The Venue, Ashbourne Golf Club, Wyaston Road,Tim ShepherdASHBOURNE and District Stroke Support Club meets on alternate Tuesday afternoons in The Venue at Ashbourne Bowls Club, Wyaston Road at 2.30pm.
The meeting on March 19 began with a welcome from Wilfred Dawson, the chairman, who at this point usually introduces the speaker for the afternoon.
But on this occasion he said that there would be an interval of about 20 or 30 minutes and then there would be a surprise item in the programme.
After some time had passed - everyone chatting and catching up with news - Mr Dawson called for silence and introduced Tim Shepherd, who, he explained, was the new proprietor of The Venue and was going to give us a food tasting session.
Mr Shepherd gave a short talk on his experience training as a master chef at Sheffield Catering College and progressing to the present day, working his way up in various establishments including The Nag’s Head in Castleton, The Druids in Birchover, The Coach House in Lea (where he met his wife) and The Boat at Cromford.
In MArch last year they came to The Venue, having fallen in love with the view.
They are hoping, after Easter, to expand their business from just parties and functions to serving traditional lunches to the general public on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Tim then provided some tasty bites for everyone to sample - cheese and pineapple, cannellini beans with mint mash, sausage plait, bacon and pineapple, chicken liver pate and tomato chutney and smoked mackerel pate.
All were delicious, attractively presented and served with a cup of tea.
The chairman gave a vote of thanks and all went home well satisfied.
