~Time for Tea - March event~

So sorry for my prolonged absence - virus and problems with the PC, the screen took to switching itself off until it finally went *kaput* today.  We have no pennies to replace it sadly, it's an ancient 8 years in PC land, so OH has frugally rigged up a TV as a new display screen.
 Hope everyone is well - it will take me some time to catch up with my favourite blogs; but thankfully it's the Easter hols! Spring cleaning and sorting out cupboards and wardrobes beckons...
My tea event last weekend (24th March) went very well, 8 guests attended, 7 ladies and 1 gent, including some lovely ladies met via Twitter, Clandestine Cake Club and Blogland (you know who you are - thankyou for the lovely company!)
The menu had an Easter and Spring theme...

Welcome drinks - Yorkshire Forced Rhubarb, Orange & Ginger Cordial (Country Cordials, Hovingham)

Sandwiches - Fountain's Gold cheese with Caramelised Onion & Rhubarb Chutney (Bracken Hill Fine Foods, York)

Jo's Special Cucumber sandwiches

Savouries - Homemade spicy sausage rolls

Cakes - Lemon Layer Cake with homemade lemon curd

and passion fruit cream

Fruit scones, clotted cream & homemade red berry jam

Chocolate macaroons

Mini simnel cakes

Unlimited tea and coffee  



Mini-Simnel cakes - with 5 balls of marzipan as I couldn't fit 11 on!



Amaretti Chocolate macaroons



All that was left of the lemon layer cake decorated with crystallised primroses

 I am now having a break in my tea events until September when it will be an informal gathering for Macmillan fundraising - date to follow if you'd like to attend.
I have lots of exciting things to share over the next week, including swapping my car for a bigger engine/diesel model that - yay!- is able, and hopefully will very soon, be towing a caravan!Hurrah! Lots of vintage finds too to share, and some projects I have managed to get finished!

~Tin Duck SupperClub~

Firstly I shall apologise that my camera never came out of my bag.  Very remiss of me, but I was too sidetracked by the good company and excellent food. What a rubbish reporter I would make. Easily distracted...



Image from Tin Duck Supper Club website

 We arrived at the Tin Duck Supper Club at 7.45pm having received an email with details of it's York location a few days before.  The other guests were already uncorking their vino (BYO) and we were welcomed in by Rob who made us feel at ease.  Rob & Kirsty's period house is comfortable and cosy with a lovely woodburning stove in the through lounge/dining room.
Starter - Aubergine Parmigiana with homemade Pesto
I loved this...an individual (generous) layered stack of gorgeousness! The aubergine was substantial and meaty, if you know what I mean; the pesto was delicious and dotted around the tower of aubergine and tomato layers.
Main - Beef Shin Ragu with homemade Papardelle
Generous portion of ragu and papardelle - the beef had been slow-cooked until it shredded and fell of the bone.  Well seasoned with a rich peppery aftertaste. Delicious robust pasta. Served with a side plate of warm caramelised onion bread.  We were all stuffed after we'd cleared our plates, so had a break from the food and were joined by the hosts Kirsty and Rob before we had our dessert. Main topic of chat was food and wine and shopping locally. We recommended various York and North Yorkshire foodie places to each other, which was informative.
Dessert - Plum & Almond Tart with Vanilla Mascarpone cream
I'm a pudding-girl and a lover of all things almond; so this was heaven for me.  Rob had made a fantastic job of the pastry - crisp and very short, made with butter.  Very jealous of the pastry! The plums were sweet and tart, and I loved the soft almond layer underneath. 
Overall, great inventive menu, great tasting food and chatty interesting company.  Relaxed homely atmosphere.  Kirsty & Rob have an obvious passion and interest in food, wine and travel and are keen to source local Yorkshire ingredients, including their own allotment produce. Their events usually seat 6 and have a minimal donation of approximately £20. I would highly recommend a trip to this supperclub... The Tin Duck SupperClub website is here with details of menus and how to book.