green been food

thank you

2012-01-25T18:20:00.000+10:00

thank you very much for your words of wisdom in relation to my previous post. so many things written rang true and i have decided to pull back but not completely. just wait a little while and see how i feel.

i have asked myself why did i start blogging and it comes back to my love for good food, wine, menu planning, shopping for the ingredients, having friends over, being with family & friends and enjoying...stopping to eat & slurp...laughter is usually always involved, the people watching & seeing my little girls eyes light up when a flavour surprises them...(the list goes on).

whenever family or friends have been away i am often asking them 'what was your most memorable dish whilst on holidays?' so many different responses! and so many are paired with the weather, their mood at the time, the price, the wine, the parking, the waiter, the toilets, the napkins, the wine glasses, the vibe...i love the stories of what eating does!

many of my most happiest memories are through food.

pulling the plug...

2012-01-17T16:53:00.000+10:00

for the last 3 months i have been struggling a bit with my blog. struggling to keep up to date with it...struggling to get inspired to blog...struggling to want to take images with my camera...& even struggling to read my favourite blogs.

i first thought it was the big interstate move and life was just busier than it used to be. then self doubt crept in and i have wondered 'well who wants to read about what i had for lunch or dinner?' there are so many fabulous bloggers around and here i am just banging on about a delicious latte or a steaming bowl of pho!

my trusty canon camera was always stored in my handbag, at the ready to capture whatever came across my day...but now sadly it is hanging up amongst the hats on the coat rack.

i want to get back the inspiration i once had...will it come? i have read before on other bloggers posts comments like 'gone on vacation'...or 'need time out'... is that what i need or have i come to my blogging end?

i think i too have become more and more self conscious about taking images in public of the drink/food i am about to consume. gone are the days of just snapping away...or asking the husband/children to wait until i have photographed it...or are they?

i also believe that blogging has added to my girth! i call it my third boob! not attractive...i eat and then i sit on my bottom and blog what i ate for several hours! this process is not exactly helping my body that's metabolism is continuously slowing down... hmmm would i be this size if i never blogged...i mean i could never stop eating delicious food & drinking my wine!?

i have in this post raved on...which is unlike me. the essence of my blog has always been keep it short, always be positive and let the images do the talking.

i would love to hear from other bloggers who have thought their blogging inspiration was drying up? how & will i get my gig going again?

good bye 2011

2012-01-08T17:17:00.001+10:00

the arrival of our little friend...'chops'

my beautiful friend mady (+ her boys) visited & we spent some fabulous time together...

we are loving our little cottage...has loads of character!

flowers from our garden collected for the christmas day table...

a collection of snaps from the holidays...i hope you had a wonderful festive season and may 2012 be a great year for you!

my new year will be full to the brim with my beloved family & friends, good food, delicious wine, possibly a holiday thrown in, a sleep in past 8am (havn't had 1 in 8yrs)...and both my girls being in school together! no more double drop-offs...

after 4 months living here i am getting used to the weather...it can change in minutes!

love my rope lights at christmas!

christmas day roasted chook was delicious

there has been a lot of these over the season...thoroughly enjoyed every drop!

afternoon light up our cottage hallway...

discovered twenty&six espresso at north melbourne...love everything they do!

drinks with a good friend in the garden

our christmas day dessert...jamies christmas pudding strudel! it was delicious

plenty of home time with the children over the holidays...

on the eve of christmas

2011-12-24T07:48:00.001+10:00

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU!

i hope your holidays are filled with love, relaxation, sleep, calm, quiet, a good read, laughter, dancing and large splashes of whatever is your favourite aperitif!

festive pasta

2011-12-19T20:13:00.000+10:00

i made this pasta for a girlfriend who leans more toward the vegetarian side of things. she had come to visit melbourne on holiday with her two beautiful children and this was her little farewell lunch. it was delicious and she was very happy with it. super easy to make and so perfect for this time of year! i also made a big bowl of spaghetti bolognaise for the children & that was devoured by the 4 hungry noisy ones!

i loved seeing you gorgeous mady and i miss you already...xxx (her blog)

roasted cherry tomatoes with chilli, oregano, ricotta & basil

roast on a high oven 3 punnets of cherry toms w olive oil & oregano + pepper/salt until blistering hot & skins break...leave aside. cook your favourite pasta the way you like it, drain. add pasta to the roasted cherry tomato oven tray & toss through. add 500g of room temp ricotta & torn basil leaves. stir well. serve immediately with copious amounts of cracked pepper...& vino!

D.O.C pizza & mozzarella bar, 295 drummond st, carlton

2011-12-12T19:50:00.004+10:00

a good friend who is married to a florentino husband raved about D.O.C stating that they serve one of the better pizzas they have eaten outside of italy. i have been meaning to visit and had the perfect opportunity recently with my gorgeous friend arriving into town on holiday with her two children.

we sat at an outside shady table on a warm friday lunch and both were happy that the children could be loud & not disturb the inside diners w their crisp white tableclothes...although we would have been in there in a flash if we didn't have the noisy ones with us!

