Dinner in the Old Library at Sidney Sussex College
I was invited to join the Freedom Week conference in Cambridge for dinner in the Old Library of Sidney Sussex College. It’s a lovely room with wood paneling and oil paintings, and it was candle-lit with the windows open on a pleasant summer evening. It was laid with 6 smaller tables for about 40 people, rather than the one big one shown in the photo.
We began with confit of duck terrine with a stunningly good apricot chutney and pieces of brioche. We were served La Vielle Ferme Blanc 2008, a reasonably crisp, dry white wine.
The main course was fillet of sea bream, served skin side up, as is customary. Not only did I eat the skin myself, I even persuaded others at my table to do likewise. It came with pickled vegetables and sautéed potatoes.
Finally came summer berry Eton mess, which looked delicious and drew enthusiastic reviews, but I was pretty full so gave mine away. The coffee was good, though I didn’t eat the chocolate mints.