#$19.50 would be nice

[delllamortes]

my manager wants to talk to the owner about making me her assistant manager 😳

[pebblethief]

thinking outloud re: jacket fabric choices

ramie/linen blend. 230 gsm. £15.80/m

pros: looks very nice. Good Texture nice colour

cons: on the lighter end (could line it...), slightly wary about how Sturdy this would be

cotton canvas. 245gsm. £8.80/m

pros: looks nice! looks sturdy and durable, lots of colours, p cheap!

cons: not *exciting*

the yellow is drawing my eye but i do have a yellow jacket and this one is also quite bright. green is maybe a bit dull. lefthand one is brick and probably the most sensible option of these 3. there is also a lime green which is v nice but maybe not as Universally wearable

cotton 8w corduroy. 270gsm £11.80/m

pros: very good texture! do like corduroy...

cons: maybe not good for wearing in the rain, would need more fabric to get the nap right, would look more obvious where things werent sewn straight

linen/viscose 355gsm £14.50/m

pros: looks *very* nice, love the texture a lot. still bright but perhaps not obnoxiously. heftier fabric so likely a little sturdier for a jacket

cons: it is still Bright. still wary on the durability bc its not an especially tight weave

cotton drill, 267gsm, £9.90/m

pros: looks v sturdy

cons: just not quite as Drawn to this colour for some reason

polyester, 370gsm, £19.50/m

pros: its preeeettyyyy. apparently very soft. look at it.

cons: is this going to make an Everyday jacket? hm. also is polyester

but it *would* make a very cool jacket

deicisions hard

I will need ~2.3?m for it, will probably buy 3m just in case (bit more for the cord perhaps?) so even the more expensive ones aren't outrageous for a jacket, even disregarding the fact I am also getting hours of Hobby Satisfaction from it as well

[desipubs]

Yesterday’s adventures in Desi Pubs was to visit the Crown and Pepper in East Croydon with Robin, Sue and Tudor.

Having been a little frustrated at the lack of mixed grills in London I was determined to have one last night and I did, so there will be a rating 🙂

The pub is nice and bigger than it looks from outside with an outside space and another bar area downstairs. There were 13 pumps, one of which was a cider and two were ales, Cobra also featured. There were at least eight screens - they were showing pool when I arrived before switching to cricket and then the Liverpool game.

The clientele was mixed to start and became progressively Asian before the football started. There were probably more people watching the football than eating, but there were some folk doing both.

The food was a little confusing and we probably ordered too much, but didn’t seem to have much left over (although I think Sue has lunch sorted for today). As well as Indian food there was also Chinese food available, we obviously ignored that as that was not the purpose of our visit. I saw a mixed grill on the menu so was fairly determined to order that, it wasn’t clear how big it was so I asked and was told it was for two people… as a starter… I ordered it anyway and everyone else ordered a starter and a main (and some naan). The starters were massive and each could have fed two people, the mains were a more sensible time. We know for next time.

The Crown and Pepper’s mixed grill was badged as an Indian Platter and cost £19.50. It consisted of 4 tandoori chicken tikka, 2 tandoori masala lamb chops, 2 lamb kebabs and 4 jeera chicken wings served on onions.

You don’t always get the lamb chops on a standard mixed grill so it did feel like a medium in number of different items but I have had bigger standard mixed grills elsewhere. For components I’ll give them 1.5 points (I am feeling generous for this category but that will not be reflected in the next categories).

The chicken tikka was nice, not the greatest and just four pieces - if I was sharing this I wouldn’t be happy. 0.5 points.

The lamb chops were only slightly better than average, lots of bone and not much meat. They get 0.5 points mainly because there were two.

The lamb kebabs were the hero product on the plate. Tudor had these for starters (four pieces). Two pieces on the mixed grill was plenty, again I would have been miffed at giving one up if sharing. They get the maximum 1 point.

The chicken wings were fine, the jeera was not that interesting. Nothing to write home, on indeed on here, about. Just 0.25 points I am afraid.

The onions were poor, there weren’t many and they didn’t have any meat juice. I was given a very small portion of minty sauce which wasn’t that exciting. The onions and condiments are sharing a point in my scoring scheme, together they can have 0.25 points here.

£19.50 was expensive for what it was, but it was London. However I am no longer a Londoner but a West Midlander so just 0.25 points for the price point.

13 pumps, including two ales, a cider and Cobra earns them the maximum 1 point for the beer side of things.

The ambiance with the screens, football, clientele and the pub being nice means they get the maximum 1 point for this section too.

The total for the Crown and Pepper is 6.25.

The Crown and Pepper is at 242 High Street, Croydon, CR0 1NF. They also have another ‘branch’ at 32 Godstone Road, Caterham, CR3 6RA.

[superdigo-blog1]

12 baby outfits for every occasion you can get at Carter’s

12 baby outfits for every occasion you can get at Carter’s (Photo: 12 baby outfits for every occasion you can get at Carter’s)

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.

Best Baby Hair Oils

Whenever a new year rolls around, I immediately find myself evaluating my wardrobe. What kind of pieces do I want to keep as we move into a new year, and in this case, a whole new decade? Do I get rid of some of my many black sweaters (never), or buy a new pair of cute but ultimately weather-inappropriate shoes (extremely likely)?

It makes sense to take stock of your wardrobe as a new year dawns, and why shouldn’t that extend to your kids, or even those of your friends and family? We all know someone that’s having a baby in the new year. Whether you’re shopping for your own kids or buying up some baby shower gifts, get moving on keeping the babies in your life cute and seasonally appropriate in these 12 seasonal looks from Carter’s.

1. For the baby that stayed up to watch the ball drop (or at least wanted to)

This onesie is ideal for ringing in the New Year (or sleeping through it). (Photo: Carter's)

Sometimes, in order to hang with the adults, you need to be the best dressed in the room, and what’s better than wearing a onesie? Give your favorite tiny night owl this starred black and white onesie, which will work perfectly for New Year’s and will (hopefully) make you smile when you’ve gotten up in the middle of the night—again.

Reviewers noted that this onesie runs a bit large, but suited their bossy night owls very well.

Get the Night Owl Side-Snap Cotton Sleep & Play for $7.99

2. A cuddly sloth set your loved one will love

These PJs are perfect for Valentine's Day. (Photo: Carter's)

Valentine’s Day is cute in a way not too many other holidays are, so it’s fair to say that giving a gift that’s very cute wouldn’t be out of the question. Anyone you give this adorable sloth Valentine’s Day pajama set to will adore it—who doesn’t love sloths?

This interchangeable four-piece set features Valentine’s colors and some sweet, three-toed friends—what’s more, there are two versions available, so you can select the exact color design you want.

Get the 4-Piece Valentine’s Day Sloth Set for $21.60

3. A seasonal dress with prehistoric pizzazz

This adorable dress comes in two designs: dinosaur and flowers. (Photo: Carter's)

It’s crazy how often dinosaurs crop up in kid’s clothes designs, but it’s not without reason; you’ll keep any baby occupied in this dino-covered dress, which is perfect for spring photos or concerts. The print is dynamic and includes fan favorites (read: personal favorites) like triceratops, brachiosauruses, and more.

Combine this dress with these unicorn boots for a perfect getup to wear during spring showers.

Get the Floral Dinosaur Sateen Dress for $20.40

4. A bunny suit for the most enterprising of egg-seekers

Does your baby love the Easter bunny? Why not dress like him? (Photo: Carter's)

Picture it: Easter morning, a very cute child in this floppy eared jumpsuit, and the aforementioned rain boots. It’s almost too cute to think about. This bunny suit is a perfect pajama option or great for running around the house, and the sherpa material ensures that it’ll keep your giftee very cozy and comfortable.

Reviewers bought this bunny suit in every season, and many noted how soft it was.

Get the Bunny Hooded Sherpa Jumpsuit for $16

5. Koala overalls for the cutest aspiring tree climber you know

Can you help but smile when looking at that precious koala face? (Photo: Carter's)

May is crazy between last-day-of-school events, fluctuating temperatures, and graduations galore. Most people are looking for a quick, cute option that babies can stay in all day. Never fear, this adorable koala onesie is here. With a neutral palette and short length, reviewers noted that this set is perfect for summer weather, and is easy to take on and off, so even the most active babies will love it.

Get the 2-Piece Striped Tee and Bear Shortalls Set for $21

6. A swim set with a perfect theme

Whale on a shirt for babies? Yes please. (Photo: Carter's)

I’m pretty biased on this one. As someone with a deep love of all things cetacean, this swim rashguard set had me in absolute tears. The adorable shirt and trunks duo is perfect for any beach vacation, or even just days by the pool, dreaming about white sand and distant whale spouts.

