What are you eating/drinking right now?

[LitNetIsGreat]

I am eating some Nutty Nibbles and drinking Armagnac brandy which is the oldest brandy in France and according to it's equally old publicity: "It makes disappear redness and burning of the eyes, and stops them from tearing; it cures hepatitis, sober consumption adhering. It cures gout, cankers, and fistula by ingestion; restores the paralysed member by massage; and heals wounds of the skin by application. It enlivens the spirit, partaken in moderation, recalls the past to memory, renders men joyous, preserves youth and retards senility. And when retained in the mouth, it loosens the tongue and emboldens the wit, if someone timid from time to time himself permits."

You won't do better than that, although I don't relish the idea of using it to restore the paralysed member by massage.

Wow that stuff sounds like the stuff.

I'm drinking a bottle of Franziskaner Weissbier. I quite like the wheats at the moment and I might have a few in town tomorrow.

[prendrelemick]

The wife's home made bread.

[Emil Miller]

Wow that stuff sounds like the stuff.

I'm drinking a bottle of Franziskaner Weissbier. I quite like the wheats at the moment and I might have a few in town tomorrow.

Yesterday I was offered an American wheat beer called Blue Mountain but as I haven't drunk weissbier for some time I don't recall whether I liked it or not, so I had a Stella instead.

[Heidy]

Yes, i am so nervous because of admission test for university that i have eaten the whole cookie pach. That was my luncheon :P

[LitNetIsGreat]

Tea, toast and jazz at the moment (Twinnings and wholemeal) because I'm having a break in proceedings, but when I get back to it I'm going to have a Golden Hen and maybe another Brooklyn lager. I must say that for a while I have been impressed by the American 'craft' beers, the ones that I can get hold of that is. I had an Anchor Steam beer today famous in San Francisco, apparently, which grew on my as it went down. The Brooklyn beers aren't bad though, the Brooklyn Brown is pretty good. If I had to stick to only one English beer at the moment is would definitely be the Golden Hen, top beer.

[Paulclem]

I celebrated the start of the premiership today with a Kloppenburg Pear cider. I followed up, a bit later, with some peanut M&Ms.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmm crunchy.

[Emil Miller]

Tea, toast and jazz at the moment (Twinnings and wholemeal) because I'm having a break in proceedings, but when I get back to it I'm going to have a Golden Hen and maybe another Brooklyn lager. I must say that for a while I have been impressed by the American 'craft' beers, the ones that I can get hold of that is. I had an Anchor Steam beer today famous in San Francisco, apparently, which grew on my as it went down. The Brooklyn beers aren't bad though, the Brooklyn Brown is pretty good. If I had to stick to only one English beer at the moment is would definitely be the Golden Hen, top beer.

Yes steam beer features in Frank Norris's great novel about San Francisco 'McTeague' which is where I first came across the beer.
Here's the opening to the story:

It was Sunday, and, according to his custom on that day, McTeague took
his dinner at two in the afternoon at the car conductors' coffee-joint
on Polk Street. He had a thick gray soup; heavy, underdone meat, very
hot, on a cold plate; two kinds of vegetables; and a sort of suet
pudding, full of strong butter and sugar. On his way back to his office,
one block above, he stopped at Joe Frenna's saloon and bought a pitcher
of steam beer. It was his habit to leave the pitcher there on his way to
dinner.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes steam beer features in Frank Norris's great novel about San Francisco 'McTeague' which is where I first came across the beer.
Here's the opening to the story:

It was Sunday, and, according to his custom on that day, McTeague took
his dinner at two in the afternoon at the car conductors' coffee-joint
on Polk Street. He had a thick gray soup; heavy, underdone meat, very
hot, on a cold plate; two kinds of vegetables; and a sort of suet
pudding, full of strong butter and sugar. On his way back to his office,
one block above, he stopped at Joe Frenna's saloon and bought a pitcher
of steam beer. It was his habit to leave the pitcher there on his way to
dinner.

Oh great, it's not just advertising lies then? I didn't think it was but you never know. Yes I could have a pitcher of the beer myself as it was quite good, light and refreshing, uncomplex but a nice subtle after taste, very drinkable, not too dissimilar to Golden Hen actually.

[Emil Miller]

Oh great, it's not just advertising lies then? I didn't think it was but you never know. Yes I could have a pitcher of the beer myself as it was quite good, light and refreshing, uncomplex but a nice subtle after taste, very drinkable, not too dissimilar to Golden Hen actually.

