Thursday, August 28, 2008

Harry's Singapore Chilli Crab

So we’ve established that Mario (my bf) has an exotic and expensive pallet…well, Tuesday night it took us to Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crab (that is how the restaurant spells chili).

Harry’s is very modest on the inside and out. It looked like any place you might find in Chinatown, nothing out of the ordinary. As we walked to our table we passed other patrons feasting on the signature crabs. I had never really seen anything like it. When I think of eating crab I think of newspapers on a picnic table and a pile of little red Chesapeake Bay crabs in the middle. These guys were huge and came in a variety of spicy looking sauces.

I let Mario do the ordering, and he chose the signature Harry’s Singapore Chilli Crab plate. It was a 1.3 kilo mud crab from Queensland, costing $79 a kilo (for ONE crab!). My jaw dropped at the price! But he had the strong conviction it would be worth it.

It was really tastey, but definitely difficult to eat. I kept getting crunchy crab shell in almost every bite. We both enjoyed the challenge- maybe him more than me. The crab meat was delicious. I really liked the sauce, which had some nice bits of meat in it and was great over some white rice.

As we were leaving Mario said the meal might have made his “Top 5” – whatever that is (I know it involves the jamon iberico). At that price I would prefer to splurge on a steak, but I appreciated and enjoyed the meal. Harry's motto is, “Nobody leaves my door unhappy!" and we definitely didnt.

198 Elizabeth Street

FIB 3 Party


The party was a success! The turnout was pretty decent, and people seemed to like the magazines. The day leading up the it was hell...I felt like an intern stuffing 500 goody bags with Redken and Armani products and a copy of the magazine. The night was mostly special because it brought out everyone important to me in Sydney. Made me feel at home to see so many faces of friends. Anyway, after the FIB only party the doors opened to the neighboring venue Piano Room, where there was another party happening. It was really fun, with live music and a huge crowd. While refilling my champagne at the bar I bumped into Tyson Beckford! He was chatty and nice, maybe even tipsy. Wouldn't allow any photos. He is here filming Make Me a Supermodel with Jennifer Hawkins (i.e. former Miss Universe). The night ended in style with midnight kebabs (hadn't eaten dinner!) with the Colombians in the cross. Classic.

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Im full of excuses...

I know the blog posts have slowed down a bit in the last few days. It is because I have been planning the launch party for FIB's third issue. INvite above. Looks a bit cheesy, doesnt it? Should be fun though. Dangerous Dan from Ksubi DJing in Trademark and live music in Piano Room. Ill let you know how it goes. Wish those of you in the states could come! x

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Hate to ruin your day, but....

I don't know how many of you have been following the story of the orphaned baby humpback whale that kept trying to suckle yachets in Pittwater (NSW) this week. The poor baby was starving and desperatly searching for its Mom...and began to languish without food. Click here to read about the decision to euthanize this poor lost baby whale.

Blues brother

My brother Chris plays harmonica for a few blues number at a wedding in Florida this past weekend. Classic.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Sophistcated grunge for fall

According to the New York Times lots of slouchy pants and moody blouses will be in for fall. Love the biker jacket with chiffon dress (in the slideshow). I think you have to be a model to pull off sequined wide legs (Proenza Schouler) though....but I like the idea!

Monday, August 18, 2008

It's about time people started taking penguins seriously

Nils Olav, a king penguin from the Edinburgh Zoo, got knighted in Norway on Monday. He is now Sir Nils Olav.Click here to see Nils in action.

Jamón Ibérico, for the refined carnivore


I recently learned that my boyfriend has a really expensive addiction. No, no, don’t worry it isn’t imported from his native Colombia, but from Spain. Spanish ham. Jamón Ibérico. And at $100 a pound this is not your ordinary deli meat….