With a UPF of 50+ and long sleeves, this set will keep your favorite little guppy protected from the sun and free from skin irritation.

Get the Carter’s Whale Rashguard Set for $30

7. A mix-and-match set that’s perfect for tiny patriots

Are you really celebrating the Fourth of July if you're not wearing red, white, and blue? (Photo: Carter's)

There’s nothing more American than red, white, and blue, but it’s also nice to have options. This three piece set lets you choose which of the three classic Fourth of July looks you want to highlight, and will also keep your kiddo cool and comfortable in the summer heat.

Get the 3-Piece Floral Little Short Set for $19.50

8. Overalls for end-of-summer picnics

Do you think my mom would get another pair of matching overalls with me? (Photo: Carter's)

Overalls are back, baby. As someone who had matching overalls with their mom when I was a baby, I couldn’t be more thrilled to see this look making it big again.

There’s nothing more summery than a pair of denim overalls, and this classic OshKosh pair boasts a short length and sweet striped straps. With a white tee underneath and a gingham blanket on the ground, this classic look is sure to make grandma and the Gen Z cousins smile.

Get the Patch Denim Shortalls for $17

9. A cardigan for the kid who loves “The Land Before Time”

What's cooler—the hoodie, or the spikes on the hood? (Photo: Carter's)

As a Libra, I’m partial to September for a lot of reasons, but the main reason comes in cable knit, turtleneck, mock neck—you get it. Sweater weather is the best weather, and this sweet dinosaur cardigan is a perfect whimsical neutral for a month that moves from hot to cold in the space of minutes. Reviewers loved the texture of this sweater, noting that it was soft and lightweight enough to be a great layer.

Get the Dinosaur Hooded Cardigan for $14.40

10. A Halloween costume that should be worn year round

This works as both a Halloween costume and frankly, a great outfit for grocery shopping. (Photo: Carter's)

Why be a unicorn for Halloween when you can be a unicorn of the sea. Narwhals are perfect creatures, and your baby giftee can be too in this narwhal costume, complete with striped lavender shirt and leggings and the cutest little tail. I can’t begin to describe how much joy just this image brought me.

Other versions of this set are available with sloth, dragon, and panda themes. Why not collect them all?

Get the Little Narwhal Halloween Costume for $15.99

11. A bodysuit to amuse every football fan at Thanksgiving

Pass the pigskin! Oh no wait, that's a baby. (Photo: Carter's)

This, admittedly, made me chuckle. Dress up your favorite tiny sports fan in this amazing football bodysuit. Made of soft cotton rib and sporting long, cozy sleeves, pair this bodysuit with these turkey socks for a look that everyone will be giving thanks for.

Reviewers loved this look for football season and remarked on how soft it was. There are also versions of this look on Carter’s website that are team specific, so check it out if you’re trying to foster early team devotion!

Get the Football Collectible Bodysuit for $6

12. The cutest, coziest set for opening presents

Keep your baby as cozy as this polar bear in a scarf. (Photo: Carter's)

As an adult, my Christmas morning look has really gone downhill from my baby days. What’s the fun in a morning of opening presents if you can’t hang around in your pajamas all day? This wintry two-piece polar bear set will keep your baby warm and cozy, and is neutral enough to be worn every day, not just once a year. Be warned—these pants are so soft, your baby might doze off mid-unwrapping.

Get the 2-Piece Polar Bear Sweater & Fleece Pant Set for $13.99

The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.

[luffysfakebeard]

Or??(prompt anon): after a fight, even stays with his parents for the weekend after telling Isak that he is 'going home'. Isak, who honestly is probably not familiar with the idea of a parent's house being the home away from home, thinks that even believes the apartment isn't home to him anymore. (Sorry, I'm in the mood for some angst)

Home; 1.6k[AO3]

They had had afight.  It hadn’t been particularly big, but Even figured they both neededsome time to cool off separately and that was not possible in their cramped little flat.

So he had told Isak thathe was going to go crash at his parents’ for the night and he’d come backtomorrow.

It had hurt his heart,walking away from Isak like that.  Theyhad agreed pretty early in their relationship not to go to bed angry, butnothing had ever been established about notgoing to bed together.  Teenage temperswere hot messy things, though, and Even knew that being around each other afterthe fight would inevitably lead to more fighting and would just prolong thewhole process.

So he took initiative.

He felt calmer as soon ashe got outside, which made him feel better about his plan.

His mum had fussed themoment he walked through the door, but when he was done explaining everythingthat had happened she actually praised him for doing the right thing.  It was nice to hang out with his parents; hefelt like he hadn’t seen them for ages, although he knew it was probably only afew weeks since they’d last got together.

His mum was catching himup on the gossip at her office when his phone buzzed, and Eskild’s name of all people’s was written across the top of atext.  Even was going to ignore it untilIsak’s name caught his eye and he opened it quickly, remembering that Eskildwas still listed as Isak’s next of kin at the hospital.

Eskild (19.48)you left after a fight???Isak just showed up and that’s all I can get out of himtrouble in paradise?

He wasn’t sure why, butsomething about Isak going to Eskild after their fight didn’t sit right withEven.

Even (19.50)we both needed to cool down. I said I’dbe back tomorrow

Eskild (19.56)Isak seems very confusedI think you should phone himonly if you’ve calmed down though. he doesn’t seem angry now

Even frowned at his phonewhen that message came through, wondering what on earth Isak could be confusedabout.  He had cooled down from their fight, though, and he didn’t want thereto be some miscommunication between him and Isak.  He thought he had been clear about what hewas doing and when he was coming back, but maybe Isak hadn’t been listeningproperly?

With a sigh, Even madehis excuses to his mum and went to sit in his old room.  It was currently being made into the spareroom, but in Even’s mind it would always be hisroom.  He made himself comfortable on thewindowsill and pressed the call button next to Isak’s name, wondering what thisconversation had in store.

“Even?” Isak answeredafter a few rings.  Even couldpractically hear the frown on Isak’sface.  Even didn’t bother to beat aroundthe bush.

“Hey, Eskild said youshowed up at the kollektiv?” He couldn’t help the little chuckle that slippedout of him at Isak’s annoyed groan.

“Bloody man can’t justlet me vent in peace.” Isak huffed.

“He said you wereconfused about something?  I thought Imade it pretty clear that I was going to my mum and dad’s for the night?  Justthe night?” Even emphasised, expecting Isak to exhale with relief and say thathe’d thought Even was leaving him forever and he’d totally misunderstood and-

“I know.” Isak saidquietly, totally catching Even off guard.

“You…know?” Evenrepeated.  “So what are you confusedabout?” It was his turn to frown now. Isak stayed quiet, and Even just knewthat if he tried to rush Isak now he’d clam up and never let out whatever wasbothering him.  Isak still struggled totalk honestly about how he was feeling and his thought processes and Evendidn’t want to scare him off, but shit he just wanted to know what he had done.

“Is?” It had been a fewminutes now and Even was starting to wonder if the call had cut out.  He was about to pull away from his phone tocheck the screen when he heard Isak take a breath.

“You- you said you weregoing home for the night.” Isak’s voice was so small and quiet that Even almostmissed it.

“Yeah?”

“I just- do you…do younot think of our place as home?” Isakasked after another painful minute of waiting. When the question finally came it made Even’s heart clench in his chest.

“Of course I do,baby.  I didn’t mean it like that.  I’m sorry if it came across like I did.” Heapologised.  “But your parents’ placewill always be your home away from home, y’know?” Even realised his mistakebefore he even finished his sentence, and he wanted to slam his head againstthe wall at full force for saying something so unbelievably stupid.

“No, I don’t know.” Isaksounded like he was torn between feeling upset and feeling angry, and Even feltten times worse about sticking his foot in it. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” Before Even could react Isak hung up and he wasleft listening to dead air.

Well.

He fucked that up, didn’the?

***

Even got home aroundlunch time the next day, his temper completely cooled from their squabble butwith guilt chewing at his stomach.  Hecould hear Isak moving around when he let himself in but a quick glance aroundsuggested that Isak hadn’t been home long either.

Even took a deep breathto steady his nerves before he went into the lounge, wondering how his goodlevel-headed plan had still ended up with one of them saying the wrongthing.  When Isak saw Even, Even couldn’tnot notice the way his lip trembledbefore he pressed his lips together tightly and went back to changing theirsheets.

