#American salad at melbourne

[anxiety-lemsbian]

‧͙⁺˚･˖ ࣪⭑☾[ᴅᴏ ʏᴏᴜ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀʙʙɪᴛꜱ ɢʟᴀʀᴇᴅ ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇ ᴅʀᴏᴠᴇ ᴅᴏᴡɴ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴏᴀᴅ? ᴊᴇᴀʟᴏᴜꜱ, ᴍᴀʏʙᴇ, ᴏʀ ꜱᴄᴀʀᴇᴅ. ɪ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ʙᴇʜɪɴᴅ ʜᴇʀ ᴡᴀɪᴛɪɴɢ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ᴡɪɴᴅᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴅʀᴏᴘ. ᴛʜᴇ ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ɴᴀᴍᴇ ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ꜰᴏx ɪꜱ ᴠᴜʟᴘᴇꜱ ᴠᴜʟᴘᴇꜱ. ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴛʜᴏᴜɢʜᴛ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴏᴜɴᴅᴇᴅ ɴɪᴄᴇ.]☽˖ ࣪⭑･˚⁺‧͙

hi! i'm aster.

she/they, minor, ENG + some ESP and Auslan, poet, audhd, sapphic ace, careless man’s careful daughter, infj, shark lover, lucy dacus listener, aries sun, gemini moon, pisces rising, #1 boygenius (+ solo careers) obsessor, ravenclaw but FUCK JKR, pinterest princess (androgynous), aspiring forest witch, chronic fatigue + generalized anxiety disorder + depression sufferer, greek salad lover

FREE PALESTINE 🇵🇸🇵🇸🇵🇸

current hyperfixation/talk to me about:

the ark x boygenius parallels

special interests:

sylvia plath, boygenius, bluey, sharks

fandoms:

everything sucks, boygenius (+solo careers), jucy, gilmore girls, brooklyn 99, heartbreak high, bluey, bridgerton, osemanverse, sunflowers and lavender, kiki’s delivery service, hamilton, matilda the musical, ruby redfort, aurora cycle (zila's my GIRL), nevermoor, stargirl, agggtm, biac, wednesday, lady bird, the owl house

books:

the anthropocene reviewed, the bell jar, stargirl, loveless, radio silence, death sets sail, goddess girls series, dear poppy, aurora cycle, anne of green gables series, sick bay, henry hamlet’s heart, hani and ishu’s guide to fake dating, nevermoor, iwbft, heartstopper, solitare

ships:

wenclair, lumity, cazzie, emisue,

artists:

lucy dacus, chappell roan, hozier, florence and the machine, radiohead, phoebe bridgers, julien baker, gracie abrams, noah kahan, boygenius, taylor swift? (melbourne n3), lorde, cavetown, mitski, eliza and the delusionals, boyish, beabadoobee

songs:

claw machine, nuvole bianche, leonard cohen, garden song, there it goes, triple dog dare, home by now, no surprises, cartwheel, me and my dog, american teenager, good news, scorpio rising, townie, last words of a shooting star, strawberry blond, we’re in love

playlist:

psa: when i use 'girl' in relation to me (crafty girl summer, etc.) i mean it androdgynously :))

my sideblogs are:

@leftfromrightfromwrong : boygenius and sometimes art

@listen2yourownvoice : radio silence+ a bit of general osemanverse

tags: # aster writes- poetry. #aster writes i guess- more poetry. #asters saved posts- saved posts. #aster loves boygenius- me loving boygenius. #aster's lyric rambles- when i just post a bunch of song lyrics in a format. #aster bawls on the floor- due to sadness, cringiness or laughter, i am on the floor and out for the count. # aster thinks (not really) - what it sounds like pretty much # it’s me i’m the girlfriend - can’t even explain this one actually #percy <3- literally just @trashmeowcan #ari 🌻 - @waitingforthesunrise

@asterisalemsbian • Pronouns.page

link to my old intro post:

[asp1990]

Day 2: Saturday 21st September, 2024 [Auckland]

Breakfast: Coffee & a biscuit Lunch: Fish tacos, chips & a glass of wine Dinner: Curry: lamb saag, butter chicken, beef vindaloo & all the trimmings

We woke up early this morning after a shocking sleep and got ready to explore Auckland. We’d booked a 10am tour of the Wētā Workshop Unleashed and were looking forward to seeing some cool Lord of the Rings style miniatures and weaponry. We stopped at a tiny coffee shop called Stolen Summer for a coffee and I was a bit underwhelmed with how average Auckland was - the city centre just looked like a shitty version of Sydney. There were lots of construction sites, a surprisingly large homeless community and lots of chain stores that we have in Melbourne. 

The Wētā Workshop was very cool but I was initially a bit disappointed that they did not showcase LOTR items but instead props and sets of 3 made-up films that they had designed just for the exhibition. The films were called Fauna (Horror), Age of the Ever Clan (Fantasy) & Origins (Sci-Fi) and all had very distinct models and characters. We had a lovely tour guide who had a very dry sense of humour but was British and didn’t have a Kiwi accent. My favourite exhibit was the ‘bigature’ fantasy castle that looked like Rivendell from Lord of Rings. The level of detail was mind blowing and the lighting was beautiful. 

After our tour it was time for lunch. We walked down to the Viaduct Harbour Waterfront and had lunch at the Reign & Pour for a wine and pub food in the sun. Amara and I shared some tacos and fries, Tim had a burger & Jane had a noodle salad. Everything was a delight. 

Amara then went to scope out the ferry situation and we bought a $16NZD return ticket to Devenport via a 15-minute ferry ride. The ride over was beautiful in the sun and I got some beautiful photos of the cityscape. Davenport was a beautiful beachside town bustling with people enjoying the sun. We walked to the Devenport Chocolate Company but didn’t buy anything because an American tourist was taking up all the focus of the one shop assistant. We then walked down the main strip to get ice cream and ate it in the park. The sun was glorious but we were all spent from the travel and decided to head back. 

We got the 3:15pm ferry back to Auckland city and then hired a scooter to get back to our apartment. I was a bit apprehensive, as I’d fallen off a scooter in Canberra earlier in the year and badly hurt my hands, but I got back on the horse and didn’t fall off! Woohoo! We stopped at Woolworths for snacks then had a nap when we got home. We snoozed for 45 minutes then had some chips and chats before heading out for dinner. 

We headed out for dinner at 7pm and headed to the Indian place a quick walk from the apartment called Spice Club. We all chose a curry (lamb saag, butter chicken & beef vindaloo) with some rice, garlic naan, onion bahji & samosas. A real white-person curry buffet. The food was delicious and we left stuffed! Amara was showing signs of wanting to go home, but Jane wanted to see the nightlife, so we went for a walk back towards the waterfront. 

The nightlife was dead and it was a bit disappointing. My first impression of Auckland is that it is very quiet and a bit industrial - not really what I was picturing. It was bananas to me that on a Saturday night, where the All Blacks were playing, the bars were quiet and we walked past multiple closed restaurants. Maybe there was a holiday or cultural observance that we missed?

While we were walking Jane randomly stopped a woman and asked if she was from New Zealand. She said yes and was super happy to recommend a cool bar called Caretaker that had an underground, Speakeasy vibe - exactly what we wanted! We walked down and had to wait 10 mins for a table, so we went to their neighbouring venue Rocketman for a drink - I had a freshly squeezed apple juice with rum, something I wouldn’t usually pair, and it was delicious! We got called 15 mins later and went down to the speakeasy where there was no menu, but the waiter asked what kind of drink we usually liked and then made something for us. Neil was a gun and made me a “risky business” with gin, orange & bitters. It was delicious, but very sweet. Amara was researching karaoke bars, but I hit a wall and suggested we go home instead. There was a curfew for scooters, so we walked home (4 mins) then shared pictures from our day and then hit the hay. 

I am SO excited to go to Hobbiton tomorrow!!!!

[webozfoodhunter]

[rosefrancaise7]

Monday 4 July 2022

Today saw us posing for photos in the pouch of a giant kangaroo before tucking into an egg and bacon breakfast of truckie proportions. We hadn’t seen that coming. No sign of a breakfast menu at dinner the night before so we thought our options were limited to a slice of carrot cake or an Apricot Danish.

