Bastille Day at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons
A very French celebration of Le Manoir's 25th Anniversary

On Bastille Day, July 14th 2009, we celebrated the 25th anniversary of Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons, starting in the garden with aperitifs and canapés, followed by a piano recital en plein air (we were lucky with the weather, and had no rain until a feeble post-lunch drizzle). Dr Marios Papadopoulos, music director of Oxford Philomusica, gave us some old favourites: Beethoven’s “Moonlight” Sonata in C-sharp minor; Debussy’s Clair du Lune; and the Chopin Polonaise in A-flat major. The musical programme concluded, or course, with La Marseillaise, soprano Sally Harrison’s solo, followed by a very loud, enthusiastic chorus of the hosts and guests.
 
This was a magnificent prelude to the speeches commemorating the event given by His Excellency Maurice Gourdault-Montagne, the French Ambassador to United Kingdom, by M.Jaumé Tàpies, President of Relais & Châteaux, Mr Paul White, President and CEO of Orient Express, and finally, by Raymond Blanc OBE, Chef Patron of Le Manoir, giving one of the happiest orations of his career.

 
At 1.15pm, the hundred friends, relations and colleagues sat down in Le Manoir’s restaurants for the gala 25th anniversary lunch of Tartare of Scottish langoustine with the flavours of Japan; Salad of heirloom tomato, Kalamata olive and Sicilian tomato essence sorbet; Confit of wild River Severn salmon, elderflower and yuzu cream; garden radish; Mr Ring’s “Bury Hook” lamb, braised fennel, with coco beans and aubergine purée; Poached peach in white wine and citrus fruits, black figs filled with port ice-cream; and coffee with very special chocolates.
 
After the Champagne, the wines (all French for this occasion, of course) were L’Aumonier 2008, Le Touraine Blanc; Bergerac Richesse 2005, Domaine de Garrou; and Monbazillac 2006, Domaine de l’Ancienne Cure, “Jour de Fruit”.