Captains Mountain burger - sometimes simple is best

This blog is a bit out of sequence but couldn't leave it undone from our big move. Did someone say Wallyworld? Most of the way through a big day of driving from Coonabarabran, the clan needed to refuel somewhere between Goondoowindi and Toowoomba. The Captains Mountain roadhouse was the destination of choice and provided a classic Queensland burger. I don't know for sure but I think the BBQ sauce thing is pretty dominant here, you need to ask for tomato sauce. This burger was pretty simple but did not disappoint. Even the flies liked it.

Glovey would be good to have a pin on the google map:

27°55'20.31"S

151°10'14.01"E

Big Chief Burger - Coolangatta

Here is possibly the best burger on Goldy (The Gold Coast). You will find it in Cooly (Coolangatta). I had the Big Chief works burger but with vege patty instead of the beef. They said they had never done this before but in fairness I did have rump steak for dinner the night before at the Cooly surf club.

As you would expect in Queensland the works burger comes with the works including pineapple. You will find it here.

No Nostalgia

Joeleeee’s surprise duck downunder prompted the TB Crew (minus other globe trotter G-Lovey) to cancel all appointments and b-line to the Torqs without even checking the forecast. On this sparkling early Spring day, leaving the fate of conditions in Dave’s capable hands was a wise move as he delivered classic mid-tide, 2-2.5 footers. Even Luca danced an impromptu jig to the big D involving lots of kicking and throwing of sand.

With Zombie taking first kid shift, Dubs and I sprinted out the back leaving nearly enough white water wake behind us for the gromms to peddle. Maybe not the sharpest move on my part given my lack of surf fitness (surfing Manhattan subways only strengthens one’s will), but after a sufficient rest, there were plenty of curling lefties to be had for all. Rotating Luca shifts turned out to be more than manageable and everyone managed to attain a quality level of knackeredness, which of course sparked the merge for a burge….

Sitting in the sun outside Angry Bald Guy café munching on the tropical beef burger (sans bacon as Dubs discovered) was a most excellent way to wrap up the day and without becoming too nostaligic… I can’t wait for more.

Very Tasty Indeed.

Swiss Alps Burger

When you think Switzerland, you think Victorinox army knives, mountains, choccy, cuckoo clocks and a stubborn monetary policy that makes you carry francs everywhere, not burgers. Based on a sample size of one, I can now confirm that the swiss should stick to fondue and give the burgers a miss. Ben, Jane and I try the burger with the lot at a restaurant in picturesque Grindelwald. Ben decides to eat his finger instead cause it tastes better. No, it was a fine burger after a hike but, you guessed it, just not tasty. The euro burger hunt continues. Dublin next i think.

Unglaublich!

So it isn't my own surf that I'm writing about but the location makes it bloggable. Munich, not too close to the sea, no chance of a surf surely? So what are those bikes doing in the street with bloody board carriers strapped on them? The answer is the Isar River which flows like a bastard all year round (controlled by some upstream hydro plant) to give the world's most famous standing wave. I think we saw it in Step into Liquid or some surf flick yeah? Really funny to watch up close with it all being taken very seriously. Each rider lines up and waits his/her turn (saw 2 ladies there the second day) then jumps out onto the wave already standing, you drift/cut back and forth for an unspoken but carefully respected amount of time (about 20seconds) then you fall off the back and paddle to the edge. Didn't have a wetsuit or a board and not much chance to hire one in Munich but maybe next time i'll be a bit more organised. Note that one bloke is only in his boardies, he managed to drift over to the edge and dismount without getting wet!

Sorry aboot th' lang bide fur an update

Few quick updates from the land of kilts and bagpipes! The first is a scottish highland burger sampled with Jen Antonchuk at a temporary stall during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. You'll note in the photo the lack of anything in the bun other than meat.... this one was never going to do well and jen's face says it all, NOT TASTY! but edible after a hard day watching shows. There's also the chance to get a deep fried haggis burger at a chippy I saw, so one day soon I'll get onto it.

Big Wednesday on the peninsula

Dub decided to have much needed day off on Wednesday. A lucky thing, as otherwise he wouldn't have witnessed this bodacious swell down at Mt Martha.

McSurf

Och aye! Hoots! What a jolly wee time we had celebrating perhaps Lockie's last surf before decamping for bonnie Scotland. Torqs turned it on for us, being windy, cold and wet. These two highland warriors made it to the beach after Dub was struck down. Worth it? It's almost always worth it. Today was no exception.

We did of course manage to get through some vegie burgers at Spooners and grommett Luca managed not to turn the gas off this time.

Finally, Lockie, a stirring tune to get you inspired for the move.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?search=&mode=related&v=x2FTkvJVwOg

Noosa Noosa everywhere

Only worth a mention for the map pin, I score a burger with the lot from Cafe Terrace in Noosaville just off Noosa Pde around the corner from Noosa Heads. I think we chose it by dint of the fact it is one the few places up there without the word Noosa in the name. It is certainly full to the brim with fresh produce but suffers insufficient sauce-age. Fortunately that's easily rectified and makes it a solid (but messy) tasty. Anyway, who cares when you're revelling in 27 deg sunshine instead of dreary 14 deg Melbourne?

