The Clerkenwell, in Clerkenwell (naturally)

Hello. This month we took advantage of another 50% discount offer. While such an offer turned Pho from cheap into supercheap, here it turned expensive into acceptable. In other words, if you can get the offer then go for it; if not then think twice. Anyway, we were:

James
Linz
Pete
Sam
Vicki

The evening started in farciacl circumstances as our Harry Hill lookey-likey maitre'd sat us at the wrong table and then had to shift us. But this guy was no slouch. He turned out to be something of a sly horse by expertly and instantly telling us about the type of cheese that was in the tart. Well done sir!

We had 3 courses and there were a couple of amuse bouches thrown in for fun - the first of which was a leek and potato shot. Basically warm soup in a shot glass with some bacon shavings on the top. It was actually very nice but my and Sam's enjoyment of it was tempered by insisting the waiter had said "liquid potato" instead of "leek and potato". We were wrong allowing James to smugly lord it over us for a good 30 seconds.

The service was polite and surprisingly quick. The starters came not long after we'd ordered (my rare tuna nicoise was so excellent that fish-dodger James tried a bit and didn't convulse as he normally might have done). Can't remember what everyone else had. Sorry. In my defense, James was writing notes this time. Poor note taking Hallam. Poor note taking. He was clearly too busy fooling us all into somehow agreeing that if we won the £100m Euromillions jackpot we'd buy him a massive house in Islington.

The main courses were also good. James and I shared a cote de boeuf (posh term for "massive steak"). I think someone else might have had some kind of fish. And Sam may have had the pork belly (or at least had asked earlier on which part of the pig Pork Belly comes from). Deserts were an incredibly rish chocolate fondant and some other stuff that, once again, I can't remember. All good though.

Some other stuff from the evening:

- From October onwards, MealClub moves to the last TUESDAY of the month until Sam finishes her course. Technically the rules are sacred and must not be changed but as a founder member and "top 3" attendee, anyone who disagrees can get jacked.

- Interesting story from Linz alert!....20% of her office does not like massages

- Is it acceptable to purchase and wear a new outfit in preparation for being proposed to?

- James told another stinker of a story. That's 2 this year Hallam. Poor darts.

- Which is the only weekday that is an anagram of another single word? And what is that word?

That's it then. We ended up paying between £22 and £34 depending on how much booze we had but even at that top end, that's a bargain. Until the next time, food fans!