#abattoir milkshake

[dayveebug]

03 February 2025 ~ Nadia's… Son?

This is-- Actually, he doesn't have a name yet. He is Nadia's… son? I mean, she made him. We did. Together. From polymer. I painted him. His name is now Son. This paragraph is a dumpster fire. Help.

[lindoig4]

Chicago - Part 2 - 12-15 July

12 July

We ordered breakfast from room service again – a smaller single serve, but again, we could not eat it all between us!

We walked downtown to where we were to join an architectural tour on the river.  It was hot and the walk was quite a way, but interesting to see so many things so different from Oz – and some that reminded us of previous visits to the US.  We were a bit early for the tour so sat in the shade and had a drink before joining the rapidly forming queue.  We were in the queue for a while before we discovered that we had to exchange our pre-purchased voucher for a ticket at an office a little way away.  We had been anxious to board early because there was very little shade and the sun was really burning – so I raced back to swap our voucher and that took longer than expected.  I ran back to rejoin the queue and Heather wasn’t there.  I was starting to get a little concerned when I heard her calling me from on board the boat.  They had come down the line while I was away and told Heather to go to the very front (still don’t know why unless it was our advanced age – most people were quite a bit younger) and then ushered her straight on board.  Then they saw me coming and ushered me on board too – just ahead of the hordes of other people in the line.  Maybe there are advantages in looking old, hot and bothered!!

The tour itself was quite fascinating, but the guide/raconteur spoke a little like a machine gun and pumped out so much information that I was quite lost 15 minutes into the tour.  The boat took us downstream to where two more rivers flowed in forming a big Y that has become a symbol of the city.

The river itself has an intriguing history in that it used to flow the other way - into Lake Michigan.  In the early days, the abattoirs and other dirty industries were in that area and all the waste was dumped into the river, blocking it and polluting the lake quite horrendously.  To resolve the problem, they dammed the river near the estuary and dredged a huge channel to make the river run in the opposite direction to pollute St Louis instead.  There were lots of big court cases to try to reverse the decision and to make Chicago pay compensation but there is still a deal of ill-will over the issue 100+ years later.

Despite not remembering much of the commentary on the tour, it was a great way to see a lot more of the city and its buildings.  We got a lot more history and numerous amusing anecdotes along the way, but recounting them here (even if I could recall them) probably wouldn’t make much sense out of context without the buildings in front of us. We took lots of photos and many of the buildings have fascinating histories or stories about them and it was quite an entertaining 2-3 hours.

Our tickets entitled us to a free antipasto plate at a nearby restaurant and we were desperate for a very cold drink so took advantage of it - and enjoyed watching a bit of baseball in the sports bar into the bargain.

Refreshed and revived, we took a circuitous route back to the hotel, stopping for another drink when the going got hit and hard again.  We then went out again to acquire some victuals to get us through the night and came back with a pizza (not really like a proper Aussie pizza) but nonetheless tasty and nourishing and we ate it in our room and washed it down with our bottle of Aussie red.  (Incidentally, pizzas are called pies over here!)

13 July

We had a wrap for brekky (bought it on our way home yesterday) and spent the morning in our room sifting photos and writing up our blogs.  I even had some bills to pay!

We gave lunch a miss because we had our pub crawl tour early in the arvo.  We caught a cab outside the hotel to go the mile or so to the tour rendezvous.  Big misteak!  Gridlock and detours everywhere because of the Taste of Chicago food festival that is on until Sunday and is based just across the road from here.  The cabbie tried really hard, but we could easily have walked the trip in half the time.  We rang to say we would be late but actually got there just before proceedings really started.  Average speed roughly 2 Kph!!!  But the driver was really on our side, did a few interesting manoeuvres to speed our trip and then wouldn’t take a tip at the end of the ride.  Unusual, but really nice!

The walking tour was really interesting. Our guide (Jen) melded architecture (which she teaches at University), social history and plain old good fun (sometimes perhaps a little fanciful) and was always entertaining. We stopped at several places while she talked about the buildings, their history, the architecture and their place in the social development of Chicago and I found the context quite fascinating.  Just as San Francisco’s present was heavily dictated by its Earthquake and fire history, the Great Chicago fire is one of the overwhelming factors giving rise to the city as it now is.