No sooner had we got started than we took a short detour east to the ruins of the old Eucla Telegraph Station. Along with the original township, the Telegraph Station became submerged by dunes destabilised by a rabbit plague in the 1890s. Judging by the many different types of dainty succulents making their cautious way across the surface maybe the dunes will recover yet. The brief but panoramic sliver of coast on the descent was magic.

The Madura Pass Roadhouse where we refuelled was originally settled as an area to breed horses for the Indian Army in 1876. The bloke behind the bar told us he was closed, just for effect it turned out as he went on to say that to everyone who poked their heads in the door expectantly. I suppose he thought that if that joke worked once it would work a thousand times. We stood around outside afterwards enjoying the sunshine and pondering the time, given that we had a few time zones going. The iPhones amongst us were showing local time, the Samsungs were telling SA time and the Fitbit thought it was still in Melbourne.

Caiguna where we stopped for lunch was the scene of a crushing culinary disappointment because the ham and salad sandwich I ordered and the chicken and salad sandwich Al ordered arrived toasted, despite assurances to the contrary. Even the crispy salty wedges dipped in sour cream and sweet chilli sauce couldn’t compensate for the fresh ingredients we had been looking forward to. The motor cyclists warming their cold hands at the fire took note I hope lest they experience a similar blow.

About 200kms and 90 miles of straight road later, we stopped for a coffee at the Balladonia Roadhouse. The original, built to accommodate travellers attending the 1962 Empire Games in Perth, remained in service until 1974 when it was replaced by the Prendiville family. One of Balladonia’s claims to fame was that in July 1979, the American satellite, Skylab, plummeted to earth, scattering a trail of space debris over it. In the 1890s it was the scene of a murderous incident in which Afghan camel drivers were shot by Europeans for washing their feet in a rock pool as part of a religious ritual because they were seen to be defiling a precious water source.

Another two hours down the road and Norseman, our final stop for the day, came into view. The local Norseman Hotel provided us with a great fire around which to sit and chat to the FIFO workers at the gold mine. A hard life we concluded (3 weeks on, 1 week off), even if well paid, but they weren’t complaining. Just having a quiet companionable drink knowing that they would be waking up at 4.30am for a 6am start and an 11 hour day. It was takeaway pizzas in front of the TV after that while we watched the tennis.

Tincurrin today though the back roads.

[charlotteweekly]

HOW FOOD IS RULING MY LIFE.

SPOILER ALERT!!! SUPER FOOD SPOTS AROUND THE WORLD IF YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO READ MORE THAN 3 SENTENCES. Or you can jump right away to the cool tips but that would make me sad. Not that you care, of course.

Food is part of every human being’s life. But is it that big of a deal for everyone as it is for me? I don’t know if I would call myself a “foodie” but I sure have a passionate relationship with food. When I’m hungry, my brain does not function very well. I can’t think clearly, I’m not efficient but most of all, I’m in such a bad mood. Until I eat, I can’t be asked anything. My attitude tends to frighten those around me. I’m just kidding (not that much). I have no control over my tummy! My brain is not in charge here, hence the article’s title. I don’t know if some of you can relate. I hope so…

The same applies in the morning. Until I have had my cup of coffee and had enjoyed my favorite meal of the day: breakfast; I’m not here for anyone.

As Kitty Forman would say: “Honey, this is breakfast. Don’t ask me things.” 

Speaking of which, brekkie is truly different in every country but I like them all, I mean, for those I’ve tried. By the way, the guy who invented the “all day breakfast” thing is my hero. Those places are heaven on earth. I’ve got some favorite spots around the world that I’m going to share with you. First of all, Bakers & Roasters in Amsterdam, let me tell you their pancakes with bacon and bananas are to die for and so is their coffee. Then, if you are in L.A., be sure to stop by Blu Jam Café. Your mouth will thank you for their crunchy French toast. Morning Glory’s Soufflé Pancakes in San Diego is also worth a try. The pink atmosphere, the food and the cocktails will bring joy to your Saturday Brunch outing. And finally, I like to go to IHOP. Yes, I do. Their pancakes and burgers won’t disappoint you. It’s the kind of place you find pretty much everywhere on the road and it fulfills my American road trips fantasies, Road 66, diner style and whatnot.

I kind of plan my vacations around food spots. I don’t “kind” of do it, actually. I do it compulsively. My itineraries are based on breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner. I love to try everything local as long as it is not too weird. I do have my limits.

Food is culturally interesting. You can learn a lot by breaking bread with locals. For example, in the south of France, from my experience, you will start with some salad. Main course will always be accompanied by some fresh “baguette” and there will always be a cheese board and some wine to finish up your meal.

When someone invites you over in Italy, be sure to free up your afternoon because you might spend a few hours at his or her table. Italians always cook the most delicious feast! Fresh homemade pasta will certainly be on the menu.

My darling Australian friends, I often think of you. Cheese and crackers fill your appetizer’s table. Your Sunday roast with gravy and tender vegetables reminds me of a fall day when I curl up on the couch watching a movie with my beloved. You also have weird food habits. First Vegemite and then vegemite pizza? Really? What the hell Ossie people?

Wandering the streets in Bangkok and eating off the sidewalk is an authentic and very suspenseful adventure. Thai Street food is like a box of chocolates you never know what you’re gonna get nor if your stomach will get through it.

If I had to rank my favorite food in the world this would be my top 6:

Pizza

Burgers and fries

Dumplings

Pancakes with bacon and gallons of maple syrup of course

Avocado on toast with poached eggs

Pasta of any kind

Yes, six is a weird number for a ranking but I couldn’t bring myself to delete an item from this list. It also makes me feel unique in a way. Anyway. For your taste buds, I am going to share my top 3 best places in the world for every element above.

Best Pizze

Via Napoli, Sydney (La vera pizza napoletana)

Di Fara Pizza, Brooklyn (New York Style)

Pizza d’Asporto, Yarraville Melbourne

Best Burgers

In-N-Out Burger

Whataburger

Shake Shack

Best Dumplings

Yank Sing, San Francisco

Jade Restaurant, Austin

Hutong Dumpling Bar, Melbourne

Best Pancakes

Bakers & Roasters, Amsterdam

Morning Glory, San Diego

IHOP

Best Pasta

My grandpa’s pasta. Italian roots oblige. Actually, I have never eaten amazing pasta except in Italy but pasta’s always better at home, especially when you have family recipes from your great grandparents.

Pasta al Cinghiale, Il Boschetto Calvi dell'Umbria

Pastificio Guerra, Roma

What are your top 6 favorite foods in the world? I’m curious. I love discovering new places. Maybe this will help me choose my next destination!

If you’d like me to share more, I’d be happy to. Name your destination in the comments and maybe I’ll have a suggestion. I’ve visited more countries than I’ve shared in this article so don’t hesitate!

