Deary me! It has been way too long since my last post, and sadly this one will be all too short as well as I am well tired and sadly swamped.
I will leave you with a good bit of advice though, buy Gotye's new album Making Mirrors!! Stunning, definitely my pick for album of the year!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
I am not a food blogger
Having recently moved to the big city as you all know, I decided to change the focus of this blog, to being more about my experiences of life instead of stories of my (often failed) romances.
One very big part of my life is food. Whether it be cooking, eating out, drinking really fantastic wine or shopping for great ingredients, I absolutely love every bit of it. I also believe that I am reasonably knowledgeable about both cooking and the restaurant industry, having read a lot on both. More importantly, I know what I like, I know what tastes good and a lot of the time I know how to go about making something taste good.
I had very much taken for granted these things as being a big part of my life until they were brought into question on Saturday night. Earlier in the evening I had gone with my family to a nice restaurant in the city. Mum and Dad were visiting, and we wanted to go somewhere nice but also reasonably priced. I had read about this restaurant, a New York style steakhouse, in a number of foodie blogs and after seeing the menu and winelist online decided that this was the place for us. Most main meals were around $30-35, and the wine list was very reasonable.
From start to finish our evening was brilliant! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, dim but comfortable lighting, live music that wasn't too noisy, excellent service that wasn't too pushy or too relaxed. We weren't made to feel rushed, nor did we feel that we were left waiting too long to order.
The food was also great. Everything we ordered, from the initial jamon and olives, to our mains and desserts. Nothing could be faulted and more importantly, great ingredients were allowed to shine through relatively simple dishes. As a whole everything about this meal was great. My family hadn't been together for about 6 months and added to that really wonderful food, wine and service, we were all thrilled.
After dropping my parents off I headed off to a party where a little later in the night I met a food writer/editor who works for one of this country's more prominent food magazines. We were having a great chat about food and restaurants, when I mentioned what a great meal/dining experience we had earlier in the evening. He asked where we had gone and I told him the restaurant. I should probably mention here that I rated this meal as one of my top three dining experiences so far, and told him that. Without asking why, he immediately got a sour look on his face and asked if I thought I was qualified to make a judgement about food and dining. Clearly believing that my high opinion, of what is in no way a top level dining establishment, showed me to be an amature or worse!
I was completely gobsmacked. Qualified?! Well of course I am! Which I would have told him, except I got infuriated by his hoity toity attitude and excused myself from the conversation before I said something rude (which lets face it, would have only cemented his view of me).
To be honest though, this exchange has had me thinking for a few days now about what he meant, and whether I am 'qualified' to comment on such things, hence the title of this post. I think the answer I have come upon, is yes I am. I have worked in hospitality many times before and have a clear idea of what good service is and how to give it. I know more about good food and wine than many people and I am willing to keep an open mind and learn from every good meal I have. I'm not sure that I would ever become a 'foodie blogger', but if I was to go down this path I have no concerns that I am 'qualified' to provide my opinion on matters of food, wine and dining. Certainly from the perspective of knowing whether or not I have just had a great dining experience, then without a doubt, yes I am qualified.
One final question as well that this exchange raised for me, was the opinion of the staff of the aforementioned food magazine regarding good honest food. Can food only be great these days if it is served at a 'hatted' restaurant like Tetsuya? Can you only have a truely great dining experience at somewhere that is completely out of the reach of the normal person? Personally I don't think this is the case, but of my food writing friend, I am not so sure?
One very big part of my life is food. Whether it be cooking, eating out, drinking really fantastic wine or shopping for great ingredients, I absolutely love every bit of it. I also believe that I am reasonably knowledgeable about both cooking and the restaurant industry, having read a lot on both. More importantly, I know what I like, I know what tastes good and a lot of the time I know how to go about making something taste good.
I had very much taken for granted these things as being a big part of my life until they were brought into question on Saturday night. Earlier in the evening I had gone with my family to a nice restaurant in the city. Mum and Dad were visiting, and we wanted to go somewhere nice but also reasonably priced. I had read about this restaurant, a New York style steakhouse, in a number of foodie blogs and after seeing the menu and winelist online decided that this was the place for us. Most main meals were around $30-35, and the wine list was very reasonable.
