The Bearded Captain

Shakebee, the young pretender?

Hello, and good afternoon my Soldiers, it’s me Ayyaz Malik aka The Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, flag bearer of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media… I hope you’re well, in good health and looking after yourselves +your Beards.

My Brothers, we need to talk about an important issue in the life of a Beard, and that’s chicken burgers. My Bearded Kings, you know I like chicken burgers, and I have tried many of Manchester’s finest. Of course, there are many still to try, but one which I have tried was shakebees.

One of the newer kids on the chicken shop block, for the chicken burger aficionado, ‘s amongst you think, Philly’s feel to it (the way the seating is), but very much emphasises the bee part of its name.

Situated on Stockport Road, the location is one of the more prominent food places in the city, back to the new kid Shakebee now. Many won’t know, but they have a bit of a back story as the owner reportedly used to work in nearby Miami Fried Chicken, only to go off and start his own.

Those who were not aware of such a tale would not why Shakebee and Miami taste identical, and if true, this would indeed explain it. As for the burger and meal itself, it was very tasty, nice and succulent, which is to be expected from a staple of the Manchester food scene.

Manchester, the third biggest/major city in England is, of course, famous for its football teams its culture, its mill factories towards the middle of the 20th century and now in the 21st century is the place to go for spicy chicken burgers.

Shakebee is one of those places. The burger was well sized and had the chicken fillet hanging over the bun, which is a massive plus for me. The burger itself was well toasted, not too toasted it tasted like toast, but toasted enough that my burger was soft enough to appreciate the full texture of the bun.

The fillet itself which was dipped in the signature spicy sauce was delightful. Not too spicy, but the spice had a very nice distinctive kick, a kick I am familiar with. As I wrote earlier in this piece, that reportedly the Miami employee, has gone on to open his own chicken shop, Shakebee, you can tell if true of course that the spice is Miami inspired.

Which is the only downside to it. The chips were good in quantity and quality too. The chips had the red salt sprinkled all over them and were well cut and fried too as I could taste crunchy chips, but not too crunchy.

Shakebee was good, but it’s not a chicken shop that’s ruffled a few feathers. Miami (from where I have tasted are still the masters of the spicy chicken burger in Manchester), the worker from Miami (if true) has only gone and made a Miami 2.0, it’s not as revolutionary as you might think.

This is my view, but what do you think?

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The perfect burger

Hello, good afternoon my Bearded Brothers, it’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, flag bearer of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh, and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Bearded Kings, I hope you’re well, are in good health and looking after your Beards! My Soldiers, let’ talk about chicken burgers and the ‘perfect chicken burger’. This is quite a provocative statement brothers, even I concede that, I will try to explain.

In Manchester (North West England) which is where I am born and raised, the chicken burger scene shall we put it, is very prominent. There’s Virginia’s, Georgia’s and Florida’s for example in Oldham, but I am not referring to those establishments here.

I haven’t tried any of those places *cries in I want to try them!*. Your Captain is from South Manchester, so the places I have tried are Kansas, Florida’s, Philadelphia’s, Miami’s, Dixy’s, Chunky Chicken, Chicken Cottage and Vegas.

Yes, I have tried all of these places, and they are all places who do the spicy chicken burger. *Nervously puts his stomach in*. So, as I feel I am able to give a respected opinion as I have the waistline to prove I have had a chicken burger or six.

Now, which places does it the best, this isn’t quite as simple as A.B or C. But what I can say is, what constitutes to a good spicy chicken burger is quite simple. Miami in Burnage, Manchester is one of the places to follow this method simply (no I haven’t tried Shakebee yet).

Burger bun, toasted but not too toasted. I don’t want round toast buns, I want a burger. Seeded bun, is great and tends to hold better. When referring to ‘the hold’, I am referring to when you put the chicken, salad and spicy sauce and the burger isn’t over strained and then in turn break in your hand.

Brothers, you will be surprised. Also what constitutes to a good spicy chicken burger, is the sauce to be rich (you will be surprised how many places get this wrong). Me personally, I am not the biggest fan of the tomato like spicy sauce, but on the whole Cluckerito made the burger nicely.

Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t terrible, but me personally I prefer Miami’s over it. The burger fillet, should be hanging over the burger, why? Come on man, you don’t need a why for that. I have been reliably told, that Kansas were the pioneer’s of this iconic burger, and I think unfortunately for me, I was only able to taste the burger when Mr Pioneer of the burger himself had departed us for a better world.

Rest in peace Mr Kansas, the spicy chicken burger scene in Manchester is bustling in your memory.

Thanks to perfume.com too (rated excellent on trust pilot) for working with us. Be sure not to miss out on big brands of perfume, and if you click my link, you will get 10% off your entire shop!