D.O.C's menu is made up of 5 clear & easy to read/decide components...1 mozzarella bar, 2 antipizza bar, 3 insalatone, 4 pizza & 5 dolce/formaggi. we headed straight for the salad & pizza choices & with four hungry children we ordered quickly the following...insalatona di radicchio w shaved fennel, mt martha radicchio, D.O.P gorgonzola, vincotta & asked for an extra D.O.P buffalo mozzarella ball + pizza D.O.C san marzano tomato, fresh D.O.P buffalo mozzarella & fresh basil...and pizza capricciosa nuova w tomato, mozzarella, leg ham, mushroom, artichoke & olive...

all devoured in no time at all...my friend & i both sat back daydreaming the children were spontaneously collected by husbands and we could order more wine and chat until the sun set!

you will love D.O.C if you haven't already discovered it (many have!)...opened for almost 3 years...the casual, neat, consise, delicious and un-complicated setting and menu will win you over!...D.O.C is open 7 nights & fri, sat & sun lunch.
doc group own three successful business...D.O.C carlton + carlton espresso & D.O.C mornington...visit their site doc group

sourdough crumbed schnitzel...& other delicious things

2011-11-29T17:36:00.004+10:00

a splash of prosecco to get in the mood...

from the front jensens red washed rind, gorgonzola & morbier...

deliciously oozing...jensens red washed rind

...morbier cheese

my 8yr olds flower arrangement...so spring & pretty

...french rose was fabulous with the cheese board & warm confit garlic bread

brasserie bread confit garlic bread...incredibly tasty just on its own!...(brasserie bread site)

melbourne has now been our home for 4mths and i have been itching to have guests over for dinner...it takes time though in a new city and it's not cool to just ask the nearest person/neighbour/supermarket cashier over for dinner...+ our nearest neighbours are in their 80's! so my job lent a hand & i met a gorgeous french friend called sarah (see her creative work)...we are like minded in food, love rose wine & her general enthusiasm is contagious...so a perfect dinner party candidate along with her photographer (his clever work) & budding barista boyfriend nico!

i wanted everything to be relaxed and casual. sarah & nico arrived around 6pm and we sat in the garden enjoying the cheese & bread from brasserie bread with rose. the weather was beautiful to be outdoors and when the weather is good in melbourne you soak it up!

before serving the main sarah and i made the dessert (stonefruit cobbler) together which baked whilst we ate the main...

the sun set around 8pm...we opened a delicious beaujolais...then a cotes du rhone and it all was 'feet up & relaxed'...i realised i still had my slippers on whilst eating the entree & they fittingly stayed on for the rest of the night!

menu

entree...cheese board of gorgonzola, jensens red, morbier with brasserie bread confit garlic bread

main...sourdough & parmesan crumbed schnitzel with smashed baked potatoes & black olives + rocket salad w toasted walnuts, pecorino & honey/dijon vinaigrette

dessert...apricot, nectarine & peach cobbler with clotted cream

you can find a cracker of a cobbler recipe in the latest delicious mag...so easy & really really really tasty!...delicious mag cobbler recipe

prince albert hotel, bettenays, 149 douglas pde, williamstown

2011-11-21T11:59:00.001+10:00

in my early 20's (like yesterday!) i worked at a pub in london called 'the paradise'...it's in kensal green. it was a great place to work, none of the chairs or stools matched, all the dinner plates were odd & they served awesome pub grub. the bistro was always packed & on sundays locals would come at 11am...read the papers, eat eggs w chips, drink pints & stay until the evening listening to jazz music... i have almost forgotten about how much my feet hurt at the end of the shifts or the smell of beer sloshed in my shoes...instead i look back & wish i could find a local just like it. i think i have! prince albert hotel is just 10mins walk from our little cottage. it is the kind of place you can visit on a rainy day & enjoy a glass of red or sit in the little garden & have a long sunday lunch. which is what we did recently. we ordered several mains...matt had the sage & parmesan crumbed veal w shaved fennel, apple, walnut, rocket & lemon dressing salad (he stated it was seriously delicious), i had the grilled pork chop on a bed of du puy lentils w jus (so wholesome & good), the children shared the free range chicken breast topped w pancetta, mozzarella & napoli sauce, served w mixed lettuce & shoestring fries...also no complaints!

we all shared the one dessert of valrhona hazelnut nougatine, raspberry sorbet & fairy floss...think i may have gotten 1 spoonful before the children devoured it!

we started with a monteiths pear cider (on tap) & then shared a bottle of the jim barry riesling...all for a grand total of just under $100...& we were there for hours...reading the papers, enjoying the sun...

on leaving i booked us in for new years eve...

golden harvest, 15 leeds st, footscray, vic

2011-11-20T08:03:00.000+10:00

it is fast becoming a tradition that when we go to footscray to do some market shopping we eat at one of the many asian restaurants. golden harvest offers a lunch special with most of their dishes including rice cost $9. we ordered bbq duck w greens & noodles...bbq pork w mushrooms & tofu...& shezchuan beef w vegetables. the schezchuan was my favourite...great amount of spice and perfect w a beer!

melbourne so far...

2011-11-13T18:42:00.001+10:00

drinks by the sea...10 mins walk from our little cottage

the girls & i...a rare shot of me on my blog...i only like being behind the camera!

mio the cat has settled in nicely...she tolerates chops the dog

we go to the markets every saturday...the girls love it!

how 3 months flies! that is how long it has been since we have lived in melbourne. so much has happened...the girls are getting settled into their little daily activities. today was their school fete & it was so nice to see them running off hand in hand with their new school friends. my husband & i have never seen so much of each other in our entire marriage...he has been working from home & it has been really cool to have him around + he makes the worlds best cup of tea so i have been asking for 2nd's. we bought ourselves a new puppy after loosing our beloved 'pants' 5 mths ago...little 'chops' is very sweet. his ears are like velvet. i am working for an awesome artisan bread company called brasserie bread. i am doing lots of different things for them & i love the diversity of the job + it has been great to meet melb foodie alike people too...they give me the best tips of where to eat. we live in a gorgeous old run down cottage...the front of it is actually sinking but the neighbour told me most places are sinking in our street (slightly comforting). our neighbour is 82 & he puts our bins out for us every week...also will talk my ear off whenever he gets the chance. i like not having to care about things in the house so much as i did before. the garden is a mish mash & there is a beautiful grape vine growing which i have watched go from bare to now beautiful big green leaves & soon we will see fruit starting to grow. my blog has always been about food & i like to stay anon on it but this one is about my new life...