From start to finish our evening was brilliant! The atmosphere of the restaurant was great, dim but comfortable lighting, live music that wasn't too noisy, excellent service that wasn't too pushy or too relaxed. We weren't made to feel rushed, nor did we feel that we were left waiting too long to order.
The food was also great. Everything we ordered, from the initial jamon and olives, to our mains and desserts. Nothing could be faulted and more importantly, great ingredients were allowed to shine through relatively simple dishes. As a whole everything about this meal was great. My family hadn't been together for about 6 months and added to that really wonderful food, wine and service, we were all thrilled.
After dropping my parents off I headed off to a party where a little later in the night I met a food writer/editor who works for one of this country's more prominent food magazines. We were having a great chat about food and restaurants, when I mentioned what a great meal/dining experience we had earlier in the evening. He asked where we had gone and I told him the restaurant. I should probably mention here that I rated this meal as one of my top three dining experiences so far, and told him that. Without asking why, he immediately got a sour look on his face and asked if I thought I was qualified to make a judgement about food and dining. Clearly believing that my high opinion, of what is in no way a top level dining establishment, showed me to be an amature or worse!
I was completely gobsmacked. Qualified?! Well of course I am! Which I would have told him, except I got infuriated by his hoity toity attitude and excused myself from the conversation before I said something rude (which lets face it, would have only cemented his view of me).
To be honest though, this exchange has had me thinking for a few days now about what he meant, and whether I am 'qualified' to comment on such things, hence the title of this post. I think the answer I have come upon, is yes I am. I have worked in hospitality many times before and have a clear idea of what good service is and how to give it. I know more about good food and wine than many people and I am willing to keep an open mind and learn from every good meal I have. I'm not sure that I would ever become a 'foodie blogger', but if I was to go down this path I have no concerns that I am 'qualified' to provide my opinion on matters of food, wine and dining. Certainly from the perspective of knowing whether or not I have just had a great dining experience, then without a doubt, yes I am qualified.
One final question as well that this exchange raised for me, was the opinion of the staff of the aforementioned food magazine regarding good honest food. Can food only be great these days if it is served at a 'hatted' restaurant like Tetsuya? Can you only have a truely great dining experience at somewhere that is completely out of the reach of the normal person? Personally I don't think this is the case, but of my food writing friend, I am not so sure?
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
A Tribute to Rob Gordon
Ok, for all you fellow music nerds out there I have been planning to write about my favourite tunes for a while. The problem is that music is such a big part of my life that I can't really break it down into the one post and I have been wracking my brains how to best go about it.
As a result I have decided to write a Rob Gordon tribute series, starting today with the top five albums that mean the most to me. So in other words, the albums that when I listen to them take me back to a particularly important time in my life. So (in no particular order) here we go...
#1 The Whitlams - Eternal Nightcap - Grade 12, one of the best years of my life. I'll never forget the day I sat on a friends couch next to the boy I had a crush on and listened to No Aphrodisiac come number 1 in the JJJ hottest 100 that year. Every song on that album reminds me of that time and I still know every single word.
#2 Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals - Live from Mars (Disk 2) - I wasn't sure if Rob Gordon would allow what is basically a compilation album onto one of his top fives, but I figure this is only a tribute and I can do what I want! I just about wore this disk out when I was breaking up with my first serious boyfriend and still to this day Walk Away brings me to tears. I also saw them live the year after, my first 'big' concert.
#3 Arcade Fire - Funeral - This also has a spot in my favourite albums of all time, but it makes an appearance here for a couple of reasons. To start, I can't hear Wake Up without being transported back to the bedroom of the boy who introduced me to the album. He accidentally left it on repeat one night and I kept waking up on and off listening to this amazing music. I then introduced the album to another good friend of mine and it subsequently became 'our album'. He said Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels) reminded him of me, and when we saw them live we held hands and sang our hearts out to it. A moment I will never forget.
#4 Radiohead - OK Computer - I'm not going to give the full explanation as to why this album is so important to me as the information included in the story not only incriminates me, but if my Mum were to read this it would be far too much information for her! I will say though, that I debated between this and The Bends (which I believe is without a doubt one of the best albums ever), which was also pretty important at a pivotal moment in my life and didn't leave my cd player for about 6 months after. I decided on OK Computer though, as it was there for a pretty formative time in my life and therefore comes out on top.
