The "Official" Retirement Lunch

IBM gives retiring employees a lunch, and with a limited budget it was a challenge to decide who to invite... I picked 12 to share the afternoon with, and I think we all enjoyed it. The venue was Baka which Terry had suggested based on a Summerlicious event. The scotch list was enough to confirm it, and the menu was great.

I thought a late lunch (1pm) might mean people weren't going to rush back to work and it worked out well... people stayed until at least 3, and we wrapped up a little before 4. With a delightful glass of single malt... Hector looked through the list and suggested this one. It's not old, it is rare. And it was a great choice... those of us who sampled it enjoyed it very much.

Lunch was an assortment of first course dishes, followed by some amazing mains. Steak, fish and gnocchi were the popular choices.

When it came to dessert, almost everyone picked the Grey Goose Creme Brule... and to be honest I'd have to say it was the one part of lunch that didn't live up to expectations. Somehow I felt like they rushed it, perhaps having that many ordered at the same time? Still, it was good. Not great, as the rest of the meal had been. And speaking of great, our hosts were very attentive and definitely added to the delightful experience.

Here are a few photos from around the table...
https://picasaweb.google.com/pkraiker/20110427IBMRetirementLunch#

A Tasting

For a while now a small group of friends has been getting together to do a regular scotch tasting... we've tried to do it every three months and for the most part it's worked out. When we started we were all employees of "Eightbar" and as of this tasting none of us are. I was the last to leave, and felt it was appropriate to host this tasting at my home. It was fun to say the least.

I also extended the invitation to my son (Zef) and I was delighted when he arrived. Of course being the "newbie" he got to take notes of the tasting, I'm looking forward to reading the notes he took. There were 5 fine single malts on hand, with a theme based on the new BRUICHLADDICH 16 YO CUVEE offering from the LCBO as well as a classic 18 YO Auchentoshan and a new whiskey from Wales.

A few hours of the pleasure of good company, good whiskey and good food (top on the food list being the applewood smoked cheddar... now a staple at our tastings).

Here's a photo of what was being sampled (missing the Auchentoshan).