They say life is all about sacrifices, and since being here, I've had to make quite a few when it comes to food and clothes especially. But it's definitely taught me a lot about what I actually NEED to get by, and what I want 'just because'. Of course, I haven't been able to resist temptation completely - Amazon is my new favourite store and I've bought more from there in the past nine months that I have from all the online shops I've shopped at in my life. I can't help it, I'm a gamer geek...and I love books, it just works out so well...
So here's what I've discovered, I'd rather spend money on games and books than food and clothes...yep, that's right. Weird, huh? Strangely enough, I can live without buying myself new clothes, even though I'm limited to two pairs of trousers, three tops and three pairs of shoes (no biggie for guys, but the ladies out there will understand). But if a new Square Enix game comes out, I'm there, baby! A book sale at Amazon? I've got bells and whistles on, dammit. And with the exchange rate the way it is, games are sooooooooooooo cheap here, what's a girl to do?
But I haven't been throwing money away, no no no..! I've bought a whole salmon in an effort to, not only boost my seafood intake, but save money as well. A WHOLE SALMON, people!! Now, those of you who know me, know that fish and I aren't the best of friends, so you may be questioning my sanity. But I have pictures as proof! I've also resisted all urges to call for takeaway and walks down to the local chippy.
So what do you think you could/couldn't give up in the name of saving money? Would love to hear from you!
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Saturday, 28 March 2009
Too many celebrity chefs
If there's anything England has a surplus of, it's celebrity chefs. Here, they're a dime a dozen. For starters, there's the infamous Gordon Ramsay. To be honest, I was a big fan of Gordo back home. I watched Kitchen Nightmares every week, rushing home from doing the groceries to get back in time to catch the start. But here, he is so over-exposed, I'm not at all fussed if I miss an episode or three. And the whole cheating on his wife thing didn't help either.
Then there's Jamie Oliver, possibly the MOST annoying celebrity chef on TV, constantly popping up in ads for Sainsbury's. At least shows are on only once or twice a week, but ad breaks are around every 15 minutes - not so lovely jubbly.
For a while, I found Hugh Fernley Whittingstall quite entertaining with his River Cottage program. It was really refreshing to see a chef who was doing something for the environment and making the most of seasonal fruit and veg. And some of the dishes were so unusual, I just had to keep watching to find out what he would cook next: squirrel offal skewers, manish water made with the head of a goat and goat offal...hmm...detecting a pattern here?
And then there's Heston Blumenthal, the chef famous for making ridiculous things such as hot ice cream. I find his strangely clinical approach to cooking a bit off putting, but I did enjoy his take on historical feasts. The things people ate in Victorian England, Tudor England, etc. were weird enough, seeing Heston's take on it was even more interesting. Still, I'm not about to rush off to his restaurant.
But wait, there's more...Ainsley Harriott, Lloyd Grossman (I cannot stand this guy, he is sooooooooooooo annoying), that guy on Masterchef, etc etc. There are just so many cooking shows, celebrity chefs are multiplying faster than rabbits. Somebody stop them before they take over the world!
Then there's Jamie Oliver, possibly the MOST annoying celebrity chef on TV, constantly popping up in ads for Sainsbury's. At least shows are on only once or twice a week, but ad breaks are around every 15 minutes - not so lovely jubbly.
For a while, I found Hugh Fernley Whittingstall quite entertaining with his River Cottage program. It was really refreshing to see a chef who was doing something for the environment and making the most of seasonal fruit and veg. And some of the dishes were so unusual, I just had to keep watching to find out what he would cook next: squirrel offal skewers, manish water made with the head of a goat and goat offal...hmm...detecting a pattern here?
And then there's Heston Blumenthal, the chef famous for making ridiculous things such as hot ice cream. I find his strangely clinical approach to cooking a bit off putting, but I did enjoy his take on historical feasts. The things people ate in Victorian England, Tudor England, etc. were weird enough, seeing Heston's take on it was even more interesting. Still, I'm not about to rush off to his restaurant.
But wait, there's more...Ainsley Harriott, Lloyd Grossman (I cannot stand this guy, he is sooooooooooooo annoying), that guy on Masterchef, etc etc. There are just so many cooking shows, celebrity chefs are multiplying faster than rabbits. Somebody stop them before they take over the world!
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Missed 'Heroes' for the first time ever
Ok, I wasn't going to say anything, but I'm having trouble getting over it. Yesterday, I ditched 'Heroes' in favour of a documentary about Japan's obsession with fish. Yes, a DOCUMENTARY ABOUT FISH! It's crazy, I know. I used to watch 'Heroes' religiously; during the first season, almost every episode seemed like a cliffhanger. Sure, season two was short, but I didn't think it was as bad as other's have said. Season three; things were slowly grinding to a halt and now, season four has completely lost me.
