SARMAC XI Banquet/Dance
The dinner/dance is sold out.
To quote from Wikipedia's entry on The Empress Hotel, "In 1919, Edward, Prince of Wales waltzed into the dawn in its Crystal Ballroom -- an event considered by Victorians to be of such importance that almost 50 years later the obituaries of elderly ladies would appear under headlines such as, 'Mrs. Thornley-Hall Dies. Prince of Wales Singled Her Out." Our closing banquet party will be held in that same ballroom. Prince Charles is unable to attend, but you should!
The Crystal Ballroom of the Fairmont Empress Hotel.
The Food
The Executive Chef of the Fairmont Empress is Morgan Wilson. The son of a chef, he has serious international credentials. Here is the menu:
Salads
Fresh Market Greens Salad, Pickled Onion, Cucumber, Carrot, Pepper, Grape Tomato, Raspberry Vinaigrette
Romaine Lettuce Salad, Parmesan, Brioche Croutons, Caesar Dressing
Vegetable Pasta Salad, Roasted Vegetables, Mushrooms, Pesto
Marinated Cucumber and Tomato Salad, Onion, Peppers, Cow’s Milk Feta, Kalamata Olives
Chick Pea Salad, Onions, Lemon Juice, Tomato, Cilantro Dressing
Green Bean Salad, Onion, Tomato, Bacon Sherry Vinaigrette
Platters & Display Dishes
Smoked Trout and Smoked Salmon, Capers, Lemon, Shaved Onion
Sake and Soy Steamed Salt Spring Island Mussels and Clams
Calamari and Chorizo, Shaved Fennel
Hot Dishes
Beef Bourguignon, Pearl Onions. Bacon, Mushrooms
Herb Roasted Chicken Breast, Pancetta and White Wine Cream
Seafood Roast (Halibut, Salmon, Scallops, Shrimp), Tomato Fennel Stew
Mashed Potatoes & Seasonal Vegetables
Desserts
Assorted Pastries & Cakes to include:
Roasted Apple Cheesecake
Crème Caramel
Bread Pudding
Sliced Seasonal Fruit & Berries
Assorted Rolls & Butter
Freshly Brewed Regular & Decaffeinated Coffee & Assorted Teas
The Fun
We have landed a contract with Victoria's best rock dance band, The Sutcliffes. Stuart Sutcliffe played bass with the early Beatles in Hamburg. These four Victoria guys don't do the look-alike thing, but they utterly nail the songs. All but impossible to hold still when they get going. Not to be missed.