Thinking back to a time when we were all allowed out to dine, my most memorable meal this year was a private dinner on board HMS Dragon on 14th January in Portsmouth with the captain – Commander Giles Palin.
HMS Dragon is instantly recognisable by the Welsh Dragon on her bow. She is the fourth ship of the Type 45 or Daring-class air-defence destroyers built for the Royal Navy.
Her main role is air defence: providing protection to her fellow ships by detecting, interrogating, and neutralising enemy threats with the fearsome Sea Viper anti-air missile system. Versatility is a hallmark of the Type 45 destroyer class and HMS Dragon is capable of an array of duties outside of her air defence role, from providing disaster relief to counter-narcotics boarding operations.
She was launched in November 2008 and commissioned on 20 April 2012. Together with her sister vessels, Dragon is one of the most advanced warships in the world.
HMS Dragon dining experience – served by the captain’s steward
The reason we were invited on board was that Ross one of our Clink graduates joined the Royal Navy when he left The Clink and was working on board as the captain’s steward as part of the hospitality team. He worked on board the ship for 2 years and travelled the world before moving to a new role within the Royal Navy.
It was a very wet, cold, and windy evening as we walked up the gangway and we were piped aboard and greeted by the captain with an armed salute. My fellow guests were Lady Edwina Grosvenor; Clink Ambassador and her husband Dan Snow RN MBE who is also a Clink Ambassador as well as a (Honorary) Lieutenant Commander for the Royal Navy and Vic Laws MBE; Clink Group Restaurant Ambassador.
HMS Dragon dining experience – full tour for entree
We were given a full tour of the ship before dinner to help us understand how the ship works and its amazing capabilities.
There were many rooms full of computers with very experienced crew on board to explain their roles.
We also visited the galley where our meal was being prepared by Chef de Cuisine, Petty Officer Catering Services Price. It was great to see how the catering team were able to feed the 200 crew on board 3 meals a day in such a tight space. Every inch of the kitchen had been well planned and utilised, and it was full of all the latest equipment.
We learnt about how often supplies come aboard when they are on deployment and the many logistics in place to ensure regular fresh food deliveries are received as well as the frozen and dry stores stocks that can last for months.
The tour ended by us all visiting the bridge for an aperitif and seeing the many computers that control the ship and of course the ships compass. No wheel in sight just a joy stick.
The Captain’s Dinner Table HMS Dragon
Dinner was then served by Ross in the Captain’s dining room and we were joined by 3 of the ships company. The table was set with HMS Dragon slate table mats and engraved wine glasses.
To start we were served grilled red mullet with a roast Mediterranean vegetable tartlet with mixed leaves and a light pesto dressing accompanied by a glass of Casillero del Diablo, Sauvignon Blanc.
For the main course we were served Porcini pork fillet, braised belly of pork with crackling, potato boxy, crisp black pudding, charred broccoli, apple gel and a pork and cider jus, accompanied by a glass of Campo Viejo Rioja Reserva.
For dessert we were served plum and lemon tarte with a classic vanilla ice cream and a raspberry coulis.
We were then served coffee and petit fours with a bottle of port being placed on the table and passed to the left. After the meal I was presented with a HMS Dragon plaque and for us to display in The Clink training restaurant at HMP High Down, Sutton, Surrey.
We were then led back out onto the wet and blustery deck before saying our goodbyes and leaving the ship. It was an incredible evening and an experience I will never forget.
Memorable Dining Experience by Christopher Moore, Chief Executive, The Clink Charity
Christopher Moore, in the Captain’s command seat on the bridge of HMS Dragon
More Memorable Dining Experiences
A trip down memory lane to meet Nelson Mandela and dine at El Bulli – Richard Vines, Chief Food Critic, Bloomberg
First Class dining experiences are not always about the food – Denis Sheehan, Publisher, H&C News