Enjoy relaxing

Although it sounds like K is holidaying in Japan's answer to King Street it has one advantage over King Street. The availability of beer from convenience stores. Oh and an onsen in the hotel. Though onsen in summer does not seem that appealing to me but what do I know? I'll tell you what I know, you can get beer from convenience stores. And the best kind of beer snacks. Even the midges can't ruin that, surely. 

Next blog 2015 (AM)

Remember next blog? Way back in the early days of Miss Soft Crab I was curious about where the Internet would take me if I hit that button on the top bar of MSC that says Next Blog. What I found was a bunch of boring people talking about their families and a bunch of other people talking about food.

I started thinking about it again during the week when someone said to me "You know how we talk about all this mundane stuff, do you know some people talk about it on the Internet?!" Oh the naïveté of a person new to Instagram and that does clearly not read blogs. Or write them. Ahem. "Do they?" I asked. And although I'd like to think I don't write about the same boring shit I talk to people about, like cleaning the house and putting children to bed and what I'm going to do with my life, I know that's not really true. Half the time I wish I wasn't even talking about that boring stuff.

So it got me wondering whether hitting Next Blog would bring me the same annoying content Instagram is always trying to shove in me face: uncluttered houses and mothers baking and drinking wine and struggling and loving it and  all that rubbish. That's basically what she was talking about. People complain-bragging about their life on the Internet. I wondered if blogs had followed Instagram so far that this lifestyle thing would be overwhelming in the same way food blogs were when I first went exploring in 2011. So it was that last night for the first time in a long time I hit Next Blog. 

Things seemed to have changed in blogs, but not as you'd expect. At first the blogs I came across seemed more interesting, weirder and funnier. The first one I came across was by a guy who draws little cartons and takes photos, including some darling ones of his snow covered backyard and a pig with a snowy chin. 

The second was by a guy who, among other things, recounted 8 hours he'd spent in a Florida airport over night because, as far as I could tell, he did not want to pay the exorbitant late night shuttle bus fees to get to town. Suck it up bro. Seriously. This guy was quite funny, but then you really have to wonder about his life choices. I mean he just walked around na airport for eight hours. Because he didn't want to pay for a shuttle.

Although that might sound boring it wasn't really and it kind of got my hopes up for what would come next. But sadly things became completely monotone after that. It was just beer blog after beer blog. Mainly by guys with beards I guess. So I guess blogs have followed Instagram fashions, but not quite how I'd expected. And the weird funny blogs are still few and far between. Lucky you guys have already found Miss Soft Crab. My verdict is, you may as well stay here, 'cause Next Blog got not much for ya.

Three cheers for beers (AM)

I've been single-mumming it for the last week. "How's it going?" Friends asked after one day. "Fine!" I said and it was, but four days later, on Monday, I was pretty impressed with myself that I managed to get out more than a sentence here. Today, friends, I'm just impressed that I even turned up here at all. Today we're hitting the road via the air to meet LB and last night I had to get ready. Pack, clean house, also feed and look after children. My folks came to assist in the latter and still when Baby and Newbie got to asleep all I wanted was alcohol and to cry. Luckily the first negated the need for the latter but still it didn't give me much inspiration. So let's just hear it for beer. Oh I've heard there are healthier ways to deal with stress but to be honest I can't really think about anything other beer. You know, in moderation. And seeing my sweetheart this afternoon. That will rule!

Beer Review: Estrella Damm Inedit (PM)

I wish that Estrella Damm Inedit would come here and say that it wants to fill a gap in my drinking. The gap that's in my face!

 (I mean my mouth.)

What with it being Tuesday afternoon, and me being at work, and it being the coldest day of the year (coldest day of the world, more like it), I would love a visit from that little Iberian princess.
 Look at it, with it's pretty little label, begging to be followed like some unholy star of bethlehem.

Wait a minute, that's not asparagus

And don't bother bringing that wine glass, Estrella Damm Inedit. I'll take you straight out of the bottle, baby.
Yeah.

