Wine Part 2.....

Previously, I have written about wine. Since then, I have had people asking where they should look for a good, cheap bottle of wine.

I've got news for you all. Boxes of wine are the future. Bottles are just saaaaaaaaaaaaaaad! If you are really after good value for money, and you don't mind sacrificing taste and the sense of decency that comes with buying bottled wine, a box of the red, white or pink stuff should be right up your alley.

You can find these boxes at most off-licenses and supermarkets, They can cost as little as £5, but if you're feeling flush and fancy something with a bit more consistency, then you can pay up to £15.

There you go there's a bit wisedom. Now go out, buy wine, and be jolly!

Spar....

Last week's emotional appeal for food went without much avail. We had one offer of food, which wasn't followed through. So if you see any of the surviving resident of my house please take pity.

Once we came to terms with our lack of popularity, we discovered our saviour. Spar!!

Ooooooooo Spar! What a godsend!

Its a minute around the corner. It sells Lynx lager, which is probably the most lethal thing to come in a can, since Asda briefly sold anthrax. Plus the food is cheapish.

So its an of license, selling cheap food, and there's one on most corners. So as long as you don't mind the inevitable heart attack (due to lack of exercise and easy access to food and drink), Spar is the place for me, you and any other lazy sod.

Amsterdam....

I've recently returned from a weekend trip to Amsterdam with my lovely girlfriend, and of course it was awesome.

Before I left though I thought "Oooooo this will make a good post on T&T (Tipple & Takeaway..... obviously)", which led me to ask myself, "What do the Dutch eat and drink?"

Some obvious answers came to mind. Heienken, Amstell, Edam, Space cakes etc.

Whilst there, I seriously struggled to find anything with an element of Dutchness about it, except from waffles and pastries, which I literally couldn't get away from at times.

So instead I stuck to the stereotypes (plenty of Heineken), and a few home comforts (pizza and steak!).

Ooooooooh I do love the Heineken!

I bet you all wish you were as cultured as me.

My Goodness, My Guinness....

Along with U2, Guinness is definitely Ireland's greatest export.

Image via Wikipedia

It's absolutely beautiful, and according to a friend of mine it's better for you than lager. And hes not the only one. You ask any taxi driver in Dublin. Even the smallest sneeze or shiver is followed by the same peice of advice. "Ahhhhhhh be' Jesus ya wanna get a pint 'a Guinness down'd ya!". But stereotypes aside, according to them, the iron content in the Guinness, can cure anything from a cold to aches and pains.

And the BBC will tell you the same.

So now you've no excuse to not drink it, and every excuse to do so.

Whatever the time, it's Guinness time.

Wine....

I like wine! Whether it red, white or rose.. whatever! 

There are some people out there though who take buying and drinking wine very seriously. Fair enough there's nice wine, and there's crap stuff. I do know the difference, but I'd much rather just buy a three quid bottle from the Spar like I did today.

There is a lot of fuss about wine, and I'm not the only one who thinks so. You ask Alan.

It was a Californian rose. According to the label it is a "veritable feast of fruit flavours" which "burst from the bottle". I think I must have got a dodgy one; it never "burst". Never mind "fruit flavours", all I could taste was wine, but I'm not Oz Clarke am I. I did enjoy it though as this picture illustrates.

I was lucky this time, it tasted fine but I haven't always been as fortunate. On one occasion, whilst on holiday, I came across what looked like a lovely bottle of rose. At one euro ninety five cents..... you can't argue can you! Then came the tasting. It wasn't great. In fact I'm fairly sure it was vinegar. Having said that somebody liked it, my friend drank my bottle.... then his. 

I suppose its a matter of taste. Obviously he doesn't have any!

Alterations...

As I have already mentioned for Lent I decided to give up drinking beer.

Well, I've met my first hurdle, tripped over and gone arse over tit! I lasted all of eighteen hours. You know what I can't even claim that because I'm pretty sure I was asleep for about 11 of those hours. 

So instead of completely giving up on the challenge I've decided to make a slight alteration.

I'm still keeping off the beer..... except for any day which I'm going out. 

So there's no need to worry Bargain Booze, I'll be back!

Temptation...

There's beer in the fridge. It's looking at me...

Lent...

As some of you may know, today is Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent.

Lent is all about making sacrifices. So as I do most years, I'm going to give something up. Years back I would have given up chocolate or something easy like that. But this year I'm really, really testing myself. I've decided that I'm going to attempt to give up......(drum roll) beer!

Its going to be the biggest challenge I've ever faced. It'll be my Everest. But if Paul Gascoigne can do it, then I'm pretty sure that I can last at least a few days. Plus I've got Jesus on my side at the moment, so I'm sure it'll be reyt!

So as it stands, I have been beer free for 15 hours. Lets hope it lasts!

The Gospel According to Mark....

You ask anybody who knows me, they'll tell you that I have an appetite like Pavarotti (until recently anyway), and because I'm a student I inevitably enjoy the odd drink.... or two.... or three. 

And like everybody else, I have my own opinions when it comes to eating and drinking. So here is the Gospel According to Mark....

1. Real food fills you up. I don't want to leave a restaurant and feel the need for McDonalds. I'm not John Prescott!
2. You only live once, don't count calories.
3. You can't have a curry without beer.
4. Beer goes with everything. You ask George Best.

Follow these rules closely, and you'll probably live a much shorter life, but hey-ho!

 

Welcome...

The belly rules the mind - Spanish Proverb

If this bloke is to be believed then food is the most important resource to us. So what better to write about than FOOD!

So come one, come all. Welcome to Tipple and Takeaway! 

Here at Tipple and Takeaway we will offer you:

• Valuable advice on what to eat, what not to eat, and what to wash it down with. 

• The best eating tips, unless you know Rick Waller.

• Advice on beer, wine and anything else damp.