Defending Brunch

Do I really need to defend my decision to spend four hours on brunch?  Was it four or eight or eighteen?  Regardless, one should never have to justify taking a leisurely meal.  And I think last Sunday went rather well.
 

I unearthed last August's BAN BRUNCH (BANBRUNCHBLOG) by Alexander Nazaryan in which he calls for an end to brunch.  Mr. Nazaryan speaks specifically of the Sunday Brunch that takes place outside the home.  Nazaryan feels that we, humankind, could be so much more if we could just stop eating and drinking for nigh on four hours on a Sunday afternoon.  There was a call for a rational mind to reconsider brunch’s place in society.

I firmly believe in brunch (and leisurely breakfasts).  This afternoon delight can take place in your own home, too.  We have observed several versions of brunch.  Xmas, Easter, the Saturday leisurely paced/sausage laced.  The menu is not important.  We have run the gamut from the ubiquitous Eggs Benedict to Kedgeree to the Full Monty.

For your next brunch menu, please see BRUNCH 

Nazaryan’s argument is that our time could be better spent enlightening ourselves and others; better spent exercising the little grey cells, n’est pas?  I would counter that Brunch allows precisely this and that we are better off from having spent a few hours in conversation, observation or quiet contemplation.

Brunch may be the best thing you've eaten all week.  It may be the only time you've allowed yourself to ingest properly all week. Are you a ten-minuter? Do you balance the juice and toast on the bathroom vanity?  The soap and shaving foam adding another layer of taste? Do you swig coffee on the way to work?

Do you read the newspaper or scan? (Do people still read newspapers? I'm the only one in my neighbourhood.) Do you listen to your morning show? Really listen?  Do you stop to look out of the window? Do you linger at the window?  Try brunch.  It goes well with all of the above.  Do you share your thoughts with other beings? Conversation can be challenging when you are running around looking for that matching sock.
 
Ultimately, I don’t care what others bring to the brunch table, food or conversation wise.  The rush of the work week may mean you’ve exhausted your conversations cards.  David MacFarlane, who has been mentioned in these pages before, suggested doing just one thing at a time and eating may be that one thing.  Do you think you can?   Don't consider what you could/should be doing.  Focus on this one thing. Can you allow yourself a guilt free meal?

What is the gain from Sunday's brunch?   I learned to cook something new. I've expanded my culinary horizons. I supported the local economy. I educated the staff at the local LCBO on where to find product on their store shelves. No, the product line has not been discontinued. If you have yet to introduce yourself to Niagara wines, now is the time.  Apparently the Chinese love Ice Wine.  But, please don't buy the knock off; it contains glycol. Shudder. I learned how birds defend themselves against one another.  I got caught up on family matters, the state of European football, gardening tips.  I listened to The Sunday Edition in its entirety. People watching? Of course.  I felt good because I had managed to cut the grass and the neighbours just don't quite seem able to manage it. The whole experience was a great start to the day.

"So what?" you ask.

Brunch results in a healthy mindset.  A healthy mind results in a healthy body thus a more productive member of society. Psychology 101. The more productive you are, the less guilt about taking time out to eat, the more you can indulge in brunch! 

Lessons that could be applied in the workplace, no?  But, that’s another post.

 

Old Year/New Year

Good New Year to you.

Abstained from the blog for the holidays. Some are trying to go gadget-free one night a week at AA type affairs and having to go through deep therapy to cope. You're not reading this in the WC, are you?

Like to take my Xmas season right through the Orthodox holidays. And why not? In fact why stop at Xmas? I like the idea of borrowing from the many traditions out there and creating your own eclectic experience. Apply it to Easter, Thanksgiving and so on.

The cards are still up(missing about four this year-you know who you are), the tree is still up-naturally artificial, however I did hear rumour of a man with a twenty year old vrai chose. I’m with Stewart Maclean who also keeps his tree up through Winter. These are dark mornings and a little glow of tree light with breakfast is just the thing.

