain

Then Rioja in north Spain which has a wine museum or two.  Shops stock everything from silk scarves to table napkins with grape patterns. If you find red wines full of tannins give you a headache, you can probably cope with Sangria, red wine, white wine, fruit, refreshing.


New Zealand flag

New Zealand's BYO
If you happen to be in South Africa or New Zealand and like wine, try their wineries. In New Zealand once you have fastened on a wine style or brand you like you can take your own bottle of wine to Bring Your Own (BYO) restaurants.

All over the world you can book wine tours at wineries or take a morning or full day or whole week wine tour.

Useful Websites
Worldwide
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-7227995/The-worlds-50-best-vineyards-2019-named-producer-Argentina-ranked-first.html?ito=link_share_article-factbox
UK
https://www.winecellardoor.co.uk/directory/map/
RUSSIA
https://www.mircorp.com/visit-cristall-vodka-museum-moscow-russia/

See my other posts on Alsace wines, vineyards, the Old Bridge Hotel.

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.

TANGLIN CLUB BIRTHDAY LUNCH IN THE CHURCHILL ROOM

Where could I go for a birthday lunch? We are members of the Tanglin Club. The Tanglin Club has several options for eating. For a moderately priced meal with lots of choice at lunch or dinner, there's the pub called the Tavern. My favourite.

Upstairs is a small Oriental restaurant. We had a table for two once. Such a tiny table. Cramped. A bit like eating on a train. But no window. Claustrophobic. A huge price for a mushroom with a fancy name. Still hungry.

Down by the poolside, noisy, a lot of coming and going, more casual dining and lots of exuberant children distracting you.

Over in the sports area, bright and airy and informal. Expensive sandwiches and waiter service. But no service. Play hunt the waiters. You feel abandoned, like you are eating leftovers on a table tennis table. Need a fork? Jog to the other end and around the corner.

None of these venues was right for my birthday. I had a better idea.

The Churchill Room

The Churchill Room with its grand piano. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

For a grand meal, choose the Churchill Room. It is a grand, high-ceilinged, wood-paneled room with a grand piano. On one side is the bar, and window, on the other side, a stage for a band in the evening, or a presentation at the AGM.

The dining room used to be too big and half empty often at lunch times. However, they have divided it off so that most of the tables are occupied and it seems cosier.

We had a wonderful lunch. A set meal with limited choice, but perfect.

Set Meal Prices
I like a set meal. Too many choices takes up time and makes my impatient husband get impatient. Predictable price. Drinks extra.

I like the French system of making it legal requirement for every restaurant to have a set meal, giving the price including one drink and the service. They can have a second meal at a higher price. That way, you know exactly what you will have to pay.

I was given a menu without prices. That's a nuisance The lamb cost an extra ten dollars. I was quite happy to save ten dollars and eat something else.

The napkin is arranged like a fan on the table.

Elegant and inviting table setting. Photo by Angela Lansbury.


Best of all, the napkin has a buttonhole in the corner so you can wear it to protect your clothes.

Angela Lansbury wearing the Tanglin Club napkin which has a handy buttonhole. Photo by Trevor Sharot.

The Churchill Room
The Churchill Room is the grand, large restaurant, usually with waiter service (occasionally a buffet on a family day). The name honours Winston Churchill and reflects the age of the club and the fact that the original membership was mainly British.

The waiters appear fast and catch your eye when needed.

The free bread and butter arrives first. Hot bread. Black bread. White bread.

With a tiny tub of hummus. Another of tomato sauce. A third of oil. The bread disappears fast.


Free hot bread and hummus. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Drinking A Glass Of Prosecco
To accompany the drinks we ordered Prosecco for me. I am what is known as a Cheap date. I like Prosecco. From Italy. It is usually cheaper than Champagne, which is made in the Champagne region of France. (Except that the French region has now expanded into the USA.)

Champagne is made in the bottle, whilst Prosecco is made in tanks. Prosecco has smaller bubbles and less alcohol. I can drink Prosecco and rely on my own wit to make myself smile.

Champagne is stronger and, after only two sips, I am dipping towards the diagonal. Champagne contains an h for hiccups. Save money and avoid embarrassment by giving me Prosecco.

Two small  two choices of starter. One contained shellfish, and I am allergic to shellfish.

That makes ordering easy. I'll have the soup.


Tomato Soup at the Tanglin Club. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Red Tomato Soup
So I had the tomato soup. It arrived in one of those plates with a huge rim and a small bowl- -like centre. Looks very grand.

The white rim contrasts with the red tomato soup. The red accentuates the pristine white. The white accentuates the vibrant red.

Just the right amount of soup. Enough. But not too much.

I asked the host, my husband, "How do they make tomato soup taste so good?"

He is a keen cook. He answered, "Probably not ordinary tomatoes. Sundried or roasted tomatoes."

About four main courses to choose from.

Gleaming domes concealing the main course at the Tanglin. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

The domes over the main course keep it hot. If the waiters co-ordinate you get to see your plate of food before looking across to see somebody else's.

Main course in a bowl. Churchill Room. Tanglin Club. Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Main Course
My chicken and al dente asparagus was just right. Not exceptional. But just right.

However, the piece de resistance was the dessert. Irresistible!

Light baklava dessert at The Churchill Room, Tanglin Club, Singapore. Photo by Angela Lansbury.

Delightful Dessert
No choice. Only one dessert on the menu. Only one - but what a dessert.

I had queried whether I could change the vanilla ice cream for something more interesting. They had chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Or lemon sorbet. But the waiter suggested that the desserts came ready prepared with the vanilla ice cream on top - did I want it removed to one side - and the flavours were matched. I agreed to stick with the vanilla ice cream.

Although I could not taste vanilla, I cannot speak too highly of the dessert. We concluded that it must be a Greek style baklava. But not like the usually gritty shredded wheat. Something finer, more delicate visually and texture wise as well as taste-wise, a melt in the mouth hair-fine crunch. Nuts and syrup - whatever it was, it was gorgeous.

Finally, we ordered a single espresso coffee which arrived with a small biscuit.

Single espresso coffee with biscuit.

Perfect.

When prompted, they brought along a dessert with happy birthday writtEnd in chocolate. Two members of staff sang happy birthday.

Happy Birthday cake with candle at the Tanglin Club's Churchill Room. Photo by Angela Lansbury.


Useful Websites
singaporeair.com
https://www.tanglinclub.org.sg

Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. Please share links to your favourite posts.