I knew he had an expensive pallet, and I knew he was a ham lover (when he came to visit me in New York he spent like 50 dollars at the deli section of Dean & Deluca). But he first told me about these very special Spanish pigs a few weeks ago when reminiscing about his recent trip to Paris. While wandering along a side street off of Avenue de Montaigne, he and a buddy discovered a small restaurant serving the highest quality jamón ibérico de bellota (belotta means acorn). The ham comes from free-range pigs that happily spend their days roaming oak forests (called la dehesa). They live along the southern boarder between Spain and Portugal. During most of their lives they eat ONLY acorns. Their diet and exercise has a huge impact on the flavor of the meat (it tastes very nutty and savory). The meat is cured for 36 months.

There are two other types of jamón ibérico, and the differences depend on the diet of the pigs. Jamón ibérico de recebo is ham from pigs that are fed a combination of acorns and grains. Jamón ibérico de pienso are fed only grains. They are all pastured and live pretty happy lives.

When describing his meal at the café in Paris, my boyfriend literally got wistful and started watering at the mouth. He described the savory, smooth taste of the highest quality ham in the world with such intense passion, and described the meal in Paris as one of the best he has ever had. Then two weeks ago we went to a gourmet grocer in Woollahra (Jones the Grocer, 68 Moncur Street) and he was thrilled to discover they sold his beloved ham! We went back yesterday for more.

And get this: until July 2008 the bellota ham was illegal in the States. Starting in 2007 other varieties of jamón ibérico became available in the US, but under strict regulations. The same goes for Australia, where the ham became legal in 2007. The price STARTS at close to $60 a pound and exceeds $100 for some varieties. I believe there are only two producers of this ham in the world..

I think my boyfriend finds something very romantic about the pastured pigs eating acorns all day. For him, the beauty of this ham is not simply the delicious flavor of the cured meat, but the idea that it is expensive, hard to find, and produced with such artistry.

I have to say the ham is delicious. But I can’t say it affects me the same way it affects him. Each bite makes him euphoric. At least now I know what to feed him if I ever need to cheer him up.

Saturday, August 16, 2008

My life is SOOO hard...


With so many expenses related to having just moved here I haven't really had the chance to go shopping. All I want to do is assimilate with the locals, wear their clothes and do as they do (keeping my Brooklyn flair of course). There are so many things I want to buy, but IKEA furniture and romantic dinners have pushed shopping needs to the back burner. Another huge problem is that I haven't gotten paid for the work Ive been doing. I am deputy editor of FIB, working all day everyday, spending heaps on cabs and buses btwn appointments...but havent received any $$$! Apparently I am getting paid September 1st...and when I get that lump sum I think I am going to go out and buy the Sass&Bide dress above. Cause I deserve it.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Beautiful girl ponders ugly burlesque

Speaking of my friend Abby living in Shanghai, check out how glamorous she looks while she watches a burlesque show this weekend:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times: the 90s


Fashion is always evolving, but it also does a lot of looking back. When the feminist movement began in the 19th century women started dressing in pants- a true example of progressive fashion. Women’s pants have come a long way since then (Chanel’s 1930s trousers, bellbottoms of the ‘70s, today’s super skinnies), and so has fashion in general. Now we are lucky enough to live in the
21st century and when it comes to getting dressed we can draw inspiration from so many decades past, each with their distinct trends.

I think the throwback to past trends gives us the best of both worlds because it allows us to correct the mistakes of the past. Nothing illustrates this point better than the 90s revival happening right now.

Flannel shirts, combat boots, fl orals, neon; they are all having a moment once again. Some say that the 90s was the decade of “anti fashion” as reflected by the grunge movement or even the minimalist looks seen on runways at the time. But fashion certainly doesn’t have to be glamorous to work.

