Wine of the Week:
Chrismont King Valley Merlot 2009 - while I was in Melbourne this week I joined some of my work colleagues for a well overdue catch up. Lisa, who turns out to be a wine tragic like myself ordered a bottle of the Chrismont for the table so thanks go to her for the bottle of choice this week.
I think Merlot gets a bad rap as people are either after the peppery nature of Shiraz or the depth and body of a Cab Sav. As for me, I quite like Merlot as it is often both easy and very good drinking. The Chrismont is no exception but it has subtle differences to a Merlot coming from the Hunter or the Barossa. It had a little more spice than I would usually associate with Merlot but not too much. So much so, that it would be one of those wines that you could see joining you for a long session during a winter's afternoon. I am currently planning for such an afternoon. http://www.chrismont.com.au/
It has been a interesting time over the last week. So much so, when sitting down to work out what to write about today there were a number of topics or issues that I felt required some comment from my neck of the swamp. Some are serious...some not so much and I am sure you will be able to tellthe difference between the two...
1. This week saw Rupert and James Murdoch face the parliamentary inquiry in the UK over the phone hacking and corruption allegations that effectively ended the 'News of the World' newspaper. The Murdoch's appearance at the inquiry was televised live internationally - fairly apt for the most (in)famous media owner on the planet.
While the inquiry raised more questions than were answered there was one that became rather clear; that is why Rupert Murdoch married Wendi Deng. It wasn't the old chestnut of an older man leaving his wife for a younger woman. No, it was obviously the fact that he could get a wife and bodyguard in one!
2. Saturday morning, we woke up to the news of the grave terror attacks in Norway. A car bomb in Oslo followed by a round of shootings by a lone gunman on a nearby island has led to 92 needless deaths.
It is an attack that has rocked all of Norway but also the world and I must admit I asked the question "Why Norway?"; acting under the assumption that it was an Al-qaeda related attack of course. Aren't they always these days? It soon became clear that this was a domestic attack and a reminder that the threat of a domestic related attack is always real and always there. The result is tragically still the same no matter who the perpetrator; the needless loss of life.
3. Late Saturday night, there was a commotion in the street outside. The Cadel Evans bandwagon had stopped in front of the house and I of course jumped on with great gusto. I watched the time trial that made up the penultimate stage of le Tour de France and saw Cadel Evans start 57 seconds behind and end up 1 minute, 37 seconds ahead and with that, the yellow jersey for the final stage.
Many have said that this could be the greatest individual achievement in Australian sports history. That's a big call but...3,450 kilometres over 21 stages is an incredible feat in itself. To do that and become not only the first Australian but the first rider from the Southern Hemisphere to win the World's most famous cycling race just makes it an even greater achievement. Not sure about the call for a public holiday though but if it does happen, he may just beat Mary McKillop to Australia's first sainthood as well!
4. There seems to be a growing trend in Australia to automatically call for the Government to ban anything that may be slighty contentious or controversal. The latest being the call from one shopkeeper on Sunrise this week to ban the sale of sports drinks for kids. Now, the actual ban isn't what concerns me but rather the fact that it seems that we always go down the path of thinking that placing a ban is the best way to go when at best, it is a knee jerk reaction.
If there isn't someone in a young person's life to tell them that 15 Gatorades per day is probably not a good idea - that's where we have a problem. Protection isn't about taking out the risks - it is about education, communication and guidance.
5. Finally, if you have read my blog previously you would be aware that I am addicted to Masterchef to the point of having had the whole week's episodes iQ'ed for watching this weekend. You can then imagine my utter dismay to see that Dani has yet again an immunity pin. And not from beating an internationally renowned chef...or their apprentice. No, good old 'Lego Head' (not my nickname but I like it) won it by beating a swimmer.
Now, I know that in the end it is about a high rating TV show but...one of the base premises of the show is that in the end the two best amateur chefs should be left standing at the end. She is not even one of the best five but it seems that the producers have some liking for 'Lego Head' and are giving her every chance to stay.
It isn't right and it isn't fair...but if nothing else, it gives me an excuse to keep using the nickname 'Lego Head'!
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
The sound of no one talking...
Wine of the Week:
Wynns Coonawarra Estate 'The Siding' Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - I know I have reviewed Wynns Coonawarra before but this one is different. Firstly, I had never seen this one before; which after reading their website makes sense as this is the inaugural release. Second, it has a green label which is very different to the standard black labels that Wynns have delivered through the standard retail channels.
On their website, winemaker Sue Hodder said that "the aim of this wine is to deliver a leading affordable Cabernet Sauvignon" which I believe she has. It is less than $20 and definitely a young Cab Sav so there isn't the huge body to it but is more than suitable for everyday drinking - put it this way, the bottle was finished in the one sitting!
http://www.wynns.com.au/?siding
Friends, I must admit that what I am writing about has bothered me on and off for some time now. However, it wasn't until I was on the train home one night last week that I was convinced that I needed to say something and get it off my chest.
