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Not 20 kilos, 30 kilos! It's insane, but also understandable given personal reasons that I will not talk about here. I'm about 1.86 meters high, so not enough height to distribute the extra weight properly. I'm envious of your stability (you obviously don't have the beer issue I have), but I have a faint hope that it's temporary, and that I'll get back to more normal numbers at some point.
Yikes, 30 kilos of course!
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It's that time of the year again, when we in Norway have our socalled 'julebord' (literally translated as 'Christmas Table') - a special kind of Christmas party prevalent both in work places and among friends. For those not familiar with our tradition, see here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julebord
So I have one 'julebord' tonight and one tomorrow, with two different groups. Much to my chagrin, I need to be a bit restrictive tonight, if I'm going to keep up the stamina tomorrow. At 42, and in absolutely dreadful shape, these things take time. But gearing up in a bit nonetheless, with specialty beers and white wine (or red wine, haven't decided). I considered going for Christmas ales (basically 'bocks', barley wines or other spicy variants), since it's that time of the season, but I'm not a big fan. A healthy mix of IPAs, Belgian blondes and pilsners instead.
The Juleboard looks like a fantastic tradition. I will skip the lutefisk though. My grandfather is of Swedish descent, and he was tortured with that dish for long enough that as soon as he and my grandmother took over holiday festivities it was suddenly off the menu.
I hear you regarding not being that fond of Christmas ales. My favorite holiday beer is Sierra Nevada's Celebration IPA.
The reason I like it is that nothing about it really says Christmas other than it is only available the last couple of months of the year. Just a good solid IPA. That reminds me, I am running out of that beer. I will have to pick some more up while stores are still carrying it.
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Will look out for that Michael. We get beers from that brewery here in the UK. And I should say that while on holiday in Florida a couple of years ago I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of variety, and that was just in Walt Disney World restaurants. I especially like the International Bitterness Units, or IBU, ratings.
Here we have to take a gamble on how bitter it's going to be, usually sticking to pale beers. But looking on the American menus I was able to take the guesswork out of the equation most of the time by going for a high IBU.
What a civilised idea. Hope we adopt it in the near future, as I prefer a bitter beer. And usually flavoured with hops, not so bothered about fruit, chocolate and liquorice! But on occasion I could take those flavours as long as it's BITTER! Generally though, just prefer it to taste like beer...
An older aged friend of mine has what might be described by some as a slightly outdated comment, though I tend to agree... "I prefer my barmaids sweet, and my beer bitter".
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I must've posted somewhere in the 15 years of this thread -- but wow 15 years!
Can anyone recommend a very good gin for the weekend?!? I'm bored with Bombay Sapphire and The Botanist that I've had frequently for the past few months (weekends only!) -- they are the brands that my small neighborhood store stocks reliably. I'm planning on stopping by the ginormous Astor Place Wine/Liquor on my way to Brooklyn and would appreciate any recommendations.
Thank you!
Also happy birthday to Mrs. Phelps!
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Posted: |
Dec 23, 2019 - 7:09 AM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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We always have Christmas at home with our daughters, though this year we are also being joined by my dad and my sister. So it will be the usual dinner at 3, beers, wine and Christmas Music playing in the background which my dad loves. And then some board games in the evening which we all enjoy. I've also bought myself a bottle of JD which I always do, and hopefully I won't have to share it
I do hope the beer is Ye Olde Carlsberg.  I have some here, but I was really in the mood for Krombacher Pilsner, which I get on draught at a local German restaurant. However, my "connection" was out of the canned stuff so Ye Olde Carlsberg it shall be.
I've never much enjoyed New Year for whatever reason. I think it's maybe the thought of returning to work after usually being off for 10 days or so looming over it.
That's too bad. Luckily I'm off until the 6th, so no work trauma on January 2 for me, though in the past I had retail jobs in which I worked first thing in the morning. Ever deal with the hungover general public on January 2nd? Clearly their New Year's resolution didn't include being civil to store clerks.
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Christmas Day is always family. There's the presents to open and dinner to have for five of us in total. After a break, Christmas pudding and other desserts, followed by cheese and crackers. There will be red wine and yes, Cava for us too, usually white. The wife loves it and she too usually prefers it to champagne and Prosecco.
