Perfect Masala at Bengal Indian

I’ve often past this Indian restaurant and, since I love Indian food, I have always wanted to try it.

From the outside Bengal Indian looks very ordinary but once inside the well presented tables, with their table cloths lifts the standard a little and saves it from being your usual ‘cheap and cheerful’ eatery.

My order was taken from the waiter who was relaxed and easy going but almost too much so.   

I chose the Beef Masala which was cooked perfectly; the beef was tender and the capsicum was soft. I am a great fan of coriander loved how you could taste it without feeling it was over powering the other spices.

The Naan was crisp, fresh and perfect in every way.

Bengal Indian is a nice place that is slightly out of Fremantle and not a bad place to go if you want somewhere quiet and authentic.

 

Good leadership is hard but possible

Life has sent me several things that have recently made me think about leadership and what it means to be an effective leader.

I’ve been wanting to do more in my community so I’ve applied to do a leadership programme. As I prepared for the interview, it made me think of the concept of leadership that the programme was built on was different from the kind of leadership that I learnt about as part of my master’s degree.

The required readings of my Leadership unit focus on the more traditional sort of leadership, the kind that you assume involves running an institution or organisation. This unit spoke about different sources of power such as Reward, Coercive and Legitimate power which are the kind of power that I’ve often seen at work.

Most often the Coercive and Legitimate type is used to make sure the wheels of the team go round and everything runs smoothly, so the theory goes. My old text book defines Coercive Power as the ‘capacity to punish or withhold positive outcomes as a way of influencing other people’ and Legitimate power as the ‘capacity to influence other people by virtue of formal authority, or the rights of office’.

But as you can imagine these are the basic tools that new mangers refer to in attempt to ‘lead’ their teams but we all know that it take more than coercion and a job title to get respect from those below you.

I must admit that effectively leading a team at work has to be one of the hardest jobs around as there is a real skill to it. But either you’re good with people or you’re not! I am always surprised when people who have weak emotional intelligence put their hands for such positions of power. It leads to a toxic environment that brings the worst in people and a miserable place to be.

I am sure that many of you have had jobs that were tough or dull but because the manager was good and the other people were cool you didn’t mind.   

What makes it hard for everyone (including the ‘leader’) is when those who aren’t gifted with good people skills are so often promoted beyond their interpersonal skill level. The effect is that people become unmotivated and disengaged but somehow this is ignored by those who hire and fire. It seems that the only requirement for promotion to these roles is having hubristic tenancies. 

One of the questions that I had at the interview for this leadership programme was to describe a leader at work that I admired. The person that I immediately thought had a senior position but isn’t a leader of a team but because she had great skills in this area I used her as an example. She is supportive, respectful and doesn’t purposely go out to shame and humiliate. She also understands the tough work environment as well as has the ability to bring out the best in people and to motivate staff.  

But don’t fear people!

Leadership is more than just telling people to pull their socks up.

It seems that the whole notion of leadership has evolved overtime from the ‘Boss’ at work or in the home to include advocacy on behalf of those whose voice isn’t loud enough to be heard.

One man who ran a youth development camp I went on when I was at uni describes leadership as “action that makes the world I touch a better place”. As you can see it is a general definition and could include anyone that stands up for minority groups or for a colleague that is being bullied.

I hate to be Captain Cliché but “I want to be the change I want to see in the world” and I am to improve the lives of other people with disabilities.  

This is the kind of leadership I that I want to get involved with.

I have no interest in being a manager or leader in the work environment but to do want to do this program so I can learn how to advocate for others and make a difference in the community. I look forward to starting and developing the skills to improve the lives of others who aren’t so fortunate.   

LIST OF REFERENCES

Campling. J., Poole. D., Wiesner. R., Ang. E.S., Chan. B., Tan. WL., and Schermerhorn. J.R. (2008) Management (3^rd Asia-Pacific edition) (Brisbane, Qld: Wiley Publishing Company)

Fit for a prince

The Stables Bar became famous earlier this year when HRH Prince Harry paid it a visit because and if royalty go there then it must be good.  Since it was also my birthday my friends and I wanted to go somewhere nice.

Despite it being a sunny lunch time we were quickly shown a table outside a table. It took a while to choose what to eat as there the menu was relatively extensive.

I always like unusual food so I went for the Pigs Ears which I had never tried before. They came out in small bite size pieces with a deep fried batter and a dip. These ears were crunchy and slightly chewy but not overly so.

My friend had the lamb and loved the flavour profile of this dish. She especially loved how the spiciness of the dish wasn’t overpowering but still provided each mouthful with a little kick. The Fries were perfectly done.  

We were especially impressed by the desserts. My deconstructed lemon meringue pie looked like something out of Master chef and I loved the lemon ice cream and how it complimented what would be the lemon filling. 

