It's Over :(
Sunday August 30, 2015
Wellington on a Plate 2015 has come to a close. I've been so busy eating that I've fallen behind on my food blogging, but I will be trying to catch up as fast as I can over the next few days. How much did I spend? How many burgers did I eat? What was the best and worst? You'll find out soon! It's back to cooking, gymming, and all those other routine things I do during the week. It was good having my parents down last week, and I also caught up with Reuben, Shereen, Sam, Andrew and Julia. We visited all the regular Wellington sights - Makara, the wind turbine, Mt Victoria, Oriental Parade, the Weta Cave and so on. We had a quick squizz around the Lux Festival too. Oh, and yeah, we ate heaps of food.
As a result of all these things happening, I missed a chance to go back to the US for my big secret project. Instead, I'm locked away in a room with special access, working away by myself lonesome self until Rob returns next week. Things are progressing... but that's about all I can say! Yep.
I was out with Joe on Thursday night to see Suddenly! A Musical, an improv show where a musical is created before your very eyes! That night we saw the epic tale of a recently engaged couple who return to Wellington from the OE with their cat Trixie, only to have her lost in Mumbai (it rhymes with Hataitai) due to the carelessness of the baggage handlers! I can't imagine how difficult it must be to try and come up with rhyming couplets on the spot like that, but these guys were amazing and it was such a good show. So impressed, congratulations to Playshop crew and Jen the director!
Posted by Jeremy at 11:40am on Sunday August 30, 2015 :: 0 comments :: 
Wellington on a Plate
Sunday August 16, 2015
WOAP 2015 is well and truly underway, with several establishments serving their special menus for this 17 day festival celebrating the region's finest produce - Wellington craft beers and seafood, Wairarapa meats and wines, Kapiti produce and dairy. Some have embraced the festival with open arms, others have dropped the ball and had troubles coping with the sudden influx of keen foodies. Who are the winners? Who are the losers? Check out my food blog for regular updates during Wellington on a Plate 2015!
It's been a busy few weeks. Rob and I arrived in San Francisco safely and had the rest of Monday to settle in. We went into work on Tuesday until Friday and then spent the weekend in San Francisco, seeing all the familiar sights like Chinatown, the Golden Gate Bridge, the Castro, Fisherman's Wharf and Pier 39. I had a mango key lime cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory in Union Square, and it was everything I had dreamed of. I had some good seafood from Pier 39, did some shopping, caught up with Tobias and thoroughly enjoyed being back in this vibrant, energetic city, especially with some magnificent summery 25C weather.
We were back in New Zealand two Fridays ago, just in time for Dewi's last day at PikPok. I took it easy on the Saturday, but on Sunday I was at the zoo with Linda, Campbell and Will for the red panda up-close encounter. Honestly, these critters are the cutest things ever. We got to go into the enclosure and feed them fruit right out of our hand. They're fuzzy and playful, and super keen to get the noms. We were fortunate enough to meet one of the newer red pandas, a girl who had just started doing the encounters. Her face had distinctive white markings and she was a bit uncertain at the start, but as soon as she sensed the fruit, she was all over our laps. At the end, as we left, she scampered up into the trees to watch us, and I held out my hand to see if she would react... she lent in to see if I still had fruit, and I managed to capture this adorable photo.
The game I've been working on for the past year or so has finally been released on iOS and Android - it's published by AdultSwim and it's called Monsters Ate My Metropolis. Using the monsters from Monsters Ate My Condo, you battle it out against unsuspecting cities with the most outrageous abilities, like Trojan Unicorn Attacks, cake bombs and chunder attacks! The game looks amazing and is full of colour and action, so well done to the team for putting it out and making it look as good as it does.
Posted by Jeremy at 8:57am on Sunday August 16, 2015 :: 0 comments ::
May
Monday May 11, 2015
May has been pretty damn busy for me, and it's only going to get busier. There were heaps of social things to keep me occupied, but more than anything, the big house move is on Saturday and that's been the cause of most of my stress.
We started off the month with Laser Strike at the complex on Tory St for Dianne's birthday, after some sushi train and a sneaky cocktail from CGR Merchant and Co. On Saturday, I saw the final night of Definitely Not The Babysitter's Club, an improv show presented by the cast of Definitely Not Witches. Today's topic was a rival babysitter's club, so cue awesomeness and chaos as each of the six actors on stage juggled three or four characters each. It was amazing. We chilled at BATS for a bit and then helped Joe pack down the stage before retiring to his house for a few drinks.
Then, on Sunday, we said our farewells to Josh and Christine at the Southern Cross, while following the Mayweather/Pacquiao fight on a live blog. Finally, early on Monday morning, Vincent flew in from Nepal via Australia, safe and sound after the devastating 7.8 earthquake that had hit the region. I caught up with Ben at Fork and Brewer on Tuesday. He'd been in town over the weekend, filming for the 48 Hour film festival. It was good to chit chat and see that him and Jill had settled in Melbourne alright, and said that I would someday be back for more food. And of course, one of those chicken parmas he keeps going on about.
We had some torrential rain hit the city on Thursday. The full force of northerly winds blew all the rain straight into my face, soaking the entire front portion of my jeans. I found out that several others had arrived quite soggy and miserable. I managed to secure a fan heater for myself to start drying all my wet clothes, but unfortunately it overloaded the circuit and shut down a few computers on my side of the office.
We celebrated Vincent's birthday at the Boat Cafe on Oriental Parade. One of his friends is part of the waiting staff there, and was telling me about their entry for the burger competition for Wellington on a Plate 2015 - a mussel and kumara burger - that was currently available for patrons to try. So, unable to resist the chance to start the WOAP journey early, I agreed to give it a go and provide feedback. The burger had good texture, perhaps a bit too much bun on the bottom, but a lovely crunch from the pickles, green salad and lightly toasted bread. The patty was interesting and I do like that they chose some adventurous ingredients, but I couldn't taste the kumara at all, and wouldn't have been able to tell there was any if I hadn't been told. Several others on the table agreed, and I suggested that maybe they could enhance the flavour with more kumara, maybe making it a bit more chunky, or adding something with a bit of kick like a chilli salsa. We shall see what the Boat Cafe offers in August!
On Saturday after badminton (and a nap), I joined Sam and Sarah (and 2000 others) at the War Memorial to see if we could spot Prince Harry doing his rounds around Wellington. Sure enough, at 4.30pm, he arrived at Pukeahu and went inside the memorial for a bit, before walking around greeting the crowd and shaking hands. A very personable, down to earth guy, I must admit! I got some good, close pictures of him and tried to get him to fistbump me, but alas it just wasn't my day. Sam and Sarah were much more successful and managed to grab a handshake! I was so tired after gym that day that I gatecrashed the kids' apartment and chilled for a bit before heading out to Grill Meats Beer with Will and Phil. We texted Mana and Mike as well, but they were pretty cosy at home, so we headed there after dinner for a while. They got Josh and Christine's couches, so it's finally feeling a bit more homely in their flat.
Posted by Jeremy at 10:24am on Monday May 11, 2015 :: 0 comments ::