Cocktails for everyone

Summer is here, the weather is warm, people prefer drinking rather than eating... so let's make people happy.
I enjoy cooking, but I decided to learn something different this year, and the winner was cocktail preparation. For starter, digestive or just fun, cocktails are as diverse as meals. Combining ingredients to get tasteful, rich and colorful results.

As I didn't have any proper "tools" and acessories, I bought the basic to start. Then some beverages and ingredients. As some people don't drink alcoholic cocktails, I've also learned how to prepare some soft ones. :-P

So, for the last weeks I've been preparing (rather than drinking) all kinds of cocktails, inviting friends over... and get their feedback. Well, the feedback from those who survive the experience! eheh

The bar is open...

Me Tarzan!

If people say it's hard to live on this earth, I say... climb up a tree! :-) My quest for different adventures brought me to what french call "accrobranche", which can be translated into something like "hooked to branches" (tree branches).

This sport and fun activity is placed well above ground, on top of trees, from 3 meters to 15 meters high... it depends on your guts! eheh

Recently I convinced a group of friends to try this activity and it was awesome. At the beginning the questions and fear were there, but soon as the adrenaline started to pump... no one wanted to stop.

This accrobranche is a set of paths between treetops, which can be a normal rope bridge, a zipline to glide or a real Tarzan rope where you have to swing to the other side and grab a rope net! Amazing!

Jump to the pictures!

São João all night!

The tradition says: sardines and vinho verde! So the tradition for Saint John's (São João) was kept for another year!

The night from 23rd to 24th of June is celebrated in some cities around the world, but I have to confess the best celebration is held at Porto (of course, where else?) eheh

This year new victims were found to experience one part of this celebration: the gastronomy!

So I add some colour to the living room, the table opened to its fullest and then everyone enjoyed. Themed music included! eheh

This year it was Korea, Morocco, Japan, Tunisia, Poland and Brazil the special guest stars! eheh

So the word will carry on... :)

Maybe next time you'll be my guest, who knows? ;-)

Viva o São João!

Cheers!

Food fest!

I know the "F" word shouldn't be said, but I don't care: FOOD YOU! eheheh This time was more "feed you"! Recently I had to celebrate a special date, one of those who arrive each year around the same time!

The best thing about food, for me, is to be able to share with other. Specially when it comes to show the typical dishes and cuisine in general.

So the day was divided in two: pastry during the day and a full table at night. Everyone had a blast... almost a stomach blast. But quality above all! At then end everyone was satisfied and wanted to repeat some other time! eheheh

I didn't cook this time, so we all went to one authentic portuguese restaurant... where the portions are above average (and some times above reasonable!). Better than the food, it's the service. The typical and genuine warm and smiley welcome (something very rare around here).

That's the best gift, to see everyone happy around a table... while eating, of course! :-P Drinking too... wisely, of course! eheh

Enough talking, here are some pictures of the "food festival"!

"Lost" is over! Amen!

You can read this, because I'm not going to spoil you any surprise (?). "Lost" is one of the most (or maybe the most) popular TV shows in the last 6 years. The final episode was broadcasted this week... and I'm disappointed with the end... very!

There was a mysterious island, a crashed plane, a group of survivors that try to survive a rollercoaster of events, monsters, enemies and unexplained phenomena. And this was exactly the "problem" of the show, each new season brought more characters and stories... maybe without thinking how to tie all the loose ends.

The final season was the worst, where the snowball of cross stories got bigger and bigger.

How to stop the rollercoaster? Well... the writers of the show were lost for real! They went for the easiest solution, which doesn't oblige them to explain anything.

"Lost" had a great potential, but there was never a planned ending since day 1. It reminds me the "Twin Peaks" TV show, which had a final episode to forget. Or even the last "Indiana Jones" movie... the last one is definitely to forget too! eheheh

I'm happy that the show is over, because I couldn't continue with torture and some insany from the writers. I enjoyed "Lost" as a whole... I just have to imagine the perfect ending! :-P

Luckily I didn't pay for it or else I would ask my money back! eheheh

Farewell to Oceanic 815...

I want my lemon ice tea!

In a big city like Paris we can think it's possible to have or get anything. Wines, spices, books, vegetables and general products from all over the world. Normally I don't bring stuff from abroad because I can find everything here... or almost.

There's one thing I like very much and it doesn't exist in France: lemon ice tea. Yes, and I repeat, there isn't bottled ice tea, lemon flavoured in France! :-P

You can find all other flavours like mango and peach everywhere. From the top brands to the budget ones, no one offers lemon as a choice.

However there's lemon flavoured... water!! So they don't use lemons for ice tea, but to add flavour to water! eheh

Italy, Spain, Portugal, England... in these countries you can have lemon ice tea everywhere!

Recently some friends visited me and they brought me lemon ice tea for a month... if they were caught by customs I think they could have been accused of smuggling! eheheh

I think I'm going to start a lemon revolution! eheh I want my icea tea! :-P

Who's playing with my voodoo doll?

It's very very very rare for me to get sick, ill or have any type of aches. However, last week it's was like a merry-go-round (or carousel if you prefer).

No, I'm not exaggerating... the only thing I didn't get was a pregnancy!! eheheh Aleluia!

The curious thing about each "problem" was they only appeared during a single day! As soon as I got rid of one, the next one arrived! The only explanation is a voodoo doll or a curse on me... well, basically they are the same!! eheh

Anyway, the list goes like this: nose blocking, flu symptons (no kidding!), toothaching (when was the last time I had teeth problems?) and now my knee! :-) Voilá! Take your pick!

Luckily I managed to fight all those in one week... and yes, I was still going to work! I wouldn't let those "small" things get me! Muahahah (read: evil laughter!) ;-)

Another explanation could be a "higher-entity" who wants me to avoid a certain catastrophe or natural disaster. Being 50% ill I wouldn't go anywhere. Like those "Final Destination" movies! eheh

So, whoever is sticking pins on me, stop now.... because I'm "Kick-Ass"! eheheh

Yes, you have to watch this movie to understand ;-)

Now I can eat while running! eheh

ps: only "Hit-Girl" is tougher than me! ;-)