The mole

There are a few bits of literature out there that deserve to, nay need to, be preserved for the cockroach civilization that is bound to follow us, somewhere down the road to eternity. Hamlet, for example (though I have never seen what all the fuss was about - just kill the bleeder and be done with it). The Cherry Orchard. The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant. (Only joking). Sadly, I've not created any masterpieces. The Live Parrot sketch hardly ranks alongside leaping nuns or Del Boy falling over.

But this. It's not particularly new (I first read it ages ago), and it is, after all, only a restaurant review, but it is the English language stretched to its absolute limit. Incredible.

Pineapple curry

Sticking with the food theme, can I recommend Pineapple Curry? Chop, dice or otherwise mangle a fresh pineapple. Marinade in stuff (I used a bit of garam massala, some mustard and some turmeric). Mix 1/2 a cup of grated coconut with some water/coconut milk and blend with green chili. Heat oil, toss in mustard seeds and some red chili, then fry pineapple, add chili/coconut mix and finish with fresh coriander at the end. Beware! Too much chili and your eyes will fall out.

Serve with basmati rice.

Where are you going, with your fetlocks blowing?

Kate and I saw a tiny white horse this morning, in Battersea Park. Perhaps this is why we both found today slightly unsatisfying. When you see a tiny white horse trotting around at 8am, nothing else in the day can really match it.

Tonight I made tabbouleh. The recipe is very simple. Take 5 oz bulgar wheat. Add 1/4 pint boiling water. Stand for 30 minutes. Add 1/4 cucumber, diced. Some chopped tomato. 2 chopped spring onions, 2 tsp chopped fresh mint, 2 tsp likeiwse fresh and chopped parsley, lime juice, salt, pepper, olive oil.

Turned out very nice indeed.

Homesick, for elsewhere

There's a new pizza place down the road. Or an old pizza place with a new menu. Or an old pizza place with an old menu that they've stuck 'New' all over. I'm not sure.

What I am sure of is that, when Kate read the menu, I got really homesick for Philadelphia. Which is kinda odd, seeing as I only lived there for two years.

The menu in question was mexican (who on earth would eat a pizza with fajhita strips and gucamole on it?) and the merest mention of soft-cheese stuff jalpeno peppers got me thinking of Chaucer's Bar and the Monday night game. Then I started thinking about the food trucks at Penn. and buritos and those magic meatball sandwiches with cheese.

You can read about some of these places at http://www.iamsilk.com/philadelphia_bars.htm Those Phildelphians out there are welcome to add comments of their own.

Excuse me. I need to go and eat something. With cheese.