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My New Discovery – Chill House

My New Discovery – Chill House

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Let me preface this article by stating that I hate applying genre titles to music. In a lot of cases, it can be a bloody hard task. Artists are blurring the lines – taking elements of one genre and fusing it with another (or multiple) to create something new. Before you know it, there’s not just Soul and R&B, but neo-soul, country soul, alternative R&B, indie R&B, PBR&B, and numerous others. And don’t get me started on hip-hop/rap. Like the Wu-Tang Clan once mused, it used to be all so simple. Fast forward 20-odd years and now we have Crunk, Trap, Trip Hop, Gangsta Rap, Conscious Rap, Nerdcore, Hyphy, and a million other styles for what was once referred to as just plain old Rap music. Applying a genre title to a song or artist can be quite subjective, and let’s face it, in the current climate of modern music, the genre lines are so blurred and blended, who really knows half the time what pot things fall into. And God forbid I make a mistake and name a song one thing when concensus says it’s another thing. Check this link to see how convoluted music genres are today. So, the following article is about my recent discovery of what I call “Chill House”, but don’t shoot me if I’ve got it wrong. What I can tell you is, the music I’ll be referring to is definitely electronic in nature (though there are some organic elements too), and is for the most part, lo-fi, quite melodic and soulful, and has a BPM of anywhere between 120-180. But have a listen to some of the songs and call it what you want – I’ll just call it good music.

Those that really know me, know that my tastes in music are quite eclectic. However, one of the few genres I’ve never really delved into has been house music. There are several reasons behind this – 1) I’ve been so immersed into hip-hop, soul, funk, jazz and other genres I’m so much more invested in, that I’ve never really had the time to learn more about any house music that I might be able to happily wrap my ears around; 2) Although, in 1999, a friend put me up on Pnau’s “Sambanova”, which I got quite into, nothing that I’ve stumbled upon since has given me the same positive reaction (which revolves back around to #1 again); and 3) I never quite got into the whole club drug scene that probably would have endeared me more to dance and house music.

People say music isn’t the same as it used to be. And yes, you could say they’re right. Music, as does most things, evolves. We’d almost certainly complain if it didn’t. It’s a bit of a “damned if I do, damned if I don’t” scenario. In any case, when people say “it’s not like it used to be”, they’re usually initmating that music today is not as good as it once was, which I don’t believe to be true. Yes, past decades have produced innumerous enduring classics, but music today can be just as engaging, daring, imaginative and delightful. For example, just in this current decade, we’ve had such widely regarded classics as Kendrick Lamar “To Pimp A Butterfly”; Frank Ocean “Channel Orange”; Kanye West “My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy”; Daft Punk “Random Access Memories”; and Beyonce “Beyonce”, to name but a few. Then, in terms of my own tastes and to highlight some lesser known gems, you have D’Angelo and The Vanguard “Black Messiah”; Freddie Gibbs and Madlib “Pinata”; Jamie XX “In Colour”; Tame Impala “Currents”; Run The Jewels “Run The Jewels 2” and the list goes on. These are all example of albums that will, at least for me, stand the test of time just as much as classics of yesteryear.

But just like everything else in modern society, people are expecting their music to come easily to them, that it be spoon fed to them. They expect that they’ll turn on the radio and be inundated with sounds that blow their minds. Perhaps that happens for some people, but in my experience, if you want good music, you’ve gotta put in some effort, do some homework and researching. That’s not to say you can’t find good music on the radio. Triple J still plays decent stuff sporadically, as do several community and smaller radio broadcasts. But if you expect to turn the dial to 2Day FM or Nova or the like and think you’re going to hear anything other than the hourly rotation of over-played repetitive pop music, you’ve got a lot of living to do. So, if you’re one of said people – Branch out a little. Listen to a different channel. Spend some time on the World Wide Web. Investigate and experiment with new fandangled things like Soundcloud and Spotify. Talk to like-minded individuals. I’m sure you’ll find a bunch of stuff that appeals to you that you might not have heard through your usual channels.

So, on that note, and with some more time on my hands due to my sabbatical from work, I decided to spend a day scouring Soundcloud to see if I could arouse my aural tastebuds with the sounds of house music. And whaddya know, there were a whole host of things that caught my attention. I’ve compiled them into a playlist that I hope you take the time to check out. When you glimpse the number of spins on some of these songs, you get quite a range – from just 96 to 144K. So, some are rather obscure and unknown, and others are somewhat relatively popular. But I don’t discrimate. Like Common says on the seminal hip-hop classic “I Used To Love H.E.R.” – good music is good music and it’s all good. If you don’t have time to listen through the whole playlist, my favourite titles are: “Remember” by Tom Misch; “je suis en vie” by lowrangeraw; “Cinnamon Flavour” by Ethyene; and “Want Me Too’ by Billy. Open your mind and be exposed to something new, and most importantly, something good!

