Need British Menu Suggestions

[dfrankiswork at netscape.net]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Penny Linsenmayer" <pennylin at s...> 
wrote:
> Hi all --
> 
> My church dinner gourmet group chose a British themed dinner for 
> November (coincidentally the weekend of the movie premier).  I need 
> some menu suggestions for appetizer, salad & side dishes.  We've 
> already got Shepherd's Pie as the main course & treacle tart as the 
> dessert (I chose that one as Harry's favorite of course!).
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Penny

Well, Shepherd's Pie by its nature doesn't really need side dishes - 
but you could always serve up a couple of veg.  Perhaps parsnips or 
something else *not* boiled?

You defintely want to finish off with cheese and biscuits.  This is 
what fundamentally divides the British from the French, who have c&b 
before the dessert.  For cheese, Cheddar, <i>provided it is 
decent</i> is the sine qua non; unpasteurised is best.  Then a blue 
cheese - the ubiquitous Stilton is not the only contender; Blue 
Cheshire (which is orange in colour, with blue veins) is excellent.  
Other well known goodies are Double Gloucester (can be boring), 
Cheshire (sharp, dry, crumbly; underrated).  Avoid Sage Derby.  Are 
any of these available in Texas?  Popular foreign cheeses: Emmental, 
Dolcelatte, Brie (make sure it's de Meaux as that's appelation 
controlee), Edam, Havarti.  For people with a strong palate, Danish 
Esrom, well matured, will frighten the servants.

Biscuits: mixture of sweet, plain and crackers.

For the appetizer, choice of plain orange and grapefruit juice.  Port 
at the end.

BTW, everything Al says about the grass roots is true. And you do 
need the custard.  To be authentic, the custard should be made from a 
propritary cornflour-based powder, not egg-and-milk.  Who says 
America has not contributed to old-world culture?

Why aren't you having faggots, followed by spotted dick, and then 
perhaps some fondant fancies with the coffee?

David, who likes Lal Toofan, Kingfisher, Tiger, etc.