It was supposed to be a tour highlighting the seedier side of Chicago, particularly back in the early 1900s, featuring Prohibition, crime, political corruption, Al Capone and so on and she brought it alive for us with her anecdotes (some of which may have contained an element of truth).  I just suspect that Chicago really was a good deal more seedy that her more extravagant stories – a lot of fun and definitely some ‘seed’ but I don’t think she wanted to leave us with the impression of how bad it actually might have been.

We stopped for a drink and mini-burger at the Billy Goat pub (rich and evocative of the time), followed by a drink and some locally-special crisps in a wonderful bar in the old rebuilt Lawry Mansions and finally on to the Intercontinental Hotel for a drink and the most delicious toast smothered in blue cheese sauce you can imagine.  I take that back!  It was so good you simply couldn’t imagine it!!  The tour lasted almost 3 hours and it was fun and educational from go to whoa.  Highly recommended!

After walking back to the hotel, we relaxed for an hour or two and went out to find a restaurant for dinner.  After walking quite a way, we eventually opted for some Chinese takeaway, just as they were closing, and took it back to our room.  Not quite what we intended, but deliciously spicy nonetheless.

14 July

Today we had breakfast just down the road, then hopped on the Hop On Hop Off bus for a loop around the city.  It took almost 2 hours to complete and the temperature was in the low 30s so we were hot and sticky before we returned to the start of the ride.  We had a milkshake near the bus stop but decided not to brave the heat for another trip to any of the other places along the route because our ticket gave us the second day free and we thought we would fill in part of tomorrow doing that.

Despite the heat, we strolled…….  We called in at an interesting pub for a cold one on the way home.  All pubs seem to be interesting, rich in history and character, decorated in ways that probably reflect local pride and culture and the range of available embrocations seems endless.  As it turned out, this was the pub we set out to find before settling on our takeaway the previous night. It was just a little further along from where we walked - under the El.

Chicago has the El – an elevated railway with the famous Loop around the main Downtown area and with 8 or 9 lines running off it to all points outside the city – all colour-coded to make it easier  to find your way.  We have read quite a few Sara Paretsky books and the El and the Loop always feature in them, so we decided to ride the Loop just for fun.  We were told how to do it – catch one line out and another back so we could go all the way around – so we did, but we went quite a few stops further than we had to but it was hot outside and not quite as bad inside so it was worth it.

Then back to our air-conditioned room for an hour or so before we went out for dinner.

It is the Taste of Chicago food festival here at present (finishes tonight!) so we went across with the idea of sampling a few goodies and checking out the scene.  Well, let me tell you that being a couple of older people in a massive, crowded throng of hustling bustling young things all bent on feasting and having a good time is just not my thing.  They had maybe a couple of hundred stalls selling food and drinks of all descriptions (plus dozens of non-food stalls) and approximately ten million hungry families eager to stoke the internal fires - it was not a happy place for me.  The event closed numerous streets around the hotel and occupied several complete ‘city blocks’ of what was otherwise roadways and parkland and it was really a matter of shuffling along wherever the crowds went and hoping that we could work our way to the edge of the human torrent to where the food was.  You first had to line up to buy strips of 14 tokens at $10 per strip and then use them at the stalls to make your purchases.  Each serve was priced at from 4 to 25 tokens (that I saw) so you had to juggle your choices to ensure you had enough tokens - or lose you place in the queue while you trekked off to buy more tokens.  We ended up with 3 dishes for 42 tokens and escaped back to our room to eat the spoils and drink our bottle of Aussie wine.

15 July

Checkout day today, so after we finished a few Sudokus, it was breakfast, repacking, showers and a bit of tidying up and then sorting photos and writing until noon when we had to be out of our room.  We cloaked our bags and walked down to the HOHO bus-stop and hopped on for the ride around to Navy Pier where we had decided to have lunch.  It was in the mid-30s but felt even hotter to us so we were very glad to get inside the Pier buildings where it was cooler.  We checked out the shops and food court but settled on a slow pub meal in air conditioned (relative) comfort.  Then we strolled through the rest of the complex into a huge cool glassed-in atrium with trees and numerous clever water features (a bit like Crown used to have) and then out into the Fun Park with a Ferris wheel, a couple of merry-go-rounds and some good views of the Lake - if you could tolerate the Sun!

