Friday night sounds

Nobody told me about Midlake. This song is beautiful.

Sideways To The Top

So tonight I went to the book launch of Sideways To The Top. I haven't read the book, but it is described as ' a unique, thought-provoking book that addresses these questions along with other longstanding assumptions about women. It chronicles the experiences of 11 women leaders — some of whom are Australian icons — who challenged the status quo and took alternative career pathways to the top. ' You can read more about it here: www.melbournebooks.com.au/sideways-to-the-top.html

So here's the thing. The panel members were smart and articulate and they reflected on being a woman and having a career and stuff. Some of them mentioned how their kids inspired them - others talked about having a balanced approach. Some talked about starting a business in a nurturing kind of environment. I can't really remember any of the other key points because instead of being shades of grey, it was kinda shades of beige.

The conversation then turned to the audience and observations were made about gender stereotypes and it was all about mums being mums and losing out on careers and the horror that young men today were still reinforcing that 1950's housewife thing. 

Well - that aint the view of the dudes I know. I don't know who these women hang out with, but I for one am surrounded professionally and socially by men who partner with their partners, men who co-parent, men who are the primary carer and men who solo parent. I'm proud to have wonderful friendships with men who don't propagate the stereotypes these women have assumed. And on behalf of these men I'm totally outraged. I am also outraged on behalf of all their partners and also for the women who have made their own choices (gasp - some of whom have chosen to stay at home).

Yes I'm simplifying this, but really...big...massive...yawn. Maybe I just hang around different people, or maybe I'm not bitter from the inequality in my past - I don't know, but either way this sort of stuff makes me livid. Middle class, white women who themselves go on to generalise and marginalise themselves all the while complaining that they are stereotyped and marginalised. Sure there is still inequality and my word our recent political history kind of highlights that. Yes there should be better paternity leave entitlements for men and men should be supported to make the choices they want to when it comes to parenting. But maybe collectively, we can reflect on how to make improvements and stop the wallowing and the generalised stereotypes, because hey...that seems ( I don't know) a little hypercritical. 

I bet the book is much better than all this and I know as a feminist there is much I can learn from other women, just as I can from men too. 

Korean fried chicken in Canberra

So this post illustrates why these two have their own label on this blog. Of course there is a Korean fried chicken home delivery service in Canberra! Yes, I would love to come to dinner and eat said fried chicken. Oh and Christine has made dessert? Sold. 

I was a little sad not to have my camera with me as I imagined the chicken van pulling up at their apartment in Kingston. But alas - no delivery south side and rather Will and Christine drove to Civic for a rendezvous with a Korean man in a Nissan Pulsar*. Ten minutes later and it was on a table filled with kimchi, noodles and marinated tofu. Sweet  soy fried chicken and fried chicken traditional. Pretty fantastic and the best part goes to Canberra. I love how you still continue to surprise. Dessert was home made ice-cream of maltesers and also a scoop of peanut with peanut butter cups. You should whack that in a tub and drive around Canberra following the chicken van.

*Chicken van may not have been a Nissan Pulsar but I was not really listening to that part of the story because of all the fried chicken.

Beauty in suburbia

Night in with friends

10 Yards

10 Yards is everything you would want in a pop up restaurant and more. Yeah the space is a little loud, but the clever screening they've set up in the space makes the tables feel private and cosy. And Canberra's best front of house man is running the floor - the wonderful little Italian man you see EVERYWHERE. That guy has stamina! And charm....he is always so welcoming and has the knack of being friendly yet professional (and really anyone who calls me Bella with an Italian accent has a little piece of my heart).

Another thing I'm in love with - the Pankhurst sparkling wine. It was wonderful, kind of peachy. And the food? Outstanding. The braised smoked pork shoulder was just amazing. Tender and moist, it shredded under the light touch of a fork and melted in your mouth. Not so amazing was the cuttlefish with chickpeas. It was a plate of bitter onion and chickpea, and was the anomaly in an otherwise perfect dinner.

Next up was duck breast with quince, spiced cauliflower and quinoa. I have a rule where I don't eat former pets, but if someone else orders duck I'll eat it (in my mind and sometimes out loud I will then refer to it as chicken). So the chicken breast with quince was a nice elegant dish. Not too rich and well balanced with the quince sauce.

The grilled tuna with celeriac and braised radicchio (and pine nuts with raisins) was the most beautifully plated delight. And the mushrooms with artichokes, 63 degree egg, polenta and hazelnuts was my favourite dish of the night. Hazelnuts are getting a good run in Canberra restaurants of late - they seem to be the nut de-jour. Works for me!

Finally the dark chocolate and sour cherry semifredo with coconut mousse. Oh my. Just go try it. I want to go back tonight and tomorrow night and maybe the night after that. A lovely dinner spot to enjoy with good friends.

Happy Birthday Barney

About fourteen years ago this little bundle of fluff was born and ended up in our lives. 'Our' became 'me and him' and through that time the bigger bundle of fluff kept me pretty much sane. We've lived in this yellow house together for maybe ten years, made the same friends along the way, shared our secrets and the odd icecream. We're a total team but he also sort of belongs to everyone that is part of this yellow house, it's weird but it is just like that.

I don't usually remember to do anything to celebrate this day, but this year the little dog has very much turned into an old man. Not a distinguished gentleman by any means (he still displays moments of crazy youth and frivolity) but for the most part he is a very subdued version of his former self. Given it did take 12 and a half years to grow out of puppydom, that seems only fair. But right now though...he looks young and cheeky. And happy.