jZepp

Philosophical Metal

Not being someone who considers themselves a "metal conisseur," I was surprised by how much System of a Down's album, "Mezmerize" wormed its way into my head.  In spite of all the volume and howling, this is very good music.  It's music with a conscience and a strong social message.  Have a listen.

"BYOB"

WHY DO THEY ALWAYS SEND THE POOR!
Barbarisms by Barbaras
With pointed heels.
Victorious, victorious, kneel.
For brand new spankin' deals.
Marching forward hypocritic
And hypnotic computers.
You depend on our protection,

Yet you feed us lies from the table cloth.
La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.

Kneeling roses disappearing,
Into Moses' dry mouth,
Breaking into Fort Knox,
Stealing our intentions,
Hangars sitting dripped in oil,
Crying FREEDOM!

Handed to obsoletion,
Still you feed us lies from the table cloth.
La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.

Blast off, its Party time,
And we don't live in a fascist nation,
Blast off , its party time,
And where the fuck are you?
.. Yeah
Where the fuck are you?
Where the fuck are you?

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor? [X4]

Kneeling roses disappearing,
Into Moses' dry mouth,
Breaking into Fort Knox,
Stealing our intentions,
Hangars sitting dripped in oil,
Crying FREEDOM!

Handed to obsoletion,
Still you feed us lies from the tablecloth.
La la la la la la la la la,
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.
Everybody's going to the party have a real good time.
Dancing in the desert blowing up the sunshine.

Where the fuck are you!
Where the fuck are you!

Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor?
Why don't presidents fight the war?
Why do they always send the poor? [X3]
Why, do, they always send the poor [X3]
They only send the poor [x2]

Amuse Bouche

By sandy

With an anniversary to celebrate, my other half and I headed for a new restaurant in our neighbourhood: Amuse Bouche. I was aware of this location years ago when it was Lotus, and dined many times there in its previous incarnation as an Italian restaurant with great pasta dishes; its current life as Amuse Bouche definitely lives up to the linked review.

We ordered a glass of a Cremant de Loire sparkling wine to start (sorry, didn't even look at the wine list to see what it was), and were served an amuse bouche of black cod ceviche. The ceviche wonderfully tender and tart, with the fish "cooked" in citrus and served with a few morsels of mango salsa on top. The menu must change fairly regularly, because the review from two months ago listed the ceviche as an appetizer, but it was not on the menu, only served as the amuse bouche.

For our first course, we had a beet carpaccio (yes, that's "beet", not "beef"), and fois gras. The beet carpaccio was made from three colours of beets, sliced thinly and arranged beautifully on the plate, then topped with some delicate sprouts and a few other bits of greenery. Unfortunately, it disappeared so fast that I didn't even have a taste, but I did savour the fois gras, perfectly seared and served on a bed of creamed potato. The potato was incredibly creamy, and tasted slightly of celeriac so it may have been a mixture.

We started a bottle of Aldinga Bay 2001 Barbera from McLaren Vale with our first course, which lasted us through our second course as well. Chosen from the lower-middle end of a fairly extensive wine list, it was a nice accompaniment to both courses.

Between courses, we were served a citrus sorbet as a palate cleanser. I don't recall the exact composition, although the wait staff were thorough about explaining each dish as it was presented, but it was perfectly balanced and served as a good break between the courses.

For our second course, we both had the seared venison loin, with a truffled pumpkin tart, and shiitake mushrooms in a jus reduction. The venison was tender and flavorful, very lean, served rare with a drizzle of the reduction over it as well. The truffled pumpkin tart was an incredible combination of flavours -- slightly sweet, with the taste of truffle underscoring the pumpkin -- and the mushrooms in jus were a savoury counterpoint to balance the plate.

We skipped dessert: I'll save that treat for some time when I don't order a first course, since I can't really do justice to three courses at dinner even though they were smallish.

At $200+ for dinner, we're not going to eat here every day, but it was an amazing gustatory delight and is definitely on my short list of special occasion restaurants.

Beta Eclipse

Forgotten Empire

The British Museum is hosting a special exhibition of Persian antiquities - Forgotten Empire. I manage to go yesterday.

I didn't think the grandeur of the Empire or the exhibits were fully realised in the cramp space allocated. It didn't help going so early in the exhibitions run (until January) as the crowds were oppressive.

There were some glorious items though; intricate gold working, a massive foot of a lion, friezes, stone heads, coins and burial trinkets. Many of the items on display have not been seen outside of Iran before. Sorry the photo is not of the best quality as the lighting was not conducive to taking pictures and you were not supposed to anyway. (But I took a couple as the security guard was diverted by another snap-happy bounder) It shows a selection of drinking vessels - Rhytons - made from solid gold.

