Together with Sanctuary Retreats we organized this dinner to take place on the mighty River Irrawaddy aboard the Sanctuary Ananda river cruise boat.

With much anticipation members and their guests gathered on the upper deck where champagne and canapes were served during a brief sunset cruise. Members demonstrated their skills of sabreing champagne bottles to the astonishment of staff and guests alike!

The Bamboo Trio jazz band provided smooth background music throughout.

Returning to shore, newly-inducted Bailli Délégué Magnus Scherr gave a welcome speech and made a toast to the Chaîne. He welcomed everyone, paying particular mention to special guests:
- Ian Lancaster, Bailli of Phuket, and his wife
- Johannes Schulte, a Grand Officier in the Bailliage of Thailand, and his wife Chomphoo Phanetram, who is a Pair de la Chaîne
- Aziz Memon, humanitarian, industrialist, diplomat and Chairman of Pakistan’s “National Polio Plus Committee” for Rotary International.

Échanson Philippe Eckert and Maître Hôtelier Tim Buma, General Manager of the Sanctuary Ananda, enthused about the wines and the opulent six-courses of food we were about to enjoy in the elegant Talifoo Restaurant.

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Quinoa
coconut sticky rice dumpling, lemon fluid gel
Champagne Joel Defrance ‘Cuvée d’Auree’ Blanc de Blancs

Pan seared foie gras
Parma ham, balsamic reduction, melon sphere
Domaine Saint Margueriten Alsace Riesling 2014

Seared scallop
exotic herb lime caviar, Tom Yum consommé
Gavi di Gavi Bersano 2016

Roasted quail
tamarind sauce, trimming, crispy acacia
Kracher Zweigelt 2015 - Austria

Poached cod mousse wrapped in lobster, tomato basil
Castello de Pomino Chardonnay-Pinot Bianco DOC 2013 - Italy

Australian Black Angus beef tenderloin
crispy pork rind, thyme jus
Marques de Caceres Rioja Reserva 2010

Mango with coconut panna cotta
pistachio crumble, gin tonic sorbet

Coffee, Tea
Mignardises

All in all it was a most enjoyable event with everyone spending the rest of the evening on Sanctuary Ananda’s upper deck.

Delicious food, stunning cabins, exceptional entertainment: this “River Irrawaddy” dinner was described as a perfect social arrangement with many members recommending a river cruise as a tradition for the future.

Magnus Scherr
Bailli Délégué