We hopped on a little free trolley for a 2-3 km ride to State Street and back before catching the HOHO bus home. Big problem!  Our ticket was not valid!  It seems that we were sold the ticket for the wrong bus company yesterday and despite having ridden on that bus before, we were told we had to ride a different bus - and the last full route for that one had finished for the day.  When that bus did arrive, it was only going one more stop and would then finish until tomorrow.  The driver and guide saw our disappointment and asked where we were staying - 7 stops (at least 4-5 miles) further along.  The driver and guide had some secret adventure ahead of them so offered to get us to our hotel, despite the problem.  They then also picked up 2 more stranded passengers and dropped them a few stops along - but delivered us to the door of our hotel.  Not to the nearest stop – absolutely to the front door.  It was so hot, we thought they were angels and had no compunction about giving them a tip!

We had time to kill so sat in the hotel foyer - and froze!  From about 40 degrees outside, the A/C was set to about 15 inside and it was blasting straight down where we were sitting.  We rugged up and sat there for an hour or so until we could get into the restaurant for dinner.

We took a cab to Union Station and found it crowded with hundreds of Amish folk - at least we think they were Amish from their odd ultra-conservative clothing, beards, hats and so on.  They are obviously in a number of families or clans, each with its own uniform.  We had a few of them on our Zephyr train so maybe there is a convention on, but it is a bit disturbing to see so many very young bonneted short-haired girls in long black dresses, each with several kids in tow and all the guys standing around with their strange hats and peculiar beards.

[travelonlinetipsofficial]

Late Night: Restaurants in Hong Kong

New Post has been published on https://www.travelonlinetips.com/late-night-restaurants-in-hong-kong/

Late Night: Restaurants in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is pretty much a 24-hour city, and it’s rare not to be able to get a bite to eat at any time of the day or night.

Pretty much whatever you feel like eating will be available somewhere in the small hours, as the city’s restaurateurs have worked out there is a substantial market for late-night bites. Pride of place goes to The Flying Pan, which is open all day (and night), every day, every day of the year. Asian eateries figure largely, with Edition, a Korean gastro pub heading the new wave. And of course there’s always some great Hong Kong home-grown establishments, such as Under Bridge Spicy Crab, which started out as a humble stall and has since grown into three pukka restaurants.

What Hong Kong could really do with is a proper food truck scheme – however a pilot scheme launched in 2017 has yet to get off the ground.

Photo courtesy of Ho Sing

It may call itself a coffee shop, and it may be called Ho Sing, but anyone who is anyone calls it Andy’s, and while they may come here for a coffee, the real draw is the fried rice, which is not only filling and flavorful but also astonishingly cheap – a mere HK$46 for a plate. Quite a few of Hong Kong’s hardened party animals keep HK$50 in their sock so they have enough money for a feed at the end of the evening. Truth to tell, Andy doesn’t open till 4am, although you might find one or two famished revelers banging on the shutters before then.

Recommended for Late Night because: Cheap eats deserve some recognition, and this is a great spot to conclude a night on the town.

Ed’s expert tip: Of course, this is very much a workaday eatery, so don’t expect anything too fancy.

Read more about Ho Sing Coffee Shop →

Photo courtesy of Sun Hing

Sun Hing is on Smithfield Road, which was named after the former meat market in London. In days gone by there was an abattoir in this part of town too, and when the workers knocked off they were more than ready for a meal. Recalling those times, Sun Hing doesn’t open till 3 am, when it rolls out vast quantities of dim sum. The custard buns have their own fan club, and there’s usually a roar of appreciation when they emerge from the kitchen. More than a few party animals have insisted that staying up for half the night is more than worth it if you can end up at Sun Hing.

Recommended for Late Night because: Open in the middle of the night, closing at teatime: Sun Hing is almost in a parallel universe.

Ed’s expert tip: Lines start forming outside from about 2.30am onward.

