Happy New Year and Bloggers Lunch

Happy 2011 everyone!

I trust you've been indulging in a festive spell of epicurean delights, fine wine and classic television heaven. Mine was full of just that, as well as a magical candlelit carol service at Southwark Cathedral; a visit to prison to secure a very special Christmas pudding (which was delicious by the way); a tasty post-Christmas Chinese lunch atop the Royal Garden Hotel, and a hilarious tobogganing attempt which involved a few of us climbing inside large bin bags and hurtling down a snowy hill. Treacherous fun which left us surprisingly unscathed.  I saw the new year in with friends, sipping prosecco on a rooftop near the Thames with a splendid view of the London fireworks.  I am feeling strangely optimistic about this year...

So it's been an eventful couple of weeks, but one of the highlights was definitely attending the Bloggers Lunch at The Ship in Wandsworth the week before Christmas.  Organised by one of the most reputable food bloggers around, Luiz Hara (The London Foodie), it was an honour to be invited along by him and my dear friend, fellow blogger and supper club hostess extraordinaire, Uyen (Fernandez & Leluu).

About fifty of us all braved the snow and made our way to Wandsworth for a Sunday lunch to remember.  The Ship is such a brilliant pub and brought back many memories of when I used to frequent it regularly from my days living in Putney.  Situated on the edge of the Thames just next to Wandsworth Bridge, it is definitely a pub for all seasons.  A huge outdoor area makes it a perfect spot to drink Pimms on long, balmy summer evenings.  But with the bar and restaurant areas contained in a wonderful conservatory, it is also ideal for a pint and the Sunday papers followed by a long lunch on a winter's day.  And this lunch was proof of that.

On arrival, we were served perfectly executed Bloody Marys which certainly defrosted any inner chill.  I sat with a host of interesting bloggers including Uyen, 'Hungry in London', 'Cooking The Books', 'Grubworm', 'Rocket & Squash' and '1mgoldstars' to name a few (twittery blog aliases in case you're wondering).  It was so nice to meet these people in the flesh and what a lovely bunch they all were.  We all had an excellent afternoon getting acquainted, oohing and ahhing (and of course photographing) every dish and just taking in the wonderful atmosphere of a cosy Sunday lunch full of exceptional food, great wine and happy bloggers.

The staff at The Ship were faultless as they rallied around replenishing our drinks and kept on bringing plate after plate of fabulous food - every dish was superb.  Salmon with beetroot, a confit of duck (amazing!) and sticky toffee pudding followed by cheese and desert wine.  I would have been quite happy if we were all snowed in there for the rest of winter!

Big thanks to Luiz, Gail and all the team at The Ship for organising such a perfect afternoon. Let's do it again soon!

Well the festivities are over and it's back to work and reality.  Tomorrow morning scares me, as I've not woken up much before 10am over the past fortnight.  I fear my alarm clock will suffer a slow, horrible death at 7am.  Night all!