Top of the Pops

Top of the Pops

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The regular season is over, and the mighty Swans have come out on top. Minor Premiers. It has a nice ring to it. It’s only happened for our wonderful Club 3 times in the past. Even though the ladder says it was close, I reckon it was pretty convincing all things told. And it might well have been much more convincing than it was, were it not for 2 losses clinched from the jaws of victory (Bulldogs and Tigers – for those of us with short memories). Amongst our 5 losses this year, we were only rolled over once – by GWS at Spotless. The other 4 were basically a toss of the coin – the aforementioned last-kick losses to Richmond and the Bulldogs; a loss to Hawthorn that relied heavily on the heroics of Cyril and some dubious calls by the umps; and a close loss to the Crows early in the season that could easily have gone our way (as I’ve previously documented here).

So, we’ve gotta be pretty happy with where we’re at going into the finals. Top of the pops, 4th best offence, #1 defence, and the highest percentage. Not to mention a scintillating run of form, winning our last 6 on the trot – 4 of which were by margins of 90, 67, 70 and 113. And 5 players in the running for All-Australian honours – Hannebery, Kennedy and Franklin, who have previously been named multiple times; with Parker and Rampe deservedly nominated for the first time after having stellar seasons. And Grundy can consider himself highly unlucky not to get a nomination after a superb year.

Most encouraging is the rise of a young crop of players that posits the Club extremely well for the future. Callum Mills – an absolute shoe-in for the Rising Star Award; Isaac Heeney – a 2nd year player, still only 20 years old, who has added an extra dimension to our forward line; George Hewett – also 20 years old, and showing his quality for the first team this year after dominating the NEAFL last year; Aliir Aliir – has shown outstanding composure and the much-needed ability to rebound out of defence; and the list goes on. The likes of Daniel Robinson, James Rose and Harrison Marsh, but in particular Tom Papley, Xavier Richards, Zak Jones and Jake Lloyd have all made positive contributions this season too, contributions that belie their tender years. It’s extremely telling that one of our greats and a long-time stalwart of the team, Teddy Richards, hasn’t been able to get a run as of late. So, if all of these players can continue to work hard and learn from the experienced heads in the team, there is no ceiling for this current outfit – except perhaps our ability to keep them all together and under the Salary Cap.

On top of all of this, our fringe players have made valuable contributions to the team at various stages of the season. Sam Naismith has been a revelation in the ruck during the tail-end of the season. Callum Sinclair was a tidy acquisition from the west to help in our rucking stocks. Along with the great work of Toby Nankervis during Tippett’s injury-forced lay-off. The tenacity and fight of all of these players has pushed the regular first-teamers into bringing their best on a consistent basis in order to retain their starting places in the squad. The competition for places is astonishing. As I’ve already mentioned, Teddy seems to have been permanently ousted from the squad. Brandon Jack, after showing promising signs during a good run of games in the second half of last season, hasn’t been able to get a run this year due to the outstanding performances of his colleagues. Even Ben McGlynn hasn’t been assured of a run as of late, as ludicrous a notion that may have seemed a couple of years back. (Though he should feel pretty assured going into the finals having kicked 5 straight on the weekend).

Then we have players such as the ever-reliable and consistent Nick Smith, the electric pace and work ethic of Gary Rohan, the understated work of Jeremy Laidler, the enthusiasm and impact of Harry Cunningham. And I haven’t yet mentioned the enormous contributions of bonafide superstars such as Kurt Tippett, Jarrad McVeigh, Tom Mitchell and Kieran Jack.

We’ve had some luck with injuries so far this year (touch wood). Last year, we were plagued with injuries at various points. None more so telling than when we limped into the finals without Buddy and Luke Parker. Consequently, we were done in straight sets. This year, we’ve had some luck (again, touch wood), but we’ve also had a better list to compensate for any injuries that might occur. Of course, Sam Reid sat out the season – but what’s new there? We’re used to that. Others have sat out for periods – Tippett, Zak Jones, Sinclair, Talia, Rohan, Teddy. The coaches have been superb in managing the squad and said injuries. Which brings me to my next point…..

