Adelaide Offline with griff 2/1/10 at the Alehouse: BOOKINGS

[n4sir]

The dust has hardly settled on the last offline and I'm still typing up the notes, but it's already time for those in Adelaide to start considering the next one. Long-time forum contributor Carl (aka griff) is visiting for a few days and would like to catch up with the locals for a dinner, Saturday night 2nd January, 2010 - it will also probably double as the farewell offline for Chris (aka ck) who will move interstate early in the year.

When I talked with the manager at the Coopers Alehouse last week, this date also happened to be the only weekend the function rooms weren't booked for the next five months - room hire fee won't be negotiable for a weekend night so the cost is likely to be around the $60-65/person mark, although that will be with a choice of two entrees, mains and desserts.

While I realise the timing isn't great, I figure if people are really keen on the next offline being at the Alehouse then I need about ten or so people committing to the dinner right now to negotiate a possible booking - otherwise we can wait until closer to the date, and if we miss out try another venue or go back to the ever-reliable T Chow.

Cheers,
Ian

[PaulG]

Assuming no-one will be upset if Jas and I pool our funds into one bottle rather than two, this should be doable for us. Will confirm though!

[Steve]

Conveniently, my plans to be at Robe for New Years Eve have fallen through so I'm going to be in town - I'm in, and I really hope that I make it. It's been too long!

[Wayno]

Perilously close to NYE and the like. Am keen though and a pencil-in at this stage!

[griff]

Thanks Ian! There are two people keen to attend here

cheers

Carl

[David]

Count Pam and David in.

[n4sir]

Okay, that should make the bare minimum of ten starters I was looking for to get things going:

griff +1
n4sir
ck
Paul & Jas
Steve
Wayno
David & Pam

I've just rung the Coopers Alehouse (Earl of Aberdeen Hotel) & booked the Maxwell Cooper room that seats up to 18 for the night (the Thomas Cooper room that seats up to 40 is still available, but I figured we'd probably stuggle to fill the smaller room anyway).

http://www.coopersalehouse.net/maxwell.html
http://www.coopersalehouse.net/thomas.html

Over the next few weeks I'll negotiate a menu with the venue - at this stage it will be a 2/2/2 and they're pretty confident the total cost including corkage and room hire will be comfortably under $65/person.

You can view what we can pick for the menu on pages 5, 6, 7 of the function guide (you can access the pdf document from the bottom right of the above room pages) - from this we can choose two entrees, two mains & two desserts, so please have a look and have a say what looks good or alternatively what you wouldn't like to see as an option.

The Manager is on holidays from Christmas Eve, so we will have to finalise a menu & the number of people going before then.

Cheers,
Ian

[n4sir]

Assuming no-one will be upset if Jas and I pool our funds into one bottle rather than two, this should be doable for us. Will confirm though!

No problem with this at all - given the amount of wine we usually end up with these things if anything it's preferable.

Quality over quantity I say.

[PaulG]

My picks for food are:

Baked Duck, Potato and Thyme Terrine
Vodka and Beetroot cured salmon
Beef Breasola

Whole sirloin
Smoked Lamb Rack
Chicken Breast
Handcut pappadelle

Apple Tatin
Steamed Orange Pudding
Vanilla Bean Pannacotta

(I realise this is three choices not 2/2/2, but I couldn't narrow it down further!)

Also, do we have a theme? I have always thought it would be great to have an international wine night, but I'm not sure if that would be popular.

[n4sir]

I had the Baked Duck, Potato and Thyme Terrine & Whole Sirloin at a dinner earlier this year and they were terrific.

Cheers,
Ian

[griff]

No strong preferences for food here. It all sounds good to me

The terrine does sound extra tempting though.

cheers

Carl

[Nayan]

I can't make it , but I'm just wondering what "baked duck" is?

[JamieBahrain]

Just as a side note, I did a favorite ADL offline restaurant T-Chow the other day. As a Hong Kong resident, I have to say excellent Canto food!

Anyway. Enjoy your dinner. Always enjoy reading the notes.

[Wayno]

Sorry guys, holiday plans are forming into fruition and 2/1/10 is a casualty. Scratch me for this one - have fun.

[n4sir]

Sorry guys, holiday plans are forming into fruition and 2/1/10 is a casualty. Scratch me for this one - have fun.

Right, if anyone else drops out I'm pulling the pin and moving this to T Chow immediately. Seriously. This venue is bloody hard to get and I'm not going to jerk them around or waste my time if we can't get at least ten going.

That should serve as a warning to anyone else saying they want to go too - I expect people who say they are interested from now on to go through with it, short of death, dismemberment or a serious infectious disease.

