Globetroughers
For a while Manchester LocSec, Lynn Trillo, had been running a series of eating meetings called "Globetroughers". On a set day each month Mensans visited a restaurant to try out different nationality cuisines. I liked this concept so much that when Lynn finally ran out of foreign restaurants around Manchester I shamelessly stole the idea and brought it to the East Midlands!
On the last Tuesday of each month we dine out around Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire. I try to alternate these counties as well as the type of food. One year after it's launch in August 2003 we have seen many new faces and tasted a variety of dishes and it's all been good fun. Our lowest attendance was 8 at our first event (an Italian meal) rising to a record-breaking 20 to try Swedish meatballs at Ikea's restaurant. Though I suspect the shopping afterwards was a big attraction, especially for the ladies!
There was a panic in November when workmen carrying out road repairs in Nottingham severed the electricity cable and plunged the Iranian restaurant into darkness. I arrived home to an answerphone message telling me they had cancelled our reservation. I duly phoned the restaurant back and said that 17 people would be turning up on their doorstep at 7.30 pm whether they liked it or not as there was not enough time to phone up everyone before they set off. Luckily power had been restored by the time we arrived, the ovens were working again, the lights were on, and we enjoyed a pleasant meal.
In January we visited the Hard Rock Cafe in Nottingham where the music and American portion sizes are legendary. Two of us were celebrating birthdays around that time so our table was decorated with balloons. However, Adrian and I were made to stand on our chairs whilst everyone sang to us. How embarrassing! We were given a free ice cream dessert for our troubles. As we left snow was beginning to fall. Had we been meeting the following night I think many people would have been missing as the big freeze set in.
In Loughborough we've eaten kangaroo burgers and pumpkin mash at Moombas Australian restaurant and spicy curry at the Thai House. In Derby we've been down Mexico way for tacos and nachos and Frederic - a French Mensan currently working in the city - joined us for a French meal at Pierre Victoire. In Leicester we've been to the ever popular Nando's for their Portuguese peri-peri chicken. Whilst placing my order the guy serving had to answer the phone. The person on the other end was obviously asking if a message could be passed on to the Mensa group. But you can't reserve tables at Nando's so he was just saying there was no group booking when I cheekily interupted to say I was with a group. The phone was duly handed over to me. Perfect timing! Christine also joined us that evening to celebrate her birthday.
Still to come are enough dining opportunities to last us until mid 2005 including Scottish cuisine in January, as appropriately Burns Night falls on the last Tuesday, and belly dancing as part of our Moroccan meal. Not forgetting English, Turkish, Chinese, Polish and many more. If you have a favourite foreign restaurant please do recommend it! As an incentive to attend our "Globetroughers" events there's a prize on offer. Each meal attended will earn you a stamp (actually a sticker with the flag of that country) to put in a 'passport' and the most 'well travelled' at the end of the series will win a three course meal for two plus bottle of wine. In addition, for each stamp collected your name will be entered into a draw to win a bottle of champagne. So the more often you join us the greater your chance of winning! What are you waiting for.....?
Maxine Bates