Whilst standing on said train, I noticed that there was hardly anyone who didn't have headphones in their ears which in turn was connected to a device of some sort. That and if anyone was actually talking, it was to someone on their phone. It wasn't the first time that I noticed this either; in fact it happens every day of the week.
Which started me thinking...what happened to the random conversations between strangers? What happened to the days when you had "train friends" or "bus friends"? You know, those that you never see except for the times when you travel to or from work. Those that you shared your weekend's experiences or the day's events at the office; then bid a fond adieu until the same time tomorrow. The same ones that would always try to keep the bus or train from leaving because they could see you running to the get there on time.
Now, it just seems that people are quite content to stay in a world of their own; unwilling to engage in the base level of friendly greetings and conversation. We just seem to be more concerned about what we are listening to, answering that sms or checking in on Facebook.
And before you say it, I am as guilty as the next man or woman of having my nose in my Blackberry. That and I am fully aware of the irony of working in the ICT industry and here I am complaining that we are using it too much.
The thing is, I have always had this view that our use of technology would be reigned in by what I call 'the human handbreak'; in other words we would always have the ability to set the limits of what we would allow technology do for us; even if it is well below what it actually can do.
For example, I saw this video during the week which painted a vision for a glass company and showed how the mirror in your bathroom would be transformed into a touch screen where you could access your email, calendar and the web. I don't know about you but I don't need to respond to emails while brushing my teeth or any other part of my anatomy.
Similarly, I don't think we need to be always checking what we and others are doing on Facebook or shutting ourselves off with our favourite tunes or TV show at the expense of human interaction or building a sense of non-virtual (ie; real) community.
So I put this challenge to everyone (myself included). Turn the iphone off for a moment, keep the blackberry in the pocket for that little while longer and say hello to someone when you sit next to them on the train or stand with them at the bus stop. You may not become best mates, they may even be too shocked to say anything back and think you're a freak but you never know; you may make someone's day or even cause a smile (thinking that you are a freak).
Of course, I tried this the other night but no one heard me as they all had their headphones on...but tomorrow is another day!
Wynns Coonawarra Estate 'The Siding' Cabernet Sauvignon 2009 - I know I have reviewed Wynns Coonawarra before but this one is different. Firstly, I had never seen this one before; which after reading their website makes sense as this is the inaugural release. Second, it has a green label which is very different to the standard black labels that Wynns have delivered through the standard retail channels.
On their website, winemaker Sue Hodder said that "the aim of this wine is to deliver a leading affordable Cabernet Sauvignon" which I believe she has. It is less than $20 and definitely a young Cab Sav so there isn't the huge body to it but is more than suitable for everyday drinking - put it this way, the bottle was finished in the one sitting!
http://www.wynns.com.au/?siding
Friends, I must admit that what I am writing about has bothered me on and off for some time now. However, it wasn't until I was on the train home one night last week that I was convinced that I needed to say something and get it off my chest.
Whilst standing on said train, I noticed that there was hardly anyone who didn't have headphones in their ears which in turn was connected to a device of some sort. That and if anyone was actually talking, it was to someone on their phone. It wasn't the first time that I noticed this either; in fact it happens every day of the week.
Which started me thinking...what happened to the random conversations between strangers? What happened to the days when you had "train friends" or "bus friends"? You know, those that you never see except for the times when you travel to or from work. Those that you shared your weekend's experiences or the day's events at the office; then bid a fond adieu until the same time tomorrow. The same ones that would always try to keep the bus or train from leaving because they could see you running to the get there on time.
Now, it just seems that people are quite content to stay in a world of their own; unwilling to engage in the base level of friendly greetings and conversation. We just seem to be more concerned about what we are listening to, answering that sms or checking in on Facebook.
And before you say it, I am as guilty as the next man or woman of having my nose in my Blackberry. That and I am fully aware of the irony of working in the ICT industry and here I am complaining that we are using it too much.
The thing is, I have always had this view that our use of technology would be reigned in by what I call 'the human handbreak'; in other words we would always have the ability to set the limits of what we would allow technology do for us; even if it is well below what it actually can do.
For example, I saw this video during the week which painted a vision for a glass company and showed how the mirror in your bathroom would be transformed into a touch screen where you could access your email, calendar and the web. I don't know about you but I don't need to respond to emails while brushing my teeth or any other part of my anatomy.
Similarly, I don't think we need to be always checking what we and others are doing on Facebook or shutting ourselves off with our favourite tunes or TV show at the expense of human interaction or building a sense of non-virtual (ie; real) community.
So I put this challenge to everyone (myself included). Turn the iphone off for a moment, keep the blackberry in the pocket for that little while longer and say hello to someone when you sit next to them on the train or stand with them at the bus stop. You may not become best mates, they may even be too shocked to say anything back and think you're a freak but you never know; you may make someone's day or even cause a smile (thinking that you are a freak).
Of course, I tried this the other night but no one heard me as they all had their headphones on...but tomorrow is another day!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
My top 5 sports movies - sans lizards
Wine of the Week:
The Black Chook McLaren Vale Langhorne Creek 2009 Shiraz - As there are more and more spaces appearing in our wine racks I decided to go to Liquorland and see what "cheap and cheerful" selections I could find. The Black Chook stood out obviously because of the name and we were heading out that night to catch up with our friends Janet & Chris so we thought, why not?.