one thing that brings a tear to my eye atm is thinking of the girls closest little buddies & not being able to see them grow as i did. commenting on their hair-cuts or giving their mums (my dear friends) a cuddle or sharing a tumbler of wine while the children play together for hours...i knew i would miss this before i left but i never knew quite how much it would make me ache.

choppys' favourite chair...he looks so damn cute on it

we fell in love with his markings...he is very spotty!

mohair magic...sends him to sleep instantly

i struggled to include this image but it is of my boy & i on holiday...it is such a holiday snap!

the awesome bread that the co. i work for bakes...quinoa & soya loaf

she is so delicious when she is sleeping

a storm that came over our cottage in seconds & was gone in minutes...that's melbourne for you!

my big 8yr old is 'over the moon' that i now work for a bakery...she adores croissants

mediterranean wholesalers, 482 sydney rd, brunswick, vic

2011-11-09T13:14:00.001+10:00

i discovered this place nearly 4 yrs ago. i was living in brisbane & we were holidaying in melb. i remember being absolutely crazy excited about everything they sold...& more so the excellent prices. on our 1st visit we left with so much that i had 4 heavy carry on bags for the plane & a fuming husband because i bought so much...i think his words were 'this is bloody ridiculous!'...

with me now living in melbourne and a good 30 minute drive away i tend to visit every 4-6 weeks & buy up...it is nice to be able to load into the boot of the car & not struggle with heavy bags on a plane anymore.

the sydney rd store opened in 1977 & is still owned & operated by the same family.

the regulars in my trolley range from lavazza coffee, olives, tapenade, spicy salsa, many bags of pasta, parmesan, pecorino, olive oil, balsamic, sea salt, salami, mozzarella, lentils, oo flour, polenta, their house baked bread, biscotti, dried herbs, wine, limoncello...and the list goes on...i do usually get tempted by many other things. you can also refuel whilst shopping at their instore cafe/pasticceria...

open mon-thurs 9 to 5:30pm, fri 9 to 6:30pm & saturday 8:30 to 2pm...closed sunday.

le fournil gourmand, rue du general galieni, noumea

2011-11-07T18:11:00.000+10:00

don't you just love it when you are travelling in a foreign place & you take a turn that lands you finding something fabulous?...it doesn't always happen like that...i have had some shockers ending up in industrial or simply dodgy suburbs! we were on our last port of call whilst cruising the pacific and within 20 minutes of leaving the boat (we went in the opposite direction to all the other passengers!) we found this gem of a patisserie. it was perfect timing for breakfast so we ordered several tasty looking treats & shared them amongst the four of us...the stand out was the palmier! seriously delicious...the 8yr old declared it was the tastiest thing she had eaten EVER!

their coffee was not to our liking but who cares when everything else was superb!

pho tam, shop 1/7-9 leeds st, footscray

2011-11-04T13:46:00.000+10:00

we were in search of a quick friday lunch recently and happened to snag a park right out the front of pho tam in the back streets of footscray. lots of tables were full busy eating steaming bowls of pho. we sat inside and ordered several dishes including chicken curry & yam w rice noodles, rice paper rolls with shredded pork & a chicken, ginger & shallot stirfry w rice...+ the 5yr old insisted on a bowl of egg noodles with chicken brothe.

all very tasty, fresh, fast, cheap & perfect for a quick friday lunch...with the added bonus of a park right out the front!

innocent bystander, 336 maroondah highway, healesville, vic

2011-10-30T17:14:00.002+10:00

a recent chilly, windy and rainy sunday was the perfect day to drive to the yarra valley and explore. no research was put into it, just a spur of the moment decision and we were off...gps said 1hr 20 mins to healesville town centre from our home.

we arrived close to lunch and after driving through the main street we came across 'innocent bystander'. the place was packed. a table was quickly sorted out for us and we settled in with a glass of giant steps chardonnay & a glass of giant steps pinot.

'innocent bystander' offers many things under the one roof...a winery - (giant steps & innocent bystander), cellar door, bistro, coffee roasting, beer, artisan bakery, pizzeria & cheese room. so there is plenty going on in their industrial looking space!

we ordered two pizzas for our table...a classic margherita with shaw river buffalo mozzarella and the other pizza was pink eye potato, taleggio, mt zero olive oil, walnuts & rosemary...very delicious, great pizza bases too. the housecut (organic dobsons potatoes) with aioli were quickly gobbled up!

matt had a coffee to finish...he claimed it was excellent whilst the girls shared a house baked canele.

'innocent bystander' will be on our list to visit next time we are in the valley...could be breakfast, some more pizza or dinner...all sounds good...see their website for more details...innocentbystander

suva municipal market

2011-10-27T20:44:00.002+10:00

i wandered through the suva municipal markets on my own...no children to distract me. it was bliss. i am always drawn to a fresh food market wherever we travel. i would prefer wandering through a market than being on a tour anyday.

the suva market didn't disappoint. i recognised most of the fruit & vegetables for sale however have not cooked with many of them. the fijians use many root crops including taro, cassava & sweet potatoes. they tend to cook these traditionally either boiled or roasted in an underground oven of hot stones. some vendors just sold one veg like okra or edible fern...whilst others sold many veg & fruit + some vendors were busy chopping up ingredients like breadfruit or garlic for customers to buy for their curries.

i bought some bananas...big claim but i am putting it down as one of the best bananas i have eaten. like a lady finger but richer, creamier & huge! delicious.

i stopped to watch several ladies sitting cross legged making traditional fijian mats using dried pandanus leaves. the mats can take up to a week to weave & then they decorate the mats with bright coloured wool...weaving in & out. i bought one with the hope that i could get it home through customs...and i did! it now takes up a large wall in our house...full of colour & memories of our family holiday.

damien pignolet's steak tartare

2011-10-23T08:43:00.001+10:00

several years ago matt & i had 5 nights in paris...we called it the finish to our honeymoon (just 6yrs late...better late than never!). 3 nights out of the 5 that we were in paris i ordered steak tartare for dinner. i love the cleaness of this dish, the seasoned meat with crispy croutes...and it is extra fabulous with french fries.

i was inspired to make this dish as a belated wedding anniversary dinner for matt & i. we sipped on a delicious monredon cotes du rhone 97 & sat munching, loading our baked sourdough croutes with the fresh meat...although rich the dish is so incredibly moorish.