My friend chose a Wagon Wheel which she enjoyed and it wasn’t like the ones you pick up for a dollar at a local newsagents. It was well presented and came out with strawberry ice cream.

Some of our other fiends joined us later and enjoyed their dished but since we were enjoyed our dishes I can’t remember what they were called but they seemed to enjoy them a lot.

There is an extensive international wine list plus cocktails and beer. The coffee wasn't bad. 

I really the location of this bar as it felt part of the city but not part of the hustle and bustle of the CBD. I loved the historical aspect of the venue and how it used to be a working stable in the past. It is nice to know that Perth hasn’t knocked down everything of historical value.

 

Labelling gender

Tara Moss’ The Fictional Woman is a diversion from her usual literary contributions. It is a semi autobiographical book combined with social commentary on gender issues that acts as an important catalyst for a discussion around these issues.

Tara Moss is more than just a model and a crime writer; she is a mother of a young daughter, a PhD candidate in gender studies, an ambassador for UNICEF and works to reduce violence against women. She has been on the receiving end of violence as well as worked in an industry that thrives on objectifying women. Now she has switched roles and works as a theorist who looks at women from a different perspective and encourages debate.

The first few chapters of The Fictional Woman are about Moss’ formative years and life as a working model. Modelling has a really glamorous image but her story really shows the struggle and the often dangerous situations that people trying to break into this industry find themselves in. But the violence that she experienced and the pressure to be super skinny are some of the factors that have been her biggest influences.

What is in a name?

I wondered why she had chosen the name The Fictional Woman. The cover has many of the labels that women get given such as wife, mother, party girl, bitch and gold digger to name a few.  So this book focuses on the many labels that society uses to create the ideal woman or to describe women when they step outside the boundaries of what is expected of them.  

Women exist to be beautiful

As Tara Moss worked as a model, she knows all about beauty and understands the subtleties and nuances of women’s appearance. She understands that given the context women are expected to be trophies, invisible, “sluts” or appearing to be “asking for it”.  She looks at women appearance from different perspectives such as from Famme Fatale and in juxtaposition to “The Beautiful Man”. She acknowledges that these labels are socially constructed and how women are portrayed in the news media and film are constructed by the male gaze although she does use that term directly. 

  

She argues that ‘women exist to be beautiful and to compete for the attention of men, without whom they are lost. Women’s looks are their most valuable assets in this quest for a man, an asset they’ll do anything to retain’. The quest for beauty over brains is all encompassing as a woman’s value is derived from how attractive they are to men.

In addition, she discusses how commentators argue that women are to blame when they dress in a way that men think ‘asks for it’. Somehow society has this expectation that women have to look good but when they dress in a way that receives unwanted sexual attention from men, it is women that are at fault. This is in conflict with the idea that adults are responsible for their own actions. Why are women somehow responsible for the actions of men?

She makes an interesting point when she says ‘the problem is not women (or men) in revealing clothes. The problem is the entitlement some people feel over other human beings and their bodies’. As we have seen in places such as Afghanistan and India, where violence against women is high despite a culture of dressing modestly.

Women in storytelling

For centuries, storytelling is an important part of societies everywhere. In western societies Moss believes that woman have been portrayed in one of three ways – ‘the innocent virgin maiden, the temptress who manipulates men with her sexuality and leads them to ruin and the evil knowing witch, embodying the “unnaturalness” and danger of power in the hands of women’.

I agree with Moss who argues that the use of these archetypes serve as a kind of “moralising” or a cautionary tale to those thinking of behaving in the same way. Why do there have to be hidden meaning behind any female portrayed on screen and why are there such a small variety of archetypes? 

It would be really nice to see more a diverse representation of women in film and TV as well as including seeing less from the prospective of the male gaze.        

Why read The Fictional Woman?

This is an interesting book written by a woman who has experienced a lot. She will always be known as an ex model who had to take a polygraph test to prove that she was the true author of her books. Her contributions to the debate are valuable and The Fictional Woman offers an interesting insight into what it means to be a woman in a society that dominated by the patriarchy.  

Loving Pho

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I love Vietnamese food and I love eating out with friends. So I was extra happy on Saturday when I got to spend eating with the various members of my posse and the highlight was going for pho with my BFF.

We just wanted some that was cheap but fulfilling and satisfying so Viet Hoa was the perfect spot.

When we first arrived, the place was packed and we had to wait until there was a table free. There was some sporting event at a near sports stadium and Northbridge was teeming with people and Viet Hoa’s staff were flat out.

Thankfully we didn’t have to wait long and we were soon able to see the menu and decide what we wanted. I decided on the Braised Duck Pho while BFF went for the standard Pho.

Soon my steaming bowl of Vietnamese goodness arrived with hers coming shortly after. At first I wasn’t sure how I would eat the duck with chop sticks but it was tender enough to just fall away from the bone making it really easy to eat.

