Poker Night and Wine Fest

I think I'll give up on getting the whole blog 'Just Right' and start using it the way it was meant to be used. So, there'll be shorter and more up to date entries, but we'll still be posting entries on our last couple of holidays, don't worry.

Anyway, this weekend's been pretty good- Friday night, Matt and I head to the Jazz Cafe in Camden to check out Giles Peterson. While in Melbourne, I'd bought a compilation CD by the DJ- he specialises in sourcing out obscure music, all which tenuously fall within the 'acid jazz' territory.

So we head to Camden and have some pretty yummy Japanese food, right next door to the Jazz Cafe. I think it was called the Bento Box Cafe. Matt ordered a bento box (what else?) and I had tempura ebi(prawns) in udon noodle soup. Both were passable, but we had the NICEST gyozas and some terrible fried chicken pieces to start. Overall, it was okay.

Went to the Cafe and were lucky enough to score some seats over by the bar. It was too packed to check out the rest of the place, but it looks like there's an open place that would be a dancefloor if it was so packed (I hate crowds), so while we weren't right in the midst of the action, that suited me fine.

There was a really good jazz quintet playing. We could see the person playing the xylophones and he was funny- very good, and banging away for all he was worth. Great music, great atmosphere... and the rest of the people around us were interesting enough for Matt and I to keep tugging on each others' sleeve going "..check him/her out!.."

Unfortunately, it seemed that Giles Peterson's set got delayed- I got really tired and we decided to leave, as the place just kept getting more and more full. Though I think I did see him as he came in, so that's my first celebrity spot!

Saturday, we had the boys over- Allo, Dobson and Graham for poker, as Matt's been picked for one of the poker teams sponsored by his work. He wanted to get some practice in, before the big event... and doubled this up with a feed, as they hadn't yet been over to our new place for dinner.

So, while the boys were shuffling the cards and mucking about with the poker chips, yours truly was in the kitchen the whole afternoon. Made some meatballs- had thought that Matt and I would have them for a heat up meal during the week, but they all got eaten last night... anyway, I digress, we had:
Roast pork with the crackliest crackling I've ever made... even if the bloody oven smoked like a chimney for a time...
Lemon roast potatoes,
Garlic roasted parsnips and
Some unidentifiable greens, chopped up and fried Italian style (olive oil, garlic,then a squeeze of lemon, after).

It all went down fine, apart from when Allo told me he didn't eat pork (just doesn't like it). He did have a bit of the bread and butter pudding I made after. The pudding was made of the choc chip brioche we bought from the Borough Market, and some custard that was a bit too eggy. Was okay... I'll know next time.

I didn't play poker, and nor would I want to. Think things got a bit heated between the boys... but a walk to get more beer does wonders in clearing the head and cooling tempers.

Today, we met up with Hilda and Tristan over in Islington for the Wine Fest. 5 hours of walking round tasting all different wines and we didn't even see everything! Bought some yummy rioja and a New Zealand Sauvignion Blanc. Matt got some biltong, and we also got a packet of chili chocolate.

Good day. We're home early, and it's now off to bed for an early start next week!