 

After a frenzy of shopping, baking mince tarts (labour intensive but pleased with the outcome), fruit cake and almond bark (amongst others) and prepping for the big day, I went into hibernation mode.

Was housebound with the Boxing Day storm, coming up for air on Jan 2. It was a time of gross indulgence-Ceasars, Rusty Nails, red, white, ice and port wines, the 10PM caffeine consumption, plum pudding, triple crème Brie, Stilton, chocolate, Eggs Benedict and The Full Monty breakfasts. Tried on a skirt yesterday and caught sight of my thighs-the horror. Did I move at all from Xmas Eve to the afternoon of the 2^nd? Does moving from the dining room table to the Family Room count as exercise? There were stairs involved. I did exercise the old grey cells deciding on which of the two hundred and fifty channels to watch.

You see the whole culture in an evening. Caught up with Absolutely Fabulous, Yes, Minister(this does age well), Die Hard I, II, III (I hear we’re about to be treated to IV), Martin Clunes(seems like such a genuinely all round nice guy), The Queen’s Palaces, Craig Ferguson of the Late Late Show on location in Scotland (pick up the movie Born Romantic-he plays a guy with a Dean Martin obsession), Corner Gas, Reality TV-Storage Wars-love Barry, and Come Dine With Me-took all my effort to stay with this one. Fascinating peak at the world. Learned that Britain is churning out a very nice sparkling wine. South Downs-champagne capital of England. It’s all in the chalk.

Back to the device thing. On the pre midnight recap of New Year’s celebrations in China and Australia, was anyone actually looking at the fireworks or were they only recording it? I saw only cell phones. It’s important to participate in events not just document, same goes for blogging. Are you participating in the moment or merely logging the events? Interview on Spark this week with a woman who has to actively set aside a day where she is not emailing or tweeting. I would never survive in a Twitter-only world. I find it staggering what people put out there. Recent interview in The Spec asking interviewee what her latest tweet was-“craving croissant and coffee”. I will say, though, that after a recent browse through Indigo, anything and everything is on the market. So if you want to blog or tweet about it, go ahead. Goodness knows, I’m doing it. I recently came across Breathing Treatment Here’s a guy giving weather updates (amongst many other things) from California. Really enjoyed going through the archive-he’s got a bit of everything.

Finished off the AGH Napoleon exhibit. Fancied himself as a bit of a Julius Ceasar type. Thanks to the Xmas TVO watching, learned that the silverware at this time was laid face down. Why? All those frilly cuffs. They would get caught up in the tines of the fork. The AGH displayed forks and spoons face down. No need to ask why. Silverware was a big deal during this time. Today we may display wealth with a car or boat, back then it was silverware. Apparently Joseph Bonaparte lived in New Jersey for some time. I think crime lords not French ex-pats when I think of Jersey.

Have you finished at the AGH and it’s Shawarma you’re after?  North side of King West and Caroline, sandwiched between two Japanese restaurants is a very rustic looking purveyor of kebab and rice. Excellent Shawarma; fresh dressings and a very tidy sandwich which is critical when you're jamming a pita with a dozen items.

So January arrived and with it the sun. England had been under a deluge of eternal rain and we remarked that cold and sun are a much better combination than cold, cloud and damp. After a fry up of The Full Monty and a pot of tea, emerged from the house on January 2 to prepare for the coming Work Day. Things to do-mainly clearing the cobwebs. Donned about three layers of clothing and set off into Farm Country. Pit stop at the Stoney Creek cemetery; I like the way the sun was coming through the trees with the late PM sun.  Older graves including a War of 1812. Primarily births from late 1800’s.

Up into Tapleytown and found a crumbling barn. What a difference snow makes to the landscape. 

Tour of the Catholic cemetery-fairly recent cookie cutter headstones. A golden Mary greets you at the gate.

Next door are two older churchyards-St. Georges and Tapleytown United. Wanted to take a tour of the little one room school house down the road but as a police cruiser was parked up, thought better of it. Home and collapsed by 7PM.

 

 

 

Work days a blur and just as well. Ah, the two day work week. If only it were a permanent thing.