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Hello, good afternoon, my Bearded Soldiers. I hope you’re well. We hear at the-sports-buff.com/ ayyazmalik.com love telling stories and sharing them too. Alhamdulillah we have been operating for over six years and we’re looking to solidify our website and help it grow too, but we need your support please. Whatever large or little amount you think you can spare, it’s still even bigger to us. With your kind donation/support we want to give a contribution to the local community sports hall, to help young kids do what they do best, have fun! Thank you for your support

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Deen lunchbox review

Hello, and good evening my Beards, it’s me Ayyaz Malik aka The Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, Flag Bearer of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Bearded Brothers, I hope you’re well, looking after yourselves and your Beards! Bearded Stallions, let’s have a chat, about food! To be more precise Brothers, let’s talk about Deen’s Fried Chicken. My addresses are designed for a global audience, so this post might be more UK based.

For that Bearded Kings, your Captain says sorry. The next time, (if the chance arises), you can ite at my table. Without too much further a do, let’s get into today’s address. As you Soldiers know, I love my chicken and my chicken burgers, so when I was given pieces of chicken, mixed with rice and salad, I was sceptical.

Yes, I love brown rice, chicken spinach, salad with a nice tall glass of cold Pepsi, but this is a takeaway chain trying to do their interpretation of the best combo known to man. My mum, may God give her health always, I feel is untouchable in this regard (the way she makes this dish).

In short, she hasn’t been over thrown here too! The branch, that I went to have been to several times is the branch in Old Trafford, South Manchester England. The Lunchbox meal, is a well blended mix of chicken strips, which were seasoned well and also well cooked.

Soft, tender and presented to me hot, is always a winner. The bed of rice, combined with salad and a sprinkling of mayo, is not the first combo I would have thought of, but it just works. In the salad there is some chickpeas in there, but don’t think that’s a bad point, it’s not .. it just works!

It’s reasonably priced too (£2.99) and the many times I have tried this, it’s been consistently cooked to a high standard. Not a detriment to the Deen boy’s, but you won’t be as a good as Mummy Malik in the way she makes it .

But what you do is when Mum feels like a well earned rest, is a good alternative. Just like every Asian boy, they’re adamant their mum makes the best food, and I am no different, but I can say this as I sat in the establishment with the wife, it was a relaxed atmosphere.

The bad point of The Lunchbox? It finished! For a healthier chicken meal alternative, then look no further than Deen Fried Chicken’s Lunchbox meal. It’s not available every day, which is a draw back too, but taste, price and everything else, it’s top notch.

Deen’s The Bearded Captain gives you a solid 9. It’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.

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When there is a heat wave

Hello, good evening my Beards. It’s me your Bearded Captain leader of all Beards and flag bearers of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh, and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Bearded Kings, I pray you’re well, in good health and looking after your Beards! Brothers, it’s been some time since I have checked in, to say hi! For that Brothers, I am sorry. I will talk about my absence in an upcoming blog, but now let’s talk about heat wave.

Bearded Stallions, to pre-empt the heatwave, in England well you will have to be a Psychic. But when the heatwave does happen (apparently it’s going to be more often now), then one of the first things man/woman does is ‘o it’ too hot when is it going to rain’.

That in itself is so ironic almost as when it’s raining in UK, the question is ‘when is the sun going to come out’? O I am going to book my holiday for Turkey. Ladies and Gentle Beards, this is UK, or in my neck of the woods Manchester, rain is the norm.

If we are treated to sunshine, expect rain for two weeks after. In a heatwave, obviously the fans in the shops and online sell out, as well ice pops/ice cream too, which makes laugh as this is an all year round sweet treat (fight me).

England and the UK get this from time to time, but places like Pakistan get this warm weather most of the year. Yes they have cold nights, but there is a remedy for that. Get that thick blanket (Asian’s know which one I mean at this point).

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Support The Bearded Captain

Hello, good Evening beloved Bearded Brothers. I hope you’re well. We hear at the-sports-buff.com/ ayyazmalik.comlove telling stories and sharing them too. Alhamdulillah we have been operating for over six years and we’re looking to solidify our website and help it grow too, but we need your support please. Whatever large or little amount you think you can spare, it’s still even bigger to us. With your kind donation/support we want to give a contribution to the local community sports hall, to help young kids do what they do best, have fun! Thank you for your support.

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Why there is more to the Beard than meets the face

Hello, good morning, it’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, flag bearer of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Bearded Soldiers, I pray you’re well, looking after yourselves and your Beards! Kings let’s talk, about Beards. I am sure you get it don’t you when you’re in the street? ‘Nice Beard’, ‘ Love your Beard’, and so on.

Nice isn’t when that happens? But brothers, let’s talk about the times when you get the opposite. You look ‘ugly’ with a Beard or it makes you look ‘old’, these are the common ones, but let’s look at the pros of a Beard (everyone anti-Beard, will tell you the apparent cons).

