This Week – Archives

May 29, 2011
Reading

Still going with The Pale King.

Watching

The Peep Show, because I heart David Mitchell.

Listening to

Tom Waits. Good Rapture music.

Discovering

Untappd, a social network for beer, thanks to EatDrinkStagger. Also loving browsing Eat.Sleep.Knit after Kim tweeted about the lovely Madelinetosh malachite yarn.

Eating

• A roast pork sandwich at The Court House. It went nicely with the Mornington Peninsula Brown Ale
• Half a “babe” and half a “Bea-L-T” at cosy local cafe, Beatrix, recently reviewed by Jeroxie. The brioche donut we brought home for afternoon tea was as lovely as it sounded!
• More pork! In the form of hearty and comforting Eastern European food at newly-opened local, The Crimean. Just fabulous – cosy, excellent service, comfortable atmosphere. Can’t wait to haunt the bar…
• An unctuous oxtail stew on a grey, miserable Sunday, thanks to the Movida cookbook.

May 15, 2011

Reading

Reality Bites Back: the Troubling Truth about Guilty Pleasure TV, Cattle: a Handbook to the Breeds of the World (research for the exciting new Tour de France project, Les Vaches du Tour), and, of course, I haven’t finished The Pale King yet.

Watching

Masterchef – as with Idol, I have to ask why do I do this to myself?

Listening to

Genius playlists

Discovering

Cunt of the Day thanks to @Reemski

Eating

• A nose-to-tail pig menu with an array of ciders at Libertine’s cider battle..
• Some snacks and wine at Boire
• A number of pizze and a decent beer at DOC in Carlton. Thanks to @eatnik for helping out with recommendations.
• The lamb pie with lentil side salad at The Auction Rooms.

April 2011

Reading

The Pale King. I’ll still be reading it next week.

Watching

American Idol – why do I do this to myself?

Listening to

Bill Callahan

Discovering

Solar System Scope thanks to @zefrank

Eating

• A wonderful roast beef with Yorkshire pudding at The Court House.
• A sneaky midweek IPA with bangers and mash there, too. Well, it is our local.
• More lovely injera with curries and stews, including fabulous ful, at Little Africa, in Victoria Street, North Melbourne.
• The full Korean barbecue spectacular at Donwoori.
• Two – yes! two lunches at the brilliant Hardware Societe. The ox cheek empanada was sublime, and I loved the lentils with saucisson Lyonnais.
• Another relaxing “it’s holidays!” lunch at Sosta Cucina.
• Breakfast, and a much anticipated catch-up with the lovely Celeste at a bursting-at-the-seams Cumulus Inc.

March 2011

Reading

Aftershock: The Blast That Shook Psycho Platoon. I’m also reading Peter Hessler’s River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze and have just finished Jon Krakauer’s Under the Banner of Heaven: A Story of Violent Faith. Obviously I have a thing for colons.

Watching

The ICC World Cup

Listening to

Johnny Cash

Discovering

The joy of playing with Lego. Particularly good when it counts as professional development.

Eating

• Little bites from the bar menu at The Court House.
• More than a few little bites – and bigger ones – including my favourite beef cheeks in all the world at Anada.
• The Tummyrumbles version (with coriander subbed for basil) of Where’s The Beef‘s Soy Bombs with Gill Stannard’s tomato and ginger sauce for Meatfree Monday. And floating in some stock for lunch on Tuesday.
• Simon’s lovely Peking Duck with a very noisy bunch of tweeters, thanks to the organisation of Daniel.
• Roti after roti after roti at the Chillipadi Mamak Kopitiam Rotifest, thanks to the organising efforts of Penny and the generosity of Li and Robert from Chillipadi.
• Some much-craved pho bo at Pho Dzung
• Noodle Kingdom‘s brisket noodles
• Nasi Kandar as an end-of-bike-ride treat at Chillipadi Mamak Kopitiam, followed by one of the amazing Bees Knees Real McCoy brownies, thanks to Li’s cross-town brownie delivery service!
• Chilli wontons, Peking Duck pancakes and pork noodles at Duck Duck Goose. Eh.
• A very generous injera platter with curries and stews at the newly-opened Little Africa, in Victoria Street, North Melbourne.
• Kimchi stews and various Korean pickles at Donwoori, slightly further down Victoria Street.

Sometime in February 2011

Reading

Lawrence Wright’s article from The New Yorker – on Scientology

Watching

True Grit

Listening to

Arcade Fire, just because I’ve heard of them.

Discovering

How easy it is to fill time. With nothing in particular.