#5 Death Cab for Cutie - Plans - This one is important for a couple of reasons. To start with Death Cab were one of the first 'indie' bands I discovered on my own. I think that's important to find those bands that you can identify as really being yours. For me, that's Death Cab and funnily enough I got into them cause I also discovered Ben Gibbard's other project, The Postal Service. Plans was the first album of theirs that I really got into and also has I Will Follow You Into The Dark, which I ended up singing at my grandmother's funeral. I still can't hear that song without tears and I definitely can't sing it anymore. I doesn't stop me loving it though.
So there is my top five 'memory' albums. What are yours?
As a result I have decided to write a Rob Gordon tribute series, starting today with the top five albums that mean the most to me. So in other words, the albums that when I listen to them take me back to a particularly important time in my life. So (in no particular order) here we go...
#1 The Whitlams - Eternal Nightcap - Grade 12, one of the best years of my life. I'll never forget the day I sat on a friends couch next to the boy I had a crush on and listened to No Aphrodisiac come number 1 in the JJJ hottest 100 that year. Every song on that album reminds me of that time and I still know every single word.
#2 Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals - Live from Mars (Disk 2) - I wasn't sure if Rob Gordon would allow what is basically a compilation album onto one of his top fives, but I figure this is only a tribute and I can do what I want! I just about wore this disk out when I was breaking up with my first serious boyfriend and still to this day Walk Away brings me to tears. I also saw them live the year after, my first 'big' concert.
#3 Arcade Fire - Funeral - This also has a spot in my favourite albums of all time, but it makes an appearance here for a couple of reasons. To start, I can't hear Wake Up without being transported back to the bedroom of the boy who introduced me to the album. He accidentally left it on repeat one night and I kept waking up on and off listening to this amazing music. I then introduced the album to another good friend of mine and it subsequently became 'our album'. He said Neighbourhood #1 (Tunnels) reminded him of me, and when we saw them live we held hands and sang our hearts out to it. A moment I will never forget.
#4 Radiohead - OK Computer - I'm not going to give the full explanation as to why this album is so important to me as the information included in the story not only incriminates me, but if my Mum were to read this it would be far too much information for her! I will say though, that I debated between this and The Bends (which I believe is without a doubt one of the best albums ever), which was also pretty important at a pivotal moment in my life and didn't leave my cd player for about 6 months after. I decided on OK Computer though, as it was there for a pretty formative time in my life and therefore comes out on top.
#5 Death Cab for Cutie - Plans - This one is important for a couple of reasons. To start with Death Cab were one of the first 'indie' bands I discovered on my own. I think that's important to find those bands that you can identify as really being yours. For me, that's Death Cab and funnily enough I got into them cause I also discovered Ben Gibbard's other project, The Postal Service. Plans was the first album of theirs that I really got into and also has I Will Follow You Into The Dark, which I ended up singing at my grandmother's funeral. I still can't hear that song without tears and I definitely can't sing it anymore. I doesn't stop me loving it though.
So there is my top five 'memory' albums. What are yours?
Monday, April 4, 2011
Landing on my feet
Have you ever had that realisation that you have made exactly the right decision at the right time? Of everything playing out like it was meant to be, and even when things aren't exactly perfect, having that feeling that it's all going to be ok anyway?
I've never had this before until now. But this decision to turn my life upside down, leave everything behind and start completely fresh seems to have been the absolute right one. I've never felt so relaxed and in control of where I'm going and what I want to get out of life. And I'm having a ball, making new friends and fitting in better than I ever thought I would in this scary new world.
I'm learning new things and being challenged both at work and at home. But I think the best thing is looking at all the things that have happened in the last 3 months and realising that without all of these events happening, the situation I'm now in wouldn't be as perfect or as right.
Fate, you have made a believer out of me!
I've never had this before until now. But this decision to turn my life upside down, leave everything behind and start completely fresh seems to have been the absolute right one. I've never felt so relaxed and in control of where I'm going and what I want to get out of life. And I'm having a ball, making new friends and fitting in better than I ever thought I would in this scary new world.
