The Commoner - 17 June 12

Hugh, Andrew, Barry, Zoe, Liz, Gaby

So, for a while we've wanted to do the 'Sunday roast' at The Commoner. Zoe and Hugh now have Eleanor and we wanted to do something during the day that would mean that baby Eleanor and all of our partners could come too. The Commoner was the easy solution. Unfortunately on the day Liz was sick so she missed out. We'll just have to go again another time!

The big decision to make was which meat to aim for, and as a result which dates would work. I've never like roast pork - neither of my parents like roast pork so we didn't eat it growing up and - and I agree with Andrew that we wanted a meat that we were less likely to do at home which ruled out chicken. Overall we had a preference for a really well cooked roast of beef, and by well cooked we wanted rare.

So, beef it was and although Hugh and Barry found the beef a little bit too rare for their tastes but the rest of us really loved it. It was proceeded by a plate of beautiful charcuterie. Salami, prosciutto, cured duck (I think). Yum!

Barry enjoyed a Glenmorangie whiskey from their extensive collection of whiskeys, followed later by a sherry. Andrew had Gentiane, an aperitif. I had a great non-alcoholic drink (involving mint and pomegranate juice/molasses) before some wine.

I can't remember what Zoe had but my dessert was so yum - The Commoner's now famous brown ale chocolate pudding with salted caramel. It was surprisingly un-sweet but definitely felt like a dessert none-the-less. Hugh and Barry both enjoyed their beignet and I did too.