Hotel Food

 

The Berkley Channelling Melanis

Hotel food. Perhaps you've encountered its beastliness, pricey corporate slop served up as some kind of "treat." Huh. But I recall exceptions to the rule, the Berkley in Knightsbridge served up understated excellence and the Dorchester on Hyde Park wasn't shabby either. 

The Good Old Connaught

Then there was the famous Connaught in Mayfair; go to Mass 'round the corner and fall back to the Connaught for a roast, cell phones not allowed. All famous in their day, justifiably, but let's not forget the Stafford, just off St. James.

Sitting cheek-by-jowl to palatial Spencer House, the Stafford was all about Gilded Age luxury and had wartime cachet to boot, being the WWII Officers' Mess of various allied nations, namely America and Canada. Hence the hotel's American Bar.

The Awesome American Bar

I used to love the American Bar, where you could order up a Club BLT and get perfection, but got to know the dining room menu too well, to the point of exhaustion, it was a work thing. Pan to one night seated at starched linen and gleaming glassware. A waiter approaches and asks in a disturbing French accent, "Sir?"

A moment's reflection, "I should like a cheese omelette and chips." The beastly Dagenhamite sneered at my off the menu order and replied in fakey French, "Would sir like ketchup on his chips?" Stunned by his dam impudence I sat silent while Viscount Furness thundered, beating the table, "He'll eat what he dam well wants!"

The Dorchester, Obvs

The waiter retreated, suitably chastened, and returned with a very decent omelette.

Go to the Stafford if you're in St. James and enjoy the American Bar, I think it remains unscathed from the ravages of the last three decades. Avoid the dining room though, they've ruined it, last I saw.

Apotheosis of Awesome (Boodles)

While you're in the area, gaze in wonder at White's Beau Window and Boodles' equivalent, frown at the forbidding Whiggish facade of Brook's and take solace in the Carlton Club, formerly Arthur's, where, apparently, you're not allowed to smoke anymore. Rubbish.

Cheers,

LSP

New Years Challenge

A few years back and there you have it, I was in 'Nam, Cheltenham. It being New Year's Eve it seemed right to visit some friends, regimental tie and blazer no less. And there we were, "Happy New Year, fella," I offered some massive biker, "Is it, F***r?" came the electric synapse, ultra dopamine quick response.

I looked at the offensive mountain of oily denim, leather, hair and worse and said, "Devil take you and twice as fast." He didn't, fortunately, because the owners, ahem, of the house broke in, "Leave him alone, he's Adolf." And so he did.

Funny thing, I was the last man standing at that biker event, at 4++ in the morning. Lightweights, obviously.

Your Old Pal,

LSP

Here We Go Now

 

Just some random space rock, Lord of Light. Happens of the seventh year and what's wrong with the juke box!

Your Old Pal,

LSP

Why Why Why?!?

 

Why, you ask yourselves from the bay window of your various clubs was Lemmy's floral Iron Cross tribute featured in yesterday's Space Empire post? Good question. Because awesome, obvs. Picture, if you can, Texas' Total Space Dominance (TSD).

In the meanwhile we have to wonder whether the Virus was somehow DAARPA homegrown, and if so, which heads should roll. Fauci, NIH anyone?

That in mind, I'm not a betting man, but I'll wager the fighting monkey on no one, exactly no one being held accountable. But I will buy the crypto dip 'coz fiat's just so trustworthy. Volatility forever and up the Gloucesters.

That's the Spirit of the Age,

LSP

Cooking With LSP - Pie

 

"Cooking with LSP!" you exclaim ferociously from your bay window at Boodles, "That old trick?!?" But not so fast, it can be done, here's how.

Look defiantly at Thanksgiving leftovers and instead of problem see solution. In this case a pie, a turkey and mushroom pie and because you want to save on hassle, made in one 10" skillet. That's right, a one skillet pie.

First up, melt some butter and olive oil in heavy metal, put on Tree Top Flyer Best Version Ever, add half a chopped onion, a couple of cloves of chopped garlic, 2 cups of chopped mushrooms, salt and pepper to taste, a tsp of thyme and fry till the onions are translucent, around 5 minutes. Yes indeed, nice and easy.

Behold the vegetables in their fried glory and sort out the jukebox, perhaps Golden Brown is appropriate, then continue. Add 3 tbs of flour to the mix, coat the veg, it'll stiffen, then slowly add 2 cups of homemade chicken broth, stirring. It's not hard, just pour it in and watch the gravy thicken. Result.

Then add up to a cup of milk and stir it into the mix until you get the consistency you want, not too watery, not too thick. Apply chopped up turkey. We got ours from a rancher whose wife had gone to Vegas to run PRA barrel competitions, "Here boys, you take this," and so we did.

Rodeo aside, simmer or rest your pie mix for a while, it takes time for those flavors to become as one delicious one. And then? Cover the beast with pastry and put it in a 400* preheated oven until the crust is golden, around 20 minutes. But no rule, your call.

Go on, shoot the dam pie

Well done, bask in the glory of it all and fall upon your scoff.

Like a Warrior,

LSP

PS. Careful on the salt... word to the wise.

KAR

 

Years ago, I asked a powerful lawyer, please don't spit, if he'd ever served. He replied in that I wish you weren't here kind of way, "King's African Rifles." Boodles forever and sometimes a picture's worth many thousands of words.

Your Friend,

LSP