Shaving is a nightmare, I shave my head and I am playing roulette where it’s blade and skin seeing if they can go past each other without war wounds, 99% off the time the blade defeats the skin and I get shaving cuts.

I don’t need this drama in my life! Ideally I shouldn’t have gone bald, but now I am what’s needed is a must. There is some attraction to shaving, but the maintenance of your face and the avoiding of the Beard itch. Life is complicated at the best of times, I don’t need a Beard itch issue to worry about.

Growing a Beard alleviates that problem, it also alleviates the face rash issue in the summer, your Beard reflects the heat, it’s a face shield. We’re men, we won’t complain shall we say if we get some attention from the women folk, and fellas let’s face it a lady will say nice Beard to a brother, but what can she say to a clean shaven?

Nice hairy chest? But knowing them they probably shave that too by pinching their wife’s Gillette Venus blade. You can get abuse by people for your Beard, but the ones that respect your Beard, know that they’re real people.

Growing a Beard isn’t an easy road, but to enhance the inner man, it’s what’s needed. People buy stresses balls, just stroke your Beard it’s therapeutic. Soldiers, you do you, stay awesome.

Support The Bearded Captain

Hello, good Morning beloved Beards. I hope you’re well. We hear at ayyazmalik.com love telling stories and sharing them too. Alhamdulillah we have been operating for over six years and we’re looking to solidify our website and help it grow too, but we need your support please. Whatever large or little amount you think you can spare, it’s still even bigger to us. With your kind donation/support we want to give a contribution to the local community sports hall, to help young kids do what they do best, have fun! Thank you for your support

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What a fresh beard cut and hair cut have in common

Hello, good morning my Bearded Brothers, it’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Shining Bearded Knights, I pray you’re in good health, looking after yourselves and your Beards! Bearded Kings, let’s talk, let’s talk about a fresh Beard trim. Now, we have spoke about this topic in another blog, that can be found here; https://ayyazmalik.com/2020/07/07/the-just-trimmed-feeling/ .

Bearded Soldiers, I want to talk about the resemblances that a fresh hair and Beard cut have with each other. Automatically, when you have a hair cut you feel like Jason Mamoa/Tom Hardy, who both have fantastic Beards (The Bearded Captain approved graded man fur).

Brothers, when you go to the barbers (the unsung heroes, until they try to shave your Beard or eyebrows .. back off BOY!), after the visit hair .. residue shall we say get’s left on your face and head.

That period from the barber takes off the bib and wipes your face down, or face and Beard down and you get up, pay the noble Beard craftsmen for his expert precision and walk the walk of fame.

The walk of fame? I hear you ask. Yes, the walk where you feel a $1 million and that six feet taller and all over a sudden, you have (in your mind) the most pristine physical appearance, (six pack and all).

Whether it be your face or your Beard, you have that walk, the walk of when it’s windy you feel the last breath of the wind, worried it will mess your pristine hair style or fine styled Beard. When the days pass by, it happens with Beard cut and hair cut, things don’t appear as they seem.

The well trimmed, groomed hair style/ Beard style just isn’t the same. Bit of hair balm will sort the hair style mould back into place, or Beard balm shapes your Beard back into shape and stops the side part of your Beard puffing out.

To a point, this works, but then your realise with both hair and Beard it goes out of place. It can be deflating, I have felt it. The Captain suggests to regularly maintain your Beard and your hair too. Out of all of the things to spend money on, on number one and to look the best version of you is the main priority.

The day after the day before, is a case of being brought back to earth. The day before, you felt awesome with a fresh hair cut/Beard cut, now after waking up from some good rest your hair and man face trophy (your Beard) look like you have been given an electric shock and all the current has gone there.

Brothers, hair cuts and Beard cuts is a see-saw of an emotion, just make sure – where you can, that you make sure you comb your Beard every day and use Beard balm. I will leave you with this, Beard’s and Beard life is all about TLB (Tender Loving of Beard).

It’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.

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The best feeling

Hello, good evening my Brothers, it’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards and flag-bearer of Beard on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Bearded Knights, Beardionado’s I pray you’re well, looking after yourselves and your Beards! Kings, let’s talk, rain. Brothers we have spoke about rain before, but I am sure we haven’t spoke about it in the following way.

My Beloved’s, rain of course is beautiful to look, when you’re inside, which is what we want to talk about. Considering the answer is yes I do, who agrees that rain is beautiful to look at in a traffic jam (when you’re in the passenger side) and at home through the front room window.

Now, this next bit has divided opinion, but according to the people I ask a good warm cuppa and a slice of toast or slices is the way to go, or a samosa/spring roll. Please Brothers, jump in are you one for warm coffee in front of the fire or even like a warm blanket?