Viet Hoa is not fancy but the food is nice for the price.  It is a good place to visit if you want to share a meal with friends that won’t cost a fortune. If you want somewhere that is swanky and opulent then Viet Hoa is not a place for you.   

 

George Street’s little gem

I love finding new little cafés, especially if they are in walking distance to my house or work.

Today I visited George Street Café and Patisserie with my usual favourite coffee drinking posse and we were very impressed.

   

I didn’t know what to expect but on first impressions I thought it would be a quite ordinary café, serving ordinary contemporary Australian fare such as eggs hollandaise, etc but while they do offer the standard dishes, they also offer so much more.     

After agonising (first world problems) of what to order because we couldn’t decide what to eat because there were so many great dishes, Miss L ordered what ended up being a very decadent iced chocolate.

It was a coolish day so the French Onion soup appealed to me and it came out look like with a generous slice of bread and cheese.   Miss L ordered a smoked ham and cheese Jaffle and Miss L’s mum ordered a beautiful pork dish with bread on the side.

We couldn’t help but not go past the display of beautiful pastries so we brought a pretty raspberry and custard tart which we impressed by and would totally recommend.      

The coffee wasn’t bad and complimented our food well.

I loved the décor of George St as it is very provincial (in a good way) and homely with food to match.

I’ll defiantly coming back to this back to this café and so I guess I’ll see you there J

   

  

   

It’s thinking season at Sydney Writers’ Festival

The great thing about books is that the good ones always make you think and leave an impression in your mind. Since Sydney Writers’ Festival is a celebration of the written word it made me think and made me even more passionate about books and ideas.

After flying in to Sydney on a “Red Eye” and dumping my stuff I immediately made my way to Welsh Bay for my first session which was with Australian political Journalist Paul Kelly. Kelly’s Triumph and Demise is another book on the drama of Australian politics during the last Labor Government and since I am a political geek, I never tire of such books even of there have been dozens already published. 

The rest of the day was spent enjoying sessions on looking at WWI from the benefit of hindsight and stories from power women in Australia just to name a few.

The next couple of days were jam packed full of sessions that covered so many different topics, from the effects of the internet on the brain to the rise of the Australian political drama. I really enjoyed hearing former Queensland Premier Anna Bligh speak as well as seeing Dan Mori in a panel discussion on Government control.

My strategy for booking tickets for sessions was just to book a whole lot of different ones. Some were better than others but I always learnt something. Some writers were more verbally articulate then others and some were more animated. Some facilitators were more skilled at teasing out ideas from the panellists and encouraging debate and discussion between them.

I loved the venue although it does get a little packed. It does take a little while to order coffee and lunch choices are a little limited.

But honestly, with the Harbour Bridge in the background adds beauty to the festival. Being around other book lovers in such a lovely location was such a joy and is what brings me back every year.

                    

Who is Lucky Chan?

To be honest, I have no idea but I know that we are lucky to have such a cool restaurant in Perth.

Lucky Chan’s Laundry and Noodle Bar is a relatively new outfit in Perth and one that I had been meaning to visit for months. So after seeing a mid day French movie at Cinema Paradiso with a friend my wish came true. Aren’t I lucky?

Lucky Chan’s occupies a tall and narrow building. Its laundry concept is random, how many places choose to put ironing boards as decoration on the side of the wall? There are about three washing machines at the front desk…..Interesting!

Because the weather wasn’t too bad today, my friend and I choose to enjoy our Raman on the Roof Top. As we climbed up the steep stairs we saw where they made the noodles and see where else we could enjoy our dinner/drinks.

Danny Ramen

Once we had settled in our spot, we were quickly handed menus and decided on some Ramen – a big bowel of Shio for me and a bowl of Danny Ramen for friend. They were beautifully presented and tasted great.

Lucky Chan’s also has a super cool drinks menu (including an extensive mocktails)and more great food. I look forward to going back and trying more of their great food.  

This place is quirky and fun. It is well worth a visit if you want a fun night out in a joint that is less than traditional.

Shio Raman

Admitting to imperfection

If you are a believer it is often hard to discuss the negative aspects of your values. It is hard to do so because you don’t want to be seen as a doubter to others or to cancel out the many positive aspects to a political, social or religious movement.

In many ways, Roxane Gay’s Bad Feminist is a discussion of Feminism and in a way that acknowledges the flaws as well as the complexities of this social movement. But in doing so she separates the concept of feminism with the people who believe in it.

Like with any other movement, Gay struggles to reconcile the good that feminism can do with the flawed people that promote it. It is not to say that flawed individuals can only be found in the feminist movement but people are complex and it is hard to live up to any ideological standards 100% of the time.

Gay writes ‘when feminism falls short of our expectations, we decide the problem is with feminism rather than with the flawed people who act in the name of the movement’. Like most people, Roxane Gay knows too well that she is flawed which inspired her to write this book of essays.