Eating

• Southern Fried Chicken using Scott Peacock’s recipe and buttermilk from Myrtleford Butter Factory. Delicious
• A pretty good home-made Eggplant Parmagiana, for Meatfree Monday.
• Generously filled baguettes from La Parisienne Pates, and a divine canele to finish up.
• An open croque monsiuer, coffee and macarons at a new local, Maison Ama-Lurra.

 

20 November 2010

Reading

Although of Course You End Up Becoming Yourself: A Road Trip with David Foster Wallace by David Lipsky.

Watching

The clock. I want this (work) year over.

Listening to

Pink Floyd. Turned up to 11.

Discovering

Even more ways of wasting time on the internet.

Eating

• Toast and soldiers (on Thursday) and the brunch special of eggs, tortilla, romesco sauce, jamon… and more… at the always delightful Hardware Societe.
• A lovely smoked salmon quiche at the recently-relocated (two doors down) La Niche in Smith Street.
• Good food, wine and conversation with friends on what would otherwise have been a dismal election night.

13 November 2010

Reading

The Lessons by Naomi Alderman. Thanks to Anne Treasure for the recommendation!

Watching

Louis Theroux in cop cars in Philly, amongst “private security” guards in Johannesburg, with ice users in Fresno.

Listening to

Leonard Cohen

Discovering

The joys of writing selection criteria. (That should be “rediscovering”. And by “joys” I mean “trauma”.)

Eating

• Broad bean and asparagus risotto for meat-free Monday.
• Smoked salt. With a lovely porterhouse from Warialda Belted Galloways. Such beautiful cows. And so tasty!
• Hyderabad mutton curry, with mutton from Hook and Spoon. Thanks to Essjayeff for the trip to Collingwood Farmers’ Market.
• 12 hour roast pork at Le Traiteur.
• A range of tasty curries at the friendly Namaste in Lygon Street.

6 November 2010

Reading

The Thousand Autumns of Jacob de Zoet by David Mitchell.

Watching

V for Vendetta. Well, it was the fifth of November…

Listening to

The Avett Brothers

Discovering

How graphic short stories can be just as good as graphic novels.

Eating

• Fuchsia Dunlop‘s spiced pork noodles
• A mushroom risotto for meat-free Monday. I love fresh shiitake!
• Smoked salt. With everything. Seriously, smoked salt makes everything better. Go to Gewurzhaus and try it for yourself.
• Som tam, curries, coconut rice and an incredibly fluffy/crispy roti at Ying Thai 2.
• Chilli chocolate choc top to go with The Social Network at Cinema Nova
• Coffee at Essjayeff‘s work local, Liaison. Makes me want to work in the CBD again.

30 October 2010

Reading

Frankenstein via Daily Lit. I opted for the long installments and really enjoy being prompted to spend time each day reading.

Watching

Sherlock. So glad there are more episodes coming.

Listening to

Lou Reed

Discovering

That Caprica was back, shortly before discovering that it has been cancelled.

Eating

• The duck neck sausage baguette at De Clieu on Gertrude Street. There are now too many local places with good food to choose from!
• A wagyu burger atTrunk Diner (warning: Flash website with annoying music) on a very warm, blowy, high-pollen Friday. There are a few ways to customise the burger (choice of three cheeses, for example) and it was the perfect size at a good price. I’m putting it ahead of Rockpool’s and Cafe Vue, but behind Plan B. Here’s a more thorough take from Mellie.
• Fuchsia Dunlop’s Fragrant and hot spare ribs, served with Sichuanese flatbreads.
• Reem’s Ottolenghi-inspired eggplant for our meat-free Monday. Gorgeous!

23 October 2010

Reading

Generation Kill by Evan Wright.

Watching

Great British Menu. Oliver Peyton started the season seemingly mellowed. Fortunately he has found his cranky pants.

Listening to

Elvis Costello

Discovering

E-pub readers and the wealth of books available (free!) online.

Eating

• More pintxos than you can shake a toothpick at, making the most of Naked for Satan‘s 50c lunch offer. They do a pretty reasonable sangria to help wash it all down, too.
• Japanese treats Izakaya Den with an enthusiastic bunch of food bloggers and tweeters. Loved the tongue, but I’m craving the fried chicken and corn frittery things.
• Half a knuckle sandwich, and half of a serve of coriander falafel at Auction Rooms
• Mamak mee goreng at Gurney Drive in Victoria Street. We’d planned on trying the new Japanese-Korean fusion place, Kiisu, but… it seems to be closed. They said they were opening this week, so perhaps they are relaunching only weeks after opening?
• The spiced pumpkin and couscous I made for meat-free Monday was even tastier as leftovers. Now to choose between Reem’s Ottolenghi-inspired eggplant and Ottolenghi’s cauliflower cake that had Gem’s lucky diners raving.

