but whoa, totally feeling like death would be preferable.
At least my doctor established that the weird skewbalding was due to a reaction to ibuprofen, so that’s it, no more exotic pharmaceuticals for me. I’ll stick with the Dong Quai and the aspirin, thank you very much. And the Ginger Tea. It’s true what James Barber said: it does get you high. So I guess you’re still sick, but you feel awful perky about it.
In which we observe an experiment in Communal Anarchy descending, in the course of one growing season, into mere Existential Hedonism. Ain’t that always the way? Sigh…
Heartlessly stolen from Up In Ontario. This should give you some idea of the kind of city we live in.
The Tomato Man stand, Trout Lake Farmer’s Market, early in the tomato-pimpin’ season.
and by the end of the season that had been replaced by:
Nobody wants to be the last tomato left at closing time.
I normally avoid picking from the most popular videos on YouTube, but this is so funny I cannot resist. If, however, you see me posting napping kittens or puppies, please feel free to beat me severely about the head and neck.
Made in 1997, this mock movie trailer has Billy Bob Thornton‘s character, Karl, from the film “Sling Blade” entering the world of Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau‘s “Swingers.” Written by Chris Cox, Matt Sloan, and Darren Des Voigne.
Background on the event is here.
The MC: Tamara Taggart, CTV
The Music: Adam Woodall
The chefs:
- Robert Belcham (C, Fuel)
- Brian Fowke (Rare One)
- Sean Heather (The Irish Heather, Salt, Pepper)
- Colin Johnson (Parkside)
- Neil Wyles (Hamilton Street Grill)
The catch:
- All local ingredients
- All items made from ingredients procured the same day
The menu:
- Champagne & canapes
- cauliflower & truffle shooter
- pumpkin ravioli • beurre noisette emulsion • amarettini-sage crumble
- fenel risotto • neon squid • malt-cured oak-smoked bacon
- duck soup • black beluga lentils & evergreen organic autumn vegetables
- butter-sauteed sablefsh • tarragon • chantrelles & porcini • apple puree
- Blue Goose organic beef • Dungeness mashed potatoes • red wine reduction
- Okanagan apples five ways • Gala • Ambrosia • Granny Smith
- local cheeses & charcuterie
Thanks to my good friends and sugar-daddy and -mommy Raj Taneja and Nina Sohi I was able to get to this, the finest meal I have had in many years. I’m cross-posting this from the Waiterblog forum because I am A) sick and B) lazy, and because I want to welcome Waiterblog‘s parent site Urban Diner to the blogroll. Like you didn’t know both of those fun facts about me already! But I’m already running into problems, as I imagine much of social and single Vancouver will be (before the latte hits) trying to keep my synapses routing me through the Urban Jungle of Urban Mixer, Urban Diner, and Urban Fare. We need a new word, yo, for verily, we are easily confused.
It was a fantastic event. Tamara Taggert was an enthusiastic and friendly emcee, and every one of the silent auction items was sold. The event raised a truly useful sum for a very good cause, and it was, quite frankly, the best meal I have had in years, course after course of it. An example: I could happily dine on the pumpkin ravioli with beurre noisette daily until June. The wines were up to the same rarified (ha!) standard, and were an education in themselves: I thought I didn’t like Chardonnay! The matchings were outstanding, and the Muscat comes in for special mention.
A big shout out to the Urban Mixers Nina Sohi, who bought me a ticket, and Raj Taneja, who bought me wine, for lo I am way poor; without these two I would never be able to sample the delights of a meal like this. I just had to get that out of my system.
Tina looked beautiful, and it added so much to the evening to have her there. Neil and Brian should have their own tv show: why not cut out the middle man? And it was delightful to share a table with Tara and her friend (whose name escapes me…did I mention the wine?).
Trivia for fans of the Neon Squid: It’s actually a flying squid! It was marvelous, of course.
Tina’s family will now be able to hire a full-time nanny, enabling her to devote her vitality to fighting both the disease of breast cancer and the side-effects of aggressive chemotherapy, which can be dangerous and draining in themselves.
Oh yes you do, even if you don’t manage to get paid for it.
I’ve never understood the “she’s a style icon” bullshit chorus for Kate Moss. Tell me what the Kate Moss style is, what the Platonic Ideal of the Kate Moss Outfit would be…you can’t, can you? That’s because there isn’t one. Listen to the fashion editors and the photographers, who all say that she photographs best naked; that’s because of the crap she insists on throwing on her body.
Kate Moss has gotten the reputation of being an incredible style leader not because she has an amazing gift for putting clothes together, but rather because she would look good in a torn, faded and full green garbage bag.
Right now, the odds are that you are dressed better than Kate Moss. I am dressed better than Kate Moss, and I’m wearing an old grey t-shirt with a peeling Maverick Mountain surfing picture on it, a faded grey velour hoodie, and a torn cream-coloured silk circle skirt lined in flannelette. Barefoot.
But at least what I’m wearing isn’t covered in Pete Doherty‘s bloodstains, or my own crusted vomit. And it doesn’t look like this: Continue reading
