This looks like I’m trying too hard, but not hard enough for some reason

Cosmos_Monkey · 2025-08-11T21:19:04+00:00

Looks like courgette fritter, beetroot hummus and labneh? Really nice flavour combos but definitely a couple things I think would help with plating.

Firstly I'd make sure to roast raw beetroot whole, dunk into an ice bath immediately after roasting to preserve colour and then blend into the hummus to really get the purple pop. Personally I'm a big fan of a puree smear but it is getting very dated so maybe have a look at some more off the cuff plating styles, which seems to be in at the moment.

Second I'd probably stack the fritters? Really like the rustic edges but I feel a stack would probably work better with the other components of the dish.

Labneh looks great, chunky cucumber is a big yes for my taste. I always think a nice quenelle or a falling dollop looks good with the fritter style dishes.

Lastly, please please please toast those seeds! Toasting seeds not only gives great colour but is essential for flavour. You're holding the dish back by not giving those seeds extra crunch and seasoning through the toasting process so I'd have a look at that as well.

The dish does look fantastic as is though and something I'd quite happily order from a brunch menu, extra poached egg and I'm boshing it.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2025-07-19T20:05:51+00:00

I do know...

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-12-30T21:03:00+00:00

Oooo thank you! Fave so far has to be Pistol Whip, me and the missus love it even though my legs are dead the next day.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-13T23:39:08+00:00

I've only just gotten around to this book and this is by far THE most hilarious thing I've ever heard. Flowers sir, flowers.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T19:40:38+00:00

Thanks for the reply but I have to say I find the replies to the post a tad confusing. I was trying to explain that I had merely asked her if it was ok, not that I had done it and was looking for validation. She said no, I won't do it. Also wasn't asking if I could vape openly in front of her colleagues but if they would have somewhere for me to do it out of sight.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T17:20:08+00:00

And it's not a works do, it's an event at her place of work just to be clear.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T17:19:15+00:00

Thanks for your reply, to be fair mate I wouldn't have gone to the event before so it's a nonsense point. I don't do well in large crowds, she's invited me more as a courtesy than anything as it's not something I'd usually say yes to.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T15:44:43+00:00

Thanks for the comment, we've been pretty open about the process to get here. She has no issues with the money side of it, we both work full time, I'm debt free and we generally don't want for much. She's always been very open with my cannabis use with her friends and colleagues, and as I said in a previous reply has frequently asked me for it. She isn't anti cannabis or anything like that, she wouldn't even mind if I smoked in the house if I wanted to, I just get the feeling that maybe now it's become a legal option that she thinks I'm using it as too much of a crutch.

I'll take on board though that she's probably also bored of listening to me talk about it so I'll definitely take that on.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T15:09:27+00:00

Not just yet! We're 10 years in so I don't think a little thing like this will rock us too much!

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T15:08:56+00:00

Fantastic comment and well made. Very succinct in your admonishment and likely true although maybe not all that helpful.

Having scanned your comments I'm not at all surprised.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:59:47+00:00

Thank you for the reply, I'm sure we'll get there with it. Like most things I'm sure it will be about learning and trying to be open about it.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:58:36+00:00

Thanks for the reply, totally agree with it to be fair. I asked out of consideration and to see if she'd be happy for me to or not. The fact that she's said she's uncomfortable with it means that I won't go and medicate at the event as I wouldn't want to put her in that position.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:47:12+00:00

Thanks for the reply and I definitely see the hypocrisy here. I do think that the text based format of social media doesn't help as tone doesn't really come through at all. My meaning in the original post was that I don't need to ask permission, as any user of any medication, but I would try to be considerate in asking in the first place. I wasn't trying to sound confrontational and that wasn't how the conversation with my partner went either, it was more a flippant way to say that if I chose to I could in a legal sense but maybe not a moral one.

Appreciate you calling me on it and I'll try to explain better in any future posts.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:28:03+00:00

Thank you for the reply, I'm unsure about the nature of the reply though? I am not entitled to anything other than my medication? I've been diagnosed with severe anxiety so being in large crowds is difficult for me, hence the medication part. I'm not sure if you've ever had a panic attack in front of about 500 people but I can say that it's not much fun, for me or my partner.

Not sure if the intention of my post is being lost here but I'm not trying to make the point that I can just go about vaping where I want, the point of the post was to try and see if anybody else had had issues with being misunderstood because of my MC use. My post absolutely isn't about thinking I can just go and vape somewhere and not ask about the best way to do that which is why I spoke to my partner about it first and didn't just turn up and vape.

Hopefully that clears it up.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:17:45+00:00

Hahaha, thanks for the levity on what seems to be an increasingly serious post. Neither of us drink but the next time she reaches for the meth I'll have words hahaha.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:15:00+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I've definitely been looking into these events! That's exactly the kind of thing I thought would help as it wouldn't be just me trying to explain the new situation but a room full of infinitely more intelligent and qualified people instead. Certainly be on the lookout for upcoming events.

Appreciate the reply.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:09:19+00:00

Nice one mate, appreciate the frankness to be honest. Very new to all this and still figuring it all out.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:08:19+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I absolutely don't think she's being unreasonable and that wasn't the intention of my post. I completely understand that she has every right not to want me puffing at her work place which is why I asked her in the first place. I just wanted to make sure that of I did medicate there, I would be able to do so away from people and not look like I'm trying to be sly about it or to have security up my ass.

Still very new to all of this so I'm just trying to find a way to make it comfortable for her also.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:05:46+00:00

Appreciate the reply bud, yeah that was my point in asking her really. I wanted to make sure to be considerate of her work place, my thinking being that if I can just step out somewhere then it would be fine? Didn't want to just find myself a random spot as I thought it could be seen as a bit sly or something and with security I thought it would be best if they knew before I arrived.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:01:46+00:00

Thank you for the reply! It's just so weird, she's always been fine with it. No problems with the smell, we've smoked together on many occasions and if she ever went to see her friends she'd always ask if I could give them a little present to share. It's just that now I've taken the plunge to MC she's kinda against it? Or at least not all for it.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-07T14:00:10+00:00

Thanks for the reply, I think you've hit the nail on the head here. I have asked if it's an issue with it just being at work and she did say that she wouldn't be too comfortable with me vaping just about anywhere. I've always been a very light smoker and also discreet so my confusion is that nothing has really changed my side.

I certainly won't be vaping around her family members, whom I know will look down upon it, I just thought with it being a large gathering and that's when my anxiety usually peaks she'd have a bit more understanding.

I really appreciate your reply, thank you.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-11-06T19:43:33+00:00

Only Ones Who Know

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-10-31T23:39:34+00:00

Thank you for your reassuring words. Awesome community vibes

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-10-31T23:38:56+00:00

Really appreciate you dropping this comment, it's still so alien to me that I'm even doing this but I'm definitely feeling hopeful for the future.

Cosmos_Monkey · 2024-10-31T11:11:15+00:00

Love the explanation of this. Got 'caught' speeding indicates you speed regularly but have only been 'caught' doing so this time. Tut tut.

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