INSTALLMENT 2 aka WHY STROKE WHEN YOU CAN GET BLOWN
Greetings!
From near to the bottom of a lovely bottle of Lindeman’s South African
Shiraz 2006 (mum refused to allow it to fully empty by the time we
were done with dinner and baking cookies - oatmeal, date, and
cranberry with maple-infused pecans - as “that would make us
alcoholics and I just won’t have that!” - I was amused). I am utterly
exhausted and blissfully happy.
The last time I wrote you I had just arrived in Seattle, the following
morning we rose at a decent hour (8am...) and went down to pick up my
rental car. The choice presented was between a Statesman (this
gigantic, white boat of a car which probably could have eaten both my
car and your car for dessert then gone hunting for Andrew and Lisa’s
Echo for an after dinner mint), a red PT Cruiser (touring edition) and
an enormous, black, fuck-off Hummer3. Picture my face at the thought
of pimping around Seattle in a Hummer, stilettos and a 3/4 black
trench coat with T.I. and Rhianna blazing from the stereo - I started
pleading. “Please, please, please, please, please (you get the idea..)
can I have the Hummer, please please please!!” I begged as I began
jumping from foot to foot. My mother looked slightly less amused than
polar bears do when people put their small children on their shoulders
and say “ok - smile!”. She launched into a tirade about how Hummers
are the death of the environment and a true violation of all that is
good and right with the world. I thought this was probably a bad time
to bring up the argument against electric cars for fuel emissions
during production so I sighed and resolved to a choice between the
Mum-mobile and the Grandad-mobile. In the end I zoomed out of
Enterprise rent-a-car in a blood red, shiny, new PT Cruiser wondering
if the 3 kids and soccer gear was included and perhaps stowed
inconspicuously in the boot.
Surprisingly I adore my little ride, it’s smooth, has a bit of “get up
and go” and I fit right into the ultra-posh “University Village” down
the road (despite my lack of dependent offspring and after-school
activities, lucking the drinking habit is already installed..).
Straight from the rent-a-car I hit the U-Village, bought a *shudder*
dial-up modem to ethernet converter from the most gorgeous Mac store
(which, pleasantly, I can return in 2 weeks for my full money back), a
hair straightener (same deal - return within 90 days, no questions
asked) and some plug converters. I also meandered lovingly through the
Quality Food Corporation *intoxicated grin* It’s so gorgeous. Sydney
doesn’t have supermarkets like this. I’ve begun referring to the chain
of gourmet food stores as a Supermarkorgasm, they make your knees
weak. The fact that inside the store they have a separate
delicatessen, butcher, fromagerie, bar, fresh produce section, bakery
and charcuterie as well as a liquor section (where yes, you can buy
Nichsweinstein Castle Riesling) and all the usual aisles except on
steroid and with seemingly thousands of options for any desired
product pleases me no end.
I bought several items, perused for far longer than necessary and
self-checked my way out (novelty value).
The rest of that afternoon saw a few other supermarkets (comparison
shopping of course...I don’t have a problem..really..I don’t!),
stalking my old dance studio and wandering around my old neighborhood.
It’s so beautiful here, I can’t remember why I hated it..
That night I took the bus into the CBD and met my best friend Korin,
we went shopping and I dropped a fair few hundred dollars on a whole
new wardrobe. Hot. Mega, super, uber hot. ..If I do say so myself.
By the time we got out of the lingerie section it was nearing 9.30 and
we were craving cocktails. Korin took me to a little unsigned
Vietnamese restaurant with a “Jellyfish Bar” (a fully stocked bar with
huge leather couches, situated underground and surrounded by tanks of
jellyfish illuminated by under-tank lights of all colours) in
Belltown. Luckily we were in time for the last seating and a jovial
manager by the name of Angel seated us and left us in the hands of the
most complete tool of a waiter *cringe* he actually offered to marry
me later in the night for some bizarre reason I can’t remember anymore
*puke face*.
