Out and About: Another #TieDayFriday, Fall Colours Edition

Although, strictly speaking, it is not Friday. Still, I felt I wanted to get this one out there, late or no. I was busy on Friday, with a new contract, and then the weekend, and finally, poetry on Canadian Thanksgiving. So, here then is the new #TieDayFriday:

I tried to smile in this one, I swear.

My colleague remarked that this is a hard colour to pull off. He thought I did it well. It was nice of him to say that. It can be tough, and truth be told, this is about as late as you can pull it off. Any later, and you risk looking a tad Hallowe'en-y. 

A closer, more focused look.

Out and About: The Return of #tiedayfriday

Yesterday—Friday—I woke up too early and went to sleep too late. Thus, I am a day late with this post, ostensibly about Friday.
But what a post! What had been an idle promise on facebook has now become real, Gentle Reader.
Some years ago, once again influenced by the wonder of the menswear internet, pressured by over thrifting of a few too many very nice ties, and suffering from the graduate student's general lack of occasions to wear said ties, I decided to take action.
Attempting to institute Tie Day Friday was a moderate success. My recent return to the selfie has inspired me to reinstitute the hallowed tradition starting here and now.
Therefore, I give you #tiedayfriday:

Still no smiles. I'm smiling in one after the jump, inside the Hall. I swear.

Out and About, Monday Edition

I have for the large part followed the advice of many, many menswear blogs out there and simplified my wardrobe, buying for quality or wearability. Therefore, I often take a selfie and realize it looks exactly like all my other selfies. Like this one, this one, or this one.

I just love that damn leather jacket. It was my uncle's, and is older than I am.

So the other day, feeling good and wearing clothes I have since purchased so as not to look repetitive, I re-claimed the selfie:

I still don't smile much, I guess.

WIAT - Saint Valentine's Day Extravaganza

Ah, St. Valentine's Day. An interesting holiday, if ever there was one. People love to hate it, although I for one am inclined to agree with this Slate writer, who suggests that it is not all bad. A formal holiday with religious undertones to tell someone you love how much you love them? Why not. It works for Christmas.

Of course, the story of St. Valentine is not classically romantic, with all the torture and beheadings, although if you study saints, all the martyrs have a certain je ne sais quoi about them. Nevertheless, February 14 stands as a feast of love, rescued from the pagans, and here we are.

Reflecting on my online presence, I realized that "Killing and Grilling" is my most popular post here on Turriff Hall. Given that A. and I chose to spend St. Valentine's day in, rather than out, I though it a good opportunity to re-enact the courtship that was "Killing and Grilling", with less killing, and with the weather, less grilling.

First up, Cherry Tomato Bruschetta with Chevre. I've been leaning on crostini-like foods a lot lately. This could be Tamar Adler's fault.

The Components

The Result

More of the meal inside.

WIAT: Dic Ann's Food Truck Edition, or: The Adventure of the Flat Burger

In the spirit of what Turriff Hall was originally about, I wrote a piece about a burger I ate. In a sense, I suppose this is a WIAT post, even though it is strictly speaking, not about today.

This post originally published by Burger Weekly at www.burgerweekly.com.

The Experience: Dic Ann’s has been a Montreal-area institution since 1954, but I’d never had the chance to get my hands on one of their burgers. But when they started operating a food truck (after the city of Montreal recently relaxed it by-laws) my combined fondness of burgers and mobile food proved hard to resist. So, on a beautiful sunny day in September, I wandered into Montreal’s historic Old Port, and ordered their cheeseburger. All dressed, of course.
The food truck’s menu is simple, featuring a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a double patty version of each, and the Quatrro, which adds a second slice of cheese to the double cheeseburger. The food truck experience is one I enjoy. The service was quick, and the staff was friendly. A word of warning, though; the Dic Ann’s burger is a messy one, so you may want to sit down in the near-by park to enjoy.

Burgers Ordered: The Cheeseburger all dressed and the Hamburger all dressed.
 

The Taste: Dic Ann’s burgers are pressed flat, incredibly flat, and the their signature feature is a ladleful of their spicy sauce on each burger. The sauce is based around ground meat, and quite hot, reminiscent of chili without the beans. It’s wet, and like I said, it’s messy. I enjoyed the flavour and texture, but my girlfriend said she disliked the sogginess of the whole affair. Dic Ann’s patties are also incredibly thin, and therefore very well done. The sauce adds a fair amount of beef, and helps makes up for the slim patty. I’d probably go for a double next time, all the same. All dressed for Dic Ann’s is mustard, relish, onions and the aforementioned spicy meat sauce.

The Verdict: An enjoyable, messy burger. On the thin side, though, so you’ll want more than one if you’re hungry. The spicy meat sauce is an interesting addition, and Dic Ann’s history, combined with the food truck ambiance, make this a very enjoyable burger experience.

Dic Ann’s Food Truck is located at the Old Port of Montreal. It closes in mid-October so get out there soon. Dic Ann’s proper can be found at these locations.

Thanks to BurgerWeekly, and please let me know if there are any burgers you think I ought to eat.