I’ve been hearing for years that Anthony Bourdain is a bit of a badass, and then a copy of Kitchen Confidential showed up in my Christmas stocking. Funnily enough the parts I’m enjoying thus far, are those moments from a softer time:
My brother and I were reasonably happy here. The beaches were warm, there were lizards to hunt down and exterminate with readily available pétards, firecrackers, which one could buy legally (!) over-the-counter. There was a forest within walking distance where an actual hermit lived, and my brother and I spent hours there, spying on him from the underbrush. By now I could read comic books in French and, of course, I was eating – really eating. Murky brown soupe de poisson, tomato salad, moules marinières, poulet basquaise (we were only a few miles from the Basque country). We made day trips to Cap Ferret, a wild, deserted and breathtakingly magnificent Atlantic beach with big rolling waves, taking along baguettes and saucissons and wheels of cheese, wine and Evian (bottled water was at that time unheard of back home).
A few miles west was Lac Cazeaux, a fresh-water lake where my brother and I could rent pédalo watercraft. We ate gaufres, delicious hot waffles, covered in whipped cream and powdered sugar. The two hot songs of that summer on the Cazeaux jukebox were Whiter Shade Of Pale by Procol Harum and These Boots Were Made For Walkin’ by Nancy Sinatra. The French played those two songs over and over again, the music punctuated by the sonic booms from French air force jets that would swoop over the lake on their way to a nearby bombing range.
There’s something about food & music isn’t there? The two seem inexplicably linked. Laura Vincent of Hungry & Frozen always lovingly lists her current sounds, and Turntable Kitchen matches recipes with records. How does Tame Impala with creamy couscous sound? I think they’ll even post you out a pack of ingredients with a song to match.
Music while dining matters too. I read an interesting article on the sometimes inspired, sometimes insipid music choices of restaurants and pubs and how they shape the experience.
Likewise, last night’s Mexican feast at Thor and Liv’s place probably would have had an entirely different atmosphere if we weren’t stuffing our faces to the sweet tunes of Mariachi El Bronx. (By the way, thinly sliced green apple, dressed with fresh lime and Swedish black salt is incredible. Think of that if you listen to the Mariachi song.)
What do you like to listen to when you’re eating, cooking, or dreaming of food?
Last weekend Thom and I headed to Maltby Street in SE1. Tucked away from the tourists of Borough, and far from the puppy mêlée at Broadway Market, it has a reputation as a place to make a food pilgrimage. It’s for serious foodies. Of course, that ruled us out as the target market, but we still enjoyed ducking in and out of the railway-arches-cum-food-warehouses.
There was all manner of things to buy: crumbly cheeses, oatcakes, beer made from New Zealand hops, and fresh shellfish – still wriggling about in their polystyrene coffins. My favourite was the Colombian drinking chocolate, shaved from solid bars, and stirred into warm milk. I also really liked the remanents of industry lying about too – stacks of wood, old radiators, and piles of tiles. It was certainly interesting, so if you’re game for a different Saturday morning scene, head south to Maltby Street.
I got sent the link to this in an email entitled “4 Guys, 1 Girl and a Guitar” – and I must admit I was a little scared to click through. But I was well rewarded for my bravery:
Somebody That I Used to Know – Walk off the Earth. It’s a cover of Gotye & Kimbra’s recent release, and dare I say it, better than the original.
Steve’s Sydney apartment has it all. Twin chestnut chesterfields, a sun-room peppered with hanging plants, and an appropriately seedy King’s Cross sign. In particular the stacked and strapped filing cabinet wall of storage is an idea I’d like to steal, and a giant mirror wouldn’t go amiss in my house either.
Scooch on over to Apartment Therapy for all the pictures and to read about the inspiration behind it. Meanwhile, I’m still be busily scouring the classifieds for the perfect couch…
The High Street, Oxford, England, 1890s. I really like this hand-coloured photograph – and judging by recent visits the ‘cityscape’ has not changed much in 120 years.
Karangahape Road, Auckland, in 1910. Rendell’s Fashion House, George Court and Sons, Jas Clarkson, the British Photographic Studio and The Frisco Candy Kitchen. There is a car on the road as well as carts and pedestrians with a pram
Don’t you think Frisco Candy Kitchen would be a great name for a K Road bar? Or maybe just a high end chocolate shop, selling salted caramels and stretchy taffy. I miss this place, and I never stop dreaming for it.
Behold owls, coffee and letterpress, together at last in a wonderful example of packaging design: Metrio Coffee.
The Metrio Coffee identity was first inspired by the classical vintage themes of ancient Greece (the Athenian owl and olive branches), then combined with a modern yet simple design. The word Metrio is derived from the common way Greeks drink short black coffee – METRIO – meaning short black with one sugar (medium sweetness).
In 1977, photographer Robin Morrison produced a calendar featuring the local faces and businesses of Ponsonby, Auckland. Some have disappeared over the years, while others, like Bhana Brothers are still going strong. (Bhana has always been my favourite place to buy flowers in Auckland.)
Dick Armstrong’s – affectionately known as Dirty Dick’s (now State of Grace)
Arthur Cooper, Barber, Jervois Road (now Pure Restaurant, 186 Jervois Road)
Peter Rogers Art Deco (still Peter Rogers, Real Time, 74 Ponsonby Road)
Tony Burrows, the Mussel Man, Ponsonby (now Plants and Pots, corner O’Neill St and Ponsonby Rd)
John Moller, Funeral Director, & Noball (70 Ponsonby Road, now the site of the Quest Hotel)
Ivan, Ivan’s Restaurant, Ponsonby Road (now Chapel Bar & Restaurant)
Starting the year off right with new inputs and fresh thinking.
Jan 1. A rainstorm on the Thames, a trip to the Tate Modern, spellbound by Tacita Dean’s film work. Jan 2. The sun came out, street art in Hackney, amusing signs, new cafes on my street to try. Jan 3. Today will bring a new job, and an unexplored neighbourhood. I can’t wait.
It’s been a big year and my camera(s) have taken a thrashing. New jobs, festival season, tonsils removed, first ice hockey game, adventures in Europe, a new city…
Some have commented that I don’ really include pictures of people on my blog. Which is fair. Not to say that my friends aren’t the hottest babes around, because I do take lots of photos of them! It’s just I find a lot of beauty in the details of things, and tend to post those.
Anyway, here are some of my favourite pictures from 2011. Babes included. Hope you’re ready for this jelly – and 2012!
And one more for luck – from Christmas Day 2011. I met this cutie when I went to the stables with Hari:
Zooey Deschanel plays a sweet rendition “What Are You Doing New Years Eve?” on ukulele, accompanied by Joseph Gordon-Levitt on guitar. Ukuleles are enchanting. Maybe I should learn to play one in 2012?
Hello! My name is Amber Parkin. I'm a New Zealander living in London. I'm a writer obsessed with fondue, chesterfield sofas, vintage dresses, foxes, and 35mm.