[melbournenewsvine]

Seymour floods star of Melbourne vegetarian restaurant destroyed Somerset Heritages crops

The recent floods in Victoria had an immediate impact on some of Melbourne’s top restaurants, after boutique producer Somerset Heritage Produce lost all of its spring crops and vital infrastructure when the Goulburn River broke its banks near Seymour last Thursday. Farmer Chloe Fox works directly with chefs at restaurants including Embla, Cumulus Inc, Bar Liberty, Capitano, Stokehouse, Smith & Daughters and Napier Quarter. She also attends farmers markets in Elwood, Brighton and Burundara and supplies the local Mitchellshire community with farm gate sales. “We’re usually on the banks of the Goulburn, but for now it would be safe to call us part of the Goulburn,” Fox wrote to clients. “The farm is completely submerged and we will lose most of our crops for the current season. We have also suffered extensive damage to infrastructure.” Aerial view of the Somerset Heritage production farm on the banks of the Goulburn River. Photo: Introduction Good Food spoke to Fox on Wednesday, the first day she was able to walk rather than kayak around her 1.6-hectare farm. “It’s almost worse to see without water because you can see the damage,” she says. As I walk over a bed of artichokes, I can see asparagus peeking through the mud. “Hopefully we’ll salvage some of the perennials—rhubarb patch, woody weeds and sorrel—but in terms of other crops like salad greens and herbs, nothing is left. The whole garlic crop is gone and that looked really nice.” Fox lives on the property and her home is also partially flooded. “We lost the hardware, but the house feels like a secondary business compared to the farm,” she says. We put life jackets on the goats and were able to get them into the kayak. They have never been more affectionate. The fences were swept away and the shipping container used as a refrigeration store turned a few meters into its own refrigeration unit. “We also lost a 35-meter multi-purpose tunnel and our baggage shed needs repairs,” she says. Fox managed to sail 15 chickens in a kayak to safety but struggled to save her two goats. “We couldn’t kayak them – the river was too strong at that point,” she says. “They survived the night and kayaked in the morning when the rain stopped. We put life jackets on the goats and were able to carry them in the kayak. They were never more affectionate.” Get the latest news and updates via email straight to your inbox. Casey Wall is Executive Chef of Capitano at Carlton North and Liberty Bar in Collingwood. “Chloe products are what drive all our menus,” he says. “We base our dishes on what you produce.” The wall outlines a modern pizza starring Spring garlic in Somerset: “We used the tops to make a green goddess base and then added onions and pancakes. It’s very easy to make things when you grow such a good product.” The loss of the entire oregano crop is an unsolved mystery. “We buy hundreds of bouquets and dry them for year-round use,” says Wall. “It’s a staple of Italian-American cooking.” The Capitano crew slowly dries up Somerset seasoning next to their pizza oven over the course of three days. “It’s a huge loss,” Wall says. “I don’t know how we’re going to get back from that.” “But we’ll find out. If there’s anything we’ve learned over the past two years it’s how to adapt.” Fox understands the impact that losing her crops will have. “The whole area was hit hard and it’s still unfolding,” she says. “Maybe we will be flooded again in the coming days with more rain expected.” “I know there will be huge food production gaps in Victoria because of these floods.” A GoFundMe page was created to support Somerset Heritage. Source link Originally published at Melbourne News Vine

[horsyunicorn]

ok so ignoring the grimness of this for a moment if you had one day to live what would your last meal be? what would you cook thay youve always been putting off?

oh you know me too well I love talking about food

If I could do a four-course meal I’d make

garlic parmesan skillet rolls for starters, 

entree: confit duck with chestnuts and mushrooms;

main: charred venison steak, potato and caramelised onion tarte, plus a South American salad of pumpkin, feta, candied walnuts and lettuce (served cold); 

dessert this overnight pull-apart cinnamon brioche roll 

I’ve had confit duck many times but never cooked it; I tried some venison in new zealand and it was really good; and the south american salad is from a place south of melbourne inspired by australian and south american food known mainly for its meat (but that salad was amazing)

[australiacuisine-blog]

Traditional Foods Popular in Australia

1. Parmigiana Chicken

This traditional Australian chicken dish, with roots in Italian-American cuisine, is a popular option on many pub menus across the country. There's a lot of debate about where to get the best parmigiana in Australia, whether you call it a parmi/parmy or a parma (but never a parmo).

The Corner Hotel in Alexandra, Victoria, is one contender for the holy trinity of size, quality, topping, and chips. This hotel, which dates back to the gold rush era, has award-winning parmas that are huge, free-range chickens, and a house secret crumb. Those interested in experiencing this sensation will find eight options ranging from traditional to vindaloo and the double banger.

2. Grilled Snags (aka sausages)

It's no surprise that Aussies enjoy grilling, and nothing complements a good barbie like a good sausage – whether you're at a friend's house or at your local Bunnings for a sausage sizzle. Traditional Australian sausages are usually made from pork or beef, but if you're feeling adventurous, you can try other animals. Wrap your snag in a slice of bread and top with fried onions and your favorite sauce.

The best beef snags are found in Nowra, NSW, and the best pork bangers are found in Mawson, ACT, according to the Australian Meat Industry Council's Sausage King competition.

3. Lamingtons 

The National Trust of Queensland designated Lamington as the "National Cake of Australia" after voting this sweet treat an Australian icon. It was named after Lord Lamington, a former Governor of Queensland who reportedly had a sweet tooth.

The lamington is a simple square-shaped sponge covered in desiccated coconut and dipped in chocolate. Other variations include two layers and a cream or jam filling, which many consider to be essential. They pair well with a cup of bush tea or one of Melbourne's world-famous coffees and can be found in most good bakeries and cafes.

4. A Burger with 'everything'

If tomato, lettuce, onions, and a juicy meat patty aren't enough for you, try the Aussie gut-buster with 'the lot.' Stuff a burger bun with barbecued meat, salad, sauce, and, for an Australian twist, a slice of pineapple, pickled beets, and a fried egg. After a long day of surfing or relaxing on the beach, this is the ideal Australian meal.

Every city, or even suburb, claims to have the best burgers in Australia, making it difficult to find the absolute best. Easey's in Collingwood, Victoria, a bar and grill that consistently wins awards in this category, could be a good place to start your search.

5.Pavlova

This famous dessert was created in honor of Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova's visit to Australasia in the 1920s, and both Australia and New Zealand claim to have invented it. The crispy meringue crust, light fruit filling, and whipped cream topping of the pavlova ensure it's a family hit as a truly Australian after-dinner sweet.

The origins of this dish in Australia can be traced back to the 1930s and Perth's Esplanade Hotel. While the hotel is no longer in operation, the city still has a strong claim to the dessert. The best slice is still up for debate, but you can add your voice to the conversation by visiting Whisk Creamery, C Restaurant in the Sky, or The Treasury Lounge Bar.

6.Meat Pies

You might believe that a pie is a pie, available in any flavor and with any filling. A traditional Australian pie, on the other hand, should be hand-sized, filled with mincemeat and gravy, and topped with tomato sauce. A gourmet version with mashed potatoes and mushy peas is also popular, but any other variation would undoubtedly fall into a different category.

The Pinjarra Bakery in Pinjarra, WA, won the Great Aussie Pie Competition for 'plain meat pie' in 2021.

7. Barramundi 

Instead of fish and chips, try fresh Australian barramundi, which means "large-scaled river fish" in the Rockhampton area's Aboriginal language. It's a much healthier alternative to battered fish, and a true Aussie meal, grilled, fried, or seared skin-side first.

Whether you catch your own or let someone else do the work, heading up to Queensland will get you some of the best fish in the country. To see how it should be cooked, go to George's Paragon Seafood Restaurant or The Barra Boys (both in Brisbane).

8. Toast with Vegemite

Vegemite on toast is a popular breakfast, lunch, and snack option. Vegemite, like British Marmite, is made from yeast extract and not vegetables.

If you ask any Australian what the secret to the perfect vegemite on toast is, you'll get a different answer. It's completely unique — not only the butter-to-Vegemite ratio, but also additions like cheese, avocado, or honey.

Keeping this in mind, we recommend Core Espresso on Newcastle's trendy Darby Street. Core Espresso recently received national attention for serving deconstructed Vegemite toast, but ultimately, this means you can experiment with the ingredients to your heart's content.

[vantovan-blog1]

A beginning

Well, here we go, better late than never? This is a blog to get some of the experiences Tash and I have had and will have this year as we travel Australia and the world to find family, friends and fun, ending up in Vancouver where we plan to stay for a while before we head back to Melbourne, our home city, when it feels right. 

Our instagram account (@van.to.van for those playing along at home) has captured a lot of the best moments, but it's time to get some words down too. It's been just over three months since we set off from Melbourne. 

Leaving was harder than we anticipated. We found it tough to say farewell to our house, having only been in it for a year, to friendships that were really solidifying, and to family and familiar faces and places. It was an emotionally, mentally and physically tiring couple of months leading up to departure - there is a lot to organise when you upturn a settled existence - but we got there in the end and drove away from Melbourne excited, nervous and a little uncertain about what was ahead of us.

