This Isn't the Rat

Although the Rat of Rhodes College undoubtedly keeps up with the dinning halls of Oxford in beauty, it has some work to do in cuisine. Lincoln college is known for having some of the best campus food among the Oxford schools, and boy has that reputation proven to be true. The University of Oxford as a whole seems to value food and drink very highly in the creation of a quality academic environment; in fact, it is a part of the school's history. The chef and the butler are often considered the two most important and prized members of the college staff. Everyday we are served a delicious breakfast (either croissants + fruit or a full English breakfast) and a scrumptious lunch (dessert is always in attendance), as well as a three-course dinner with soup or mac-&-cheese or...anchovies (not my fave) as a starter, followed by a fine cooked meat, and always the best dessert. Every Friday our lunch is fish-&-chips, which was so good this week that even I liked it.

Every Thursday (although, last week it was Monday), we all get fancied up and have a high table dinner. It is a formal evening kicked off with drinks (last week white wine was served) either in the campus pub or in a courtyard. This cocktail hour proved to be a fantastic way to meet our professors before classes started and to better acquaint ourselves with the incredibly interesting adults leading this program. Each week, a few students are invited to join the faculty and staff of European Studies at the high table in the dining hall (think Harry Potter), something everyone will get to do once over the course of our time at Oxford. The hall is aglow in candlelight and the classy atmosphere is topped off with the printed menus divulging the gourmet meal + wine to come. I learned that I love guinea fowl and that brie cheese can, in fact, be even better...deep fried. Who knew? Sally Domer, in telling us about the high table dinners beforehand, expressed the near reverence given to the selection of food and wine for these very special meals, "Lincoln boasts an excellent wine cellar and it would be a real shame not to serve good wine with such an excellent meal. Also, you will probably gain weight while you're here, so just eat the food and enjoy it and don't think twice. You'll walk it off in Greece." We have been counting down the days to the next high table ever since because, last week, we felt as lucky as Kate Middleton herself.

Am I dreaming?

chit chat

sally saying the college grace

giddy girls

deep fried brie salad

supreme of guinea fowl with puy lentils

chocolate tarte with strawberry coulis

The Lincoln College grace is read, in Latin, in part before dinner and concluded after dessert:

Benignissime Pater, qui providentia tua regis, liberalitate pascis et benedictione conservas omnia quae creaveris, benedicas nobis, te quaesumus, et hisce creaturis in usum nostrum, ut illae sanctificatae sint et nobis salutares, et nos, inde corroborati, magis apti reddamur ad omnia opera bona; in laudem tui nominis aeterni, per Iesum Christum Dominum nostrum, Amen.

"Most gracious Father, who by thy providence rulest, in thy generosity feedest, and by thy blessing preservest all that thou hast created; bless us, we beseech thee, and these creatures for our use, so that they may be hallowed and of benefit to us, and we, strengthened thereby, may be rendered fitter for all good works; to the praise of thy eternal name, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen."

*taken from Wikipedia