Beer review: Estrella Damm Inedit (AM)

A few years ago Ferran Adria was in Melbourne for some Food and Wine Festival thing and I went to see him talk. He made me think and feel a lot of things including, but not limited to: he is adorable; I want to eat his food; I can't believe I'll probably never get to eat his food; shit, life can be unfair.

And then, last weekend I was at the bottle shop and I saw this:

Estrella Damm Inedit. The beer of Ferran Adria! Close enough is near enough I sometimes say!

So I bought it. Of course I did.

 

After a little internet research I learned that this beer has been created by Ferran Adria, Juli Soler and elBulli's sommelier's team to "fill a gap in drinking."   It was perceived by team elBulli that there is not a beer that is great to eat with, so they made one. Me, I've never percieved this lack, but who the hell am I?! Just a beer lover who'll take what I can get!
 

Team elBulli

After a little more research (reading the side of the box) I learned that this beer should compliment any dish, even "challenging foods such as asparagus or cheese". Um, ok.

Whoopsee

I also learned, after pouring it into beer glasses that I should drink it from a white wine glass. Um, ok.

Aaaahh, that's better

Then I learned that it is a "unique coupage of barley malt, wheat, hop, coriander, orange peel, yeast and water." And then I learned coupage means blend of wine.

Finally I drank it. According to the box the beer is:

• Slightly cloudy in appearance. Check!
• Fruity and floral to the nose. Check!
• Has a yeasty sensation and sweet spices reminiscences. Kinda.
• Creamy and fresh texture. Not really.
• Soft volume and delicate carbonic. Oh, come off it. 
• Long aftertaste. Absolutely not. That taste disappeared seconds after the beer was drunk.
• Pleasant memory. Sure, pleasant enough.

Basically that beer tasted like a lot of boutique beers. And does beer really need to come in a box? A box for a bottle that holds 2.8 standard drinks?! It seems a little unneccessary. 

But maybe I wasn't doing it right. Maybe I should have been drinking it with some challenging food.

It was nice. Don't get me wrong. But mind blowing? Really, it was just a beer. Still, I would do anything, ANYTHING to get to eat the food of Ferran Adria. So all I have learnt from this experience is that I probably won't spend $9 on a box of beer again. Maybe once more just to check. And then probably not again. Probably.

Further winning combos (AM)

Who remembers when J posted about winning combos last year?( don't worry guys, its right here on the internet if you don't remember.)
Basically, her post was about things that are awesome on their own, but become super special when combined with other awesome things. 

Yesterday, my cousin I-Mac brought to my attention a little something that has the potential to be more winning than all the other combos heretofore discussed on Miss Soft Crab, and some as yet undiscussed combos, such as the on-screen pairing of Michael Fassbender and Viggo Mortensen.*

Say hello to Black and Brew- a combination of coffee and stout.

That's right readers, the stimulating deliciousness of coffee with the creamy deliciousness of stout, brewed together for your enjoyment.

I don't know about you guys, but as far as I'm concerned,
Mind = blown.

Please, people of the Samuel Adams brewing company, send this product to Australia. We will love it so hard, just you wait and see.























*Vincent Cassel is in this movie too. I know.

2012 begins in earnest

Happy 2012, Crab fans!

We really missed you guys. Have you all had a super summer?  We sure hope so.

Now, we're super excited about sharing a whole new year's worth of crabby moments with you, but first, lets talk about 2012: the year that has been for 23 days now. A lot of stuff can happen in 23 days, and you know we like to keep on top of things. So let's begin by reviewing what's been going down, just so we're all on the same page. Here we go guys, Miss Soft Crab, Season 2.

J: So mate, I want to start by saying I am really feeling refreshed after the break. For sure by the end of last year I needed a break. I mean you think you can produce all of this *waggles finger provocatively over blog* without out a little wear and tear? Uh uh.

Anyway I am pumped and inspired and I have the flowing juices #maystillbeonirahigh

So, how was your break and how are you feeling?