I'm learning new things and being challenged both at work and at home. But I think the best thing is looking at all the things that have happened in the last 3 months and realising that without all of these events happening, the situation I'm now in wouldn't be as perfect or as right.
Fate, you have made a believer out of me!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
The Lady is Leaving Home!
Well it's been more than a little while since my last post, but between turning 30, Christmas and a whole bunch of other things, it has been a bit of a crazy 4 months!
In that time I have moved house, become very zen (unbelievable I know) and more recently been offered a job in a much bigger city than my little town. So as of this weekend, I will be a little fish in VERY big pond!
As a result I think the focus of the blog will change a fair bit to being more about this big change and the discovery of my new city, including what I hope will be a few more foodie related blogs. I hope you enjoy the ride and I'd love to hear your comments or suggestions.
In that time I have moved house, become very zen (unbelievable I know) and more recently been offered a job in a much bigger city than my little town. So as of this weekend, I will be a little fish in VERY big pond!
As a result I think the focus of the blog will change a fair bit to being more about this big change and the discovery of my new city, including what I hope will be a few more foodie related blogs. I hope you enjoy the ride and I'd love to hear your comments or suggestions.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Old Friends
What is it about the comfort of an old book? One that you have read a million times, and where you know exactly what will happen to a beloved hero or heroine.
I find that I go back to my comfort books on alarmingly regular occasions. When I have had too much of the real world, when work gets too hard, when I am feeling sad or a little lonely. I know at these times all my old friends will always be there for me.
From the traditional, Pride and Prejudice and the childish, Harry Potter series. To the thrilling, Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva, and the serious Until I Find You by John Irving. And finally to my trusty collection of romantic novels, The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, anything by Marion Keyes and the hilariously silly The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig.
I wonder sometimes if I should try and find some new friends, and I'm sure in the future more will come along. But for now, I know I'll never be lonely when I have them to keep me company.
I find that I go back to my comfort books on alarmingly regular occasions. When I have had too much of the real world, when work gets too hard, when I am feeling sad or a little lonely. I know at these times all my old friends will always be there for me.
From the traditional, Pride and Prejudice and the childish, Harry Potter series. To the thrilling, Gabriel Allon series by Daniel Silva, and the serious Until I Find You by John Irving. And finally to my trusty collection of romantic novels, The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, anything by Marion Keyes and the hilariously silly The Secret History of the Pink Carnation by Lauren Willig.
I wonder sometimes if I should try and find some new friends, and I'm sure in the future more will come along. But for now, I know I'll never be lonely when I have them to keep me company.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Stories from the past, or what can happen to young ladies who talk too much in taxis...
Once upon a time there was a young lady who worked for a reasonably prominent politician. She loved her job very very much, but every so often she got distracted by the frivolities of life. One of these distracted days she decided to go out for a few quiet drinks with a gentleman friend.
It had been a long and hard week that was not yet over, but she felt she deserved some fun and an exciting band was playing at one of her favourite drinking holes. The night was enjoyable, and many tonics were served. She had a wonderful time and when the night drew to an end she was buoyed by the enthusiasm of the evening, and perhaps by the delicious drinks that had passed her lips.
Being a responsible girl, despite the copious drinks and late hour, she arranged for a taxi to deliver her home. (Here we should have a quick aside and mention that our young lady was a terribly chatty girl at the very best of times and was known to spark up a conversation with random people at a moments notice.)
It cannot be said that our young lady woke up feeling particularly chipper the following day. But due to a work ethic that did not allow for frivolous (read: alcohol related) sick days, she rallied and worked hard in her office. Studiously avoiding the prominent politician for the day, for fear of being asked why she was so unusually quiet, she worked away and was enormously relieved at days end.
Many days passed and the young lady returned to her normal existence. Working hard, being chatty, and keeping herself at all times nice.
One day the prominent politician, with a very serious countenance, asked the young lady to follow him into his office as he had something to show her. She was quite bemused, as this was not a usual request. Dutifully, she followed him into his office where he asked her to read an email he had received on a popular social networking site (that it might be added, the young lady had encouraged the prominent politician to join).
The email read as follows...
