A Californian Christmas is a world a way from the ones most of us grew up with – many of us transplants don’t have family around us, and when the weather is sunny and 60 degrees – kind of like a British summer day – it doesn’t really help us get in to the festive spirit. Knowing that many Brits in LA members feel particularly homesick this time of year gives us all the more reason to do our best to get everyone together. And what better way is there to kick off the holiday season than with a good old knees-up?
This year we opted for a sit-down dinner at Birch Restaurant on Cahuenga Boulevard in Hollywood, and British head chef and owner Brendan Collins, together with his GM Jimmy surpassed our expectations and laid on an excellent feast of roast beef and turkey, stuffing, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, accompanied by tons of fresh veg topped with lashings of gravy. This was followed by Christmas pudding with a sauce so delicious that my fellow diners were fighting over the last drips. There was so much food available that some of our 60 guests were encouraged to take the leftovers home! It really was such a wonderful evening, everyone was very merry; pulling crackers, wearing paper party hats and having their photos taken with Father Christmas. A big shout out to Len Davies for donning the Santa suit once again for us. I can’t decide whether it was the kids or the adults who were most excited to be dining with Santa. Craig and I can’t thank everyone enough for attending, it was lovely to catch up with old friends and make some new ones. We even got to have a drink with BW editor Neil Fletcher as he broke the unwritten Westsider rule and ventured east of the 405!
Special mentions go to our longtime supporters Beltran Brito and Air New Zealand and to DJ Bas Elgharib for providing the music and not forgetting to play Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’. It wouldn’t be a real Christmas party without that, would it?
For those of you who missed out on our gathering don’t despair, as our Pub Quiz at the Pikey is back next Tuesday. This will be an extra special one as we will also be celebrating our quizmaster Sandro Monetti’s birthday! If you don’t have a team to play with just show up by 7.45pm and we will find you one to join. Not all questions are British so don’t be worried if you aren’t either. Everyone welcome! Details can be found at www.britsin.la or drop us a line at info@britsin.la
Cheers!
Eileen