“Babe…I’m sorry.  I didn’t think before I said it.” Evenapologised, once again skipping the small talk. He could see through Isak’s shirt the way his back tensed and his shouldersrose defensively.

“It was a normal thing tosay.” Isak tried to shrug it off, but his movement was too stiff for Even toever believe it was casual.

“It was, but I shouldhave remembered that you didn’t have a ‘normal’ home life.” Even made air quotemarks even though Isak had his back to him.

“No, I didn’t.” Isakagreed stiffly.  Even’s heart was achingin his chest; what did he need to do or say to get through to Isak?  “But it’s not for you to remember, it’s forme to live with.  So let’s just forgetit.” Isak finally – finally­ – turnedto look at Even and the hurt look on his face cut Even like glass.

“Okay, baby, if that’swhat you want.” Even nodded.  He wasn’tgoing to drag this out when it was obviously stressing his boyfriend out.  Barely a second later Isak was crossing theroom and burying his face in Even’s chest, his strong arms wrapping tightlyaround Even’s waist.

And this.

This was where Even’s home was.

***

It wasn’t until they werecuddled up in bed that night that Isak finally opened up.

“I forgot.” Isak said itso quietly that Even almost missed it, just like on the phone the night before.

“Forgot?”

“I forgot that mostpeople think of their family home as homeand not somewhere to run from.” Isak’s fingered tightened in the front ofEven’s shirt, and Even figured that his boyfriend could probably feel his heartshatter in his chest at those words.

“So when you said…whatyou said, I started thinking about all the shit I probably missed out on andstuff and- I don’t know.  It fucks me upthinking about that stuff.” Isak’s voice sounded suspiciously thick, but Evenknew better than to look right away.

“Family is meant to bethere for you to be that home awayfrom home, and mine isn’t but yours is and I guess I didn’t realise how muchthat bothered me until yesterday.” Isak definitely sniffed at that and Even wasdone.

“Come here.” He hauledIsak impossibly closer, pretty much dragging Isak’s sleepy body on top of hisown underneath their duvet and blankets, and framed Isak’s beautiful face withhis hands.

“Your family don’tdeserve you, Isak.  I know they hurt you,and I know the way you grew up shaped who you are now, but now home is nowherenear them.  Now home is right here. It’s us.  It’s not walls or a roofor the postcode, it’s just us.  My home is wherever we can just be. My home is always with you, because you’re the one that has myheart.  And without a heart a house cannever be more than just a house.” Even couldn’t tear his eyes away from Isak’sface, mesmerised by the rush of emotions he could see flickering across thefeatures he so adored.

“You’re such a fuckingsap.” Isak laughed wetly, obviously tossing an insult at Even to deflect fromthe very real tears on his face.

“I know.” Even shruggedwith a grin.  “Besides: what’s mine isyours, baby.  My family loves you; they’dalways welcome you in.  There’s alwaysroom for another Bech Næsheim.” Even added teasingly.  The relief he felt when Isak’s face brokeinto the most beautiful soft smile was indescribable.

“I know I’m going to be aBech Næsheim one day.” Isak whispered, resting his forehead againstEven’s.  “And I’ll never have to thinkabout a Valtersen home again, because I’ll be too busy making a whole new home with my husband.”

And wasn’t that a fuckingmiraculous thing to know?

[gavins-consumption]

Day 22 - Friday, Feb 12

Food/Drink: Coffee, Cheese, Crackers, Grapes, Apple, Focaccia, Tofu Teriyaki, Avocado Roll

Today was a lovely day of eating. In the morning I had a couple cups of coffee, one while I read and one while my class started, both with oat milk. I also put a little of a vanilla torani syrup we have in them today as a nice treat, and I forgot how good that is. For lunch I had the exact same thing as yesterday, a board with cheese and crackers, an apple, and some grapes. Then in the afternoon, I decided I wanted to bake something, so I made some focaccia out of Claire Saffitz’s Dessert Person. I’ve made focaccia several times before but hadn’t tried Claire’s recipe yet, and I was really happy with how it turned out. I did the garlic rosemary variation on it, which is a major step up from the plain ones I’ve made before. So good. For dinner, my family did out usual Friday night takeout, and we decided on Momo sushi. I got a tofu teriyaki and some avocado rolls, which was all very good.

Media: Books, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Radio

I read more of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance this morning. While I don’t immediately love it like I do some books, I find it quite intriguing and different than a lot of things I’ve read. While I had my long class I checked Instagram and Twitter a few times during breaks as we met in small groups today. Nothing particularly exciting. After class, I watched some YouTube videos during lunch and as I made the bread. The ones that I remember watching were from Food 52 and Curtis Connor. The Food 52 video was from this baking series that goes super in-depth about a specific technique or dish, this one was about pate a choux, which I’ve been wanting to try lately. I like these super in-depth videos, this one was like an hour long. 

While I went to pick up the takeout for my family this evening, the radio was on to NPR, which I left on because I hadn’t been keeping up much with the impeachment trials and wanted to hear about them. It’s all so bizarre yet I’ve just gotten numb to it and I feel like I don’t even have a reaction to it anymore. It was also nice to just got on a brief drive, I haven’t left the house at all in a while. I can’t wait for the weather to get better and get out more again. We also found out my Aunt is likely going to come stay with us for a while, which will be so nice to have another person for a while. 

Purchases: Momo Sushi

The typical Friday night takeout this week was from Momo Sushi. While I didn’t pay for it, lucky me, my total came to $19.50, which feels like so much. Definitely not something I would do for myself. My favorite thing about today’s takeout was honestly the lack of dishes, after I already had to do a bunch from baking today.  

[pinkcatbasement]

Blender For Mac Torrent

There’s more reason than ever to check out Blender, and with Danny Mac’s list of essential addons, this free software could become your go-to choice!

Blender For Mac Torrent Downloader

Blender For Mac Torrent Kickass

Blender For Mac Torrent Software

Danny's Youtube

Blender is the free and open source 3D creation suite. It supports the entirety of the 3D pipeline—modeling, rigging, animation, simulation, rendering, compositing and motion tracking, video editing and 2D animation pipeline. Blender for Mac OS X - Download Notice. Using Blender for Mac OS X Free Download crack, warez, password, serial numbers, torrent, keygen, registration codes, key generators is illegal and your business could subject you to lawsuits and leave your operating systems without patches. We do not host any torrent files or links of Blender for Mac OS X on rapidshare.com, depositfiles.com, megaupload.

Introduction

This year I made the jump from Maya to Blender and have been completely blown away by how powerful this free software actually is. My initial impression was that in areas where Blender falls shorts against other 3D apps, which in some cases it does, I can forgive it since it excels in others. That was before I discovered the world of Blender Addons. The abundance of addons not only fill the gaps found within vanilla Blender, they put the software above and beyond any I’ve used to date.

1. Node Wrangler (free - ships with Blender)

The second I discovered Node Wrangler I knew jumping over to Blender was a good idea… It’s incredible! Managing nodes with this addon is such a nimble experience. My favorite feature is that with a single click you can see how each node is affecting the model, which is incredibly useful for debugging the network. It would be difficult to explain all the different features here so I would encourage anybody reading this to check out the link where they are illustrated and explained. You won’t need to download it though, since it ships with Blender by default. You just need to turn it on in the user preferences.

2. TexTools (free)

One of my initial gripes about Blender was that the UV tools were lacking compared to other 3D apps. It hadn’t previously occurred to me that there’s probably an addon to improve that. TexTools is a very powerful UV solution adding over 40 functions to the existing UV toolset, some of which I’ve never seen before. On top of this it is also a powerful baking tool and Color ID generator. Oh, and it’s free! Again, I couldn��t explain all the features here so I would urge you to check out the link for more information.

3. Gaffer (free / $19.95)

Gaffer fills a hole in Blender’s default toolset in the form of a Light Manager and is a very nice compliment to the Pro Lighting Studio addon mentioned later in this article (though it’s great by itself!). Gaffer groups all your lights into one manageable UI along with all the important settings, speeding up your lighting workflow enormously. It also has a HDRI manager that allows you to quickly cycle through your HDRI’s and filter them based on tags. As with most things Blender the developer has kindly made it available for free but requests you buy it if you find it useful (which you will). Watch the demo to truly see what this addon is capable of!

