A Righteous Spider Battle

For those of you who may one day find yourselves preparing to engage in a righteous spider battle (the parameters establishing any such battle as “righteous,” naturally being 1) the spider is in your domicile, and 2) the spider is of sufficient size, toxicity, and/or fang to give you the howling fantods and disable your ability to think rationally).  If you should ever find yourself in this situation (i.e., you are in Australia), it may interest you to know that, after much panicked deliberation and failed experimentation, Michael and I have determined that you will need the following battle armaments:

1 shoe (the heavier the better)

1 inverted plastic bowl (for trapping your foe or wearing as protective head gear)

1 Solid Gold Reggae’s Greatest Hits album (I leave to you the decision as to which volume in the series you might like to sacrifice – if volume 1 was any indication, you can probably afford to lose the bunch)

1 iPhone (which you will use to research whether the spider in question is, in fact, lethal, in which instance you will abort your battle preparations and simply move)

 

Ideally, you approach the spider from a safe distance and simultaneously slip the album beneath it while covering it with the plastic bowl (leaving your head unprotected to attack from above – so you’d better be sure you’re just dealing with the one spider).  Once the target is securely encapsulated, you can release it back outside into the vast spidery wilderness.  The shoe is really just part of a (self-evident) contingency plan code named “Playground” because if you are unsuccessful in your attempt to corral the target, you should be prepared for all observers present to shriek and scatter as you might imagine a gaggle of school children would do if you were to walk into the middle of a play ground at recess and shout “SPIDER!”  Once you’re in plan Playground, you’ll know what to do.

 

And that concludes today’s public service announcement.  May you never have cause to need a Solid Gold Reggae’s Greatest Hits album (because, despite the title, it is actually not “solid gold” or very great – except, of course, for battling spiders).

Becasse Degustation

Michael and I had dinner at Becasse last night – degustation menu with wine pairings.  Menu and commentary below.

Canape
(puff pastry coin, olive tapenade, tomato confit, marscapone cream)

Salad of baby beetroot ad Hindmarsh goat cheese with mulled wine gel and hazelnut crostini
2007 Stefano Lubiana “Alfresco” Reisling, Granton

Confit yellowfin tuna and king prawns with green apple and lemongrass sorbet, soy and sesame
2007 Laurenz V Singing, Gruner Veltliner, Kamptal

Seared swordfish and squid with fennel puree, lemon verbena, fennel and olive vinaigrette
2007 Shaw and Smith M3 Chardonnay, Adelaide Hills

Terrine du pays Basque with sherry gel, smoked apple preserve and crisp jamon ficelle
2006 Paradigm Hill Pinot Noir, Morington Peninsula

Roast hiramasa kingfish with aubergine puree, crisp cannellone of mushrooms, turnips
2005 Poderi Colla, Nebbiolo d’Alba DOC, Piemonte

Roast loin of Kurobuta pork with stuffed trotter, confit celeriac and Savoy cabbage, olive oil potatoe puree and Modena jus
2006 Olivier Jullien, Les Etats D’ame du Mas Jullien. Languedoc

Honey panna cotta with rockmelon and lavender granita

Citrus baba au rhum with Honey Murcott mandarin, basil ice cream
2007 Mt. Horrocks Cordon Cut Riesling, Clare Valley

Highlights include the roast hiramasu kingfish and Kurobuta pork, though the wines were the real stars of the show in my view.  I loved each of the first 4 wines and the Languedoc Shiraz-Grenache.  Despite my continued efforts, I have yet to find a dessert wine to really wow me, but if I never find one it won’t be for lack of trying.

Michael and I agree Tetsuya’s is certainly better food, but the food at Becasse was undeniably good and the wines were, at times, even better.  Also, it’s nice not to have to make a booking months in advance.