I LOVE Alexander Wang’s fall collection of feminine grunge Each look has masculine elements, but the end result is super sexy. I also like Ann Demeulemeester’s collection, which was definitely rooted in grunge. I love the oversized sweaters, and I covet the combat boots that walked down the runway with almost every look. They are a far from the Doc Martins I had in 6th grade (although those were damn cool too).Alexander Wang Fall 2008

Ann Demeulemeester Fall 2008

Another example of improvement is the floral dresses. Baby doll dresses with matronly floral patterns paired with clunky boots were the look du jour in season two of 90210. Now we are seeing this style again, only the patterns have improved just enough that they don’t look quite so Laura Ashley and the styles are a little more avant guard and a little less 1994. The boot selection has also come quite far, so you can add your own signature to the dress&boots look. Chloe Fall 2008

The 90s zeitgeist extends far beyond fashion. The other day I was sitting with my brothers at the Dubliner (our local pub) and we found ourselves one-upping each other’s knowledge of 90s tunes. Nirvana, the Pumpkins and NIN were obvious choices, but the more we thought about it tunes and lyrics just kept on coming. From the Lemonheads to Better Than Ezra (and a LOT of Everclear inbtwn thanks to Chris), we relived the good old days of WHFS and its grungy glory.

I think this trend speaks to me because it is the first decade that influenced me directly. I was a true part of it. I remember when Kurt Cobain died. I remember the early days of my CD collection: Offspring, Green Day, Mariah Carrey, and so many more classics. I remember ripping Calvin Klein ads out of magazines and sticking them on my wall- my Mom was so disapproving of waify Kate Moss staring at me while I slept. I remember every episode of Saved by the Bell and 90210 (…ok and Full House too).

Below are my 90s icons.


Oh the angst, the grunge, and the immortal hotness....

x

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Kill spermatozoom!!

Thanks to my friend Abby in Shanghai for this lovely example of multitasking.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

My Mom is a blogger too!

Click here to read my mom's first blog post. First there was the text she sent me last year and now this- my Mom is indeed a modern woman.

Without a shadow of a doubt, Nico


"Well no I didn't meet Nico- it was in 1987, Andy Warhol had recently died and I was bummed I would never get to meet him, and everyone at my high school knew how big a Edie, Andy, Velvet Underground, Lou Reed, Nico etc. fanatic I was, and my classmate Charlie (whose Dad was from Pittsburgh and knew the Warhols & was the only photographer allowed to photograph Andy's funeral) and his Dad traveled through Europe that summer and were on a train in Germany somewhere and somehow they realized Nico was in train car with them and struck up a convo about Warhol, since the Dad and she had both known him, and Charlie had her sign a pack of Czech cigarettes to me: "To Sarah, without the shadow of a doubt, Nico" which I still have and cherish to this day." - My sister, Sarah
Sarah in the 1990s..pale was in.

Nico's namesake- my German Shepherd, Nico:
(photography of david deutsch)

Email from my cousin Emily, the one and only family member with a PhD

Casu marzu (also called casu modde, casu cundhídu, or in Italian formaggio marcio) is a cheese found in Sardinia, Italy, notable for being riddled with live insect larvae. Casu marzu means "rotten cheese" in Sardinian and is known colloquially as maggot cheese.

Derived from Pecorino Sardo, casu marzu goes beyond typical fermentation to a stage most would consider decomposition, brought about by the digestive action of the larvae of the cheese fly Piophila casei. These larvae are deliberately introduced to the cheese, promoting an advanced level of fermentation and breaking down of the cheese's fats. The texture of the cheese becomes very soft, with some liquid (called lagrima, from the Sardinian for "tears") seeping out. The larvae themselves appear as translucent white worms, about 8 mm (1/3 inch) long. When disturbed, the larvae can jump for distances up to 15 cm (6 inches).[1] Some people clear the larvae from the cheese before consuming; others do not.

Apparently, the maggots can jump into the eyes of the cheese eater as s/he is eating.



This cheese is in my dissertation! A literal metaphor for sinfulness! Yay! Sardinia for spring break 2009?

xo, E



Sounds like an appetizing dissertation, Emily!!

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Being on TV

Ok, so today I was asked to do a few intros and two interviews for FIB television (which will basically be accessed through the website when it goes live and eventually from its own tv channel). Sounds simple enough, right? Actually, I found it so difficult! I thought my main concern was what I would wear and applying enough bare minerals and eyeliner. Luckily, Margot was online so I was able to send her this photobooth pic of me and ask if I looked TV-ready. She approved of the look. Then my boss emails me a script of what I need to do and say- 25 min before he comes to get me! I really didnt connect with the way my boss scripted the bits either. So I get in front of the camera and I had to do LITERALLY 45 takes of each 5 sentence thing.

