#restaurant north sydney

[foodtravelerinnorthsydney]

North Sydney Restaurant Food

[pulkit01]

Exploring Indian Cuisine in Sydney’s North: A Guide to Seven Spices

Indian cuisine is a beloved staple in Sydney, with its blend of aromatic spices, flavorful curries, and diverse regional dishes. Among the many Indian restaurants in Sydney, Seven Spices stands out for its exceptional offerings across the city's northern suburbs. Whether you're craving a warm bowl of butter chicken, a crispy dosa, or a sizzling tandoori platter, Seven Spices is a destination worth exploring. In this guide, we’ll take you through the experience of dining at Seven Spices in various locations, including Crows Nest, Gladesville, Lane Cove, North Shore, Lower North Shore, North Ryde, Ryde, Epping, and Artarmon.

Indian Cuisine in Sydney’s North: What to Expect

Sydney’s northern suburbs are home to a growing interest in Indian cuisine, with locals embracing the rich flavors of both North and South Indian dishes. The food scene is characterized by a delightful mix of traditional recipes and contemporary twists that appeal to a broad range of tastes. Popular dishes include fragrant biryanis, spicy curries, and freshly baked naan breads, complemented by a variety of chutneys and accompaniments. Indian restaurants in the area also cater to vegetarian and vegan preferences, ensuring there's something for everyone.

The beauty of Indian cuisine lies in its ability to balance bold spices with subtle flavors, and this is evident in the food served at Seven Spices. Whether you’re enjoying a mild korma or a fiery vindaloo, every dish is crafted to perfection.

Seven Spices: Locations and Accessibility

Seven Spices has firmly established itself as one of the top destinations for Indian food in the North Shore region. With multiple locations scattered across areas like Crows Nest, Gladesville, Lane Cove, North Ryde, Ryde, Epping, and Artarmon, Seven Spices is easily accessible for both dine-in and takeaway options.

Convenient Locations:

Crows Nest: Known for its vibrant atmosphere, this location is perfect for a family meal or a casual night out. Best Indian Restaurant Crows Nest

Gladesville: This suburb offers a great choice for those looking to enjoy authentic Indian flavors in a relaxed setting. Best Indian Restaurant Gladesville

Lane Cove: A prime spot for Indian cuisine lovers, offering a wide range of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options. Best Indian Restaurant Lane Cove

North Shore: The North Shore branch is a go-to for anyone craving delicious tandoori, curries, and more. Best Indian Restaurant North Shore

Lower North Shore: Enjoy a variety of Indian dishes in this bustling neighborhood. Best Indian Restaurant Lower North Shore

North Ryde: With a vibrant community of foodies, this location serves a wide range of delectable Indian dishes. Best Indian Restaurant North Ryde

Ryde: A convenient location for those looking for delicious Indian food with a modern twist. Best Indian Restaurant Ryde

Epping: The Epping location offers an array of Indian dishes to suit every palate. Best Indian Restaurant Epping

Artarmon: Known for its cozy vibe, Artarmon’s Seven Spices location is perfect for a relaxing meal with friends or family.

Seven Spices also offers a range of dining options, including takeaway and delivery, so you can enjoy your favorite dishes from the comfort of your home.

Regional Dishes and Specialties

Seven Spices prides itself on serving a variety of regional Indian dishes, showcasing the diversity of India’s culinary landscape.

North Indian Dishes

Expect traditional North Indian favorites like tandoori platters, flavorful curries (butter chicken, rogan josh), and freshly made naan. Whether you’re a fan of mild, creamy curries or spicy, bold dishes, the North Indian offerings will leave you craving more.

South Indian Dishes

The South Indian menu at Seven Spices includes light and crispy dosas, steamed idlis, and coconut-based curries, providing a refreshing contrast to the heavier dishes. These specialties are perfect for those who prefer a lighter meal.

Vegetarian and Non-Vegetarian Variety

Seven Spices caters to both vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences. Vegetarian dishes include classics like paneer tikka, dal makhani, and vegetable biryani, while meat lovers can enjoy a range of chicken, lamb, and seafood options.

Specialties Unique to Seven Spices

The restaurant offers exclusive dishes like Seven Spices Biryani and Spicy Tandoori Chicken, which have become customer favorites.

Ingredients and Cooking Methods

The magic of Seven Spices lies in its use of traditional Indian spices, fresh produce, and authentic cooking techniques.

Traditional Spices

Each dish at Seven Spices is made with a blend of authentic Indian spices such as garam masala, turmeric, cumin, coriander, and cardamom, creating the perfect balance of flavors.

Cooking Techniques

The restaurant employs various traditional cooking methods, including cooking in a tandoor, slow-cooking curries to allow flavors to develop, and tempering spices to bring out their essence.

Local Adaptations

While the focus is on authenticity, Seven Spices adapts certain dishes to suit local tastes, ensuring a comfortable yet authentic dining experience for all.

Customer Experience and Reviews

Seven Spices has garnered positive feedback from both first-time visitors and regular customers. Guests rave about the warm, inviting ambiance, the attentive service, and the wide variety of flavorful dishes on offer. The cozy, family-friendly atmosphere makes it a great place for any occasion.

Feedback from Regular Customers

Many customers appreciate the consistency of the food and the friendly service across all Seven Spices locations. Regulars often return for their favorite dishes, such as the rich butter chicken and crispy samosas.

How to Choose the Right Location for Your Meal

Choosing the best location depends on your needs and preferences. For a casual meal, Crows Nest or Lane Cove are great options, offering a vibrant dining environment. If you’re looking for a quiet meal, Epping or Artarmon might be more suitable.

Each location has its own unique menu, so check out the offerings online or call ahead to make sure you’re heading to the right branch for your preferred dishes. Some locations are better suited for group dining, while others might be more convenient for takeaway orders.

Conclusion

Seven Spices has cemented its place as one of Sydney's best Indian restaurants, offering a diverse range of authentic dishes across several convenient locations. Whether you’re looking for a hearty curry, light dosa, or flavorful tandoori, Seven Spices has something to offer. Explore the various locations for a true taste of Indian cuisine and enjoy the warm, inviting atmosphere.

For more details or to place an order, visit the Seven Spices website.

[bonpollo123]

🌟 Discover Culinary Magic at Bon Pollo! 🌟

Unveil the true essence of Lebanon in the heart of Sydney with Bon Pollo. 🇱🇧✨

At Bon Pollo, we take pride in serving you an array of delectable Lebanese dishes that will transport your taste buds to the bustling streets of Beirut. From creamy hummus to succulent shawarma and mouthwatering baklava, every bite is an adventure.

🍽️ Join us for an unforgettable Lebanese culinary experience!

📆 Make a reservation now to savor the magic of Lebanon

https://www.bonpollo.au/contact-us/

[hussyknee]

TIL the Australian guy that put on the single greatest piece of improv theater ever caught on camera during his wrongful arrest passed away this August from cancer.

For those who don't know: in 1991 an investigator who suspected this man of credit card fraud called the cops on him at the Chinese restaurant where he was dining with a friend. To expedite the arrest, he led the police to believe they were arresting a high profile criminal of some sort.

Police surrounded the restaurant, corralled the waiting media (who had somehow gotten wind), and interrupted Karlson's lunch.

"He was as calm as anything," former police detective Adam Firman says of the moment he arrested Karlson in the restaurant.

"He was happy to go with us. Well, as happy as you can be, to be arrested. Until he saw all the media. And that's when he just went berserk."

The lines Karlson delivered have since become classic quotes in internet culture.

"Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!" Karlson declares to the cameras as he's wrestled into the police car.

...

"As soon as we drove away, he stopped and he said, 'That was fun,'" Firman says.

"There was no fight getting him out of the car. Nothing. It was all put on for the cameras."

The drama behind the rant

The Brisbane police who arrested him that day didn't know that Karlson had been a criminal and a serial prison escapee. He was also a part-time actor.

By the time he was 34, Karlson had spent most of his life in homes and prisons.

His first escape was in 1966. He was on a train going from Boggo Road Gaol to face a breaking, entering and stealing charge at Maryborough Magistrates Court. He got out of his handcuffs and jumped off.

Two years later, after he had been locked up in McLeod Prison Farm on Victoria's French Island for another theft, he convinced a local fisherman to give him a lift to the mainland.

Three months after that, he was picked up in a stolen car carrying safe-breaking tools in Parramatta. Just before his trial, he impersonated a detective and walked out of his court cell. Finally, he was captured in an apartment on Sydney's North Shore.

That's when his life took a dramatic left turn.