Blender For Mac Torrent Downloader

4. Pie Menus (free - ships with Blender) + Pie Menu Editor ($16)

Pie menus are essentially radial menus you find in Maya, making it easier to learn Blender if you’re coming from a Maya background. The nice thing about the pie menus is that it brings menu items to your cursor as opposed to the other way around. As with Maya, once you learn where each of these items sit you can access them very quickly with a simple hand gesture. Alternatively, you might prefer to build your own custom pie menu to reach the tools you use the most.

If you wanted to create a custom pie menu it’s not too difficult to do with Python – Blender offers a template script to get you started. However, this does of course require some Python knowledge so I’ve included a link to a neat addon called Pie Menu Editor which presents a much more user-friendly way to do it.

5. Retopoflow 2.0 (free / $86)

Retopoflow is designed specifically for retopology and is such a feature rich and polished addon it feels more like a separate app altogether. Having been in development for several years it has some incredibly powerful functions, such as adjusting the topology with Bezier curves after it has been laid down, or automatically filling in big gaps with polygons. If you’ve seen my retopology tutorials you’ll know for the past 5 years I’ve favored 3D-Coat for retopology, but Retopoflow has completely blown it out of the water. Again, I don’t have enough space to do it justice here so watch the demonstration and you’ll see what I mean. It’s free, but you can also buy it here to support the creator.

The awesome thing about this auto-rigger is that it isn’t just restricted to humanoid models; you can rig all sorts of complex creatures with it

6. Auto Rig Pro ($19.50 - $40)

As someone that likes to take as many shortcuts as I can when it comes to rigging, Auto Rig Pro is a godsend. It behaves in a similar way to the Mixamo auto-rigger in that you place markers on a few regions of the body and the addon will place the skeleton inside the body automatically – and it’s usually very accurate. Of course, the benefit of using Blender over Mixamo is that it utilizes Blender’s existing toolset, giving you a lot more control over the rig. The awesome thing about this auto-rigger is that it isn’t just restricted to humanoid models; you can rig all sorts of complex creatures with it!

7. GoB (free)

If you saw my previous article 10 ZBrush plugins I love, and why you’ll know GoB is a must for anybody that uses ZBrush alongside Blender. GoB is an unofficial version of GoZ for Blender which will allow you to transfer all of your models and textures between ZBrush and Blender with just a button click. Unfortunately, it is not yet backed by Pixologic and consequently can be a little fickle. That said, it’s a major improvement over manually exporting and importing.

8. Hair Net (free)

An area I feel Blender falls short compared to other 3D apps is its hair system. A key feature of a hair system such as XGen in Maya is the ability to create guide hairs from other modes such as geometry or curves, which Blender can’t do by default. The Hair Net addon allows you to convert geometry, curves or fibers from ZBrush into guide hairs that Blender understands, making it a must for anyone that wants realistic style hair in Blender.

9. Pro Lighting Studio ($127)

This one is a little expensive but well worth the price in my opinion. Setting up lighting can take time and this addon dramatically reduces that by providing over 150 preset light rigs and 49 HDRs for you to cycle through. The rigs will automatically scale and orient to suit your model but this can be adjusted to your heart’s content. Pair this up with the Gaffer addon and you have yourself an extremely powerful lighting setup. On top of all the lighting options you also get a choice of floors and backgrounds which are easily editable for presenting your models. Highly recommended.

10. Danny Mac Eye Designer ($29)

Okay, I’m clearly biased with this one but a tool I developed specifically for my needs is bound to make my top 10. The Eye Designer is a versatile add-on that allows for quick and easy creation of great looking eyes. The addon is designed to be as simple as possible, putting the modeling, iris shading and cornea shading onto an array of simple sliders. There’s also a handful of fake specular highlights for times when you just need that extra pop. Check out the demo where I go through all the different properties available.

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Bowers on collecting: The latest book update

By Q. David Bowers

As you read these words I am immersed in writing a book for Whitman about the numismatic world from 1932 to date. In that year the world was in the depth of the Depression, and in America, many would consider the year and the beginning of the next to represent the point when the economy touched bottom. Elected president in November, Franklin D. Roosevelt was to effect changes that would have far-reaching implications on numismatics, especially areas involving gold coins. The American Numismatic Association was to see few changes during the year, except for a slight drop in membership. The Numismatist continued to represent the association to the average member, as only a very small percentage of individuals ever attended the annual conventions. The usual format of the publication, under the editorship of Frank G. Duffield, of Baltimore, continued, serving up a miscellaneous mixture of articles, fillers, reprinted newspaper articles, and other items. They were not arranged in any particular order, with little editorial commentary inserted, and with little or nothing in the way of lead-ins to tie an installment with that in a previous issue, for the enlightenment of new readers. It seemed to be time for a new occupant in the editor’s chair, but this was not to happen soon. Club news was carried in detail, and each issue offered numerous pages of dealer advertisements.

In 1932 the Washington quarter made its debut with production at the Philadelphia, Denver, and San Francisco mints. It was intended to be a one-year commemorative issue honoring the 200th anniversary of the first president’s birth, but the design became the standard and in various modifications has been continued to the present day. There was hardly any interest in investing in coins, so quantities were not saved. Years later the branch mint coins became highly prized and priced as key issues in Mint State.

America’s leading dealer continued to be B. Max Mehl, who had started in business in 1900. In the January 1933 issue of The Numismatist he proclaimed that he had spent $17,500 for a coin advertisement on Sunday, January 8, 1933—a four-color advertisement appearing in six million copies of various Hearst Sunday newspapers. He offered the Star Rare Coin Encyclopedia for sale for a dollar—a guide listing the prices he would pay, including $50 for a Liberty Head nickel minted in 1913 (an offer later upped to $500). Today as you read these words that particular nickel has been well documented. Only five are known to exist. In 1996 I was the auctioneer that sold the specimen in the Louis Eliasberg Collection—the first coin to ever cross the million-dollar mark.

In 1933, Barney Bluestone, of Syracuse, New York, announced that he would be selling at auction the collection of the late Dr. George P. French, of Rochester. Earlier French had sold the crème de la crème of his collection, his cabinet of large cents, to B. Max Mehl for a reported $50,000, and Mehl had, in turn, distributed the coins by means of a fixed price list. Ambrose J. Brown, of Marblehead, Massachusetts, offered various United States coins for sale at fixed prices, the most expensive of which was a Very Fine 1868 $3 piece at $6.50. Brown was to remain a prominent mail-order coin seller for decades thereafter. M.H. Bolender, of Orangeville, Illinois, advised readers of his forthcoming 80th auction sale, while J.C. Morgenthau & Co., New York City, solicited consignments for its own sales, noting that the pieces were cataloged by Wayte Raymond and J.G. Macallister, “men who know their business.”

William Rabin, a Philadelphia dealer, offered bulk quantities of common issues of various denominations, all coins in Good grade, except gold coins which were Fine. There were no grading standards in place at the time, and “Good” and “Fine” meant “nice,” or desirable to own. A group of 10 gold dollars could be had from Rabin for $20, the same number of $3 pieces could be purchased for $47.50, and the following were his prices for groups of 100 specimens: half dollars before 1840 $60, quarter dollars before 1840 $45, 20-cent pieces $50, dimes before 1840 $20, nickel three-cent pieces $6, two-cent pieces $4.25, large cents $5, Flying Eagle cents $5, copper-nickel cents $2.50, and half cents $19.50. John Zug offered quarter dollars for sale, including a Proof 1796 for $50 and a Very Fine example of the same date for $20, a Proof 1825 for $12.50, Proof examples of 1856 and 1857 for $3.50 each, and an Uncirculated 1878-CC for $1.25. A Proof Isabella quarter was priced at $3.50, and an Uncirculated example was listed for $1.50.

A. French, of Garden City, New York, offered gold and other coins for sale. This was the trade name of Arline French, the wife of Charles French, a coin dealer, who traded under his wife’s name. Both had changed their last name from Lehrenkraus to French after Charles had a dispute with the law in 1935, was convicted for fraud in the real estate market and had spent some time in Sing Sing Prison in Upstate New York. C. (Charles) E. Green of Chicago, Illinois offered a booklet for sale, Mint Records of U.S. Coins 1793-1931, Inclusive, which listed the number of pieces struck of all United States coins. Numerous facts given were not available in any other current publication. Lee F. Hewitt, also of Chicago, advised that he would be selling a collection of United States coins by mail auction on February 15. Hewitt would go on to great fame in the numismatic hobby with the launching of the Numismatic Scrapbook Magazine in 1935.

The above gives you an idea of what to expect. There is a lot more to come! Tune in to the Whitman website to find publication and availability details. Or check it right now for many interesting titles, including dozens of my books.

