Archive for December, 2011
December 28th, 2011 | 
Author: Day 119/365 – The Winter’s Tale
Image by Kevin H.
My friend Pia and I went to dinner at Two Quail and then saw Shakespeare’s ‘The Winter Play’ at the Folger Theatre tonight. Neither of us had been to Two Quail before and Pia had a off coupon, so we decided to check it out. It’s a cozy little place that would probably be the perfect setting for an afternoon tea, but as a dinner spot it was ‘meh.’
We started with the coconut shrimp appetizer and it was good, but the entree’s didn’t measure up. I had the spotted trout and Pia had the quail. My fish was overcooked mush and tasted to strongly of lemon and even Pia’s quail was on the mushy side. Don’t know how they managed that. Both dishes were accompanied by plain white rice and sauteed veggies, which is the sort of thing you’d expect from a cafeteria rather than a serious restaurant.
Now that I’ve been to Two Quail, I don’t see any reason to go back. I can’t recommend it as a dinner option unless you like overcooked, oversauced/seasoned, overpriced (even with a off coupon) fare. Thankfully the play was better, although still flawed.
‘The Winter’s Tale’ is one of Shakespeare’s later plays. It’s a seldom-performed work that’s a tale of two halves. The first half is a dark, potent, dramatic tragedy that stands up as well as any of the playwright’s earlier works. The play then does a 180 in the second half and turns into a sprightly, romantic, romp of a comedy and then concludes with an ending that is too pat, neat (and quite frankly, ridiculous) to be very satisfying.
You have to give the old boy credit for being ballsy enough to try something as adventurous and experimental as penning a half-tragedy, half-comedy late in his career, but even his skills weren’t quite up to the challenge. The dark first half is by far the best part of the play and it alone is worth the price of admission, particularly if you can snag discounted tickets to the show from Ticketplace or Goldstar.
As per the norm with the Folger, the performances are very good. In particular the actors portraying the mad, paranoid, obsessive King of Sicilia and the righeously sharp-tongued firebrand Paulina wring every drop from their roles. The only let-down in terms of the cast comes from the actress portraying the persecuted queen Hermione. She’s excellent in the trial scene, but comes across as stiff and stilted in the casual scenes that open the play. She plays much better at being tormented than contented.
‘The Winter’s Tale’ is a flawed work, but even a flawed work from a genius is worth seeing — especially if you’ve never been to the Folger’s Elizabethan Theatre. It’s a hidden gem that recreates a Renaissance theater of the type that would have staged Shakespeare’s works during his lifetime, albeit with a concession to modernity in the form of seats on the main floor rather than standing room for the ‘groundlings.’ Going there always makes me feel like I’m inside the movie ‘Shakespeare In Love.’
(February 4, 2009)
www.cheatface.com Restaurant City lets you run your very own restaurant and employ your friends to work for you as waiters and chefs. And with a wealth of different decorations, furniture and equipment to choose from you can really make your mark with a completely unique restaurant. You can visit your friends’ restaurants too and even trade ingredients with them to help you create a menu which ensures your restaurant is the talk of the town
Video Rating: 2 / 5
Pea Puree close-up – Grilled Skate with Pea Puree – Bistro Vue
Image by avlxyz
Pea Puree close-up – Grilled Skate with Pea Puree – Bistro Vue AUD29
The pea puree that was left after we attacked it.
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On a cold and Wintery Tuesday night, Bistro Vue was fully booked, with a private function occupying half the restaurant.
As the dining room began to fill, an accordian player started playing, adding to the ambience.
The menu was typically French, although the current specials seem to all involve curry of one form or another.
We ordered 3 hors d’oeuvres (starters) and 2 entrees (mains), in the hope that we would have enough room for the chocolate souffle!
The clam gratinée was a nice start. Although the clams weren’t very meaty, the flavours of the sea combined with dollops of tomato, garlic and parsley and a light sprinkling of cheese was probably the best tasting grilled clams I’ve had! The little micro-coriander and drizzle of basil oil made the dish colourful too!
Next up were the posh-sounding Poulet et escargot en rouleaux. In other words, chicken spring rolls with snails! 
