Offline: Bowral - South of Sydney

Finney · Post by **Finney** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:01 pm

Hi all,

As promised to those that attended the Sydney offline in early December 2005, I am organising an offline at Eschalot Restuarant located at Links Guest House Bowral. I am looking at either a Friday or Saturday night around Easter, Good Friday is 14 April. So I am suggesting sometime before this weekend? Lets look at say Friday 31 March, Saturday 1 April, Friday 7 April or Saturday 8 April. I know from the December offline we had interest, so all please put your hands up and get this organised early so we can sort the wines and the menu out. Theme.......????

Once numbers are determined, I will talk to Eschalot and look for a suitable menu around the Theme. If people want accomodation the Eschalot Restuarant is located at Links Guest House. One nights accomodation for a double/twin with a full breakfast is around $160.00 (Could be a tad more). Having stayed there several times now, I can highly recommend it!

If we get the same response as the December Offline, then I suggest 2 of the same wine or a magnum so we have enough to go around and everyone gets a decent tasting. If people can't do 2 bottles of the same then we try and marry up with others. We will also need to look at Sparking Reds to kick start and something to go with a cheese platter at the end.

Regards

Finney

cc · Post by cc » Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:51 pm

I am interested. My email is Calvin@calvinykw.id.au

Calvin

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 7:19 pm

Hi Craig,

Either weekend would be good, but the Sat would be almost be a must as we would have to organise someone to look after the rug rats. Count me in for 2 at this stage.

Glen

bacchaebabe · Post by **bacchaebabe** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:15 pm

Hi Craig, we're definitely interested but will need to confirm closer to date due to finally finishing current contract and thus possible overseas holiday. At the moment though, those dates look good. Would prefer Saturday though as more difficult to get up to Bowral on a Friday from Sydney after work (not me in this case) in enough time. Saturday would allow a much more leisurely trip.

griff · Post by **griff** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 10:27 pm

We would be interested in either Saturday. Agree with others saying Friday is not easy to get there after work. Any ideas yet about theme and dinner pricing? If I may, couple of ideas for themes that I would be interested with would be shiraz (oldie but a goodie) or rhone style blends. I'm sure others can come up with better suggestions though.

cheers

Griff

Muscat Mike · Post by **Muscat Mike** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 11:33 pm

Either Saturday would be fine with me.
MM.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Fri Feb 17, 2006 7:19 am

Either date is Ok for me, either one or two people. There is also cheaper accommodation about 250 meters down the road if people don't want to stay at the restaurant.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 5:30 pm

Either Saturday looks Ok at this stage for Andrea and I.

Finney · Post by **Finney** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:06 pm

Hi All,

So the date will be Saturday 8 April 2006 @ Eschalot Restuarant Bowral. So put this in your diaries. So far attending we have:

Finney + 1
Red Bigot +1
Griff + 1
Calvin - Not sure if there will be a partner here?
GRB + 1
Kris + 1
Muscat Mike - Not sure if there will be a partner here?
Torb - Maybe + 1

So that is 13-16 ppl so far. Any other takers?

I would like to close this out sooner rather than later so we can organise theme and booking to ensure Eschalot has enough room for us.

Any suggestions for a Theme? How about the good old trusted "Shiraz"?

So any additions, please let me know sooner rather than later.

Regards

Finney (Craig)

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:14 pm

Craig,

Marion will not be able to come that weekend so put me down for one.

For some strange reason, I won't need a place to stay :wink:

and RB and Andrea will stay at my place too.

Theme - good older reds sounds great to me. I am happy to do some FRS to start or a sticky to finish and will have a back up to make sure the damn thing is not corked!

Finney · Post by **Finney** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:57 pm

OK, Old GOOD Reds will do me just fine - the pressure is on after my last effort! :oops:

Finney (Craig)

cc · Post by cc » Mon Feb 20, 2006 9:30 pm

Hello

Put me down for two persons?

Anyone know of a place that is pet friendly

Calvin

Muscat Mike · Post by **Muscat Mike** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 11:44 pm

Craig,
please put me down for two. My brother in law lives in Bowral and I am trying to get him into good wines so I can drink his stuff, instead of him drinking mine all the time.
MM.
PS - He has a kennel I can bed down in.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:35 am

Muscat Mike wrote:PS - He has a kennel I can bed down in.

No one has a kennel that big! ;-)

Looking forward to catching up again MM.

