What a horrible, nasty, shitty, shitty club.
Rip off puck up joint!
Staff are rubbish. Unfriendly, unhelpful and bar service is miserable, slow. They let people push in front all the time at the entrance and at the bar.
To add insult to injury neither dj could spin! The bar upstairs was some excuse playing uninspiring records and spending most of his time at the bar. downstairs the vj was banal, offensively sexist and not even hot - which would have excused the sexism. The two dancers couldn't dance and the dj was worse than my four year old nephew. We did our best but dancing was pretty impossible to such mediocre mixing.
Which might not be a problem as no one seems to go there to dance anyway!
I should probably add that a friend with us - Polish living in UK was upset by the obvious racism of both staff and clientèle towards people of colour throughout the place!
Monday, 28 March 2016
Sunday, 13 March 2016
De Betere Tijden, Gelkingestraat 21, 9711 NA Groningen, Netherlands
Nice, friendly, good service.
Food is OK, not special but, a very reasonable price most around 10 euros. In comparison I thought the Chef's special at 12.50 was over priced (absolutely not complaining!) Not generous portions definitely adequate.
I asked about the changing stuffing on the mushroom and was told red peppers (paprika) and pesto - I checked if it was basil pesto (yes) which struck me as not something I was even willing to try!
I really don't understand burgers with no flavouring but that is apparently how people make them here. A slab of lightly cooked mince with not even salt and pepper doesn't do it for me
We had 6 burgers, with (bad, cheap) cheddar and roseval potatoes which were cooked but still pale. I don't do bread, without the generous crusty bap, the patty looked quite sad. There was no lettuce or tomato, gherkin, ketchup, or mayo with the burger, a goodly side garnish kinda made up for it.
There was supposed to be some kind of beet salad but it wasn't on the plate!
One of us had the Hungarian sauerkraut, it came with a gehakt ball that was more than 40% breadcrumbs, the flavour of the saurkraut was good but it was a small portion.
The cheese plate was laughable! Tiny little squares of pecorino and belgen, some small sliced of too cold, too young brie (no flavour) and more garnish and fruit than cheese - but it was only 5 euros, I would rather pay a bit more and get a bit better
The wine was fabulous - we had the most expensive which at 21 a bottle did not break the bank. it was a lovely Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Shame all the tap beers were so strong.
I don't think I'd go again.
They were really cool about us making a fair amount of noise while we played dice.
I recommend it for anyone with a low budget or if you've had some horrid experiences with people being rude or unfriendly but, if money isn't an issue , and you don't need a safe haven and would like some great nosh - try somewhere else
Food is OK, not special but, a very reasonable price most around 10 euros. In comparison I thought the Chef's special at 12.50 was over priced (absolutely not complaining!) Not generous portions definitely adequate.
I asked about the changing stuffing on the mushroom and was told red peppers (paprika) and pesto - I checked if it was basil pesto (yes) which struck me as not something I was even willing to try!
I really don't understand burgers with no flavouring but that is apparently how people make them here. A slab of lightly cooked mince with not even salt and pepper doesn't do it for me
We had 6 burgers, with (bad, cheap) cheddar and roseval potatoes which were cooked but still pale. I don't do bread, without the generous crusty bap, the patty looked quite sad. There was no lettuce or tomato, gherkin, ketchup, or mayo with the burger, a goodly side garnish kinda made up for it.
There was supposed to be some kind of beet salad but it wasn't on the plate!
One of us had the Hungarian sauerkraut, it came with a gehakt ball that was more than 40% breadcrumbs, the flavour of the saurkraut was good but it was a small portion.
The cheese plate was laughable! Tiny little squares of pecorino and belgen, some small sliced of too cold, too young brie (no flavour) and more garnish and fruit than cheese - but it was only 5 euros, I would rather pay a bit more and get a bit better
The wine was fabulous - we had the most expensive which at 21 a bottle did not break the bank. it was a lovely Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon
Shame all the tap beers were so strong.