I didn't know that steam beer was available over here but now that I do I think I will try it as a salute to a great American novel.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I didn't know that steam beer was available over here but now that I do I think I will try it as a salute to a great American novel.

It's probably not easy to find, though I'm sure you will be able to find it some place in London, probably in some decent real ale shop somewhere or specialist pub. I've only ever seen it available at the Devonshire Cat in Sheffield, which is by far the most well stocked place here, perhaps even in the whole of Yorkshire? We're talking about 120-140 beers most of which come served in it's own glass (as the steam ale did) at the correct temperature with attractive and knowledgeable barmaids as standard! Though while you think that must be heaven, and it is my church, the atmosphere inside is very hit and miss - light jazz and quiet one day, pop music and football crowds the next?? Nevertheless the beer choice is unsurpassed.

Edit: It's not an overwhelming beer, you won't drink it and think 'wow' like you might with some of the Belgians, but it does grow on you with ever sip subtly. At least that was my impression of it anyway. I imagine that if you drank pitchers and pitchers of it over time it would be very addictive stuff.

[prendrelemick]

A Warburton crumpet. Has anyone else tried these? They have slipped the surly bonds of crumpethood and soared to sublime new heights. Like chewing on hot buttered clouds.

[Buckthorn]

I love crumpets but rarely eat them for some reason, I am having them each night at the moment as my bedtime snack (although I am having Kingsmill rather than Warburtons).

[prendrelemick]

kingsmill are fine as a step along the path of enlightenment toward the crumpet Nirvana of a Warburtons no1 Thick and Fluffy.

[qimissung]

McDonalds hot cakes and sausage. Not bad, actually. And coffee, yum.

[Emil Miller]

It's probably not easy to find, though I'm sure you will be able to find it some place in London, probably in some decent real ale shop somewhere or specialist pub. I've only ever seen it available at the Devonshire Cat in Sheffield, which is by far the most well stocked place here, perhaps even in the whole of Yorkshire? We're talking about 120-140 beers most of which come served in it's own glass (as the steam ale did) at the correct temperature with attractive and knowledgeable barmaids as standard! Though while you think that must be heaven, and it is my church, the atmosphere inside is very hit and miss - light jazz and quiet one day, pop music and football crowds the next?? Nevertheless the beer choice is unsurpassed.

Edit: It's not an overwhelming beer, you won't drink it and think 'wow' like you might with some of the Belgians, but it does grow on you with ever sip subtly. At least that was my impression of it anyway. I imagine that if you drank pitchers and pitchers of it over time it would be very addictive stuff.

I ran into a neighbour in the supermarket today and he loaded up about two dozen bottles of an American beer called Sierra Nevada that were being sold cut price for a limited time. It seems that American beers are making increasing inroads to the UK market.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/750/2010beerpaleale.jpg

[papayahed]

grape slush

[LitNetIsGreat]

I ran into a neighbour in the supermarket today and he loaded up about two dozen bottles of an American beer called Sierra Nevada that were being sold cut price for a limited time. It seems that American beers are making increasing inroads to the UK market.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/750/2010beerpaleale.jpg

Yes that's not a bad beer either and it sounds like he got a bargain. It is quite readily available, my local metro Tesco even has it and I've seen it in a few pubs, but yes let's hope more of these sorts of beers become readily available as the quality of them is pretty high.

[prendrelemick]

Drinking a pint of Late Red an "autumn hop ale" It's not very nice really.

[Emil Miller]

Drinking a pint of Late Red an "autumn hop ale" It's not very nice really.

Here's what the publicity says:

Late Red is a complex, richly-flavoured autumn hop ale. With an appropriately Autumnal auburn hue, this premium beer achieves a perfect balance between rich, dark malt flavours, and a strong, robust hoppiness.

Perhaps you should switch to lager and try a Leffe blond: expensive but worth every penny.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Here's what the publicity says:

Late Red is a complex, richly-flavoured autumn hop ale. With an appropriately Autumnal auburn hue, this premium beer achieves a perfect balance between rich, dark malt flavours, and a strong, robust hoppiness.

Perhaps you should switch to lager and try a Leffe blond: expensive but worth every penny.

Leffe Blonde is on offer for £2. 50 per 750ml bottle at my local miniTesco, not bad and yes I'm going to fill my boots.

Just sipping a supreme Chimay Red, Belgian Trappist! Beers don't come much better.