Finally made it to the AGO and the Frida and Diego exhibit. Time was ticking and one thing you don’t want to do is go on the last day of an exhibit. This runs ‘til the 20^th and I would suggest a weekday if you can. Usual issues with any exhibit like this. People going through life with blinders on. There’s always someone going to stand in front of you no matter what.

The Calla Lily Vendor...

It’s exhausting dealing with humans. It’s my own fault. I did not read the fine print for the 28^thtelling me that I had to book in advance. Could have taken a much quieter tour but perhaps next time when the Renaissance comes to town. Xmas week is the ideal time to be in Toronto. Most of it’s shut down and it’s quiet and calm on the streets. Walked from the Esplanade & Front to McCaul & Dundas. Far enough in a cold climate. Interesting how the AGO operates versus the AGH. Here I show my little paper membership card and I’m given an entrance sticker. End of story. There, I have to present my heavy duty membership card, photo ID and specify what exhibits I want to see. At the exhibit, I’m asked for my ticket, membership and depending on the mood, id. Is this an Art Gallery or Putin’s Inner Circle?

Detail from The Feast of Santa Anita...

I’ve always appreciated Frida Kahlo’s paintings, but didn’t know very much about Rivera. Enjoyed his self portraits, landscapes, Woman With Flowers, Feast of Santa Anita, Dance of the Sun and Calla Lily Vendor. There were a lot of photographs of the two artists, my favourite being by Mary Lou Packard. Favourite Kahlo painting is Love Embrace of the World (below).

Viva the uni-brow and moustache!!

 

Emerged from the chaos into a virtually empty, calm, cool, green room of African art. Ahh. Advice for this gallery? Get a membership and take it one exhibit at a time.

Once again, the muffins were dynamite.

Dundas West is a great stretch of road for restaurants. Side by side Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Japanese, Korean, Chinese and Thai. Try a moveable feast-a little nibble of everything. Start with some soup in one place, then sushi at another and finish with falafel somewhere else. Went with hot and sour soup. Delicious. Would like to see “real” chicken in Asian dishes. I’m told it’s injected with water to plump it up and tenderize it but it’s not a good mouth feel. Indian restaurants have the real thing. You can tell the difference. Someone from the street wandered in and made a B-Line for the kitchen. She was quietly escorted out.

Meandered back through the mall. Can someone explain the appeal of a Coach bag? Why is it that the higher the price tag, the uglier the bag? I spied a messenger bag in men’s wear. I couldn’t resist looking at the tag-$400 for a bit of leather. The Men’s section is definitely more stylish than the women’s, though and should it have fit my budget, it would make an ideal carry-all for a day like Saturday.

Finished up the day with a spiced latte. A Starbucks? Yes, I know I said I wouldn’t go chain on this trip. Church pews for seats and Diana Krall in the background. People on first name terms here and it was the only spot (apart from my attempt at humour on Queen Street, which generated one smile from a fellow pedestrian) that anyone spoke. The Urban Experience. I remember meeting a friend in town some years ago. She’s from Farm Country and was doing a few semesters in TO. She’d gone Urban overnight. “You don’t make eye contact,” she said. We were on the Subway at the time. I like to stop and look around. Staring at the pavement gets boring, fast.

I defiantly asked for a MEDIUM. “You mean a GRANDE?”  he asked.  Try this link.
Letter to Starbucks Great piece on making sense, if you can, of the sizing system at Starbucks. A server was giving away the stale scones. Even she wouldn’t eat them. What did I spy amongst the laptops and cellphones? A person writing with paper and pen. Could it be? So I am not alone here. I'm never without my little notebook.

