Feb 20 2011
For when you reallly, really dont give a….
Oct 21 2010
The plight of the Ortolan
My ginormous Book of Birds tells us that the Ortolan (Emberiza hortulana) is a bird in the bunting family Emberizidae, a passerine family. The bird’s common name is French, from the Latin hortulanus, the gardener bird, (from hortus, a garden).
It’s a cutey. What a nice little beak it has.
Apparently it’s also very, very tasty - in a weird French cuisine sort of way…
Ortolans used to be netted in great numbers, kept alive in an artificially lighted, or darkened room to disrupt their feeding schedule, and fed with heaps of oats and millet - sometimes the odd fig. In a very short time they became enormously huge - a bit like my big Book of Birds.
They are then drowned in Brandy, roasted and you pop them in your mouth - whole.
Chowdown and swallow the lot.
In 1976 Craig Claiborne, the New York Times food critic, made a winning $300 bid in an auction for a dinner for two, courtesy of American Express, at any restaurant in the world that takes Amex. Claiborne selected Chez Denis in Paris for a $4000 meal that included a course of ortolans. It led to a front-page story, and some controversy.
It’s illegal to catch and kill the Ortolan - but it’s not illegal to eat one. Oh, only the French.
Oct 18 2010
Religion is like a penis
It’s fine to have one.
It’s fine to be proud of it.
You may choose to whip it out in public and start waving it around.
But please, please, dont shove it down our throats. Well, not mine anyway - each to their own - as long as it’s legal.
Oct 07 2010
Battery Point Magpie Fan
I spotted this house on my way through Battery Point in Hobart recently. A proud Pies fan no doubt. Maxwell Mews - nice.
(You will spot the house and its flagpole - its just up on the right, heading towards Arthur’s Circus coming from Lenna - see the Google Maps link below.
Flying the flag and pointing the way... The Mighty Pies - another loving fan!
Oct 02 2010
It’s black and white!
I’m a proud Pies supporter tonight. Thanks for all the jokes, cartoons and the fun things you Sainter and ABC barrackers have been sending my way of late. Collingwood at least, and at last, have shaken the mantle of wobblers. It wasnt the Pies that choked today. No room tonight for graciousness, in such a commanding and sustained performance. Get your hot Pies here.
Tomorrow the smugness will abate, but I will put my mind to back-to-back cups in 2011! You can knock Pies supporters all you like, question their legitimacy and call their Mum bad names - but can never, ever question our passion and loyalty. It’s black and white.
Sep 30 2010
Bulls pumping iron
Now that’s a load of bull!
On divinecaroline you will see some pretty impressive, if not grotesque, giant Belgian Blue cattle.
These sculptural beasts look like they have been bench-pressing two Belgian Blue cows all day at the gym.
Their muscles are double layered with little fat, resulting in a very lean beef product.
Thats a monster steak, it’d even stop Fred Flinstone.