A Summer to remember – September 2024 Update

Gentleman’s Club, Amalfi, Meals to remember, Traditions, Reviews!

Despite the unpredictable weather, this summer has been one of the busiest and most enjoyable seasons for Second-Helpings! From hosting an array of delightful guests to exploring culinary gems, the past few months have been packed with memorable experiences.

Oxted Gentleman’s Lunch Club: A Michelin-Star Experience

One of the standout moments was hosting the Oxted Gentleman’s Lunch Club – a group of ex-professionals known for their refined taste and frequenting Michelin-starred establishments. They found Second-Helpings on Google Maps and came for a recce early in the year to start the planning!

I felt a bit nervous, but they couldn’t have been more welcoming, insisting that we sample every single wine and taking time out to chat and talk about Second-Helpings. Their appreciation for the food was heart-warming, and their glowing review (see at the end) was the cherry on top!

A return visit has already been booked.

Sorrento & The Amalfi Coast: a Culinary Adventure

A highlight for me (and a birthday treat) was a wonderful few days spent in Sorrento in May, where we travelled along the stunning Amalfi Coast, indulging in some of the finest wines and cuisine the region has to offer. The scenic beauty combined with exquisite dining made it an unforgettable experience.

More Culinary Highlights Closer to Home

My husband and I have enjoyed some fantastic meals, and I’d like to share a couple of recommendations:

Richmond: A lovely way to spend the day and easy to get to via train. Lovely selection of shops, fabulous riverside eateries, park, beautiful gardens and Petersham Nurseries (walk through a field of friendly cows to get there). We enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Scott’s of Richmond (on their terrace bar) overlooking the river. I had a sea bass ceviche which was one of the best starters I have ever had!! I have now managed to replicate it, sourced the Aji Amarillo peppers that go in the sauce and fried my first plantain!! I’ve tried it out on guests already and it was a huge success!!

Sabor in Piccadilly: “The Counter” For tapas lovers, Sabor offers an immersive experience where you can enjoy authentic Spanish dishes while watching the chefs work their magic at the bar. Mind-blowingly flavoursome dishes just kept on coming, one after the other!!  I’ve now bought the cookery book!

Just around the corner, The Royal Oak in Dormansland: So, so welcoming, accommodating, friendly … and the food was delicious. They have lots of ideas and plans for future events at the pub so give it a go, its wonderful to be able to support local initiatives!

Google Reviews

Word of mouth and heartfelt personal reviews are by far the best recommendation one can give so, if you would like to share your experience at Second-Helpings, please search for “Secondhelpingsdining” and leave a review/recommendation

“ ……. The food!!

Your hors d ’Oeuvres were sublime. The balance of flavours and textures, and the sensitivity of the combination were extraordinary.

The gravadlax was excellent: nice and chunky instead of the usual thin cut. That showed off how good the salmon was, and the marinade was very delicate.

Everyone loved the soufflés.

The combination of the different flavours in the dauphinoise and roast potatoes was very clever and further raised what was an excellent main course. You were right to suggest the topping on the fillet. It was a lovely piece of meat but the topping expanded the tasting experience much further.

Regrettably we drank a little too much wine but that was not your problem. We will strive to be a little more abstemious next time.

My little monthly Dining Club (of which the majority who were there yesterday are members) would like to come back again next year. (We try not to visit the same place twice in one year.). I will be in touch about that. However Roger has some ideas for his dining group (which I will try to muscle in on) and he will talk to you separately about that.

I also intend to talk to my daughter about a possible future family event but she does not know that yet, so leave it with me.

Let’s just say, you have opened our eyes to a different way of dining which I think should put to shame some of the Michelin recommended places we have visited in the past.

Thank you for making some old men very happy!”