The Black Chook certainly had some legs. While different to a Hunter Shiraz in that it doesn't have the strong pepper characteristics, it holds up both drinking on it's own or with beautiful, slow cooked casserole like we had last night. That and it is a bargain at less than $20 a bottle so we will look at have more of the Black Chook in our wine coop sooner rather than later. Woop Woop Wines
The Black Chook McLaren Vale Langhorne Creek 2009 Shiraz - As there are more and more spaces appearing in our wine racks I decided to go to Liquorland and see what "cheap and cheerful" selections I could find. The Black Chook stood out obviously because of the name and we were heading out that night to catch up with our friends Janet & Chris so we thought, why not?.
The Black Chook certainly had some legs. While different to a Hunter Shiraz in that it doesn't have the strong pepper characteristics, it holds up both drinking on it's own or with beautiful, slow cooked casserole like we had last night. That and it is a bargain at less than $20 a bottle so we will look at have more of the Black Chook in our wine coop sooner rather than later. Woop Woop Wines
For the flight back from NYC, I bought the latest issue of Sports Illustrated and there was an article that was a retrospective of the movie 'Major League'; which was made 22 years ago and is a classic when it comes to sports movies.
Anyhoo, that article and the fact that we had to sit through 'Rango' three times during our trip made me think of the top five sports movies that I have seen. I mean really, a animated western where the main character is a lizard??? My mind had to wander...
1. Major League: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097815/
This is a classic particularly with the guys at AKA Cricket Club who can recite many quotes from the film (eg; "Hats for Bats..keep bats warm..gracias" and "Welcome to another summer of Indians Baseball").
It also featured Charlie Sheen who claimed in the SI article that he took steroids to strengthen his pitching arm and stick to the shooting schedule. He also told how he had a screening of the film recently at his mansion where he watched it with the director, some friends and "my two girlfriends and everyone cheered in the right spots"!
2. Field of Dreams: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097351/
The first of my Kevin Costner double which includes the famous quote "If you build it...he will come". And yes, I did consider bulldozing the family backyard and creating a mini cricket ground after seeing this movie...but keeping it to real people as opposed to ghosts that came to drop in.
Turns out, if you have some spare cash and wish to make that long desired US property investment, the farm that was transformed into that famous baseball field is up for sale! http://www.fieldofdreamsmoviesite.com/aerial/FieldOfDreams.html
3. For Love of the Game: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0126916/
This is the perfect sports movie if you are in a relationship. The men can follow the story of whether pitcher Billy Chapel can throw the perfect game and the ladies can follow the love triangle between Chapel, Jane Aubrey and the game of baseball - in short, something for everyone.
This is the second Kevin Costner movie in this list which to me means he did his best work while playing baseball...lucky I am not into water sports that much as I could have referenced 'Waterworld'.
4. We are Marshall: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0758794/
This movie is a true story of the rebuilding of not only a football team but a community after the 1970 airplane crash that killed 75 people including the Marshall University football team, coaching staff, fans and community members. It's a great story, an inspirational story and for the ladies...Matthew McConaughey.
And once you have seen it, I dare you not to shout out "We are....Marshall!"
5. Rocky III: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0084602/
You can not have a top five without Rocky Balboa...and for me it is Rocky III. Please...Hulk Hogan, Clubber Lang (aka Mr T) beating Rocky for the title, teaming up with Apollo Creed for the return bout and of course...'Eye of the Tiger' by SurvivorI
If this movie doesn't sum up the 1980's, what other movie does?
Sunday, July 3, 2011
"A big week in the Big Apple!"
Wine of the Week:
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - so if you have seen the movie Bottle Shock you would know that it is about the story of the first time an American wine beat the French in a blind wine tasting - known as "The Paris Tasting". The vineyard who produced the wine was Chateau Montelena and the wine in question was the 1973 Chardonnay. While the Chardonnay made them internationally famous, they also produce reds with a fine reputation.
Last week while we were in New York we had dinner at a great steak place called Del Frisco's and we had to have a suitable red for the occasion. When we saw the Chateau Montelena Cab Sav on the list and having known about the winery through the movie, we had to have it. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.
It was different to an Australian Cab Sav in that it didn't have the same level of depth and body but it was smooth, full of fruit and like a true Cab, went perfectly with a beautiful steak. The challenge now is to find somewhere locally to purchase it...or just have to go back to the US again soon.
http://www.montelena.com
Yes dear friends as mentioned above we have just come back from a week in New York; the first time that either of us had been there. The primary reason for us to head over was a pre-school dance conference that Trish was attending but there was still some room for sightseeing and exploring what one of the world's famous cities has to offer. Here's just a snapshot of what we did...
Yep, we had a great time and was a great way to kickoff the second half of the year (yes, we are in the last six months of 2011). While it was only a week, it gave us a taste of NYC and left us wanting more. Needless to say, I have already started thinking of when our return trip will be.