...i also wanted to put in a snap of our 10wk old baby jack called "chops"...the look on his face says it all..."wheres my bowl of tartare?"

i googled recipe ideas & the stand-out to me (amongst hundreds) was damien pignolet's version... click here to see damien's version

i used the following ingredients...croutes - brasserie bread sourdough baguette w fennel, poppy & nigella seeds (sliced thinly & oven baked until brown)...tartare - 500g premium rump steak minced (no fat), finely diced cornichons, eschallot, parsley, baby capers, anchovy fillets, egg yolks, worcestershire sauce, tabasco sauce, extra virgin olive oil, lemon cheeks, sea salt & freshly ground black pepper.

salt grill by luke mangan, p&o pacific jewel

2011-10-20T19:27:00.004+10:00

my little family went on a cruise recently (see previous posts) & in the brochures leading up to the cruise i was excited to read about the 'salt grill by luke mangan'. firstly i will say that...going on a cruise you are surrounded by FOOD! sure you don't have to indulge all the time like some but you do feel like there is a lot of food...(ok that is now off my chest!)...

the on-board kids club allowed us to visit 'salt grill' twice. both experiences were without fault. the service was incredible, the wine choices & attendance impeccable, the food indulgently excellent & the dessert awesome.

on our second visit i took the camera...between us we ordered, entree...tempura oysters...king fish, ginger & eschallot w persian fetta...rare tuna w wasabi dressing & soba noodles...mains...150 days grain fed eye fillet w horseradish, truffle & parmesan fries, mashed minted peas, rocket salad w candied walnuts & pear...grilled grain fed vic lamb cutlets w horseradish...& dessert...meredith dairy sheeps milk yoghurt cheesecake w passion fruit & popping candy + local cheese selection w truffle honey.

all was excellent. nothing to fault...i loved the cheese board served at your table...a copper pot containing the truffle honey + the cheese was perfect at room temperature, ripe, ooozzing & delicious.

we left feeling like we might step out onto a busy city street but instead we sashayed along the deck to our trusty cabin.

hellenic republic, 434 lygon st, brunswick east, melbourne

2011-10-16T08:05:00.001+10:00

the above prawns (to me) were the stand out dish! incredibly moorish!

a friend from sydney visited melbourne recently & high on her 'to do' list was to have dinner at hellenic republic...she has their book & cooks from it often. i happily joined in with 2 other friends & the night was plentiful with food & wine, many laughs, loud & late (we were the last to leave).

we ordered the trapezi menu $58 per person...everything was delicious...the menu consisted of mezethakia...small hellenic tastes, thalassina, fish from the grill, cypriot salad of grains, pulses & nuts, kreata – meat of the day, patates, lahansalata, tzatziki and...finally epithorpio - sweet: kataifi pastry cherries, custard, mastic ice cream.

the absolute stand out to me was garithes simiakes, whole clarence river school prawns deep fried w attiki honey dressing...we ate them whole, crunchy, salty & sweet dipped in the honey dressing...i am still thinking about them!

chez toto, 13 rue auguste brun, latin quartier, noumea

2011-10-09T08:49:00.000+10:00

lunch at chez toto was one of those special little lunches that will always be a sweet memory for me...we were on a day stop-over recently in noumea & the french influence was something we wanted more of...especially in the food & wine department!

a local noumea paper was given to us on arrival & after reading through we learnt that in the latin quarter, just 10 minutes walk away, was a little bistro serving authentic french food.

we arrived just on lunch time and very soon the tiny bistro was completely full with locals ordering, slurping, chatting & eating. with the menu in french & our waitress not speaking any english we went on gut instinct. a beaujolais was poured & a basket full of french stick was crunched on. the assorted meat plate was fabulous consisting of cornichons, duck rillette, salami, terrine, butter & jambon de bayonne (proscuitto). we also ordered a grilled chevre salad...delicious! our mains were probably something i would not order again however tasty but big & rich...steak w buttered onions & chips + i had some sort of fish mousse with melted cheese...elastic pants time!

our dining neighbours were an older couple sailing their yacht from nz to bundaberg & had stopped at noumea for a month...chez toto was their favourite restaurant. they were eating escargot with garlic & parsley butter...they loved them.

noumea itself is a great location to visit & we could have happily spent several days exploring...no doubt returning several times to chez toto for a little bit more of the french life.

tiamo 2, 303-305 lygon st, carlton

2011-10-04T18:30:00.001+10:00

i don't want to start off with a negative but i promise to finish with a positive! i have heard & read some pretty ordinary things about lygon st...comments like...'it is the tourist street to visit'...'the hawkers at some restaurants can be off-putting' & 'the quality for the prices is not great'. soooo when i was recently heading that way on a sunday with family i thought ...where do we go for lunch without all of the above!? i messaged a friend who knows the carlton area well & got an instant reply saying...cheap, cheerful, plentiful go to tiamo 1 or 2!

we arrived on midday & chose an inside table. we were served quickly, the house wine was poured & we sat back eating, drinking & enjoying. the serves were definitely abundant, the taste was good - for the prices certainly fine & the overall experience was satisfying. i often bang on about loving a cheap & cosy and this fits...4 mains, caraffe of wine & salad costing $96.

grand final footy food!

