Dr Patricia Dark
@therealdrdark.bsky.social
Knower of random things. Teller of interesting tales. Keeper of transpontine receipts. Interested in almost everything. Lover of books, caffeine, patisserie. The best cross-cultural communication is food. All opinions personal.
Pronouns: she/sie/ella
Pronouns: she/sie/ella
We managed to make, and then eat, dinner (roast squash, red onion, and fig salad with maftoul and peanut dressing) early, so our #ConfinedCocktail is a Velvet Rob Roy (2 parts Scotch, 1 part Pedro Ximénez, orange bitters), garnished with a blackberry from my allotment.
September 13, 2025 at 6:45 PM
We managed to make, and then eat, dinner (roast squash, red onion, and fig salad with maftoul and peanut dressing) early, so our #ConfinedCocktail is a Velvet Rob Roy (2 parts Scotch, 1 part Pedro Ximénez, orange bitters), garnished with a blackberry from my allotment.
Slightly experimental dessert #ConfinedCocktail: the affogato martini! Equal parts vanilla vodka, Kala, and Nespresso caramel espresso concentrate (the Curator could no longer resist the siren call of the Co-op clearance bin), over vanilla ice cream.
August 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Slightly experimental dessert #ConfinedCocktail: the affogato martini! Equal parts vanilla vodka, Kala, and Nespresso caramel espresso concentrate (the Curator could no longer resist the siren call of the Co-op clearance bin), over vanilla ice cream.
And #ConfinedCocktails are these... equal parts (vanilla infused, in our case) vodka, Cointreau, and pêche de vigne, with a garnish of (involuntarily dried) mint from the back of the fridge. Perhaps an Ahlberg, after the recently deceased author of EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM?
August 2, 2025 at 7:46 PM
And #ConfinedCocktails are these... equal parts (vanilla infused, in our case) vodka, Cointreau, and pêche de vigne, with a garnish of (involuntarily dried) mint from the back of the fridge. Perhaps an Ahlberg, after the recently deceased author of EACH PEACH PEAR PLUM?
We have just finished making dinner: spicy chorizo and vegetable chowder, with bread from #StJohnBakery.
July 26, 2025 at 6:18 PM
We have just finished making dinner: spicy chorizo and vegetable chowder, with bread from #StJohnBakery.
We're late to the #ConfinedCocktails soiree, but unusually I made the cocktail: 2 parts spiced rum to 1 part each Cointreau and Peche de Vigne, shaken [in the stick blender jar rather than the cocktail shaker, which was hiding in the blender box].
June 7, 2025 at 7:57 PM
We're late to the #ConfinedCocktails soiree, but unusually I made the cocktail: 2 parts spiced rum to 1 part each Cointreau and Peche de Vigne, shaken [in the stick blender jar rather than the cocktail shaker, which was hiding in the blender box].
The Curator and I are prepared for *both* #Eurovision and #ConfinedCocktails, with a reasonably classic pitcher of Pimm's. (Soda water, lemon juice, and sugar rather than lemonade).
May 17, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The Curator and I are prepared for *both* #Eurovision and #ConfinedCocktails, with a reasonably classic pitcher of Pimm's. (Soda water, lemon juice, and sugar rather than lemonade).
And tonight's #ConfinedCocktail chez nous is a Frangelico Sour: Frangelico and lime juice in a 2:1 ratio, orange bitters, lime twist. Sympathy for the Curator's poor peeled thumb, please.
March 29, 2025 at 8:46 PM
And tonight's #ConfinedCocktail chez nous is a Frangelico Sour: Frangelico and lime juice in a 2:1 ratio, orange bitters, lime twist. Sympathy for the Curator's poor peeled thumb, please.
We're still working on dinner chez nous: a finish-the-vegbox stir fry with crispy Sichuan tofu. Sadly, we forgot to put the rice on, so the tofu's not so crispy. But jolly tasty. And the veg drawer's empty. #ConfinedCocktails anon.
March 29, 2025 at 7:34 PM
We're still working on dinner chez nous: a finish-the-vegbox stir fry with crispy Sichuan tofu. Sadly, we forgot to put the rice on, so the tofu's not so crispy. But jolly tasty. And the veg drawer's empty. #ConfinedCocktails anon.