And yes, I am now a Yankees fan too!!!
Chateau Montelena Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 - so if you have seen the movie Bottle Shock you would know that it is about the story of the first time an American wine beat the French in a blind wine tasting - known as "The Paris Tasting". The vineyard who produced the wine was Chateau Montelena and the wine in question was the 1973 Chardonnay. While the Chardonnay made them internationally famous, they also produce reds with a fine reputation.
Last week while we were in New York we had dinner at a great steak place called Del Frisco's and we had to have a suitable red for the occasion. When we saw the Chateau Montelena Cab Sav on the list and having known about the winery through the movie, we had to have it. Needless to say, it did not disappoint.
It was different to an Australian Cab Sav in that it didn't have the same level of depth and body but it was smooth, full of fruit and like a true Cab, went perfectly with a beautiful steak. The challenge now is to find somewhere locally to purchase it...or just have to go back to the US again soon.
http://www.montelena.com
Yes dear friends as mentioned above we have just come back from a week in New York; the first time that either of us had been there. The primary reason for us to head over was a pre-school dance conference that Trish was attending but there was still some room for sightseeing and exploring what one of the world's famous cities has to offer. Here's just a snapshot of what we did...
 | |||
| This was the view of the city and the East River from the Empire State Building |
 |
| Times Square with the famous countdown clock in the background |
 |
| A twilight cruise which included going past the Statue of Liberty |
 |
| Some cultural pursuits such as visiting the Guggenheim... |
 | ||||||
| ...and other cultural pursuits such as a game at Yankee Stadium! |
 |
| Not to mention partaking in the local cuisine! |
And yes, I am now a Yankees fan too!!!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Ahh...so THAT'S an eggnet!
Wine of the Week:
Grant Burge Benchmark Cabernet Shiraz 2009 - had my brother-in-law's 40th birthday last night and went to dinner at Luke Benchmark; a restaurant that I have mentioned before. This Grant Burge number was very easy to drink and had enough body and depth to go very well with the ox gow gee & scallops entree and the lamb shank main course that I had. It was also very reasonably priced for a restaurant wine. Need to find it somewhere for a few bottles for the home cellar. Grant Burge Benchmark Cabernet Shiraz
So friends, it's that time of year again. The time when the country becomes obsessed and we ensure that our set-top boxes or Foxtel iQ's are programmed correctly so we don't miss a minute of the drama and excitement that grips us day after day...and for once, I am not talking about sport.
I am of course, talking about that phenomenon that has taken grip over the country for the last three years...Masterchef.
For the last three years, names such as Julie, Poh, Adam, Callen, Marion and others have been spoken of in workplaces and homes alike as if they were our 'BFF's' as we ride with them every high and low of the three month odyssey to become "Australia's top amateur chef"!
I am going to gloat a little here and say that Trish and I were ahead of the curve on this one. Having Foxtel, we discovered Masterchef UK and we loved it. The fascination of ordinary people getting pushed to the limit in a kitchen and having adventures all over Europe as they cook for the British Army on manovures, being dropped into five star Michelin restaurants was something we couldn't take our eyes off. We loved the concept but when they announced the Australian version, we were sceptical especially when we found out that they would be all living in a house 'a la Big Brother. So much so, we didn't get on the local Masterchef bandwagon until about a month in but after that, we were hooked...and so was the rest of the country!
The show has reset the standard of not just cooking shows (Does anyone else remember 'The Magic Wok' with Philip Paxton cooking with the skyline of Hong Kong in the background???) but reality shows in general; and at it's core Gary, George and Matt who come back into our lives every year like long lost friends; along with their new crop of recruits who we start to love and loathe as the series goes on.
It has also led to the establishment of a sub-economy of it's own; full of sponsors, tv-spinoffs and cookbooks coming out of the wahzoo...and I have to admit, we have contributed to this in many ways from purchasing said cookbooks (see below exhibit A below your honour) to dining at 'The Press Club'.....twice! However, there are some limits; no one should ever feel the need to buy Matt Preston's CD 'Music to cook by'.
Now, I am not about to wax lyrical about how and why this show has become a national institution or what comment it makes on the national psyche.To me it's pretty simple. For the most part, it is entertaining and it is intriguing and somewhat comforting to see others go through hours upon hours of stress and toil to ultimately get the riches that national fame and a book deal provides. Enough at least for me to sit through the blatant plugs and product placements ("So we went shopping with our Commonwealth Bank Travelcard..."- cue full screen shot of the card).
However, credit where credit is due. The producers always seem to do a great job of bringing together a mix of contestants that you like and those that will drive me to go postal if they don't leave soon. Put it this way, I did not cry with the news that Mat and his smartphone were booted out of the house - that said, his being locked up in a Melbourne hotel until this incident hits the screen seems a trifle extreme - one hopes he is going deluxe on the room service.
As for the rest of them, I don't mind the likes of Hayden, Kate, Michael and Billy - that said, the latter has to do more than just desserts. I'm also rapt that the producers have also decided to inject a bit of Star Wars this year with Kumar adopting the role of Yoda for this year's series.