Finney · Post by **Finney** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 11:01 pm

ok, so we have:

Finney + 1
Red Bigot +1
Griff + 1
Calvin + 1
GRB + 1
Kris + 1
Muscat Mike + 1
Torb

That makes 15 so far. ANYONE ELSE? I will hold this open for 2 weeks, but will contact Eschalot in the next few days to discuss menu options and see what the seating arrangements will be (Private room or out with the "general public"). I would like final DEFINITE numbers by 2 weeks prior as I know how hard Eschalot work at trying to accomodate.

Speaking of menu, do I have any opinions on degustation, as opposed to order off the going menu or set? I personally have no problem with degustation but perhaps some what limited to the number of courses - 5-6 as I sometimes think 7 can be over doing the changes to the palate?

Regards

Finney (Craig)

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 9:18 am

Finney wrote:Speaking of menu, do I have any opinions on degustation, as opposed to order off the going menu or set? I personally have no problem with degustation but perhaps some what limited to the number of courses - 5-6 as I sometimes think 7 can be over doing the changes to the palate?

Regards
Finney (Craig)

I'm happy with a 5-6 course degustation, including cheese instead of a sweet, or at least the option of that. I'm sure Eschalot will do a better job than Atelier of matching food to the intended red wine theme.

Finney · Post by **Finney** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:07 pm

Just spoke to Eschalot:

8th of April is booked out. How do people feel about Saturday 25th March? I can't really do the 1st of April, so would MUCH prefer the 25th of March. Can you all let me know ASAP if this date is suitable?

Also spoke to Tony about a degustation menu. He was suggesting 6 courses:

Seafood
Something else
Duck
Lamb
Beef
Cheese

Tony would like to know the wines we intend to bring as that would allow him to go to town with the menu and do a much better job of matching wines to food.

Corkage is $10/bottle as they don't normally do BYO on Saturday's. With 15ppl (Current numbers committing) we may end up with a table of 6 "others" in the same room but if we get 20 we will have a private room to ourselves.

Cost will be $100pp and we will need a $500 deposit sometime prior to the evening.

Start time would be 6.30pm to allow them to serve us in a relaxed manner.

Look forward to your reply

Finney (Craig)

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 5:24 pm

25 of March is OK by me for 1, possibly 2.

Muscat Mike · Post by **Muscat Mike** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:24 am

Sorry but cannot make that date.
MM.

Christo · Post by **Christo** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 12:41 am

hi all its been a while....

Finney, Interested but unable to make those dates...what about easter saturday?? im off work then! oh & it wil only be 2...

c

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 7:38 am

March 25 should be OK with us.

Glen

manning · Post by **manning** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 3:00 pm

March 25 is good for me and Sanja.

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Thu Feb 23, 2006 3:34 pm

March 25 is Ok for me and for Andrea.

Is the $100pp including corkage? If not, I suggest we get Ric (and his Newfie, Goofy) to go round and negotiate. Some of us will be bringing our own glasses too.

Finney · Post by **Finney** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 12:34 am

ok,

So I will ring and book for 25 March on Friday. Sorry for those that can't attend but the change of date is out of our hands....Can't help it if Eschalot are booked out!

So we have for the 25 so far:

Finney + 1 and possibly another (3)
Red Bigot +1 (2)
Griff + 1 (Haven't heard yet?)
Calvin - (Haven't heard yet?)
GRB + 1 (2)
Kris + 1 (Haven't heard yet?)
Muscat Mike - Can't maker this date (sorry MM)
TORB + 1?
Manning + 1 (2)
Christo - Can't maker this date (sorry Christo)

So that should work out to 10-11 definites with another 6 possibles. Anyone else? Looks like about the 15 number is still good.

Once we have final numbers, I will contact Ric, to discuss the corkage finer details!

Let's keep this rolling...

Finney (Craig)

cc · Post by cc » Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:31 am

Craig

Can you pelase put me down for 2 persons. We will be staying at the Ivy Tudor.

Calvin

cc · Post by cc » Fri Feb 24, 2006 6:34 am

Chris

Just read the thread and can't do 25 March. How about the easter weekend.

TORB · Post by **TORB** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 8:53 am

I doubt you would have a hope in hell of getting in there over Easter. They are already booked up for the week prior.

GRB · Post by **GRB** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 10:07 am

Hi Craig,

Do you have contact details so we can book accomodation?

Thanks

Glen

griff · Post by **griff** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:27 pm

We are good for 25th march but not too sure if we have Good OLD reds. My cellar only goes back to 1996

Have to see what i can find.

cheers

Carl

Red Bigot · Post by **Red Bigot** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:31 pm

griff wrote:We are good for 25th march but not too sure if we have Good OLD reds. My cellar only goes back to 1996 Have to see what i can find.

cheers

Carl

No probs, that's old enough, should be able to find some good 96 reds!