I’m a married woman!! It’s been a long time coming but we finally got hitched.
I love this story and I can’t wait to tell my son when he grows up.
My husband (love saying this!) and I have been together for over 9 years. We have bought a house together, own a dog, had a baby and I had changed my surname so that the three of us matched, we were practically married anyway but wanted to make it official. What we didn’t want to do was spend half a years wages doing it.
There was no fancy manor house or cheesy disco. No extended family or long lost acquaintences we haven’t seen or spoken to for 10 years. And there was most certainly not a big white meringue of a dress that cost thousands of pounds.
What we had was a registry office, a red and white polka dot Viviene of Holloway 50’s swing dress, and eighteen of our nearest and dearest.
We knew that the more people involved, the more expensive it would become so the decision was made that we would arrange the whole thing in secret. We told everyone that we were going wine tasting as a belated birthday celebration for my husband and arranged transport so that nobody had to drive.
It wasn’t until the drivers of the taxis arrived at the registry office that anyone realised what was going on. My dad could barely speak he was so shocked but luckily for me that wore off and he agreed to walk me down the aisle AND to read The Owl and the Pussycat during the service.
Of course being the food lovers that we are, we had to make the reception pretty special. And what better way then to book a table at a Michelin starred restaurant? This is how we discovered the very lovely L’Ortolan in Shinfield (near Reading).
It’s a beautiful older style building with the feeling of being in the middle of nowhere. The service has to have a mention right away. It was second to none. We had champagne thrust into our hand and delightful little canapés while we gave our speeches, wine and water was topped up without being imposed upon and even the chefs got in on the act by allowing us into the kitchen to have photos taken with them.
Now the important part of course is the food. All seven courses of it!
Chefs starter – French Onion Soup with croutons
Duck Confit and Apricot Terrine with hazelnut and Brioche
Poached Lemon Sole, Sea Vegetables and Champagne Sauce
Braised Blade of Beef, Truffled Mash, Roast Root Vegetables and Red Wine Sauce
Smoked Capra Neauvo, fig chutney and Mustard Lavash
Chefs Pre-dessert – A sort of de-constructed carrot cake
Apple Tart tatin
The highlight for me has to be the beef course. The beef melted in your mouth, the mash was smooth and creamy and the red wine sauce was rich and warming.
My other favourite dish of the evening was the smoked Capra neauvo (the cheese course). Disclaimer: this is not for the faint hearted. There was probably only about 4 out of the party of 20 who actually liked it, but those who did, loved it. Don’t get me wrong, it smelled of feet and stank the room out but if you get past that then you’re onto a winner.
There was one course that was a little bit of a miss and that was the pre-dessert. I’ve called it a sort of de-constructed carrot cake because it was a few broken pieces of sponge and some shavings of carrot. It was a little odd to look at given the outstanding presentation of the preceding plates.
All this was then followed by Petit fours. By this point I was a bit squiffy having drunk a never-ending glass of red wine and didn’t get around to trying them but I’m told they were delicious so we’ll have to take my guests word on that.
It was truly one of the best dining experiences I’ve had. My wedding day was made all the more perfect because of the wonderful service and exquisite food and I have already told them to expect us back for our first anniversary.
The food was from the set private dining menu which cost £89 per person. Do not expect your bill with alcohol to be cheap, but do expect it to be worth every penny. May I suggest going for the three course lunch time menu. At £31 it’s a bargain.
L’ortolan
Church Lane
Shinfield
Reading
RG2 9BY
Tel: 0118 988 8500
Annie's Food Affair 