16 October 2010

Reading

Oblivion, a collection of short stories by David Foster Wallace.

Watching

The movies promptly delivered by Madman after their 10/10/10 10:00 sale. So far we’ve watched Rashomon and The World. Next up, Mother, from the director of The Host.

Listening to

Billy Bragg and Wilco.

Discovering

These beautiful images from Kolmanskop in Namibia, thanks to Professor Funk.

Eating

• An array of pintxos at Naked for Satan. It’s not for those wanting to avoid bread or cheese, but it’s possible to fill up with some tasty tooth-picked treats at a reasonable price. Even more reasonable at lunch!
• Bar snacks and a glass of wine at Comme were the perfect reward for the first staff meeting of the term.
• Oeufs en cocotte with mushrooms and fromage de meaux at Le Traiteur were the perfect foil for the miserable this-isn’t-Spring-as-I-know-it weather.
• I finally got to experience the deliciousness of a Tasmanian scallop pie, thanks to Eric, who brought them over when he visited. In fact, I had two! Now I need to get to Tassie again.

9 October 2010

Reading

The Fry Chronicles, which is just wonderful. It’s almost impossible to read without having Stephen Fry’s voice in your head. I was mourning the end of Freedom and feeling unmotivated to pick up any of my other books, so a timely Borders voucher came in handy.

Watching

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. I started catching it on Friday afternoons, then on days when I was at home, or home early. I’ve finally succumbed and added it to the recording schedule.

Listening to

Nanci Griffith

Discovering

This wikiquote for The Wire.

Eating

• As many dishes as I can think of to use broadbeans. I love Spring!
• An amazing steak sandwich with onion rings at Huxtable. That was the lunch special – we couldn’t not have the jalapeno croquettes, tempura eggplant prawn fritters and the lamb puttanesca filo roll, too! (We shared… promise!)
• Ipoh hor fun at Gurney Drive in Victoria Street. It’s a chicken stock rather than a prawny one and is served with poached chicken and beanshoots on the side, with ginger and chilli. I love the slippery rice noodles and dunking the beanshoots in, as though I’m having a pho.
• Spicy lamb-on-stick at Chinatown Dumplings. We felt we’d massively over-ordered when we saw how enormous the vermicelli dish we’d chosen was, and then the 15 pan-fried dumplings turned up. Fortunately everybody else in the place was either equally as greedy, or as unfamiliar with the generosity of the portions. The “big plate chicken” that was ordered by the table next to us looked good; our vermicelli was overly salty, but the lamb skewers and beef dumplings were tasty.
• Two flavour hot-pot with an array of meats and vegies.

2 October 2010

Reading

Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen. I haven’t noticed any egregious errors, so it can’t be a first edition – magnificent book.

Watching

Harold and Maude, which I hadn’t seen for years. I’ve been singing Cat Stevens songs ever since.

Listening to

Grammar Girl podcasts.

Discovering

Unusual words, in Foyle’s Philavery, thanks to Katya D.

Eating

• Lovely corned beef and mash, followed by a beer and cheese match at The Court House with the delightful eatdrinkstagger and tristankenney.
• Fish and chips and enormous beers at The Barking Dog. in Pakington Street, which was the perfect spot to watch cyclists zoom by. Thanks to eunce for the recommendation.
• Spicy chicken claypot rice from one of Fucshia Dunlop’s books.

25 September 2010

Reading

Consider the Lobster, by David Foster Wallace. If you haven’t read any of his work, start here. It’s a good introduction to a brilliant writer – so sad that he’s no longer here.

Watching

Hustle (Series 1) thanks to Katya. Great fun – the latest season has just started on UK TV, too, so that’s being taped for later.

Listening to

Old Indigo Girls.

Discovering

The Michelin guide to restaurants in Hong Kong. Looking forward to the end of year holiday even more now!