Had sat down to pen something before now, but, with the announcement of the death of the young Indian woman, it hardly seemed the time for my sarcasm and flippancy. The reality is there is never a good time. Death, torture and suffering are a daily occurrence. This will not change. Mother and child found dead in the trunk of a vehicle, four dead in Kabul due to book burnings, gay man beaten to death by man on one hour pass from psychiatric hospital, 200 elephants slaughtered for ivory, Mitt Romney running for president (alright, that’s not quite in the same league, but imagine, Dear Reader, if he had got in). We complain about our little lot in life, seemingly oblivious to the “bad” things out there. But we do acknowledge these things, we do what we can to try to change a situation-be it domestic or otherwise and we get on with our lives because, as it states above, we need a pressure valve for the brain. Writing about excessive self indulgence is OK. Instagrams of your child eating broccoli, Tweeting about the movie you’re watching and sharing milestones is OK. It is how we sustain ourselves amidst the chaos around us.

And what has sustained me these last twelve months? "New Year reflection? Thought you didn’t believe in that sort of thing," I hear you saying. Apart from Letterman, saw only one published “Best Of” list for 2012. Much improvement; clearly everyone got my memo.

Until next time.

Does Star Wars count as a Christmas activity?

Ah, the intoxicating aromas of the Bulk Barn(BB).  Well, intoxicating is perhaps too strong a word for the spice section of a bulk food store.  Does wonders for the car; more natural than Febreeze.

I had pored (no pun intended) over the latest Food & Drink and decided on the Ginger cake.  Who amongst us doesn't covet the Food & Drink Holiday edition?  You've got to time it right, though.  Visit the LCBO too early or too late in the season and the shelves are bare.  Lunch hour run to the BB to stock up for the Christmas cake(I have an edible version), the pistachio and cranberry bars and truffles amongst other things.  The Widget Makers are partial to sweets and one feels the obligation to take their mind off the inevitable noon hour Subway sandwich. 

The BB is a black hole and a labour intensive one at that.  I emerged with the notion that I still had a half hour to indulge in the much sought after burger. "A burger?", you ask.  Not to be, as the hour had gone.  I went in for $2.00 worth of product and wound up with a trunk load.  Finished up consuming a partially cooked baked potato slathered in bacon marmalade and Parmesan.  Questionable choice.

For the first time in nigh on six weeks, I felt sufficiently revived to contemplate the painting, baking and tree trimming.  The Pater was scheduled for Sunday dinner and I couldn't look at the replastered wall any longer.  Perhaps if the GP had actually allowed me take an appointment, this whole farce with the eyes would not have taken so long.  Next time, I'm storm-troopering in there.  Self control be damned.

Delivered the neighbours' cards in the evening.  They looked at me puzzled and questioned why I was delivering Xmas cards on December 7th.  It is customary to graciously accept cards and not question the sender's motive/time of season.  Not here.  You have to tread carefully with "first generation".  I believe they send theirs on Xmas Eve. I like to get my money's worth.   Xmas cards are a dying art.  I like seeing a red, green or silver envelope in the mail box. Refreshing to open something that isn't a bill.  To the grocery store again and returned with a tray of sushi which was very nicely done. I'm on a Mike Leigh bent at the moment.  Picked up Mike Leigh on Mike Leigh a couple of weeks back.  Leigh dissects all his movies with the interviewer and it's been good revisiting them after the read.  Finished the day with Leigh's Vera Drake. An outstanding period drama with Imelda Staunton.

I detest painting but having gotten started again after a six year hiatus, have the drive to continue with the remaining rooms.  I can sleep at night now; not that fitful tossing and turning, waking with a cold sweat as the mind turns over the TO DO list.  I like to work with a small sponge roller-control is what you're after here.  Use a large one and next thing you're painting ceilings and baseboards and where does it end? The bottom of a large bottle of red wine.  Try and see if you can find a podcast for This Is My Music on CBC.  Ivars Taurin's turn and he presented a very fine selection of music.  Just the thing to ease into the day.

Ventured into the crawl space to get the tree. Germaphobes don't handle dark, dusty spaces well.  In fact I'm getting heart palpitations as I write this.  Putting less and less on the tree each year.  Thinking more in terms of keeping clean lines than sheer lack of ambition.  Remember, it's all got to come down again.

Finished the night with Leigh's Naked.  Raw would be a good word to describe this movie. I've seen it many times. If you're looking for laughs, this is not your movie, but I think you need to enter the world of Mr. Leigh once in a while.