Sentenced to eight years in Parramatta Gaol, Karlson was put in an unusually large cell with an inmate named Jim McNeil.

This chance encounter would become destiny manifest.

McNeil had heard about Karlson impersonating a detective, and he thought it was hilarious.

He welcomed Karlson into his cell. The two men bonded over making foul-tasting alcohol in the cell's washbasin from raisins and yeast, and shared histories.

They had both grown up poor, even by the standards of their rough-and-tumble neighbourhoods. Adults had abused them physically and sexually. And they'd both stolen and scammed a few shillings for their families when they saw the chance.

After encouragement from Karlson, McNeil wrote a play about cellmates who brewed grog. They put it on in prison, and Karlson played a leading role.

Both had discovered talents they didn't know they had. McNeil kept writing on his smuggled typewriter, and Karlson kept acting. The plays became a hit among young Sydney intellectuals, many who had been campaigning for prisoners' rights.

Within four years, their work got them out on parole a combined 13 years early.

Best friends

Karlson and McNeil's friendship continued outside the prison gates and they moved into a house in Richmond together.

The two men stuck out like sore thumbs in their new-found scene of artists and intellectuals.

Neither man had set foot in a theatre, but McNeil's plays were already being performed across Australia. He felt that, with the success of his plays, he'd never need to resort to crime again. On radio and in the press, he would give didactic rants about the brutality of the justice system.

Karlson, meanwhile, got parts in the prime-time crime dramas Homicide and Matlock Police.

They remained close.

"The lovely bloke. I love him," McNeil told an interviewer around the same time Karlson named his son Jim McNeil Karlson.

Karlson described them as best friends.

But McNeil's alcoholism killed him in 1982.

Karlson couldn't travel to the funeral in Sydney for legal reasons.

"I … with a bodgie [fake identity], booked up hundreds and hundreds of dollars worth of flowers and wreaths," he says.

Final days

McNeil's plays weren't subtle. They were screeds aimed at a society that arrested and tormented unfortunate men for petty crimes.

"The message is: look what you're doing to people," he told one interviewer.

He went on to tell a story about an Aboriginal cellmate. "He was illiterate, he was poor. He had nothing. And he stole thruppence ha'penny. And then he got three and a half years. That's a penny a year.

"Prison is the best way to show what's wrong with the outside."

His final play was about two cellmates in Parramatta. He named it 'Jack', and finished it in a drunken haze.

"Do you know I'm here?" shouts Jack the character. "Do you give a f*** where I am? No. No, you don't give a f*** where I am. Pricks. Democrats."

Fifteen years later, Jack Karlson declared "Gentlemen, this is democracy manifest!" to the waiting cameras and an enduring audience.

It would be his most unforgettable performance.

From 7news:

So how did Karlson improvise a performance so poetic, so theatrical and so amusing?

“Of course, I was somewhat influenced by the juice of the red grape."

Karlson spent his last years as a painter, incidentally selling many paintings of his own infamous arrest, and helping make a documentary about his life that's yet to be released. He died aged 82, surrounded by family and was widely mourned.

"Tata and farewell" legend. Hope the internet never forgets you. ACAB forever.

[light-yaers]

tangerine. | part one [carmen berzatto x reader]

Fic Masterpost | AO3

Carmen shows up at your diner after five years, and everything comes flooding back like it was only yesterday.

Warnings: swearing, angst, mature themes [discussions about drugs, workplace abuse, family problems]

Word count: 5.2k

PART ONE

“What is the point of this entire trip if you’re not going to tell me the restaurants in advance?” Sydney whittled off, trying to keep up with the storming legs of her partner. “Carmen, are you even listening to me, right now?”

“Of course, I’m listening,” he said, peering back at her as his legs kept up their pace. 

He slalomed through people on the sidewalk of 8th Street and St. Marks Place, with Syd close on his tail. She didn’t know these streets like he did. His prior positions in the city were prestigious, ranging from sous chef roles all over the damn city, before he finally made chef de cuisine at Union Square Cafe. As the time had passed, understanding came with it, but she still wouldn’t ever wrap her head around him leaving NY for The Beef. 

She knew Michael meant a lot to him, to the family, but dropping it all for a sandwich shop in Chicago would always be something she’d secretly question. Syd tried not to think about it too much; the fear of him leaving, or bailing, and the like; because at the end of the day she’d bled herself dry for this.

A restaurant. A place. Somewhere her dad used to love, and would love after the renovation. The Beef was gone, it was true, but in its place would be The Bear. The product of all of Carmen’s and her hard work. 

Syd sped up to a jog, until she finally wrapped her fingers around Carmen’s forearm. She tugged him back, and used it as an opportunity to catch her breath. “You’re not listening. I don’t even know where we’re fucking going, Carm.”

He gently tugged his arm from her grasp. “This is a last minute addition,” he said, before he placed his hands on his hips. “I just wanted to get it over with. Sorry for rushing.”

Sydney nodded at him, listening. “Okay. So, let me in, dude. Tell me about this place so I’m less confused, and you’re less… whatever the fuck this is,” she said, gesturing to his erratic behaviour. 

Carmen shuffled on the sidewalk, peering around at shop fronts, and the abundance of restaurants that lined up outside Tompkins Square Park. This was an area he knew like the back of his hand, but one he hadn’t visited since long before he’d left New York. 

“The first place I ever worked in the city. It’s not fine dining, or Michelin starred, or any of that shit,” he started, and despite the abrupt way Syd’s eyes widened from annoyance, she still let him continue. “The vibe of it, though,” he said, and chuckled the words out of his mouth in surprise. “Just, come on.” He gently placed a hand on Syd’s shoulder, leading her forward so they were on the same page. 

From the outside, Lucky Strike Diner didn’t look like anything special. It was a small unit, placed betwixt two taller apartment buildings, to the North of Tompkins Square Park. Syd looked up at it, grimacing slightly, but she tried to keep an open mind. She’d been around her fair share back alley barbeques and hidden gems to know you should never judge a book by its cover. 

When she glanced over to Carmen, he looked practically childlike. There was a glint in his eyes that she hadn’t seen since they’d first decided to bin off The Beef and bring in The Bear That wonder, that craving for something new, and excitement of something unknown. Nostalgia danced over every feature of his face, and she watched as he sucked in a sharp breath, before entering the diner. 

Inside, the decor was minimalist, but homely. Black and white photos lined the walls, pictures of families, of friends, of celebrations. Cream and red colours graced the walls, and the booths looked comforting and inviting. Despite the drab appearance outside, inside was bustling. Practically every table was full, and the old style bar was inviting. Through the kitchen window, sparks and fire shot up whenever something burned, or flambed, on the grill. 

This vibe, the one Carmen had mentioned; Sydney felt it all immediately. That warmth, like you were stepping into a family function instead of something elitist. Businessmen sat with their laptops, next to mothers with their babies, and grandfathers on their own. This was a place for everyone, and that was clear to see. 

As servers scattered over the busy restaurant floor, one of them stuck out to Sydney. You scuttled, slaloming through tables with ease, as you made your way to the host stand by the door. 

Saturday rushes were always hardcore, but you’d grown accustomed to them. You grabbed two menus before you even looked the two new customers in the eye, and let out a simple “Welcome to Lucky Strike Diner, table for two–?”

You stopped when your brain finally computed his face; a face you hadn’t seen in a long time. Carmen Berzatto was standing in your fucking restaurant. “Carmy.” His name slipped out easily, and along with it came a sickly feeling in your gut. 

He cleared his throat. “Table for two, yes. Please.”

You glanced at the second member of his party, quickly, and shot her a smile. You didn’t particularly have anything to smile about, but it wasn’t her fault that she’d just been planted into the middle of this inevitable shitstorm. That smile disappeared instantly, as soon as you looked back at Carmen.

“Great,” you said plainly. Even disappearing assholes like Carmen wouldn’t stop you from being professional and civil at work. You loved this place too much, had been here too long, to do that. “This way, please.” 

You steamed forward as you picked out a table in the corner, furthest away from the host stand. You didn’t want him in the middle of the room, where he could easily find you in the crowd of servers. Why he was here and what he was doing didn’t cross your mind until you seated them, dropping the menus down on their respective settings. 

Carmen scooted his chair in, and peered up at you. “It’s been a long time–”

“So, have you guys ever been here before?” you cut over him, and mostly looked at his partner. She shot you a clearly awkward smile, but nevertheless shook her head politely. Carmen stayed silent, and bit upon his tongue. “Okay, so I’ll lay down the lingo for you,” you said, as you quickly went through the menu with her. “You need anything, just wave one of us down and we’ll be happy to help, all good?” 