Eating

• Various Malaysian treats at the new premises of Laksa King with eatnik and meatnik. None of those dishes was actually the eponymous laksa, which led to some twitter discussion and the formation of the Laksa Hunters.
• A very disappointing laksa at the new Malaysian place near RMIT on Victoria Street. All the laksa talk had inspired me, but my craving went unsatisfied by a very salty, chicken-stock heavy broth with additions such as julienned carrot.
• A range of delicious dishes at Huxtable. in Smith Street. The jalapeno croquettes were particularly more-ish.
• Ottolenghi’s mushroom lasagne, which – like all his recipes – was sensational (I subbed in blue cheese for fetta for added richness).
• Another lovely spaghetti carbonara made with the pancetta made by friends.
• Sashimi, gyoza, soft-shell crabs, agedashi tofu and spinach with sesame sauce at Busshari, with Reality Raver and Yemaya.
• A lovely quick fix at Fix St James with the even lovelier Reem.
• Crispy Esk River bacon and a gorgeously fresh lamb roll at the Kings Cross growers’ market, cooked to juicy perfection by Tim from Urban Food Market. It was filling, but we couldn’t resist getting some takoyaki and crab balls.
• The superb degustation at Marque.
• A hasty yum cha at East Ocean. The XLB were good (for Australian XLB – heh) and it was an interesting experience to order the dumplings rather than take from a trolley. It meant that everything was very fresh when it got to us, but also meant that we over-ordered in the extreme!

18 September 2010

Reading

The Hound of the Baskervilles, which makes up for seeing Rupert Everett in The Case of the Silk Stocking. He is no Jeremy Brett.

Watching

A Werner Herzog mini-festival on World Movies.

Listening to

Whatever the music channels throw on.

Discovering

Cadmus, which is a great way of catching up on Twitter happenings (thanks to Melburnian).

Eating

• Some of Ben Shewry’s amazing creations at Attica at the Tuesday night “Chef’s Table”
• Cheerful, although not necessarily cheap, pizzas at The Baden Powell Hotel. The “cheer” might have owed something to the impending-holiday spirit, too.
• Nasi Pattaya at Gurney Drive.
• The “Shady Deal” at the Auction Rooms, although I had meal envy when my partner ordered the Knuckle Sandwich. For breakfast.
• The Duck Banquet at Gold Leaf

11 September 2010

Reading

To Kill A Mockingbird, which I seem to re-read at about this time each year or so.

Watching

Letters and Numbers on SBS, which is kind of like doing the nine letter word with the TV, but even more fun (if that’s even possible).

Listening to

The Decembrists, largely because watching Mongol made me think “palanquin”, which got me thinking of “The Infanta”, although the Mongols had camels, not pachyderms.

Discovering

This blog, with some interesting images from Shanghai.

Eating

• A couple more recipes from Australian Gourmet Traveller: Matt Stone’s flat breads with snapper, which I’ll definitely be making again as the weather warms up, and Stephane Reynaud’s roast chicken with anchovies and rosemary. Tempted to buy his roasts book, now.
• A fabulous, very meaty, Belthane feast at Libertine with wines from Holly’s Garden and Smiths Vineyard. A really fun night (pity it was a work night…).
• Baguette with rabbit terrine from Le Traiteur – I’m more than halfway through the baguette menu, I think, but might have to start over just to check whether the salt beef really IS still my favourite. We also had their take-home daube de boeuf for an easy and delicious Friday night dinner.
• Hand pulled noodles with beef brisket at Mrs Noodle in Swanston Street. It was An An, then a hot pot place, I think… now a Sichuanese-y place. It wasn’t bad – I prefer Noodle Kingdom, but would go back there for a nearby soup fix. Avoid the XLB.
• A really good spicy fish with tofu dish from Fucshia Dunlop’s Sichuan Cooking
• Leftover carrot cake (thanks to Essjay for the recipe – it was divine!) and chocolate guinness cake. The upside of doing morning tea.

4 September 2010

Reading

Campaign Ruby, by Jessica Rudd, for our online book club Better Well Read Than Dead. She certainly loves name-dropping her labels.

Watching

The Plan, which reminded me that I haven’t dropped enough hints to C recently about how much I want the BSG box set on Blu-Ray.

Listening to

The Pogues

Discovering

…to my great disappointment, that Jared Leto is in 30 Seconds To Mars. Why, Jared, why?

Eating

• Mee pok at Coconut House
• Matt Stone’s fresh, Spring-y quinoa salad from this month’s Australian Gourmet Traveller. (I decided that dinner was more than a “light meal”, though, so added some fried haloumi for a meat-free Monday.)
• Suckling pig rolls at Collins Quarter, which are on for another three or four weeks on Wednesdays (and at $5 a pop are a bargain). They will be followed by Spring lamb!
• Baguette with pork rillettes from Le Traiteur – the crunchy, acid pickles go so perfectly with the rillettes
• Eggplant with minced pork from KL Bunga Raya
• Ipoh Hor Fun (again!) at Gurney Drive. Perfect on a wet and steamy September Saturday.  C had the Hainanese Chicken Rice and the rice was beautifully flavoured.
• Some sticky ribs and fish-flavour pork from Fucshia Dunlop’s Sichuan Cooking
• Compost cookie batter, with Lanka mix, wasabi peas – thanks to Penny for that idea! – Twisties, Mars Bar, Clinkers and Oreos. Oh, and some Special K.  That’ll teach me to try to be super-organised for morning tea. (Some did make it to the oven, I promise)

