Category: Lunch

After something of a pause, GIN lunches resumed on Thursday 2nd of November. 

With everybody back from summer travels, a strong turnout was expected and so it proved with almost 30 attendees. The venue was Founex Tennis Club restaurant with the charming host Ishmaël providing the function room so we could make as much noise as we liked and stay as long as we wanted. 

With driving rain prevailing, the biking group wisely decided that discretion was the better part of valour and just came for lunch. The restaurant was probably very glad to have GIN since, probably on account of the appalling weather, the main restaurant was virtually empty. The upside for us was attentive service and quick production from the kitchen of our lunches. 

There were many different animated  conversations going on around the room but there was much interest in the Himalayan returnees, Mark Watts, Mervyn Powell and a guest John Horekens. Their brief description brought back many memories for others who had been on trips to the region with something of a competition going on to establish who had been there first. The clear winner seemed to be Norman in 1969 but congratulations go to our intrepid threesome who are still getting out and doing it in 2023!

PS A vote of thanks from me (PeterT) on behalf of all of us to MikeH for organising the fine meal, and getting a separate room and eliciting Ismaël’s good service. Thanks to Mark2ts for the Trek talk and to John H for his insights on the expedition. See John if you plan to go to Nepal.

PPS Attendee list (in no particular order)

Mike Hempstead (organiser)

Norman Eatough

Terence Gale
Ralph Wares
Philip Jenkins
Trevor Davies
Drew Meek

Bryan Clark

Hubert Pettingel

Ken Forester
David Colledge
Dave Gwilliam
Peter Drew
Mark Warren
Richard Saynor
Mike Price
Stephen Long
John Horekens
Mervyn Powell
Leslie Coull
Mark Watts
Mike Clayton
Gerard Swart
Peter Taylor
Brian Allardyce
Gus Ritson
Bill Martin

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Peter Drew organised a GINclub lunch in Founex on the day of high winds. Nearly everone turned out, including new member Jeff Shane, welcome Jeff!

Attending were a score of Gintlemen – and who in no particular order were :

Alan Peters (rumoured not to have arrived but was with us in spirit)
Alan Baker 
Brian Hewitt
Brian Allardyce
Bryan Clark
David Gwilliam
Drew Meek
Ken Forrester
Gerard Swart
Gary Vannatter
William Hogg
Michael Hempstead
Norman Eatough
Paul Sochaczewski
Peter Taylor
Terence Gale
Steve Long
Mike Price
Jeff Shane
Peter Drew
David Colledge

A very pleasant lunch with a chance to catch up with our chums.

Thanks to Peter D for organising this. The food, beer, red wine and Founex Chasselas were excellent.

Numbers of participants for the lunch fluctuated wildly in the last week before the event, but in the end, 21 hungry diners turned up on time at La Croix Blanche in Ferney Voltaire.  The restaurant opened last year after the complete restoration of the building which was delayed by the pandemic.  This historic site was constructed around the same time as the Chateau de Voltaire in the 18th century and was originally used as a workshop.  More recently, in the 1960s, it served as the social club for Bernie Cornfeld’s IOS staff, but then became derelict after the collapse of that company.

We were placed at two long tables on the ground floor and other diners were probably grateful to be well away from the chatter by being placed on the first floor.  Two new members, Jeff Crudgington and Ralph Wares, were welcomed and introduced themselves to the group.  Contacts were made and intimations of interests in our various activities were carefully noted.

Everyone opted for the three-course menu, which made things easier for the chef, the serving staff and not least, the organizer!  The bill reflected that 11 carafes of St Joseph and Chardonnay were consumed. Discussion was animated in true GIN style, before we all ventured back into the cold at around 14.00.

It was great to meet up with old and new friends and sample the local French cuisine.

Present: Brian Allardyce, John Burley, Bryan Clarke, David Colledge, Jeff Crudgington, Trevor Davies, Norman Eatough, Ken Forrester, Harry Leefe, Stephen Long, Rudi Pluss, Mike Price, Tony Raeburn, Richard Saynor, Paul Sochaczewski, Peter Taylor, Wouter van Ginneken, Gary Vannatter, Ralph Wares, Mark Warren, Mark Watts

Stephen Long organized this lunch and chose a venue, new to most of the lunch group but already a favourite with the biking group. We all had the plat du jour of a mushroom starter, maigret de canard, and a tarte/cake dessert.

There were 19 of us; Alan Baker, Andrew Nievens, Bryan Clark, David Colledge, Gerry Swart, Harry Leefe, Mark Watts, Mervyn Powell, Mike Hempstead, Mike Price, Nathan Finkelstein, Norman Etough, Peter Taylor, Philip Jenkins, Ray Fiander, Reinier Tervooren, Rudi Pluss, Stephen Long, Trevor Davies. There would have been 22, a post Covid record, but for 2 late cancellations and one no show who will remain nameless – but we know who he is.

As expected the food and service were both excellent, the wine and the conversation flowed although it seemed to avoid the usual chestnuts of Scottish independence and the relative merits and expected longevity of Britain’s prime ministers. We did get a few who had trouble finding the venue and some organ recitals but no other complaints.

All in all a good lunch at €35 a head.

This was the last lunch of 2022. We are now planning for 2023 and need a “volunteer” for January, all other dates are already taken, see here.