For my money, John Longmire is, by a landslide, the AFL’s Coach of The Year for 2016. Don Pyke deserves a lot of credit for what he’s done with the Crows this season, but there’s no topping Horse. It’s true, the players rightfully deserve a huge amount of plaudits for their outstanding efforts this year, but we must reserve a great deal of adulation for the gaffer – John “Horse” Longmire, and his team of coaches. Supposedly, at the start of the season, we were a team on the downward slide. A team that a lot of “experts” had missing out on the 8. Just look who’s laughing now. In the pursuit of proving these pundits wrong, the coaches deserve credit on a number of fronts – 1) their tactical work on a weekly basis; 2) their ability to motivate and get the players performing with the requisite effort each week that typifies the Bloods culture; 3) the list management; 4) the integration of youth into the team without the dropping of our performance levels; and 5) their management of said youth (dropping Heeney back to the NEAFL mid-season for a couple of weeks was a decision that baffled many at the time, but proved a masterstroke in the back half of the season). Though the ultimate test of their work comes now. For, no matter how well we performed during the regular season, it counts for nought if we don’t go all the way (or damn near close to it).

And so we’ll meet GWS at ANZ in 2 weeks time to kick off our finals campaign (don’t get me started on the ridiculousness of 1) the bye round; and 2) abandoning our spiritual home, the SCG, for this game – thank you very much Gill). One thing is, for sure, it will be a cracker. We’ll go in as deserved favourites, but GWS are a somewhat unknown quantity. Yes, we know they have an amazing list filled with outrageous young talents. But how will they hold up to the pressure and intensity of finals football? Having leaders such as Mummy and Heath Shaw in their ranks will most certainly help, but time will tell how the youngens will cope with what will be a totally new experience for them. I’m backing our quality and experience to come through with the goods.

Who else is there in the finals? Let’s not forget about Hawthorn – they are gunning for 4 in a row; Geelong – who are a different proposition to the past couple of seasons with the addition of Paddy, the return to fitness of Menzel, and the rise of the likes of Caddy and Guthrie; Adelaide – who have somehow defied the odds and gone up a notch even after losing Danger; and West Coast – whose form in the past few weeks has been excellent, though their away form is questionable and the loss of Nic Nat will be felt in the finals. The Bulldogs have been great this year, but are too depleted with injuries to be a real test for the Eagles in the West; and the Roos will be well and truly overpowered by the Crows in week one – which is as sure-a-bet as there could be throughout the finals this year.

So, we wait with bated breath (for a torturous two weeks, mind you – ggrrr!), for what is shaping up to be a fantastic finals series. I know, traditionally, only the top 4 teams are considered to be a realistic chance, but with the evenness shown throughout this campaign, any one of the top 6 teams have a chance of taking it out. But, no matter what my head is saying, my heart says there will be only one – Go you Mighty Bloods!!!

#ProudlySydney

 

Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky

Balcones Texas Single Malt Whisky

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The San Francisco International Spirits Competition is held annually and is considered the biggest and most prestigious of its kind. When a spirit wins the highest possible accolade, Double Gold Medal, at this competition, it makes people stand up and take notice. And that is what compelled me to track down this whisky on the internet. I had to purchase it from the UK and pay the necessary customs and taxes to get it into Australia, so it cost a pretty penny in the end, but wow – was it worth it! But the accolades don’t stop there, with the whisky also winning Whisky Magazine’s Craft Distiller of the Year award and also cleaning up at the Wizards of Whisky competition in London, where the single malt claimed World Whisky of the Year, World Single Malt of the Year and American Single Malt of the Year. For a complete list of awards won, take a look here.

The nose is complex, giving the immediate impression of freshly baked banana bread, plums and pear, with caramel, honey, vanilla, cedar and roasted chestnuts in support.

“The whiskey is really a bridge between the elegance of a single malt and the big, bold, rich flavors of a bourbon,” says Flavien Desoblin, owner and chief sommelier of The Brandy Library in Manhattan – and he’s not wrong. The palate is ester-y with apple and stonefruit characters and a strong flavour of brown sugar transforming into molasses. The finish is warm, with woody spices and some breadiness. A rich and moorish drop, that actually isn’t far removed, in terms of its flavour profiles, from a good brandy or rum – but in a totally great way.

Seek it out if you can. It’s well worth a try.

Fennel, lemon and chicken risotto

Fennel, lemon and chicken risotto

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I initially found this as a vegetarian recipe, but decided to make a few changes by adding chicken and some more vegetables to make the dish more nutritious and filling. It is relatively low in fat and super delicious. The quantities in this recipe fed my family of 4 for two consecutive nights. I hope you try and enjoy it.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 large fennel bulbs, base trimmed
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 2 medium brown onions, diced finely
  • 3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 400g arborio rice
  • 350ml white wine
  • 1L warm/hot chicken stock
  • zest of 1 lemon, finely chopped
  • approx 50g grated parmesan or pecorino
  • 1 tspn olive oil
  • 1 large chicken breast, sliced through the middle
  • 2 bunch asparagus (12-16 stalks), chopped into thirds
  • handful of butter beans (15-20), ends trimmed, then halved
  • 5-6 squash
  • Sea Salt and cracked black pepper