“Yeah, thank you,” Sydney said with a smile, before she looked over at Carmen. That smile quickly turned to a small frown. 

“Fantastic,” you said. “Can I get you guys some drinks to start?”

“Um, I’ll take the lemonade, thanks,” Sydney ordered, as she attempted to hold this entire interaction together by the skin of her teeth. 

“Great choice, it was made fresh this morning like always.” You turned to Carmen. “And for you, sir?” 

A vein had popped out on Carmen’s forehead very noticeably. It was one that Sydney knew well, when he was either under insane amounts of stress in the kitchen, or fighting against the urge to yell. Maybe both meant the same thing, but still– she could see from a mile off that this was not the way he’d wanted this reunion to go. 

“Surprise me,” he said, as he looked up and caught your eye. 

You clenched your jaw. “I’m no good at surprises, so I’ll just bring you some tap water until you decide,” you said, trying and failing to keep things light. “I’ll be back with those drinks in just a few minutes.” You went to leave quickly. 

“Hey, just–” Carmen reached out for you as fast as he could, but as his fingers grazed your wrist, you managed to snap your arm away from him just in time. He gave up when disappeared through the doors to the back, and dropped himself back into his chair. 

Sydney leant forward immediately. “Okay, dude. What the fuck was that?”

“It’s nothing,” Carmen said bluntly. 

Sydney started laughing breathily. “Yeah, sure, that was nothing. Don’t test me, Carm.”

“I– fuck,” he spluttered. “Just pick your fucking food, please.”

Sydney was a pro at telling Carmen to calm the fuck down, but this interaction had her stumped for a solution. “What do you recommend?” she said, switching her tune.

Carmen met her eye in some kind of silent apology. “Uhh, the eggs. The eggs are fantastic. And the french toast, that’s the restaurant’s best.” As the subject changed, Carmen delved into the menu alongside Syd. They talked about their menu ideas, and paralleled them with the dishes they saw here. 

Maybe bringing a diner styled meal to a (soon to be) Michelin menu wasn’t so much of a bad idea. It fit the theme. The homeliness, paired with the decadence of the chaos menu they’d been discussing priorly. 

In the back, you quickly punched in their drink order, before you slalomed through the kitchen. “Behind!” you yelled, as you made your way through each station. The chefs all shot you concerned looks, as it became apparent where you were heading. 

“Is today really a walk-in day?” One of them, Paulie, said as you raced by. He’d known you for years now, and knew when something was fucking wrong. 

“Yep!” you exclaimed back at him, tugging open the handle of the walk-in swiftly.

“What the fuck happened?” he boomed, but you slammed the door shut before you could muster up a reply. 

Inside, you breathed alongside the ingredients. The vegetables, the homemade sauces, the fresh smoked salmon. It was cold, but not too cold that you couldn’t stand it. The cool air made everything feel calm, like you had somehow been transported to some Icelandic lake in the summertime. The air was crisp, and noise was muffled through the door, like the solace you felt by locking yourself in the upstairs bathroom at a house party. 

Carmen Berzatto showing up out of the blue had been something you’d long stopped indulging in. He’d made himself clear, the last time you’d seen him, that he had no intention of continuing the working relationship or friendship you’d once had. It was only then that you realised how fast the time had gone. 

You were twenty when you met him, the same age as each other. Both of you tried to navigate life together as you stumbled and fell, and got yourselves up again. You were on par with each other, both in intelligence and maturity. Paulie had liked Carm as soon as he’d walked through the door for his interview, and pretty soon after being hired, he’d turned Lucky Strike around like it was no skin off his back.

He was a refreshing change for the life you’d found yourself in. He’d made this place great, and you’d taught each other some life lessons. You’d always known he was destined for more, and you’d always been the first person to sing his praises. 

Before his abrupt switch in personality, you’d thought fondly of your time here together. The same old grind of opening up the diner together in the morning. While he prepped for service in the kitchen, you did so on the restaurant floor. It was a collaborative effort, and without both of you together at that point in time, the diner would have gone under. That’s what made it sting even more, when you thought of your life now– you wouldn’t be in this position if he hadn’t come along. It was like rubbing extra salt in your already open wound. 

You sucked in a deep, cold breath, and let it out slowly. The cold invigorated your lungs, and gave you the strength to continue with your day. Lunch service was on the brink of its lull, anyway, but having him there, sat outside, with his fucking face that he used to look at you so fondly with, you could hardly stand it. 

A gentle knock sounded from the walk-in door, and you quickly wiped a few spots of sweat from your forehead. “Yeah!” you yelled. 

“Come on out, sweetheart,” Paulie urged you, and you hadn’t been able to refuse him for the time you’d been working at the diner– so that wasn’t going to start now. 

You pushed open the door and sealed it shut behind you, before you allowed yourself to peer up at him. He was a burly guy, but soft around the edges. You had no idea if he was in his forties or sixties, since he had one of those faces that were sort of stuck in time. He spoke like a character straight out of Taxi Driver. 

“What the hell happened, huh?” he asked gently, patting you on your shoulders sturdily. 

You sighed. “Carmen. He’s in the restaurant,” you said. 

“Carmy’s here?” Paulie exclaimed, as he frantically looked around the kitchen. “Guys, Carmy’s here!” he yelled. A few of the chefs, who’d been employed here for time, started muttering loudly. 

Paulie’s joy only made you feel worse, but you didn’t hold it against him. Carm had been a staple here all those years before, and had taught a lot of the guys all that they knew about their role. Literally. “Table twenty,” you said. “Knock yourselves out.”

Service stopped momentarily as Paulie and two other chefs made their way out to the restaurant. You stayed back, and peered through the kitchen window. Beyond the bar, you saw Paulie exclaim as Carmen stood up and shook his hand. They hugged like bears, and he introduced Sydney to them all. 

Paulie’s voice was one that carried, so it was impossible not to hear every note of their conversation from where you were. “We’ll whip you up your old favourites. You still like salmon?” Paulie went on, and Carmen nodded and smiled in appreciation the entire time. 

You composed yourself as best as you could, before you left the kitchen. You grabbed their drinks, already prepared, on the bar, and gently shoved yourself through to their table. 

“Aye, aye, aye– we have hungry people waiting, Paulie!” you said, allowing yourself to don a small smile as you gently set down their drinks. “Come on now, back to work, chefs!” 

Paulie squeezed Carmen’s shoulder, before he gestured to you. “She’s practically the boss around here now, Carmy. The big boss,” he said. Carmen gently met your eye, but you looked away as fast as you could. 

“Alright, alright. Big boss says three orders of french toast on the fly, chef,” you said, grinning as Paulie held up his hands defensively. 

“I’m going, I’m going,” he said, as he started treading back towards the kitchen. “Good to see you, Carmy!” he boomed. 

“You too, Paulie,” Carmen said, before he awkwardly sat back down and tucked himself in. 

You caught your breath again, as you cleared your throat. “So, it seems our chef has already picked your order for you. Can I get you guys anything else that he didn’t mention?”

“Uh, yeah,” Sydney said, pointing to the menu. “What is this exactly?”

You read the words just above her fingertip, and your gut dropped. Tangerine salade. You were torn between wanting to laugh maniacally, or leave and never return to the diner. Carmen’s eyes widened in realisation at Sydney’s request. 

“Oh, it’s–”

“It’s–”

You and Carmen stopped talking when you heard the other start. You’d both gone to explain the dish– if it could even be called a dish. You held your breath abruptly and took a small step back. Part of you wondered if he remembered the entire meaning, but you weren’t about to explain it all in great detail. Not when it didn’t feel as special anymore. 

“I’m sorry, you tell us. Please.” Carmen shut his mouth and sat back, as if he was on best behaviour. 

“It’s exactly what it says,” you said. “Tangerine salad. Two fresh tangerines, cut into slices like big oranges, instead of peeled and segmented.”

Sydney smiled, amused. “Where did that come from?” 

It came from Carmen. You had a habit of stealing fruit from the walk-in, when you realised you hadn’t eaten on a shift. Tangerines were always ordered, but hardly ever used, so there was always an abundance of them, destined to rot. 

Carmen caught you everytime, eating them like orange slices, just so they were quicker and easier to scoff down during a rush. The juice didn’t get on your hands as much, and you enjoyed the vibrant colour they produced over the white pith that covered their segments when peeled. Carmen had taken it upon himself to add a new item during a menu refresh in the early days. Tangerine salade was born, and neither you, nor Paulie, had ever thought to get rid of it. Even after all this time.