Australian road trip

Life in the van was amazing. It's a cliche, but it's remarkable how simple life becomes (temporarily at least) once you've pared down your possessions to the essentials. Fewer things in front of your face means less to think and worry about, and we quickly fell in love with the lifestyle, where the principal concerns are what you will eat for the day and where you will park the van for the night.

Our road trip took us almost all the way up the east coast to Port Douglas, a small tourist town north of Cairns, then cross country to meet the Stuart highway, down through Alice Springs to Adelaide, then back home via a few wineries in the Mclaren Vale, Barossa and Clare Valley regions.

It's difficult to pinpoint highlights as there really were so many; this trip gave us both a newfound appreciation for the beauty and variety of Australia, and as is often the case when you travel, the journey itself was as good and sometimes better than a lot of the destinations. I will, however, pick out a few.

We rushed through it more than we should have, and really want to go back again, but the section of coast between Sydney and Brisbane was spectacular. Some of the best beaches we have come across anywhere in the world are in that region. We stayed with friends in both Sydney and Brisbane who generously hosted us and put up with our larger than normal car.

There were some pretty amazing beaches above Brisbane as well, a highlight for us being the Agnes Water/1770 region, where we stayed in a bush camp right above a surf beach. Magic. Another highlight was Magnetic Island, just off the Townsville coast, where we spent a few days with some family friends Ric and Candy in their oasis of a home. A beautiful house at the end of a cul de sac right below a cliff, complete with decor from PNG and a dip pool, all accented with colourful lead light lamps and wall art made by Candy. They were very lovely hosts as well, which made it a very special few days. 

Above Townsville we ran into bad weather and didn’t get to see the best that the Cairns and Whitsundays regions had to offer, but still got a good day on Whitehaven beach (Whitsunday Islands) and out on the Great Barrier Reef. It was nice to see it while it is still there; who knows how much longer it will be alive. I tried diving for the first time and had a ball. 

We got rained out in Port Douglas and spent a solid two days in the van in a caravan park as landslips had closed the roads in and out of the place. That was testing, and we got very bored at times. Thanks to our good friend Pat Fountain who we stayed with in Brisbane, we had a fan to keep the insane humidity at bay. At times, it was intolerably hot and muggy. Combined with the inability to move from the car, we went a bit crazy in Port Douglas.

Once the rain cleared we schlepped across Queensland and half of the Northern Territory to the Stuart Highway, taking the long route as flooding had closed the main highway. Long stretches of road were at times very fun and at times intensely boring. We listened to a lot of true crime podcasts and audiobooks. There was also a fair share of silly dancing to loud music, something I hope we will never stop doing. The heat up north is something else in March and we were very grateful for the quality air conditioning in our van, Sheila. 

We stayed with a friend in Alice Springs who took us on a tour of the West Macdonnell ranges just outside town, exploring water holes and canyons. We also spent a good chunk of our time in Alice Springs watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race; an American reality show about drag queens I hadn’t watched previously but now love. A lasting memory of Alice Springs this time will be the flies, they were awful. Not awful enough to ruin the experience, but enough to leave an impression!

After Alice, we took a few days to get down to Adelaide (via Uluru), covering big distances across the NT and SA deserts, which are vast. They are beautiful in their own way and we came to love the landscape. In Adelaide we stayed with friends of a friend and had a couple of lovely days and nights out in a city we fell in love with. It has to be the most underrated city in the country and we want to go back for the fringe festival sometime. We used the opportunity to taste some excellent wines in the regions around Adelaide and had a couple of nights on the coast south of the city. A fantastic section of Australia. 

We stopped for a night in Ararat with a friend to break up the drive home, having a quick look at the new build he is project managing and were back in Melbourne just before the end of April. 

Another massive highlight of these two months was the three weddings we attended, two of which we flew back from Townsville then Alice Springs for. They were all wonderful and we felt very lucky to have such great friends around us and to be invited to such beautiful events. The first was for Simon and Bec (Simon is Tash’s old boss at Isobar). Theirs was at Emu Bottom Estate just outside Sunbury in Melbourne. The next was Tom and Hannah, good friends and neighbours of ours, who got married at Wye River where Hannah’s mum owns a house. The last was Andrew and David (I work with Andrew) who got married at Mt Ophir Estate near Rutherglen in the Indigo Valley, Victoria. 

South East Asia

This leg kicked off with a bit of minimoon crashing, as we joined forces with Tom and Hannah of above wedding fame for a beach/poolside holiday in Bali, split between Canggu and Uluwatu. This mostly consisted of chilling at the private villa we had in Canggu (outrageous I know), eating great food, drinking too much and reading lots. It was particularly nice to explore Uluwatu a bit, where Tash lived for a few months in 2014. Spending time in the beach clubs (the Lawn Club and Ulu Cliffhouse) also deserves a mention; it’s amazing what you get for your money in Bali. Only lowlight of this trip was Hannah coming off a scooter and badly hurting her leg, though this turned into a highlight when they got to the airport as she got ushered through check in and security in a wheelchair. Win. 

Next stop was Vietnam for a couple of weeks. We flew into Ho Chi Minh City to hang out with old friends and colleagues of mine from when I lived there back in 2006 and to explore old haunts. It was great to see the school I taught at again and spend lots of time with my good friend Mr Huy. We had dinner at his family’s house one night which was fantastic. Tash was unwell for much of our time in Ho Chi Minh which was disappointing, but otherwise it was a good time. It was also fun to get back into speaking Vietnamese, which I can speak conversationally, and which came in handy when getting around outside the tourist districts. 

We then spent a few days in Hoi An, where we surprised one of our neighbours from Flemington, Mara, for her 40th birthday. This was great fun, particularly the day we all dressed in matching fruit salad print threads and went out for lunch. Mara and her husband Petro have three adorable boys aged 7, 9 and 11 who were great to have around, and the whole thing was made possible by the two socialites of our street, Mark and Adrian, who are a bunch of fun to be with. Being with our neighbours made us miss home a bit and solidified both Tash and my love of our neighbourhood. 

Next was Hanoi for a night then up into the mountain town of Ha Giang on a sleeper bus to do a five day motorbike tour of the hills near the Chinese border, something I did with a uni friend back in 2011. The scenery in the mountains is spectacular, and seeing it from a motorbike is definitely the best way to do it. We ate fantastic local food, feasting every night in homestays. The only downside of this part of the trip was doing it with a guide, which seemed unnecessary. When I did it seven years ago, we didn’t see any tourists on bikes and didn’t even consider the possibility of doing it solo, but this time there were a lot, most doing it without assistance, which made us feel a bit silly for spending money on the guide when we could have done it ourselves. It was nice not to have to deal with the bike breaking down though, which it did, three times. 

We had one more night in Hanoi after the tour then spent five days in Bangkok with my uncle, who owns an apartment near Sukhumvit where he spends a few months of the year escaping winter and learning Thai. It was lovely to spend some time wiith him, poking around the local streets and riding the Klong (river canal) boats. A highlight was a night out at Blue Elephant restaurant, a Michelin guide restaurant, for a fancy many course meal with matched Thai wines.

Serbia volume I and Bosnia

We arrived in Serbia on 2 June where we will be spending about a month, collectively, in Novi Sad, the city where Tash’s dad’s family live. We are staying with her aunt and uncle in their house with a huge vegetable garden that spits out flavourful tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce and all kinds of fruits and berries. These are fantastic complements to what is otherwise a very carb and meat heavy (and endlessly delicious) diet. Tash’s aunt is the best cook in Serbia in my humble opinion.

We have spent a lot of time hanging out with family, drinking coffees, rakija (brandy) and beers in the back yard, and doing a bit of gardening when the time is right. We have done a few trips into the city to explore and shop, and been for long training walks (for the West Highland Way walk we are doing in Scotland in August) and bike rides. We have also had a couple of days at the Strand, a beach on the Danube river where there are lounges, bars and loud music playing all day. Fantastic people watching and a great way to spend a sunny day.

