early christmas dinner

after our walk last weekend, J had us round for what sounded like a simple roast dinner. little did i know that in the brief hour or so between T dropping us all home and our landing on J's doorstep, he'd whip up a feast of such proportions. in addition to the 2kg chicken (wrapped in bacon and roasted to perfection...) J also single-handedly produced

leeks with cheddar, parmesan and brie

roasted honeyed parsnips 

pigs in blankets

grilled sausage stuffing 

brocolli and carrots and get this...

POTATOES ROASTED IN GOOSE FAT. 

all this for, um, four people. 

throw in T's amazing starter of smoked mackrel with soft cheese and horseradish on a toasted rustic rye, my cheeseboard and tiramisu to end on a sweet note and we'd enough to feed a hungry army. washed everything down with grown-up reds and port to finish. i could get used to this :)

in true come*dine with me fashion, after-dinner entertainment included pool while J's hipster papa jammed away on their guitar collection. with the roaring fire and even more port that washed away what remnants of beginner's luck possessed for pool.

 

but that's the BFG winning pool for us nevertheless. 

go team!