Obituary of the Late Mr. Common Sense

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A good article sharing from my friend……………..

London Times Obituary of the late Mr. Common Sense.

‘Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as: Knowing when to come in out of the rain; why the early bird gets the worm; Life isn’t always fair; and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.

It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an Aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason. He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now, Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.’

神魔之心差一線 , 惡魔考驗紅樓見

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啟示錄第十二章魔鬼撒但以龍的姿態出現 ……….在世界歷史舞台的背后,有這一個惡魔在操縱著它的工具,去引誘人、迷惑人、恐嚇人、吸引人跟從它 ……….”

六月卅夜 , 烏雲蓋日 , 我心情忐忑 , 再踏入上次論劍的紅樓 , 為的是要赴這 “惡魔之約 “………

上天會如何考驗我?   我能否逃出這宿命?

我會是入魔成魔又或是驅魔??? 

我沿着昏暗的樓梯一步一步上樓  , 我巳將一切置於道外 ……….

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我終於見到惡魔 – 那是神水(一)中提過被喻為瘋狂 , 執着 , 另類 , 頹廢的惡魔的 North Italy Miani Rosso Miani  旗下四支 Tocai Friulano, Sauvignon, Chardonnay & Merlot 。 

這次”惡魔之夜” 是由兩大魔頭聯手策劃 , 幕後主腦是識飲識食的 CXB 而 “需公”則做其大祭司 , 由”請魔” 到”啖魔” 菜式配酒處理一手包辦。以下紅色字擇錄自需公的原文

“Friuli Enzo Pontoni 是 Engineer 出身, 十多年前便以己之所長改善祖業葡萄園, 不禁令人聯想起; Phillip Jones的機械心思 & Henri Bonneau 的種植及排水技術上的合成體?!  18.5ha 年產約 7500 “Merlot" 方為飲家所求 , Calvari 年產更少, 但因過火的高濃度被視了為 for collector only…” http://www.italianwinemerchantstore.com/wineshop/producer/miani.html#producer

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Miani Colli Orientali del Friuli Tocai Friulano D.O.C. 2005

Tocai Friulano 是一隻意大利本土葡萄 , 以香梨 , 蜜桃 , 果仁味是葡萄的特色。

淡黃的酒色下 , 隱藏着一種青草 , herbal , 淡淡的花香 , 香氣並不開放 ; 入口是一種難以言諭的濃郁 , 甘草、礦物、果味 , 很古樸 , 葡萄的果味並不突出 , 濃密厚重的質感 , 而略帶少許酒精 , 酸亦隱晦 , 只是有少許 fine acid 令口腔出現一種生津感 , 餘韻是少許的甜。 酒暖後草味更濃 , 但表現不出Tocai Friulano 應有風格。

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Green Asparagus with Poach Quail Egg Benedict

設計原意 “Asparagus 可以說是白葡萄酒的死敵之一 , 高酸而清甜 , 極難跟餐酒 , 唔信找書看便知 , I think it should match with  “Tocai Friulano” & “Corton Blanc Grand Cru”, 只是無做光合作用的 white asparagus 巳過 season, 要不就更能發揮那份清甜口感! 更能代表對食物的執着!…”

Tocai Friulano 用來配 Asparagus , 濃味對濃郁 , 草菁對甘草 , 微苦對礦物 , 隱酸對隱酸 , DNA 排列是對但兩者太近似 , 反而像泥牛入海 。

Miomi Colli Orientali del Friuli Sauvignon D.O.C. 2001

金黃酒色下嗅到草青 , 白花 , elder flower貓尿味 , 香味同樣不揚 , 而入口亦是濃郁厚重 , 酸度被濃郁質感覆蓋顯得不高 , 而收結帶點微苦 , 完全癲覆了 Sauvignon Blanc 應有的清爽怡人 , 高酸度的感覺 , 酒放暖後才有少許梨子的香氣 , 感覺上她有點似 Riesling 。

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Langoustine with Mashed Cream Bean & Celery Root

設計原意以口感較粗的青豆蓉作樹頂 , 口感幼滑芹菜頭蓉作樹幹 , 以西西里紅蝦開邊 , 再把頭部膏和油置中, 作成一個大紅 Apples on tree””

當然要求小餐館廚師識畫畫真的有點瘋狂 , 若非大家熟絡 , 我相信一定被有大廚用刀 “放血”………..