If you wish to contact me or send any inquiries, you may direct them to my e-mail qdbarchive@metrocast.net.

❑

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[travelteatv]

A few years back my parents and I undertook a mammoth road trip around Scotland – it was incredible but looking back, we endeavoured to take in a bit too much in the time we had, meaning we didn’t get to spend much time in each place.

Hence this time, when my boyfriend and I looked to do another Scottish Road Trip, we decided to try to take our time a little bit. In some ways, we definitely managed this and in others, completely failed. As the title suggests, this trip was done on somewhat of a budget – travelling in the UK isn’t cheap and we had just been to Croatia, plus a few other big trips in the year (Portugal/Belgium/York), so we had to tighten our belts.

Saying that, I don’t think we particularly missed out on anything and still managed to see so much of the incredible Scottish scenery that we had been hankering after. I’m actually going to split this trip into three posts as there’s quite a lot to cover and I’m not sure anyone would make it through a post that long.

  ROAD TRIP ITINERARY

Our schedule for this trip looked like this:

Day 1

Early flight from London City to Edinburgh

Train from Edinburgh to Inverness

Drive from Inverness to Invergarry

    Day 2

Day trip from Inverness to Glen Coe

(via the Glenfinnan Viaduct)

  Day 3

Drive from Inverness to John O’Groats

  Day 4

Explore John O’Groats

  Day 5

Drive back to Inverness via Dunrobin Castle

Flight back to London

  DAY 1: LONDON TO INVERNESS

It still blows my mind to think that on Day 1, when we travelled all the way from East London to Inverness, we used 6 methods of transport. SIX! We got up early, leaving the house at about 6am to walk to the tube, to get to City airport for 7am ahead of our 9am flight.

We booked this flight using my British Airways air miles, which really had its perks (otherwise in all honesty, I don’t know if we would fly due to cost – we probably would have taken the train). For one thing, we got to fly from City airport which I’d never done before and was incredibly excited about: being able to get from door to door to the airport in less than an hour genuinely blew my mind a little bit as most ‘London’ airports aren’t actually in London. Gatwick for example, is 24 miles away.

Also, as City airport is small, a lot of people I know who travel from there regularly tend to arrive about 45 minutes before their flight is about to leave, as according to them you can just ‘walk’ through security as its so empty. This wasn’t something we got to experience as we were travelling during the extinction rebellion protests and so the airport was in high security mode, meaning everyone was checked at least three times before being allowed anywhere near a plane, which surprise surprise took a bit of time. Just to be clear, I had no issue with this – we actually always tend to get everywhere much earlier than needed just in case because we’re aware that if we miss a flight/train, its unlikely we’ll be able to afford to pay for another!

The flight itself was super short and we were landed in Edinburgh with our bags by 1030. From there, we caught the tram into the city centre (which takes about 30 minutes) and had 2 hours before our train to Inverness.

Now, I know what you’re thinking – 2.5 hours?! I thought you said you planned this so you had more time in each place? Well, yes – Edinburgh wasn’t actually part of the plan. All of the flights to Inverness through British Airways were at odd times, and the train journey from Edinburgh to Inverness is known to be scenic, so we decided to incorporate it into the trip.

Also, Edinburgh isn’t a cheap place to stay, so the idea of being able to explore the city a bit without paying the extortionate cost of a hotel was quite an attractive offer. Of course, 2.5 hours isn’t enough time to truly explore and get to know a city but we had both been before (me many times to visit my best friend Hamilton, who used to live there), so it was just nice to have a wander really!

  EDINBURGH WANDERING

Whilst in Edinburgh, we walked up to the castle to see the view from the top of the hill, and have a look at the castle, but didn’t go in. It costs £19.50 and seeing as we wouldn’t have a long time there to really make the most of it, it didn’t seem worth it.

We then walked down to the gorgeous Victoria Street (my personal favourite in the city), to wander around the independent boutiques, in particular my most treasured print shop – the Red Door Gallery.

I’ve mentioned this place a million times before but its somewhere I really recommend – they do amazing prints and souvenirs from local artists, all at an affordable price. I can’t go in there and not buy something (not that my aim is to hold back).

This time we got this beer print, which as East Londoner hipsters obsessed with ale/good beer, was perfect for us.

After wandering around there for a bit (and with beer on the brain), we fancied a drink. My friend Hamilton had recommended Paradise Palms to us, so we wandered in that direction via Greyfriars Bobby because you can’t visit Edinburgh and not rub Bobby’s nose for luck.

Paradise Palms is a cool hangout that does great vegan food and is also a record store. It was the perfect place to chill out before a bit before walking back to the station to catch the train to Inverness.

We left for Edinburgh on a Friday morning, so it was Friday early afternoon when we got to the bar – I won’t lie, at this point it felt a bit like we had skipped work for the day; ordering a pint at lunchtime midweek had a certain thrill to it.

Processed with VSCO with g3 preset

  EDINBURGH TO INVERNESS TRAIN

We got the 250pm train from Edinburgh, which stopped at Stirling at 332pm, taking roughly 3.5 hours in total and cost £30.45 each with a railcard. The scenery is beautiful although obviously we only got a few hours of it due to the sun going down.

Seat reservation was not possible for the journey which was a shame, because unsurprisingly as a Friday evening service, it was very busy and not quite the relaxing journey I had imagined as we were a bit crammed in.

Nevertheless it got us to Inverness – from there we took a taxi to Inverness Airport and collected a hire car, to drive to our accommodation (via a supermarket stop to stock up for breakfast and lunch the next day).

I’ll go into our accommodation in more detail in the next post but I must say, it was incredible. In fact, one of the best places I have ever stayed. It’s almost so good, I don’t want to recommend it.

It was called Balnagown Estates – we had a small but perfectly formed cottage in the grounds of the estate, which was only £130 for two nights (£65 each). They offer free bike hire, a games room, use of the observation tower and they even breed Scottish Wildcats, which you are allowed to go and take a look at (from a safe distance!)

After an incredibly long day, I cannot describe how nice it was to sit down with a beer in the cottage ready for our exciting plans in the days to come. Now, I realise I started this post by saying ‘We wanted to make sure we had enough time in each place’ and spent very little time in both Edinburgh (only 2.5 hours)/ Inverness (about an hour, on the way to Balnagown), but I can say now that day 1 was the only one as mental as this… Kind of.

  Four Tips for Travelling in the UK on a budget

Check if you’re eligible for a railcard. Both Fred and I have 26-30 railcards, which can be used to get 30% off rail fares. This also includes off peak tube journeys – just show your railcard to a TFL worker inside a station and they should be able to add the railcard onto your oyster card.

Book trains ahead of time. National Rail has a cheap fare finder which is very helpful with this.

Buy from bigger supermarkets like Aldi, Lidl and Asda when you have the chance.

Use air miles – I get mine through my credit card and tend to use them once a year for shorter trips. They also sometimes do special offers such as seat upgrades and free seats for a partner (as I will mention in the third part of this series on road tripping Scotland on a budget).

  Abi

X

@travelteatv 

Scottish Road Trip on a Budget| Part 1 | Edinburgh to Inverness A few years back my parents and I undertook a mammoth road trip around Scotland - it was incredible but looking back, we endeavoured to take in a bit too much in the time we had, meaning we didn't get to spend much time in each place.

[crazyflyingspip]

There's up to 50% off Not On The High Street this weekend – for perfect personalised Christmas gifts

Have you heard… it’s Black Friday! But before you despair at the mere mention, as many will, think about all the savings on Christmas gift shopping.

Our favourite one-stop shop for unique gifts, Not on the High Street is offering up to 50 per cent off.

This year’s sale gives shoppers to make more meaningful purchases this Christmas for less. The genuine discounts give us the chance to also support small creative businesses. Win, win.

The sale is on until the 2nd December and covers more than 40,000 products

Don’t miss a deal: Ideal Home Deals – all the best Black Friday bargains

While researching this feature, I’ve bagged three perfect personalised Christmas gifts for loved ones already.

Here are my top five picks from the current sale…

Black Friday discounts on gifts at Not on the High Street

Gift for gin lovers

Buying a gift for a gin lover? While a bottle of the good stuff is a great gift, we reckon a personalised glass would make their Christmas! Stunning to look at and absolutely gorgeous to enjoy their favourite tipple from.

The tasteful low glass is made in Italy from fine cut crystal making this a truly luxurious gift. With the chosen name engraved on, their favourite tipple is made personal.