2011-10-01T21:10:00.002+10:00

this year is our first year living in melbourne & experiencing first hand a footy (AFL) grand final. i wanted to cook something that could possibly become our familie's 'footy food tradition'...the perfect grand final food! there was talk of a classic home-made burger w cheddar & smokey bbq sauce...nnnaahh...we then tossed up the idea of pizzas...mmmm nooo...then meatballs came to mind in a tangy napoli sauce & served in a italian ciabatta roll with rocket & grated pecorino. DONE! it was super tasty, satisfying & perfect with beer.

pork & thyme meatballs w napoli sauce in ciabatta roll w rocket & grated pecorino

make meatballs to your liking (i used pork mince, thyme, egg, garlic, onion, s&p)

make a napoli sauce & then allow meatballs to simmer until cooked

fill ciabatta rolls w meatballs, dollops of sauce, rocket & grated pecorino

serve, washed down with your choice of drink & the roar of an exciting footy game!

l’atelier de monsieur truffe, 351 lygon street, east brunswick

2011-09-28T20:41:00.002+10:00

an industry work colleague (who knows melbourne well) told me about monsieur truffe...he said he would class them as one of the best 'chocolatiers' in melbourne. i had to go after that statement! i wasn't disappointed...everything we tried (although light dishes not main meal items) were excellent.

the space is great, love the use of industrial mixed with french 'sand blasted chairs', factory lighting & smooth operation. admittedly they were extremely busy when we visited however we didn't care - the mood was set to sit, wait & enjoy.

our coffees were great...the mocha a massive hit with 65% choc. the kiddies loved their pastries with house made choc pots!

the menu (which i will go back to try) sounded very different & away from the normal...eg charred corn with eggs! great.

lots of snaps for you to see.

wee jeanie, 50 anderson st, yarraville, vic

2011-09-26T20:25:00.006+10:00

i am still working out my favourites in my NEW local area & i have now been back to 'wee jeanie' 4 times so i am classing it as one of my favourites!...+ the 5yr old adores it because she can watch the trains go by from the front door step...so happiness all round!

'wee jeanie' is the sister to 'the cornershop cafe', they are literally around the corner from each other in yarraville...both owned by the same clever operators, using supreme coffee & producing things with finesse!...sorry i have decided that the word 'finesse' should be used more often!

what immediately hit me about 'wee jeanie'...(apart from the cute name & the fact that i can't stop singing ooooh jeanie by elton everytime i think of the place) is the great interior layout, bench seating with adjoining tables & awesome stools + the white tiled bar area...it was all very cool, serviceable without looking clinical & well planned.

i went back after taking initial pics (for this blog) to simply try the house special of 'welsh rarebit'...it didn't disappoint. it was spicy, cheesy & moreish...made with cheddar, guinness, cayenne pepper, mustard & worcestershire sauce.

i am also excited because the owners of 'the cornershop & wee jeanie' are opening in ferguson st, williamstown their 3rd venture...that will be literally 3 minutes from my house. they should be open by end of september offering shared plates &...wait until you see the rusted bed spring chandeliers...fabulous!

sth pacific...mystery island

2011-09-20T19:34:00.001+10:00

mystery island is a beautiful island...a tiny island with a very small air-strip...sandy beaches, warm sun, aqua water & the sound of the locals singing & strumming guitars (ok that was part of the cruise gig...but a nice touch)...we spent many hours swimming in the gorgeous water & snorkelling. we watched kava being made by the locals & drank fresh coconut water. the girls had their hair plaited, i bought a 'very loud' local fijian traditional dress & thought the locally caught whole (fresh) lobsters were a steal @ approx $40 for a lrg one!...but sadly there was no riesling to accompany the shellfish it was literally crack the shell & eat. i was not pouting though it added to the charm of mystery island.

market lane coffee, shop 13, prahran mkt, sth yarra

2011-09-18T07:41:00.001+10:00

i visited prahran mkt recently & on arriving the very first thing on my mind was to get coffee! i headed straight for market lane coffee orderd my latte with a baguette bread board, butter & raspberry jam...simple, excellent & so satisfying. their menu is not too extensive but what is on there is well sourced, delicious & of a high standard...bit like their coffee! on their website they state market lane is a specialty coffee roastery, cafe, and retailer...their primary focus is on delicious high-quality coffee. i finished my great coffee, delish baguette & was ready to venture out into the throng of the markets gathering my bits & bobs for the week.

Market lane's gig - they source, roast with their coffee offerings changing throughout the year, depending on what's in season & what tastes good. they buy & roast in small batches to ensure they bring out the best qualities in every lot. visit their site for more info mkt lane coffee

sth pacific...island of pines

2011-09-15T21:25:00.000+10:00

i have been missing in action...a little bit has happened over the last 2 mths & my posts have been scarce but i am back!...and i have officially missed blogging!...whilst taking some time out with my little family we visited various sth pacific islands (ok we went on a cruise! eeek...but the children loved it!) & over the coming posts i want to share some pics with you...i hope they don't look too brochure-ish but i don't think you can take a bad photo of an island with coconuts lying on the beach, crystal waters & blues skies around.

amorosa, 70 ferguson st, williamstown, vic

2011-08-21T19:35:00.001+10:00

today i picked up my camera (it has been a little while) & took it on a special outing. not just any outing...my eldest daughters 8th birthday lunch. she had the option of many restaurants in our new local home village of williamstown but chose italian & amorosa was the one! we ordered several dishes & they were really delicious. the service was friendly, attentive & kind (esp when the soon to be 5yr old had a tantrum because it is not her bday!...UUUHHHUMMM...hheeellooooo i felt like screaming but that would not look good!)...

we ordered the following & will definitely return for more...

a mudgee barbera (delicious)...bruschetta, grilled lamb w smashed chickpeas & lemon, large spicy sausage w semi-dried tomato pizza, amorosa house salad...& a creamy pesto chicken tagliatelle for the cranky soon to be 5yr old.

