WAGS 11.12.2019: The Christmas Blowout

A picture is again this time worth 1000 words, so I don't propose to get too verbose in describing this event.
     Ingrid undertook to arrange the lunch, being the obvious choice as she lived closest to the proposed venue, Jardim das Oliveiras, halfway up the road from Monchique to Foia, It is a well established place, and the owner Geraldino is a superb host.  Initially we thought that we were to order a la carte, but on being confronted with 21 of us, some known to be notoriously picky, Geraldino  took charge and proposed a selection of starters to share and several main courses to be spread along the tables. This worked very well and we had an efficient lady serving us with skill and dexterity.

Sadly the gloom of the Jardim's private inner sanctum was more akin to a lap dancing club (so I was told!) and the light foiled John's hi-tech Sony camera and I only achieved average results with my OnePlus 7 Pro.
   Here are the participants: L-R:
Yves, Katherine, Jim, Paul, Jill Terry, Peter Ingrid, Chris Rod, Sonia, Janet, Hazel, Hilke, Lindsey, Antje, Geraldine, Dina, John, Maria.   Myriam of course took the photo from her customary lofty perch. I took another with my hands aloft but this was less than perfect owing to Geraldine hiding her face, possibly because of her father's overt flirting with Myriam - or was it the other way round #metoo!

Nevertheless these photos are at the end of the meal and the photos of the typical Portuguese mountain food which was plentiful and superb, follow out of sequence.

Mixed cold starters: Presunto, Mushrooms, Chourico, Pork and olives

Polenta

The Mains:, Galo or Rooster stew with cabbage; Not all the ladies wanted this - perhaps it lost something in the translation!!

Cabrito

Jawali

Only a couple of the desserts which disappeared quickly before I could finish the photography

A Tiramisu creation

Chestnut with chocolate - just in time!

Our lady waitress dishing out the medronho and brandymel from glass boots.

Ready to dispense.

Thanks to Ingrid for organising the venue, to Geraldino and his staff for the great meal, to Rod for his usual oration, which I would report in full if he had reminded me, and to all the WAGS leaders and followers, who have joined in during 2019. Possibly, weather permitting one more walk this year, to be led by Terry in Vale de Fuzeiros. 

      Happy Christmas to one and all!

Sequel : A study in post lunch depression!

But there was a Happy one!

Happiness is nothing more than good health and a bad memory.

Albert Schweitzer (1875 - 1965)

PS: After the event we discovered that Mike and Jyll had been en route to the lunch but had broken down about 3 km short.  They had been unable to harness the powers of modern communications and make Rod aware of their plight, so sadly missed the event and had to be content with a ride on a tow-truck