K: Breaks rule OK. Fact!
Truth be told though, I spent heaps of my MSC hiatus at work. What a downer that has been.

J: Yeah, if only Miss Soft Crab was our real work then we would have had super long and super awesome breaks. Stupid real jobs (don't hate me universe, I love employment please don't take it away from me).

But you did have a bit of a holiday from work and that was great right? And it is summer, the time if awesome times!

K: Good call on clarifying things with the universe, sometimes I really worry that it's going to get the wrong end of the stick. So let me now say to you universe: I find work a downer because its summertime and I like to have fun in the sun (subject to appropriate sun safety precautions...I'm very pale as you well know), but that doesn't mean that I'm not very grateful for this job because I totally am. I just really like the sun too. I mean come on universe, the sun is at the centre of you, surely you get it.

Anyway, work talk aside, I have had a top shelf break. I've eaten well. I've frolicked in the beach. I've frolicked in the pool where the pigeon in the grain waves incident happened. I saw Ira Glass in the flesh. Boy were my dreams sweet that night. 

J: Did you dream about Ira that night? I didn't. But I thought about him. A lot.

I frolicked at the beach too. In fact a summer highlight was wearing lipstick to the beach and even though I couldn't see what I looked like, in my head I looked awesome swimming in my beloved new bathers and bright red lipstick.

K: Ok, ok, I didn't dream about Ira. But my thoughts were pretty much were/are only of him. Take right now for example: it's all Ira up in my head. All Ira, all the time. God, what a peach he is.

Another one of my favourite things about the break was the Japanese themed progressive dinner I semi-hosted. There were your traditional items like gyoza, and miso soup, then  there were the special items like deconstructed nachos on rice and red bean crumble with green tea cream.

The upshot of that night is that deconstructed nachos on rice are as delicious as real nachos, but for me, green tea cream is not as delicious as green tea, or cream. 

J: So by deconstructed nachos on rice do you mean nacho topping on rice? Were corn chips involved? LB and I eat beans and rice (+lettuce+cheese+sour cream) sometimes. Had it just the other night. It is a winner every goddamn time. It was one of the first things that guy made for me.

Yum. HANG ON! That is not Japanese!

Whatevs.

So another thing that was awesome and happened on my break was that I wore an outfit that totally brought into reality everything I fantasised my look for summer would be. Cool and cute and awesome!

Remember how every season Pickle would say to us "what are your key looks for <insert season here>?" And you know sometimes I have a vision and I have outfits that approximate that vision but then one Friday night in December I executed a look more accurately than I ever have before. It involved grey shorts and a white top and you guys, now that I have known what it is to look and feel this good everything I have worn since has left me dissatisfied. It's dangerous to fly too close to the sun.

K: It sure is mate. 

I remember that night, it was Miguel's birthday. You looked really great. I also had a nice time with what I was wearing on account of the fact that AWOL turned up wearing the same t-shirt as me and I really enjoy that kind of thing.

Hey, how good was the weather for that week where the weather was really good? 

J: Yeah, that was awesome. Weather is pretty nice right now in fact too. Summer is sweet when it gets it right. And in a way I didn't even mind those few cold days. Mainly because I enjoy getting to wear alternative season clothes sometimes to mix it up, you know. 

K: Oh sure. I can dig on that. But I also like to drink beer in the sun in a t-shirt on a Monday night. Which is what I plan to do tonight. Because fundamentally, I am a lazy girl, and summer is the season where you really don't have to work hard to have a good time. #thefairestoftheseasons

J: You said it. I love how summer means you can drink beer all the time and not feel like you shouldn't be (you know as long as you drink responsibly). My break did not involve much beer drinking, weirdly enough, but perhaps I will make that more of a focus for the rest of summer (you know responsibly). That is the other great thing about summer, it keeps on going well past your designated holiday time, which makes you kind of feel like you are still on holiday!

Now let 2012 begin!