Miomi Colli Orientali del Friuli Chardonnay 2001 

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Chardonnay serve 之前做了 decant , 在榨口 decanter 中嗅到少許甜爆谷的香味、甘草、薄菏 , 入口一樣是厚重圓潤 , 高密度而強勁有力 , 有點熟菜甜味 , 收結是 Chardonnay 的微苦及 mineral 餘韻。

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Skate Wing with Linguine

設計原意 “魔鬼魚 Skate wing 做得好極高難度, 一般炸/, 食用面積唔高, 但可塑性高” Linguine 要用鮮紅如血的茄糕 …………..

原來魔鬼魚的肉質是一條一條絲狀的 ………..

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Miomi Colli Orientali del Friuli Merlot 1997

終於輪到戲肉……… 酒色深紅近乎黑色 , 香味充滿 herbal 夾雜不熟的青布冧、桃駁梨 ; 入口濃郁複雜 , 厚重如血 , 中段有種心臟被掏空 , 失去靈魂的一種空洞感覺 , 單寧點點滴在脷上 , 酸度幼細 , 收結餘韻是像落泊失意灰暗的淡淡青澀果味。

Merlot 的成熟甜味被刻意扭曲及調低 , 而酒味夾雜一種 herbal spicy 清澀 , 而意大利酒的高酸度流於其中 ………..是一支混合古舊 Bordeaux 及意大利風格的葡萄酒。

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這支酒真的令我感到冷酷、黑暗、邪惡……… 一種昏君式奢華的頹廢 , 是一種離經判道的瘋狂

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一支 Merlot 已是如此Rosso Miani  真不敢想像 …………

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Beef Wellington

設計原意style 菜式 , 多功夫 , 花時間 , 考心思及耐性, 最考人的是選料, 肉要有血汁有肥, Goose liver 做反而太油及削 , 濃一點的雞肝會較仔 , 外層酥皮多厚 , 焗多久, 一刻不容有失… “

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Panna Cotta Ring & Diamond Heart

設計原意Panna Cotta 奶凍做成介指型狀 , 此甜品的原作是一對日本夫婦的結婚50週年Party 甜品, 我只是見過三張相片我估計先以AgarAgar (受熱不溶解的植物精製明膠) Raspberry 做好直徑1cm 的球體 jelly, 放入冬甩形的容器, 再加奶& Cream 作奶凍, 形成一隻 “build in" 的介指, 很美但可行性低…but for someone, worth to try!)

當晚女士是紅心 , 男士是黑心來襯魔鬼的主題這是需公為 CXB 及他的愛人而設計的 , 見心思 , 而我用 Photoshop 將男女兩隻併合做出一個更特別貼切效果。

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Chiarli Lambrusco Grasparossa  

這支像黑加侖子sparkling wine , 簡單到不想多講。

總結:

1.     當晚出現的每一支酒都相當另類 , 離經判道 , 背道而馳 , 亦癲覆了我對某些葡萄酒風格的認知 ,  , 若進行 Blind Tasting 我一定人仰馬翻 , 全軍覆沒。

2.     我百思不得其解為何香味及酒體濃度會出現如此這兩極風格 , 而我不論如何集中都難與她們溝通 ………..是否因長途運送而五臟離位 , 影嚮正常表現?

3.     這四支酒無疑真的是很 concentrate , 亦很重 mineral , 這是四支酒共通的風格 , 反影釀酒師將葡萄產量降低至1/8 的執着 , 以成本效益角度真的是有點瘋狂。 Wine style 真的很”邪” 是一種突破創新, 追求另類 …….. 定曲高和寡 , 孤芳自賞 ………. 就真的是見人見志。

4.  我 AM 人較傳統 , 較喜歡一些 Classic , 這四支酒不是我口味。大家知我喜歡 Chardonnay , 我慶幸那並非我第一支試飲 Chardonnay 否則葡萄酒世界可能沒有 AM 這個人………

5.   沒有黑暗 , 那知光明的可貴 , 沒受過魔鬼的試探 , 不知道自己信念的堅定及堅持 , 人性何在………當晚真的很魔鬼 , 不論菜式或酒 , 我慶幸自己沒有入魔 …….成魔 …….。而整個晚上的都給我一種奇怪感覺  , 令我想了一套1987 年的舊戲 Alan Parker’s ANGEL HEART 天使追魂 …………..

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