No pics of the burger but a couple at Tea Tree Bay where Zombie normally surfs i believe? What a great, near deserted beach! Highly recommended for clean blue water and a quietude well suited to beach scrabble and disc. Hopefully next time there'll be some swell :)

RZA Burger

Recent backstage interview with the RZA revealed the ultimate hippie bigger

Q: What's a RZA burger?

RZA: A RZA burger is a veggie patty with a fried egg, cheese, lettuce, pickels and all that, smashed between two delicious waffles. Spread mustard and mayo on it with a little butter and put that sh*t together.

check here for more ancient healing techniques from the RZA and Bill Murray

Frisbee Challenge

Here I am in central park without a frisbee to throw....

He who sends Joeleee an Aussie frisbee first wins THE prize

10 Spring St Apt 3

New York, new York 10012

USA

Northern Hemisphere

Earth

Solar System

Milky Way

Universe

???

Strange Combinations

Mmmmmm... cupcakes.....

Its like Dub and winning settlers

Like G-Lovie and warmth in the water

Like Serge and straight eyes

Like Zombie and free passes

Unbelievable! He can talk sh*t from the other side of the planet!

Strange Patty in a Strange Land

A late entry I know, but as the regular reader of this news magazine would be familiar with, it’s content over timing. Upon re-entry to my native land, I have visited many spots and sampled many food items, but only few of which are worthy of mention here (doggs, slices and American lager amid a lack of surf has not been good for my version of the trim and tuck Tasty Burger crew bod). However, I did recently sample a burger not-of-the-usual meat variety.

A drive through the magical North Cascades mountain range procured lots of wonderful things, including a stop off at an old-timer dinner. I walked in not expecting much for a trucker type roadhouse, but I was instantly greeting by the friendliest of country types. Upon learnin’ of my yearnin’ for a burger, I was quickly seated and given a list containing an unusual variety.

There were at least four meats on hand beyond the standard beef including emu, elk, venison and buffalo. Given my proximity to a certain onlooker, I opted for the largest among the menagerie and tucked in. As many omnivores would know, buffalo or bison meat is advertised as more lean, yet not lacking in full flavor for those craving the more traditional bovine tang. This patty did not disappoint – grilled on a flame but not overdone and still juicy. Complimentary fillings were crisp and fresh of the salad variety and sauce was brought to the table for the diner’s choice of quantity and drip factor (a typical practice in non-fast-food US eateries). Although the bun was below par (a slim yellowish bread product) the buffalo burger was indeed tasty, with the alternative meat highly recommended, even for the non-adventurous.

In an update of the surfing injury I sustained in my final days down under, I have yet to regain feeling in the knuckles of my index and middle fingers on my left hand – 2 inches above the spot where Dubs decided to use his board as a human dicing devise. I continue to view this development of a further progression of my super-hero transformation and will shop accordingly. I’ll test my new powers of senselessness on Dub’s face once my surfing nemesis appears before me again…

Wild and Woolly

Ok it has been simply ages (again) since we had a surf, call it a period of suitable mourning for the departure of dear Joeleee Bling? And I guess that we did all wear black (see pics).

Anyway, not to be perturbed by the wintry cold of south eastern Australia in June, Andreas, Serge, Pistol and I saddle up and head down to Phillip Island. The swell chart says there is heaps of size and nary a skerrick of wind in the air so we are all pretty excited (especially me after 3hrs of driving, Dre I am never doing the Port Melbourne morning trip again. Heh). However we're greeted by tiny and messy waves on a low tide, dang! Smith's is flat and even Woolamai looks tame without a single soul out. Well someone has to be first in the water we figure so down we go and into the chop, carefully avoiding all the fishermen casting out into our break and giving us bemused looks. We are swiftly met with that ol' chestnut, that ol' trick, that ol' illusion, that misjudgement of size from carpark vs size in-the-water, how it undoes us again! The waves are considerably larger than we thought and getting bigger as time progresses. What's more they are creating a constant stream of white froth that seems to never ceasingly spew from the ocean, washing us pathetically back against the shore as one might spray leaves off one's driveway with a hose (pre water restrictions). Only once do we get out the back to get mashed by rogue killers and ungracefully spat back onto the sand. Somewhere in all this we catch a bunch of foaming dubya-dubya ('white water' for the un-initiated) and tell ourselves that it is worth it at least just to get in the water (which is true). After that the only place open is the san remo bakery where the friendly lady undercharges us for everything we buy which left me with a moral dilemma: do you give back the 3 dollars extra change even when you know the thing you bought will taste awful?

Not to end on a low note we head back to town for rounds of G&T's, pizza, back street fitzroy pubs and more G&T's, lovely day out I say!

PS I only put the embarrassing pic of sergio up for posterity because it is the last know photograph of his gloves and funny bonnet after they were left on the roof of the car when we drove off :) sorry no pic dub, taken pre your arrival.

Welcome to the fold

Geddit? origami? fold?

anyway, great to have another blogger Jen, and just sorry that your first burger write-up was of the 'not tasty' variety!

and yes that frog is from a single square sheet of paper, for some more amazing origami check out here, he's Robert Lang, a former researcher with NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and he's reinvigorated origami by studying the mathematics that underpins it. His novel folding techniques have allowed all sort of new designs that were previously thought impossible, in particular have a look at the insects he's done