Buy now: Personalised Low Gin Glass by Oh So Cherised, NOW £21.60 (was £27), Not on the High Street

Gift for chefs

If they love to cook, how about a beautifully engraved solid oak or walnut chopping board with a heart and initial design. A robust wooden board is the perfect personalised gift to aid cooking for many years to come. There’s no saying you have to personalise the high-quality boards, but it’s nice to have the option to make it more thoughtful.

Buy now: Personalised Wooden Chopping Board by Dust and Things, NOW £25 (was £50) , Not on the High Street

Gift for music lovers

Everyone has a favourite song, and one that resonates with you. And who doesn’t love a simple stylised wall print in a stylish black frame. To bring this to life simply choose a song and the mixer will access it from a catalogue of over 35 million tracks, converting it into a visual sound wave.

This is printed on an individual basis, with any text of choice. Sounds like a perfect present to captivate a music fan.

Buy now: Personalised Favourite Song Sound Wave Print, NOW £19.50 (was £24), Not on the High Street

Gift for cheese lovers

If you know someone, and we all do, who LOVES cheese – what could be better than a serving board? A serving board with their name on! (This might be one I’ve bought as a gift). This is the ideal gift for this time of year, just in time for a festive Cheese-binge.

Buy now: Personalised Vintage Cheese Board and Knife Set by Dust and Things, NOW £17 (was £34), Not On The High Street

Gift for a loved one

I actually bought this very frame, in brass, for my Mum last year – so i can personally vouch that it’s the perfect gift. It preserves a favourite photo in the most elegant way. The personalised message allows you to make it even more special. I might have to get a few more for loved ones this year!

Buy now: Personalised Solid Copper Photo Print by Oakdene Designs, NOW £19.20 (was £24), Not on the High Street

This of course is just a small selection. Visit the website and find the perfect personalise gift for you and your loved ones. I’m going back on, too, to finish my own shopping!

With gifts in mind: Black Friday 2019: Enjoy 20% off Neom candles and home fragrance at John Lewis

Even if you’re not in the mood for Black Friday bargain hunting, we say make the most of the deals for Christmas shopping.

The post There's up to 50% off Not On The High Street this weekend – for perfect personalised Christmas gifts appeared first on Ideal Home.

from Ideal Home https://ift.tt/2Owb3RU

[bordersmash8-blog]

Grazing At Paddock On Crown, Surry Hills

Looking for somewhere to eat over the Christmas break? This surprising cafe on busy Crown Street in Surry Hills has an front, indoor and outdoor courtyard section. On the back of rave reviews from friends we had to check it out one Sunday morning - with our four legged friend Mochi of course. And did we mention that it is dog friendly?

"Nobody eat until all the food arrives," says a girl at another large table. Another one tells her friends about her life as an influencer and how she works with brands. What I'm trying to say is that the food at Paddock on Crown attracts a visual crowd. That is, it's very photogenic.

APMG $8

We start our brunch with a smoothie for Mr NQN. The APMG has apple pineapple, ginger and mint smoothie which has a good level of natural sweetness.

Benny Blini Your Way $19.50

The food comes out quickly and service is also prompt and friendly. The blini is a large, thick, soft blini topped with wilted kale, hollandaise and folds of smoked salmon (there is a choice of mixed mushrooms, smoked salmon or ham hock). I like the slight sweetness of the blini with the smoked salmon and poached eggs.

Mae Bae $16.50

We are both big fans of the Mae Bae which is a bacon and egg roll with mac n cheese, chorizo slices, coleslaw, house made barbecue sauce on a very soft, toasted brioche bun. It's saucy and delicious with just the right ratio of filling to bun and the house barbecue sauce that pulls it all together is delicious.

Fluffy Pancakes $18

The fluffy pancakes is actually one thick, spongy pancake although you can order additional pancakes for $4 each. There's a choice between ube (purple sweet potato) or vanilla ice cream. On top of the pancake is vanilla mascarpone, raspberry coulis, whipped maple butter and a huge scoop of ube ice cream. They're very generous with the maple syrup which is nice and Mr NQN adores this pancakes for that and the amount of fruit on it too.

Acai Mango frappe $8 and chai latte $4.20

Because it's dog friendly as well as quite large and therefore quite easy to get a table if you come a bit before lunchtime, we return the following weekend to try a bit more. For Mr NQN it's the Acai Mango smoothie which has just the right amount of sugar in it. For me, it's a chai latte which is also good.

Vongole Angel Hair Pasta $23.50

The vongole pasta has a good amount of spicy passata with clams, cherry tomatoes, parsley and truffle cheese that is quite light on the truffle. Still it's a sizeable dish that is equal parts pretty and satisfying.

Dead Bird Burger $18.50

I had been eyeing off the dead bird burger before because I adore fried chicken. This is a super moist and tender buttermilk chicken fillet with tomato and lettuce. It is topped with onion rings, a sweet pickle, jalapeno aioli and chips on the side. The chicken fillet itself is so tender but I think I would have loved a bit more heat or chilli in the sauce.

There's no dessert this time but only because we know that we'll be back for more!

So tell me Dear Reader, are you working or on your Christmas break? Are you eating out much while you're on holidays?

These meals were independently paid for.

509 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Open 8am–4pm, 7 days a week Phone: (02) 8399 2827

Source: https://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/12/29/paddock-on-crown-surry-hills/

[beechroof80-blog]

The Route to Mama Mulan, Chatswood

It has been a while since I last visited Chatswood. It's the lure of noodles that puts Mama Mulan on my radar (Mr NQN is team dumplings, I'm team noodles). But the way to Mama Mulan is not immediately obvious. I find myself pressing the car park elevator button trying to get up to level 1. Then a text arrives with instructions to head towards Willoughby library and use their elevators to find my way there.

Located a level above the library, the restaurant sits all on its lonesome at the base of a block of apartments. It's surprisingly busy without any foot traffic passing.

I am seated in the light soaked "outdoor" section (not outdoor but they keep referring to it as that) and wait for Mr NQN, Louise and Viggo to arrive. Service is sweet and helpful but later, when the restaurant is heaving, there aren't quite enough floor staff so tables are half cleared and the bill requires a couple of prompts.

So the noodles...well the bad news is that they're only available at lunchtime because they are hand pulled noodles. The good news is you can order vermicelli noodles with your live tank seafood if you wish but they're not the same as the lunchtime noodles.

We order a couple of cocktails: a Mama Mulan for Mr NQN (Paraiso lychee liquor, Vodka O, martini bianco, lychee & lemon juice) which is sweet with floral lychee and a Mulan Rouge for Louise with Pama, Grey Goose vodka, vanilla and citrus (she asks for no egg white). Viggo has a beer and I stick with sparkling water because I've had a few days of drinking already. The chef here is Marble Ng formerly at Lotus and you can definitely see similarities here.

Ice plant salad with seared scallops $19.50

The food comes out surprisingly quickly and the first dish to arrive is the ice plant salad with crisp, slightly salty ice plant with a sweet dressing on it and two seared scallops. The ice plant is refreshing and good and it almost doesn't really need the scallops (which at two seems a little tight).

Sweet & sour fried eggplant $23

When we ordered this dish our waitress suggested that we change this for a healthier vegetable dish but said "Do you want delicious or healthy?" and we all answered with a resounding "delicious!" and so it was this eggplant dish over wok fried greens. It's battered eggplant batons with a sweet and sour sauce. The eggplant is piping hot and melts in the mouth inside the crunchy batter. Everyone loves this dish.

Mama Mulan fried rice (GF) $22

There are two types of fried rice and we went with this one as it has wagyu and XO sauce along with asparagus, baby corn, snow peas, coriander, spring onion and egg. It's a very good fried rice, a little on the oily side and the wagyu is good in it although there isn't much XO sauce flavour in it at all.

Braised pork belly with cinnamon, star anise, chilli & bamboo shoots $28

Viggo is a pork fan so we always make sure to order pork whenever we eat out with him. The braised pork belly comes as a bowl of thickish pork belly slices with cinnamon, star anise, Brussels sprouts and bamboo shoots. It has the flavour of char siu but with a sauce with it too. The bamboo shoots are nice although the Brussels sprouts don't go so well with it. Mr NQN remarks, "Do you think they accidentally put them in?".

Roast Mongolian style lamb ribs with cumin $45

A surprising favourite are the Mongolian style lamb ribs covered in toasted cumin seeds with a chilli sauce on the side and a somewhat incongruous red cabbage salad. The lamb is served on the long bone and the meat is wonderfully soft and melting. The chilli sauce provides a nice spicy counterpoint to the fatty meat. We all found that the creamy dressed salad didn't really suit it as something acidic or pickle-y would have been better.

