Junior Masterchef

With the advent of these pint-sized contenders for the crown of Australia's next Junior Masterchef, and given my already declared passion for food and reality television, a blog on this show was always in the stars.

First of all, are the differences between this show and the adult Masterchef. The kids are in ways better, but in other ways worse than the adults. First of all, you see how there is far less ambition or cruel strategies happening amongst the kids than the adults. You don't see anyone submitting any kid to the hate that Joanne got. It's also a lot harder to resent a kid for being cocky than it is an adult, I mean sure some of them are a bit overconfident, but nowhere near as hateful as Jonathon from adult Masterchef. Kids are more innocent, far easier to forgive than adults, and that works well for the show. Gotta love that!

And of course, the problem that any cooking show faces: FABRICATION. ARE THEY EATING THE ACTUAL STUFF?????? ARE WE JUST WATCHING FAKE FOOTAGE OF KIDS LOOKING LIKE PROFESSIONALS ON TELEVISION? IS THAT FOOD REALLY MADE BY THEM? Most Masterchef critics are inclined to believe, Yes. The show is a scam. But I'm a bit more optimistic than that, I mean, really, give humanity some more credit! Surely Channel Ten has not sunken to the point that they would fake these kids' talent just to earn some cheap viewing? Sadly, when the point is put that way, it's not that hard to believe that they would... But really, I'm a lot more comfortable believing that there are some really damn talented kids out there, rather than some damn talented fakers.

My personal favourites in the show are the twins. They are insanely good! I mean take a look at the stuff they cook! The savoury stuff looks awesome and the sweet stuff looks just as good! And clearly they're both in the top 4, so we're talking about the real deal here! Fact is, twins in reality shows rarely do that well, siblings too in fact. Twins have appeared on the Biggest Loser Australia before, with little success. Australian Idol had its fair share of siblings entering the competition right after their previous siblings scored huge points. Unfortunately, there wasn't the same level of success there either. Fact is they are BOTH in the top 4! so congratulations and good luck to them!!!!!!!!!

Also the food. It definitely has not deteriorated from the high standard set by the Adult Masterchefs this year. The battle royale challenge presented such a wonderful looking pasta dish that you could just jump it in and snatch it off Matt Preston! Also, I am infinitely jealous of their gorgeous chocolate fountains and pantries. The kids are so lucky to have these magical meadows to get their ingredients from. I loved the food they had to serve at flying fish, absolutely delicious looking and so creative. I particularly loved the look of Isabella's dish. Of course, who would forget Lucy's divine looking spongecake in the dessert challenge. Or Jack's awesome rack of lamb served on a chopping board? Gotta love the kids!

In conclusion, I LOVE THE SHOW.

Leave me alone

I'm sure I'm not the only person on this planet who has felt that there is somebody out there who does nothing but look for every flaw in everything we do. There is that special someone, or rather, there are THOSE special people who like nothing more than to put us down by condescending on us by needlessly pointing out flaws.

They cannot just be called critics. The reason we have critics in this world, is that there are some things that have to be analysed and rated. They are also capable of giving POSITIVE feedback. No, no, no people! I am not talking about critics, I am talking about that guy who sits next to you just so he can tell you why your favourite athlete isn't actually that great; that girl in class who puts her hand up just to tell you how dumb you are for spelling something wrong. Those people!

Pretend an idea is like a bird, and whenever you have an idea you release that little bird out to be free and be shared by the broader community. Now imagine that bullets are negative criticisms. Now, imagine releasing a bird, watching it fly high into the sky.... only to riddled full of bullet holes by a bastard with a machine gun. It ain't a good feeling is it? Your idea is just released, to be shot down right away. Or worse.

Think of a sporting team or athlete you support. Now, I direct your attention to a person you talk to about them. A person who, say, scoffs in your face and tells you that that athlete can just go die in hole or something? How does that make you feel? It makes me feel like crap. Why do they have to say that? Why can't they say: "Oh fair enough, but I like this person better."
Would that not be a much better and less aggravating thing for them to say?? Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world and people are not like that. They just take pleasure in putting other people down, in shutting down our dreams, our aspirations, IN TAKING AWAY OUR IDEAS AND LEAVING US FURIOUS.

So we'll leave it at that before I burst a major artery. There are just people out there, who never shy away from taking out a machine gun and shooting all our birds down. All we can really do is grin and bear it.... and hope they get what's coming to them.

Chicken Feet

One of the most misunderstood foods in modern society. Chicken Feet. Chicken feet flavoured with black bean sauce and chili, after having been steamed for such a long time that even the hard skin on its surface has turned soft and mushy.
Despite this gruesome description, chicken feet is one of my absolute yum cha favourites. It has all that lovely milky flavour you get when you eat tendons which is balanced out nicely by the sauce and flavourings. I love it to the point that when I see the chicken feet lady coming with her trolley, my smile dilates by around 10cm (Exaggerating don't worry). The best chicken feet is the kind that is not too bony and has a lot of flesh. So essentially the thicker, meatier ones. Some of the skinnier specimens tend to put you off the rest of your food, especially since the feet are sometimes depictions of talons reaching out towards you. Not the picture of good taste now is it?
I seem to recall in the first series of Biggest Loser Australia, they had a yum cha temptation. Kristy got the chicken feet and though she was very much disgusted at the prospect of it, she ate it all the same without too much of a struggle! I wasn't very surprised, being as you noticed an avid chicken feet fan, but apparently eating that chicken feet won her immunity too! So she probably knows what to order at a yum cha the next time she goes!
People tend to ask this question most about chicken feet: "what flesh is there actually on a chicken foot?" Well, I think the answer is, there is no flesh! It's nothing but that skin and tendons and ligaments! It also surprises me at how there is something to eat off it though, considering when you watch the feet of living chickens they appear to be nothing more than scaly limbs! But oh well, as the philosophy is, don't judge a book by its cover. You might like it!

