JAGUARS – BIG CATS RULE
1.11.2016.- The Jaguar Enthusiasts Club in Spain held its last meeting at Restaurant Nugolat near Elche on the 30th October 2016. Our third visit to this brilliant restaurant. May I take this opportunity to thank all those people that attended. 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. And a thank you to David Sleap for his presentation about his stunning XKR Silverstone. Last but not least a big thank you to the staff at Nugolat for helping to make it a very special day. At the end of the meeting we presented Vincente, one of Nugolats management with a JEC trophy recognising their efforts in making it such a great day.
Restaurant Nugolat is a very popular restaurant and I can highly recommend it. Nugolat is located just outside Elche on the Carretera Dolores, Km 5. It’s blessed with beautiful gardens and great parking and we were lucky enough to have fabulous weather. We were allocated our own special dining room which opened up to the garden terrace, perfect for us, a good job as the rest of the restaurant was absolutely packed.
Blue sky’s and warm weather is very conducive to Jaguar owners and on arrival most of us congregated in the garden terrace for a “natter and a noggin” 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 squid rings in a light batter. This was followed by hot potato and ham croquets. On offer for the main course were two types of paella, fish, solomillo of pork, and lamb chops, my choice, tender succulent, melt in the mouth even better with mint sauce (my own supply). Dessert was ice cream and a light cream topped sponge. Drinks a plenty accompanied this delicious feast, unlimited wine, beers, water and coffee. For 25.00 Euros a head, fantastic value for money.
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 62 people and 20 cars which included Chris Fox’s fabulous XK120, a stunning white XJS Coupe, David Sleaps XK Silverstone and many other beautiful Jaguar “works of art”. The meeting also held another surprise, Ian organised a “LadiesChoice”, two ladies chose their favourite car, the trophy was won by beautiful blue XK.
May be I’m biased but Jaguar owners are a special sort of person and we are lucky enough to have some very special people as members of the club. A great meal, brilliant company and lots of laughs – just an exceptional day, why not come and join us at our next meeting on the 18th of December for our Christmas bash. We have a few things planned for 2017, firstly The Presidents Choice on the 28th January, a cruise in convoy to one of the best restaurants in the Costs Blanca for a Gourmet experience. Then The Big One 2017 at Parador Leon in April, and maybe a run down south, another 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 or by phone on 609931647 or alternatively check out our web site or the JEC main web site. Our Events director, Ian McMenemy can be contacted by email. Not forgetting David Shea who looks after our Facebook identity.
Text and photograph by: Eric Arnold