Cheers,
Ian

Ps. Please don't take this as me being angry with you Wayno (you've given some decent notice), it's just that at the moment this is on a knife edge as to whether we go through with going to the Alehouse (which many have previously said they want to go to) and I want people to confirm their intentions ASAP. To be honest I'm starting to get a little pissed off with people who drop out or don't show at the last second, and it has to be a case of zero tolerance for this offline.

[JustinB]

PaulG just pointed this one out to me - I'm in. (That should get you back up to your minimum for the Coopers Alehouse.)

[n4sir]

PaulG just pointed this one out to me - I'm in. (That should get you back up to your minimum for the Coopers Alehouse.)

Thanks Justin - glad to have you on board for this one.

[Wayno]

Sorry guys, holiday plans are forming into fruition and 2/1/10 is a casualty. Scratch me for this one - have fun.

Right, if anyone else drops out I'm pulling the pin and moving this to T Chow immediately. Seriously. This venue is bloody hard to get and I'm not going to jerk them around or waste my time if we can't get at least ten going.

That should serve as a warning to anyone else saying they want to go too - I expect people who say they are interested from now on to go through with it, short of death, dismemberment or a serious infectious disease.

Cheers,
Ian

Ps. Please don't take this as me being angry with you Wayno (you've given some decent notice), it's just that at the moment this is on a knife edge as to whether we go through with going to the Alehouse (which many have previously said they want to go to) and I want people to confirm their intentions ASAP. To be honest I'm starting to get a little pissed off with people who drop out or don't show at the last second, and it has to be a case of zero tolerance for this offline.

Yes, sorry again mate I probably should have made it a bit clearer that I was only ever a 'maybe'... I do understand what a pain it is when people flake out. I'm usually in your shoes, on other occasions!

[Steve]

I'm still in - barring some catastrophe, I'll be there!

[PaulG]

Subject to it not meeting Ian's expectations, Jas and I are likely to chip in a JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz.

[n4sir]

Subject to it not meeting Ian's expectations, Jas and I are likely to chip in a JJ Hahn 1914 Shiraz.

Just as long as we don't go with the international theme night you previously suggested!

As far as the final menu/theme I'm going to try and leave the decision as late as possible, so hopefully we may have a vague idea what the weather might be and tailor things accordingly.

Cheers,
Ian

[Scanlon]

sorry this one is just too close to my departure date and i'll be saving my pennies for then. have a great night everyone! sorry to miss you on home turf, Griff!

[David]

It will now be David and Pam plus one other - total 3

[griff]

sorry this one is just too close to my departure date and i'll be saving my pennies for then. have a great night everyone! sorry to miss you on home turf, Griff!

Shame! There is always another time though. Have fun on your holidays

cheers

Carl

[n4sir]

Just got off the phone with the Alehouse and it's about time to bump this up again to see if there are any more takers, or any comments on the possible menu:

griff +1
n4sir
ck
Paul & Jas (+2 ?)
Justin
Steve
David & Pam +1
Craig D

I think Paul's initial suggestions look pretty good, so narrowing it down to two choices per course I was thinking of:

Entrees: (these two should suit a variety of things if the weather's hot or not)
Baked Duck, Potato and Thyme Terrine,
Vodka and Beetroot cured salmon

Mains: (this is tougher to narrow down)
Poached beef fillet with a smoked trout & chive mash (this was highly recommended by the manager),
Roasted chicken breast with cauliflower gratin smoked tomato sauce (could be a good alternative to match lighter reds)

Desserts: (I figure a combination of these would be a good match for both stickies & fortifieds)
Apple Tatin with pure cream OR Vanilla Bean Pannacotta, berry compote & Dutch cocoa ice cream,
Chocolate & cinnamon cheesecake & passionfruit parfait OR Coffee bread & butter pudding & Turkish coffee ice cream

Nb. Steamed Orange Pudding (this is VERY sweet and will be tough to match - it was too sweet for a botrytis pinot gris)

At the moment with a planned 12-14 people going the cost will be $55/person.

Cheers,
Ian

[ck]

The food suggestions sound excellent to me. It potentially caters for a range of tastes and more importantly a good selection of wine styles. I'm not sure what to bring but I'll have fun thinking what will match with the salmon and also the beef fillet. Any suggestions are welcome.
regards chris

[n4sir]

The manager just got back to me again to say the final price will be just $55/person.

I think you have to agree for a 2-2-2 menu including corkage and room hire on a Saturday night this is outstanding value.

Cheers,
Ian

[Wayno]

Ian, you still have me on the list - Best remove me for sake of accuracy

[n4sir]

Ian, you still have me on the list - Best remove me for sake of accuracy

Sorry about that Wayno - I thought I fixed that up when I slotted Justin in!

[Scanlon]

ok. i'm coming.

on condition there is a dessert that will match my 1983 chateau coutet sauternes
* edited to add smiley