Another week, another crazy dinner.

This one once again is based around alcohol- but this time it's absinthe.

The evening began as a magical mystery tour when we arrived at a pub and had to say a code word to the barman to be given absinthe spoons and the address of where the event was to be held.

Once we found the building we entered through a very uninviting door, headed up the stairs and found ourselves in a hidden wonder- a huge white studio with a wonderful ceiling with wooden arches full of tables laid out with absinthe fountains all ready for us.

We began by trying a few absinthe cocktails (some much more successful than others- who knew absinthe and passionfruit was the perect combination?) and began to get to know those we shared a table with.

To help people get talking we had to make a felt protrait of someone else at your table and this, activity combined with the alcohol beginning to flow, soon got everyone talking.

After a while the fountains were filled with ice which began to melt to be used in the absinthe preparation ritual and the food began to arrive.

It was a nice meal, I'm sure much helped along by the alcohol, and the highlight of the evening was a high energy performance by the Hackney Colliery Band.