Found just enough counter space next morning to make a cup of tea.  Vinyl Cafe was in holiday mode with a repeat of the Hawksley Workman show; saw it live last year.  Second time seeing Workman live.  If you have the opportunity to see  The Vinyl Cafe  or any of his guests in concert, do so.

A clipper was forecast and thought it prudent to make a start.  For the uninitiated, a ginger cake batter performs a little differently than your typical Duncan Crocker.  It doesn't flow out of the bowl into the cake pans; you have to drag it out, kicking and screaming.  A ginger batter will not self-distribute in the pan.  You have to do it for it.  Finally smacking the tins on the counter five or six times to cancel air pockets.  How do you now if this has been successful?  You don't.  It's a matter of faith.  This is a well seasoned cake-ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, cloves and is great for a miserable rainy day, like Sunday.

 

The frosting was a dismal failure and I'm sure, with time, I'll come to understand what went wrong.  It's butter and icing sugar-how difficult could it be? The icing has separated from the buttery mass and remains to this day, a sticky pool in the bottom of the bowl.

Soup was successful and I recommend this if for no other reason than the garnish.  Lemon juice, garlic, paprika, olive oil.  Dress the soup with a generous amount of cheese, garnish and parsley.  See below for recipes.

The Pater is partial to pastry(alliteration, anyone?). Why do we wait ‘til Xmas Eve before cracking open the nuts and pastry trays?  If you narrow the season down to 1.5 days, you’re depriving yourself.  Forced a small Ceaser at cocktail hour; celery nice and crisp.  (Note to hosts: please peel your celery.  Who wants to see guests trying to discreetly retrieve a string of celery from their back molars?) What else but grilled cheese with the soup ? Try to elevate the lowly grilled cheese to new heights.  Get creative.  And don't wait 'til you're hungry to start any cooking.

Coffee finished and the Pater took his leave. It was time to wrap up the Xmas correspondence.  Had taken an espresso after dinner and the energy level was running high. 
Flashback to Fall 2011.
Finally watched the Star Wars saga from start to finish. Yes, I found the rock quite comfortable, thank-you very much.

Went to see Star Wars in '77 and stopped there; never going back to complete the saga. Since that day, caught bits and pieces of it at the holidays, but it is simply not possible to sit through the commercials.

It would be a gross understatement to say that the Widget Maker is a fan. Deeming their Star Wars dvd collection surplus to requirements with the acquisition of Blu-Ray, I came into possession of the series.  I diligently sat through every movie, having momentary deja vu from the glimpses I'd seen every Christmas. I steadied myself and completed my education.

And then comes along Camille Paglia, who feels that George Lucas is the greatest living artist of the modern era. Revenge of the Sith as high art? Paglia recently released her book Glittering Images and during the writing process, was undecided as to its conclusion. Was there any modern art that was worthy of her final chapter? Apparently so.  Paglia was blown away by Sith.

I'm partial to Rembrandt. To consider Lucas' output high art might be a bit of a stretch. 
And so, high on the lingering paint fumes and helped along by the espresso, I popped Sith back into the machine for another look.  I focused primarily on the final two chapters. The movie has a very Gothic feel and the music added to this.   The landscapes throughout the series were reminiscent of Bosch.  Is computer-generated work art?  David Hockney would say, yes.  Although I don't know what he thinks of Lucas.  Should Lucas be crowned king?  I would argue, no.    There isn't consistency throughout the movie (or series).  Flashes of genius are not enough to claim the crown.  Was I blown away, like Paglia?  No.  Perhaps Star Wars was too new for her? I think most people were surprised someone of Paglia's ilk deigned to watch.  (I do like when Vader gets fitted with his helmet and we hear that first breath.)  Perhaps I'll take another look with the next round of caffeine.

The movie aside, I don't think we need to place people at the bottom or the top. We are entering that dangerous time of year-the ubiquitous Top 10 List.

