When an invitation to lunch at the restaurant where you first fell in love, you don’t read the small print. At least DH didn’t, so I may have waited until the Domestic Goddesque Travelling Circus had arrived at the OXO2 Michael Caines pop-up restaurant before I mentioned that there may be some work involved in return for our meal.
As Dimples was fast asleep in her pushchair, LBG and Daddy got straight to work in the children’s play area, making the most of the crafty bits that had been provided. I perused the menu and looked out on the truly mesmerising view afforded by the position of the OXO tower. I may even have wiped a tear away as I remembered the lovely evening I had there some nine years before. Then Dimples awoke.
I have to tell you that the food was exquisite. Even the children’s was beautifully presented. They thought that the teeny tiny vegetables had been put there just for them, and who was I to disabuse them? My risotto was creamy and delicate and intense and I could eat it all again right now. Truffles? Yes please! Naturally DH was delighted with his cheese-free herb-crusted lamb and shepherds’ pie with a hint of cinnamon (this pleased me immensely, since I am not a Michelin-starred chef but do the same thing.) It was delightful to enjoy such divine food, such a significant setting, such wonderful wine.
And then came the Challenge: how fast could you wash up your dishes? It turns out that I can wash them in 48 seconds. Which was a lot slower that my impressive husbands 23 seconds, neither of which were a patch on the eventual winner, Ms Sandy Calico who washed up (and I am not joking) in FOURTEEN SECONDS. I am certain that I’d have been faster were it not for the distracting heckling by the team, but I would never have been so blindingly fast. In fact the DH missed out on bronze medal in the dishwasher loading Challenge too: a mere 0.22seconds.
Consolation was found in an amazing Apple Crumble with apple mousse and ice-cream. And a utterly dreamy Sticky Toffee pudding. And a walk along the South Bank, arm in arm with the man I ate dinner with for the first time all those years ago.
disclosure: we received our extremely delicious lunch free of charge, but had to do the washing up. DH won three months’ supply of Fairy Products fair and square. And is still a little miffed that he missed out on two top-three-placings, so probably best that you don’t mention it.
Wasn’t it fab? I hope your OH wasn’t too put out. Lovely to see you x
He’ll get over it, Sandy: he was more put out by losing his dishwasher pole position I think 😀
How fab – I’ve never eaten here but have always wanted to! Love your disclosure: lunch was free but you had to do the washing up. Brilliant 😉
Well, it’s important to disclose the washing up (even if it wasn’t a very good job!). You should go: the views are amazing!