Pippies $32.50 for 500g with noodles $20 and black pepper sauce

We also ordered a bowl of pippies in black pepper sauce because we thought we were getting our fix for the XO sauce with the fried rice. We also ordered some crispy fried vermicelli noodles as I was still craving noodles. The pippies are excellent-fat and meaty while the sauce is very bold and spicy, perhaps a little too strong for us. I do like the spicy tingle though and even with the three of us eating (Viggo abstained as he is allergic to shellfish) we can barely get through half of this dish.

Duo Duo - salted caramel deep-fried ice cream $14.50

We have just enough room to share one dessert and the one that appealed to us the most is the deep fried ice cream and is a collaboration between the restaurant and the Duo Duo fried ice cream food truck. It's a creamy vanilla bean ice cream in a layer of panko crumbs. On top is a tasty sea salt caramel sauce topped with crunchy caramel butterscotch popcorn. It's definitely a step above the usual fried ice cream and we all really enjoy this leaving no trace behind.

So tell me Dear Reader, are you team dumpling or team noodles? And would you go for delicious or healthy if you had to choose one?

This meal was independently paid for.

The Concourse, Level 1 above Willoughby City Library, Chatswood NSW 2067 Monday to Saturday 11:30am–3pm, 5:30–10pm Sunday 11:30am–3pm, 5:30–9pm Phone: (02) 9157 1488

Source: https://www.notquitenigella.com/2019/06/16/mama-mulan-chatswood/

[tenortower6-blog]

Grazing At Paddock On Crown, Surry Hills

Looking for somewhere to eat over the Christmas break? This surprising cafe on busy Crown Street in Surry Hills has an front, indoor and outdoor courtyard section. On the back of rave reviews from friends we had to check it out one Sunday morning - with our four legged friend Mochi of course. And did we mention that it is dog friendly?

"Nobody eat until all the food arrives," says a girl at another large table. Another one tells her friends about her life as an influencer and how she works with brands. What I'm trying to say is that the food at Paddock on Crown attracts a visual crowd. That is, it's very photogenic.

APMG $8

We start our brunch with a smoothie for Mr NQN. The APMG has apple pineapple, ginger and mint smoothie which has a good level of natural sweetness.

Benny Blini Your Way $19.50

The food comes out quickly and service is also prompt and friendly. The blini is a large, thick, soft blini topped with wilted kale, hollandaise and folds of smoked salmon (there is a choice of mixed mushrooms, smoked salmon or ham hock). I like the slight sweetness of the blini with the smoked salmon and poached eggs.

Mae Bae $16.50

We are both big fans of the Mae Bae which is a bacon and egg roll with mac n cheese, chorizo slices, coleslaw, house made barbecue sauce on a very soft, toasted brioche bun. It's saucy and delicious with just the right ratio of filling to bun and the house barbecue sauce that pulls it all together is delicious.

Fluffy Pancakes $18

The fluffy pancakes is actually one thick, spongy pancake although you can order additional pancakes for $4 each. There's a choice between ube (purple sweet potato) or vanilla ice cream. On top of the pancake is vanilla mascarpone, raspberry coulis, whipped maple butter and a huge scoop of ube ice cream. They're very generous with the maple syrup which is nice and Mr NQN adores this pancakes for that and the amount of fruit on it too.

Acai Mango frappe $8 and chai latte $4.20

Because it's dog friendly as well as quite large and therefore quite easy to get a table if you come a bit before lunchtime, we return the following weekend to try a bit more. For Mr NQN it's the Acai Mango smoothie which has just the right amount of sugar in it. For me, it's a chai latte which is also good.

Vongole Angel Hair Pasta $23.50

The vongole pasta has a good amount of spicy passata with clams, cherry tomatoes, parsley and truffle cheese that is quite light on the truffle. Still it's a sizeable dish that is equal parts pretty and satisfying.

Dead Bird Burger $18.50

I had been eyeing off the dead bird burger before because I adore fried chicken. This is a super moist and tender buttermilk chicken fillet with tomato and lettuce. It is topped with onion rings, a sweet pickle, jalapeno aioli and chips on the side. The chicken fillet itself is so tender but I think I would have loved a bit more heat or chilli in the sauce.

There's no dessert this time but only because we know that we'll be back for more!

So tell me Dear Reader, are you working or on your Christmas break? Are you eating out much while you're on holidays?

These meals were independently paid for.

509 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Open 8am–4pm, 7 days a week Phone: (02) 8399 2827

Source: https://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/12/29/paddock-on-crown-surry-hills/

[woundgrey39-blog]

Grazing At Paddock On Crown, Surry Hills

Looking for somewhere to eat over the Christmas break? This surprising cafe on busy Crown Street in Surry Hills has an front, indoor and outdoor courtyard section. On the back of rave reviews from friends we had to check it out one Sunday morning - with our four legged friend Mochi of course. And did we mention that it is dog friendly?

"Nobody eat until all the food arrives," says a girl at another large table. Another one tells her friends about her life as an influencer and how she works with brands. What I'm trying to say is that the food at Paddock on Crown attracts a visual crowd. That is, it's very photogenic.

APMG $8

We start our brunch with a smoothie for Mr NQN. The APMG has apple pineapple, ginger and mint smoothie which has a good level of natural sweetness.

Benny Blini Your Way $19.50

The food comes out quickly and service is also prompt and friendly. The blini is a large, thick, soft blini topped with wilted kale, hollandaise and folds of smoked salmon (there is a choice of mixed mushrooms, smoked salmon or ham hock). I like the slight sweetness of the blini with the smoked salmon and poached eggs.

Mae Bae $16.50

We are both big fans of the Mae Bae which is a bacon and egg roll with mac n cheese, chorizo slices, coleslaw, house made barbecue sauce on a very soft, toasted brioche bun. It's saucy and delicious with just the right ratio of filling to bun and the house barbecue sauce that pulls it all together is delicious.

Fluffy Pancakes $18

The fluffy pancakes is actually one thick, spongy pancake although you can order additional pancakes for $4 each. There's a choice between ube (purple sweet potato) or vanilla ice cream. On top of the pancake is vanilla mascarpone, raspberry coulis, whipped maple butter and a huge scoop of ube ice cream. They're very generous with the maple syrup which is nice and Mr NQN adores this pancakes for that and the amount of fruit on it too.

Acai Mango frappe $8 and chai latte $4.20

Because it's dog friendly as well as quite large and therefore quite easy to get a table if you come a bit before lunchtime, we return the following weekend to try a bit more. For Mr NQN it's the Acai Mango smoothie which has just the right amount of sugar in it. For me, it's a chai latte which is also good.

Vongole Angel Hair Pasta $23.50

The vongole pasta has a good amount of spicy passata with clams, cherry tomatoes, parsley and truffle cheese that is quite light on the truffle. Still it's a sizeable dish that is equal parts pretty and satisfying.

Dead Bird Burger $18.50

I had been eyeing off the dead bird burger before because I adore fried chicken. This is a super moist and tender buttermilk chicken fillet with tomato and lettuce. It is topped with onion rings, a sweet pickle, jalapeno aioli and chips on the side. The chicken fillet itself is so tender but I think I would have loved a bit more heat or chilli in the sauce.

There's no dessert this time but only because we know that we'll be back for more!

So tell me Dear Reader, are you working or on your Christmas break? Are you eating out much while you're on holidays?

These meals were independently paid for.

509 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Open 8am–4pm, 7 days a week Phone: (02) 8399 2827

Source: https://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/12/29/paddock-on-crown-surry-hills/

[flutecattle9-blog]

Steamed Whole Fish With Spicy Black Bean Sauce

Growing up, pretty much any time I ate fish it was prepared in one of two ways: steamed whole, then drenched with julienned ginger, scallions and soy sauce. Or, pan-fried whole, then drenched with spicy, garlicky bean sauce. Later on, I would grow to love dipping fried fish sticks into ketchup and savoring every juicy bite of a Cajun-seasoned catfish fillet. But at the beginning, it was all about whole. Head, tail, cheeks, eyes, fins—the whole shebang.

The whole fish can be strange if you had the fish sticks and catfish fillets first. Perhaps you’ve have bad memories of goin’ fishing and figuring out what to do with the flapping creatures. I once went to a lake with friends and we caught about a dozen little 5-inch scups or something, and I was left with the task of cleaning, scaling and cooking them all. It was not fun and I didn’t cook whole fish for a long time after that.