[papayahed]

MultiGrain Cheerios

[prendrelemick]

Here's what the publicity says:

Late Red is a complex, richly-flavoured autumn hop ale. With an appropriately Autumnal auburn hue, this premium beer achieves a perfect balance between rich, dark malt flavours, and a strong, robust hoppiness.

Perhaps you should switch to lager and try a Leffe blond: expensive but worth every penny.

It may have been a rogue bottle, it tasted metalic..

[billl]

I've been into eating raw bell peppers lately. They really are something, it seems so obvious now.

[LitNetIsGreat]

I've been into eating raw bell peppers lately. They really are something, it seems so obvious now.

I don't like raw pepper as they taste too bitter to me. Throw them in a little heat for 5 minutes or so, much better.

Interesting day. Had a 30 odd mile bike ride, played tennis and then had to take shelter in a pub and so drank some beer (San Miguel). I think I'm going to rest my weary limbs with some Leffe later.

[Emil Miller]

I don't like raw pepper as they taste too bitter to me. Throw them in a little heat for 5 minutes or so, much better.

Interesting day. Had a 30 odd mile bike ride, played tennis and then had to take shelter in a pub and so drank some beer (San Miguel). I think I'm going to rest my weary limbs with some Leffe later.

Yes there are few things as relaxing as Leffe, I had one today before reparing to a pub that has a buxom French barmaid plein de joie de vivre. I was so pleased at this new addition to the staff that I bought a bottle of J&B whisky in the supermarket on the way home and a few mixers to go with it. I'm just going to open it now.

[billl]

I don't like raw pepper as they taste too bitter to me. Throw them in a little heat for 5 minutes or so, much better.


Just for clarification: Do you just mean the green bell peppers, or are you also referring to the red ones. (They are all the same peppers, I'm pretty sure, just different stages of ripeness.) I like the bitterness of the green ones (as I understand you don't), but the red ones really remind me of tomatoes more than anything. I'd even say they're sweet. Still, I haven't quite nailed this all down, I'm still trying to figure them out, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone found even the red ones to be bitter. But there's a big, big difference there...

(Oh, and about heating them, I like sauteeing them in soy sauce and a few other things, no science about it, but I've started having them raw just to save time and keep myself from letting them rot before I get around to it. Slicing one up and eating it instead of potato chips is working, as a healthy snack. I'm always looking for an easy way to eat vegetables, and get some nutrition going.)

[LitNetIsGreat]

Just for clarification: Do you just mean the green bell peppers, or are you also referring to the red ones. (They are all the same peppers, I'm pretty sure, just different stages of ripeness.) I like the bitterness of the green ones (as I understand you don't), but the red ones really remind me of tomatoes more than anything. I'd even say they're sweet. Still, I haven't quite nailed this all down, I'm still trying to figure them out, and I wouldn't be surprised if someone found even the red ones to be bitter. But there's a big, big difference there...

(Oh, and about heating them, I like sauteeing them in soy sauce and a few other things, no science about it, but I've started having them raw just to save time and keep myself from letting them rot before I get around to it. Slicing one up and eating it instead of potato chips is working, as a healthy snack. I'm always looking for an easy way to eat vegetables, and get some nutrition going.)

Oh definitely, it is much better to eat peppers raw than not at all, I've tried slicing a few on sandwiches and so on (green or red) but I just find them too bitter to enjoy that way. Even on top of pizzas in the oven I'm not too keen. I like them stir-fired though.



Yes there are few things as relaxing as Leffe, I had one today before reparing to a pub that has a buxom French barmaid plein de joie de vivre. I was so pleased at this new addition to the staff that I bought a bottle of J&B whisky in the supermarket on the way home and a few mixers to go with it. I'm just going to open it now.

Wowza a buxom French barmaid.:cheers2: Brilliant! I'll raise a glass of Leffe to that.

It's also much better than I faced when trying to get into our local post-tennis pub. We were never keen on the couple who run it, but they have a decent selection of beers/lagers so we always used to go there. That was until today when the horrid pair wouldn't let us into the back beer garden because someone was up a ladder? I asked if we could bring our (wet) bikes inside a porch bit, keep in mine we are regulars, and the look on her ugly face was one of terror. 'Never mind, it doesn't matter' I said and then we found another pub. We will never go back again.

[billl]

I like them stir-fired though.


Yeah, me too--that's what got me inspired to do the sauteeing (which was really just an amateur attempt at stir-frying) that got me into this whole thing.

[prendrelemick]

I thought the Green, Red and yellow peppers you get in packs of three were all ripe just different varieties. I actually prefer them raw - very refreshing.


