Sunday, 25 August 2024

Kung Pao Chicken, Rufus Wainwright, Zombie Gnome, and Unicorn Skull


This week I've been going out for some lovely meals with various friends. Here's a photo from Earls Restaurant of their delicious Kung Pao Chicken with 3 hot hunan peppers. I've been going to Earls for nearly 30 years now and I always order this same dish Every. Single. Time.


I love gay singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright. I've been listening all week to this fabulous 2021 live album of his. It's an intimate and intense mix of eclectic songs written by various Canadian and European songwriters, as well as by himself. Four of the songs are sung in French, his childhood language from Quebec.


I also went to Canadian Tire this week to buy a new muffin tin and noticed that their Halloween merch is now on the shelves. My two faves were this Zombie Gnome and the Unicorn Skull.


33 comments:

Tom said...

...Kung Pao Chicken must be good. I did know that Rufus Wainwright was Loudon Snowden Wainwright III son!

Bob said...

That Kung Pao looks dee-lish; it's barely 7:30 AM here and now I want Chinese food!

Travel said...

Spo needs that gnome for out by the pool.

Moving with Mitchell said...

You and SG would get along well. He shocks waitstaff when he orders something different. I don’t think I’ve heard anything of Rufus Wainwright’s 2021 album. I’ll have to check it out. I kind of like the unicorn skull. As for the gnome, it’s better than usual gnome I suppose.

Jamie Ghione said...

I love the unicorn skull and the zombie gnome.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Tom -- Yes, and Rufus Wainwright's mother was Kate McGarrigle, the Canadian singer-songwriter (which is why he grew up in Quebec after his parents divorced). He comes from "folk singer royalty" on both sides of his family tree.

The Happy Whisk said...

I was always Kung Po Shrimp back in the day. Sounds like an excellent week. Love the Halloween fun.

Marcia LaRue said...

Any Chinese food is welcome by me ... I love Kung Pao! Do you actually eat those little red hot peppers? Ack! I can't go THAT Kung Ho! LOL 🥵

Cleora Borealis said...

I don't decorate for Halloween the way I used to, but I love enjoying the decorations of others! And, Halloween has taken over the yards and houses near me with such creativity! So much more interesting and varied than xmas these days! 🎃

Leanna said...

I love making Kung Pao Chicken. The sauce is a little tricky but I got it down. I have to get me a Zombie Gnome.

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Marcia LaRue -- I was warned to NEVER eat those peppers and I have always heeded that restriction! It's probably why I'm still alive today!

Kathy G said...

I love anything Kung Pao. It's amazing the creativity that goes into Halloween decorations nowadays.

BootsandBraids said...

Zombie Gnome is hysterical. I'd have bought it.

jaz@octoberfarm said...

i love rufus!

Bruce.desertrat said...

Muffin tin...at a tire store??? You Canadiastanis are weird! (I hasten to add GOOD weird!!!)

Debra She Who Seeks said...

@ Bruce.desertrat -- Yes, Canadian Tire did start out as a tire and automotive business but over the decades it diversified and today it's essentially Canada's equivalent of Walmart (except no clothes or groceries).

Fundy Blue said...

I love Earls, and I've been going to it many years as well, Debra. Next time I'm in Calgary, I'll have to order the Kung Pao Chicken.

Fundy Blue said...

I wasn't familiar with Rufus Wainwright. I'll be checking out his songs on You Tube. He's really good looking. The CT Halloween decorations are a lot of fun. I hope you've been having a good weekend!

roentare said...

The food looks gorgeous! I just listen to his songs on YouTube. So good

Kay G. said...

That unicorn skull proves that unicorns do exist! 🫠

angela said...

I have a few Friends who every time we go out wil take ages to read the menu and then order the same thing they always do lol
Love the gnome and unicorn

Marie Smith said...

I would love to see Rufus live.

Kirk said...

That's one way to make a unicorn scary!

G. B. Miller said...

It's been Halloween here since late July/early August. It's certainly going to be interesting this year.

Ur-spo said...

I was not familiar with Mr. Wainwright until now; hey! I learned something !

baili said...

Are you like me who likes to stick with one meal or anything else :)))
Dish looks Yummy omg 😍

Glad you enjoyed songs by favorite singer
Never thought wll see skull of unicorn .it hurts my aesthetic sense

e said...

Doesn't Rufus look spiffy?! Such a talented family...
I have a friend who would be sorely tempted by that gnome! I believe that she already has a zombie gnome, but how many is too many?

Toni said...

Zombie Gnome! I need one. I'd name him Darryl

Polly said...

That Kung Pao Chicken looks delicious but I couldn't eat the peppers though! I generally eat the same things.

Lady M said...

Zombie Gnome - that's pretty cool.

LA Paylor said...

halloween seems far off as our temps are so hot. Love the unicorn skull. I remember going to canadian tire when I lived in Edmonton.
LeeAnna

Busy Bee Suz said...

I now have a hankering for Kung Pao! I had no idea Rufus was gay; why am I always the last to know?
The zombie gnome is pretty clever!

Breenlantern said...

Big Rufus fans here, as well!

Sassybear
https://idleeyesandadormy.com/