But Chinese New Year calls for whole fish—and it must be a whole fish, not puny pieces or fillets. It’s because a whole fish better symbolizes bounty and wealth and prosperity. That is the whole point. (Well that, and the fact that the word for fish sounds like the word for wealth and prosperity in Chinese.) To me, serving a whole fish also conveys a sense of purity and transparency that I value in my food choices—yes, you’re looking at the whole fish, and nothing but the fish. And a whole fish demands a certain reverence for the creature you’re about to eat. It’s sort of forcing you visually to acknowledge its sacrifice, and take a moment of grace to thank the fish.

The fish is scored lightly on both sides and seasoned all over with salt and sesame oil

So it’s Chinese New Year this weekend. What better time to embrace the whole fish? I did a mashup of my two favorite preparations, steaming the whole fish (so simple and you don’t have to worry about flipping it over), and smothering it with an explosion of savoriness. It’s a big bang of flavor for minimal effort, and I hope the fish would appreciate going down in such colorful fashion.

While you can find jars of black bean garlic sauce in the international aisle of most large grocery stores, its main ingredient is fermented black soybeans—and you can get those whole in most Asian groceries. Look in the dried goods area; they’re sticky, shelf-stable little beans that pack a lot of salty, umami flavor. They also blend very easily in any liquid. So you can easily create your own black bean garlic sauce with them, and garlic. Add a little chilies or chili sauce for heat, and it becomes a chili black bean garlic sauce, like other prepared sauces in jars.

whole fermented black beans, or doushi, are sort of like the solid version of soy sauce—and can be kept in your pantry to whip up a quick sauce from scratch

So now you’ve got even more in the way of pure, whole ingredients: whole fish, whole fermented black beans, whole garlic cloves, chilies, soy sauce. Some cilantro as a finishing garnish is nice, too.

To steam the fish, you’ll need a large pan, wok or pot with a lid. A small steamer rack or something that can prop up a plate inside it (like an upturned bowl) will be needed, and finally, a plate that’s big enough to fit the whole fish on but fits inside the pot, allowing the lid to close with it inside. The plate should never touch the water at the bottom of the pan, and the fish should not be grazing the lid. So look around your kitchen and opt for a smaller whole fish if you’re not sure your equipment is big enough to steam a bigger guy with.

the fermented beans are tossed in a pan with garlic and chilies and thickened with cornstarch slurry for a quick sauce

This Chinese New Year, I’m doing something I’m a little nervous about. Since we’re ringing in the Year of the Dog, and I am the proud owner of a wonderful dog, I am throwing a dinner party for only dog owners. About 15 people and a handful of dogs will be present in my small apartment. I am going to give all the dogs red envelopes with doggy treats. And I’m sure I’ll share the menu, which is dog-inspired in many different less-than-obvious ways, soon. But first, here’s a simple and basic recipe for a favorite whole fish dish of mine. Learn to steam fish forever, and add any wonderful sauces you want to it instead next. Or, take the recipe for just the sauce, and add it to your stir-fries with chicken, shrimp, beef, tofu, and anything you want, too.

Steamed Whole Fish with Spicy Black Bean Sauce (makes about 4 servings as part of a multi-course meal)

1 whole white-fleshed fish (about 1.5 lbs), such as black bass or porgy salt and white pepper 1 teaspoon sesame oil 1 tablespoon neutral oil, such as vegetable 2 cloves garlic, minced 1-2 small red Thai chilies, minced (or substitute with 1-2 teaspoons chili sauce of your choice) ¼ cup fermented black soybeans (can be found in Asian markets in the dry-goods area, or substitute with black bean garlic sauce if you can’t find it) 1 cup water 1 tablespoon cornstarch soy sauce to taste fresh chopped cilantro or scallions for garnish

Make sure your fish is scaled and gutted (have your fishmonger do this if possible). Rinse and pat dry with paper towels. Score the fish by making diagonal slits across the front (two or three per side). Rub the sesame oil and a couple pinches of salt and pepper all over the fish, inside and out.

Place the fish on a plate. Find a wok or pot that’s large enough to fit the plate of fish inside it with the lid closed. Place a steamer rack (or an upturned bowl) on the bottom of the wok or pot. Fill the pot with at least 2 inches of water from the bottom, but not enough that it comes within a couple inches of the plate once it’s set inside. Set the plate with fish aside as you heat up the water so it comes to a boil. Reduce heat to a gentle boil. Now, place the plate of fish inside, on its perch of a rack or bowl, and close the lid over the pot. Let steam for about 15 minutes, or until the flesh is entirely opaque, peeking inside those slits to make sure it is all the way to the bone.

Meanwhile, heat the tablespoon of neutral oil in a smallish pan. Add the garlic and cook over medium-high heat about 10 seconds, until fragrant. Add the chilies or chili sauce and cook another few seconds, stirring. Stir in the black beans and the water. Bring to a boil, stirring. In a separate bowl, mix the tablespoon of cornstarch with a small amount of water. Pour a little into the bubbling sauce on the pan and stir immediately. It should thicken. If you desire a thicker sauce, add a little more at a time, stirring a few seconds afterward, until it thickens. Taste for seasoning, adding a pinch of white pepper or splash or soy sauce if you like, or another dollop of chili sauce.

Carefully transfer the steamed fish to a serving plate. Pour the sauce over the top, followed by the chopped cilantro or scallions, and serve immediately.

Cost Calculator (for about 4 servings)

1 ½ lb fish (at $12.99/lb): $19.50 1 tsp sesame oil: $0.10 1 Tb neutral oil: $0.10 2 garlic cloves: $0.10 1-2 small chilies: $0.20 ¼ cup fermented black soybeans: $0.25 1 tablespoon cornstarch: $0.10 salt, pepper, optional splash of soy sauce: $0.10 ¼ bunch chopped cilantro: $0.50

Total: $20.95

Health Factor

Four maple leaves: This dish is meant to be part of a larger, multi-course meal, but you could serve it with a simple vegetable side and some rice for a simple and healthy meal. By steaming the fish, you’re not adding any oils or extra fats—it’s all pure fish, and that means you’re getting beneficial omega-3 fatty acids found in most seafood. The fermented soybeans lend a little extra protein along with requisite saltiness, and garlic and fresh herbs add some flavorful vitamins and minerals, too.

Green Factor

Six maple leaves: This really depends on your fish. Typically, a whole Chinese steamed fish for a banquet meal is a white-fleshed variety, but there’s nothing to say you can’t use the darker and oilier mackerel, bluefish or trout if they’re fresh and available in your area. These tend to be less overfished than many white-fleshed varieties in general. But there are plenty of exceptions and species of fish in each region, and the sustainability factor of any fish varies from time and place. So check with a trusted fishmonger and use Seafood Watch for general info on varieties. Source: http://noteatingoutinny.com/2018/02/16/steamed-whole-fish-with-spicy-black-bean-sauce/

[eatinmcr]

Peck & Yard (Chorlton) – March 2019

Want fried chicken with some speciality asian sauces, Peck & Yard is the place for you

The whole concept of Peck & Yard is based around doing the basic staple food and doing it well. This is exactly what they deliver with the nice, cosy setup in Chorlton with around 20 seats inside and another 20 outside (which would be perfect for the nice days we are hopefully going to get with summer round the corner but then again we’re in the Northwest so maybe unlikely). The place has been opened just over a year and has aspirations for another branch...hopefully soon and round the corner from us because this was yummy!

Our meal for the day was the ‘The Feast’ (£19.50) and this consisted of pretty much every type of fried chicken. This consisted of;

4 wings & 4 drumettes in a light dough

2 thighs & 1 breast in panko breadcrumbs

2 sides, for which we got the spicy rice and salt & pepper fries. The fries were lovely and covered with spices and onions so make sure you give it a good mix to get a bit of everything

5 sauces:

Melayu - Sweet peanut sauce, like you usually get with some chicken satay

Korean Spice - Sweet to start with, and then leaves you with the spicy kick

P&Y - their very own special sauce providing a sweet finish

Katsu - Classic Japanese flavour, which is pretty much like a curry sauce from the chippies

Korean Cheese - Creamy cheese, slightly like american gooey cheese

They will also grill the chicken upon request and provide some interesting vegetarian options as well.

This was really good that we haven’t stopped telling people about it since we went.

Recommendation Rating: High Price: £ Service: 9/10 Halal: Chicken & all sauces but Miyagi (contains alcoholic sake)

Peck & Yard 55 Manchester Rd Manchester M21 9PW http://www.peckandyard.com/