We recently had five days with Tash’s mum’s side of the family in Banja Luka, the second largest city in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in one of the Serbian controlled regions. I have been brushing up on my history a little, learning about how complex the politics and consequent wars were in its region of the world in the 1990s. There is just nothing good that seems to come from war. It is striking how recent it was and to notice some of the cultural, physical and emotional scars that still remain.

This week, there is an international wine festival on in Novi Sad, which we will imbibe in, then we have a family friend’s apartment booked in the city centre for the weekend. Next week we are taking Tash’s aunt white water rafting, then the week after that we are off to Greece for a couple of weeks. Tough life...

[wub-fur-radio]

Psychtober Psurprise

Will negotiators obtain the release of the approximately 308 million Americans currently being held as hostages in our dystopian alternate timeline soon enough to influence the outcome of the coming election?

Wub-Fur Internet Radio presents another in our informal pseries of eclectic pstreaming psychedelic rock mixes where we (cleverly) pspell words that begins with an “s” sound with a “ps” instead. Featuring the psurprisingly psplendid talents of (Thee) Osees, Mother’s Cake, Lord Loud, Frankie and the Witch Fingers, Garcia Peoples, Dopey’s Robe, Alien Mustangs, the Sonic Dawn, Uffe Lorenzen, and 9 more bands who know that when the going gets weird, the weird just get weirder.

Cover by Wub-Fur. Apologies to Flying Saucer Safety Matches, Mr. Zip, and the Oscar Meyer Weinermobile.

(Nb. We briefly considered adding the late Bill Casey to the above list of apologia, since he is credited with coining the phrase “October Surprise” when he was Ronald Raygun’s campaign manager in 1980, but then we remembered that we have a longstanding policy against being polite to war criminals.)

Listen on Mixcloud –or– 8tracks (or scroll down to use one of the embedded players below)

Running Time: 59 minutes, 44 seconds

Tracklist

I'm Your President (2:23) — Mother’s Cake | Innsbruck, Austria

Lady Sunday (2:15) — Lord Loud | Los Angeles, CA

Where's Your Reality? (4:18) — Frankie and the Witch Fingers | Los Angeles, CA

Routine Dream (2:42) — Heavy Salad | Manchester, UK

Free Woman (4:24) — Electric Mountain | Mexico City, Mexico

I Mit Blod (3:07) — Uffe Lorenzen | Copenhagen, Denmark

Snake Hawk (1:57) — The Budos Band | New York, NY

Hedge Maze (2:28) — Dopey’s Robe | Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Secret Days (3:21) — Alien Mustangs | Thessaloniki, Greece

Rainbow (3:16) — Debris of Titan | Newburgh, NY

(Our Life Could Be Your Van) (3:04) — Garcia Peoples | Rutherford, NJ

Children of the Night (4:01) — The Sonic Dawn | Copenhagen, Denmark

Smoking Teenage Girl (3:07) — Annie Taylor | Zürich, Switzerland

Gong of Catastrophe (4:40) — Osees | California

I'd Rather Be Dreaming (3:57) — Death Valley Girls | Los Angeles, CA

Strange Things (4:00) — The Electric Family | Bremen, Germany

Sleepy Sleep (4:38) — Moon Attendant | Brighton, UK

Thanks for Listening Pt. I (2:08) — Sunfruits | Melbourne, Australia

All tracks released 2020, except the one by Electric Mountain, which we were reminded of by its inclusion on Electric Valley Records’ 2020 label comp, but which was originally released in 2017.

🍸 ⚛ 🌭 👾 🎃 🚀 👽 🤚🏻 ✨ 🍸 ⚛ 🌭 👾 🎃 🚀 👽 🤚🏻 ✨

Embedded Mixcloud Player

Embedded 8tracks Player

[bigworldsmallkalle]

1.17.2018 Melbourne, VIC Melbourne aka Melbs (pronounced Melbin by the locals) is home to one of the grand slam tournaments, the Australian Open, which so happened to coincide with our travels. Our first day in the city we spent 10 hours observing in awe the strength and athleticism of the global tennis pros. We got to cheer on a few Americans including Sloane Stephens and Ryan Harrison. The next few days brought balmy temperatures around 106 and high of 109, keeping cool while familiarizing ourselves with the city was the goal. Melbs is known for their food scene, similar to San Fran, so we proceeded with a local's recommendation at Trunk. Jonny had the "best American Aussie burger" he's had since leaving the USofA, and I enjoyed a salad accompanied by pickled beet root and lemon sorbet iced tea, yum! We visited the Museum of Moving Image and Eureka Sky Tower. The highlight of the day was attending the Nadal match at Margaret Court, and not to mention him taking his shirt off at the end :) On our last day, we went the Queen Victoria Market, similar to a flea market inclusive of fresh meats and produce. Afterwards we toured two beaches, Half Moon Bay and Brighton. Eighty-two charming little bright, multi-colored beachboxes line the shore at Brighton beach, which were perfect for some snapshots. Our departure morning we stopped by Graffiti Alley, and had brekkie at a hidden alley spot named after a NYC subway station, very scrumptious! We would have spent a few more days here as the tennis absorbed a majority of our time. Nonetheless, our city time was captivating and exhilarating, and we felt fortunate to experience it. It was also a bonus to stay with some Irish relatives.

[kappasigmalife]

Weird facts you probably didnt need to know

22. A can of Mountain Dew can dissolve a mouse 😳.

23. For a short time, the planet Uranus was named...George.

24. Movies have to clarify that they're fiction because of a 1930s lawsuit that traces back to none other than Rasputin.

25. Iceland has an elf whisperer who inspects construction sites before anything gets built to make sure no elves are hanging around.

26. In the 1920s, women in several US cities organized Anti-Flirt Clubs in to combat catcalling.

27. Toilet seat covers are basically pointless.

28. There is an island in the Bahamas that's inhabited only by swimming pigs.

29. Richard Nixon once smuggled a suitcase full of weed through the airport for Louis Armstrong.

30. Ancient Greeks came up with the idea of cyclops after they found a fossil of a mammoth, and had no idea what it was.

31. There are 70 (!) ingredients in a McRib sandwich.

32. There are lower-case numbers in addition to lower-case letters.

33. The first person to perform a successful C-section in South Africa was Dr. James Barry...a doctor who was actually a woman.

34. For a brief time, Melbourne had the best name on the planet: Batmania.

35. In 1981, a black lab named Bosco was elected honorary mayor of Sunol, California.

36. Lego is the largest tire manufacturer in the world.

37. A "buttload" is a real measurement of weight.

38. 4% of the sand on Normandy beach is made up of shrapnel from D-Day that has broken down.

39. If someone gives opinions on topics they know nothing about, they're an ultracrepidarian.

40. Canadians say "sorry" so much that The Apology Act was passed in 2009, declaring that an apology can't be used as evidence of admission of guilt.

41. Amelia Earhart and Eleanor Roosevelt once ditched a White House dinner party to go on a joyride flight to Baltimore.

42. There's a high school in Minnesota that gives service dogs yearbook photos.

43. Most American movie villains have British accents because we associate them with having high intellect and low morals.

44. Earth used to be covered with giant mushrooms that were 24 feet tall and three feet wide, instead of trees.

45. Mother's Day was quite literally invented to be anti-commercialism.

46. There's a sexual phenomenon named after President Calvin Coolidge.

47. The logo for Chupa Chups was designed by Salvador Dalí.

48. Modern thong underwear was introduced by Fiorello LaGuardia, the mayor of New York City.

49. The Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, has so many cats on its grounds that it employs a "Press Secretary to the Cats."

50. A writer predicted how the Titanic would sink in 1898, 13 years before it was even built.

51. There's a town in Poland where everything is decorated with paintings of flowers.

52. There are trees that can grow more than one kind of fruit, and they're called fruit salad trees.

53. "Horizontal refreshment" was 19th century slang for sex.

54. In Queensland, Australia, it's illegal to own a pet rabbit unless you're a magician.

55. Elizabeth Jennings Graham did what Rosa Parks did, but a century earlier on a New York City streetcar. Her eventual lawsuit led to the desegregation of New York's public transit system.