Of course the Pakistani contingent can relate, but I want to know your thoughts. It’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.

Support The Bearded Captain

Hello, good afternoon beloved Beards. I hope you’re well. We hear at ayyazmalik.com love telling stories and sharing them too. Alhamdulillah we have been operating for over six years and we’re looking to solidify our website and help it grow too, but we need your support please. Whatever large or little amount you think you can spare, it’s still even bigger to us. With your kind donation/support we want to give a contribution to the local community sports hall, to help young kids do what they do best, have fun! Thank you for your support

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How bread SHOULD be toasted

Hello, good afternoon my Bearded Stallion/s , it’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, Flag Bearer of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Bearded brethren, I pray you’re well, looking after yourselves and your Beards! Brothers, we need to talk .. about toast. Toast is of course, when bread is warmed and well, toasted. There is one way to toast bread, I here you ask .. no no, let’s have a chat.

Brothers, there is a correct answer to this, just like there is a correct way to make a coffee. Toast, shouldn’t be too well toasted, if they are, they of course burn and go too hard. No one wants to eat slabs, as slabs go on the roof of your house.

There is a certain way, but I have to call out the toaster companies for spoiling people with the number dial on the side. Up or down, you decide they say, but this kind of power leaves the customer not able to make logical life choices.

For the record, the number three setting is too light. Nothing more annoying than putting some bread down into the toaster, here the pop sound and see that they’re still as white as milk! To correct that, the logical way is to many (me included) is to turn up the toaster setting, leave it for 10 seconds too long though and the toast get’s hard.

If you leave it too soft, the question is why have toast, just have bread? (Pschopath). The correct answer is, don’t burn your toast, but they should be done well enough that they’re a lovely golden brown. One does have some wriggle room for burnt toast to light bread ratio, but it’s not much.

Now my last point, and yes I am right, because well I am the Bearded leader. For sandwiches, bread should be toasted, Subway? I rest my case. It’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.

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The power of a power nap

Hello, good evening my Beards I hope you’re well and looking after yourselves. It’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, flag bearer of all Beards on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Brothers, we need to talk. We need to talk power naps. Power naps, or cat naps I am now aware of just why they call them power naps, simply because in such a short space of sleeping time you feel refreshed and reenergised.

I used the power nap in Ramadan, which helped me in the back end of the day as I was feeling the hunger pans and the energy drain as psychologically I knew the end was nigh for that particular day of fasting.

The fact that I would snore the house down after eventually my body was adequately warm, isn’t something we will mention, nope. There was a slight down side and that would be at night time, my body wouldn’t be ready for sleep until somewhat later into the night is not ideal.

But I can’t emphasise this enough, a power nap is what I am branding what people call a siesta or for the Muslims Kayloola (probably spelling that wrong). So there you have it, if you fancy a power nap brothers, remember there’s pros and cons, it’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.

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Eye of the driver

Hello, and greetings my Bearded Soldiers, it’s me your Bearded Captain, leader of all Beards, flag Bearer of all Beards, on digital and digital broadcasting media. I am that Beard who tries to make people laugh, and I am that Beard who tries to make people smile.

Brothers, I pray you’re well, looking after yourselves and your Beards! My Beloved’s I want to talk about an issue important in the life of Beard, the issue of driving. Driving people mad? No sir, driving your car.

Some may say, I am good at driving people round the bend, or using the golf club (driver), but no Brother Beards, I want to talk about drivers of a motor vehicle. Driving, as much as some won’t like to admit it, the environment protestors – your Greta Thunberg’s of this world, it’s necessary in today’s day and age.

In current times, the sky high fuel and energy prices, then there is a valid argument that, maybe you can live without four wheels, or maybe two. Day in day out tasks, involve driving from place to place.

What amazes about driving, is that no matter how careful you be, if someone is careless on the road, you can be directly affected (car accident, may the All mighty protect us from that). Long journeys, again that’s another test in itself.

The best position in a car, arguably is anyone and not the drivers side. The need to be looking at the front and the back of you, at the same time. If that isn’t enough, then you need to look after your left and right; and over your shoulder too.

These are the challenges of drivers in England/UK, but for places like Pakistan for example- that’s a different ball game! That’s it from me, thank you My Bearded Beloved’s, it’s over and out from The Bearded Captain.

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Support The Bearded Captain

Hello, good morning beloved Beards. I hope you’re well. We hear at ayyazmalik.com love telling stories and sharing them too. Alhamdulillah we have been operating for over six years and we’re looking to solidify our website and help it grow too, but we need your support please. Whatever large or little amount you think you can spare, it’s still even bigger to us. With your kind donation/support we want to give a contribution to the local community sports hall, to help young kids do what they do best, have fun! Thank you for your support

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