Sunday, August 24, 2025

23 August 2025 Maroochydore : A Four Pound Tomahawk Steak

 


The butcher shop in Maroochydore is fantastic.  The entire shop is like a walk in chiller and all sorts of meat products are available.  Last month we visited during the Sausagefest.  We got a great BOGO deal on some lamb sausages and while we were browsing we saw the tomahawk steaks.  I looked longingly at them and Leslie took note of my desire.  So when the 12 days of Fritzmass was in full swing, we returned to buy one of the Tomahawk steaks.  It weighed just a tad bit over 4 pounds and was nicely marbled.  It was too large to fit in a skillet so we baked it in the oven at 140 C for 45 minutes and then seared it on the gas grill's griddle.  4 minutes on each of the three sides gave us a great charring on the steak.  I was able to spoon the fat on top of the steak while it was cooking to get an even better browning. The smell was divine and when I returned to the apartment from the back yard it permeated the entire place.  We had a fine dinner indeed.


1.82 kb and 131.18 AUD.  


That translated to 4.02 pounds and 84.31 USD


I had to clean this off and get it super hot


On the rack in the oven


Off the griddle!


It looks great but it was better than it looked


Big and beautiful


The next day


The makings of Beef Stroganoff


Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I'm 64?


I'll just take a bite now while I am still  63




It has been 3 years and 79 days since we began our Migration


Saturday, August 23, 2025

22 August 2025 Maroochydore: Eating Our Way Through Cotton Tree

 


The sun is back out and so are we.  First we headed out for some flu shots and had a great time with the folks in the chemists.  One shot for each of us and we are off to the fish place for bugs and crabs.  Balmain Bugs are a kind of slipper lobster that has a taste between lobster and shrimp.  The crab was a blue swimmer sand crab and it was delicious.  When I saw the word "blue" I was worried that it might taste muddy like the blue crabs of the Del-Mar-Va region.  Instead it was a spectacularly tasty crab, meaty and light with ample white meat.  Leslie got another fine batch of Mooloolaba Prawns.  Next stop was the gelato shop where I got a double cup of lemon sorbet and mint chocolate chip.  Miss P. got a scoop of chocolate.  The butcher's shop had some big honking tomahawk steaks and we brought back a 4 lb lunker.  This birthday stuff is really working out for me! 



This is "Stuff" that is aimed for the Aussie bloke


A blue spinner sand crab and a Balmain bug


Leslie got some local prawns too


The bugs are slipper lobsters


The taste is a cross between shrimp and lobster


Lots of little legs


The post eating carnage


This looks costly but that is the kilogram price


Fresh and on ice


These crabs are some of the tastiest ones I have ever eaten


Hmmm, should I get the ice cream cake?


No, I'll just get the two scoop cup.  Lemon sorbet and chocolate chip mint


A walk on to the park


The rains brought lots of debris through the spillway


the lake must have overflowed its banks


Off in the distance a Straw Neckked Ibis


Great red patches under the wings


It just might be mating time for the brush turkeys


The woods are dense


The paths are soggy


Overflowing kind of soggy


Oops where to walk now?


Bowling pin humongous


Walking back into town




It has been 3 years and 78 days since we began our Migration

Friday, August 22, 2025

21 August 2025 Maroochydore: Rain Settles in for an Extended Visit

 


A wave of rain had settled in over the Sunshine Coast and it has been raining on and off for three days now.  We made good use of this time by staying in the house and preparing for our next set of flights.  Soon we will be flying to Paris via Perth, Kuala Lumpur and Doha. We have some odd luggage requirements so we want to get things packed and weighed so we know how to manage it all.  The rain was the worst on the 21st and there was flooding in spots.  The soil is very sandy so it all drained nicely in only a day.  We saw a few great rainbows over the last few days.



I ventured out as the rain was finally slowing down


Rainbow


Another rainbow




Wet wet wet


A stronger rainbow out over the water


A promise of dry days ahead


It has been 3 years and 77 days since we began our Migration

19 August 2025 Maroochydore: To the Mall for Haircuts

 


We took the car back on Monday and then on Tuesday we headed over to the mall for haircuts, some tasty bits and a facial for Leslie.  We needed a few more food items to make it though the last week here in Queensland.  So we added the store to the earlier list.  While in the mall Leslie even found a few clothing items that will replace some worn out items.  A successful day even with the rain and wind.


A large group were out surfing in the morning


While Leslie is getting her facial I stopped in here


I tested my blood and there was a serious dumpling deficiency


Time to get right!


Lamb dumplings are so tasty


A overcast day with rain and wind rolling in by the afternoon


A sigh for piercings


Snip snip snip


A rainbow of products


This haircut was overdue


Friday's had been advertising a one dollar per wing special


The special was only if for members but the app would not work on my North American phone


The manager rang it up as if I was a member anyway


Bravo to the manager!




It has been 3 years and 75 days since we began our Migration