The Pub - Discuss Anything

[nyikolajevics 2,422]

Suddenly I happen to go to London this weekend. Is there any source where I could buy PL-tickets? I would be up to any London game(Brentford, Arse, West Ham, Chelsea obviously). I found some sites which are selling but not sure if it’s reliable or not..

Any advice would be appriciated!

[KEVINAA 54]

Here are the links for live streaming of THE GAME AWARDS 2023.

Starts on Thursday night USA at 8pm ET and pre show at 7:30 pm ET

01:00 AM - ENGLAND TIME.

2PM NZL - FRIDAY 8 DEC

SOURCES - THE GAME AWARDS BY GEOFF KEIGHLEY , IGN

 

 

https://www.twitch.tv/thegameawards

https://www.twitch.tv/ign

Edited December 5, 2023 by KEVINAA

[Vesper 27,317]

The best (and worst) mince pies for Christmas 2023, tried and tested

Our food expert tried and rated 29 supermarket mince pies. So what was her verdict?

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/best-mince-pies-christmas-supermarket-8z59t8hz5

Hallelujah! It’s mince pie season. But before you reach for the tray of pies making its way towards you at the Christmas party I should tell you that I have good news (I have given two supermarkets five stars this year) and plenty of bad. You would think that as a nation that eats 800 million mince pies each year, supermarkets would have perfected them by now, but countless pies have been let down by their sad, stodgy pastry.

A mince pie is as much about the pastry as the mincemeat inside. The filling — vine fruit, peel and, if you’re me, some nuts — should be moist, full of spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and have a splash of booze. As for the pastry, it should be buttery and crumbly.

The worst culprits are the mini mince pies which are so small they are almost all case and no filling. And there’s nothing that zaps you of goodwill like a mouthful of claggy pastry with a sad raisin in the middle.

• The best (and worst) supermarket Christmas food, tried and tested

 

This year supermarkets have taken mince pies down the same route as hot cross buns at Easter and panettone (apparently in this country we are buying more of this Italian festive cake than we are Christmas pudding) by chucking all kinds of not-very-Christmassy flavours into them.

Black forest mince pie, anyone? What about chocolate and hazelnut? To be honest nothing makes me feel quite as festive as a mince pie made with cherries and kirsch. NOT.

Of course, as my editor Tony Turnbull pointed out to me, the best mince pies aren’t always on the high street. His favourites this year are from the online artisan food site, Dukeshill £13 for 6, dukeshill.co.uk). “The pastry is beautifully buttery. The best I’ve ever tasted on a mince pie,” he told me. Merry Christmas!

Classic pies

Whole Foods Mince Pies
£6.79 for six
My festive favourite, year in, year out. You can taste the boozy kick from the rum, and there are nuts, peel and fruit that taste and smell of cinnamon, spice and Christmas in a crisp pastry tart shell.
★★★★★

Waitrose Christmas All Butter Mince Pies
£2.50 for six
Buttery, crumbly pastry. Like they’ve been crafted by a very good home cook. A nicely cinnamon spiced filling — I had peel, fruit and cherries in one bite.
★★★★★

Morrisons Mince Pies
£2.50 for six
These look homemade, and you may actually want to claim them. The soft, buttery pastry case is deep and filled with boozy spiced fruit (although it’s just raisins in mine), topped with a star.
★★★★☆

By Amazon Mince Pies
£1.99 for six
There’s pastry, there’s fruit, there’s some spice and booze. It ticks all my boxes.
★★★★☆

Co-op Merry Mince Pies
£1.25 for six
The overarching taste here is spiced apple. The pastry could do with being a little less thick, but other than that, I like these.
★★★★☆

Waitrose Duchy Organic All Butter Mince Pies
£3.25 for four
I enjoyed these. The pastry is buttery but very crunchy, almost like eating a mince pie made from biscuits.
★★★★☆

Aldi All Butter Mini Mince Pies
£1.75 for nine
Buttery, crumbly pastry. Could have done with more mincemeat, but eaten warm with a glass of mulled wine they will get you into the festive spirit.
★★★★☆

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mini Mince Pies
£2.75 for nine
Excellent, thin pastry but these aren’t sweet enough. They almost taste savoury so are screaming out for brandy butter.
★★★☆☆

Asda Mince Pies
£1.09 for six
Like eating a stodgy, crumbly scone rather than a mince pie. Not bad, just not what I signed up for.
★★★☆☆

• Will changing festive tastes mean the death of the mince pie?

