I thought you might be interested in a birthday menu cooked by a man
who posts on an English newsgroup. He cooks for pleasure - is not a
professional. As I've mentioned before, British cooking has come a
long, long way from those boiled potatoes and cabbage!

> The menu was
>
> Antipasto di salumi e vedura
> (Bresaola; prosciutto crudo; Milan, Neopolitan with fennel and spicy
> Sicilian salamis; pickles artichoke hearts; stuffed vine leaves,
> spinach falafel; sun dried tomatoes; dried black, big green and
> stuffed olives.)
>
> Beef with cinnamon and bay
> Scented rice encased in filo pastry
> Orange carrots (as per Graham's post a few weeks ago)
>
> Mixed leaf salad with balsamic vinegar dressing
>
> Cheeses:
> Peccorino Toscano Staggionato, Gorganzola di montagne, Hereford Hop
> and Black Bomber.
>
> Mother's Christmas Cake with cream.
>
> Coffee.
>
> The wines; a 2007 muscadet de Sevres et Maine, a 2005 Sicilian
> Aglianico, a 2006 Fitou and with pudding a 1982 Rivesaltes Ambre
> Hors
> Age.
>
> Breads: sun dried tomato, pain de compagne style, mixed grains and
> seeds, wholemeal and brioche.

--
Dora