56. Sea otters have a pouch under their forearm to store their favorite rocks.

57. T-shirts were originally marketed to unmarried men who didn't know how to sew buttons back on collared shirts by themselves.

58. Prior to the 20th century, squirrels were one of America's most popular pets.

59. All colors of Froot Loops have the same flavor.

60. April 18, 1930, was such a slow news day that at 6:30 PM, the BBC's radio announcer said, “There is no news."

61. Before the 1800s, people had a "first" and "second sleep." They would sleep 3-4 hours, wake up for 2-3 hours to do some type of activity, then go back to sleep until morning.

62. Cows have "best friends" and get stressed when separated.

63. Ketchup was sold as medicine in the 1830s.

64. Robert Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's son, was in close proximity to three out of four presidential assassinations.

65. If you're being violent or drunk in Japan, police will get a futon and roll you into a burrito.

66. All mammals take about 12 seconds to poop, regardless of size.

67. Miami is the only major US city founded by a woman.

68. The story you've probably heard about lemmings jumping off of cliffs to their deaths is FAKE.

69. Anxious travelers can play with mini horses at a Kentucky airport.

70. In 1965, a patent was filed for a "birthing apparatus" which would spin pregnant women around at as much as 7G until their baby was flung out from the centrifugal force.

71. A cat co-authored a physics paper in 1975.

72. Cornflakes were invented to prevent masturbation.

73. When the University of Nebraska plays football at home, the stadium becomes the state's third largest city.

74. Shaggy from Scooby Doo's real name is Norville Rogers.

75. Every year on Aug. 5, the Mars Curiosity rover sings itself a sad, solitary "Happy Birthday."

76. There are turtle tunnels in Japan to save them from being run over by trains.

77. Snakes can belch fire.

78. "She sells seashells by the seashore" was written about an actual person named Mary Anning.

79. Mr. Rogers announced that he was feeding his fish on every episode of his show because a blind viewer once asked if they were okay.

80. Red Sour Patch Kids are the exact same candy as Swedish Fish, just with some sour sugar sprinkled on them.

81. Baby puffins are called pufflings.

[seduniablog]

7 scrumptious Australian Delicacies

Australia is a melting pot of food culture blending the best of Anglo-Saxon origin with the traditions of various migrants. Here we summed up 7 foods you have to savour during your upcoming trip.

written by Ilona Chin 

1. Moreton Bay Bug

Photo credited to Alpha on https://www.flickr.com/

Moreton Bay, Brisbane offers a lot of fresh seafood options, including the delish Moreton Bay Bug. Don’t be put off by the name it is truly scrumptious! You’ll find Moreton Bay Bugs featured in seafood dishes all over Australia. It is usually cut in half, drizzled in butter, lemon or other seasonings. Sweet & tender, it’s simply irresistible! 5D4N Gold Coast Family Fun

2. Chicken Parmigiana

Photo credited to Alpha on https://www.flickr.com/

This flavourful chicken dish with roots in Italian-American cooking is a staple offering on almost every pub menu across the country. Typically served with salad and chips, it is often referred to as Parma, literally a bona fide Aussie Pub Classic. Originally eggplant based, it has evolved into a chicken schnitzel topped with tomato sauce, melted cheese and prosciutto ham. 6D5N Adelaide Discovery

 3. Barbequed Snags (aka Sausages)

Nothing is more Australian than a barbecued snag! Traditional Australian sausages are usually pork or beef, but if you’re feeling adventurous, there are other animals to sample. Wrap a slice of bread around your snag and top it off with some fried onions and your favourite sauce. Whip up a barbecue on a coastal holiday and try making them yourself. 5D4N Sydney Experience

4. Lamingtons

Photo credited to Jules on https://www.flickr.com/

Lamingtons are unofficially recognised as the National Cake of Australia. This iconic cake is a soft, sponge cake covered in chocolate icing and rolled in desiccated coconut. It sounds simple, but when you eat it fresh, it tastes like a sweet mouthful of clouds floating in the heavenly skies. This Australian dessert is a favourite with coffee or tea. Lamingtons are often sold in bakeries or markets all over the country. 4D3N Hobart Tour

5. Barramundi

Nothing beats fresh fish and chips with a lemon wedge down by the beach. Try one of Australia’s famous fish, the barramundi. The name Barramundi is Aboriginal for ‘large-scaled river fish’. Grilled, fried or seared skin-side first, this delicious fish makes fish and chips a true Aussie meal. Head up to Queensland to get some of the best fish in the region. 5D4N Cairns Experience

6. Pavlova

No Christmas, New Year, Labour Day, Birthday or afternoon tea would be complete without a good ol’ Pavlova. With its crisp crust and soft, light centre, decorated with whipped cream and fresh fruit, it is hard to say no to a pavlova. If you’re seeking to try a traditional pavlova, the Green Refectory in Brunswick, Melbourne sells them by the slices or you could even pick up a whole cake. 6D5N Melbourne Discovery

7. Kangaroo

Photo credited to Chen Wu on https://www.flickr.com/

Ever wondered why Australians eat one of their most popular animals?  As a staple food of the indigenous communities for centuries, this gamey meat boasts more protein and iron than beef, a good source of omega-3 and fewer calories and fat content. Served in its simple form as a steak, you can taste it at one of the many restaurants Down Under. 7D6N Great Ocean Road & Kangaroo Island

 Calling all Foodies! Chow down on these Australian delicacies on your next Australia trip and you’re likely to encounter a few flavours that come as something of a surprise.

[gyrlversion]

America’s Most Exciting New Diner Is in Upstate New York

The West Taghkanic Diner in Ancram, New York Photo: Lauren Lancaster

It’s not every day that your diner’s hash was made by a cook whose last job involved making aged, pressed cakes of pork fat for an entire menu built around whole pigs. But, Kristopher Schram isn’t running an everyday diner. Schram — who is now, perhaps, the world’s first short-order chef — spent over a decade cooking from California to Copenhagen, at places like Copenhagen’s Manfreds, Melbourne’s Attica, and Healdsburg’s Madrona Manor. The chef was moving toward opening his own place there. Now, though, he’s back in his upstate New York hometown of Ancram, running a diner that’s 15 minutes away from the house where he grew up.

Schram is the first to admit that, after culinary school, he never thought he’d land at a place like the West Taghkanic Diner. He was one of many talented cooks to pass through Napa Valley’s iconic but now closed Terra, eventually becoming the chef de cuisine. Romance brought him to Copenhagen in 2012, where he linked up with Christian Puglisi, one of the most famous of the Noma alums. After a stint at Puglisi’s tasting menu spot Relæ, Schram was offered a sous chef gig at the chef’s wine bar Manfreds. “I started realizing that I’m still using the same techniques I was using in fine dining,” he says of his time there. “It’s just at a lot faster pace and a much higher energy and that really opened my eyes to the fact that I just didn’t want to do fine dining anymore.”

After two years at Manfreds, Puglisi tapped Schram to open Bæst, a pizzeria where the produce comes from Puglisi’s farm. He was there for three years, leaving in September of 2017 to open his own restaurant in Copenhagen. But romance brought Schram back home, when his wife got the U.S. correspondent gig for a Danish paper. As he put out feelers in New York City, he realized he couldn’t get rid of the “itch” to do his own thing. Then he was let in on some interesting news: A classic roadside diner was available “My whole family is still here, so they have their ear to the ground and I just heard some rumbling that the place was for sale. I snuck in there before anyone really realized it was on the market,” he says.

The WTD hash with two fried eggs, red potatoes, 12-hour smoked pastrami, bacon, and toast. Photo: Lauren Lancaster

The decision was, Schram says, a no-brainer. He bought, and went about rehabbing, the diner — gutting the kitchen (it “was a nightmare”), tidying up the dining room, and bringing on an marketing agency, Sophie Wedd Design. Early on, a local baker named Kate Snider (of Honey’s) was tipped off by a mutual friend who said Schram needed someone to bake pies once a week. They hit it off, and she proposed a full-time gig. Schram also brought on the chef Christopher Bradley, who worked at Gramercy Tavern and Untitled.