M&S Classic Mince Pies
£2.50 for six
The pastry folds like Plasticine. Ignoring that, the boozy vine fruit and cranberry filling is lovely.
★★★☆☆

Sainsbury’s Mince Pies
£1.60 for six
Town hall mince pies. The pastry is buttery but stodgy and claggy. They’re well filled, but where are my Christmas spices?
★★☆☆☆

Tesco Finest Mince Pies
£3 for six
Anaemic looking. Their small size means they are also mostly pastry. Not a very merry Christmas.
★★☆☆☆

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Mince Pies
£2.75 for six
These smell of Christmassy spice, but inside the very sweet pastry is a gluey lump of mincemeat.
★★☆☆☆

Tesco Merry Mince Pies
£1.09 for six
The mince pies of your childhood nightmares. These are well-filled but the pastry is so thick it sticks to the roof of your mouth.
★★☆☆☆

Tesco Finest All Butter Mini Mince Pies
£2.50 for nine
These pies are so sweet they’d have Rudolph doing laps of the North Pole. I couldn’t finish mine.
★★☆☆☆

Lidl Deluxe Luxury All Butter Mince Pies
£2.19 for six
Buttery, crumbly pastry filled with lots of juicy fruit but nowhere near enough spice to make me feel festive.
★★☆☆☆

Waitrose No 1 Brown Butter Mince Pies with Cognac
£4 for six
Not my No 1. The pastry is crunchy, biscuity and almost savoury-tasting. They have been around a while and I’m still not sold on these.
★★☆☆☆

Tesco Finest Mini Mince Pies
£2.25 for 12
Pretty much all pastry and no meat. The pastry is very pale and has a sandy texture.
★☆☆☆☆

Sainsbury’s Short Crust Mince Pies
£1.50 for four
Shallow pies. These are basically just a biscuit sandwich with a smidge of mincemeat in the middle.
★☆☆☆☆

Fancy flavours

Asda Extra Special Frangipane & Amaretto Mince Pies
£2.75 for six
A surprise hit. The sweet, soft peel and vine fruit from the mincemeat is nicely contrasted by the crunchy almond flakes.
★★★★★

Tesco Frangipane Mince Pies
£2.50 for four
There’s almost no mincemeat here. It’s more of a frangipane pie. Would be nice with custard.
★★★☆☆

Waitrose Crumble Top Mince Pies with Cranberry & Orange
£3.75 for four
Well this isn’t a mince pie. It’s a tart with cranberry and orange filling topped with sugar crumble that Waitrose has decided to call a mince pie.
★★☆☆☆

Lidl Deluxe Brandy Crumble Mince Pies
£2.49 for six
If you like sugary pastry and crumble, which is what this pie is, you will love these.
★★☆☆☆

Sainsburys Taste the Difference Cherry Kirsch Mince Pies
£2.75 for four
These are so boozy they burn my throat. It’s a no from me.
★☆☆☆☆

Co-op Irresistible Black Forest Mince Pies
£2.65 for four
Sickly sweet with zero resemblance to a mince pie.
★☆☆☆☆

M&S Collections Chocolate & Hazelnut Mince Pies
£4 for four
The flavour combination nobody wanted in their mince pie. Like eating a giant Ferrero Rocher with some mincemeat.
★☆☆☆☆

Vegan and gluten-free

Sue’s Gluten Free Kitchen
£3.75 for 6, ocado.com
Pretty great if you’re stuck with intolerances. A slightly crispy almond pastry base with a very generous fruity filling. Quite luxurious for GF — especially as they’re dairy-free too.
★★★★☆

Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Free From Mini Mince Pies
£3.25 for nine
Tasty enough and as joyfully close as you’ll get to the “real thing”. The packet says there’s a dash of brandy, but we could barely taste it.
★★★☆☆

