Part Deux

Friends, Romans, countrymen. Doctors, IT consultants and gardeners. Ornithologists, philatelists and train-spotters. Miscreants, vagabonds and people called Rupert, it is time. I only wish we could have done more. Let me begin, therefore, with an apology for not having more room, more time and more money. If strangers posted anonymous cash donations through our door once in a while, we would not be in this situation.

We are embarking on our second Jabberwocky tasting, and plying a few of you good folk with food, in the hopes that we will learn something from it. Whatever wisdom does seep forth I will be sure to share with you, even origin-of-the-universe-stuff, should it come up. I find myself in a rather poetic mood today, which appears to be influencing the need to use flowery language and metaphors. Please try and ignore it as much as possible, it will go away on its own if we do.

Now, to the tasting. The scheme is simple: To recreate the majesty of Jabberwocky dining, within the comfort of Jabberwocky HQ. “Avast!” I hear you cry, “one cannot recreate that which is Jabberwocky without the glorious Beast and all that which roars beside him! To do so within the confines of a building would be heresy!”. Firstly, I appreciate your candour, and that you are joining in with the gratuitous use of elaborate prose. Secondly, and perhaps most tellingly, the Beast currently has something of a flat tyre. This renders him rather immobile, thus preventing the hatch from being usefully opened. One could, of course, prepare food and then serve it from the back doors, but I put it to you, sir or madam, that doing so would constitute an even greater violation of bestial cuisine. Also Barny would spend the whole evening out in the van, with everyone else indoors, which would be pants.

I therefore propose a toast to you, excellent peruser of the post, that we may all be more like you. You are what makes the Jabberwocky great. Regardless of whether you are one of the brave few trying their luck at the tasting or one of the other two readers, we cook in honour of you that night. And yes, you can dedicate cooking to someone. Because I say so.