Ever since the show first started, I wondered how it would stop itself from turning into an X-Men rip-off, and I think they did a pretty good job of it...until now. I'm no X-Men fanatic, but I've seen enough of it to know that this season of 'Heroes' is pretty much the plot from the last X-Men movie. Rounding up mutants and removing their powers sounds rather familiar...Next thing you know, Magneto's going to show up to lead the resistance.
And the characters...I don't think I even want to get started on the characters. Suffice to say, it's time to wipe the slate clean, blow them all up and start again. And no more painting the future!
Ever since the show first started, I wondered how it would stop itself from turning into an X-Men rip-off, and I think they did a pretty good job of it...until now. I'm no X-Men fanatic, but I've seen enough of it to know that this season of 'Heroes' is pretty much the plot from the last X-Men movie. Rounding up mutants and removing their powers sounds rather familiar...Next thing you know, Magneto's going to show up to lead the resistance.
And the characters...I don't think I even want to get started on the characters. Suffice to say, it's time to wipe the slate clean, blow them all up and start again. And no more painting the future!
Top 10 desserts
Ok, now that I'm dieting (and not to mention, skint) I've been missing my desserts! I used to go out after work almost every day and get a sweet bun or slice of cake from BreadTop, but now all my desserts are home-made, if I have any at all! Since being here, I've had plenty of trifle, but here's what I really miss!
Top 10 desserts
10 - Mango pudding
9 - Anything from Savoy Cake Shop
8 - Chocolate fondant from Beard Papa
7 - Coconut pudding (the kind you get at yum cha)
6 - Gelato (any flavour)
5 - Cream puffs (from Japan, ideally, but Beard Papa is ok too)
4 - Mango pancakes (the kind you get at yum cha)
3 - French crepes with fresh strawberries and ice cream (the only shop I know that served real French crepes closed down...but France actually isn't that far away now...hmm...)
2 - Spanish churros dipped in melted chocolate
1 - Freshly cooked egg tarts (the ones with flakey pastry you get at yum cha)
Top 10 desserts
10 - Mango pudding
9 - Anything from Savoy Cake Shop
8 - Chocolate fondant from Beard Papa
7 - Coconut pudding (the kind you get at yum cha)
6 - Gelato (any flavour)
5 - Cream puffs (from Japan, ideally, but Beard Papa is ok too)
4 - Mango pancakes (the kind you get at yum cha)
3 - French crepes with fresh strawberries and ice cream (the only shop I know that served real French crepes closed down...but France actually isn't that far away now...hmm...)
2 - Spanish churros dipped in melted chocolate
1 - Freshly cooked egg tarts (the ones with flakey pastry you get at yum cha)
Craving real oriental cuisine
One of the things I miss most about home is the lack of real oriental cuisine here in Brum. Back home getting a bowl of wonton noodles, a plate of sushi or some rice paper rolls took nothing more than a walk down to the local shops. But here, unless you live in town, you have to order from your local takeaway.
Looking at a Chinese takeaway menu you'll find they have fancy names for the chef's specials like 'Eight treasures' or 'Emperor's Favourite', and there are things on the menu that I've never even heard of like 'Egg foo-yung'. It makes you wonder, did they make this all up to cater for the locals and keep that air of mystique that surrounds the Orient? I think that must have something to do with it, even if only in a small way. Certainly, the oriental population in my local area is almost non-existent so you can't blame them for taking this marketing angle. The menu also offers 'English' options like steak and chips or fish and chips, which I think is hilarious. Talk about covering all bases..!
So anyway, I've ordered Chinese takeaway a couple of times now, and I have to say my craving for Chinese food has not been satisfied once. Yes, the food was ok, but somehow it is just not the same. The flavours are there, but they're bland and weak, and where's that delicious smoky wok taste?! Fried rice and fried noodle dishes are nothing without that smoky flavour! And rice noodles...get some rice noodles on the menu, STAT!
So what are the top 10 dishes on my hit list when I get back? Let's count 'em down!
10 - Steamed fish with ginger and shallots (I'm as surprised as you)
9 - Pad see-ew (Thai stir fried noodles in sweet soy sauce)
8 - Wet-fried beef rice noodles (I love that lardy sauce!)
7 - Miso Ramen with a side of gyoza
6 - DC's half/half set (small udon noodle soup + small beef rice bowl)
5 - Chicken pad thai
4 - Pho (Vietnamese style beef rice noodle soup)
3 - Hong Kong style beef congee with savoury doughnuts
2 - BBQ pork and roast duck noodle soup
1 - Yum cha (everything at yum cha is on my hit list when I get back so look out trolley ladies!)
Yep, yum cha tops the list, purely because there are just so many good things to eat and I miss them all! So let's hear hear from you now, what would be on your hit list?
Looking at a Chinese takeaway menu you'll find they have fancy names for the chef's specials like 'Eight treasures' or 'Emperor's Favourite', and there are things on the menu that I've never even heard of like 'Egg foo-yung'. It makes you wonder, did they make this all up to cater for the locals and keep that air of mystique that surrounds the Orient? I think that must have something to do with it, even if only in a small way. Certainly, the oriental population in my local area is almost non-existent so you can't blame them for taking this marketing angle. The menu also offers 'English' options like steak and chips or fish and chips, which I think is hilarious. Talk about covering all bases..!
