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This was the last of our Area 33 Sunday
Lunches for 2008 and yet another new location was selected. The venue was The Three Tuns, Finchingfield, newly acquired by JDC member Mike Stone and which was only opened after refurbishment on November 15th. The picture, left, shows Reg trying to enter the front door whilst the rest of us had entered from the car park and were already supping aperitifs! |
| As you will recall, on Sunday Nov 23rd
it had decided to snow and the forecast was for freezing
temperatures and chilling winds. However, a hardy band of Jaguar
Drivers all managed to venture forth despite this to arrive in
deepest Essex country side having traversed some slippery roads
and slushy snow. The crowded car park was littered with Jaguars (and a BMW!) from Terry & Trish; Reg & Ronnie; Eric & Linda; Alan & Margaret and Mike’s, the pub owner, XKR; Keith & Pam having parked their Nissan 4x4 outside, were they expecting even worst weather? |
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| Whatever the interior was like
before Mike’s refurbishment, now it was a fresh, bright
gastro-style pub with oak floors and leather chairs, but
what of the food? Reg selected Potted Garlic mushrooms whilst Eric chose Scallops; which I must say were King Scallops and deliciously cooked; a good start. A broad selection of main courses followed including extra large portions of Beer Battered Cod or Haddock; Pork Fillet with Mushroom & Cream sauce and Roasts of Beef and Lamb. Vegetable selections accompanied them. Judging from the clean plates afterwards all were excellent although the Roast Beef could have been more underdone for some. Desserts included Chocolate Brulee and Apple & Raisin Crumble. At this point the rest of the table had noted that Eric alone had now consumed all three courses whilst others had had only one or two!; well I was just building up my reserves in case more snow fell and we may have been isolated! Anyway, I then elected not to have coffee but having gone that far they all forced me to have one! The bill as presented was a pleasant surprise as it didn’t include the often customary service mark up; final average costs worked out at £18 per head when including wine, beer and coffee’s and a tip; not bad as the lunch had been both quantity and quality. The outward journey for most of us had included the seemingly long and never-ending S bends on the B1057 from Great Dunmow, laid with a thin, slippery, slushy coating of snow which we all agreed would not be our homeward route! The Three Tuns was certainly worth a visit and if prices, quality and quantity can remain it could well feature on next years Sunday Lunch agenda again. Eric Hoile |
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