Following our highly successful dinner at Windsor Castle, we decided to hold a sumptuous garden party with wines and food at the exclusive Cumberland Lodge, with beautiful vistas over the Windsor Great Park.
Cumberland Lodge is a 17th-century Grade II listed country house in Windsor Great Park 3 miles south of Windsor Castle. It is not open to the general public. Some of you will remember seeing shots of the Lodge in the 2010 film The King’s Speech. Since 1947 it has been occupied by the charitable foundation known as Cumberland Lodge, an educational charity and social enterprise that exists to empower young people to lead the conversation around social division. The gardens of Cumberland Lodge are Grade I listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens .
We started with a talk on the history and current role of the Lodge, followed by a tour of the most notable rooms. Then we moved out in the the garden for a glass of wine and a three course menu of substantial canapés.
Spiced Cornish Crab Cake, Avocado Purée
Ballotine of Prawn and Smoked Salmon
Mushroom and Parmesan Croquette
Parma Ham, Mozzarella, and Tomato Roll
Fillet Steak Sandwich
Venison Cottage Pie
Lobster Risotto
Strawberry Meringue
Chocolate and Vanilla Profiterole
Stilton, Brie and Montgomery, Chutney, and Bread
The wines were
Macon Villages Blanc Bel Air, Burgundy
Maison Sichel 1883, Vin de Bordeaux
This was a new style of event for us, and greatly enjoyed by all.
Alan Shepherd