Dear Prominent Politician,
I am a big supporter of your work and would like you to know that I voted for you at the last election. I have recently returned from overseas and now I am back home I have begun working as a taxi driver. On the (insert date) I happened upon a young lady who I drove home. She had dark hair, was about 25 and I thought she was very attractive. On the way home she happened to tell me that she worked for you and while I do not know her name I would very much like to see her again. I would be most grateful if you could pass on my phone number (insert number) to the young lady, and make her aware of my interest.
Regards,
Loveless Taxi Driver
By the time she had finished reading this, our young lady's eyes had just about popped out of her head, and her mouth was wide open in a very unladylike fashion. To add to this the prominent politician had completely given up trying to hide his amusement and was openly laughing at her. What was she to do?! To ignore the letter would perhaps tarnish the reputation of the prominent politician, but she didn't even remember the taxi driver! Of course she remembered the trip home itself, and of course it was expected that she had been chatty, for that was her nature. But for it to be taken as more than that, she simply did not know what to do!
It was a quandary our young lady had gotten herself into and she struggled valiantly with the decision of how to best remedy the situation. She decided to reply to the taxi driver, so as to ensure he did not think the prominent politician had not passed on his message, but to politely decline the romantic intentions.
The young lady went on to work for the prominent politician for quite some time, despite the stir caused by the aforementioned events. However, he never ever let her forget about the taxi driver, and while he would regularly laugh at her romantic exploits, it was never as heartily as that day.
The End.
It had been a long and hard week that was not yet over, but she felt she deserved some fun and an exciting band was playing at one of her favourite drinking holes. The night was enjoyable, and many tonics were served. She had a wonderful time and when the night drew to an end she was buoyed by the enthusiasm of the evening, and perhaps by the delicious drinks that had passed her lips.
Being a responsible girl, despite the copious drinks and late hour, she arranged for a taxi to deliver her home. (Here we should have a quick aside and mention that our young lady was a terribly chatty girl at the very best of times and was known to spark up a conversation with random people at a moments notice.)
It cannot be said that our young lady woke up feeling particularly chipper the following day. But due to a work ethic that did not allow for frivolous (read: alcohol related) sick days, she rallied and worked hard in her office. Studiously avoiding the prominent politician for the day, for fear of being asked why she was so unusually quiet, she worked away and was enormously relieved at days end.
Many days passed and the young lady returned to her normal existence. Working hard, being chatty, and keeping herself at all times nice.
One day the prominent politician, with a very serious countenance, asked the young lady to follow him into his office as he had something to show her. She was quite bemused, as this was not a usual request. Dutifully, she followed him into his office where he asked her to read an email he had received on a popular social networking site (that it might be added, the young lady had encouraged the prominent politician to join).
The email read as follows...
Dear Prominent Politician,
I am a big supporter of your work and would like you to know that I voted for you at the last election. I have recently returned from overseas and now I am back home I have begun working as a taxi driver. On the (insert date) I happened upon a young lady who I drove home. She had dark hair, was about 25 and I thought she was very attractive. On the way home she happened to tell me that she worked for you and while I do not know her name I would very much like to see her again. I would be most grateful if you could pass on my phone number (insert number) to the young lady, and make her aware of my interest.
Regards,
Loveless Taxi Driver
By the time she had finished reading this, our young lady's eyes had just about popped out of her head, and her mouth was wide open in a very unladylike fashion. To add to this the prominent politician had completely given up trying to hide his amusement and was openly laughing at her. What was she to do?! To ignore the letter would perhaps tarnish the reputation of the prominent politician, but she didn't even remember the taxi driver! Of course she remembered the trip home itself, and of course it was expected that she had been chatty, for that was her nature. But for it to be taken as more than that, she simply did not know what to do!
It was a quandary our young lady had gotten herself into and she struggled valiantly with the decision of how to best remedy the situation. She decided to reply to the taxi driver, so as to ensure he did not think the prominent politician had not passed on his message, but to politely decline the romantic intentions.
The young lady went on to work for the prominent politician for quite some time, despite the stir caused by the aforementioned events. However, he never ever let her forget about the taxi driver, and while he would regularly laugh at her romantic exploits, it was never as heartily as that day.
The End.
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