“Why did you call it that?” you asked Carmen, gobsmacked to see it on the menu for the first time, all those years before.

“Salad didn’t sound as good as salade,” he explained. 

“You chefs and your obsession with French words, huh?” you joked, as you rounded his station and dropped the menu down upon the pristine surface. “This is sweet, Carmy. Sweet, but unnecessary.”

“Not true,” he countered, bashing his shoulder into yours playfully. “Now that it’s on the menu, it’s got a button on the system. Whenever you need a tangerine just punch it through, and we’ll have two of ‘em, waiting for you when you get a moment to fucking breathe.” 

You felt Carmen’s stare on you at Sydney’s question, and forced yourself to suck in a breath and come back to reality. “Tangerine salad is our version of McDonalds apple slice bags. For the kids,” you lied, but nevertheless kept a smile stamped on your face. Carmen looked positively pale at your response. “They’re good fucking tangerines, though,” you added, and Sydney chuckled in surprise. 

“Okay, I need to try these tangerines,” she said. 

“One order of tangerine salade, on top of all the rest, sure.” You made a quick note on your order slip, even though you didn’t need to. It was just a way to avoid Carmen’s stare even further. 

For the rest of the lunch rush, you pretended like he wasn’t there. You did the rounds, topping up cups of coffee, and rushing fresh dishes and dirty plates to and from the kitchen. You stayed on top of admin when you got a spare moment at the host stand, and scrolled through invoices from suppliers. 

Without meaning to, you’d stayed at Lucky Strike Diner for seven years. It was life for you now. You lived a few blocks away, through the park, but having an apartment felt like a waste when you practically lived in the restaurant. 

You and Carmen had talked about so much, when you’d both been confined to these walls. What lay beyond for both of you. His dream to cook in top restaurants, and eventually build his own restaurant from the ground up. You didn’t really have any dreams, just the security and stability of a good life, and good people around you, but you indulged whenever he mentioned his own place. 

“Well, if you ever need a front of house manager, you know where to find me,” you joked, as you wiped down the bar at the end of the day. Carmen poked his head through the kitchen window. 

“Why don’t we do it, then?” he asked abruptly. You stopped wiping the surfaces, and turned around to face him. “Open our own restaurant.”

“Oh, man, I don’t know. Money, taxes, insurance, money,” you listed off, and he tossed a wet cloth at your face. You dodged it, and watched it crash onto one of the restaurant tables. “Hey!” You turned back, shooting him an amused grin. 

“You’re too much of a fucking realist,” he said, as he made his way out of the kitchen and into the restaurant. 

“And you’re too much of a fucking dreamer. These things take time, Carmy.”

“I know that,” he said, as he grabbed the cloth he’d thrown. He approached the bar, and leaned over it, bridging the gap between your faces. “We could still do it, though. Have our own place. Cook our own menu.”

You smiled at his words, and rearranged the napkin holders next to him. “Can’t do that when you’re about to join the big leagues,” you said, and Carmen slid off the bar. 

“You’re gonna fucking jinx it!” he wailed.

“It’s called manifesting!” you exclaimed. “You’re gonna get the fucking job, Carm.” He pulled out a chair from one of the tables and dropped into it melodramatically. 

“Yeah, yeah, we’ll see,” he muttered. “You think Paulie will still talk to me if I leave?”

You were the one to throw your cloth at him now, and it hit him square in his face with a slap sound. You smacked your hands over your mouth in surprise, before you tried and failed to stop chuckles from cascading out of your mouth. 

“I’m sorry–” you started, rounding the bar. 

Carmen slid the cloth off his face. “You’re fucking funny,” he said sarcastically. 

“I’m sorry, Carmy, really,” you said through chuckles, as you dropped yourself into the chair opposite him. You took the cloth from his hands, and gently squeezed his hand in apology. 

A comfortable silence, one that you’d grown accustomed to over the past eight months, descended upon the two of you. All you could hear was the playful pounding of your hearts and the soft way he breathed. It was a relaxing sound. 

“You’re gonna get it,” you said again, and Carmen only had eyes for you then. “And when you do, I can’t wait to go and eat the best meal of my fucking life.”

Carmen smiled. He’d always been shy, always quiet, unless he was in the kitchen. “My brother has a restaurant, back in Chicago. When I finished culinary school, I really thought he’d let me join him, you know? It could be a family restaurant. We could run it together, or something,” he said. You hooked onto his every word. “But, he told me no. Said he didn’t want me anywhere near it, and– I don’t know. I think that’s why I came here.”

You bit your lip, inhaling his words. “Family will always be our harshest critics,” you said.

Carmen scoffed, rubbing his tired eyes with his hands. “You can fucking say that again.”

“You know, my sister lives in Chicago,” you said. 

Carmen leant forward. “Really?”

You hummed. “Has for a few years now. My mom didn’t like it when she told us she was moving, but.” You shrugged. “That’s just because my mom has never lived anywhere else than here.”

“Yeah, my own wasn’t thrilled about me coming to New York, either,” Carmen said, before he huffed in dark amusement. “It’s funny. She hates us, my brother and sister and I, when we’re around, when we complain, when we do anything– but she also hates it when we all wanna get the fuck out because of it.”

You smiled at him softly, in understanding. “They fuck you up, don’t they?”

Carmen flicked his gaze over your features. “You don’t seem fucked up to me,” he said gently. 

“Give it time,” you said. Smiles slowly appeared on both of your faces, until laughter trickled from your mouths like drops from a tap. “One day you’ll realise just how messed up I am,” you joked. 

“Is that a challenge?” Carmen questioned. 

You scoffed, and raised your hands up defensively. “Fuck no. I don’t want to tempt fate when it comes to how fucked up chefs can be.”

Carmen pointed at you abruptly, sternly, but there was amusement all over his face. “That is an untrue stereotype,” he said. “Not all of us snort coke.”

“All?” you asked.

“Well.” He leaned closer to you, stretching his arms across the table. “Not me.” 

You regarded him softly. You hardly got the chance to do this during service; just look at him. Hold his gaze, feel him close. You would never admit it, but having Carmen around was a constant over the past months that comforted you. You liked having him near, liked seeing him practically everyday, and it was clear that you got on enough to talk bullshit with each other. 

When you got home that evening, way past midnight, you opened up your laptop and went to the Union Square Cafe website. You hovered your mouse over the reservations tab, thinking something crazy. 

Carmen hadn’t heard back from the restaurant yet, but he’d only applied as the CDC there a number of days before. You knew he was going to get it, and felt it deep within your soul. That feeling is what lead you to book yourself a solo dinner, for the first available date you could possibly find– a years’ time.

You knew that, by the time that year was up and you were sitting at your table, Carmen would be in the kitchen, cooking your meal. You didn’t tell him about it either, but kept it to yourself for the remainder of his time at the diner. 

You’d been right, when within a month, he’d gone through a rigorous interview process and landed the position and USC. Paulie had faked being mad, but it was clear to see the immense admiration he had for the young Carmen Berzatto. When his last shift approached, you had secretly arranged a goodbye celebration. At the end of a long Saturday, as you and Carmen shut up the diner and headed out, you were ambushed by the servers and chefs as you tread through the park. 

Drinks and laughs were shared at your apartment across the way. It was the most you’d seen Carmen socialise in the time you’d known him, but he didn’t look uncomfortable once. He knew he had a support system behind him from the diner– and from you, predominantly. When the moon shone down onto your building, you found yourself out on your fire escape with a beer bottle in your hand. You looked up at the stars, and only looked away when someone shuffled out of the window and sat next to you. 

Carmen crossed his legs next to you, and gulped down his own beer contentedly. You turned to him and smiled fully, overly excited for him to start his new endeavour. 

He huffed at you softly. “You didn’t have to do this, you know,” he said. 

“I know,” you replied. “Doesn’t mean I didn’t want to.”

Carmen shuffled awkwardly next to you. “I know, I know, it’s just–”

“For once, you need to be okay with being the centre of attention, okay? Deal with it.” You hit back, and laughed when you saw the way his eyes widened at your tenacity. “We’re so excited for you, Carm.”

Carmen nodded, and allowed himself to accept all of your praise, just this once. “I’m excited, too,” he whispered. “I can’t believe I got it.”

“I can,” you said. “If you don’t get some type of chef award in the next year then I’ll be surprised.” 

Carmen laughed. “Chef award?”

“You know, like ‘Best New Chef On The Block’, or ‘Shyest Chef In The Business’, or–”

“Enough, enough,” he let out, chuckling. You weren’t done yet, however. 