We started with cocktails, mine was pomegranate liquor with spiced
shochu, vodka and aperol. Korin happily downed a watermelon vodka,
spiced white rum and grapefruit martini. Wow.
And then we ordered... Oh dear God. This was, without a doubt, the
best Vietnamese experience I have ever had, or ever really expect to
have. Entrees were chargrilled chilli squid heads on a bamboo skewer
with a salt, pepper and lime dipping sauce so tender you barely had to
bite into them before a spicy, smoky full flavour poured into your
mouth and made you utterly speechless. Along with the squid came fresh
rice paper-wrapped crispy tofu with vermicelli and various fresh
vegetables in a sweet chilli dipping sauce. Korin and I were both
silent for quite some time while each bite of this unexpected
taste-explosion was carefully savored.
Angel came over and offered the 11 page wine list (!!!) from which I
selected a La Valentina Mantepulciano d’Abruzzo 2006 from Tuscany. He
nodded his approval and brought the bottle to accompany the sauteed
eggplant and beef with flash-fried tofu in a tamarind sauce and
selection of vietnamese chargrilled meats with a honey-soy chilli
drizzled over dried onion on rice we chose for mains. Holy wow. This
food shits all over..well anything!
After our mains Angel came over and we began chatting - he is one of 4
qualified Master Sommeliers in the Washington area and spent 5 months
creating and sourcing this wine list. I told him of my interest in
wine and all of a sudden he took interest in us! For the next 4 hours
he brought over complimentary glasses of a Andeluna Winemaker’s
Selection Torrontoz from Tupungate, Mendoza in Argentina, a Monchhof
Urzig Wuzgarten Reisling Kabinett from Mosel-Saar-Ruwer in Denmark, a
Domaine de L’Arlot 1er Cru Clos de Forest Monopole Pinot Noir from
Nuits-St.-Georges in Burgundy, a Chateau LaGrange Cab, Cab Franc,
Merlot from St. Julien in Bordeaux and a bottle of Yuki No Bosha Ginjo
Nigori Akita sparkling sake to go with our crisp banana and red bean
tapioca dessert (cumulatively over $600 of wine if we had bought each
of the bottles). We were there until 3am and he gave me a signed copy
of the wine list. He also owns a taco cart in Freemont. That is so
freakin cool.
Inevitably I had the pleasure of getting up (still drunk) at 5am (yes
sir, 2 hours after we left the restaurant) to go yacht racing!
Ahhhhhhh!!!
But I did it (how I will never know..)! 6am we departed on Adrian’s
brand new (not even named yet - we decided this was why we lost, the
poor Idefix hadn’t been christened yet!) 30 foot Olsen racing yacht
and headed out to race around Vashon Island. Luckily the land was
rocking nearly as much as the boat so the two sort of evened out and
they put me on mainsail line guarding. It was amazing. We were on the
water racing from 6am (racing from 9am) til 8pm that night. We got the
boat up to about 9 knots downwind and 7 upwind. By the end of the day
I was diving back and forth across the hull as fast as the others with
each tack and even helped douse the sails when we finally cruised back
into port. Lunch onboard was courtesy of Ellis and consisted of garlic
and gruyere sausages with spanish rice. I also snacked on a random
piece of steak he brought along, there are decidedly carnivorous
photos of me gnawing into it on the downwind leg. On the way back
through the Hirim M. Chittenden locks (the gate system which allows
boats to flow from a bay with a higher water level then the passage
beyond by closeting the boats between two large dam doors and slowly
filling or draining that section to equal the water level on the
proceeding side. People come and watch and take photos of you while
it’s going on, I felt much sympathy for goldfish.) we enjoyed cold
Heinekens and hit Ivars fish & chippery once everything was done for
Clam Chowder, Corn Bread, Halibut with Portobello Mushrooms and
Truffle-Oiled Potato Mash, Fried Clams and Tartare Sauce washed down
with pints and pints of the local beer “Kilt Lifter”.
Then I literally passed out. In a ball, still dressed in about 3
layers of the cumulative 15 I’d been wearing throughout the day.