#ConfinedCocktails chez nous isn't so confined, or indeed so chez nous: the Curator needed to use a week of leave, so we arrived in Malta about 2 hours ago. Celebrating with a glass of the local wine: mine white, his red. To love, and the loved lost. Ferħ!
March 15, 2025 at 8:31 PM
#ConfinedCocktails chez nous isn't so confined, or indeed so chez nous: the Curator needed to use a week of leave, so we arrived in Malta about 2 hours ago. Celebrating with a glass of the local wine: mine white, his red. To love, and the loved lost. Ferħ!
Also very late to #ConfinedCocktails, but it's a simple 14 yo Glenmorangie chez nous: bottle removed from under my mum's sink during the clear-out. We'll replace it for the friend I have no doubt it was meant for...
February 15, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Also very late to #ConfinedCocktails, but it's a simple 14 yo Glenmorangie chez nous: bottle removed from under my mum's sink during the clear-out. We'll replace it for the friend I have no doubt it was meant for...
Nah, Hell's already frozen over...
January 23, 2025 at 4:43 PM
Nah, Hell's already frozen over...
Ours subs bourbon and Chambord, as we've run out of cherry brandy, and the only Scotch in the house is 12 yo Glenfiddich... #ConfinedCocktails
January 11, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Ours subs bourbon and Chambord, as we've run out of cherry brandy, and the only Scotch in the house is 12 yo Glenfiddich... #ConfinedCocktails
The Curator got home yesterday. Alfie, Latest of His Name was disturbingly dried out so we bade him a fond farewell. We are also bidding a fond farewell to the eggnog for #ConfinedCocktails, to free up fridge space (that's glass 2...)
January 4, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The Curator got home yesterday. Alfie, Latest of His Name was disturbingly dried out so we bade him a fond farewell. We are also bidding a fond farewell to the eggnog for #ConfinedCocktails, to free up fridge space (that's glass 2...)
The Curator is away. Normally I'd be going Feral Little Goblin and have a huge bowl of 🍿 and boiled eggs for dinner.
But new year, new culinary adventures! I tried... well, no, succeeded... making kimchi fried rice instead.
But new year, new culinary adventures! I tried... well, no, succeeded... making kimchi fried rice instead.
January 2, 2025 at 9:00 PM
The Curator is away. Normally I'd be going Feral Little Goblin and have a huge bowl of 🍿 and boiled eggs for dinner.
But new year, new culinary adventures! I tried... well, no, succeeded... making kimchi fried rice instead.
But new year, new culinary adventures! I tried... well, no, succeeded... making kimchi fried rice instead.
4 things I know to be true:
1. You are unique, irreplaceable, and worthy of love.
2. Your life can't get better if you're not around to live it.
3. There are caring people who want to help you, waiting for a call.
4. When all else fails, spite gets done, neighbor.
1. You are unique, irreplaceable, and worthy of love.
2. Your life can't get better if you're not around to live it.
3. There are caring people who want to help you, waiting for a call.
4. When all else fails, spite gets done, neighbor.
December 31, 2024 at 10:53 AM
4 things I know to be true:
1. You are unique, irreplaceable, and worthy of love.
2. Your life can't get better if you're not around to live it.
3. There are caring people who want to help you, waiting for a call.
4. When all else fails, spite gets done, neighbor.
1. You are unique, irreplaceable, and worthy of love.
2. Your life can't get better if you're not around to live it.
3. There are caring people who want to help you, waiting for a call.
4. When all else fails, spite gets done, neighbor.
Tonight's #UnconfinedAdventure is introducing the Curator's colleague and their partner to @lyrichammersmith.bsky.social 's panto! 😄
December 28, 2024 at 6:04 PM
Tonight's #UnconfinedAdventure is introducing the Curator's colleague and their partner to @lyrichammersmith.bsky.social 's panto! 😄
For #ChristmasDinner chez nous: turkey breast, roast potatoes (the trick is cornstarch!) w garlic and rosemary, Brussels sprouts w pancetta and chestnuts, braised carrots and parsnips w clementines and thyme, and sage and onion gravy. We discovered the wine (Matua sauv blanc) on honeymoon. #JoinIn
December 25, 2024 at 7:21 PM
For #ChristmasDinner chez nous: turkey breast, roast potatoes (the trick is cornstarch!) w garlic and rosemary, Brussels sprouts w pancetta and chestnuts, braised carrots and parsnips w clementines and thyme, and sage and onion gravy. We discovered the wine (Matua sauv blanc) on honeymoon. #JoinIn
If you know, you know, or "Pics or it didn't happen."