Open since 1953, the West Taghkanic is a silver-dollar pancake’s throw from the Taconic State Parkway. It’s got that Back to the Future chrome look, with black and red lines, big square windows, and a neon sign that’s very much of another era. It drips with Americana like melted butter. The culinary road warriors Jane and Michael Stern once enthusiastically endorsed the old iteration and Schram went, he says, 20 or more times as a kid. But he says everyone he knows stopped because it’d gone downhill in recent years. He wanted to restore it, both physically and culinarily, without straying too far from what makes American diners so great in the first place.

The breakfast sandwich with crispy egg, stracciatella, greens, bacon, and sesame kaiser. Photo: Lauren Lancaster

“When I go to a diner I’m always looking for those classics, you know? I feel the other things you can have a lot of fun with. And that’s what I’ve always searched out in a restaurant — a place that you don’t have those extreme rules,” the chef explains. The menu reads very familiar, but Schram sees that changing in a couple years. Still, things won’t get too unfamiliar during the day. “I want them to walk in and be like, ‘ah, this is a diner. And it’s comforting like a diner. And there’s my favorite dishes just like a diner but whoa, what is this?’”

There are plenty of diner classics, but nothing is straightforward. Everything is under $14, and many dishes are $10 or under. Cornmeal buttermilk pancakes get a pat of salted butter, and a juicy “hamburger sandwich” (or “veggieburger sandwich”) is crowned with charred onions. A 9-foot smoker is parked outside, for bacon and homemade pastrami, as well the turkey and smoked mayo in the properly tall club. Fries are thick and shattering, with condiments like smoked mayo with a red swirl of fermented chili. You can get your omelet with ‘nduja and stracciatella, and there’s lemon-y sumac in the Greek salad. Snider walks the same line with her rotating pies and layer-cakes, making carrot cake with sliced ginger in the frosting, coconut pie, and an orange meringue pie in lieu of lemon meringue. Last weekend, she put out more counter-top items like buckwheat blondies and, of course, there are milkshakes.

The turkey club (with hot smoked turkey breast, bacon, avocado, and smoked mayo) and a Bloody Mary Ann (mezcal, smoked tomato, fermented chili, pickle juice, red miso, and horseradish). Photo: Lauren Lancaster

“You walk into a diner and you see a display case with these over-the-top desserts. So, that’s not really our aesthetic. We are finding that middle ground,” she says. Later she adds, “I always have felt like if I’m gonna go to a diner with someone, I’m gonna sit with a cup of coffee and be engaged in talk. And it’s not about the food, it’s about the environment. I love that concept.”

Other dishes are more all-day café. Take the local grain porridge flavored with citrusy earl grey, or the local greens and grains (so New Nordic!) with smoked chickpea with Nordic rye. The most provocative for the grumpy ones is the avocado toast. “As much as you can kind of snicker at how everybody has it on their menu, people like it,” he says. “As trendy as it is, for sure I think that is something that you could definitely envision even casual diners putting on their menus.”

Some of Snider’s desserts. Photos: Lauren Lancaster.

Some of Snider’s desserts. Photos: Lauren Lancaster.

On a recent, rainy Friday, lunch got progressively busier as it turned to early afternoon. Schram was there cooking, emerging every now and then to deliver food. I was there with a couple upstate friends and one’s fiancé, who grew up not that far away. The topic of the Phoenicia Diner — which a New York friend remarked he sees a different person Instagram “literally every single weekend” — naturally came up. “When I was growing up, it was full of people wearing flannel. Now it is full of people wearing flannel,” he says.

That place raises the question of how to not alienate locals and regulars — at a moment when real-estate market is rising, and the New York Times asks, “Is the Hudson Valley Turning into the Hamptons?” — though bad food does this in its own way, too. On the beverage menu, there are hallmarks of today’s hipper restaurants. Natural wines, instead of supermarket wines; Nine Pin cider from Albany; a mezcal cocktail in the Bloody Mary Ann; and Yesfolk’s uniquely delicious kombucha. Still, the coffee is endless. (It’s from Ithaca roaster Forty Weight.) And there’s house-made chocolate milk. It’s a balancing act.

“Of course, with anything you do, you’re going to alienate someone. This historic diner has been a certain way for a long time. So there are probably going to be locals who are not so interested in what we’re doing,” Schram says.

A couple in for Saturday lunch.Kristopher Schram cooking in the kitchen.More guests.Photos: Lauren Lancaster..

A couple in for Saturday lunch.More guests.Kristopher Schram cooking in the kitchen.Photos: Lauren Lancaster..

One man posted up at the long, wide counter that’s the gravitational center of the dining room. People ate Reubens while what might be called dad rock in ten years played softly: the Replacements, the Velvet Underground, Joy Division’s less brooding songs. Many of the tables were occupied by older couples, one of them were greeted by a friendly server like they’d been coming forever. Maybe they will.

Diners occupy more real estate in the minds of Americans than any other kind of restaurant. They’re egalitarian and expansive. And people are opinionated about what they should and shouldn’t be. But diners are not fixed, which is what appeals to Schram. Greek immigrants added gyros and more to menus in the Northeast. There’s meatloaf and chicken parm. One of my favorites, West Brattleboro, Vermont’s the Chelsea Royal, serves pizzas, a Cajun skillet breakfast, and on Fridays and Saturdays a “Mexican menu” with Southwestern wings. Once upon a time, Southwestern food was the hottest thing in American cooking. That’s no longer the case. But trends get folded and baked into these places, like butter into flour. A diner can be, relatively speaking, whatever you want it to be. Which is how the West Taghkanic Diner ended up with, in all likelihood, the world’s most pedigreed short order cook.

Snider and Schram. Photo: Lauren Lancaster

The Greek Salad gets a lemon-y hit of sumac. Photo: Lauren Lancaster

West Taghkanic Diner, 1016 NY-82, Ancram NY; 518-851-3333

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The post America’s Most Exciting New Diner Is in Upstate New York appeared first on Gyrlversion.

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[middletuna7-blog]

Dabbling In Taste Of Sydney, 2018

This year the Taste of Sydney food festival moves to Barangaroo's Cutaway. It is now mostly undercover with a revolving range of chefs and dishes across the 4 day festival.

It has been many years since I visited Taste of Sydney. And they seem to have heard the feedback from punters. The general admission price is now $15 and there are no longer the need to buy "crowns" (which would inevitably mean that you'd end up with crowns leftover and you couldn't cash them in).

This year's Taste of Sydney is designed so that you may want to come more than once. Each day's line up of chefs and their dishes changes although the stallholders around the perimeter and in the centre are there for the duration of the festival.

I arrive at 6pm on the opening day. This Thursday there is a mix of Sydney and Melbourne based chefs. My sometime vegetarian friend Laura and I go for a walk around to gauge where we want to eat. There are 8 chefs and restaurants that rotate in the two square shaped collective kitchens in the centre. The lines are manageable and the food comes out in a timely manner for most of them (although this is a relatively quieter night). There are two items from each chef available and each is $12.

Comté Donut from Ester $12

Our first stop: the Comté donut from Ester which I didn't want to miss out on. It's also the place that has the longest queue. The donut defies description. It's like a potato scallop but light as air. Although the nutty flavour of Comté isn't readily apparent, it's very tasty and so light you could almost convince yourself that you aren't eating a deep fried donut.

Blue Swimmer Crab Congee from Bennelong $12

The next stop is around the corner at Bennelong with chef Rob Cockerill. His choices are a salad of spring asparagus, stracciatella and tomato chutney and a blue swimmer crab congee. Laura and I both love congee so we order this. It's delicate and all about soft gelatinous textures with a crunch on top. It's probably the only way you'll get to try a Bennelong dish for that price too.

We are off to a cocktail making class next. Tanqueray gin has its own cocktail making session where everyone makes one of two cocktails for $12 a person. Krystal Hart the Tanquerey ambassador gives us a bit of a chat about the gin before we get our hands wet. I'm making a Tanquerey No. Ten Elderflower Collins finished with basil while Laura makes a Sevilla Sunkissed Spritz.