I am now slightly tanner (only on my face) with lots and lots more
freckles, rather wind-swept and loving life. I think I’m going to go
on an overnight “Snooze and Cruise” with Ellis, Matt, Adrian, Alicia
and their sailing club this weekend out to an island. Sail 1-way, get
off, pitch tents, get wasted, get up, spew, have a cooked breakfast
provided and sail 1-way back. Heaven.
Today was Mother’s Day and although I closely resembled a corpse this
morning until about 11am and was therefore unable to beat mum up at
the crack of dawn to make her breakfast in bed I gave her a lovely
card and a bunch of presents. A few of our old friends came over and
we all headed downtown for Sushi train.
After Sushi Train I told her I wanted to buy her more presents so we
went to The Pike Place Market. Oh Lord, I fell in love again.
Throughout the 4 hours we wandered around (incidentally, stilettos on
cobblestones = treacherous) I tasted black and white truffle oil,
duck, pistachio and truffle terrine, 20 year aged balsamic, smoked
Alaskan salmon, merionberry preserve, dark chocolate coated northwest
tart cherries, moon cake, key lime cheesecake, roasted almonds,
jalapeno hazelnuts and a host of other locally made niceties it would
be simply cruel to tell you about. I may have to show you..if I ever
decide to go back to Sydney that is.
I ran into one of my old best friends Maddie down there and we had a
blast, I’m biking over to one of the islands via ferry with her in the
next few days for a spot of camping and several spots of open-fire
cooking and indulging our brazen inner alcoholics.
Came home, cracked open the aforementioned bottle of South African
Shiraz and baked cookies with mum. It was a perfect day.
In fact, they’ve all been pretty perfect. I can’t remember why I
didn’t love it here. I really can’t. Actually I think I’m falling in
love here for the first time, I almost want to stay. The people are so
friendly and sweet, they all treat you with interest, respect and
courtesy. They’re helpful and flattering and cute and they all know
about food and wine and how to spend a day outside or being active
instead of just sitting in front of the tv stuffing your face with the
endless supply of junk food on offer. The city is beautiful, the
mountains loom in the distance with snow scattered across their
middles and the tops high up in the clouds. The entire city is
surrounded by water and has more boats per capita then anywhere in the
world - including Sydney! The food is delicious and the nice stuff
(far nicer then Simon Johnson, Maggie Beer, Harris Farm or any of the
others in Oz) is not only accessible but affordable, I mean $29 for a
large bottle of black truffle oil?! Even with the exchange rate that’s
great. All the drinks here come in a diet option and the waiters just
make a quick note and say “thanks!” when you alter an order or tell
them precisely what you’d like on your sandwich. The clothes are great
and fit me like a glove (and no, I haven’t ballooned up several
hundred sizes since you saw me so haha, very funny, beat you to the
joke) and the shopping is fantastic.
I’m staying an extra week and a half. At least. I've been offered a
job by one of mum's clients.
(I'm leaving this in here from the e-mail this was copied from since it meant a lot to me. Sorry blog readers - no explanation about this yet)
To your question about the CD my responses ranged enormously, Phantom
made me cry (I love that you put the entire climactic scene, not just
“Think of Me” or “Angel of Music”, I don’t know if I’ve ever told you
but that scene is what makes me love that opera so much. I love the
decision and that ultimately love conquers all, even hurt and years of
single-minded obsession), “Hot and Cold” made me slightly puzzled but
amused, “Mighty Wings” made me laugh, “Let It Be” made me think, and
“Country Roads” took me home. All the others were beautiful too, I
already told you “The Scientist” was a brilliant choice, “Hot” was
very cute and earned a silly grin, and “A Time to Say Goodbye” put me
back in that seat at Rod Laver with you, so nervous and excited and
marveling at how nice it was wrapped in the arms of someone I hardly
knew.
Thank you for making it for me, I love it.
It seems a long time ago and a lot to load into one e-mail so the
international paxing food was delicious! I’ll put it in a future
e-mail, or maybe on a postcard. I watched “He’s Just Not That Into
You.”
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