Read more about Sun Hing →

Photo courtesy of Ichiran

Here’s oodles of noodles, and then some. You can argue about whether Marco Polo supplied the recipe to the Chinese or brought it back to Italy with him: at the end of the day a bowl of noodles doesn’t so much hit the spot as score an eternal bulls-eye. There are two branches of Ichiran (the second is in Tsim Sha Tsui) and both are open 24 hours a day, catering to workers coming off shift at odd hours, insomniacs, jet-lagged travelers, and late-night revelers whose tums are crying out for sustenance. However you like your noodles, whether it’s thick or thin, spicy or plain, Ichiran is happy to fall in with your wishes. And, as a note about table manners, it’s perfectly acceptable to slurp in these parts.

Recommended for Late Night because: Open 24 hours a day, on both sides of the harbor, Ichiran is a must-include!

Ed’s expert tip: If you like spice but are not used to Hong Kong’s version, it’s best to hold back on the chili, as it can be very strong.

Read more about Ichiran →

Photo courtesy of The Flying Pan

Eggs Benedict, Eggs Florentine, Eggs Maharajah, Eggs Oscar, Eggs Norwegian, Eggs Nantucket … you get the idea. Just about every breakfast combo is up for grabs here, in significant portions in relaxing surrounds. They serve alcohol, there’s a kids’ menu, they roll out special stuff at teatime: basically, whatever the time of day, and pretty much whatever you feel like eating, they’ve got it covered. There’s a second branch in Wan Chai, which is practically a carbon copy. The clientele is largely expat, often trying to recover from a fairly large celebration the previous night. All in all, this is a very cheery and hearty eatery.

Recommended for Late Night because: The Flying Pan (good pun, huh?) is a Hong Kong institution, and deservedly so.

Ed’s expert tip: Whatever the time, you’re never too late (or early) for breakfast, or any other meal here. In other words, it’s open 24/7.

Read more about The Flying Pan →

Photo courtesy of Burger Circus

As might well be expected, what you get here is freshly ground burgers, together with fries and sides which are complemented by a selection of house-made milkshakes, sodas and classic cocktails suitable for any time of day. Burger Circus, known as BC to its regulars, is housed in a playful and inviting train carriage-themed dining room which pays homage to the original late-19th century American diners, which were operated out of abandoned railway cars. BC opens at lunchtime, but comes into its own at weekends when it stays open till the wee hours. Many customers pitch up here for what’s jocularly referred to as DinFast, a cross between dinner and breakfast, after a night out drinking and dancing in SoHo or one of the city’s other mainstream party zones.

Recommended for Late Night because: It’s difficult to fault this eatery: everything seems just right, and that includes how they cook their burgers!

Ed’s expert tip: Burger Circus’ Spiked Shakes, incorporating your favorite cocktail, are in a league of their own.

Read more about Burger Circus →

Photo courtesy of Stockton

As the adverts for cruise lines used to say: getting there is half the fun. Tucked up a little alleyway off Wyndham Street, Stockton is a hidden late-night gem. The menu is pretty tempting: think roast beef sandwiches, black truffle risotto balls, and chorizo Scotch eggs, all delivered in very “olde-worlde” surrounds, with low lighting, antiques, and tables tucked away in nooks and crannies. The music can be a little loud, so perhaps this is the joint you come to when you want to party on, rather than wind down at the end of a long evening. Either way, it’s very enjoyable.

Recommended for Late Night because: Well done Stockton for thinking not just out of the box, but miles away from it. This is a Hong Kong original.

Ed’s expert tip: If it’s food you’re after, the kitchen closes not long after midnight.

Read more about Stockton →

Photo courtesy of Edition

If the words Korean, Fusion and Gastropub seem like a bit of a mixture, you’d be right. But it’s a great mixture. Settle in, and let your wildest culinary meanderings take you for a ride. Kimchi fries are nothing if not revolutionary, likewise a bulgogi slider.A bibim steak sandwich is a treat in itself, and the same can be said for pork belly lollipops and seared scallops with citron. Late at night, when you and your taste buds feel like a bit of a challenge, easing into this edgy establishment is just what the (dietary) doctor ordered. And naturally soju backs up the list of beer, wine and cocktails.

Recommended for Late Night because: This is one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive places to dine, atop one of its most distinctive skyscrapers.

Ed’s expert tip: Soju packs a bit of a kick, so go easy if you are not used to this hefty Korean liquor.