+ my piccolo latte by map coffee was good too.

...(left) cranky soon to be 5yr old & (right) elated 8yr old!

goodbye for a little while

2011-07-28T12:25:00.002+10:00

...kids cheese & olive plate & my almost 8yr old eve

...pat preparing the warm 70% chocolate tart

...mady setting the table & cheese board, from left, king island brie, piave & dutch goat cheese

this post is special to me...it is about being with good friends...enjoying good food/wine & in a little way saying goodbye to our great life in brisbane. 8yrs have gone by & brisbane will always be apart of me.

an epic post on a duck dinner with my friends mady & pat. pat is a chef (trained in london & worked alongside some great chefs including bruno loubet)...he is now out of the kitchen full-time & was the one that started the talk of the 'duck dinner'...so it was inevitable that he make the duck, the jus, the beans & the bruno loubet inspired warm chocolate tarts.

i got off lightly with just providing some cheese, a warm lentil salad & some smashed rosemary roasted potatoes. the setting was pulled together by the gorgeous & creative mady & as the afternoon disappeared into the evening we sipped champagne, pinot noir, dessert wine & sat warming ourselves around a cosy outdoor fire. the food was seriously excellent & pats duck/jus was heaven!...an afternoon & evening i will never forget.

the children sat up too with their own little table set...sipping peach nectar & devouring the duck confit...the lentils were pushed around the plate a bit though!

menu

nibbles...dutch hard goat cheese, piave cow milk hard cheese, king island brie, baked ciabatta, olives

main...duck confit w jus, warm lemon lentil salad, steamed green beens w roasted hazelnuts & smashed rosemary roasted potatoes

dessert...bruno loubets warm 70% chocolate tart w double cream

...when i was little i was taught to always thank my host & i am naturally teaching my little girls to say thank you whenever leaving somewhere...so i guess it is fitting to say...'thanks for having me brisbane'

...mady & pats eldest boy lukas & the children sit up to dinner

...ruby & ollie needed a little supervision!

...pat's fantastic jus & plating up

...finishing touches

...warm 70% chocolate tart w double cream

...dessert wine...yum

a perfect brisbane winter day...

2011-07-23T18:46:00.002+10:00

with my time living in brisbane coming to an end i wanted to do a simple little post on what a perfect winters day is for me & my family. 20 minutes drive from our home is sandgate & morton bay. we have spent many a lazy day lying on rugs, watching our girls fossick on the sand flats, grilling sausages & sipping rose. my favourite time of year is winter when the sky is brilliant blue & the air is crisp...we have been known to arrive mid morning & leave when the sun is setting. i am going to miss this.

...our favourite! sausage sandwich w beer fried onions, aged cheddar, rocket lettuce & smokey bbq sauce

in a pickle, 2 martha st, camp hill

2011-07-20T21:06:00.001+10:00

a friend gathering had me happily drive the other side of town to visit 'in a pickle' for a monday lunch. i have been meaning to go for some time as my husband went to primary & high school with founder/owner esther downie + i have heard 'in a pickle' mentioned several times through work friends & other.

on arriving our gathering quickly read the daily food fare on offer, made our selections with some good sound advice from esther & then sat chatting, enjoying the outside tables on the street & soaking up the village atmosphere. all food is freshly made on the premises. amongst us we ordered home-made chicken pie with waldorf salad...artichoke tart w salad...& tandoori sweet potato rosti w roasted veg & dill yoghurt.

Several desserts where then shared... neenish tart, cocoa meringue, pecan pie & a german chocolate layer cake...all was tasty & certainly wholesome.

visit their website for cafe details + catering in a pickle

grub street, 1/440 Samford Road, gaythorne

2011-07-16T18:48:00.000+10:00

...above grub st club sandwich

...grub st house made preserves!

...stix, chef/owner

i have been to grub st a couple of times now...+ i've heard friends talk about it often...+ i've seen regular mentions on twitter & finally i did read about grub st in gourmet traveller's 2011 restaurant guide listing them as one of brisbane's best cafes...cut a long story short! this is one place you need to seek & enjoy!

self taught chef stix (travis grigg) owns grub st with his partner tamara. stix is really enthusiastic & energetic...i find him very funny & his passion is certainly pushing his 'off the track' cafe to great heights!

i met for lunch recently with wine maker & consultant peter scudamore-smith & we happily devoured our meals with peter supplying the wines...i ordered pulled pork salad w roasted peanuts, asian herbs, carrot & tamarind glaze while peter ordered the chorizo burger w roasted peppers & jalapeno jam. we washed this down with barambah shiraz viognier...delicious!

stix made a surprise dessert for us of dense fudgy chocolate brownie w peanut butter icecream & rhubard (gf)...this went very well with peter's barambah rack dried semillon (sticky).

talking with stix during the course of our lunch i found out that he is a mad keen surfer, likes to push the food boundaries for his diners to enjoy, seeks inspiration from many cook books without having a specific favourite & loves making traditional dishes...eg a recent special of nasi goreng, making everything from scratch...one customer who ordered this said it took him back to eating this dish whilst travelling through indonesia.