28 August 2010

Reading

Australian Gourmet Traveller and wondering how Cutler & Co could be named “Restaurant of the Year” by a national food publication, but not have made the nominations list for The Age Good Food Guide, unless I’m missing something here.

Watching

Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, which I didn’t hate as much as I expected to. Faint praise, sure, but it’s a film with Michael Cera, so… yeah.

Listening to

My Emmylou Harris playlist, on shuffle.

Discovering

A wealth of delicious pedantry at Mental Floss.

Eating

• Curry Laska at Gurney Drive. It is spicy and rich, avoiding the traps of being too sweet, and having too much chicken. I did, however, miss having fishcake.
• more recipes from Ottolenghi.
• Calamari “canneloni” with prawns at Esposito
• braised pork cheek from Mezzo, wagyu burger from The Palace, wallaby tataki from Charcoal Lane, pork and prawn roll from Longrain. No, I haven’t won lotto – I went to Taste of Melbourne.
• treats from La Parisienne Pates: duck terrine and Soignon Selection
• a number of delicious dishes at Izakaya Den. The eggplant with konnyaku was one of my favourites and I enjoyed the lamb (Iron Chef would be bemused) with miso and the duck breast with pomegranate (actually, the only thing I wasn’t crazy about was the greens and tofu in dashi dish) but the whole deal just made me wish I was at a real izakaya, so we are planning our next Japanese trek.

21 August 2010

Reading

Shipping Out by David Foster Wallace, just one of the many pieces Harper’s Bazaar has in their fabulous online collection (all downloadable PDFs).

Watching

The original (and, yes, the best) Masterchef on Lifestyle Food.

Listening to

Political commentators and others chattering about the election result.

Discovering

The joys of the Time Capsule – hopefully this computer won’t go the way of my previous one, but if it does… fully backed up!

Eating

• Pork hock noodle soup from Wonton House, which I was craving after Ben mentioned pork hocks during a fun and informative wine course. I am so suggestible – Inception would not be a challenge.
• Cassoulet at Libertine (and quail and boudin blanc!)
• A number of toothsome morsels from Coda (the highlight being the Hervey Bay scallops)
• Takeaway pizzas to deal with election night

14 August 2010

Reading

How to Talk to a Widower by Jonathan Tropper.  Katya heard about him on RRR recently so we’ve chosen it for our next BWRTD book.  Not far into it; immediate impression is Franzen-esque.

Watching

The Good Wife, which is now over for the season. For perhaps the first half of the season I really couldn’t see what the fuss was about – I enjoyed it, but was surprised that something with such a predictable in-episode story arc had garnered such good reviews.  The second half of the season had me hooked and I am looking forward to its return.

Listening to

The Suburbs by Arcade Fire.

Discovering

This fabulous tool for customising a senate “how to vote” card so you can confidently vote below the line without accidentally miscounting and ending up with Family First in a high position.

Eating

• Mouthwatering slow-cooked pork in cider with sweet, sweet onions, thanks to Katya and family.
• Ottolenghi’s “Vegetarian Paella” for meatless Monday.
• Sweet savoy cabbage from the Queen Vic that, along with some kaiserfleisch, made fresh fish Thursday rather special.
• Delicious octopus and soft-shell crab at Cumulus Inc.
• More French goodness at the always lovely Libertine.
• Confit eggs at Le Traiteur (and too many coffees).
• The best bacon and egg sandwich at Fandango.
• Rich lamb shanks with buttery, creamy mash at the Terminus – perfect for a wet and dreary Sunday.
• Potato boreks from the Queen Vic. I’ve probably got to stop dropping in there on the way home from the gym.

7 August 2010

Reading

One Hundred Days of Summer by Bob Ellis and feeling quite discombobulated by his characterisation of Tony Abbott.

Watching
Inception on the big screen (on the Extreme Screen, even). I enjoyed it, but couldn’t help feeling that it was a holoband episode of Caprica, which reminds me… when is Caprica back? On the small screen: Treme, The Ricky Gervais Show and Better Off Ted.

Listening to
Horn of Plenty by Grizzly Bear.

Discovering