“Or the James Beard award.” 

He scoffed. “Bullshit.”

“It’s called mani–”

“Manifesting!” Carmen finished your sentence for you, imitating your past words. You leaned against the wall in awe at his playfulness. 

“So, you do listen to me sometimes, huh?”

“I guess I do,” he said, and shot you a knowing smile. You held his gaze when he gave it to you, because it was somewhat of a rare thing. 

Maybe you’d always been too out there for Carmen, but he’d learned to live alongside you despite it. You were glad about that. You enjoyed his company more than you’d ever say to his face, and despite being so happy for him to leave the diner, part of you was aching at the thought of his absence. 

You flicked your gaze over his face, taking in his features. He had a strong nose, and the kind of cheekbones that they talked about in women’s magazines. His eyes, though– God, his eyes– they were so blue that they looked artificial in some lights. Like the kind of blue food colouring you put in cake icing. Alarming, but also impossible to shy away from when he was properly looking at you. 

He swallowed, and his Adam’s apple shifted in his throat. “I’m gonna miss you,” he said, almost croaking out the words. Your heart melted. Your brows furrowed softly. Your chest compressed. You let out a shaking breath through your nose. 

“I’m gonna miss you, too, Carmy,” you let out. It felt like the best and worst kind of goodbye. 

You hadn’t thought about that day in years. The last time you had, it was after your reservation at USC the year after. Coincidentally, that was the last time you’d seen Carmen Berzatto too, until he showed up at the diner and plummeted you back to those thoughts from those previous years. 

As the lunch rush died down, you wiped the bar down from lack of what else to do. In the corner, Carmen and Sydney were finishing up their meal. Sydney had made an abundance of notes in a small notebook, while Carmen talked in hushed tones and spilled all the old diner secrets. With his hands clasped on the table before him, used napkin to his left, plates practically licked clean, he turned himself around to glance around the restaurant. 

You sucked in a sharp breath when his eyes hit yours. You almost froze, but remembered yourself as much as you could. You tensed, and looked away first quickly. You smacked your hands down on the counter when you looked to the kitchen, and caught Paulie’s eyes. “I’m going for a smoke!” you announced, before you slipped off your apron quickly. 

“Those things will kill you!” Paulie exclaimed back, his voice booming across the restaurant floor. 

“Maybe that’s the point,” you muttered to yourself, as you headed towards the back door of the diner. You slipped a cigarette between your lips on the way.

Carmen’s gaze followed you as you disappeared through the door. Sydney saw it all as she sat opposite him, and had the strangest urge to give him guidance. 

“So, shall we get outta here?” she asked. Carmen’s attention was still on the door. 

“Uh, yeah,” he said, but his mind was still elsewhere. “Just– give me one second,” he said, as he stood up from the table. He started towards the door, and Sydney grabbed his wrist abruptly. Carmen froze, and looked down at her. 

“Don’t push her,” Sydney said suddenly. “I don’t know what shit you guys have going on, but I’m good at reading faces. Just don’t push her too hard, Carm.” 

Carmen regarded her thoughtfully. He nodded. Then, he was gone.

PART TWO

[benevolentthorn]

Where I think the counselors would work off-season:

Laura: I feel like her family would own a farm in North Carolina and that she would work with the different animals on the farm. She upkeeps their enclosures, feeds them, etc and provides horseback riding lessons for kids. She gained her love for animals from helping on the family farm starting at a young age.

Max: I don’t know why but I could see Max working at a movie theater concession counter. It’s not his favorite job in the world and he complains a lot to Laura about it but he enjoys seeing different movies come out and sneaking himself snacks when no one’s looking. I could also see him being good at math and tutoring middle schoolers on the side.

Jacob: I could see Jacob working at a sports and gym center as a sports instructor; most likely for either football or soccer. Jacob really loves his job because he loves sports and working with kids! He’s really enthusiastic with the kids he teaches and is always cheering them on to do their best! He’s really funny too and makes the kids laugh and he’s good at cheering up kids if they make a mistake. The kids love him overall. Sometimes Nick and Kaitlyn stop by to work out in the gym with him.

Emma: Realistically I don’t think she would work, since she’s an influencer and she gives me “rich parents who give her a credit card with large spending limit” vibes, but for the sake of this post I will say she would probably work a few days a week at Sephora. She really enjoys all of the different makeup and skincare products and would probably use her employee discount to go shopping frequently. She loves buying new products to review on her YouTube channel. She seems unapproachable and judgy to customers, but she’s actually very sweet and loves helping customers pick out products! Would probably quit the minute she encounters a karen though 😭💀

Abi: Pre game I feel like Abi would have worked at a lush in the same mall where Emma works. She mostly enjoyed it because she loves the different scents of the soaps and bath bombs. However, rude customers would make her very anxious, especially post-game. Post-game, I feel like she would start working at a café but not just any cafe….a cat café!! Abi LOVES cats and she enjoys making all of the different types of drinks. I feel like Abi would especially love boba and would come up with different boba recipes while working there. She also doesn’t encounter any karens because who would be a karen at a cat café of all places?? She loves playing with the kitties in her free time and Emma and Nick frequently stop by to see her, get drinks and pet the cats.

Nick: Nick always was in the restaurant industry. Pre game, he worked at a small restaurant in downtown Sydney as a waiter. Diners loved him but he was very shy and kind of awkward as a waiter, which is what made him consider working in the kitchen instead. Post-game he moved to America permanently and took a line cook position at, you guessed it, an Outback Steakhouse LMAO. He mostly enjoys the job, however he complains about how inaccurate the menu is for an Australian themed restaurant 😭💀. He mostly enjoys the job but sometimes he gets stressed out and becomes the Australian Gordon Ramsey. He works near the cat café where Abi works and likes to stop by to visit her and get coffee during his lunch breaks. He stays extra longer if he’s having a stressful day and pets the cats.

Dylan: Dylan works at a music/record store both pre and post game. He loves the job because it’s not very stressful and he gets to discover different kinds of music just by stocking the shelves and looking through all of the records and CDs that come in! I feel like Dylan would have a wide range of music knowledge and taste and would especially love classic rock and older pop music. The owners love him and he is frequently named employee of the month! He is very chatty with customers and will have their ear for long periods of time nerding out about different bands and artists!

Ryan: Ryan’s first ever job was at a hot topic in the same mall where Abi and Emma worked. He mainly picked up the job to save up for animation school and to help support Sarah and his grandparents. Due to lack of hours, he moved to a Spencer’s shortly before the events of the game. It didn’t take long for him to quit though because he got annoyed with the amount of jokes he would hear about “the back” (if ykyk 💀). Post game, Ryan got even more interested in the paranormal. For this reason, he took up a job at an antique store located right next to the record shop Dylan works at and he really loves it. The owners pay him well and when he’s alone, he likes to investigate the history on all of the antiques and see if he can encounter any spirits. Since they work right next to each other, Dylan and Ryan like to visit each other frequently like the lovebirds they are 💕

Kaitlyn: Kaitlyn first worked at a dick’s sporting goods, since she enjoys sports and fitness. She somewhat enjoyed the job up until one day when she got into an argument with a karen, which resulted in her getting fired. Jacob, like the great friend he is, put in good word for her at the center he works at and helped Kaitlyn get a job as a receptionist for the gym area. She enjoys the job much better and she eventually gets promoted to a fitness instructor position, where she hosts her very own fitness classes! She also gets to bully Jacob as much as she pleases 🤭

If you enjoyed this post, please send me headcanon asks! I really would love to share all of my thoughts on the characters! 💕

[eroticwound]

Thinking about this one webweaving post and loving someone to the point of invention. Carmen loved Michael and sketched out The Bear. Taking something that may have come up in passing, maybe back when he was still allowed in the restaurant and connected with Mikey, and while in a good place (Copenhagen) Carmen sat down and felt this thing needed to become real in some way, not just in his head or a past conversation with his brother. Unfortunately he couldn’t take the next steps to turn the sketch into a real brick and mortar place with Mikey, but there must be some comfort knowing that Mikey kept the sketch, hung it in the Beef, and even while suffering through his addiction, his deteriorating mind thought it still important to leave the note and put that money aside for Carmen. So Carmy can invent that something from his love, even if it’s without his brother — but it is with him, in some way. That he chose to create this invention with Sydney, who has no connection to Michael but is nevertheless trusted to take this next delicate step with him, adds another layer that I need to chew on.