So anyway, I've ordered Chinese takeaway a couple of times now, and I have to say my craving for Chinese food has not been satisfied once. Yes, the food was ok, but somehow it is just not the same. The flavours are there, but they're bland and weak, and where's that delicious smoky wok taste?! Fried rice and fried noodle dishes are nothing without that smoky flavour! And rice noodles...get some rice noodles on the menu, STAT!
So what are the top 10 dishes on my hit list when I get back? Let's count 'em down!
10 - Steamed fish with ginger and shallots (I'm as surprised as you)
9 - Pad see-ew (Thai stir fried noodles in sweet soy sauce)
8 - Wet-fried beef rice noodles (I love that lardy sauce!)
7 - Miso Ramen with a side of gyoza
6 - DC's half/half set (small udon noodle soup + small beef rice bowl)
5 - Chicken pad thai
4 - Pho (Vietnamese style beef rice noodle soup)
3 - Hong Kong style beef congee with savoury doughnuts
2 - BBQ pork and roast duck noodle soup
1 - Yum cha (everything at yum cha is on my hit list when I get back so look out trolley ladies!)
Yep, yum cha tops the list, purely because there are just so many good things to eat and I miss them all! So let's hear hear from you now, what would be on your hit list?
Monday, 23 March 2009
8 months in Brum
Ok, so it's taken a while to get this show on the road, but nothing good is ever delievered on time right? It's been 8 months since I first arrived in Brum, and it just wouldn't be right for an Aussie not to have a whinge about English weather. Things started off well, but when winter came I couldn't have frozen quicker unless I was dipped in liquid nitrogen. I figured I'd survived a winter in Japan, England couldn't be much worse...boy, was I mistaken! It snowed twice, in October and in February, which was an absolute blast I must say. I ran around taking photos and made my first ever snowman, so freezing my butt off has been worth it. And the rain! I love it when it rains here because it rains like it means it; it seriously chucks it down with big satisfying splats against the window.
Other than the weather keeping me amused, finding ways to get by on a shoestring has been a real adventure. Shopping at the markets in town can be a great way to stretch your pounds, but I think almost every time I've bought fruit, at least half the bag is filled with dodgy, overripe stuff. They should just let you pick your own, like in good ol' Paddys! My local Sainsbury's also gets a mention for it's discount section up the back; lots of little gems there for 99p. It may be tiny, but it's worth checking out.
So what can I say about Brum city? I haven't really ventured past the Bullring yet since everything you need is there. The shopping centre is really quite open and spacious, but I still think it needs the Westfields treatment! One of my favourite shops in there has to be the teddy bear shop. You choose your bear, get it stuffed and then dress it up. I'm determined to get one before I go. Chinatown is also a short walk away from the Bullring, the biggest one in the UK apparently, but it sadly lacks any character. There's no big gate marking the entrance like the other Chinatowns I've been to, it's just a disparate group of shops, some hidden down tiny backstreets. If I hadn't been told it was Chinatown, I never would have given the area a second glance; it's pretty dodgy-looking. Still, the shops that are there have a good range of oriental products (I would've said Asian, but that means something else here) so I can still get my fix of decent Chinese or Japanese food (I'm not even going to start on that, I'll save it for another post).
There are, of course, a lot of other places in Brum that I want to check out, but til I'm rolling in it, it's just going to have to wait. For now, I guess I'll just have to write this blog...
Other than the weather keeping me amused, finding ways to get by on a shoestring has been a real adventure. Shopping at the markets in town can be a great way to stretch your pounds, but I think almost every time I've bought fruit, at least half the bag is filled with dodgy, overripe stuff. They should just let you pick your own, like in good ol' Paddys! My local Sainsbury's also gets a mention for it's discount section up the back; lots of little gems there for 99p. It may be tiny, but it's worth checking out.
So what can I say about Brum city? I haven't really ventured past the Bullring yet since everything you need is there. The shopping centre is really quite open and spacious, but I still think it needs the Westfields treatment! One of my favourite shops in there has to be the teddy bear shop. You choose your bear, get it stuffed and then dress it up. I'm determined to get one before I go. Chinatown is also a short walk away from the Bullring, the biggest one in the UK apparently, but it sadly lacks any character. There's no big gate marking the entrance like the other Chinatowns I've been to, it's just a disparate group of shops, some hidden down tiny backstreets. If I hadn't been told it was Chinatown, I never would have given the area a second glance; it's pretty dodgy-looking. Still, the shops that are there have a good range of oriental products (I would've said Asian, but that means something else here) so I can still get my fix of decent Chinese or Japanese food (I'm not even going to start on that, I'll save it for another post).
There are, of course, a lot of other places in Brum that I want to check out, but til I'm rolling in it, it's just going to have to wait. For now, I guess I'll just have to write this blog...
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