While Western history is dominated by the squabbles of the Greeks, from a Persian viewpoint they were nothing more than a few insignificant towns perched on the edge of a massive Empire. Of course the Greeks overran the Persians for a time but their culture survived this and lasted longer than the Greeks. Fascinating stuff.

Hibiscus: more than just a beautiful flower

By Melissa, in Panama

Nature is so beautiful and great, not only offers us the gift of living in this wonderful place..., but also gives us the remedies to heal our soul and body illnesses. I am a firm believer in natural medicine. Ancient healing techniques, the knowledge hidden in the disappearing rainforest that has been carried generation after generation

A few days ago I wrote an article about Edible Plants: The wonderful Hibiscus. It was very interesting to receive feedback from my readers, asking us mostly if "hibiscus is poisonous, toxic to humans and pets", and if "you know of other uses for this plant and flower".

  Oh, ...well, YES! I have been researching a little more about this plant, and I haven't found a sign that points that the hibiscus blooms or the leaves are toxic to man or beast. The exception to this is if you use systemic pesticides, if so, don't eat the blooms.

Continue reading: "Hibiscus: more than just a beautiful flower"

Hasta Luego!

Dinner for four

By sandy

At a recent restaurant dinner with three women friends, we were decrying the lack of crème brulée on the menu, and I promised to host them at my place someday for my homemade version. That day arrived yesterday. Given the mixed backgrounds of the attendees -- one from Singapore, one from Sri Lanka, one French-Canadian and one Anglo-Canadian (me) -- I wanted to cook something that they would remember but not spend the entire day in the kitchen. Additionally, all of my guests are professional women with small children, which means that their usual "dinner party" involves kids running around and more hurried menus, so I put on the full table: Riedel decanter and wine glasses, hand-painted Italian plates, Provençal table linens, candles on the table, and some light guitar music in the background.

We started with a glass of 2004  Errazuriz Estate Shiraz Rosé before dinner, a lovely dry, fruit-forward rosé tasting distinctly of its varietal. I just discovered this wine a month ago, and have thoroughly enjoyed it on several occasions during our still-hot days.

Food and Drink for the Moon Festival

by obachan in Japan

Food and local sake at the moon festival on September 18. (Katsurahama, Kochi, Japan)

Katsurahama beach is a famous moon-viewing spot where you can enjoy the gorgeous view of the harvest moon over the ocean. Unfortunately the sky was full of clouds while I was there…

original post
related post

Edible Flowers: The Marvelous Hibiscus

By Melissa in Panama.

I grew up in places blessed with magical gardens, an unimaginable rainbow of colors and fragrances that would connect you directly to the heart of mother and father nature.

I have memories of walking in ecstasy through my great grandmother's garden: oh, she had so many plants, flowers and fruit trees! It was heaven to me. Even thou I was just a little girl exploring the world, I remember how good flowers tasted! Yes! My favorite were the miniature white roses and the pink hibiscus. There were some yellow and  also white wild berries that were delicious too: sweet and little bitter at the end.

Yesterday I woke up to find some beautiful hibiscus in my garden! Oh, they were so big and colorful! The good thing is that this variety lasts 2-3 days open. Regular hibiscus only stays open one day.

So, facing this kind of beauty I have been seduced to share with you the picture and some information about this wonderful plant. During my last visit to Belize rain forest I found an article about hibiscus in the local -Visitors Guide- from June 30, 2005, page 12. An excerpt of the article follows:

"Traditional uses: only the red flowered hibiscus is considered of medicinal value. For post partum hemorrhages, the staunching of excessive menstrual flow, and to prevent miscarriage, boil nine leaves with one open and one closed flower in three cups of water for ten minutes; drink warm. A cool bath of leaves and flowers is useful to treat  various skin conditions. For headaches and fevers mash leaves and apply to the head. The flowers are edible and rich in iron, they can be eaten to treat painful menstruation."

I love the -bush doctors- culture that prevails in countries like Belize, Mexico and in Central America.I suggest you read the book: "My apprenticeship with a Maya Healer. SASTUN. by Rosita Arvigo with Nadine Epstein". It is a great book, result of the research Rosita Arvigo did in Belize, sponsored by the New York Botanical Garden and the National Cancer Institute. It was an attempt to collect plants in the tropics of the hemisphere to use as a cure for many different health conditions, including cancer and aids.

Hugs,

Melissa

The Chopstick Chronicles: Bowl o' Guts

What could be more fortifying that a big bowl of assorted pig and chicken guts?

Eating China

Niagara vineyard

By sandy

A walk through the vineyards at Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery in Ontario's Niagara wine region. Photo by my talented photographer friend Pat Anderson.