hey anon, thanks so much for this message! it's really great in and of itself, but it also sparked some thoughts for me, so excuse the length of the response :)

i *love* your timeline of the drawing: mikey and carm talking about their ideal restaurant before mikey banned him, then carmy sitting down in *copenhagen*, a comfortable and magical place, to draw his and mikey's dream restaurant--to make it real. though i suspect creating that drawing also came from mikey ignoring carmen's calls, as carm's way of trying to salvage their straining relationship.

and as for mikey it is so telling that he kept it and hung it up. i have a larger meta just growing in my drafts that breaks down certain scenes in fishes, and the scene where carm gives mikey the drawing is a big one. it's a fucking bittersweet scene, truly twists my heart: you've got carm looking the happiest and most hopeful we've EVER seen him, beaming up from behind his hand at michael. like he looks boyish here. it's all he wants.

and then there's michael, who looks shattered. it's such an earnest gift. it's carmen's way of saying, "i'm all in. this is doable. this is my future. it's *our* future." and how does michael react? it guts him. he can't see this hopeful future. it's all failed ventures, and a sinking restaurant, like a weight around his neck. he tells carm, "let it rip," which is not "let's do it" it's "you have my blessing."

when carm gets called away by donna, mikey's so distressed over this gift, this future with his brother that he can't really see himself in, that he hits himself. it even pushes him to use--the beer he had been imbibing up to this point couldn't manage the distress he's in, he had to get high.

like, it's fucking brutal to think about, that you can draw a direct line from mikey's outburst at the dinner table to this earnest gift from carmen (not that lee helped the situation).

but despite the distress (and to your point), mikey kept the drawing and hung it up. it's his north star. the reason he hid the money in the cans... and not to put a painful twist on it, but maybe amassing enough money for carmen gave mikey permission to go through with killing himself.

and then you have syd! syd who is so future oriented she made a binder of improvements for a shithole failing restaurant she just started working at. like loving someone to the point of invention... mikey was a black hole, who loved his brother so much he set him up to create the thing. but syd loves this world, loves the act of creating so much that invention is her nature. carmy finally has someone who can see that future with him.

... the second most hopeful carmy has ever looked is when syd walks through the doors in the season 1 finale, while they're removing money from cans, and they both immediately fall into step, creating their dream restaurant. together.

[knuckles-bloody-for-me]

What is life like in Melbourne? I’m looking into moving there from the UK and would love some insights and whatever else from people who live and work there 💕

Well you'll find the weather familiar that's for sure. In winter I'd say we're about the same, except our sunset at the earliest was about 5:25 this year. In summer it CAN get hot, it's gotten to 40C before but mostly it's in the low 30s or high 20s.

The central area of the city is kind of dead unless you work there. There's a few big shops, similar to Nordstrom I think??? But the cafe scene in there is slim pickings. Lots of really really cool bars these days though, and most have food and nonalc options! Some absolutely gorgeous parks dotted throughout the city, and if you can get out into the countryside it's stunning in the Yarra Valley,the great Ocean road, Bright and Beechworth, Gippsland etc. Some have trains, others have to be driven to. Be warned our public transport is about 20 years behind Europe (our fastest trains are 160kmh)(I literally work for a train manufacturer so this is legit)

It gets really cool in the suburbs, you'll find local cafes all over, some great pubs and restaurants etc. Some have really vibrant communities and markets that are great, like the south melbourne market, the prahran market, Fitzroy and Brunswick are must see Melbourne suburbs and easily accessible by tram. Be aware we don't have the same grandeur as London, but I still really like it. We have beaches too and some of them are even nice lol.

The east side tends to be more expensive but has better public transport (trans and trams), while the west is a bit cheaper but underserviced (you'd be relying on buses more). Driving in some areas can suck massively, especially the central part of the city (you'd avoid driving in central London the same way).

People say Melbourne is Australia's most European city and im inclined to agree, so if that means anything to you great! We have fantastic food and coffee, and I truly don't think it's just because I live here but the people are nicer than in syndey. That's not to say everyone will smile and wave at you but if you needed help or directions most people would stop and chat, where in Sydney everyone seems to rush around more and have a bit less time.

Something you might find very different to the UK is a culture of not seeing people as much. I think in the UK you'll frequently see people for dinner through the week and its normal (I think??) Whereas here not so much. We're mostly a weekend bunch, but I'm trying to do more weeknight easy meet ups.

@idsb is another great person to ask about living in Melbourne (and I think she needs to come back 🤧)

Sydney feels like a bigger city, but Melbourne population just overtook it. Brisbane is further north on the east coast and is locally called Brisvegas. I have never spent much time there because in summer it's humid as fuck and I can't stand that and the heat.

Adelaide is small, Hobart is gorgeous and only a short flight from Melbourne, but tiny. Perth people are loving these days but I've only been once so gonna need someone else to pitch in there! Same with Darwin :)

I would love for you to tell me more about living in the UK because IM considering moving THERE!

[intriguingpeoplebyangelafloyd]

JOCK ZONFRILLO

JOCK ZONFRILLO

4 August 1976 – 30 April 2023

Scottish Chef & TV Host on Masterchef Australia

            Jock Zonfrillo (Barry ‘Jock’ Zonfrillo) was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His mother’s family is Scottish, and his father is from Scauri, Italy. He was married numerous times and has four children.

            Zonfrillo started working in kitchens aged 12 as a part-time dishwasher where his sister was working as a waitress. He started learning to cook after the restaurants chef had a motorbike accident. He left school aged 15 and started an apprenticeship and was name Young Scottish Chef of the year, aged 16 in 1993. He went on to become a sous-chef and then a cook. He worked in Scotland, London and Australia, and worked in Gordon Ramsay’s Aubergine restaurant. He immigrated to Sydney in 2000

As a teenager he started using heroin and sold drugs to fund his addiction. In 2000, he quit using heroin and went cold turkey and remained clean since. In 2002, he set fire to the pants of an apprentice chef Krammer because he was working too slow. Krammer, sued him after suffering burns to his hand and was awarded damages in 2007. Zonfrillo was declared bankrupt after Kramer took him to court stating that Zonfrillo ‘didn’t pay me a cent’, Zonfrillo was fired from his position. He went on to selling kitchen equipment, opened his own restaurant in Adelaide, South Australia, ran a food truck selling Italian food as well as opening a bar. His businesses closed in 2020 due to voluntary administration due to unpaid debts; Zonfrillo had to sell his family home in Adelaide. In 2016, he started The Orana Foundation, to preserve Indigenous Australian cooking techniques. In 2021, he started selling, ‘worry beads’ bracelets with skulls on them for $500 each. That same year he released his memoir, Last Shot.

            In 2014, Zonfrillo started working as a host of cooking programs and became one of the judges on MasterChef Australia in 2019 after appearing on the show previously as a guest chef.

            Zonfrillo, 46, died after being discovered deceased at a hotel apartment in Melbourne’s inner north. He had been battling bowel cancer since 2021 and had been enduring treatment for the disease.

            The 15th series of MasterChef Australia 2023 debuted just one week after his death. The series premier was delayed to the chef’s death. Network Ten revealed it would be going ahead with the airing of the program with the blessing of his family.

#jockzonfrillo #masterchef #masterchefaustralia #masterchefau

[foodtravelerinnorthsydney]

Best Foods in NorthSydney

[scenedenial]

oooo what would be Richie’s ideal first date??? What’s Sydney’s? And how is their actual first date?

richie’s ideal first date would be walking around north river cursing gentrification while running his hands gently over the original brick, then having sex in the brackish waters of the chicago river.

i’m kidding kind of. his ideal first date would be watching, like, the godfather on his couch and eating deep dish before laying some serious pipe 💯.

sydney’s ideal first date would be dinner out — somewhere really good but not too fancy — after a visit to the aquarium or a walk in grant park. maybe a trip to the kitchen supply store too cause she’s insane.

their actual first date would be a semi-uncomfortable dinner at a vietnamese or peruvian restaurant. richie would be super nervous and put on his suit and then look in the mirror before leaving and feel like an asshole and end up just wearing his berf shirt. syd would order several cocktails and get kind of tipsy. they would talk about eva and the CIA and work. richie would drop her off at home (with his suspended license) and be like thanks syd i had a really good time with you and she would kiss him.

[terrigalaustralia]

Prominent Position & Panorama Views

[kyndaris]

Puzzling Out Compatibility

Despite my reservations on dating after a string of failures and a lack of contact from hopeful suitors (both Shrek and Benoit were preoccupied with further study), I decided to stick it out for a few more months on Hinge and keep on with the search. After a few chats that went nowhere, suitor number 9 scrounged up the courage to ask me out on a date. It helped that we both had quite a few interests in common, although our weekly routines meant that it was a little hard to organise a date that suited the two of us.