I tend to go for dark beers, but after Neely's tales of Golden Hen and Emil's Leffe I may step back from the dark side next time.

[Emil Miller]

I thought the Green, Red and yellow peppers you get in packs of three were all ripe just different varieties. I actually prefer them raw - very refreshing.


I tend to go for dark beers, but after Neely's tales of Golden Hen and Emil's Leffe I may step back from the dark side next time.

A word of caution re the Leffe: although it goes down very easily, it should be treated with respect as it's stronger than the usual lagers.

[Emil Miller]

Tonight I didn't have the slightest inclination to cook anything so, as is often the case on these occasions, I made a cheese sandwich and drank a small bottle of vino rosso before turning my attention to my Justerini & Brooks whisky, supplemented by American dry ginger ale. There was a small amount of Janneau brandy left in its bottle so I finished that off with a Coca Cola mixer. So now I'm back on the Scotch and I have become aware that I should add some American dry to alleviate the slightly inebriating effect of drinking it straight.

[LitNetIsGreat]

A word of caution re the Leffe: although it goes down very easily, it should be treated with respect as it's stronger than the usual lagers.

That's true but Leffe should always be sipped from a 330ml glass, like most Belgian ales. You should never put Leffe in a standard pint glass, though I have seen it done in some underhand pubs, tut, tut...


Tonight I didn't have the slightest inclination to cook anything so, as is often the case on these occasions, I made a cheese sandwich and drank a small bottle of vino rosso before turning my attention to my Justerini & Brooks whisky, supplemented by American dry ginger ale. There was a small amount of Janneau brandy left in its bottle so I finished that off with a Coca Cola mixer. So now I'm back on the Scotch and I have become aware that I should add some American dry to alleviate the slightly inebriating effect of drinking it straight.

I don't often drink spirits but whisky and ginger ale is my most popular venture into the spirit world, especially at Christmas.

I've just got home from about 8 hours of tennis and beer. I've immediately reached for some pasta and then a handful of Brazil nuts I got from Sheffield market for £4 a bag. A bit pricey I thought at the time but these nuts seem to last.

I've stuck a 750ml bottle of Leffe on chill and got my Leffe glass on standby...

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

The recent lauding of Leffe forced me to purchase a six pack earlier this week for a trial run.
My delivery method at the moment is pretty simple; straight from the bottle.
Not bad on a hot Texas day.

[Emil Miller]

The recent lauding of Leffe forced me to purchase a six pack earlier this week for a trial run.
My delivery method at the moment is pretty simple; straight from the bottle.
Not bad on a hot Texas day.

This is nothing short of sacrilege; as it should be sipped and not gulped down like a tin of Fosters. How is the flavour to be savoured if it's treated like the lunchtime tipple of a truck driver listening to Dolly Parton and chewing on a Yorkie bar?
No, imagine you are seated in some small Belgian estaminet having just partaken of an exquisite repast of boiled horse meat and potatoes, for it is only in such circumstances that the delicate texture of Leffe will be truly appreciated.

[prendrelemick]

Bishop's Finger last night, not bad at all. That's the last of my Birthday beer gone.



Under what circumstances should one sample a Bishop's Finger by the way.

[Helga]

in about two minuets it's coffee but right now just water.

[LitNetIsGreat]

Bishop's Finger last night, not bad at all. That's the last of my Birthday beer gone.



Under what circumstances should one sample a Bishop's Finger by the way.

Oh so you're the one with the birthday.:cheers2: Yes Bishop's Finger is not bad at all...actually I was thinking about Bishop's Finger yesterday. I'm not sure when one should pull a Bishop's Finger? Perhaps on a Sunday or for some other solemn occasion.

I've just had some ice cream, strawberries and melon in a Leffe glass but I wouldn't recommend the combination. For some reason the ice cream seems to super-freeze the melon and then the strawberries and they don't taste too good that way.

[Emil Miller]

Yes Bishop's Finger is not bad at all...actually I was thinking about Bishop's Finger yesterday. I'm not sure when one should pull a Bishop's Finger? Perhaps on a Sunday or for some other solemn occasion.



Here's the info on Bishop's Finger.


The French have their appelation controlée, the Germans have their rheinheitsgebot purity laws, but the British had nothing – until now.

Until Shepherd Neame unveiled its Bishops Finger Charter in 2003.

First brewed at the Faversham Brewery in 1958, Bishops Finger Strong Kentish Ale has been brewed continuously ever since and is unique in many ways.