 

METHOD:

  •  Pan fry chicken breast in a teaspoon of olive oil for approx 2-3 minutes per side (depending on thickness) over high heat until just cooked through, then set aside to rest for use later.
  • Then use the same pan to cook asparagus for 3-4 minutes until browned slightly and softened slightly. Set aside for later.
  • In a small saucepan, bring some water to the boil, then add squash. A minute later, add butter beans. Cook in slowly boiling water for a further 2 minutes or until tender. Then drain and rinse with cold water to stop the cooking process. Slice each squash into 4-6 slices. Set aside for later.
  • Chop any green fennel fronds and set aside. Cut off the stalk-like fennel tops and finely chop. (The large bulbs are to be finely chopped and set aside for cooking spearately later)
  • In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, put 1 tablespoon of butter. Cook onion, garlic and chopped fennel stalks in butter for a few minutes until soft but not browned. Add the rice and stir for 1 minute. Add 300ml of white wine and simmer for a couple of minutes until wine has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Then, add a ladleful of chicken stock and stir until it is absorbed. Add another ladleful of chicken stock and stir until absorbed. Keep repeating this process until almost all the chicken stock is gone (reserving approx 50ml of stock for use later). Once this is completed, take it off the heat and stir through grated parmesan and lemon zest, adding salt and pepper to taste. Slice cooked chicken breast against the grain and stir through the rice. Put lid on saucepan and leave to sit for 15 minutes.
  • In another saucepan over high heat, put 1 tablespoon of butter and finely chopped fennel bulbs. Cook for approx 6-10 minutes, stirring occasionally until fennel has browned nicely. Then add remaining 50ml wine and 50ml of stock. Leave this to cook down until liquid has evaporated (approx 5 minutes), stirring occasionally.
  • Now it’s ready to serve. And the kids will love helping out with this part. Spoon an appropriate amount of rice/chicken mixture into bowl. Take some asparagus and butter beans and stick them into the rice. Then scatter some slices of squash around. Then top the dish with some of the browned fennel, and if you like, you can add the fennel fronds also. Voila!

My kids lapped it up. Partly because it was delicious, but also because they felt invested in the dish, having put their own bowls together themselves.

To make this dish vegetarian, remove the chicken from the recipe and substitute vegetable stock for the chicken stock. Alternatively, for something different, you could substitute some cooked prawns instead of the chicken breast.

African Peanut & Sweet Potato Stew

African Peanut & Sweet Potato Stew

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It’s not often I make vegetarian meals at home, as I am a carnivore at heart, but this recipe ticks the two main boxes – delicious and nutritious. The kids love it (as it tastes of peanut butter, though not over-the-top), and my wife places requests for it.

INGREDIENTS:

  • olive oil
  • 1 brown onion, diced finely
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced or chopped finely
  • 1 tbsp fresh ginger, minced
  • 2 tspn ground cumin
  • 1 tspn ground coriander
  • 1 tspn smoked paprika
  • dried chilli flakes, to taste
  • 400g tin crushed tomatoes
  • ½ cup water
  • ½ cup (or 2 heaped tbsp) peanut butter (or almond or sunflower butter)
  • 2 cups vegetable stock
  • 1 large kumera (sweet potato), peeled and diced into approx 2cm chunks
  • 400g tin black beans, drained and rinsed
  • 1½ cups frozen peas (or frozen corn kernels or combination of both)
  • 2 cups baby spinach (or kale or other leafy green)
  • ½ cup unsalted peanuts (or slivered almonds)
  • salt and cracked black pepper

METHOD:

  • Pour a good glug of olive oil into large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for a few minutes until softened, but not browned. Then add garlic, ginger, cumin, coriander, paprika and chilli and cook for a further couple of minutes, stirring regularly.
  • Add the can of crushed tomatoes, then use water to get any remnants out of the can and into the stew. Then add peanut butter and stir to combine all the ingredients until smooth.
  • Add vegetable stock and sweet potato. Cover the pan and simmer for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sweet potatoes are tender but not falling apart.
  • Then add peanuts, black beans, peas/corn, spinach and cook for a few minutes until spinach has wilted and peas/corn and black beans are sufficiently heated through.
  • Season generously with salt and cracked black pepper, and add more dried chilli flakes over served dish (to taste). Serve with basmati rice.
You Buddy Beauty

You Buddy Beauty

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The Swans’ win over the Hawks last night felt a little like getting the monkey off your back. They seemed to have the wood over us for quite a while (though, that being said, they’ve seemed to have the wood over everyone for the past few years). We always seemed to be in control, though the Hawks, as they so often do, put a run together in the 3rd quarter that brought the margin down to within a goal at one stage, providing a nervy finish. But to the Swans credit, they controlled the 4th and held on for a gutsy win. It was hard to pinpoint any standout from the game, but I reckon we had 8 out of the 10 best players on ground. It was a very well rounded performance from the team.

