Soup for Starters & St Mungo's

Here's the stuff from St. Mungo's, go to their website and follow the Soup for Starters links,

Well it started in optimism but without a photograph, saucisson, beer, and gin and tonics whetted our appetites.

Obviously as we were in Paris the conversation quickly became profound and philosophical

Even Gordon Ramsay may have had said my attempt at his Saffron-scented leek soup with pickled mushrooms was not to shabby.

Then the Paella from the Moro cookbook, I've done this before I'm afraid this time my involvement in contributing to the festive atmosphere led to two problems first I forgot a pan was on and completely charcoaled my sofrito then I overcooked the paella itself so the rice was a bit too far gone.
Anyway thanks to the King of Cheese, Philippe Brun from the Market the next course was a great success.
Then it was time for dessert provided by my mother-in-law, "La Bûche d'Alberte"!
At the end of the night we had celebrated my beautiful wife's birthday, shared food and wine with friends and raised money to help people get and stay off the streets, and by a few clicks on a computer you can make the the donation, it couldn't be easier!

Anyway the night ended well(ish)!