It is certainly the only English beer to have its own Charter, which decrees that the ale must be brewed only on Fridays by the Head Brewer and that it must be tasted on a weekly basis by a member of the Board of Directors.

The Charter further stipulates that the 5.4% abv ale can only be brewed using pure artesian well water drawn from Kentish Greensand, winter pearl malting barley harvested by Roddy Loder-Symonds on Denne Hill Farm at Womenswold between Canterbury and Dover, and peerless East Kent Goldings hops, grown less than 30 miles away from the brewery.

Bishops Finger holds the rare distinction of being granted a Protective Geographic Indicator by the European Union, which means it’s the only beer in Britain entitled to be known as a Kentish strong ale.

In fact, Bishops Finger is believed to be unique in that it’s a product of a single county. It’s brewed in Kent using water from the Faversham Brewery’s artesian well and raw materials – barley and hops – grown in Kent.

The ale takes its quirky name from finger-shaped Kentish wayside signposts which pointed pilgrims the way to St Thomas à Becket’s shrine in Canterbury Cathedral before it was destroyed on the orders of Henry VIII in 1538

[LitNetIsGreat]

Yes that's interesting. It used to be the blurb on the back of the bottle, some of it anyway, I wonder if it still is? I think I might have to get a bottle of that for tonight actually. I think I've had just about all of the Shepherd Neame beers and they're all quality brews, I think Spitfire is their biggest seller along with Bishop's Finger.

[richardshelton]

Carrot juice.


Very good and has no sugar.

A very well kept secret.

I should start a thread on how to maintain a sugar free lifestyle one of these days.

[papayahed]

Nachos and a Provo Girl beer.

[Emil Miller]

Just had a ham sandwich with a couple of glasses of Shiraz red wine.
Now I am eating pastrami flavoured bagel chips and drinking Sambuca with lemonade and a dash of blackcurrant cordial.
Times are hard but we must make the most of them.

[Buckthorn]

Black coffee

[Helga]

Bríó.

[Emil Miller]

I've just been drinking Amaretto and brandy with lots of ice. It's known as a French Connection but whatever it's called it is propelling me to bed.

[Helga]

my black cup of coffee

[Buckthorn]

my black cup of coffee
Same here. With sliced Mango

[Buckthorn]

Chocolate coconut milk ice cream & chocolate orange cake

[Emil Miller]

At this very moment, I am eating something called Nutty Nibbles and drinking a glass of Campo Viejo Rioja.

[Sydneysider]

Water. How dull. :-)

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

Grilled chicken and Rotini pasta soup with Concha y Toro Casillero Del Diablo Cabernet Sauvignon.

[Delta40]

Smoked almonds - very moorish

[Gilliatt Gurgle]

A roast beef sandwich with Jim Beam and root beer on the rocks.

[papayahed]

Coke and Strawberry Icee

[Buckthorn]

Chips, Mushy Peas & Vegan Fish

[Pensive]

cheese sandwich
(that's what I have been eating two times a day for the last seven days because I can't be bothered to make something more complicated)

[Helga]

a cold beer

[LadyLuck]

Just a cup of tea at the moment, but I'm dreaming of a glass of wine this evening :)

[papayahed]

Stella Artois

[Buckthorn]

Soy latte

[qimissung]

I had roast beef and potatoes for dinner, then followed that up with about five pieces of individually wrapped dark chocolate. Now I feel a little fatter than I did before, and I hate myself. Why can't I leave chocolate alone???? I just can't quit you, chocolate!

[Helga]

I am drinking coffee from my 'Illogical' Spock cup

[tailor STATELY]

Fruitloops w/ 2%

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[*Classic*Charm*]

Big ol' mug of Earl Gray.

[Snowqueen]

Just a cup of tea.

[Love Literature]

hAvinG teA......

[Buckthorn]

Fullers Black Cab Stout

[kogama]

I have some organic chicken sausage on the stove : )

[papayahed]

Frozen Grapes

[Snowqueen]

I’m having brunch – scrambled eggs and a cup of tea.

[Helga]

I have a cold so it's lemon and ginger tea with more ginger cut up in my cup. So in a way I am eating and drinking my tea

[Idril]

A cup of coffee and some black cherry yogurt

[*Classic*Charm*]

Pumpkin pie and a glass of wine.

[Calidore]

About to chow down on one of my new favorite frozen pizzas: Home Run Inn's "Sausage Fireball".

http://www.homeruninnpizza.com/frozen-pizza/ultra-thin/item/ultra-thin-sausage-fireball

[Helga]

coffee