Newcastle Brown Ale is one of my favourite beers. I love its amazing caramel notes, the crisp carbonation, the mineral profile, the balanced hops, the roasted malt, the light sweetness. On the rare occasions I watch soccer games on TV […]
Arbitrary
Arbitrary: Are Madeleines the next big thing?
There’s a lot of money to be made latching onto a sweet-treat trend before it takes off. The surge of gourmet cupcakes hit the mainstream half a decade ago, and, while I won’t predict a dinosaur-style mass die-off of cupcake […]
Has it been a year of NEAROF! already?
It’s kind of amazing to think this site has been up and running for a year. I’ll admit I wasn’t sure what to expect when it launched, but with more than 160 posts so far and readers from more than […]
How To: Pick Halloween candy, NEAROF! style
Halloween is right around the corner, and you haven’t stocked up on Halloween candy yet. It happens. We won’t judge. But you might want a few candy selection tips before heading out to your local grocery store, and we’re here […]
Review: Expired fortune cookies
Perched atop the highest shelf of the Asian foods section of my old Edmonton Safeway was this gem of a dust-covered box of expired Golden Yuan fortune cookies. See, I’m starting a new job today, so I figured I could […]
Experiment: Skittlebrau
Homer: I’m feeling kind of low, Apu. Got any of that beer that has candy floating in it? You know, Skittlebrau? Apu: Such a product does not exist, sir. I think you must have dreamed it. Homer: Ohh. Well, then […]
List: 9 great ways to use fresh blueberries
It’s blueberry season, in case you haven’t noticed. The grocery store flyers are starting to arrive on Edmonton doorsteps, announcing spectacular deals on massive quantities of blueberries. They look so tempting, and they’re so stupidly cheap – how could you […]
Review: Coffee made by a robot
Who doesn’t remember the coffee vending machine at the skating rink or swimming pool, serving up mediocre hot beverages for parents to sip on while passing the time with the newspaper, waiting for little Betty to finish hockey/swimming lessons. In […]