The opening quarter was pretty dour. It’s quite easy to say it was cagey, with both teams feeling eachother out, neither wanting to commit too many in attack. But that would be neglecting the fact that both teams were showing their quality on the defensive side of their games. The Swans were holding numbers deep, making it difficult for the Hawks to penetrate, but also leaving us with limited options coming up from half forward. The highlight of the quarter coming when Buddy took a mark in the pocket, then made an unselfish square pass to the returning Rohan for the opening (and only) goal of the quarter. The quarter ended on a sour note, as Teddy went backwards to take a courageous mark, but slammed his head against the ground, which looked like it may signal the end of his night with concussion.

Our 2nd quarter was a lot better. Tippett took a strong contested mark and kicked a goal from the resultant set shot that stretched the margin to 12. Then McGlynn intercepted a handball and kicked one. Another came in quick succession, as Kennedy stood up in a tackle, squeezed a handball out to McGlynn who snapped a quick kick to take the margin out to 25. Then, it was time for Buddy to step up. Firstly, he took a rare pack mark directly in front which was duly converted. And then he ran riot in midfield, intercepting a ball in a contest with Brand, assessing the situation perfectly, seeing Rohan was in a footrace with Jordan Lewis, and proceeded to kick a long ball out in front of Rohan, who was able to run onto it and kick the goal from an open square. That stretched the score to 40-4, but a couple of goals in the last 5 minutes from set shots for Hawthorn meant they narrowed the gap slightly, whilst avoiding their first goalless half at the G since 1927.

Grundy and Rampe had been near flawless through the first half, displaying some fantastic one-on-one defending and a string of well-judged interceptions. It was a big turnaround from some of the rightful stick they took in the aftermath of the Tigers loss last week. And a necessary step-up in production and responsibility, with Richards coming out of the tunnel during the 2nd quarter in his tracksuit, a clear indication he’d be sitting out the remainder of the game. Nick Smith, playing his 150th, was keeping Cyril quiet. As always, Hannebery, Kennedy and Parker were all extremely strong around the ball. And Buddy and Heeney were looking much more threatening than the Hawks’ forwards.

The Hawks had gathered a little momentum at the end of the 2nd quarter, and they continued their run in the 3rd, stringing together 4 unanswered goals that brought the margin right back to a couple of kicks. Rohan steadied the ship, with his pace once again resulting in a goal that gave us a little breathing space. The goals went back and forth, and with the Hawks looking much brighter and energetic than they had through the first two quarters, the margin at the end of the 3rd was only 10.

Buddy Franklin seems to relish the opportunity to kick spectacular goals, and he undoubtedly proved this in the 4th quarter. The highlight of the game coming with 13-odd minutes to go, when the Swans intercepted a handball on the edge of their own arc, they quickly moved the ball into the midfield where Buddy got his hands on it, saw that noone was immediately available to pass to and that there was an open square, and thus unleashed a monster 80-yarder that took just one bounce before going through for a goal.

 

 

Minutes later, in what looked like a set play (or an uncanny understanding between the players), McGlynn, from a mark, handballed to Buddy after Hanners had delivered a delightful block on the marker, and Buddy proceeded to kick another bomb from 55-yards out. Just another case of Buddy being Buddy. The Swans proceeded to close the game out in a remarkably assured and controlled fashion, finishing relatively comfortable winners 10.9.69 to 7.13.55. Which begged the question, where was that composure last week?

The Hawks didn’t quite seem to be themselves. Which was quite understandable with the health issues of Roughy casting a cloud over the Club. But it’s unfair to the Swans to say they only won because of the Hawks’ deficiencies. Save for a period in the 3rd when the Hawks gathered some momentum, the Swans were the better and more composed team throughout the night. Our players were simply better all over the ground. Grundy and Rampe were great at the back. Nick Smith limited Cyril’s impact to just one goal. Hanners (33 disposals, 11 clearances), Kennedy (20 contested possessions, 7 tackles) and Parker (30 disposals, 7 tackles) controlled the midfield. Tom Mitchell kept Sam Mitchell extremely quiet all game, limiting him to only 14 possessions, whilst getting his own fair share of the ball too. Tippett (2 goals, 35 hit-outs) dominated the ruck and unsettled the Hawks defence as a target up front. Heeney took some great marks and continued to show his amazing potential. Rohan’s great pace was a welcome return to the team. Laidler and Hewett both made important contributions throughout the 3rd and 4th quarters.