Sixteen members* of the Club enjoyed an excellent lunch on 22 June at La Table du Lac in Divonne.  It was a chance to discover the latest version of the restaurant – previously Le Rectiligne – and its well-known chef Bruno Pucheu.  Some 20 or so years ago, Bruno was the patron/chef of the restaurant Le Chanteclair in Ferney Voltaire, before opening Le Rectiligne.  He has now returned to Divonne, this time with a lunch menu that is likely to be extremely popular and an evening menu for those who like to enjoy a meal “gastronomique” (and therefore a bit more pricey).  

La Table du Lac is located in the splendid surroundings of the lake in Divonne, opposite “le petit port”.  We were all delighted with the lunch and many said they would return.  The weather promised to be difficult but fortunately it behaved itself.  We ate inside, however, just in case.  

Judging by the noise, the conversation was lively and a good time was had by all, it seems. Many thanks to Peter T for the photos.

*Brian (A), Alan, Bryan C, Peter D, Norman, Dave G, Harry, Mike, Richard, David S, Peter T, Gary, Wouter, Mark Wrr, Mark Wtt and John.

24 June 2022

Our GIN lunch at the L’Accord Parfait went very well.
An elite group of 9 GIN members enjoyed an excellent
lunch in the recently renovated restaurant.
The new modern and comfortable decor are
very attractive and are a big improvement from
the former restaurant Au Vieux Bois.

The food, ambiance and friendly, efficient service
were all great.

The participants used several different modes of
transportation, 2 bikers, 2 walkers and 5 came by car.

Definitely a restaurant worth a visit.

Gerry Swart, Dave Gwilliam, John Burley, Mark Warren, Peter Taylor, Barry Armstrong, Reinier Tervooren, Drew Meek, Mark Watts.

24 March 22

Mark Warren chose this excellent eatery, located just after a right hand hairpin halfway up the road to the Col de La Faucille.

In all 17 members turned up Mark2rs, Mark2ts, Ken, David, Norman, Mervyn, MikeH and MikeC, Wouter, Gerry, Stephen, Brian, Bryan, Alan, Trevor, PeterD and PeterT. The weather was just perfect, especially for four members who biked up and back. Views from this restaurant are spectacular in such weather.

The fixed price menu (Eu 42) dish of the day was Pierrade or Fondu, and 16 chose Pierrade, so 17 ate it. A good salad, with an apero provided, 5 hot stones and plenty of meat for us “vegans”and meat-eaters to tuck into, supplemented by sauces, chips and cheesy potatoes. The red wine washed it down well and the desserts were scrumptious too, followed by coffee. We had a chance to move chairs and mingle a bit. It was a most convivial affair or the first of the season for GINClub. There was also a surfeit of meat from which Kobie benefitted..

Thanks again to Mark2rs for a great lunch, 12 noon to 2.30 pm.

A GIN Club lunch was held at the Founex Tennis Club in warm conditions on their semi-outside, semi-inside terrace. Most opted for the Filets de Perche which at chf 38 is perhaps market rate but substantially more than the alternatives (eg lasagne at chf 23 – so it was made sure that the final bill was settled properly with each paying for what one had ordered). Both came with a salad, and all 17 of us seemed to enjoy the good food, beer, wine and convivial company. We were blessed by the occasional confetti of autumn leaves dropping through the gap in the rain cover. Early leavers (including golfers) meant we then mixed a bit and were able to chat with others down the table.

Attending were :

with a number of apologies for absence including Alan, John, David, and Trevor.

I enjoyed it, I know Rudi did and others seemed to too.

The Rudi brigade restarts. GIN lunches stopped in Feb 2020 but restarted today at L’Imperial, a super Chinese restaurant in Etoy, organised by Alan Baker. Clearly it was going to be good to travel that distance, and indeed it was.

All you can eat, any number of visits to the buffet, fresh food, Chinese delicacies and all the usual menu and sauces, all for chf 23, washed down with some fine beer and coffee. This is a really good value for money eatery. Many of us said we would be taking our spouses back there..

Friendly service and it was not too noisy inside (the weather was iffy) so we could hear easily across the table. Paul showed us a draft copy of his latest book about the Ganesh images and statues that he owns. It looks a must have.

The location was a tad distant, but quite quick to drive to and great for parking and for Aldi, Qualipet, Pfister, Hornbach, etc. etc. shopping afterwards.

Alan had written to us

“The occasion may also be used to discuss the future of GIN Lunches, other GIN groups having possibly diluted interest in them amongst the current 73 GIN Members. (Mark Warren’s recent observation that “GIN Lunches are an integral part of GIN for getting us all together and discussing issues” is worth considering). Rudi Pluss, the current GIN Lunches Coordinator, will kindly provide further past, present and future input for us.”

We duly discussed future lunches and the next three now have organisers.

I think I can say that we all ten of us thoroughly enjoyed the event and that GIN lunches are now firmly back on the agenda.

NEXT LUNCH

PETER TAYLOR WILL ORGANISE A LUNCH AT FOUNEX TENNIS CLUB IN MID OCTOBER.

Attending STEPHEN LONG, ALAN BAKER, RUDI PLUSS, DAVE GWILLIAM, BRIAN ALLARDYCE, TERRY GALE, PAUL SOCACHEWSKI, DAVE GERNANDT, MARK WATTS, PETER TAYLOR

THATCHER SHELLABY AND DREW MEEK (Apologies RECEIVED ) There may have been many others.