Outstanding espresso

We went to dinner at Bel & the Dragon tonight. We realised we’d not been out for ages and wanted to go to the Duke of Cumberland but discovered it was fully booked tonight. Bel & the Dragon isn’t second best it’s just that we’ve never eaten at the Duke of Cumberland and wanted to try it. I guess that pleasure will have to wait.

The other big pleasure of the day was walking around Hankley. We’ve not been for ages and it looked beautiful. The heather was spread over the hills like a fine Axminster, variations on purple dotted in random patterns, the occasional yellow broom popping up complimenting rather than clashing.

We were rather dismayed to find a large section of burned heathland but it looked like it may have been a controlled burn. Though why, I have no idea. In mid-July there was a big fire at Hankley on Tilford Road, but that’s nowhere near the section we saw today. If it was deliberately lit by mindless arsonists then they were standing by with fire extinguishers…which seems unlikely.

Of course, Emma ran around like a maniac, chasing sticks, rubbing herself in the sand, particularly when she was wet, in order to take as much of the Common home as possible. Silly girl. All of it wound up in the laundry sink about ten minutes after we got home.

What?

Day-z, on the other hand, had a very sedate walk, following us closely without the faintest hint of a limp. She may suffer from various medical problems but she certainly heals quickly. Her paw seems to be completely better.

Both of them are in for a bit of a shock tomorrow when the new puppy arrives. I wrote to Michelle, the breeder, to let her know when we’d be round to pick her up and she told me that they’ve already taught her to fetch. She’s clearly going to be a lot smarter than Emma.

And then dinner at Bel & the Dragon, which is always a pleasure.

Of course the scallops, the duck and the vanilla peach were all delicious but what stood out for me was the amazingly amazing Espresso Martini.

An Espresso Martini has vodka, sugar syrup, a shot of espresso and Kahlua. It is shaken in a tumbler with crushed ice and served in a martini glass with three coffee beans on top. It is unbelievably perfect to have with dessert. I have never tasted a cocktail more perfect. You’d need to like coffee but if you do, it is genius.