Read more about Edition →

Photo courtesy of Tokyolima

TokyoLima dishes up Nikkei cuisine in the atmosphere of a buzzing izakaya, Japan’s answer to a British pub. Embracing a casual approach, Peruvian Chef Arturo puts together a menu that balances the heat of Peru with the delicate flavors of Japan. Dating back for more than a century, Nikkei cuisine originates from Peru’s Japanese population and is best described as the melding of both cultures.So you get Japan’s love for fresh seafood and fresh, delicate flavors plus the punchy heat and colorful zest of Peru. There’s something to discover on the drinks menu too. As well as 20 different sakes, the cocktails infuse South American and Japanese ingredients with daring combinations and intriguing flavors.

Recommended for Late Night because: Rather than just somewhere to fill your face, this is a stylish restaurant with a menu well worth pondering.

Ed’s expert tip: Lyndhurst Terrace is just near the Central-Mid Levels Escalator, which is handy if you are headed uphill.

Read more about Tokyolima →

Photo courtesy of Under The Bridge Spicy Crab

There are more than a dozen different seafood dishes at this restaurant, but a plate of fragrant and tongue-numbing crab is what everybody lines up for. Crabs from Vietnam and Canada, averaging 2.5 kilograms in size, are wok-fried with bright-red chili, spring onion and enough garlic to cover every inch of the crustacean. The spice meter is high at this formerly under-a-bridge dai pai dong, but fortunately you can choose from among five tiers of spiciness. There is a belief that eating crab can ward off hangovers – whether or not that is true, the late-night atmosphere here is thoroughly invigorating.

Recommended for Late Night because: What started out as a tiny stall is now a thriving part of Wanchai’s food and beverage scene, and a slice of heritage to boot.

Ed’s expert tip: There are three branches of this humming little eatery, all within walking distance of each other.

Read more about Under the Bridge Spicy Crab →

Photo courtesy of Ciao Chow

Ciao Chow: geddit? Serving top Italian food in China’s most famous port city, CC has been a roaring success since the day it opened. At ground zero Lan Kwai Fong, there are few surprises here and a lot of solid, tasty comfort food. Think pasta, think pizza, think filling up on something chewable after too many hours ingesting liquids of an alcoholic nature. There are also chicken, chops and other more robust options, and should that sugar craving strike after midnight, tuck in to custard pudding, chocolate tart and all their sweet cousins. You’ll find Ciao Chow is as popular at night as it is in the daytime.

Recommended for Late Night because: Ciao Chow has been a hit from the day it opened, thanks largely to its fun atmosphere and bright open kitchen.

Ed’s expert tip: The three-step Create Your Own Pizza (base, cheese, topping) is as much fun as it sounds, and tastes.

Read more about Ciao Chow →

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[nunoxaviermoreira]

Cadavériques envies by Fabrice Le Coq Elle ouvre son burger et recouvre la viande de sauce ketchup et de mayonnaise,pour masquer le goût. Ça sent le cadavre, sinon. Elle ne veut rien savoir des abattoirs dans lesquels c'est débité. Quand elle voit, sur internet, une image de poulet ou de cochon bloqué dans un casier, destiné à être mangé, elle change de page, tout de suite. L'endroit est cosy, façon truc à milkshakes. Mais la nourriture est infecte. Les frites congelées ont été saupoudrées d'une herbe aromatique qui a dût être congelée elle aussi pour avoir un goût aussi étonnant. Elle boit son Coca et abandonne son assiette. Texte : Virginie Despentes. Lieu : Crans-Montana, Suisse. #cransmontana #virginiedespentes #valais #suisse #abstrait #artphoto #fabricelecoqfoto https://flic.kr/p/2fv4Pep

[dayveebug]

10 February 2025 - Witchlings

When my abattoir milkshake is burning up or breaking down, I veg with one of these dudes: local nature, questionable spirituality, or collecting useless trinkets. My Mental Wellness Trinity.

So I bought myself some new oracle cards. I say 'new'. They're secondhand.

Contrary to popular practice, I love doing a few readings with secondhand decks BEFORE I cleanse them. It's like talking to a ghost. Or a mid-2000s chatbot.

I know it's probably wee-woo nonsense. I know I'm definitely mentally ill. But it's fun, it's weird, I dig it, and no one can stop me.