Greek Food & Spondon Bakery

What a superb Club meeting last night. Van and Sally Giakalis of Sponson Bakery  https://www.facebook.com/SpondonBakery came to talk to us about their business and brought along a variety of Mediterranean breads to go with our Greek salad and all the desserts we could eat after our main course of Moussaka. All credit must be given to the kitchen and wait staff at The Royal Oack, Ockbrook https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Royal-Oak-Ockbrook/137122639645555 who prepared and served a great meal.

Van and Sally told us how they met on the tiny Greek island of Paros where Van's family had been running a bakery for over 100 years. In fact, Van was born in the bakery! They also shared with us their lives here in the UK and how they started their bakery business this past November along with their small holding where they keep hens, goats... which the hens eggs and goat meat are used in their products.

The breads were fantastic and featured olive bread, sun-dried tomato and herb bread, whole grain bread and more! I asked Van how bakers got rolls and loaves in such uniform size. Van looked at me incredulously and said "you weigh the dough!" I felt pretty stupid at that point.

The desserts were equally in abundance and superb. I decided to not ask any stupid questions at this point. There were so many tasty desserts that only a picture will do it justice.

Whilst Van and Sally gave their talk we viewed some slides of their business and their products.

 





















YUMMY!

DOUBLE YUMMY

It is without a doubt Van and Sally run a first class operation and one business every person in the Ockbrook/Borrowash area should support. I was very proud to have Van and Sally as my first in a series of local business speakers to come to the Club and talk to us about what they are doing.

Along with all this fun was also the:

PRESIDENTIAL MOMENT

This week was the 5th President of the USA - JAMES MONROE  - who was the last founding father president. He also had the White House painted white when he was president and it has stayed the same ever since. His biggest contribution was the Monroe Doctrine which ended the continued colonisation of the Americas by european countries. 

Monroe was an avid shooter and even got shot himself, so with that in mind and the fact there was yet another resemblance to a member of the Club the 5th President of the USA was awarded to Graham M. I must add that he has yet to shoot himself, but is an avid clay pigeon shooter.

The evening ended with a very nice vote of thanks from Chris and then our SAA Nigel did his best to fill the donation tin with fines for misbehaviour... only he forgot the tin! It was eventually found and fines were paid.

Now it is time for a two week holiday with my wife in Scotland and I have left the Club in very capable hands of Senior Vice Geoff Smith. See you all in two weeks time!