I don't think I'd go again.
They were really cool about us making a fair amount of noise while we played dice.
I recommend it for anyone with a low budget or if you've had some horrid experiences with people being rude or unfriendly but, if money isn't an issue , and you don't need a safe haven and would like some great nosh - try somewhere else
Medini Cafe @ Groninger museum
This placed typified everything that drives me crazy about this country and its version of service
Very nice placement over the water, the café is part of the iconic Groninger museum building. Inside leads directly into the museum with a sunny terrace outside.
The terrace doesn't have enough chairs! Two chairs per table is not enough. We spent the time we were there after we'd finally got somewhere to sit with all seven of us watching people play musical chairs without the music.
to add insult to injury - if you moved you were as near as damn it insulted and then humiliated by the waitress for messing up their ordering system. Which was also dreadful an average of 15 minutes to get a drink which is ridiculous especially when it was one beer which by the time it arrived had no head and was flat.
We arrived at 13.15 on a Saturday and ordered gin and tonics from someone who had no qualms making it non verbally very clear that she did not approve of the order! When the drinks arrived 20 minutes later there was no ice.
I asked for ice, the (different waitress to bring the drinks) avoided answering until the third request and finally as she was leaving she tossed over her shoulder that 'we don't have ice".
We dribbled out of the exhibition slowly and went back to the café - no new chairs, even more people standing around tables, waiting for others to leave to be able to use them and many people sitting around the big concrete placements for the umbrellas.
We ordered a fish and chips to stave of the hunger while everyone came back. It looked fantastic. the batter was way to thick and only just cooked in the middle and very sweet, the fish was in tiny blocks in the batter chewy and over cooked. The tartar/remoulade was way too sweet, too much dill, not enough gherkins and not enough for the fish and the chips. The chips were good - very small portion!
Ordered a second round of g&t's and asked about the ice again to be told directly "we do not have or serve ice" I was gobsmacked and asked why - which was ignored.
When the drinks came they had no lemon - which I found really too much I asked for some lemon and for some reason also some ice. Everyone reminded me that the head waitress had already told us they didn't have it. At which point the (third) waitress came back with two glasses of ice with lemon in them!
So on top of being unfriendly, judgemental, rude, incompetent and surly they are also liars!
I put this review on google with a fat 1 star!
Very nice placement over the water, the café is part of the iconic Groninger museum building. Inside leads directly into the museum with a sunny terrace outside.
The terrace doesn't have enough chairs! Two chairs per table is not enough. We spent the time we were there after we'd finally got somewhere to sit with all seven of us watching people play musical chairs without the music.
to add insult to injury - if you moved you were as near as damn it insulted and then humiliated by the waitress for messing up their ordering system. Which was also dreadful an average of 15 minutes to get a drink which is ridiculous especially when it was one beer which by the time it arrived had no head and was flat.
We arrived at 13.15 on a Saturday and ordered gin and tonics from someone who had no qualms making it non verbally very clear that she did not approve of the order! When the drinks arrived 20 minutes later there was no ice.
I asked for ice, the (different waitress to bring the drinks) avoided answering until the third request and finally as she was leaving she tossed over her shoulder that 'we don't have ice".
We dribbled out of the exhibition slowly and went back to the café - no new chairs, even more people standing around tables, waiting for others to leave to be able to use them and many people sitting around the big concrete placements for the umbrellas.
We ordered a fish and chips to stave of the hunger while everyone came back. It looked fantastic. the batter was way to thick and only just cooked in the middle and very sweet, the fish was in tiny blocks in the batter chewy and over cooked. The tartar/remoulade was way too sweet, too much dill, not enough gherkins and not enough for the fish and the chips. The chips were good - very small portion!
Ordered a second round of g&t's and asked about the ice again to be told directly "we do not have or serve ice" I was gobsmacked and asked why - which was ignored.