As a residential home cook it's my turn for Christmas Day this year so I won't make it to the pub for a little lunchtime session. Shame, because the landlords around here give away a tot of spirit or the first pint. But it is the one day the wife cooks so I'll get a rest from that.
Boxing Day we tend to eat leftovers from the day before, and have a wander down the village for a little drink. About the only day I'm accompanied by said wife.
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Posted: |
Dec 23, 2019 - 2:32 PM
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By: |
Jim Phelps
(Member)
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Yes it is Ye Olde Carlsberg, bought 40 cans in the local supermarket just this morning. Pretty cheap too
40 cans? I take it Thor's not coming over.
Where I live, Carlsberg is only available at the booze warehouse shop, so it's a pleasant surprise when my local supermarket chain carries something "exotic" like Boddington's Pub Ale. Still, I drably exist for the day when my supermarket carties Ye Olde Carlsberg.
Christmas Day is always family. There's the presents to open and dinner to have for five of us in total. After a break, Christmas pudding and other desserts, followed by cheese and crackers. There will be red wine and yes, Cava for us too, usually white. The wife loves it and she too usually prefers it to champagne and Prosecco.
That sounds delightful. What time do I come over and what would you like us to bring? For New Year's Eve, we eat a Cobb Salad kind of thing for lunch and forego dinner. Then we kick into the cheese and crackers and other assorted finger foods.
As a residential home cook it's my turn for Christmas Day this year so I won't make it to the pub for a little lunchtime session. Shame, because the landlords around here give away a tot of spirit or the first pint. But it is the one day the wife cooks so I'll get a rest from that.
Boxing Day we tend to eat leftovers from the day before, and have a wander down the village for a little drink. About the only day I'm accompanied by said wife.
We will no doubt have leftovers from Christmas dinner at my in-laws' aka "where passive and aggressive collide."
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Yes it is Ye Olde Carlsberg, bought 40 cans in the local supermarket just this morning. Pretty cheap too
40 cans? I take it Thor's not coming over.
Where I live, Carlsberg is only available at the booze warehouse shop, so it's a pleasant surprise when my local supermarket chain carries something "exotic" like Boddington's Pub Ale. Still, I drably exist for the day when my supermarket carties Ye Olde Carlsberg.
Christmas Day is always family. There's the presents to open and dinner to have for five of us in total. After a break, Christmas pudding and other desserts, followed by cheese and crackers. There will be red wine and yes, Cava for us too, usually white. The wife loves it and she too usually prefers it to champagne and Prosecco.
That sounds delightful. What time do I come over and what would you like us to bring? For New Year's Eve, we eat a Cobb Salad kind of thing for lunch and forego dinner. Then we kick into the cheese and crackers and other assorted finger foods.
As a residential home cook it's my turn for Christmas Day this year so I won't make it to the pub for a little lunchtime session. Shame, because the landlords around here give away a tot of spirit or the first pint. But it is the one day the wife cooks so I'll get a rest from that.
Boxing Day we tend to eat leftovers from the day before, and have a wander down the village for a little drink. About the only day I'm accompanied by said wife.
We will no doubt have leftovers from Christmas dinner at my in-laws' aka "where passive and aggressive collide."
Be delighted to see you guys anytime. Bring whatever you want!
The only in-law I have to be careful of is the mother-in-law. I tell myself every time DO NOT GET SUCKED INTO POLITICS WITH THAT WOMAN. But she drags you in unawares, until my wife starts kicking me under the table and I change the subject. Everyone else is fine.
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I too had pork belly this year! Both as part of the starter AND main course. I just can't get enough. Thor's beer selection is right up my street too for the bottled stuff.
'Frosty the Sloeman' in The Crown was disappointing. Not bad at first... the sloes didn't sweeten it up which was good. I think they may even have kept it dry. But by the half way mark my pint was not tasty enough. Shame, because I was looking forward to a black beer that I'd like. Still, Boxing Day was good- the landlord got the first pint in!, remembering I wasn't able to get in on the big day.
Cheers!
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