Still, I accepted and we made an arrangement to meet up before his shift at work. Our meeting spot? A Japanese restaurant at one of Sydney’s major tourist traps.

Which, to be honest, was a promising start for Mr Game Master. The Japanese food, that is. Not the ‘going to to a popular bourgeois tourist trap.’ I mean, yes, the Westfield shopping centre had plenty of choices when it came to shopping and I was sorely tempted to empty out my entire savings on board games and a squishmellow Snorlax but that’s getting ahead of myself.

I arrived early at the restaurant and took a proper gander at the menu as I waited for Mr Game Master. With a job title like venue manager, I had expected something far more formal but it turned out he was in charge of a VR experience centre. Previously, he had worked in the field of escape rooms but the pandemic had seen quite a few cuts among staff and shut down actual places of work. Unfortunately, Mr Game Master was one of them.

Dressed in a polo shirt with the logo of the company on the left breast, a cosy vest and a loose slacks, I couldn’t help but feel that I was, once again, the overdressed individual. Still, I said little about it as we entered the restaurant to order.

And just like all my dates thus far, I made sure to pay for my own meal. Once we had made our order at the counter (we had both ordered rolls, although I added a side of grilled scallop that had a decent dosing of salt rather than the usual soy sauce and mayonnaise), we started to chat. Conversation was easy enough. Thankfully, Mr Game Master was also keen to let me in a few words rather than simply talk at me about the latest games or whatever else they were hyperfixated on. Which, to be honest, was a nice change of pace.

We talked generally about the rental market, and I put in a few of my observations from friends and family, the dating scene in general and a few other things that came to mind - like games or shows that were still prevalent in the pop culture zeitgeist, travel and being able to speak/ understand our mother tongue as we are both children of immigrants. I learned that he had a sister and that his parents lived in the north-west of Sydney. 

It was simple ‘getting-to-know-the-other-person’ kind of conversation. I don’t think there was any immediate attraction, per se, but I must admit I didn’t feel any kind of aversion. Which, I think, is a good sign? Goodness knows I wouldn’t know given my proclivity to supposedly judge individuals at first glance and put up barriers (we’ll get to that when it comes to Suitor Number 10). 

Once we had eaten our fill at the Japanese restaurant, we stopped for some gelato before I walked him to his place of work. It was a bit of a strange role reversal but it afforded us more time to talk and make clear our dating goals and/ or expectations. I stressed that I wasn’t someone that instantly fell for anyone and wasn’t entirely sure I’d ever had a crush on anyone, though people in my primary school had said otherwise.

But, although I didn’t tell him this, my experience overseas recently did indicate that I might feel attraction in some form or another. Which often manifests in wanting to be in the vicinity of another and enjoying their company. Unfortunately, this only seems to happen to people that are unavailable for me to actually date and might really just be an indication that I let my guard down more when I know that there’s no real risk of actual heartbreak.

Vulnerability is hard, let me tell you!

In any case, we had a few good chats about our experiences on the dating apps, although it seemed that Mr Game Master might have actually been in a proper relationship for a good long while before it fell apart because he couldn’t quite reciprocate the level of affection his then-girlfriend had and had felt guilty that he wasn’t investing as much into the relationship. 

Which, good for him to acknowledge, but does make it hard when both him and me don’t feel any deep sense of attachment on first glance. But maybe time will tell if it goes any further. More meet-ups, more chats, more getting to know each other and liking that company could possibly lead to something more.

For now, I think it might be best to consider us decent acquaintances or friends. At time of writing, we’ve set up a tenuous second date so, it’ll be interesting to see if it goes further. After all, how can one fall in love with someone they don’t know?

And in instances like these, absence does not make the heart grow fonder. Especially as we’re all technically strangers, hoping to find a connection. But relationships are something that need a strong foundation to build from. Right now, Mr Game Master isn’t so important in my life that I’d miss out on the release of Final Fantasy XVI. And while that is no fault of his own, it takes time to build a tight bond. At least for me. And it’s not like I can have someone’s entire life story dumped into my lap, which I can read.

So, here’s to a few more opportunities with Mr Game Master to see where it goes. Unless, of course, it all fizzles out in no time flat and nothing happens. Which, of course, is what has continued to happen throughout my, admittedly, not-spicy romance life.

Or maybe I’ll win the lotto and be so satisfied with my life that I’ll no longer feel the need for companionship. I mean, I’m not opposed to the idea...so you know what? Here’s putting out the wish that I want to win the Powerball lottery and be set for life that I can retire and maybe self-publish a trash fantasy novel.

[gold738]

Royal Pines Resort - Gold Coast Australia

The Gold Coast Australia is world renowned for its glorious year round sub-tropical climate and easy going atmosphere. The region is blessed with superb pristine beaches washed by the azure Pacific Ocean. The sun always seems to be shining down on the tanned and happy worshipers who are able to enjoy the many pleasures of this part of Queensland virtually twenty-four seven. It is no surprise that when it comes to fun in the sun with a difference; and the Pines Resort Gold Coast is the place to be.

This part of Queensland is between Brisbane in the North and Sydney in the South. It is numbered about sixth in terms of its size in the whole of Australia, and has a standing population of five hundred thousand, which expands greatly at peak vacation times.

There are lots of amenities and attractions not least of which is the renowned Surfers Paradise. It truly is paradisaical too because it boasts great surf most of the time. Not surprising that surfing fans congregate here from all around the globe. Leaving the beaches behind and entering into the interior one will find several national parks like Lamington and Tamborine, which are world Heritage protected.

The many hiking trails that stretch into the interior for miles through the rain forest are perfect for walking jogging or simply strolling and enjoying the scenery. At several points you will notice lookouts where you can enjoy the most amazing vistas to the far distant Pacific Ocean.

Just a few of the amenities are Theme Parks such as Sea World, Dreamworld, Wet and Wild, and Movie World. These are all situated in the suburb of Southport. Here you will discover many excellent dining, night life and sporting facilities are.

There are of course many fine resort hotels on the Gold Coast. One of the finest is the five star Pines. It is a truly magnificent resort hotel, glistening calico against verdant sleekly groomed gardens of nearly five hundred acres. This three hundred plus roomed establishment is one of Queensland's largest and most luxurious. It is highly recommended for couples, business people on conventions and wedding parties in particular Surfers Paradise .

The awesome facilities on offer include; four ethnic restaurants, a massive convention centre, top grade day spa, state of the art health club, both indoor and outdoor swimming pools, concierge, twenty four hour front desk, lifts, ATM, bar/lounge, and the famous championship golf course, used by the likes of Jack Nicklaus. The choice of cuisine is breathtaking; you can decide between; Mexican food, German, Greek, Chinese, Thai, Italian, Indian, Chinese, Irish,

The list goes on. Of course, if you simply feel like the gastronomically delights of the pizza hut, bakery, pie shop, buffet bar etc. It is all available right on your doorstep!

If you are looking for a holiday that is totally unique the Gold Coast Australia based at the Pines Resort Gold Coast or somewhere else is certainly an excellent choice. You can choose from a relaxing holiday lazing on the beach topping up your suntan or a more active sporting vacation. The choice is yours, and if there is one problem you will have it is the happy one of deciding just which delightful slice of the Gold Coast pie you want!

[icarusthelunarguard]

This Week’s Horrible-Scopes

It’s time for this week’s Horrible-Scopes! So for those of you that know your Astrological Signs, cool! If not, just pick one, roll a D12, or just make it up as you go along. It really doesn’t matter.

This week, on a suggestion, we’re dropping by the offices of Wikipedia and hitting the “Random” button to see what comes up. So if you have any complaints, file them under “W” for “Who Cares?”

Aries 

Starting us off strong, here, Aries. “Terror attacks in Istanbul”. Your first listing is about the Armenian Revolutionary Federation’s Occupation of the Ottoman Bank on 26 August 1896. What’s it all about? Don’t know. The only thing we remember about Istanbul is the cover of “Istanbul Not Constantinople” by They Might Be Giants. If it wasn’t for Tiny Toon Adventures we might have never heard that song.

Taurus 

Your article is about Hungarian Olympic swimmer Éva Pajor. She competed in the women's 100 metre backstroke at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia… and gained asylum right after competing. Before her death in 2014 she taught swimming in Sydney, opened 2 swimming centers in the country, and had another named in her honour. This week… brush up on your swimming; summer is fast approaching.