Pad Thai

I've just had a major brainwave: "why don't I use my blog to talk about one of the things I love most in the world? FOOD!" So here is the first installment of my food blogging. Pad Thai. Apologies if I've spelled it wrong.
Along with Tom Yum Soup, (which I will discuss another time) Pad Thai is one of my absolute favourites when it comes to Thai Restaurants. The first point I have to make is on the quality of the noodles. Those lovely flat, oily-but not too oily noodles, which when made well provide only a tiny bit of resistance and seem to have a small bland flavour that accentuates the abundance of flavour in the stir-fry dish. Pad Thai is usually served with spices, beansprouts, chives, peanuts and a lemon wedge. All of these are on the side and have to be mixed with the main dish itself.
The main dish itself features those noodles, as well as beef, chicken or seafood. Other than that it's been cooked with garlic, class thai herbs and a sauce of some sort. I'm not a culinary expert so I don't quite know what's in the sauce but I would hazard a guess that soy sauce is part of it.
Unfortunately, I've had some bad times with this dish too. The main problem with it is probably adding too little ingredients so the poor customer is left with noodles like two pieces of beef and the sauce. The meat in the whole ensemble is a vital element and cannot be disregarded as such. Oh and for vegetarians, Pad Thai has tofu in it too, so if you want you could forgo the beef, I guess. Anyway, I also don't like Pad Thai when they overflavour it, and the flavours of the sauce are all you can taste, not that nice balanced, harmonious taste you should have.
I wish I had a recipe for it...though the major problem with that is my less than satisfactory cooking skills...

MasterChef Australia

Today I wanted to talk about how much I love Masterchef Australia. It's such a great show! I am a gigantic lover of food (eating it) and the show just caters to my interests. This year seems like a really good year since all of the contestants have a very positive and philosophical attitude to food, which I love in reality shows. There is also a notable lack of people who are just jerks and think they're the absolute best in the show when they're actually not very good at cooking. This year my favourites would have to be Alvin, Claire and Kate. Alvin is very very funny and a great cook, but despite that just seems so down to earth, not like some other people in reality TV who grow arrogant and overconfident. I like Claire and Kate for their very appreciative attitude towards Masterchef. Kate is always like "omg! I can't do this! but oh well the point is to keep learning as a chef." Claire seems calm, relaxed not overdramatic or anything but you can see she works hard!
I am also a gigantic fan of the judges. Unlike Australian Idol, whose judges' comments were absolutely vile. I find that the Masterchef judges give comments that someone can really work with. Comments that you can really appreciate and the connection they have with the contestants is seems so much more than the Australian Idol connections. George's comments when the food is good are always so appreciative and positive that they can't help but make us all at home feel so much hungrier watching them eat their food. I find that I just get so hungry while watching the show that at one point in time I was just shoving a handful of M&Ms into my mouth everytime the judges had a bite of their food. *sigh*

Karma

In our criminal prosecution system, we essentially decide that we have the right to punish one another for doing wrong in our society. Should we really think about it that way? I mean it's kinda like the Justin Timberlake song: "What goes around, comes around." How can we reserve the right to punish other human beings? That's essentially saying we're better than they are. I don't think that's totally right.





But don't get me wrong, I totally understand the concept of justice and revenge we entertain in ourselves when we dish out punishments to criminals. I even agree with that concept. It seems right that we hand out punishments to people who have committed crimes. But, in that we kinda demonstrate a lack of faith in a higher power exacting true judgement on us. We should believe in things like that to get better peace of mind. If someone insults us, how much easier would it be to just KNOW in our hearts that the person will get what's coming to him?

I've got jerks who do nothing but mock me, it's so much easier if I know that justice will be served. The rude people who hold the finger up at you, they could break their finger! You don't have to sink down to their level to get your own back! If only, if only.

Da Grunt

The biggest obstacle in the life of a Maria Sharapova Fan. The critics of the ubiquitous grunt. I think I've heard them all.

"She puts it on to cheat."

"It's annoying."

"It's too loud."

And a helluva lot more.

I'm sure that all over the world, Sharapova fans like me have heard this crap a million times before. It's annoying. A lot of the time it's just some jealous wannabes who hate how she wins a lot. But sometimes it's Martina Navratilova. She drives a fair point. Players should hear the ball hit the strings. But, if she is cheating, I'd think she'd win a lot more matches. Players not being able to cope with the screaming would equate to her winning every match with minimal opposition because her opponents can't handle the screams. She doesn't have a level of success that suggests foul play that gives her a tremendous advantage.

The scream could probably be interpreted as just a factor of playing her. Like Venus Williams fluro dresses could be seen as a sight impediment when playing her in broad daylight. Like Serena Williams also grunts, Melanie Oudin punctuates every mistake you make with a come on. It's inevitable that players' different quirks will serve to make the game more difficult when you play them.

I also hate how people still haven't gotten in their heads that she's not going to change. Why can't people respect her? She has the right to grunt. Not EVERYONE complains about it. In fact, there aren't many players that complain about it at all. The legends, Serena, Venus, Justine don't complain about it at all. People have cracked down on her grunting for her entire career and she hasn't changed. WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT CONTINUING TO CRITICIZE HER WILL?

Just had to let that out :)