On the flip side, Dani is like that top 40 song that you begin to despise because they play it over and over and over again. There can only be so many eliminations that Ellie can escape because she is blonde and giggles and there is something about Sun that just gives me the irrits...that and thank god Rachel was eliminated because if I heard one more time that her husband worked in the mines so she knows what they like to eat, I was going to fly to WA and send her down the shaft myself...permanently!
I must say though that this year's series has already delivered two great discoveries. Firstly, the SMH/Age has started giving reviews of the elimination episodes which have been some of the funniest stuff I have read for a long time - this one by Michelle Griffin is the best so far. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/tears-flow-like-rain-on-a-cake-in-the-macarthur-park-kitchen-20110607-1fpmd.html
Second, I was able to save myself from a serious faux pas as I learnt what an eggnet was prior to a business lunch later that week -many thanks Yoda!
As for a tip for this year's winner, I think it may come down to Kate and Michael which again destroys any chance of the cookoff degenerating into a cage fight to the death because they will be just too nice to each other and "life long friends". One day, I would love to see the finale decend into the most watched food fight in Australian television history...then again, anything is possible in the Masterchef Kitchen!
Grant Burge Benchmark Cabernet Shiraz 2009 - had my brother-in-law's 40th birthday last night and went to dinner at Luke Benchmark; a restaurant that I have mentioned before. This Grant Burge number was very easy to drink and had enough body and depth to go very well with the ox gow gee & scallops entree and the lamb shank main course that I had. It was also very reasonably priced for a restaurant wine. Need to find it somewhere for a few bottles for the home cellar. Grant Burge Benchmark Cabernet Shiraz
So friends, it's that time of year again. The time when the country becomes obsessed and we ensure that our set-top boxes or Foxtel iQ's are programmed correctly so we don't miss a minute of the drama and excitement that grips us day after day...and for once, I am not talking about sport.
I am of course, talking about that phenomenon that has taken grip over the country for the last three years...Masterchef.
For the last three years, names such as Julie, Poh, Adam, Callen, Marion and others have been spoken of in workplaces and homes alike as if they were our 'BFF's' as we ride with them every high and low of the three month odyssey to become "Australia's top amateur chef"!
I am going to gloat a little here and say that Trish and I were ahead of the curve on this one. Having Foxtel, we discovered Masterchef UK and we loved it. The fascination of ordinary people getting pushed to the limit in a kitchen and having adventures all over Europe as they cook for the British Army on manovures, being dropped into five star Michelin restaurants was something we couldn't take our eyes off. We loved the concept but when they announced the Australian version, we were sceptical especially when we found out that they would be all living in a house 'a la Big Brother. So much so, we didn't get on the local Masterchef bandwagon until about a month in but after that, we were hooked...and so was the rest of the country!
The show has reset the standard of not just cooking shows (Does anyone else remember 'The Magic Wok' with Philip Paxton cooking with the skyline of Hong Kong in the background???) but reality shows in general; and at it's core Gary, George and Matt who come back into our lives every year like long lost friends; along with their new crop of recruits who we start to love and loathe as the series goes on.
It has also led to the establishment of a sub-economy of it's own; full of sponsors, tv-spinoffs and cookbooks coming out of the wahzoo...and I have to admit, we have contributed to this in many ways from purchasing said cookbooks (see below exhibit A below your honour) to dining at 'The Press Club'.....twice! However, there are some limits; no one should ever feel the need to buy Matt Preston's CD 'Music to cook by'.
Now, I am not about to wax lyrical about how and why this show has become a national institution or what comment it makes on the national psyche.To me it's pretty simple. For the most part, it is entertaining and it is intriguing and somewhat comforting to see others go through hours upon hours of stress and toil to ultimately get the riches that national fame and a book deal provides. Enough at least for me to sit through the blatant plugs and product placements ("So we went shopping with our Commonwealth Bank Travelcard..."- cue full screen shot of the card).
However, credit where credit is due. The producers always seem to do a great job of bringing together a mix of contestants that you like and those that will drive me to go postal if they don't leave soon. Put it this way, I did not cry with the news that Mat and his smartphone were booted out of the house - that said, his being locked up in a Melbourne hotel until this incident hits the screen seems a trifle extreme - one hopes he is going deluxe on the room service.
As for the rest of them, I don't mind the likes of Hayden, Kate, Michael and Billy - that said, the latter has to do more than just desserts. I'm also rapt that the producers have also decided to inject a bit of Star Wars this year with Kumar adopting the role of Yoda for this year's series.
On the flip side, Dani is like that top 40 song that you begin to despise because they play it over and over and over again. There can only be so many eliminations that Ellie can escape because she is blonde and giggles and there is something about Sun that just gives me the irrits...that and thank god Rachel was eliminated because if I heard one more time that her husband worked in the mines so she knows what they like to eat, I was going to fly to WA and send her down the shaft myself...permanently!