When the drinks came they had no lemon - which I found really too much I asked for some lemon and for some reason also some ice. Everyone reminded me that the head waitress had already told us they didn't have it. At which point the (third) waitress came back with two glasses of ice with lemon in them!
So on top of being unfriendly, judgemental, rude, incompetent and surly they are also liars!
I put this review on google with a fat 1 star!
Friday, 26 February 2016
Exhibition 'DRAWING WORK' @ CBK Amsterdam Zuid Oost, Anton de Komplein 120, 1102 DR
Thursday 25th
February until 26th March Donderdag 25 februari te
zien t/m 26 maart
An exhibition with
the work of 17 international artists about work and work experiences
Een tentoonstelling met tekeningen van 17 internationale
kunstenaars over werk-en arbeidservaring
Lezing: do 3 maart
17:30 tot 18:30 uur Tekenworkshop: zat 5 maart 14 tot 17 uur
Last night I went to
the opening of the above – I had to go. I was commissioned by the
curator and one of the contributing artists Siobhan Wall to write a
couple of pieces about 'Work'. I did a text performance and the
pieces are to be included in the exhibition.
I am writing a
review, not because I was in it or because you can see some of my
writing but because although, I spent a large part of the evening
doing my best to drink as much red wine as possible, it was a super
experience because the selections of work were brilliant, sometimes
challenging, funny, inspiring and very thought provoking.
My absolute all time
favourite(s) were the 3d cut outs by Marleen Kappe. These looked
almost impossible to photograph (so I was like, if I can't take
photos of this one/these why take any!). They showed industrial and
possibly film or theatre work situations. They are so difficult to
describe I'm not even going to bother saying any more than that. The
link to her website will give you an idea but they honestly do need
to be seen 'live' to really 'get them'. http://www.marleenkappe.nl/
I can't think of
anyone other than Siobhan who would have included portraits of
homeless refugees. No longer in danger of being sent back but denied
the opportunity of working and contributing to the society to which
they have been forced to flee. Not being able (allowed) to work is
also relevant to exploring work.
There were a few of
the works that really stood out for me. They made me spend the latter
part of the evening travelling to and at the Bimhuis trying to
convince everyone I spoke to to go and see.
I had struggled the
whole evening between making photos and not doing so. There were a
number of professional photographers, including Siobhan and I thought
it was much better to try and get some of those to put with this
review than twitting about with my mobile and doing everyone an
injustice.
I like seeing art. I
don't make enough time to do it. One of the reasons is I know so
clearly what I like and why. I rarely see stuff that I like, so all
most people (especially my partner) ever hear is me ripping someone
or others work that I don't like to pieces. Last night was a welcome
relief. I was 'mwah' about a fair amount, but the joy of finding so
many exhibits that made me feel enthusiastic was wonderful.
One was a collection
of doodles – they reminded me of stuff that I, my sister and
partner do! Is there a basic doodling universal style? Loved that
they were on post it notes and office paper. Some were free hand
geometric later reproduced with compass and rulers. Most were pencil
or pen and a small group were coloured in.
The cartoons
exploring women, career, and parenting were really well drawn, spot
on commentaries and hilarious.
A wall of images of
black men was poignant, the text; words to the effect that they
didn't want their photos taken so their mothers wouldn't know they
were homeless but a drawing or painting was OK. Their inclusion was a
super subtle, damning of our world.
Some of the art was
from photographs – not really keen on that. I'm like, why bother?
For a portrait OK but to present a a painting or drawing when it's
always soooo obvious you're just reproducing a photo – I don't get
it. You may call me a peasant.
Due to the amount of
drinking, a lack of pen and paper and my reluctance to take photos
with my phone. I didn't get (remember) the names of the other artists
whose work I really liked.