And then there was Buddy, who was ultimately the difference between the two teams on the night. He kicked the Swans’ last 2 goals of the game, both monster efforts too. He also relentlessly worked hard off the ball, chasing down defenders and making hard tackles. How the Hawks would’ve loved to have had him on their side. Or loved to have had Jarryd Roughead out there. He seemed to be what they were lacking – a presence up front.

It will be interesting to see whether we can back that performace up against the undefeated Kangaroos next week. If the players can put that sort of effort in again, and we can get a little lift from the likes of McVeigh and Jack, I can see us ending the Roos’ winning streak at the SCG. Fingers crossed, anyhow.

Feral Karma Citra

Feral Karma Citra

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As makers of one my all-time favourite beers, the Hop Hog, I thought it was about time I gave this one a go. Feral Brewing Co, out of the Swan Valley in WA, are masters of producing flavour-packed beer in all manner of varieties. I’ve tried and loved their Feral White, Sly Fox, Hop Hog, Smoked Porter, Watermelon Warhead, and several others. Feral’s experienced brewers are well known for pushing the boundaries of their craft, experimenting with all types of exotic hops, spices and fruits to create unique, full flavoured beers. So, I sit here and scratch my head, wondering why the Karma Citra took so long to quench thy thirst.

The Karma Citra (getting its punsome name from the liberal use of Citra Hops) is labelled as an “India Black Ale” (or otherwise known as a Black IPA), measuring 5.8% ABV, pouring into the glass looking very much like Coca-Cola. The nose presents punchy guava, citrus and pineapple hop notes, with hints of toffee, coffee and chocolate coming through. The flavours mimic the nose, starting with citrus and passionfruit, before transitioning to a chocolate and roasty espresso malt mid palate, with the herbal hop characters poking about through to the finish, which is dry and earthy. The mouthfeel is light-medium bodied and carbonation is medium but dense.

It’s a lovely example of the style, quite sessionable, and not nearly as heavy as a lot of the others I’ve tried. It starts off like an IPA and finishes like a Porter, which is pretty-much how they claim it to be – with the bottle itself saying it is “a smooth brew with chocolate and toffee undertones and a big tropical and citrus aroma”. The printing on the bottle also claims, “Rumour has it; it may be the lovechild of Barry White and Kamahl … that’s how f-ing sexy this beer is”. I wouldn’t quite go that far – I’ll just say it’s a very flavoursome and enjoyable brew. Besides, if I were to think of this beer as sexy, I’d be more likely to call it the lovechild of Yoncé and Deepika Padukone (but that’s just how I roll).

Great Football Memes #2

Great Football Memes #2

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Liverpool, having succumbed to Sevilla in the Europa League Final this morning:

 

Any time you have the chance to take a stab at Man United:

 

Star of the future?

 

Oops. Best to keep your mouth shut sometimes:

 

Just wow!

 

Feels:

 

Well, it was that kind of season for us:

 

Just brilliant:

 

Uncanny likeness:

 

Won’t see this too often:

 

Good ol’ Gooners:

 

Exactly:

 

More to come in the not so distant future…

 

Top 10 Most Promising TV Shows

Top 10 Most Promising TV Shows

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Of all the TV series’ that are currently airing, the following shows are the ones that I feel have the greatest potential. This list also doubles as my “Most Binge-Worthy List” too – Seeing as though they have all aired for just the one season thus far, they are relatively easy to binge-watch the entire season and you’ll have caught up and be ready for when their respective 2nd seasons begin to air. Time will tell if their 2nd seasons are as good, if not better than, what has come before. If they can manage to take it up a notch, they might all potentially break into my Top 50 TV Shows of All Time List.

10. Limitless

(CBS – 1st season 22 episodes – 2nd season due Sept 2016?)

I loved the feature film of the same name – and the idea of a drug that could unlock the true power of the human brain. The TV series takes place 4 years after the film and focusses on 28 year old Brian Finch (breakout performance by Jake McDorman) who is introduced to the magical drug, NZT-48. Bradley Cooper’s character, Edward Morra, has gone on to become a US Senator, and provides Finch with regular immunity shots to counteract NZT’s deadly side effects under the proviso that Brian feeds him inside information from the FBI, where Brian uses his enhanced abilities to help FBI agent Rebecca Harris (Jennifer Carpenter of Dexter fame) – The problem is the FBI doesn’t know about the shot and Brian has to keep both worlds separate. Although the critics have not been kind to the show, I find the main character, Brian, to be really likeable, and the direction and method of storytelling combine to make the show highly addictive.