stix is also quoted saying he has 'tolerance for the intolerant'. stix has an intolerance to diary so understands customers dietary conditions...at grub st you will find plenty of vegetarian, vegan & gf options on the menu. stix said the biggest seller is the carrot pancakes w beetroot hommus, housemade labne, poached egg & red pepper relish.

open tuesday - saturday 7am - 2pm, sunday 7am - 1pm (closed easter break & public holidays)

...grub st use giancarlo coffee

...chef stix preparing his pulled pork for the salad

...chorizo burger & pulled pork salad

...barambah rack dried semillon w grub st dessert

get fresh at cottontree, shop 10, 1 king st, cotton tree

2011-07-13T12:09:00.000+10:00

i love cotton tree! my parents holiday there almost every year & i have grown to love the happy village vibe that cotton tree offers. on a recent visit i went in search of a cafe to only find out that it had closed its doors...whilst asking some locals about the cafe i came across 'get fresh'...i instantly liked everything the business offered & chatted with owners nadine & grant imlach who have a background in the produce industry for 14yrs. they have had the business for 3 yrs now having moved form queenstown nz.

'get fresh' has a strong focus on locally grown & organic produce/products. bread & pastries come from award winning dane vanwegen. they have an on-site kitchen making delicious tarts, soups, salads etc...the locals are all over it! the shop was buzzing with people filling their baskets full with beautiful produce. open mon-fri 7-6pm, sat 7-5:30pm & sun 8-3pm. ph 07 5443 3131.

hamimi, made by hand in morocco

2011-07-08T09:01:00.002+10:00

a couple of weeks back i visited south bank & whilst parking i came across hamimi...a 'pop up shop' that closed last sunday...don't worry though you have not missed this wonderful shop full of moroccan treasures as they will be opening a permanent store at the end of august at 895 stanley street, east brisbane. i met alex who runs the store...he told me his interior designer & artist sister lives in morocco...she has a fabulous eye for colour, design & style...check out her tables she has designed with tile tops - absolutely gorgeous & timeless! i love everything the shop had! if it wasn't for my pending move to melbourne i would have wanted to have one of everything! i am still day dreaming about the rugs! contact alex in the meantime if you see anything that you must have before their permanent store opens alex@hamimi.com.au

hamptons home living, 180 latrobe tce, paddington

2011-07-02T12:12:00.002+10:00

hamptons hm living has come up several times...friends mentioned it, i saw various tweets regarding it & the concept was something that sounded great to me...a store combining beautiful homewares & a cafe. i met & chatted with luke & his wife tania recently at their store...took plenty of pictures (as you can see). i thoroughly enjoyed my lunch (daily special of - roast pork w crackling, sliced apple, tangy dressing, lettuce on leavain baguette) + my st ali latte was great...ruby loved her bircher muesli & eve settled for the french fries which she happily munched on. we sat at the communal table & my seated neighbour had the baked eggs in terracotta which looked fabulous!...u can also buy the pots in the store.

chef andrew signorini is young, keen & came from being head chef at the jetty. luke said that hamptons food is about simple dishes done well. my pork baguette was exactly that...simple, good ingredients & done well! i am still thinking about that crackling!

luke said that the cafe and the store combined are about providing quality & beauty. The inspiration for the interiors are all tania's. tania's inspirations are definitely hamptons, but she has favourite designers of the moment in fashion & interiors (alexander mcqueen, kelly wearstler, greg natale, rodarte & chanel).

luke & tania moved home to brisbane in jan this year after 11 yrs of living in melbourne & running restaurants in the cbd. after 3 mths they settled on 180 latrobe tce (an old queenslander in paddington)...here, they have & are pursuing their dreams, whilst having a life & working together.

shucked coffee, 9 creswell st, newstead

2011-06-28T19:26:00.003+10:00

i was first told about 'shucked coffee' by natascha mirosch...we actually tried to judge 'shucked' in the courier mail top 20 coffees in brisbane but sadly they were closed for renovations. i put them on my hit list to try & recently i visited meeting brad the barista & kirsty (shucked is owned by naomi mawson & mark ferguson). my latte was strong, smooth, well balanced & very good! 'shucked' use black star, fair trade organic medium roast coffee. my friends cappucino was also very good. they are currently open mon-fri 6:30am to 4ish with possible plans to open weekends depending on their trade. i love the used furniture & wall paper fit-out...all very great. by the time we were leaving the cafe was very busy with local workers lining up for takeaway coffees...no wonder when their coffee is soooo good! 'shucked' is tucked away in a quiet little street & it will be a matter of time before word of mouth gets out about this fabulous little place!

mad mex, 332 brunswick st, fortitude valley

2011-06-26T09:02:00.008+10:00

i was invited to attend a lunch with the founder, clovis young, of mad mex at their (first) brisbane store in the fortitude valley mall. clovis (californian raised & acquainted w baja cuisine) opened the first mad mex store on crown st, darlinghurst in 2007 & since has expanded to have 10 stores (syd, melb & brisbane). i met clovis along with brisbane based food writer fiona ryan. clovis talked about the creation of mad mex, the concept, their passion for delivering fresh, traditional & quality flavours...& we then sampled several dishes. i chose the burrito w chicken, black beans, cheese, rice, lettuce & sour cream - it was delicious, generous & certainly fresh. fiona ordered the soft tacos & appeared to find them tasty too. clovis ordered a serving of quesadilla's which i found tasty but possibly a little bit guilt ridden for me. we sipped on mexican imported soft drinks (mine) quava & fiona had the tamarind. then i just had to sample the margarita with salt & it was very good...i did expect a watered down version but it wasn't! clovis then brought out cinnamon churros with chocolate dipping sauce...i indulged in 2 & thought they were very good! one of the first things i said to clovis when meeting him was that i like mexican but i usually find myself feeling very full & uncomfortable after eating it...after all the above dishes at mad mex i have to say i felt good. not sluggish or uncomfortable! clovis said that they use fresh avocados for their guacamole & source/use local produce as much as possible...with other ingredients like the black beans, jalapenos, chillies, seasonings & spices & various beverages direct from mexico.

