Yes, it was Bastille Day, and a French flavour pervaded the lunch, starting with a terrific rendition of the Marseillaise on trumpet from Paul Thorne (although the same cannot be said for the accompanying "singing" from the assembly). By way of relief, Martin McMurray with Peter Kelso in the kitchen provided cups of French onion soup with inserted rounds of toasted sourdough baguette and gruyere cheese – a bit messy to handle, but good flavour and texture. The main aperitif was the 2008 Tyrrells Steven semillon, drinking extremely well, with the usual Lustau sherry – the amontillado particularly good with the soup; a pastis, a kir royale and sundry other wines.

For the main course, l'equipe McMurray had prepared coq au vin: chicken thighs and drumsticks cooked in a broth with aromatic vegetables and, of course, red wine. Some rich flavours although it lacked a bit of colour from the wine. It was accompanied by some unFrench but sweet and smooth kumera mash and by some (non-french again) beans which had the requisite crunch. Nothing gourmet, but attractive on the plate and a delight to eat, especially with a brace of vins de France: a 2012 Chirobles from Beaujolais and a 2012 Syrah from unidentified region(s). The Chirobles was an top drink, with typical gamay brightness but some structure on the palate. The other was ok, made in the fruitier Oz style, but lacking distinction.

The cheese Master continued the French theme with a great St Agur, a creamy blue vein cheese from the Auvergne. Firm in flavour without any metallic blue vein notes, this is a Society favourite, and it is interesting to note that it was only been created in the late 80's. An interesting salad of fresh pear, slightly pickled sliced beetroot and walnuts provided a blend of sweet and earthy which matched the cheese (and the wines) well. With these , some bigger wines in the shape of a 2010 Oratoire St Martin Cotes du Rhone, fruit dominant and with a high alcohol of 14%; and a 2007 Crozes Hermitage from Seize Galettes, made by Oz vignerons and showing some big fruit but with plenty of balancing acid and tannins, the latter still slightly hard at the end.

The coffee came from elsewhere, in this case Colombia, with low roast beans yielding a surprisingly rich mouthfeel albeit lacking acid ,especially on the finish.