I must say though that this year's series has already delivered two great discoveries. Firstly, the SMH/Age has started giving reviews of the elimination episodes which have been some of the funniest stuff I have read for a long time - this one by Michelle Griffin is the best so far. http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/tears-flow-like-rain-on-a-cake-in-the-macarthur-park-kitchen-20110607-1fpmd.html
Second, I was able to save myself from a serious faux pas as I learnt what an eggnet was prior to a business lunch later that week -many thanks Yoda!
As for a tip for this year's winner, I think it may come down to Kate and Michael which again destroys any chance of the cookoff degenerating into a cage fight to the death because they will be just too nice to each other and "life long friends". One day, I would love to see the finale decend into the most watched food fight in Australian television history...then again, anything is possible in the Masterchef Kitchen!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Chock full of the Angry Pills!
Wine of the Week:
Nightingale Wines 2007 Shiraz - Trish and I went to the Hunter last month for the Pepper Tree Wines Harvest Luncheon (By the way, congrats to the guys at Pepper Tree for winning Cellar Door of the year; check them out http://www.peppertreewines.com.au )
We visited a number of other wineries while we were up there and found a new one in Broke called Nightingale Wines. It is a small, emerging winery which is about 15 minutes from Pokolbin. They have a nice setup there with a number of villas and a restaurant which offers a "You dine, we drive" service.
We tasted a few of their wines and the Shiraz was a typical Hunter Shiraz and one that you could drink now and anytime you felt the need for a peppery, warming Shiraz; which with Winter arriving is becoming a regular occurance. Reasonably priced as well - perfect for everyday drinking! http://www.nightingalewines.com.au
Well...after a month I am back and have decided to bring the soap box with me. See, there are a couple of things that I need to get off my chest...and suffice to say I am not happy!
Now, last week Cricket Australia announced their list of 25 contracted players for the 2011/2012 season. Every year there are always notable 'ins and outs' that are worth debate but what the list does do is provide an insight as to those that are in the frame for national selection for the coming season. One of the notable names missing from the list this year was Simon Katich.
By now, most would have heard that the Kat was far from happy with his omission from the list and the reasons given to him as to why. To be honest, he does have a fair and reasonable case and it kudos for having the gumption for getting up and having a spray (by the way, if you haven't seen the spray, check it out on YouTube Simon Katich's spray).
Fact is (and Andrew Hilditch knows this) the opening partnership has not been the problem for Australia of late and the fact that there is justification to drop a player who is averaging 50+ in Test matches is just plain stupid. Don't get me wrong, I am all for building for the future and making sure the older players don't hang around too long but this particular call is just plain "ridiculous" (as the Kat put it so eloquently last week)
Now, the questions and observations I have is as follows...
Which brings me to my next point - at this time of year I hate Queenslanders! Hate is such a harsh term but hey it is what it is.
We are in the middle of this year's State of Origin series and Queensland are up 1-0 after their win at Suncorp three weeks ago; thus setting them up for a sixth consecutive series which means the bleating from up north has been neverending..which annoys me greatly!
See, whenever Queensland win it is always about how great they are. When NSW win, it is always about how they were dudded. It has always been the Queensland way and that will never change...which is why everyone south of the Tweed hates them this time of the year!
I grew up in an era when State of Origin was born; when Queensland and 'The King' continually beat NSW. That is until Steve Mortimer stopped the bus in Caxton Street in 1985 on their way to their first series victory. In short, I take State of Origin personally and every Maroon victory hurts.
If by some stretch of the imagination, Queensland do win on Wednesday night, a word of warning...do not call, text or message me that night and expect a response as I will be sulking well into the night...if not for the remainder of the week!
And as I pack away the soapbox just one final point...to Tony Abbott - when will you stop pushing a negative and divisive agenda and actually provide a real alternative in opposition??? Stop being a poor John Howard imitation and develop some tangible policies!!!
And in the words of Austin Powers "...and I'm spent!"
Nightingale Wines 2007 Shiraz - Trish and I went to the Hunter last month for the Pepper Tree Wines Harvest Luncheon (By the way, congrats to the guys at Pepper Tree for winning Cellar Door of the year; check them out http://www.peppertreewines.com.au )
We visited a number of other wineries while we were up there and found a new one in Broke called Nightingale Wines. It is a small, emerging winery which is about 15 minutes from Pokolbin. They have a nice setup there with a number of villas and a restaurant which offers a "You dine, we drive" service.
We tasted a few of their wines and the Shiraz was a typical Hunter Shiraz and one that you could drink now and anytime you felt the need for a peppery, warming Shiraz; which with Winter arriving is becoming a regular occurance. Reasonably priced as well - perfect for everyday drinking! http://www.nightingalewines.com.au
Well...after a month I am back and have decided to bring the soap box with me. See, there are a couple of things that I need to get off my chest...and suffice to say I am not happy!
Now, last week Cricket Australia announced their list of 25 contracted players for the 2011/2012 season. Every year there are always notable 'ins and outs' that are worth debate but what the list does do is provide an insight as to those that are in the frame for national selection for the coming season. One of the notable names missing from the list this year was Simon Katich.