She conceders herself a bad feminist because she isn’t familiar with feminism’s seminal works, she confesses to liking pink and sometimes likes to play dumb with the tradie.

But really, although I may not like pink (is purple close enough?), I must confess that I am also guilty of such misdemeanours. I haven’t read all of feminism’s seminal works and I like the odd show that the feminist movement would class as objectifying women as well as being a fan of chivalry.

Roxane Gay’s book is more than just about feminism but also about race and diversity offers as well as how we consume culture. As I read the book you can’t help being reminded that personal is political. I also was reminded that while the political has such a strong influence on people, individuals are able to promote societal change.                  

Roxane Gay on Professional Feminists

As with any interest group, there are people who take it so seriously that it becomes part of their personal brand. Everywhere in society we can spot the professional young person, disabled person, refugee and migrant – all with their success story that they like to always tell us about. As a result, society associates them with the group that they represent and their stories and views become the only ones we hear about.

Gay views on this are ‘Feminism, as of late, has suffered from a curtain guilt by association because we conflate feminism with women who advocate feminism as their personal brand’. As professions are fully human like the rest of us, anything bad that happens to these people reflects badly reflects badly on their community and vice versa.  

      

When issues arise in regards to a particular community/interest groups, these people are often, and sometimes unfairly, knocked down. This is what Gay has a problem with. She argues that ‘when these figureheads say what we want to hear, we put them up on a feminist pedestal, and when they do something we don’t like, we knock them right off and then say that there is something wrong with feminism because our feminist leaders have failed us. We forget the difference between feminism and Professional Feminists’.

The separation of the ideology and the people that represent it is an important one to remember. It is essential not to give up on what is important to us when people (including ourselves) don’t always live up to expectations.        

Roxane Gay on race in film and literature

Since Roxane’s parents were from Haiti, she has strong opinions about how people of colour are represented in film and literature.

I get the feeling that she is slightly conflicted in this regard. On one hand she wants to be able to write from the perfective of people whose reality is different to hers but at the same time she criticises those depict African Americans in film and literature. She argues that ‘I write across race, gender and sexuality all the time. I would never want to be told that I can’t write a story where a protagonist is a white man or a Latina lesbian or anyone who resembles me.’

She uses the hit book/movie The Help as an example of how the creators of this franchise gets it all wrong. Gay spends several pages writing about the movie’s racial inaccuracies and how she feels that the author ‘doesn’t write black women. She caricatures black women, finding pieces of truth and genuine experience and distorting them to repulsive effect’. While she argues that it was poorly researched, I think that it is almost impossible to write from someone else’s perspective without reverting to caricatures unless we’ve walked in their shoes.  

    

Why read Bad Feminism

Read this book if you want more than a book on feminism. Bad feminism is a clever and funny book that puts contemporary society under a microscope. 

Sparrow’s Nest is a true gem

I love this place!!!

The Sparrow’s Nest is the kind of café that I fell in love when I was in my teens. It’s funky vibe and cool décor (including a piano in the corner) that includes a combination of tables and chairs as well as sofas which makes it a perfect spot to enjoy a Saturday lunch with friends.

My friends and I scored a spot on the sofa at the back. I went for the Chicken (with a bit of bacon and I think cheese) wrap which warmed to perfection. My fiends shared a plate of nachos which was plenty for two. They chose to add Pulled Pork to their Mexican which complimented the cheese and sauce.

The coffee was nice. While it didn’t have the power kick that coffee from other cafés give but it was still well made and tasted great.

The Sparrow’s Nest staff are friendly, efficient and they did well during a busy Saturday rush.

Breakfast out is a perfect start to the day

I love the Australian tradition of going out for breakfast. It is such a nice way of spending time with friends while enjoying great food and coffee.

Today I caught up with a friend and we decided to visit one of the many cafés near my house.

Zucchero Espresso Bar is a Victoria Park institution and while I had been to it before, it had been a while. On weekends it is often it is packed both inside and out but because we went on a Friday morning it was less busy.

My friend chose the Brioche French Toast with berry compote which came highly recommended and was nicely presented. It was well complimented by her cappuccino.

I ordered the Bacon Stack which was very memorable. The serving was generous and the scrambled eggs were rich, creamy and perfectly done. The mushrooms were also perfect while the bacon was very crispy.

The only negative was that the whole dish was a little too salty. I know that bacon is normally salty and I don’t know if eggs and mushrooms had any extra but it was a little overpowering. Don’t get me wrong, I did love it and it kept me full all day.        

The coffee was OK.

Zucchero Espresso is pretty good but is probably at risk of being outshone but its upstart cousins down the road such as Harvest and The Imp but this shouldn’t be a reason not to visit. This is especially true because it has more space and is more family friendly.