Marleen Kappe has the opening Drie Tekeningen exposities the small format section 5th March at Witteveen Visual art Centre 17.00
and here's me reading with the photos of the processed asylum seekers as background
Marleen Kappe has the opening Drie Tekeningen exposities the small format section 5th March at Witteveen Visual art Centre 17.00
photos: Marleen Kappe and Siobhan Wall
Thursday, 18 February 2016
Melizioso© dinner
Delicious food is my
passion so I felt privileged this evening to be invited to partake
of a Melizioso© dinner. The
menu; coq au vin, sautéed
mushrooms and pan fried crispy creamy polenta.
The
coq au vin was truly amazing, multi layered flavours of an authentic
chicken braised in wine
sauce with veg. The
texture of the slow cooked chicken thigh, flavoured and softened to
fall off the bone was perfection.
Many
would of course not eat it but for the lovers of rich food... (if fat
makes you squeamish skip the this
line!) The beautifully
browned and deliciously (never thought I would say that) soft skin
was the perfect accompaniment to the meat. The divinely intricate
flavouring of the sauce was
rich, thick, with caramelised
onion, slightly sweet
omami, herby and permeated with a berry twanged
wine. The rich brown colours of the sauce and onions were lifted by julienne
carrots. Sauteed button mushrooms were cooked and served separately.
At some point in the
past I decided that I like to separate starch and protein as a
preference rather than a rule. As such I will in a meal with both,
eat the protein first and find that an ideal second choice for after
dinner digestion. I have also learnt that having seconds (of protein)
trashes the work before. When offered seconds tonight I was amazed to
find myself choosing to avoid risking a bloat so I could continue to
enjoy the lingering play of the after flavours around my taste buds.
Which is a prelude to describing the star of the evening.....
When I arrived for
dinner Melissa apologised for the polenta, which she was frying as I
entered. She had a vision in her mind of the polenta being much
firmer but would have needed more hours in the day to have had the
time to pre cook it earlier as needed. The fact that it had been very
recently cooked gave the polenta the most amazing contrast between
the crispy, cheesy pan fried exterior and the tasty, creamy interior.
With the sauce and mushrooms it was the perfect foil and utterly
delicious on it's own.
Melivision©
provides
artistic services; interior design, art and daughter
company Melizioso©
luckily for me, do
food. An intimate dinner
for two or not intimate
with eight, a banquet, a
(wedding) party, conference? Whatever
the occasion,
if you
can't or don't want
to make it your self you
can get delicious, well
made, healthy food with options
for a huge range of diets. Coeliac, vegan, pescatarian?
No problem! Carb free,
gluten free, sugar free. No problem!
Not
being much into desserts and having foresworn chocolate you'd need to
look elsewhere to find out about the apple and other fruit pies, brownies etc. but I will mention
the pizza (she now also does a carb free verion!), the foccacia and
the risotto.
Wednesday, 17 February 2016
Cihan - Food centre Hoofdweg 578 a & b 1055AB Amsterdam NL
I've been going to
the Cihan for more than 10 years but they just hit the third strike
and they're out!
First was a while
back, the manager I think, definitely someone who was asked to solve
problems, was wearing a pair of the new fashionable low cut jeans, it
looked like a family of spiders was crawling over the waistband. the
mama was a giant piece of bum fluff and the babies were the hair
springing out of him bum crack! I couldn't go back until this week.
There was a new guy
there, never seen him before. Began positive; the first time I ever
went in there and didn't have to wait an age to get served at the
deli counter. Bad news the guy was a jerk, the smallest container is
now more than double the size it previously was and in addition to
him totally ignoring the meaning of “just a small amount please”,
he also hassled to sell more, I mean really hassled. I got to the
till and found I had spent more than 30 euros!
I made a point of
getting the receipt and for some reason, for the first time ever,
when I got home I weighed everything I had bought. Not one of the
weights that was on the receipt was the same. To be on the safe side
I used both of our sets of scales to weigh them – the scales agreed
with each other, neither agreed with the receipt both of them showed
the ingredients as lighter.
To be fair I phoned
the guy. He told me to come back the next day with photos but, made
no promise to reimburse me, just to 'check it out'.