We couldn’t quite work out if there were any snails in the spring rolls themselves, but the chicken was light and the pastry skin was crunchy and not greasy. It was served with 2 escargot in a curry sauce, which seemed a bit out of place. We were also given a small pot of curry sauce for the spring rolls, but that seemed unnecessary as well.
The 2-hour poached eggs were quite a treat! Visually playful, 3 eggs were served in an egg carton, with 6 halved egg shells holding the yolks and a mushroom jus and air. The confit egg yolks were unimaginably creamy and went very well wild mushroom purée and the fingers of toast! It’s an amazing combination. We followed that with the mushroom jus which was like a strong beef consomme.
After a short rest, our mains arrived. The grilled skate was a simple piece of fish with slightly crisped edges and a moist center. The naturally sweet, garlicky fresh pea puree balanced out the saltiness of the fish. The accompanying scalloped potato were waxy and fragrant with butter. Yum!
We also got a duck dish, with a slow-roasted duck breast that was tender and juicy. However, the confit duck leg was a bit over-seasoned, but very flavoursome. The braised cabbage went some way to temper the salt, but we had to order more of the warm mini baguettes to help calm our tastebuds.
When asked if we’d liked dessert, we knew we did! We ordered the chocolate souffle and some coffees.
The souffle was accompanied with some theatrics! Before I could take a photo, our waitress stabbed it with butter knife and proceded to make a hole. She then poured a jug of hot chocolate into the hole, finishing by drizzling some over the top. The souffle was very light and fluffy, almost too light, giving it the texture of beaten egg whites that hadn’t had time to firm up. Tastewise, the souffle wasn’t as intensely chocolatey and we’d like, but still very good. After the dessert, we all agreed that the lightness was a welcome end to a good dinner!
Bistro Vue
430 Little Collins St Melbourne 3000
(03) 9691 3838
vuedemonde.com.au/bistro-vue.aspx
- Bistro Vue – Dani Valent, Reviewer – January 22, 2007
- Bistro Vue – John Lethlean, Reviewer – February 12, 2007 – 14/20
The forbidden city in Beijing (Imperial palace of China from 1406 house of the Ming dinasty and the Qing Dinasty of China) walking to the Tianamen square, very nice traditional area of the modern Beijing city. I’m very impressed about how much the Chinese people respect their monuments, symbols and traditional places. The Forbidden City (Beijing 1406) was the Chinese imperial palace from the Ming Dynasty to the end of the Qing Dynasty. It is located in the middle of Beijing, China, and now houses the Palace Museum. For almost five hundred years, it served as the home of emperors and their households, as well as the ceremonial and political centre of Chinese government www.chinamanufacturingguide.com Beijing in China, a beautiful city of China with more than 20 millions inhabitants, very clean and great organization, everything, signs and indication s in English and Chinese. City is A beautiful, easy and modern city, many young guys with an incredible future potential. I’m understand why they did the 2008 Olympic games. Beijing offers GREAT FOOD, fresh fruit all the time, excelent small TOMATOES, an incredible DUCK dishes, many plates, very simple and many options for world people. The Great Wall of China very close (an hour driving) the forbidden city very close in Beijing, the Tianamen square, Mao, teather, Chinese opera,… the easy shopping way, from silk market to luxury Chinese products.. SO, Beijing a city to visit, friendly and beautiful for more info www …
Paparalli wins first prize in a contest for an all expenses paid holiday for two in a top Miami hotel. Bilko of course intends to go with him – but there’s a catch…..
Part 1. Classic Literature VideoBook with synchronized text, interactive transcript, and closed captions in multiple languages. Audio courtesy of Librivox. Playlist for The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde: www.youtube.com Cast: NARRATOR — Martin Geeson Lord Henry Wotton — David Goldfarb Dorian Gray — Algy Pug Basil Hallward — Anthony Sibyl Vane — Miss Avarice James Vane — David Lawrence Duchess of Monmouth — Availle Victor — Martin Geeson Francis — Simon Pride Cab Driver — Simon Pride Parker — Elizabeth Klett Lord Fermor — Anthony Lady Agatha — Sarah Duchess of Harley — Hannah Harris Sir Thomas Burdon — Terence Taylor Mr. Erskine — Frank Booker Mrs. Vandeleur — Mary-Beth Blackburn Lady Henry — Susanna Mrs. Vane — Arielle Lipshaw Mrs. Leaf — Rebeka Harris Mr. Hubbard — Frank Booker Alan Campbell — Ernst Pattynama Lady Narborough — Elizabeth Klett Lady Ruxton — Mary-Beth Blackburn Adrian Singleton — Joseph Lawler Woman — Lucy Perry Sir Geoffrey Clouston — Mark F. Smith Gamekeeper — Martin Geeson Gardener- Joseph Lawler Young Man — Elizabeth Klett Old Gentleman — Mark F. Smith Constable — Joseph Lawler
Ackee and saltfish, with hard food on the side, at Caribbean Scene, Stratford, London E15
Image by Kake Pugh
At Caribbean Scene Family, in Stratford.
