Nayan Gowda (vinosity in days of yore)

Laid

One of my favourite memories, is taking my mate, Alice, to see Missy Higgins on the lawn at Adelaide Uni.

Ben Folds rocked up and they did a duet of "Laid" by James.

open.spotify.com/track/2CdS3D...

As a Manchester boy, this made my day.

This sounds very Game of Thrones.

Oh, you are good!

And, how do you pronounce "Tintwistle", Jane?

;-)

You know what.

I am privileged to be friends with some of the best winemakers, chefs, viticulturalists, farmers, philosophers etc

My mate, Luke Payne, just got Michelined today.

How proud of him I am?

Very muchly.

www.instagram.com/p/DSXHOl0DRX...

Shall do.

Moving to La Paz later this week.

An apartment that I can actually cook in.

Max did well, by all accounts. He ended up staying for two days more; just for shits and giggles.

I shall be seeing him in Cochabamba, later this week.

Also, I shall be back in Luribay, the beginning of January.

At least, for me, that would be easy to forget.

Now, thank you for that, Anabel.

I am trying to learn the language; and keep getting tripped up.

Also, I shall add REC to my list to watch.

Who knew that there are two words in Spanish for brains.

One is what you think with "cerebro".

The other is what you eat "seso".

(obviously you Spanish speakers do)

For a language that uses the same word for so many things...

Anyway, do any of you know some good Spanish language zombie movies?

Especially as I have no tanks yet...

25 was in 25; though six weeks earlier than normal.

I'm worried that 26 may also be in 25.

Table grape harvest in Luribay, today.

This is Red Globe.

It is in beautiful condition; but scarily early.

We have already had one, very, early harvest with 25; I do not need an earlier one with 26.

Update on this...

I talked to Max, yesterday evening.

He is extending his stay in Luribay from 5 days... to at least 7.

He is loving doing vineyard work; and he wants to learn more about agriculture, in general.

I fear he may have gone native.

Shame he doesn't do social media.

Yup.

I would have done it myself, but have other things to do.

I actually, really, trust this guy to make a proper go of things.

And trust, from me, is a rare commodity.

You know how once in your life, you need to get out of your comfort zone, and do something a little bit crazy...

I've done that a few times in mine.

I'm about to send a young, Irish chef (ex-Arzak) to go do some vineyard work, by proxy, in Luribay.

I respect his ethic and insanity.

I mean, I've always had a high opinion of myself; but this is too much.

She truly is showing her arse more than ever before.

We all knew she was an absolute nutjob; how she ever came into power is shocking.

Pizza blanca, oyster mushrooms and loads of sage.

It's my food nemesis; would be twice my weight, if I didn't force myself to walk there, to eat one.

Biggest disappointment was the wine I made.

Thin and vinegary.

Very different from the bottle I opened a few months ago.

I know shit happens; but it is especially shit, when it happens to you.

With pizza, last night at Imilla Alzada.

The 11 Lapostelle Chard, was incredible. Think it's the third time I have tasted this vintage.

The Alma Oculta Cabernet was big; but also delicious. Made for a nice foil against the La Concepción; which was more elegant.

Or Andean, in general.

Was actually thinking about doing that for the Burns Supper I have coming up.

It will be a gumbo.

Most probably chicken.

Not really a thing here.

We do have "popcorn" crabs, but those are at the other end of the country.

As I'm back, let's play...

I am going to start doing a series of Supper Clubs in La Paz (Bolivia).

A different cuisine every month.

I am thinking Louisiana, as my first inspiration.

Main and dessert are sorted.

But, what the heck should I do as a starter; given this is Bolivia...

Looks like I will be sending a young backpacker to Luribay, next week, to do some vineyard work on my behalf.

Obviously, I would rather go myself; but just do not have the time.

Maybe, maybe not.

I understand there are some of those around; but haven't had the opportunity to find them, yet.

Thanks, Kavey!

Which is no bad thing.

Anyway, Luribay will be the base for my new adventure.

Luribay.

Around 170km from La Paz, is a subtropical valley, at around 2,500m above sea level.

Reputedly, it was the first location in Bolivia, that was planted to grapevines.

Until the 1952 agrarian reform, the area was pretty much all vineyards.

Now it is a lot of smallholding polycultures.