Fanch Food After Party: Scotch at the British Embassy

By Viola Bello

On a beautiful Monday evening, we visited the British Embassy on Massachusetts Avenue to celebrate the launch of Duchy Originals from Waitrose.  The rotunda of the Embassy was filled with friendly people chatting, sampling delicious food and tasting single malt Scotch whisky aged 12 and 17 years.

The Duchy Originals was founded by HRG, Prince Charles The Prince of Wales in 1992 “to promote organic food and farming and to help protect and sustain the countryside and wildlife.”  The biscuits are all natural and they stand true to the motto that every product “Is Good”, “Does Good” and “Tastes Good.”  As a tea drinker, I found that the Highland All Butter Shortbread biscuits are a great companion.  Other flavors of the biscuits include Lemon All Butter Shortbread, Stem Ginger All Butter Shortbread, and Original Oaten Biscuits.  So, there are plenty of choices to enjoy with your tea, coffee or by themselves.  A donation from the sale of Duchy Originals products is given to The Prince of Wales’s Charitable Foundation.

In addition to the biscuits, tables were filled with beautiful and delicious food and dessert arrangements.  While there were no fish and chips, my personal favorite was a fresh and absolutely delightful avocado dip.  Given that avocados are in season this is very easy to do and serve chilled, especially on a hot summer day.  I also tried grilled chicken chop salad in mini toasted corn tortilla baskets.  They were an absolute delight for a garden party.

There were plenty of desserts, but the best was a mini sampler crème brûlée.  Given its small size, you can eat more than one and awe your guests at the same time. 

I am not a big Scotch drinker, but I did try the 17 years old Macallan single malt.  The aroma was floral with a hint of tropical fruit with a rich citrus and spice palate.  At the conclusion of the evening we left with goody bags filled with the different kinds of Duchy Originals biscuits and a mini bottle of Macallan 12 years old single malt Scotch Whisky.  Not a bad way to enjoy a Monday evening!

Cheers!

VB