Limitless Season 1 Trailer

9. The Jim Gaffigan Show

(TV Land – 1st season 11 episodes – 2nd season due June 19 2016)

Jim Gaffigan creates and stars in this hilarious show that is a fictionalized version of his own life – a stand-up comedian who is married and raising his 5 kids in a two-bedroom New York City apartment. It will certainly appeal more to Generation Xers who are raising their own family, but there are laughs in there for everyone. It’s similar to Louie, though a lot less depressing. There are also plenty of cameo appearances to lend some star power from the likes of Chris Rock, Hannibal Buress, Jimmy Fallon, Steve Buscemi, Matthew Broderick, Alec Baldwin, and Macaulay Caulkin to name a few. Season 1 consisted of only 11 episodes (at only approx 20-odd minutes duration each, you could easily race through in one sitting), so get on it before season 2 commences.

The Jim Gaffigan Show Season 1 Episode Excerpt

8. UnReal

(Lifetime – 1st season 10 episodes – 2nd season due June 6 2016)

UnReal is a dark comedy/drama centering on the behind-the-scenes happenings of Everlasting, a ficitonal dating show similar to what we know as The Bachelor. It stars Shiri Appleby as a young producer pushed by her unscrupulous boss (Constance Zimmer) to swallow her integrity and do what she does best: manipulating the contestants to create the outrageous drama and salacious show content the viewers of Everlasting expect. The drama is acerbic and unrelentingly sad, but highly absorbing, and punctuated by moments of hilarity. If you’re like my wife, and love “The Bachelor“, you’ll like UnReal. If you’re like me, and hate “The Bachelor“, you’ll like UnReal.

UnReal Season 1 Trailer

7. Billions

(Showtime – 1st season 12 episodes – 2nd season due early 2017)

I’ve already reviewed this fantastic drama. The season ended well, and we now await the 2nd season – not likely to hit screens until early 2017.

Billions Season 1 Trailer

6. The Code

(ABC Australia – 1st season 6 episodes – 2nd season due sometime 2016)

This is the first Australian TV series that I have been able to confidently recommend to others. It is a political/crime thriller with some powerful performances from the lead actors, Dan Spielman and Ashley Zukerman. Again, it’s better if I don’t give too much away, but I can tell you that the six-episode series takes several seemingly disparate plot lines and interweaves them to form a complex and captivating drama. The first season ended in October 2014, and it has been scheduled for a 2nd season in 2016 – hopefully it’s not too far away now.

The Code Season 1 Trailer

5. Wayward Pines

(FOX – 1st season 10 episodes – 2nd season due May 25 2016)

Best not to know too much about this going in. I knew nothing, other than someone had recommended it as essential viewing. So, I gave it a go, and am super glad I did. It is a mystery sci-fi show executive produced by M. Night Shyamalan (Sixth Sense) starring Matt Dillon, Carla Gugino and Terrence Howard. If you really need to know the premise, read this. It’s a gripping watch that’ll have you on the edge of your seat, wondering what will happen next, and what the hell is going on? It’ll be really interesting to see where it goes with Season 2 (due to start later this month), so if you haven’t seen season 1 yet, you can watch 1 episode each day, starting today, to catch up before season 2 commences.

Wayward Pines Season 1 Trailer

4. Master of None

(Netflix – 1st season 10 episodes – 2nd season due early 2017)

Aziz Ansari creates and stars in this comedy-drama about a 30-year old actor trying to make his way through life in NYC. It is a refreshingly offbeat take on a familiar premise, and exceptionally executed with charm, humour and heart. Ansari is a smart and engaging presence and his perspective on things lends itself very well to this type of single-camera comedy. Easily the best new comedy of 2015, and the best comedic TV debut I can remember since Louie. The only shame being that we have to wait until 2017 for the 2nd season to air – which if it can keep up its momentum, will force its way into my All-Time list, for sure.

Master of None Season 1 Trailer

3. Mr Robot

(USA Network – 1st season 10 episodes – 2nd season due July 13 2016)

Yet again, I reckon you should trust me and watch this without knowing too much about it. In 2015, it won the Golden Globe for best drama for its first season. It also set a record on Rotten Tomatoes as the only show to earn perfect episode scores for an entire season since the site began tracking television episodes. The site’s consensus reads: “Mr. Robot is a suspenseful cyber-thriller with timely stories and an intriguing, provocative premise” – sounds fairly accurate to me. It is superbly shot, and features fantastic performances from the likes of breakout star Rami Malek, and veteran actor Christian Slater. Season 2 is scheduled to start July 13 2016 – so get onto season 1 now and I’m sure you’ll be marking this date down in your diary. If season 2 is anywhere near as good as season 1, this show will definitely break into my All-Time list on its next revisal.

