Dinner 2005

Our Latest Event - The "Minutes"

The 2005 Dinner - The Secret Societies

Wines and Goodies

The Illuminati, the Priory of Sion, the Masons, the Oddfellows, the Funis - all secret societies that hide their true meaning behind a screen of mystery and obfuscation - and more than a little oddity (think of Shriners and those miniature motorcycles, or the Funi Song debate). Dan Brown has made a fortune out of showing the secret messages and signs purportedly left by these ultrasecret societies... and your Obedient Secretary is more than willing to share the profits (and prophets). In keeping with the theme of "Was Leonardo da Vinci a Funi?", please allow me to present a few Brownian movements and observations.

This is, of course, partly a work of fiction (yeah, sure), and so some of the names have been changed to protect the innocent (and prevent lawsuits). Any mention of ceremonial meetings, ritual ties, or the infamous sweet/savoury debates is pure fabrication.

* * *

27/28 August 2005

Hosts: Mr. & Mrs. Gillis
Toastmaster: Mr. Macleod
Since this is a Secret society, it is impossible to determine if all members were present, since members will, of course, disavow any relationship to the society. However, it was not apparent that any missing persons were present, and the pictures of the naked cabal held later on in the secret dungeon show more than anyone could possibly wish in the way of confirmation.

The 2005 event began with apparently random arrivals of the principals at the mystic site of Burnbrae, in the aptly-named community of Paradise. The participants gave all appearance of arriving for the purpose of sharing a dinner among friends, with no clue of their deeper purpose. To the untrained and uninitiated observer, swimming in the pool was mere recreation, with no sign of secret homage to Neptune and Poseidon.

The ~~Brotherhood~~ guests dressed for dinner and assembled poolside for non-traditional, spur of the moment and entirely unexpected and unplanned photographs. The poolside pictures were taken by Athena Mader and Kendra Gillis. Any connection between the Greek goddess and Ms. Mader is (supposedly) purely coincidental. Hors d'oeuvres were produced, entirely spontaneously and without forethought, by Demagog Relic and Demonical Lad. They consisted of toasted bread rounds with chevre and cranberries; cucumber rounds with cream cheese and smoked salmon, bruschetta with sun-dried tomatoes; antipasto assortment (olives, artichokes, tomatoes and mushrooms); roasted tomato torte; Foie Gras pate with pepper oatmeal biscuits and toasted rounds; cheese and thyme scones. Several wines were served, including wines a), o) and l) on the accompanying list.

The attendees were subsequently seated at table in accordance with the precedence dictated by the secret scrolls (and place-cards). Soup was served by Anvil Domed and the lovely Pict Aria. Called "soupe du melon d'ete", it was presented in a form suggestive of the ancient symbol for ying/yang. The accompanying wine was b).

Next came the Piscean course, in furtherance of the marine obeisance that began in the pool. Hold, Mend Ill Cat and the lovely Latin Charmer prepared a dish of mangoes and shrimp with sauce of lemon zest, shallots, coriander, ginger, lime and Thai sweet chili peppers. Accompanying this, Flutter Robe and Grumpy Harm prepared a vegetarian course, the name of which I have been unable to locate in any reference work, which probably means that it was supplied in a yet-unbroken code: "curso turido" stir fry. Although this is, in fact, an anagram of Citrus Odour, the dish was more than just an aroma, so the secret is still undiscovered. The accompanying wine was c).

Lubric Legis and Eligible Bids now came out with a totally unexpected palate cleanser, the delightful Basil Ice Cream. Please note that this was an actual course, not an anagram for Ceramic Isabel.

In the spirit of the occasion, the Vice-Chairman for the Secretariat gave a presentation on the subject of Dan Brown and the Funipendulous Society, which exposed the secrets and identities of several of the persons named in these very minutes! For those with the computational wherewithal, a link to the original PowerPoint file is provided at right. At the conclusion, Bragger Bot presented the Vice-Chairman for the Secretariat with an inscribed copy of Peter Clark's "British Clubs and Societies 1580-1800 - The Origins of an Associational World", which has been given a place of honour in the legendary Funipendulous Library.

Math Dives and Laconic Hamster served an Oriental Salad, a recipe originally obtained from Pict Aria and Anvil Domed. During the salad course, there was an interruption from the Antipodean contingent, something cryptic regarding Australia, England and Ashes that was, for the most part, complete gibberish and therefore obviously in code. This is not surprising, as Hold, Mend Ill Cat is famous for his cryptic terminology, while cricket merely serves to compound the mystery.

The meat course was veal shanks in porcini sauce with a mushroom reduction, served by Inept Reaper and Canaan VenRez, accompanied by cheddar cauliflower, new potatoes cooked with mint, and green beans in butter; again, the product of Flutter Robe and Grumpy Harm. Wines were d) and e)

Things began to wind down with Lubric Legis and Eligible Bids serving a blueberry and curacao creme brulee, while Woos Dean and Ow! Odd Joy served an assortment of chocolate truffles, Saint Agur bleu (France), Brest bleu (France), Greek sheeps milk, French Brie, Lancashire, and Parano Dutch cheeses. Wines were f) and g)

The next morning, breakfast was prepared by Bragger Bot and Racy Gonad, comprising cereal, juice, fresh fruit (blueberries, strawberries and watermelon), smoked ham, blueberry scones, tea biscuits, smoked sausages, hot smoked maple salmon, eggs scrambled with pepper, cream and soda water, and the remainders of the previous night's cheese and mango, washed down with champagne h).

Wines selected by Brother Mitchell and Brother Wood.

a) 1 of 2004 Lindeman's Cawarra Chardonnay (Australia)
b) 2 of 2003 Trapiche Unoaked Chardonnay (Argentina)
c) 4 of Cono Sur Viognier (Chile)
d) 2 of 2003 Tommasi Valpolicella (Italy)
e) 1 of Arco dei Giovi Sartori Valpolicella (Italy)
f) 1 of 2002 Wynns Coonawarra Estate Shiraz (Australia)
g) 1 of 1990 Cockburns Late Bottled Vintage Port (Portugal)
h) 2 of Freixenet Sparkling (Spain)
i) 1 of 2003 J. P. Chenet Cabernet-Syrah (France)
j) 1 of 2004 Two Oceans Western Cape Sauvignon Blanc (South Africa)
k) 1 of 2001 Norman's Encounter Bay Cabernet Sauvignon (Australia)
l) 1 of Robert's Rock Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot (South Africa)
m) 1 of 2004 Kumala Chardonnay Semillon (South Africa)
n) 1 of 2004 Ted the Mule (Tete de Mule) Cote de Ventoux Syrah-Grenache (France)
o) 2 of 2004 KWV Chenin Blanc (South Africa)
p) 1 of 2002 Trapiche Cabernet Sauvignon (Argentina)
q) 2 of 2004 Fishook Merlot (South Africa)