By now, most would have heard that the Kat was far from happy with his omission from the list and the reasons given to him as to why. To be honest, he does have a fair and reasonable case and it kudos for having the gumption for getting up and having a spray (by the way, if you haven't seen the spray, check it out on YouTube Simon Katich's spray).
Fact is (and Andrew Hilditch knows this) the opening partnership has not been the problem for Australia of late and the fact that there is justification to drop a player who is averaging 50+ in Test matches is just plain stupid. Don't get me wrong, I am all for building for the future and making sure the older players don't hang around too long but this particular call is just plain "ridiculous" (as the Kat put it so eloquently last week)
Now, the questions and observations I have is as follows...
- When will the often spoken about post-Ashes review going to deliver any outcomes/recommendations? Surely, it must before the Australians leave for Sri Lanka in September and that the back office (read: Selection Panel) needs to be looked at prior to this tour as well.
- I would suggest that Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey will be under extreme scrutiny this summer. Katich was the sacrificial elder lamb in this case and this would be a warning sign for the other two elder statesmen of the team. For mine, Ponting deserves the right to name his own exit date on the provisor he scores runs. Hussey is very lucky as he should have been out prior to last summer.
- Phillip Hughes will join Shane Watson opening the innings in Sri Lanka...he better score big otherwise the dogs will be barking!
Which brings me to my next point - at this time of year I hate Queenslanders! Hate is such a harsh term but hey it is what it is.
We are in the middle of this year's State of Origin series and Queensland are up 1-0 after their win at Suncorp three weeks ago; thus setting them up for a sixth consecutive series which means the bleating from up north has been neverending..which annoys me greatly!
See, whenever Queensland win it is always about how great they are. When NSW win, it is always about how they were dudded. It has always been the Queensland way and that will never change...which is why everyone south of the Tweed hates them this time of the year!
I grew up in an era when State of Origin was born; when Queensland and 'The King' continually beat NSW. That is until Steve Mortimer stopped the bus in Caxton Street in 1985 on their way to their first series victory. In short, I take State of Origin personally and every Maroon victory hurts.
I think NSW are a strong chance of levelling the series on Wednesday night at a sold out ANZ Stadium. They lost Game 1 due to a couple of mistakes and I think they will have Queensland a little concerned because they know they got out of Game 1 by the skin of their XXXX-stained teeth!!!
And as I pack away the soapbox just one final point...to Tony Abbott - when will you stop pushing a negative and divisive agenda and actually provide a real alternative in opposition??? Stop being a poor John Howard imitation and develop some tangible policies!!!
And in the words of Austin Powers "...and I'm spent!"
Saturday, April 30, 2011
My long time guilty pleasure
Wine of the Week:
Coldstream Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - Trish and I went out to dinner with Lynne and David on Thursday night and Lynne posted on Facebook that she was looking forward to having a steak. Good steak is at a premium where Lynne works at the moment - that being Mumbai.
Anyhoo, what else goes with a good steak (or pork belly for that matter) than a strong, full bodied Cab! Now, I usually am a Pinot fan when it comes to Coldstream Hills but the Cab definitely holds it's own and seemed to get the thumbs up from all at the table.
http://www.coldstreamhills.com.au
By the way, if you are in the Sylvania area in Sydney then try a restaurant called Luke Benchmark. The food is very good and if you are a fan of oysters then trying their hot and cold oyster plate is a must. No cash for comment here; just a fan of the place. http://www.lukebenchmark.com.au
Every so often, the time comes when one feels the need to cleanse the soul and confess to something that has one has kept a secret to most for a long time. And while the general modus operandi has been to go to your local place of worship and enter a small, curtained booth with the cleric of choice ready to hear your spray, I have decided that my confessional shall be the interweb. So dear friends, here it is...
I am and have been for a very long time, a big fan of the Logies.
It all started when I was a wee lad growing up in a humble abode in Bexley. Back then, the Logies were on a Friday night and as I was an afore mentioned wee lad, I didn't have much say on what was on the TV and I wasn't exactly painting the town red in my Primary school days.
So there I would be in front of the TV, with my PJ's on and my copy of TV Week next to me; the one with all the nominations listed and at the ready to fill in the winners - much the same way that Eddie McGuire still marks down the goal scorers in his copy of the Footy Record every week! (Seriously, I saw him on Anzac Day and he was conducting the task so studiously...)
Once the screen filled with the sight of Australian TV's finest sitting in the ballroom of the Southern Cross or Hyatt on Collins in Melbourne (pre-Crown Palladium) I was transfixed. The fact that it was always in Melbourne seemed to add to the glamour of the event...naturally this was before I actually visited Melbourne. (Just kidding friends)
It was a different time then. 'A Country Practice', 'Sons & Daughters', 'The Sullivans', 'Hey, Hey it's Saturday' were shows that seemed to dominate the nominations at the time while it was the early days for a small show called 'Neighbours'.
And when it came to the Gold well, the names just roll off the tongue - Don Lane, Mike Walsh, Daryl Somers and as the 80's went into the 90's - Ray Martin, Lisa McCune and Jana Wendt managed to collect their fair share. Those were the days too when they finished the coverage with the preview of the cover of the 'special edition' TV Week with the Gold Logie winner on the front!
