Neat

Neat: adjective. In a pleasingly orderly and clean condition; also unmixed, pure.

Do you know where this post is going?!

If said 'scotch whiskey', you would be correct!

A few weeks ago, I saw this advertisement in The Oregonian. I happened to notice the whiskey being served at this particular dinner were Omid's favorites. I showed Omid & we decided to go & check it out.

I am so glad we did! It was a lot of fun and also a learning experience for me. I am not a scotch drinker, preferring red wine instead. I was a little nervous to have to down 5 tastings; but it wasn't as bad as I anticipated.☻

The event was held at McMenamin's Kennedy School. Neither Omid nor I had been before. Such a neat place! There were about 100 people in attendance. We checked in and were seated at a table with 6 others, so we got to meet some new & interesting people. I should note here: men outnumbered women at this event by A WHOLE LOT! I would say there were only about 15 women at the dinner. What does that tell you?

The menu

Everyone was handed a McMenamin's IPA when they walked in the room. What a tasty beer!

Stuart Ramsay our host & instructor for the evening. He hails directly from Scotland and said 'wee' & 'ach' a lot. He also quoted Robert Burns several times last night (which I loved!).

We started off the evening with a Glenfiddich 12 year scotch. Before we could taste it, Stuart told us this anecdote: A Scotsman pours himself a dram of scotch & happens to see a fruit fly swimming around inside the glass. He picks up the fruit fly with his thumb & fore finger, looks him straight in the eye and says, "Spit it out you little bugger!" Then we raised our glasses & sipped the scotch.  We were encouraged to chase it with the IPA we were given. I've never chased scotch down with beer before. It was surprisingly good.

First course: meat & cheese plate.

Second course: butternut squash soup.
Fun fact: Omid & I both liked my butternut squash soup recipe better!☻

Third course: risotto! It was at this point that Omid got me giggling.
Have you ever seen Hell's Kitchen with Gordan Ramsay? Omid kept
saying, "RISOTTO!!" just like Gordan. Hilarious!

Omid's favorite: a dram of Balvenie 15 year

While were were eating & conversing with our table mates, Stuart would give us random facts or recite fun poems. Here is one that received a lot of laughter.

THE IRISH PIG

'Twas an evening in November, as I very well remember,
I was walking down the street in drunken pride.
But my knees went all a-flutter, so I rested in a gutter,
And a pig came 'round and laid down by my side.

Yes I laid there in the gutter thinking thoughts I could not utter
when a colleen passing by did softly say:
"You can tell a man that boozes by the company he chooses"
And then the pig got up and walked away!

Final course: chocolate espresso creme brulee.

Would we do it again? YES! Apparently, these scotch dinners are held several times a year. Eagerly awaiting the one we can attend! Next time I will remember to take a pencil & paper so I can take notes.