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The Victoria's Newsletter May 2012

News from The Victoria, East Sheen
Eat out – literally
We have a lovely walled garden with blooming wisteria, blossoming apple trees and even herbs grown for the kitchen.
We have tables and chairs ready for action, an outdoor drinks station with lightly chilled Rose and frosted bottles of beer.... and a giant umbrella (just in case).
And we now have a really amazing outdoor kitchen complete with plancha grill, tandoori oven, rotisserie, char grill and the best looking chefs in South West London (some of the information just given may have been glossed up for PR purposes!).
All we need now is a break in the clouds and we are good to go! Our menu and outdoor kitchen opening times will be hitting your inbox very soon...
The Victorias outdoor kitchen
Supermarket super deal
We have just started a promotion with Waitrose, as featured in the Waitrose Kitchen Magazine, which gives readers 25% off their food bill. The offer is available from 26th April – 31st August 2012, Monday-Thursday, excluding bank holidays for a maximum 6 people.
Jubilee celebrations kick off in May
Wild London in Richmond Park
 
If you need an excuse to visit Richmond Park then this is it. Wild London is part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and is taking place on 15th May 11am-5pm.
 
It promises to be an extra special day in our local Royal Park.
 
There are far too many things going on to list here so visit the Richmond website here for more information.
Chelsea Flower Show
The RHS Chelsea Flower Show is happening from the 22nd – 26th May. We are a mere 20 minutes drive from Chelsea so if you want a hotel that offers you a fabulous walled garden, top notch food and fabulous service you need to click and reserve your room here.
Major transfer gossip
Unfortunately it’s true! Becki is leaving The Victoria. Every business has its owners, every business has its managers and every business has the unsung hero which truly keeps the whole show on the road. Becki is our unsung hero.
She has spent the past year holed up in the office with Greg (that’s worth a medal for a start) and she is the person who answers your phone calls, returns emails, organises all our HR and even makes the odd cup of tea oh and she spell checks these very news lotters (see – she’s gone and I’m misspelling stuff already!)
Good luck Becki – you will be missed!
Team bonding? Supporting a good cause? Or just plain stupid?
In September Paul and Greg (the middle aged, overweight owners of The Victoria) along with Sous chef Charlie and Restaurant manager Marek will be cycling from London to Paris. This ridiculous display of health and fitness is all in a good cause.
Freedom from Torture website
They will be cycling to raise funds for Freedom from Torture a charity that helps people who have suffered the most serious violations of their fundamental human rights, suffered horrific violence and fled persecution.
Find out more here: www.freedomfromtorture.org
Save money whilst you sleep
It’s true. Honest. Up until 30th June we will be offering a double room in our lush hotel and a sumptuous Sunday lunch for two in our award winning dining room for just £150.00*. We will even throw in a continental breakfast. Simply call 020 8876 4238 and quote ‘Another Lazy Sunday’.
(* Inc VAT. Offer is subject to room availability)
Wines of the month...
Assyrtiko grapes being picked...
 
Thalassitis, Santorini 2009, Greece
Style: Dry, extremely Crisp and Mineral
 
This is 100% Assyrtiko grapes (pronounced ASS-EAR-TEA-KOH) from the Episkopi Vineyard made by "the George Clooney" of Greek wine, Yiannis Paraskevopoulos. Thalassitis means "from the sea" in Greek because these vines withstand searing hot summers only irrigated by the tangy dew from the sea mist - which gives the wine its salty tang. This uniquely fresh white wine is so deliciously dry it's like sucking on a frosty volcano! From some of the oldest vineyards in the world, think salt, lemon and verve packed into a crunchy diamond.
 
If you like your wine searingly dry and are up for tasting something wonderfully unique, place your order now. Sensational! (13% abv)
 
Domaine Gry Sablon Fleurie 2010, Beaujolais, France
Style: Light and Fruity
 
An exuberant beauty! This Fleurie is full of ripe fruit, silky tannins and hints of violets that you can't help but fall in love with the it, this should come with a serious warning - it's vibrancy may well change your day, night or life at least while you're with us! It's simply amazing so much character and charm can fit into such a small bottle! A great wine to drink chilled at lunch and at room temperature in the evening. This is no namby-pamby Beaujolais, this is the real deal, so tuck in folks! (12.5% abv)
 
This is no namby-pamby Beaujolais, this is the real deal, so tuck in folks! (12.5% abv)
Mahi Wine Evening, June 14th
The legendary Kiwi Mahi wine maker Brian Bicknell is flying over for a very special wine evening at The Victoria on June 14th. Gastronomic food and fabulous wine is guaranteed. Put the date in your diary and watch for further details.
Guest Ale for March
Doom Bar Bitter is named after an infamous sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in North Cornwall - where the River Camel meets the Atlantic Ocean on Cornwall's rugged north coast, a sand bank, centuries old, known as the Doom Bar protects and calms this beautiful estuary. Sailors respect the Doom Bar knowing it to be unforgiving if met with haste or arrogance.
The Doom Bar on The Camel Estuary
Doom Bar, the beer, embodies many characteristics which make it worthy to carry the name of this natural wonder. Its distinctive aroma and balanced flavour set it apart from other beers taking unsuspecting first time drinkers by surprise with its moreish appeal.
Doom Bar Bitter has achieved international cult status, is one of the fastest growing beer brands in the UK, and the best selling cask beer in the South West of England..
Notes from the Kitchen
There are lots of benefits to being a chef – the main one of course is exercising total gluttony in the name of culinary menu research however it’s not the only upside. I was recently invited to travel to The Maldives to do a guest chef promotion – tough I know but I felt obliged to help out. Maldivian food is very similar to that in Sri Lanka – lots of seafood and lots of spice. The Victoria regulars will know that we like to try our hand at a spicy twist now and then so I’ve come back truly inspired to get busy with the pestle and mortar!
Over Easter we held a Twitter competition. We asked our followers to guess the number of Easter eggs in a bowl and the winner has walked away with a fantastic prize which includes a tasting menu here at The Victoria – look out for more competitions by following @PaulMerrettChef.
Right those of you who are up and about early each morning will know that we are open for breakfast Monday – Saturday from 8.30am. Each year we make a batch of Seville Marmalade for our breakfast guests and each year it’s sold out well before the next batch is ready! This year we made 150 litres of marmalade and its all jarred up ready to go – pop in for a slice of toast sometime!
Grand Designs is a popular Channel 4 programme hosted by Kevin McCloud – this year they are running a Grand Designs LIVE at Excel from 5-13 May. Amongst other things there is a very swish kitchen designed by Miele which is hosting a chefs theatre – I shall be presenting a couple of dishes live on Wednesday 9th and Saturday 12th of May and it would be great to see you there. I do have a couple of complimentary tickets available – pop in and ask at the bar.
More info on the show at: www.granddesignslive.com
OK that’s about wraps it up for this month – bring on a very hot and sunny May!
 Bon appétit
 Paul, Greg and The Victoria team
Paul Merrett on Twitter