Fringe Food & Drink

Whilst on my first visit to London this Century, well there are better flourishing capitals of the European Union to visit, I was taken by these food kiosks that sell ready to make meals. All the food, pre-measured and prepared in kit form. 14.95 meal for two, 7.50 pounds sterling meal for one. Szechuan Chicken - Spiced marinated corn-fed Chicken Breasts served on a bed of Vermicelli Rice Noodles, Baby Pousse leaves and a fragrant Coconut, Lemongrass & Galangal Broth.The veggie option, Aubergine Cannelloni - Hand-rolled Aubergine Cannelloni stuffed with Field Mushrooms, Spinach, Pine Nuts and Ricotta. Plus a slew of other dead chicken dishes which are very popular in England these days. You do need some pots and pans, the silverware and some salt and pepper to complete the job. Interesting concept. Shall it be Beef Wellington, Bonfire Chicken or some Roast Salmon with a Nori and Pine Nut Crust tonite darking. I'll just check what's available at the Paddington Station kiosk this week.

Vending machines are still a fascination for me. Check Leaping Salmon Company for all the details.

The coverage of the Festival events starts today. Just back from holiday in the warm climate of Puglia (Italy) and I've brought back the olive oil to prove it. Basically we are getting screwed for quality oilve oil in the UK - by quality I mean first pressing extra virgin which you can pick up for 7 euros a litre in a green bottle - the sort of stuff that would have a hefty price tag in Selfridges. I'll now delete the 400 useless email messages waiting in the inbox - why do these idiots bother - a great communication tool ruined by stupid yankee nobrainers. Rant over, get a coffee.

The Fringe Food Festival have put out the first flyer. An attractive colour postcard. It doesn't have the dates on it though. I think some people are thinking hey we can collect these in and use them next year as well. The letter box attracted it's usual slew of junk mail including a leaflet for weight watchers meeting, and a glossy for pizza deliveries. One you pay to go to a room get on a weigh scale and told in polite terms you're a fat bastard, and at the other place they ask you if want extra toppings and a fizzy drink to make you into a fat bastard. Life is simple say no to both. The best junk mail was the innovations catalogue. It had a battery heated ice cream scoop for about 14.99. No bending the spoon, save time and effort, an easy way to serve straight from the freezer. Don't know how I'm managing to live with it. But I'll cope.

.This has been my favourite story this week. It's not even a new one, but I read about in Wired magazine September 2002 issue. It's people making satellite dishes from recycled aluminium cans and selling them. Talk about being resourceful and the desire to get news, football and entertainment. They have a great colour picture in the mag, not available on the web, not available here. Very optimistic little story of d.i.y. overcoming advertisty. Can't stop my own shower from dripping when off but these people could. Still I made a great tea tonight with one of my favourites Himmel und Erde - basically mashed potato with a built in fried spicy apple sauce involved.

Planning to do a Chorlton Fringe Forum which will take the place of Beech Road website forum that was a big success when people contributed. In fact for the sake of expediency it will be at the same web address, same format etc. Your chance to, and I hate this phrase "have your say", but people do like to get it off their chest. They don't do anything about themselves they just like to "have their gripes". Bad mood day I've got it in for the "I want it all and I want it now society" we've become.. Like where is my parking space, why haven't you got this in stock, they should do something about it, but don't charge me any more money or more taxes. See I've had my say and I feel better already.

Also trying to do some Text To Speach pages because it's an area that does need some focus on in the World Wide Web. So many pages are hard to read and my eyesight is just +1.5 for reading. I've tried this before trying to make talking web pages but it involved typing eveything twice. Life's too short for repeats.

Early meeting tonight to finalise a few things - like the awards and some events. details, details, let's keep with the big picture.

News from the meeting - further awards to be announced. Best Cup of Coffee and Best Chorlton Takeaway (and that includes Pizza, chip shop, curry, burgers, etc...) to be voted on by the shoppers of Chorlton. There will be an online nomination form on this site. Give us a break, I only do this in my spare time but it will be ready before the opening. Otherwise pick up a leaflet at the participating stores. There will also be a 'Mystery Shopper' going around Chorlton - a cruel critic who'll be giving his findings on the wonderful courteous service she/he receives..more like - most grumpiest shop, most off hand manner, best chatting to their mates instead of serving stories.