Both cocktails are very easy to make and we both covet the other's cocktail so we swap. "You can put two olives if you want," they say but Laura being extra goes for three. The only thing is that you can't take your cocktail to their gin lounge which is where you want to naturally head after you make it. And if you want to take it away you have to put it in a paper cup which isn't as nice as drinking a cocktail in a nice glass (they are super apologetic and explain this is a Taste of Sydney rule, and not theirs). There does need to be more seating so people can sit down and eat or drink (this has always been a problem here).

Clockwise from bottom left: Bush's Best soft shell taco, jambalaya croquettes, Beans on toast and Sticky, Smokey Cola Rib n Beans in a Can by Nighthawk Diner

Carrying our cocktails in paper cups, we are off to Bush's Best Beans next who have partnered with The Nighthawk Diner's Al Fogg to produce four items using their Tennessee beans. They have their own seating area and it's very busy.

The four items are: "Beans on toast" aka Southern cornbread with beans, vegetarian Creole jambalaya croquettes with chipotle ranch dipping sauce, a Cola pork rib sticking out of a tin of beans with cheese sauce (beans and cheese sauce-yum!) and a Cajun fried soft-shell crab in a blue corn tortilla. The jambalaya croquettes and the rib in the cheesy beans are my favourite and I wish all beans came with a cheese sauce.

Then we head back to the collective kitchen area and try one of the two Melbourne restaurant offerings. Ides in Collingwood has a barramundi dish baked with sweetcorn and black garlic as well as a slow cooked lamb neck with mustard seed dressing.

Lamb Neck from Ides $12

We go for the lamb neck which is gorgeously soft and sweet glazed and topped with fresh peas.

Marta is next and there is a bit of a delay with the food as things get busy with the crowd in full force. We've ordered one of each of their dishes. The gnocchi fritto is for Laura since she can't eat the other.

Gnocchi fritto from Marta $12

The Gnocchi Fritto are soft pillows of deep fried gnocchi covered in pecorino and black pepper (one of my favourite flavour combinations) that melt in the mouth. The other item is the Risotto alla Amatriciana, a combination made with one of my favourite classic Roman sauces of Amatriciana with crispy crumbs of guanciale, tomato, chilli and pecorino. This is nice but I always think there needs to be more guanciale because guanciale is life.

Risotto alla Amatriciana from Marta $12

It's 8pm and time for our next appointment and that is at Taste Residence tent where chef Mark Best and "Cocktailian" Lauren Mote from Canada are serving us a two course meal with matching Singleton whisky for a one hour dinner. MCing is GM of Momofuku Seiobo Kylie Javier Ashton.

Mark is cooking on Thursday and Friday and on Saturday it is Scott Pickett while on Sunday it's David Thompson. Tickets are $95 per person or you can also buy the Residence Pass for $130 at the door and that includes festival entry, two $12 dishes and one beer or wine from one of the vendors.

There are no menu details so we are excited to see what is being served (although I'm not sure how they handle dietaries). We take a seat and are served a Duke of Dufftown Aperitif made with Singleton whisky, Fino sherry, lemon juice, apple juice, tonic water and Lem-Marrakech bitters that is delightful.

Crab with Almond Jelly and Corn Custard from Mark Best served with Domain Aureillan Provence Rosé 2017

The first dish is crab with almond jelly and corn custard. It's a mild tasting dish more about textures with an almost marshmallowy textured almond jelly and subtle sweetness of corn custard. There's also a bit of caviar for a salty pop. The two courses are also served with two rosés from the Vins de Provence Rosé stand outside.

Murray Cod "Three Rivers" by Mark Best served with Lumiere Provence Rosé 2017

Diners are encouraged to ask Mark some questions and he answers these as well as demoing the next dish. The Murray Cod "Three Rivers" which is a luscious melting fillet of Murray cod topped with semi cooked Chinese style potato straws with Szechuan numbing pepper on top. I like the boldness of this dish and the texture of the potatoes which I haven't really seen much here and have only tried in China. And to top everything off is a dessert cocktail, a Lallans Coffee Cocktail with Singleton Of Dufftown 12 year old whisky, red vermouth, dried banana, banana liqueur, cold brew coffee and Moondog Latin American Bitters which is a sweet, intense number.

Lallans Coffee Digestif

Most of the stands look like they've run out or are closing down by 9:15pm but we buy a couple of desserts from Stokehouse. There's a rice pudding made with tonka bean, almond and apricot and a Neapolitan with a chocolate and vanilla mousse and native hibiscus. They're nice enough desserts, the rice pudding the better of the two although I think I was expecting something a bit different.

Rice Pudding and Neapolitan from Stokehouse $12 each

So tell me Dear Reader, have you been to a Taste festival before or Taste of Sydney? Which dish did you like the look of? And do you like it when they revolve chefs and dishes?

NQN was a guest of Bush's but all opinions remain her own.

The Cutaway, Barangaroo from November 8th-11th 2018 sydney.tastefestivals.com/

Source: http://www.notquitenigella.com/2018/11/10/taste-of-sydney-2018/

[fulloglee]

You know you’re Australia when -

* You believe that stubbies can be either drunk or worn. * You’re liable to burst out laughing whenever you hear of Americans “rooting” for something. * You pronounce Melbourne as ‘Mel-bin’. * You believe the ‘L’ in the word ‘Australia’ is optional. * You can translate: ‘Dazza and Shazza played Acca Dacca on the way to Maccas.’ * You believe it makes perfect sense for a nation to decorate its highways with large fibreglass bananas, prawns and sheep. * You think ‘Woolloomooloo’ is a perfectly reasonable name for a place. * You’re secretly proud of our killer wildlife. * You believe it makes sense for a country to have a $1 coin that’s twice as big as its $2 coin. * You understand that ‘Wagga Wagga’ can be abbreviated to ‘Wagga’ but ‘Woy Woy’ can’t be called ‘Woy’. * You believe that cooked-down axle grease makes a good breakfast spread. You’ve also squeezed it through Vita Wheats to make little Vegemite worms. * You believe all famous Kiwis are actually Australian, until they stuff up, at which point they again become Kiwis. * Beetroot with your Hamburger… Of course. * You know that certain words must, by law, be shouted out during any rendition of the Angels’ song ‘Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again’ And “Living next door to Alice”. * You believe that the confectionery known as the Wagon Wheel has become smaller with every passing year. * You believe that the more you shorten someone’s name the more you like them. * Whatever your linguistic skills, you find yourself able to order takeaway fluently in every Asian language. * You understand that ‘excuse me’ can sound rude, While ‘scuse me’ is always polite. * You know what it’s like to swallow a fly, on occasion via your nose. * You know it’s not summer until the steering wheel is too hot to handle and a seat belt buckle becomes a pretty good branding iron. * Your biggest family argument over the summer concerned the rules for beach cricket. * You shake your head in horror when companies try to market what they call ‘Anzac cookies’. * You still think of Kylie as ‘that girl off Neighbours’. * When working on a bar, you understand male customers will feel the need to offer an excuse whenever they order low-alcohol beer. * You know how to abbreviate every word, all of which usually end in -o: arvo, combo, garbo, kero, metho, milko, muso, rego, servo, smoko, speedo, righto, goodo etc. * You know that there is a universal place called “woop woop” located in the middle of nowhere…no matter where you actually are. * You know that none of us actually drink Fosters beer, because it tastes like shit. But we let the world think we do. Because we can. * You have, at some time in your life, slept with Aeroguard on in the summer. Maybe even as perfume. * You’ve only ever used the words – tops, ripper, sick, mad, rad, sweet – to mean good. And then you place ‘bloody’ in front of it when you REALLY mean it. * You know that the barbecue is a political arena; the person holding the tongs is always the boss and usually a man. And the women make the Salad. * You say ‘no worries’ quite often, whether you realise it or not. * You understand what no wucking furries means. * You’ve drank your tea/coffee/milo through a Tim Tam. * You own a Bond’s chesty. In several different colours. * You know that roo meat tastes pretty good, But not as good as barra. Or a meat pie. * You know that some people pronounce Australia like “Straya” and that’s ok.