Caribbean Scene Family on the Randomness Guide to London.
AT MY LOCAL FISH AND CHIPS SHOP THE ATLANTIC
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Salt and chilli squid at Banzi, Rotherhithe/Surrey Quays, London SE16
Image by Kake Pugh
£4.50, and decent enough.
Recipe found at: www.cookwithkelly.com This dish is a new type of Sichuan cuisine, created in early 90s. It’s a little bit spicy but super delicious. I guarantee you will like it! Authentic Chinese Food, Cooking and Recipes Music by: Paco De Lucia – Entre Dos Aguas
Video Rating: 5 / 5
Posted in Chinese Restaurants | 
Tags: Cabbage, Chinese, fish, Food, Pickled, Pot/酸菜魚/Chinese, recipes., Sichuan | 
7 Comments »
Sjobaren Fish restaurant in Haga, Gothenburg
Image by heatheronhertravels
www.heatheronhertravels.com/
www.sjobaren.se/
www.goteborg.com/
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Above Hotel Savera, Ameerpet, Hyderabad – 500016 Ph: 04023738177, 04023738188, 9246173339 www.ramnee.com
Sjobaren Fish restaurant in Haga, Gothenburg
Image by heatheronhertravels
www.heatheronhertravels.com/
www.sjobaren.se/
www.goteborg.com/
This photo is licenced under Creative commons for use including commercial on condition that you link back to or credit www.heatheronhertravels.com/
See my profile for more detail.
Watch how the noodles on the spot. It is magic. www.taihorestaurant.com
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Dragon Castle – an elegant Chinese restaurant near the Elephant and Castle serviing delicious dim sum and cantonese cuisine. Dragon Castle has to be one of the best Chinese restaurants in London.
Whitefish Ready to Boil
Image by J. Stephen Conn
Pelletier’s Restaurant, Fish Creek, Door County, Wisconsin
Along Schooner Creek in the heart of Lincoln City — fully furnished, with all the comforts of home: 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths (one with jetted tub), living room with a 53″ plasma TV, dining room, full kitchen; glassed-in deck to feel/see the outdoors in your pj’s. Great place to unwind, non-smoking. Go kayaking or fishing on the creek or watch the ducks swim by and a variety of birds fly by; walk on the beach (4 blocks away) and hunt for glass floats, watch the sun set; golf at the Salishan or Chinook Winds Gold Resort; try your luck at the Chinook Winds casino; shop at the outlet stores; visit art galleries and dine at excellent restaurants! The Duck Inn is an authentic log home, built along the Schooner Creek shoreline, The home is beautifully furnished, blending together today’s modern conveniences with old world charm. Enjoy the beauty of the outdoors from indoors. This home is steps away from the water where you can fish, canoe or kayak. It is the perfect spot for just enjoying peace and quiet or watching the ducks, birds and seals while you relax.
Video Rating: 0 / 5
Community Church
Image by elviskennedy
Community Church in Fish Creek, Wisconsin
www.shellvacationsclub.com Wisconsin Vacations – Shell Vacations Club at Little Sweden, Fish Creek, WI. This all season retreat is nestled in Wisconsin’s scenic Door County. Come to Little Sweden and into a world where nature’s beauty provides the perfect backdrop for both relaxation and recreation. Located in the middle of recreational and cultural activities you can enjoy anything from hiking, biking, cross country ski trails, golfing, fishing, boating, or shopping. Little Sweden is located in the center of it all. Enjoy all the local restaurants, state parks, summer theaters and music festivals that Wisconsin has to offer.
Video Rating: 0 / 5