Most memorable meal

Its difficult to single one out. Maybe several. I do have a poor memory though. And there is definitely such a thing as 'holiday' or 'romantic' or 'very drunk and starving' tastebuds. And many other types, I'm sure.

And to prove it. I vividly recall a perfectly fried egg on toast cooked by my partner which was the first meal I had after retuning home from a 2 week hospital stay.
 
A Pieminister gluten free pie at 5 o’clock in the morning after returning home from two months away living on rice and eggs.
Had it with a glass of tap water which felt like the ultimate luxury, being able to turn on a tap and the water being safe to drink.
I’ve never taken that for granted since!
 
Probably two meals.
The first was as a 19 yr old choral scholar at Magdalen college, Oxford. I sang Evensong every day (except Tuesdays) for 24 weeks a year. In the summer, the college would throw a huge party called a Gaudy, and invite former students to attend. I seem to remember vaguely that our guests were from 1950-1955, or something like that.
Anyway, it was an extremely formal affair. The choir sang some madrigals before service; we had a reception (sherry served) and then the formal dinner began; a full 5 course meal (it was actually 6, because a wheel of Stilton was rolled out with the port), classic French cuisine.
An aside: before the event, at the final choir practice, the professor ( who was a fierce, but just man, former fighter pilot WWII, DFC and bar, German prisoner, ex-boxer and Ph.d in music!) told us two things:
1) There's a lot of alcohol at this dinner. Pace yourselves and take it easy. Remember we've got a Mass tomorrow morning at 9am, and anyone who's drunk will be sent down.
2) If you're bewildered by the silverware, the table, the food - just follow me.
The show began. First dish was a consommé, with ribbons of crepe floating in it, served with a very, very dry sherry made in 1928. I remember that because that was the year my mum was born. I took a sip of the sherry and it was so dry, it almost took the roof of my mouth off.
"Ahem!" from the professor, who promptly dumped the sherry into the consommé.
Second course was salmon with a lobster sauce and a German white wine ( current price, €475)
Third course, a saddle of lamb princesse - prepared with truffled butter, a velouté sauce and mushroom essence. Served with a premier cru classé Medoc. (current price €204)
Sweet course: fresh strawberries and cream - served with a Riesling (current price €595)
Last course: a curiously British item known as a "savoury". Green butter on toast. Basically a complex herb-infused butter.
Final curtain: a whole wheel of Stilton served with 1942 Graham port. (current price €1,492)
Following all that, we sang College Grace, drank the Loving Cup, the President of the college toasted " Church and the Queen" and then we adjourned to the quad for 12 -yr old whisky and cognac. Cuban cigars were passed around.
Here's the formal invitation, including seating plan.
Gaudy 1972 2.jpg
Gaudy 1972.jpg

That's the fun bit - a truly awesome occasion.
Later on, I'll tell you the "not so awesome" bits :hyper: :hyper: :laugh:
 
It's later on now, so I'll continue the story.
One of the members of the choir nicked a bottle of cognac and took it back to his "rooms". (That's what they were called then, and probably now, too).He invited us all for a drink, but most of us were so stuffed, we probably couldn't have managed a Smartie, never mind a dose of cognac. Anyway - we all trekked off to bed and agreed we'd all set our alarms for 7am, and check on everyone else so we could be 100% ready, dressed, etc. by 8am. About 7.45am, everyone was there except Brian (not his real name!). We wandered over to his "rooms"and the door was open .
"Brian? Brian? Briii-aaan??"
No reply. Inside Brian's "rooms", we discovered a totally passed-out Brian, an empty bottle of cognac and a disgusting mess all over the bed...
We dragged him out of bed, tossed him in the shower, and after about 5 minutes, we got a groan. Dressed the bugger, dragged him off to the Mass, propped him up between two of us, sang our hearts out, and hauled him off to my "rooms" because his were unhabitable.
He took 3 days to recover, but he did, just.
The same day, my professor called me to his office and told me I'd failed the exams (called "mods") yet again, so I would not be returning next term. Well, not surprising - I was thick as 2 bricks and probably not cut out for high academic achievement.
Got into London university the next term and completed my degree.
 
Probably at The Lobster in Santa Monica, you can look up the menu online. It has view of the ocean. I had grilled Maine Lobster, oysters, and some type of dessert, honestly I don't remember the dessert part. Service was superb too.
We went here for graduation celebration for both kids. I know it was memorable because I was very happy we no longer had to pay the tuition. Time to celebrate.
 
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