"Hi this is Anna with FIB. Alex Perry is one of the leading Australian fashion designers blah blah now come back stage with us at Rosemont Australian Fashion week to check out his Princess Safari collection."

Seems so simple! UGHGHG my days of being an "actress" and memorizing lines seem to be gone, does that mean I am getting older? I really hope I wont be taking Memory Zap like my mom used to (I think that is one of her secrets..she ordered them from like India).

I found the interview parts to be much easier- casual. It is the staring into the camera and remembering lines with a smile that was harder than I imagined.

Whatevs.

x

Boyfriend Jeans





I'm feeling out the new boyfriend jeans trend. It came to my attention when I saw this blurb in Vogue about new hot brand current/elliott and their signiture boyfriend jeans, seen above.

Obviously it is catching on becuase they are all over Urban Outfitters and are def here in Sydney stores. While they are cute and sexy for hanging out, I have to say I think I'll stay loyal to skinny jeans for the time being.

(image from jezebel.com/splash)

(image from perezhilton.com/Fame)

Monday, August 4, 2008

Going to Ikea with your significant other and the aftermath...


So Mario and I went to IKEA this weekend in our rental car because I have been adamant about making the apartment "home-y." We bought things like throw pillows and new bedding (nothing too feminine) and little odds and ends. We had a few disagreements- he wants a MINIMALIST look, which literally means 3 pieces of furniture in the HUGE living room! I envision a cosy room with lots of seating- perfect for hosting little parties. We decided to stick to basics this time around (I guess that means he won). I bought a Hemnes 3 drawer dresser, which came in a heavy box with about 55 different parts. We both almost fainted while walking through the maze of show rooms and home ware only to get home and have to assemble the monstrosity. We let it sit for about 24 hours and then yesterday attempted putting it together. Now, I would have thought Mario would be very anal about this ordeal (he was complaining of back pain and tried to get me to call his friend to help), but he stepped up and we had it done in an hour using this IKEA illustration as our inspiration for teamwork! Now I finally have a place to put my crap, which benefits him as well considering it was everywhere...

TA-DA!

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Song of the Week



Kansas City, the new song by Sneaky Sound System.

Saw them spin at Hugo's on Sunday. When I first got to Sydney in 'o6 they were just taking off and Sneaky Sundays at Hugos was HUGE. Nice to see they still have it. The ever elusive Miss Connie wasn't there (no surprise), but fellow sneakies Black Angus and MC Double D were making everybody dance as usual.

I spotted Chris Rock at Hugo's on Sunday night enjoying the music. Actually, he seemed rather disinterested, even when I tried to bond about over New York and being American and all that. He said he had just preformed a show and that he was tired, but he smiled a lot and tried to be nice. Random.

Click here for Sneaky's website.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Round Deux

When I came to Sydney in 2006 I tried keeping a blog, but it mostly sounded like drunken anecdotes and cheesy homesick confessions. I think it had like 75 views, and Im embaressed it had any. Two years later I am back in Sydney and I am going to try to make a blog that brings me no shame. I guess my last stint here was more of a big party, whereas now I am here to work "professionally." I am going to be the editor's assistant at a newly launched industry magazine (soon to be a TV channel, website, broadband platform) called Fashion Industry Broadcast.

Another reason I wanted to try blogging again was because I want to create the kind of blog I always look for. There are plenty of amazing ones out there and Ill def be grabbing bits n pieces from my favorite ones but adding my own thoughts, observations, and pics. To be honest, Im not sure what shape it will take, but I think itll be fun to make even if Im the only one that reads it.

I am calling Grand Bouche because not only do I have a big mouth literally and figuratively but I also just generally like the world BOUCHE. I used to call my ex bf boosh cause I liked the sound of the word. I also enjoy the British humor of the Mighty Boosh illustrated here in this fine video entitled OLD GREGG
But that's really neither here nor there....

ANYWAY. Please enjoy and leave comments but dont be harsh.

xx