Their scales seemed
to be out about 15-40 grams on each item. All the ingredients cost
the same kilo price (which has go up to 12.50!) I bought five items
to be weighed but there were only 3 weights shown, the first one was
840 grams which is a lot, plus two more of over 250 and almost 300.
There was no combination of the containers that came to the first sum
and none of them singly were as much as the other two.
I will shop
elsewhere. If you shop there, try weighing your stuff again at home!
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
The Salmon of Doubt - Douglas Adams
'… have you ever known anybody to
die at the right time?
No, don't happen that way. Some guys
fall over before their lives have properly gotten started,
some right in the middle of the best
part. Others kinda linger on after everything is really
over.' George R R Martin
My dear, dear C gave me 'The Salmon of
Doubt' a book put together of Douglas Adams writing after he died. I
love the Hitchikers guide to the Galaxy but I did find it very
'British public school boy; Aren't I clever?'. I liked the two Dirk
Gently novels much better and to be honest there are many British
writers I prefer. Adams wrote as he was and of course all the other
clever British public school boys miss him and think he was a genius
– which they all think of each other btw. Do note how many of the
foremost members of British public and political life all went to
school together and do tell me what you think of our class system as
it thrives.
e.g. Lily Allen's dad is Keith Allen,
another clever boy who incidentally went to the same school as Adams,
her brother is Theon/Rank in HBO's The Game Of Thrones, notably
peppered with the British Peerage etc., etc., et al, ad nauseum.
All the above aside, Adams was a sharp,
observant, intelligent writer who placed his social criticism
carefully and subtly within the context and storyline of his books,
never lecturing just showing or putting a small spotlight on certain
issues for those who are open to them
His blatant advertising for Apple in
the book (who I loathe) turns my stomach. I hope it earned him some
freebies. The middle section of the book which is, it seems all about
computers and people who have the time and money to indulge
themselves in them (though as I skipped lots of it I can say for
sure) was tedious – obviously because or I would have read it.
I don't make myself 'read the whole
book' any more. I used to. Now I skip if I'm liking the authors style
and just don't like a subject matter of a bit of the plot (like
mutilations (of women), or murders etc – I always record programs
like GOT so that I can skip through the gratuitous violence or sex I
those too!)
Reading Salmon did however inspired me
to write again and to start amoungst others this blog.
For those of you who haven't read it.
I'm really delighted to share some of his thoughts with you...
“I used to hide under
the bedclothes … and listen enraptured to … anything that made me
laugh. It was ike showers and rainbows in the desert. …..comedy was
a medium in which extremely intelligent people could express things
that simply couldn't be expressed any other way.
But nowadays everybody
is comedian... We laugh at everything. Not intelligently anymore,
not with sudden shock, astonishment or revelation, just relentlessly
and meaninglessly. No more rain showers in the desert just mud and
drizzle everywhere occasionally illuminate by the flash of paparazzi.
To my
embarrassment, I remember and also laughed at the joke that started
his disillusion with comedy.
...It
was hearing a stand up comedian make the following observation:
“Those scientists eh? They're so stupid! ..those black box
recorders they put on aeroplanes.... it's always the thing that
doesn't get smashed. So why don't they make the planes out of the
same stuff?
The
audience roared with laughter at how stupid scientists were.... but I
sat feeling uncomfortable..... Was I just being pedantic...flight
recorders are made out of titanium if you made planes from titanium
instead of aluminium they'd be far too to heavy to get off the
ground.....?...There was no way of deconstructing the joke that
didn't rely on the teller and audience complacently conspiring
together to jeer at at someone who knew more than they did. It
sent a chill down my spine and still does. I felt betrayed by comedy
in the same way that gangsta rap makes me feel betrayed by rock
music.
*
The
only one who couldn't make a joke to save his life was Shakespeare.
Maybe it's because our greatest writing genius was incapable of being
funny that we have decided that being funny doesn't count.
What
Wodehouse writes is pure word music. … He is the greatest musician
of the English language.
Beauty
doesn't have to be about anything
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