Gemini  

Well, shoot. The article that popped up for you is about a lawyer in Louisiana. We could have just kept on clicking and found the next article that wasn’t half-way political, but no! We had to be honest and let you know that RNGesus rolled poorly for you. So this week you can go read up on Louisiana - then find a local Cajun restaurant to eat crawfish at. 

Cancer Moon-Child 

You get a European location! Driebes (“DREE-ehbs”). It’s a municipality located in the province of Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Spain with a population of 361 inhabitants - so about 9 people per square kilometer. Some of us went to high schools with more people than that in their graduating classes. This week get back to practicing your Spanish… CASTILIAN Spanish! 

Leo 

You get Canadian singer-songwriter known as “Ruth B.” from Edmonton, Alberta. She speaks her parents' native language Amharic fluently, started singing on Vine in 2013, and created a sleeper hit song, "Dandelions" from Safe Haven, which grew in popularity due to TikTok. It has accumulated over 1 billion streams globally as of April 2023. This week, since you’re already older than her, she’s 27 now, just give up on your dreams… and find NEW ones to follow!

Virgo 

You get to learn about the 1961 Star World Championship. We hear you: “What’s the Star World Championship?” Excellent question! It’s the international sailing regattas in the Star class organized by the International Star Class Yacht Racing Association as sanctioned by the International Sailing Federation. What’s that all mean? It’s a bunch of people who think that going out on the ocean in a speed boat without engines, with the very real possibility of drowning, is fun. OH! And the winning boats that year were Frolic, Tranquil, and North Star IV. This week, learn the difference between Port and Starboard.

Libra 

Oh, you’re gunna love this one, Libra. Your term is “Angel Dusting”. It’s a marketing ploy to add some special ingredient to a product in hardly detectable measure, just so that it can be said to be in the product in order to hype the promotion of the main product. So you could SAY that some product with health benefits is included in the product, but not say that there’s not enough to actually cause the health benefit. This week… someone is going to offer you a job in advertising. Don’t Sell Your Soul! 

Scorpio 

For you, time to learn a little about Walter Netsch. He was an architect closely associated with the “brutalist” style of architecture, working with the firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill. And that’s where we’re going to jump tracks and ask, “Who is this ‘Skidmore’ fellow?” Louis Skidmore, of the Indianna ‘Skidmores’, was a WWI Army Sergeant, married Eloise Owings… because of COURSE her name was “Eloise”... who was the sister of Nathaniel A. Owings, who would be two of the three that started the firm. This week don’t be afraid to look into weird nepotism connections and old names.

Sagittarius 

You’re getting “Metsepole” (“MEHT-seh-poal”); an ancient Livonian county inhabited by the Finnic Livonians, on the east coast of the Gulf of Riga, at the northwest of what is now the Vidzeme region of Latvia. Metsepole was bordered by the ancient Estonian Sakala County to the north, Latgalian Tālava to the east and Livonian county of Turaida to the south. Now, Sagittarius? Did we just make up all that from some obscure 1980 Sci-Fi failed TV Pilot or is that real? There’s only one way to know…. Go read!

Capricorn 

You get “Bruce Wayne”... who is totally NOT Batman. We know that because one time Batman and Bruce Wayne appeared near the same place at the same time, as observed by Commissioner Gorden. Batman stayed on the other side of the street because he had a cold and didn’t want to spread it. Isn’t that Alfred such a– I MEAN BATMAN! He’s a great guy! This week buy some Fisherman’s Friend!

Aquarius 

For you we have the film “The Search for Animal Chin” - a 1987 skateboarding film featuring the Bones Brigade. It’s one of the first skateboarding films to have a plot, rather than simply a collection of skateboarding stunts and music videos. The Bones Brigade embark on a quest to find the first skateboarder, the mythological Won Ton "Animal" Chin who had gone missing. Their journey takes them to different locations including Hawaii, California, Nevada, and Mexico where they meet friends and skate different spots along the way. They never find the actual Animal Chin, but come to realize that in their search they discover the true meaning of their journey, the pure fun of skateboarding. This week… Just watch “Kung-Fu Panda” again.  

Pisces  

In typical fashion, you get some Geek Science stuff - the Progress M1-5, a spacecraft which was launched by Russia in 2001 to deorbit the fifteen-year-old Mir space station in a controlled fashion, far away from shipping lanes. Were it not for this module, Mir's orbit would have decayed uncontrolled over time (like Skylab), with debris potentially landing in a populated area. So this was a sacrificial spacecraft whose only job was to commit suicide and bring Mir down with itself. This week… get up super early and take a hot air balloon ride. It’s really pretty!

And THOSE are your Horrible-Scopes for this week! Remember if you liked what you got, we’re obviously not working hard enough at these. BUT! If you want a better or nastier one for your own sign or someone else’s, all you need to do to bribe me is just Let Me Know! These will be posted online at the end of each week via Tumblr, Twitter, Facebook and Discord.

[charlesandmartine]

Saturday 11th March 2023

The Brisbane City Hall was built in 1930 and was the largest clock tower in Australia at 92 metres in height, the tallest building in Brisbane until the 1960s. Cannily this beats the clock tower at the GPO building in Sydney which tops out at a mere 73 metres. No competition there then. The tour of the tower needs to be quick to get 4 people at a time up the top in a very old clanking lift, wave a hoof at the view and the bells and back down again before the clock does its Westminster chimes all over again. There's always going to be casualties in a tour program with limited time available. In this case having been able to view the views from the top it was thereafter basically: there's the bells made in the Loughborough foundry and there's a clock down there somewhere now all back in the lift, we're off. Um, is it weight driven and is it still wound by hand? Don't really know much about the clock as such. I expect you could look that up he said. For the horologists, the tower has 4 x 3 ton bells for the chimes and 1 X 4.3 ton bell for the hour strike. Lovely tones I must say. The clock itself is electric driven and operates from a master pendulum on the same basis as the Greenwich Observatory.

We then crossed the river to have a flat white in the Art Gallery Café. It would appear that the streets on the North Bank of the Brisbane River are named after English monarchy and across the river after British Prime Ministers. One person said, and I thought this was quite witty, they don't have a Truss street because there aren't any streets short enough! Anyway we had our coffee, popped into the Queensland Museum and popped back out again rather quickly because it was crawling with kids, then went to check on the theatre situation at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre to see if there were by any chance any tickets that had become available for tonight's play. No luck so we crossed the river again to do a bit of shopping. We really like the South Bank complex of theatre, art galleries and museums. It has a lovely relaxed feel about it and you can just meander around soaking up the atmosphere and today also the rain.

Being Saturday the shopping area has a bit of a carnival touch and with St Patrick's day not too far away now there was an Irish Band, possibly called Silken Thomas, playing sentimental tunes from the Emerald Isle. It's a universal ting that all nationalities seem to unite with a tear in the eye to the playing of an Irish ballad, as though we all have a longing for the old country. We've seen it in New York, Australia, Scotland, Birmingham and most weirdly in Amsterdam! How do these Celts do it? Just hope for Ireland's sake they don't all feel the pull and decide to return home. Martine who is half Irish had a lump in her throat. Even I did and I'm Anglo Saxon. (I think). So to the strains of Danny Boy, Whiskey in the Jar, Leaving of Liverpool and feeling all didley didley we ambled off to take a look at the next celebration, that of the Pakistan Australian Cultural Association that is setting up in George Square. We were hoping they might have food. No genetic ties there. (I don't think).

Our last evening here we began with a one venue pub crawl involving some Aussie beer. It wasn't one of those pub restaurants that Martine was hoping for as they are in the outback where everyone goes quiet when you walk in. Quite the opposite, it was very noisy but very atmospheric. Then we moved on to Betty's Burgers for, well a burger actually. It's our first time with Betty's and we wondered if we would be safe with her but I have to say, a burger with king prawns on board was rather nice. Then back to the hotel to pack again ready for a really early Virgin Australia flight to Sydney tomorrow morning. Yawn.

Brisbane is a very pleasant modern city which I can see would really appeal to a younger generation with the opportunities it offers. She appears to strive to present herself as a contemporary place to live, work and play although there have been times in the past when the town elders have been accused of sacrificing some of the old in order to facilitate the new. Bold new schemes are underway to add three new river crossings including a CrossRiverRail connection. This is indeed a city of investment in its future. We have had a brief but good time here. It's a shame that we view Brisbane at the moment of our trip as we prepare, with great regret, to returning home on Wednesday.

ps on the eve before our little flight to Sydney, we were watching Sully on the telly.

pps look how small and insignificant the Albert Street Congregational Church looks against the skyscrapers