Sardinhada

So tonight we go to the end of pastoral year meal at the parochial centre... well, we've been to a lot of church teas in our time, but not like this...

The tables are laden with cheeses and meats and pies and prawns and cod bits and rissoles and octopus and breads and roast peppers and potatoes and... well, don't know what some of it was... and then they bring out tureens of gazpacho (Portuguese style, in chunks)... and you try not to eat too much, though everyone is urging you to try the dish they made.

Then the men start coming in with platters of sardines and pork steaks done over charcoal, and a few huge pike, with loads of salad (dressed, as always) and...

Then it's more platters of watermelon and melon... then you go up to the dessert table, which is crammed with almond tarts and mousses and floating islands and rich almondy, egg yolky traditional desserts and creme caramels and biscuity, creamy concoctions and chocolate cakes, and, and...

And did I mention the 20+ litres of sangria, and red and white wine, and port and Tia Maria for the dessert table?

Or the music - African-style boppy stuff, which even the 90yr old ended up dancing to?

Anyway, safe to say, not quite cucumber sandwiches and quiche, with a cup of tea...