JAGUARS – JEC SPAIN – XMAS BASH
16.12.2014.- The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club in Spain held its last meeting of 2014 on the 14th December at Restaurant Nugolat near Elche. Our second visit to this brilliant restaurant. May I take this opportunity to thank all those people that attended and for all those members that supported us through 2014. A very special thank you to Ian McMenemy, our Events Director for organising another fabulous event and the sterling work he does organising all of our meetings.
Restaurant Nugolat is located just outside Elche on the Carretera Dolores, Km 5. Restaurant Nugolat has beautiful gardens, great parking unfortunately we had one of those rare days when the weather let us down, it was very overcast when we arrived and soon started to rain which eventually developed in to a torrential downpour. That restricted the potential for the event pictures. We were allocated our own special dining room, perfect for us, good job as the rest of the restaurant was absolutely packed.
On arrival, as the weather was rather inclement, most people congregated in the bar for a few drinks and a chance to catch up with old friends and to meet new members. We sat down for lunch just before 2:00pm in our private function room in which the tables had been set “to the nines”; they were incredible. I had high hopes for the rest of the day; I was not to be disappointed. The feast commences. To start, fresh bread, garlic and tomato, a plate of succulent ham and Manchego cheese, a crisp smoked salmon salad and baby squid in a light tempura coating, some of the best I have ever had, fabulous. This was followed by hot potato and ham croquets. On offer for the main course were two types of paella, fish, solomillo of pork in a light mushroom sauce, and lamb chops, my choice, tender succulent, melt in the mouth even better with mint sauce (my own supply). Dessert was ice cream and an almond flan. Drinks a plenty accompanied this delicious feast, unlimited wine, beers, water and coffee. They even finished the meal off with a glass of cava and a liqueur all for 25.00 Euros a head, fantastic value for money. If that was not enough we were visited by a brilliant Mariachi band and we were treated to two short arias from Ms Lydia Hernandez, a professional opera singer and companion of our good friend Chris Fox, I have to compliment the staff and the management at Restaurant Nugolat, the service and the food were exceptional.
I take this opportunity to thank all the members that attended especially the new members and the members that bought guests, bringing the total to 56 people and 17 cars which included a stunning new XF Estate, a stunning motor, a number of XK8’s, XJS’s, XJ’s, S types and many more. The meeting also held another surprise, in recognition for all his hard work looking after our facebook page we presented David O’Shea with an award. A big thank you to all those people that brought items for the planned Grand Auction in March. At the end of the meeting we presented Vincente, one of Nugolats management with a JEC plaque recognising there efforts in making it such a great day.
A great meal, brilliant company, music and laughter – just an exceptional day, why not come and join us at our next meeting on the 25th January. We have a few things planned for 2015, The Big One at Parador Siguenza in March, another Magical Mystery Tour maybe a run down south, a chance to meet the members from the Costa Del Sol.
The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club is the largest of the worlds Jaguar Clubs, apart from joining in the fun at the meetings, members also benefit from a glossy 140 page A4 monthly magazine, Jaguar spares department and a technical advice service second to none. If you live in Spain and own a Jaguar you should be a member of The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club. The JEC in Spain is organised by Eric Arnold and Ian McMenemy. Eric can be contacted by email at jaguarspain@outlook.com or by phone on 609931647 or alternatively check out www.jec-spain.es or the JEC main web site www.jec.org.uk. Our Events director, Ian McMenemy can be contacted at McMenemy@JEC-events.com. Not forgetting David Shea who looks after our Facebook identity and John Parkin who manages our dedicated web site www.jec-spain.es
Text and photographs by: Eric Arnold