Mr Robot Season 1 Trailer

2. Narcos

(Netflix – 1st season 10 episodes – 2nd season due late 2016)

Season 1 of this series was so compelling, the show managed to break into my All-Time List at #34 – no small feat considering there are only 10 episodes of material to go off. But with magnificent direction from Jose Padilha (Elite Squad); superb performances from all, but particularly from Wagner Moura (Elite Squad, Elysium); and a captivating storyline about the exploits of Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar – it is no wonder it has received critical acclaim. Time will tell if season 2 can live up to the hype, it is due to air around September 2016.

Narcos Season 1 Trailer

1. Marvel’s Jessica Jones

(Netflix – 1st season 13 episodes – 2nd season due late 2017 ?)

Again, a newbie that managed to break into my All-Time List, and at #12 no less – an amazing acheivement! The Marvel franchise is astonishingly strong: films from the MCU like The Avengers, Guardians of The Galaxy and Deadpool being amongst the best film releases of recent times; TV series like Agents of SHIELD and Agent Carter doing well on major networks; and now Netflix taking superhero-themed TV to new levels with Daredevil and Jessica Jones. This series differs from your average comic-book superhero tale, in that it doesn’t focus so much on our antihero’s superpowers (which are superhuman strength and limited flight abilities), but on her travails with PTSD and alcohol abuse, and subsequent showdown with her nemesis, Kilgrave (whose power is mind control). It is a psychological thriller, a deadly cat and mouse game, and it makes for a multi-faceted drama with a very dark tone that is easily Marvel’s strongest TV franchise to date. Big downer though – Season 2 probably won’t air until late 2017 – dammit!

Marvel’s Jessica Jones Season 1 Trailer

Honorable Mentions:

American Crime Story: The People Vs OJ Simpson (FX – 1st season 10 episodes – 2nd season due early 2017) – A true crime anthology series that, in its critically acclaimed first season, focusses on the still-topical story of the OJ Simpson murder trial, with a star-studded ensemble cast consisting of John Travolta, Cuba Gooding Jr, David Schwimmer and Nathan Lane, but fantastic performances were also displayed by the likes of Sarah Paulson, Courtney B. Vance, Kenneth Choi, Sterling K. Brown, Bruce Greenwood, Christian Clemenson and more. The second season (still in production) will focus on the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

The Girlfriend Experience (Starz – 1st season 13 episodes – 2nd season due March 2017) – Steven Soderbergh executive produces this series about Christine Reade (breakout performance by Riley Keough), a law student intern that delves into the world of high-end escorts. If you can get through the first few episodes, which are good, but a little underwhelming, you’ll be rewarded with a series that is darkly fascinating and utterly bingeworthy. Read here for a more thorough breakdown.

Sense8 (Netflix – 1st season 12 episodes – 2nd season due August 2016) – Co-created by the Wachowskis (The Matrix) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5), this sci-fi drama tells the striking story about eight strangers from all over the world, that learn they share a mental and emotional connection that allows them to communicate, sense and use each other’s knowledge, language and skills. It starts off slowly, but rewards the patience of viewers who can make it through the first couple of episodes.

Quiche in Kumera Crust

Quiche in Kumera Crust

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Found this recipe on Facebook, made a few adjustments and gave it a try tonight. Pretty tasty, and pretty healthy too.

INGREDIENTS:

  • 1 large Kumera (Sweet Potato), peeled, then sliced very finely
  • 1 medium brown onion, diced finely
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or chopped finely
  • 250g baby spinach
  • 7-8 asparagus, chopped into 1.5cm pieces, woody ends trimmed and discarded
  • olive oil
  • olive oil spray
  • salt and cracked black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • 6 x-large eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • 150g fetta

METHOD:

  • Spray baking tray or pie tin with olive oil spray. Peel kumera and then slice very finely (use of mandoline slicer helps here). Lay kumera slices over base of pan and around the edges to form the crust of your quiche. Spray kumera with small amount of olive oil spray. Put into oven at 170°C for 20 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, pour 2 tablespoons of olive oil into frying pan and heat over medium-high heat. Add onions and asparagus and cook for 2 minutes until softened slightly, stirring regularly. Then add garlic and baby spinach. Cook for a further 2 minutes, stirring regularly, until spinach has wilted.
  • In a large bowl, crack 6 eggs, add milk, paprika, salt and cracked black pepper to taste. Whisk until well mixed.
  • After kumera crust has cooked in oven, pull it out, and add onion/spinach mixture evenly across the crust. Then pour over the egg mixture. Using hands, crumble fetta across the top of the quiche. Then put into oven at 190°C for 25 minutes.

Serve with garden salad, or steamed vegetables, or any sides of your choosing.

This recipe was enough to feed my family of 4, with enough left over for us to all have some packed for our lunches tomorrow.