Lunch – Page 2 – GIN Club

GIN lunch, La Table du Lac, Divonne-les-Bains, 22 June 2022

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

Lunch at L’Accord Parfait, April 21, 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.

GINClub Lunch Florimont Refuge 960m

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..

Gerry, Trevor, Alan, Mark2rs, David, Mervyn, Stephen all tuck in

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

GIN Hikers Xmas Lunch 2021

26 November 2021

Founex Tennis Club

It was a dark Black Friday before the expected snows that the hiking section held its Xmas lunch at the Founex Tennis Club. Ismaël the manager did us proud again with filets de perche at the Friday price of chf 22 (!).

In the event 23 turned out (12 Gintlemen and 11 better halves) albeit Mervyn happily arrived for a coffee at the end. Apologies were received from Peter D (in Gomera) and Thatcher (Thanksgiving).

We all enjoyed a fine lunch along a long table in an almost separate room to ourselves.

PeterT gave a short speech welcoming the usual suspects with some new faces, and listing those giving apologies (some better than others). He referenced the 17 hikes of the year (see the attached list) and with a cumulative 235 kilometres and 12,408 metres denivellation. All in all a good year with only one safety incident (that was resolved speedily). We have had many fine temperance lunches and wine tables with perhaps the highlight being Mervyn’s champagne bar on the Môle. Peter hoped that next year we would see more forays into France. He thanked the all leaders and drivers, Rob for his medicinal Scottish fluid, Richard for his exotic potions and Mark2RRs for his coffees.

We now look forward to the start of the snow-shoe season, but with perhaps one more hike on the cards next week.

We toasted absent friends and for some great hikes in 2022.

Here with a selection of PeterT’s and Richard’s photos.

GIN Club Lunch Weds 20 October 21

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 :

Alan Peters

Brian Allardyce

Brian Clark

Dave Gernandt

David Colledge

Hubert Pettingell

Mark Warren

Mark Watts

Michael Hempstead

Paul Socachewski

Peter Drew

Peter Taylor

Reinier Tervooren

Rob Pashley

Rudi Pluss

Sander Winckel

Terrence Gale

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

Table Pano – note the sky-scape through the wind screen – it gradually clouded over

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

GIN Lunchers Recommence

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.

Biking to Genolier 8 Sept 2021

Peter Drew organised a bike route on this fine day, seemingly at the near end of the Indian Summer. Four bikers turned out at the Divonne Lake, sorry five. Mark 2RRs had thought the start was at 10 am and not 9.30am.

Mervyn, E-Thatcher and two Peters spent the waiting time usefully discussing cleaning products and vacuuming machines.

Once Mark had finally arrived we set off on this excellent route in a clockwise direction.

The initial phase from Divonne to Gex was spent on the very pleasant bike path built over the old railway tracks. Up and right through Vesancy our leader declared we had time for a statutory Bonmont so we duly trundled up the down road.

Having dispensed with the elevation element what followed was a gentle ride down and across to Givrins and then Genolier. The Trois Tileulles has an excellent terrace spoilt marginally by the traffic noise at the crossroads. The gourmet plat du jour at chf 25, included stuffed mushrooms, tender beef filet with noodles and green beans, and some form of mango crème anglaise. All washed down with excellent beer and coffee. On nice white linen (nb good cleaning product used). Indeed a high point of our bike dining this year.

Sadly Maarrk moved as I took this pano, as did Meervyyn.

The subjects of our intercourse moved through faith and religion, or our sad lack of it, weddings, quantum field theory (Mark is rereading pages 1 to 3), absent friends, travel, vaccines, E-Bikes, dogs and cleaning products (part 2). (I may have missed key sections).

It was all too soon time to depart and we rolled back through Trelex, Grens, and Divonne. A great ride with fine weather and company. Missing a few of our regulars and hoping they will be back with us soon. I clocked 50 km and 536m from my home, but Peter D says it was 42.5km and 585m (from Divonne).

Hikers to Barillette 24 Sept 20

Steve recalibrated this hike after the weather forecast seemed to preclude Morgins and the higher hills. Instead he chose the Barillette attracting a further 9 of us who signed up for the promise of a good hike and the possibility of a tasty fondue. Initial attempts to find the right trail were frustrated by loggers and at one point we descended back 60m downhill on the trail of pain. Happily Steve found the trail to paradise and even the sun came out. About 1000m up and about 3 hours of gently toil saw us at the mast for reasonable views over the lake.

Lunch at the Barillette was indeed worth the hike and we shared the cheerful room with a group of Swiss trekking tennis players who included a Swiss horn player. After beer, wine and a fine fondue (for 80% of us), and some Scottish fluid, we were serenaded to some fine horn playing/wind music. Tarte maison, coffee slipped down well and we fell out into some wet weather, but actually it stopped pretty soon and we enjoyed a pleasant descent to the cars at Bonmont (albeit some Bonmont regulars did not recognise the Bonmont cycle road and attempted a repeat ascent). Attending Steve, David, Philip, Mark W and Mark W, Mervyn, Peter T, Richard, Rob and Thatcher. Apologies from Drew M and Peter D. Total up 1030m. Distance unknown to me. Just in time before really bad weather came in, including snow to 1200m predicted.

Actually Pascal Loutan loutanp@gmail.com – Cor Des Alpes, Architecture, Atelier Proteger

Message from our leader.

Thanks for your patience as I considered the similar-looking roads to paradise or pain (and sometimes made the incorrect decision). However, we reached paradise (the Barillette restaurant) at the alloted hour and managed to avoid the pain of the real storm that hit later in the evening. We lost electricity for half an hour in the evening after one impressive lightening strike.
As you say, a memorable walk for the turn out, the restaurant, the alcoholic consumption and, of course, the alphorn playing.
Looking forward to reading the blog!
Regards to all,Stephen

Hiking Section Ententes Cordially

The CH and FR sub-sections of the GIN hiking group enjoyed a memorable re-encounter in a socially-distancing summit entente-cordial among the flowers at the border high in the Jura last week. Leader Rob was missing with an Achilles excuse (g.w.s. Rob). A team of 5 from CH meandered up from Givrine over La Dole for the rendezvous, meeting 3 from FR. There followed warm greetings in warm sun, a fabulous Lac Leman view to a peerless Mt Blanc, sandwich lunch washed down with plenty of red wine, and much chatting with lockdown news to catch up on. We parted each to our ways, CH retreating back over La Dole and continued over the Pointe de Poèle Chaud and the Pointe de Fin Chateau, before descending on a gentle path back through the glades to the cars at Givrine (800m denivellation). Uplifting day. Attending. David C, Peter D, Steve, Mervyn, Peter T, Richard, Mark Wn, Philip. Apologies Rob P, Mark W.

Coffee at Couvaloup before we were separated to 2 tables.

GINs Lunch – Tannay 5 Feb 2020

Rudi Pluss organised a fine lunch at the Auberge du Lion d’Or in Tannay. Really fine set menu of salad, pork and then dessert. The sun shone and the wine flowed. It was good also to have a short mingle before we sat down to eat. Waiter Roch took some good (selfie) photos for us and appreciated our name badges, even giving himself one. 24 Attended including, Rudi, Bryan, Paul, Dave, Alan, Brian, Thatcher, Trevor D, Trevor G, Tim, John, Richard, David C, Steve, Tony, Reinier, Wouter, Terence, Mike, Ian, Simon, Peter and possibly others late on the list. Merci to Rudi.