*The undead monster, not the drink.

Hokum

May is traditionally known as the most terrifying of months. Tempting us with near 20 degree heat, followed by a drop in temperature and torrential rain. What better way to celebrate the season than with a horror film!

Hokum stars Adam Scott as a self-loathing asshole of a writer (a totally original trope, of course) who travels to Ireland to scatter the ashes of his parents where they spent their honeymoon. This feels like an begrudging obligation rather than a fulfilling quest. Things take a turn following the annual Halloween party.

I won’t say much more about the plot as I’d thoroughly recommend you see it for yourself. There’s a healthy smattering of Irish folklore, although it isn’t really dwelt on. Just don’t go in the Honeymoon Suite…

Fletcher’s Restaurant

Fletcher’s is our go-to place for fine dining in Plymouth. They have excellent food which is beautifully presented, accompanied by a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. We went for the three course pre-theatre menu which did not disappoint. From a price to value perspective, Fletcher’s wins out followed closely by the Fig Tree @ 36 (on Trust the Chef nights).

The onion chawanmushi was particularly interesting. It’s a Japanese savoury custard made with dashi stock and decorated exquisitely with heirloom tomatoes, flowers, and various purées. On balance I prefered the chicken liver parfait, but the chawanmushi was delicious.

The Requiem

It’s done! We finally made it to the end of Resident Evil Requiem after 13ish hours. Most of the play time was spent crawling terrified from room to room, trying to avoid running into monstrosities courtesy of a new strain of T-virus. The conclusion of the story was quite satisfying, and other than a bit of a slow second half semi-open world section featuring Leon, it’s an excellent game. At times it’s a gruelling experience but rewarding, and though ammo is sparse, when you push through you always have just enough to get by.

Cocktail Corner

The cocktail adventure continues. This week it’s the Last Word, hailing back to the early 20th century. This is the inspiration for the Paper Plane, one of my favourite modern cocktails, and a worthy addition to any cocktail menu.

The recipe comes from Diffords Guide:

• 30 mL London dry gin
• 20 mL Green Chartreuse
• 20 mL Luxardo maraschino liqueur
• 20 mL lime juice

Pre-chill your chosen glass. Shake the ingredients with ice, then double strain. Garnish with cocktail cherries (ideally maraschino, but needs must) and a lime twist.

It’s herbal without being overpowering, and nicely balanced. There’s a reason why it has stuck around for so long.