Then there was Bert.
While Graham Kennedy was and always will be the undisputed King of Australian TV...the Logies well and truly belong to Bert Newton. He has done it all - hosted them, won them - from Gold Logie to most popular State TV Personality (surely they need to bring back those categories...Anne Wills - record 19 Logies; all as the most popular TV personality in South Australia!).
Let's face it - those years when Bert was sent to oblivion in the early 90's and into the new millennium were the dark years for the Logies (Remember Wendy Harmer???). Once he came back and no matter how big or small his role was or is, the Logies regained it's shimmer. I look forward to the day when the top of the Logie is replaced with the image of old Moonface!
So as I eagerly anticipate tomorrow night's ceremony, here are some 'facts' (thanks to Wikipedia) that you may want to take with you to any Logies parties or to add to the workplace conversations come Monday morning when dissecting the night's events while watching Karl Stefanovic get through another 'Today' show thinking that the beverage service was still happening...
Coldstream Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2006 - Trish and I went out to dinner with Lynne and David on Thursday night and Lynne posted on Facebook that she was looking forward to having a steak. Good steak is at a premium where Lynne works at the moment - that being Mumbai.
Anyhoo, what else goes with a good steak (or pork belly for that matter) than a strong, full bodied Cab! Now, I usually am a Pinot fan when it comes to Coldstream Hills but the Cab definitely holds it's own and seemed to get the thumbs up from all at the table.
http://www.coldstreamhills.com.au
By the way, if you are in the Sylvania area in Sydney then try a restaurant called Luke Benchmark. The food is very good and if you are a fan of oysters then trying their hot and cold oyster plate is a must. No cash for comment here; just a fan of the place. http://www.lukebenchmark.com.au
Every so often, the time comes when one feels the need to cleanse the soul and confess to something that has one has kept a secret to most for a long time. And while the general modus operandi has been to go to your local place of worship and enter a small, curtained booth with the cleric of choice ready to hear your spray, I have decided that my confessional shall be the interweb. So dear friends, here it is...
I am and have been for a very long time, a big fan of the Logies.
It all started when I was a wee lad growing up in a humble abode in Bexley. Back then, the Logies were on a Friday night and as I was an afore mentioned wee lad, I didn't have much say on what was on the TV and I wasn't exactly painting the town red in my Primary school days.
So there I would be in front of the TV, with my PJ's on and my copy of TV Week next to me; the one with all the nominations listed and at the ready to fill in the winners - much the same way that Eddie McGuire still marks down the goal scorers in his copy of the Footy Record every week! (Seriously, I saw him on Anzac Day and he was conducting the task so studiously...)
Once the screen filled with the sight of Australian TV's finest sitting in the ballroom of the Southern Cross or Hyatt on Collins in Melbourne (pre-Crown Palladium) I was transfixed. The fact that it was always in Melbourne seemed to add to the glamour of the event...naturally this was before I actually visited Melbourne. (Just kidding friends)
It was a different time then. 'A Country Practice', 'Sons & Daughters', 'The Sullivans', 'Hey, Hey it's Saturday' were shows that seemed to dominate the nominations at the time while it was the early days for a small show called 'Neighbours'.
And when it came to the Gold well, the names just roll off the tongue - Don Lane, Mike Walsh, Daryl Somers and as the 80's went into the 90's - Ray Martin, Lisa McCune and Jana Wendt managed to collect their fair share. Those were the days too when they finished the coverage with the preview of the cover of the 'special edition' TV Week with the Gold Logie winner on the front!
Then there was Bert.
While Graham Kennedy was and always will be the undisputed King of Australian TV...the Logies well and truly belong to Bert Newton. He has done it all - hosted them, won them - from Gold Logie to most popular State TV Personality (surely they need to bring back those categories...Anne Wills - record 19 Logies; all as the most popular TV personality in South Australia!).
Let's face it - those years when Bert was sent to oblivion in the early 90's and into the new millennium were the dark years for the Logies (Remember Wendy Harmer???). Once he came back and no matter how big or small his role was or is, the Logies regained it's shimmer. I look forward to the day when the top of the Logie is replaced with the image of old Moonface!
So as I eagerly anticipate tomorrow night's ceremony, here are some 'facts' (thanks to Wikipedia) that you may want to take with you to any Logies parties or to add to the workplace conversations come Monday morning when dissecting the night's events while watching Karl Stefanovic get through another 'Today' show thinking that the beverage service was still happening...
- Graham Kennedy and Ray Martin both have won the most Gold with five; Lisa McCune and Bert have won four.
- Daryl Somers has been nominated for the Gold 14 times, winning three times. The next was John Wood who was nominated 11 times, winning once.
- Kylie Minogue is the youngest Gold Logie winner; Alf Meagher (last year's winner) the oldest.
- Home and Away has won the most Logies with 34 with Neighbours second with 30.
- The Logies have only strayed north out of Melbourne four times since they started in 1959...that's four more times than the AFL Grand Final ever will!
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