Holland & Barrett Mince Pies
£3.50 for four
Free from gluten, dairy, egg and pretty much everything festive. They’re not bad — the pastry is nice and there’s a lot of fruit — but they don’t remind me of fuzzy, warm Christmas flavours.
★★☆☆☆

Looking for top quality pigs in blankets, stuffing and smoked salmon? Read our taste tests for 2023 — approved by food editor Tony Turnbull and deputy food editor Hannah Evans

 

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ITV producer can't walk, talk or see after eating curry still without justice 10 years on

https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1854943/itv-producer-disabled-amy-may-shead-today

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Escort who cut off 'eunuch maker's' penis and said it was 'one for the bucket list' jailed for five years

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/escort-eunuch-maker-cut-off-penis-jailed-five-years/

[Boriscracklycream 0]

Adrian Mutu was better on his day

 

[Fulham Broadway 16,393]

On 16/01/2024 at 03:09, Vesper said:

Escort who cut off 'eunuch maker's' penis and said it was 'one for the bucket list' jailed for five years

https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/escort-eunuch-maker-cut-off-penis-jailed-five-years/

'From Tottenham' say no more 😃

[Vesper 27,317]

All Dressed Up & Going Nowhere 1971 (Peanut Skinhead parts only)

 

thick AF Geordie accents, lolol

[cosmicway 1,252]

What are the limits of robots ?

Sophia the robot visited Athens yesterday.
She said she was impressed and she liked the Akropolis.
That’s remarkable.
Of course it can be a cheap trick with a cassette they fitted in her (fifties technology !). But I don’t believe that, she said these things by herself.
So what are the limits ?

Pay attention that we humans also have limits.
Sometimes we don’t know nothing about a certain process, (natural-industrial-social-political-whatever).
Things that other people may know but we don’t.
So we do - say stupid things.
But we are supposed to be superior to anything mechanical.

[Fulham Broadway 16,393]

On 30/01/2024 at 22:59, Vesper said:

All Dressed Up & Going Nowhere 1971 (Peanut Skinhead parts only)

 

thick AF Geordie accents, lolol

Classic. Every generation has a moral panic about teenagers

[KEVINAA 54]

 

 

[Vesper 27,317]

Bro Used a Sock Full Of Rocks To Protect His Girlfriend From Being Jumped

🤪

 

 

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Superstar sommelier Honey Spencer’s guide to London’s best foodie wine bars

Get ready for some natty wine wisdom

https://www.timeout.com/london/news/superstar-sommelier-honey-spencers-guide-to-londons-best-foodie-wine-bars-041124

It’s been a busy few months for sommelier Honey Spencer, who recently opened the acclaimed Sune in Hackney (which just so happens to feature in our brand new Top 50 Restaurants in London 2024 list). On top of running one of the hottest spots in town, she’s also just released her first book: ‘Natural Wine, No Drama: An Unpretentious Guide’. An informed look at the complex world of natty wine, it explains the knotty differences between organic, biodynamic and natural winemaking, as well as offering pairing suggestions and nuggets of impressive info that you can casually pass off as your own while enjoying a bottle of Pet Nat with pals. Honey tells Time Out about her favourite London wine bars and restaurants, and gives us the perfect snack-and-plonk pairing suggestion for each. 

 

Naughty Piglets, Brixton

Honey: ‘It’s been a hot minute since Naughty Piglets opened their inaugural wine bar in an old jerk chicken shop in Brixton. But Lyon-born owner Margaux Aubry never stands still and, as a result, neither does Naughty Piglets. Now in its new era of quarterly rotating chefs who fall over themselves to cook on the venue’s famous grill, this bistro feels more alive and current than ever. Add one of the finest natural wine lists stacked with gems Margaux has been cellaring since the mid 2010s, and you have one of the best places to indulge in the holy trinity of wine, food and service in the whole of London.’ 

Pairing suggestion: ‘Cantina Fermento Santa Madonna 2021 with chargrilled monkfish, lobster bisque, shrimp & pickled grapes.’

