Dinner with Jeremy Irons

Last night we were taken out by our friend Ros to a restaurant of her choice. I have heard of the Gerloczy Cafe/Restaurant before, but have never been there. I vaguely recalled that as part of a series of posts on Facebook somebody reported that the breakfasts are delicious there and good value for money. Still, as it was downtown in a really cute little XIXth century square I felt it would probably be expensive.

We arrived just after 7pm and were taken to our table. It was right by one of the windows that looked out onto the covered terrace still in use, in spite the increasingly cool November air. We ordered drinks and then the food. All three of us went for the pumpkin soup with chilli prawns. For main Roy had a chicken curry, Ros mackerel with a bowl of salad and me a smoked trout salad with anchovy dressing.

We were stuffing our faces when the waiter asked if we were British. We said yes. Oh, then you would probably recognise the gentleman sitting no more than a yard from you on the other side of the window, he said. Oh dear, it was Jeremy Irons, which shocked Ros especially, as I have just told her that if she went to my favourite restaurant in Etyek, the Rokusfalvy Fogado, she might meet him there at the moment, as he is over here filming the next series of the Borgias at the Korda Studios. And then 5 minutes later the great man turns up a few feet from her eating pizza and smoking between courses. The latter has taken some of the shine off his presence, but we were still chuffed.

We had a lovely night and that had nothing to do with filmstars. Ros is absolutely delightful company and the meal was delicious, so we had a really good time. She is off to China next week to join Ian and unfortunately they will not be back for a while. Let us hope their love of the country will bring them back sooner than we think.