December 25, 2024 at 5:04 PM
If you know, you know, or "Pics or it didn't happen."
#MerryChristmas, Bluesky! Light breakfast chez nous: coffee, toast, and jam, if you'd care to #joinin with us.
It's a delicate balance between "adequately fuel our walk" and "don't overeat before Christmas dinner". For planning purposes, we plate up at 6 PM.
(PS #YuleCat: NO EET UZZ!)
It's a delicate balance between "adequately fuel our walk" and "don't overeat before Christmas dinner". For planning purposes, we plate up at 6 PM.
(PS #YuleCat: NO EET UZZ!)
December 25, 2024 at 11:41 AM
#MerryChristmas, Bluesky! Light breakfast chez nous: coffee, toast, and jam, if you'd care to #joinin with us.
It's a delicate balance between "adequately fuel our walk" and "don't overeat before Christmas dinner". For planning purposes, we plate up at 6 PM.
(PS #YuleCat: NO EET UZZ!)
It's a delicate balance between "adequately fuel our walk" and "don't overeat before Christmas dinner". For planning purposes, we plate up at 6 PM.
(PS #YuleCat: NO EET UZZ!)
Hiya! We put up Alfie, Next of His Name, last weekend, as well as the obligatory Adventskranz, as you can see, and 3 separate sets of stockings (‽).
Christmas Old Fashioned chez nous (bourbon, bitters, and gingerbread syrup) for #ConfinedCocktails. Prost!
Christmas Old Fashioned chez nous (bourbon, bitters, and gingerbread syrup) for #ConfinedCocktails. Prost!
December 21, 2024 at 7:26 PM
Hiya! We put up Alfie, Next of His Name, last weekend, as well as the obligatory Adventskranz, as you can see, and 3 separate sets of stockings (‽).
Christmas Old Fashioned chez nous (bourbon, bitters, and gingerbread syrup) for #ConfinedCocktails. Prost!
Christmas Old Fashioned chez nous (bourbon, bitters, and gingerbread syrup) for #ConfinedCocktails. Prost!
Guess where we were last night?
(Hint below)
(Solution in the alt text)
(Hint below)
(Solution in the alt text)
December 14, 2024 at 9:20 PM
Guess where we were last night?
(Hint below)
(Solution in the alt text)
(Hint below)
(Solution in the alt text)
Very lovely roast sweet potato & chickpea salad with kale, then the cream buns we got last night in Chinatown (Master Bao Pastry), and then eggnog. It's Christmas time for certain*+! #ConfinedCocktails
*Chez nous
+With apologies to Mr Fozziwig
*Chez nous
+With apologies to Mr Fozziwig
December 14, 2024 at 9:00 PM
Very lovely roast sweet potato & chickpea salad with kale, then the cream buns we got last night in Chinatown (Master Bao Pastry), and then eggnog. It's Christmas time for certain*+! #ConfinedCocktails
*Chez nous
+With apologies to Mr Fozziwig
*Chez nous
+With apologies to Mr Fozziwig
Tonight we have 2 parts spiced rum, 1 part each Cointreau and peach liqueur, and orange bitters to taste as #ConfinedCocktails chez nous. It is very nice on a dark and stormy night, but needs a name...
December 7, 2024 at 7:16 PM
Tonight we have 2 parts spiced rum, 1 part each Cointreau and peach liqueur, and orange bitters to taste as #ConfinedCocktails chez nous. It is very nice on a dark and stormy night, but needs a name...
Thank you on the birthday boy's behalf!
November 30, 2024 at 9:04 PM
Thank you on the birthday boy's behalf!