Gangly Ghoul

This is tonight's countdown to Halloween post (only two days to go). And it is about a spooky beer from Greene King and a too little known monster. So anyway, every year or almost, I have a Gangly Ghoul in one of the local pubs. They serve Halloween themed beers when the season comes and this one comes back often. Well, by often I mean every year. I love it because it is a dark beer that is perfect for a spooky night. And because the ghoul is nowadays a neglected monster of monster lore. Zombies have completely of taken their place as scavengers and eaters of human flesh. This is not what zombies should be, but nevertheless, I find ghouls far scarier. Maybe it's just me, but they are faster and have far more personality. But all these considerations aside, if you love dark beers this one is for you. I know ghouls are from Arabic folklore, but this Ghoul has its place in a British pub.

Une ghoulash comme repas d'Halloween

J'ai déjà blogué en anglais sur cette soupe, une "ghoulash" à la citrouille. La citrouille comme repas, je l'aime surtout en soupe. C'est ce que j'ai mangé ce soir. Avec du pain à l'aïl pour accompagner. C'était délicieux et je suis sans doute protégé contre les vampires pour la nuit. Pendant des années, j'ai mangé de la pizza le soir de l'Halloween, depuis mon enfance jusqu'à ce que je vive à Montréal. C'est en tout cas le repas d'Halloween dont je me souviens le plus. Je me rappelle aussi avoir mangé de l'indien, d'un repas à la Binerie Mont-Royal (j'étais en plein lendemain de veille, mais la soupe aux pois et le ragoût de boulettes m'avaient ramené à la vie). L'Halloween on l'associe bien sûr d'abord aux friandises, mais il faut bien que l'on mange un vrai repas avant. Il faut que ce repas soit consistant et saisonnier. Enfant, il faut qu'il soit vite mangé pour qu'on ait la soirée devant nous pour aller quêter les bonbons et chocolats. J'imagine que je n'aurais pas aimé la soupe à l'époque.

Pumpkin Ghoulash

This is a quick countdown to Halloween post and another that is about food. I am not the biggest fan of tinned soups, but some companies really make great soups just like the ones you would find at home. I love the ones made by Covent Garden Soup Co. They have a soup of the month, which every October is of course Halloween themed (I mentioned one back in 2008): it is a Pumpkin Ghoulash soup. Notice the voluntary mispelling of goulash. You can even find the recipe on the website. I am plugging it on Vraie Fiction today because it is absolutely delicious. It has just as much if not more carrots and other things as it has pumpkin. But it is a very much a seasonal, autumnal soup. It is hearty and filling and delicious. I love soup when it is hearty. When I have a cold like now, soups such as this goulash give me energy, sooth the pain in my throat and nose and overall bring me back to life. The Pumpkin Ghoulash also gives you two portions of fruits and vegs, which makes it almost too good for the gluttonous nature of Halloween. Still, it is perfect comfort food. And it is made of pumpkin. So it is my Halloween soup and I think I will eat it on Halloween night.