Bleak mornings these past few days and the only thing getting me out of bed was the lure of a little piece of ginger cake after breakfast.  Presented a plateful to the Widget Makers and they promptly inhaled it.  What's etiquette on the last piece on the plate?  If you are mere moments away from dining out at lunch, do you take the piece or leave it for someone else who isn't eating lunch?  In this case the piece disappeared.  But, this takes me into a whole other post.

Until next time.

Ginger Cake-Holiday 2012

3 cups flour

1 TBSP baking powder
½ TSP baking soda
2 TBSP ginger
2 TSP cinnamon
1 TSP allspice, nutmeg, black pepper
½ tsp ground cloves & salt
1 C butter
½ cups brown sugar
3 eggs
½ cup fancy molasses
1 C milk

Blend first nine ingredients.

Beat butter, adding sugar until well combined; add egg; add molasses.
Add ¼ flour mix, followed by ¼ milk until all combined.

Coax the batter into pans. Smooth surfaces.   Bang pans on counter to remove air pockets.

Bake 40 mins at 325C.

 

Cauliflower & Potato Soup-Holiday 2012

Recipe not terribly essential here. Go with your instincts. This is soup, after all.

1 diced onion

1 stalk celery
1 head cauliflower
3 potatoes (any)
1 TBSP butter and oil of choice
1 clove garlic
1 litre chicken stock

Garnish

2 TBSP olive oil

1 TBSP lemon juice
1 clove garlic
1 ½ TSP paprika

grated cheese (any)

chopped parsley

Dice vegetables; sautee a few minutes; add stock; boil and then simmer ‘til tender.

Stir garnish ingredients.
Add  cheese to soup bowl, drizzle with oil mixture; top with parsley.

Hearty soup and a very tasty drizzle.

The Year Without Cable-Part I-Toasting Chestnuts

(From the Diary of an Anachronist.)

David MacFarlane, contributing to the Globe & Mail in 2002 , wrote about the joy of toasting chestnuts.  Not the kind you eat, but, the kind you might read, watch or, listen to.  In MacFarlane's case, a symphony.  MacFarlane was referring to the Jupiter Symphony.  He had attended numerous performances but what's one more?  Each time is a new experience.

As I approached the one year anniversary of No Cable TV (NCT), I toasted my own chestnuts.  NCT really began in 2005 and I kept myself amused with six channels on the Panasonic portable- "old faithful".  I moved the TV from room to room to improve reception. Over the years, reception waned and one by one the channels turned to snow.

I was left with the local news and TVO.  All anyone really needs.

Then came the fateful day-August 15, 2011.  The digital march arrived (two weeks early I might add).  The remaining two channels gave up the ghost and I was left with a rather large paperweight.

NCT may seem like a daunting prospect for those of you who come home at the end of the workday and sit down in front of the TV for the next five hours.  What to do with your time?  How do you entertain yourself?

Consider for a moment the quality of programming out there.  You have maybe thirty percent quality-the rest is schlock.  Seventy percent mindless programming.  My evening was controlled first by the 6 o'clock news, second by the 7 pm UK fare on TVO, third-the occasional  9pm UK fare (yes, I'm an Anglophile) and, if I wasn't careful, come full circle with the 11 o'clock news.  That's all gone.  So the supper hour routine changes; one is no longer clock watching; the reading has gone through the roof and you get to bed earlier.

Know a couple of PVRers but when do you watch it all? They still have to find the time-life still revolves around watching the archive.

So a year has gone by and I have worked my way through the old video collection of some 300+ movies, a handful of dvd's and put my tax dollars to work by patronizing the library system-their movie collection has improved greatly-lots of foreign films to choose from.

So what has sustained me during this period of NCT? 
Movies from Mike Leigh, Alexander Payne, Peter Greenaway, Curtis Hanson, the Canadians, the French.

More on these chestnuts next time.

Mr. Ivory Deserved Better

When the host is away we get: quote /unquote

We cannot unquote someone.

We can end quote.
Waited all day for the interview and the guest host butchered it.
Mr. Ivory deserved better .