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The oft mooted MEL Champagne Appreciation Night will indeed be happening mid February - 2 dates suggested above (Feb 19 is start CNY so I know I will be in Oz)
A strategic planning group met pre XMAS and indulged in extensive strategyisationment after which a number of key elements were agreed upon:
1. Consideration was given to guest speaker / educator but decision was this may be cost prohibitive.
2. Evening MUST be totally inclusive - under no circumstances do we want to organise a function where any AFFer might consider attendance too costly
3. Involvement of some Champagne importer / distributor / retailer considered - but due to frugal spending patterns of AFFers probably not viable
4. Venue MUST offer BYO Champagne facility
5. Venue MUST wide range food offerings
6. Venue MUST have suitable availability and layout to permit / promote attendee interaction
7. Date of event needs to be post XMAS and indeed post return to normality of year
The planning discussions took place at Topolinos at 87 Fitzroy Ast, St Kilda - full details here - TOPOLINO'S - Home.
Planning group sampled fare on offer and inspected large room to rear of restaurant. Subsequent communication with Topolinos has revealed they are more than happy with a group virtually making themselves at home in rear area on a Tue or Wed night.
Topolinos is a long standing Fitzroy St / Victorian institution offering very good quality food at very reasonable prices - and indeed have a BYO wine only policy and a very liberal $6 / bott corkage policy. The night of planning we 'popped' 3 botts Champers and paid total $6 corkage. One previous night I was there with family group 8 or so and we 'popped' 7 botts wine - again bill showed only $6 corkage.
Will we get away with this with 20 or 30 botts Champers - I have no idea so let's prepare for a $6 / bott corkage fee.
It was generally agreed that Toploninos would be an excellent location for this event. It was also generally agreed that night be open to one and all AFF members - only proviso is you bring along a bottle of Champagne with you to share with others equally as they will share with you.
This is not designed as a CONTEST to see who can bring the MOST EXPENSIVE bottle of Champagne - you bring any Champagne you have on hand or want to go buy to bring with you.
Again - this is not a CONTEST - it is a social gathering open to ALL where like minded people will get together to enjoy each other's company. Hopefully we will get strong numbers attending.
A strategic planning group met pre XMAS and indulged in extensive strategyisationment after which a number of key elements were agreed upon:
1. Consideration was given to guest speaker / educator but decision was this may be cost prohibitive.
2. Evening MUST be totally inclusive - under no circumstances do we want to organise a function where any AFFer might consider attendance too costly
3. Involvement of some Champagne importer / distributor / retailer considered - but due to frugal spending patterns of AFFers probably not viable
4. Venue MUST offer BYO Champagne facility
5. Venue MUST wide range food offerings
6. Venue MUST have suitable availability and layout to permit / promote attendee interaction
7. Date of event needs to be post XMAS and indeed post return to normality of year
The planning discussions took place at Topolinos at 87 Fitzroy Ast, St Kilda - full details here - TOPOLINO'S - Home.
Planning group sampled fare on offer and inspected large room to rear of restaurant. Subsequent communication with Topolinos has revealed they are more than happy with a group virtually making themselves at home in rear area on a Tue or Wed night.
Topolinos is a long standing Fitzroy St / Victorian institution offering very good quality food at very reasonable prices - and indeed have a BYO wine only policy and a very liberal $6 / bott corkage policy. The night of planning we 'popped' 3 botts Champers and paid total $6 corkage. One previous night I was there with family group 8 or so and we 'popped' 7 botts wine - again bill showed only $6 corkage.
Will we get away with this with 20 or 30 botts Champers - I have no idea so let's prepare for a $6 / bott corkage fee.
It was generally agreed that Toploninos would be an excellent location for this event. It was also generally agreed that night be open to one and all AFF members - only proviso is you bring along a bottle of Champagne with you to share with others equally as they will share with you.
This is not designed as a CONTEST to see who can bring the MOST EXPENSIVE bottle of Champagne - you bring any Champagne you have on hand or want to go buy to bring with you.
Again - this is not a CONTEST - it is a social gathering open to ALL where like minded people will get together to enjoy each other's company. Hopefully we will get strong numbers attending.
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Hope there'll be plenty more sessions after this one. For what it's worth, we had the planning dinner at Topolinos and I was impressed with the speed of service, quality and price. Easy to find and convenient via the tram for non VIC person like me.
Heck, I'll talk about anything.