 

Bar Bruno, Victoria Park

‘Recently opened in East London’s postcard-pretty Victoria Park Village, Bar Bruno has swiftly dealt proof that Hackney’s appetite for natty wine, nifty salty snacks and vintage record players isn’t at risk of subsiding any time soon. The difference between this spot and the rest of east London’s cohort of similar venues however, is the small selection of pretty serious ‘fine’ natural wines which definitely can’t be found elsewhere. Oh, and their selection of giant pretzels proves a refreshing break from local sourdough and canned Perello olives.’

Pairing suggestion: ‘Sensazione Cortese/Muscat by Cascina Lieto, Piedmont. Paired with sunbathing on the terrace suntrap outside.’ 

 

Yuki Bar, Hackney

‘Yuki Bar is the new east London cool kid that, despite being overrun nightly with industry locals, also seems to be on a need-to-know basis. But you do need to know about this wine bar, not least because owner Yuki is Noma’s former sommelier and his selection of bottles is as fascinating and enigmatic as the man himself. Go late on a Friday or Sunday and stay until the lights come up.’

Pairing suggestion: ‘¿Vamos?!Vamos! by Joan Ramon-Escoda and Laureano Serres with braised pork belly and broth.’

 

 

The Barbary, Covent Garden

‘One of my old haunts and still one of my favourite places to eat and drink in London, The Barbary in Neal’s Yard is a mecca for hungry and thirsty shoppers and pre-theatre hopefuls. The North African-cum-Levantine dishes are a total dream with natural wine, and their short, yet dynamic selection served by the glass provides a great opportunity to taste some of the tastiest natural wines offered within the central London circuit.’

Pairing suggestion: ‘Carboniq by Magula, Slovakia with jaffa cauliflower.’

 

 

Papi, London Fields

‘Luckily for me, at the end of my street lies Papi. Situated in the plethora of railway arches north of London Fields, Papi is kind of place that serves up irreverent, F-you items like Ribena Negronis and potato bread with Marmite butter, and I can’t stay away. Sommelier Charlie keeps a tight little list with some real under the radar bangers at very good prices. Trust me on this.’

Pairing suggestion: ‘Karambolage by Jonas Dosert, Mosel, Germany with raw seabream and tosuzu.’

 

 

Humble Chicken, Soho

‘Definitely one for a blowout, Humble Chicken has to be my favourite restaurant in London. Its drool-worthy Japanese-inspired tasting menu is accented with sommelier and manager Aidan Monk’s ingenious natural wine and sake collection. His rigorous sourcing of off-the-beaten-track bottles and intrepid combinations will leave you in a natural-wine induced head spin.’ 

Pairing suggestion: ‘Bodega Taméran Marmajuelo from Gran Canaria with shokupan (Japanese milk bread) with butter terrine; parsley, truffle, chicken liver parfait.’

‘Natural Wine, No Drama: An Unpretentious Guide’ by Honey Spencer (£25) is out now on Pavilion Books. 

Check out our brand new list of London’s best restaurants for 2024.

[KEVINAA 54]

I found this website for sports chats and Livestreams for sports.

Chelsea chats are here

MAH/Matisse

The big six YouTube channel

and American sports watchalongs.

https://www.playback.tv/

Also android and iOS apps - playback tv

 

on android app you put your email and have 10 minutes to setup your username with your passcode number not password.

Edited Tuesday at 12:02 by KEVINAA

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I know it will hard AF for most of you to chase down, but OMG

this is one of the best beers I have ever had in the past 5 years (and we are crazy beer snobs)

It's from a micro brewery right down the road from us here in Södermalm (our neigbourhood here in Stockholm)

it is just a magically world class Imperial Stout

cannot recco this enough

wifey cleaned out the Systembolaget near us

malty rich, dense stout with flavour bursts of milky cocoa, coffee, dark bitter chocolate (it has single plantation Mexican chocolate nibs, thus the name), hazelnuts, nordic licorice, and Madagascan pure vanilla.

not at all cloying.

It really is amazing stuff

9.4/10

12% ABV so it will put you on the lash with rapidity

Mariatorgets Mikrobryggeri - Mexikan 🖤

https://www.beernews.se/brewery/2745/

https://www.systembolaget.se/produkt/ol/mariatorgets-3858315/