would i go back?...definitely! so much so that i tried a competitor of mad mex at sth bank with my family the following day & the whole experience was not a scratch on my mad mex meal! i did feel uncomfortable after trying the competitor! i do like various touches that mad mex have too...like the tapatio sauce bottles placed around for customers usage (tapatio sauce is a hot mex sauce that is excellent). see attached their menu along with their full story & 10 store locations mad mex

sourced grocer, 11 florence st, teneriffe

2011-06-22T20:29:00.002+10:00

the jammery jams...excellent jam!

(left) latte using fifth battery house blend coffee

...the fern wall + congo purple potatoes...thinking my children will love them!

excellent local & unique selections

(left) terrine...flowers in the toilets! (check out their great sinks) & spanish onions

just back from the markets...fresh funghi...fresh herbs!

sourced grocer opened 3wks ago...i visited today after hearing along the grapevine from several friends about it. i will say upfront...I LOVE IT! i love the concept, the products/lines/produce that they are selling & i think their pricing is really good (considering we are in teneriffe after all)...my friend claudia from 'the jammery' has her jams instore which i am excited about & i love their menu choices, the porridge, the pastries, the bread...the fifth battery house blend coffee. i spoke to jerome, owner + along with owner louis, about the business & he said they have a strong emphasis on organics, local unique products, quality lines, direct from the growers etc...so much so the boys returned whilst i was there from local growers in inala. they are the first in qld to be selling gundowring icecream from victoria...+ they sell the original john herne bangalow pork...& kaz eumundi smoke hse products. they sell & use in the cafe leavain bread & get pastries from choquette. open mon-fri 7-8pm, sat-sun 7-5pm. i bought leavain italian pane, fresh from the mkts...kale, bangalow cheese co. washed rind, kumato cherry toms, congo purple potatoes & barambah natural yoghurt. loads of snaps for you to see...couldn't help myself!

oh & when i got home with my bought bits/bobs i made lunch & below is the delicious result!

the showroom...a lot to see & buy!

kale (on the left)...looking forward to cooking with it!

more showroom shots & our grocery bags.

bangalow cheese company washed rind...my lunch (served @ home w bought ingredients)

my lunch after leaving, all bought & inspired by sourced grocer!

chicken, olive & anchovy stew with thyme infused soft polenta

2011-06-20T20:49:00.000+10:00

i have been craving polenta for a while and the weather is right now perfect for it. i made this stew & it was delicious, wholesome, comforting & completely inspired around the thyme infused soft polenta!

chicken, olive & anchovy stew with thyme infused soft polenta

stew ingredients - 8 chicken drumsticks, olive oil, 1 cup of black olives, 5 anchovies whole, 2 smashed/chopped garlic cloves, 1 diced onion, thyme chopped, 1/2 btl white wine, 1 cup of chicken stock, 1 btl passata, cracked pepper

prepare - pan fry drumsticks in non stick pan, set aside once browned. brown garlic & onion with some olive oil in the same pan. add wine to pan & reduce by half. add all ingredients to a large pot & simmer for up to 1.5hrs...season to taste.

soft polenta ingredients - 1.5 cups instant polenta, 2 tblsp chopped thyme, 4 cups chicken stock...extra water if needed...salt to taste, cracked pepper, 1/2 cup of grated pecorino

prepare - on low heat add polenta & stock. stir, adding pecorino, salt, pepper & thyme. stir until well combined & add extra water whilst cooking to a nice soft consistency.

going away...

2011-06-18T15:32:00.003+10:00

the past week i visited melbourne leaving behind my 2 little girls in the capable care of my parents...it was heaven! to only answer to myself...to decide, me, what i wanted to do...no emergency toilet stops...no-one sticking unwanted sugar into my latte...not being bottoms up in the pantry fossicking for yet another kiddy snack...not screaming 'get away from each other'...or saying 'if you have nothing nice to say don't say anything'...not having 7yr old eyes rolling at me...not having hair brushing tantrums...and the biggest joy for me was to sit, watch & take in the world in my own time...it was incredible. i thought of my girls often, actually very often & found myself smiling just watching children pass near me...but i needed some quiet & i have come back fresher, stronger & clearer than ever ready to tackle anything that comes my way.

pics taken a while back of ruby yet again terrorising 'mio the cat'...when mio is tired of the taunts she bolts over the back fence & returns late in the evening.

pourboy espresso, 26 wharf st, brisbane city

2011-06-13T21:14:00.001+10:00

i have heard really good things about pourboy from several people. i visited last week & although it was rushed the experience was excellent. my flat white was fantastic! we ordered takeaway lunches & my ploughmans sandwich was excellent...so much so that i found myself thinking about it afterwards...kind of day-dreaming about it...the sliced ham off the bone...the grated aged cheddar...the relish...the lightly toasted seeded bread! delicious. my companion had the crab wrap & loved it! there was a lot of 'oh wow' comments as she ate it. brisbane city is going to enjoy having you pourboy...follow them on twitter

ricotta & white choc rum raisin torte

2011-06-09T17:24:00.000+10:00

my dessert making friend, adrienne, made this delicious karen martini torte at one of our recent long lazy afternoon gatherings. it was really delicious...not too sweet, not too rich...just perfect! i tweeted karen martini for the recipe & she was super quick to respond with the delicious details...enjoy!

ricotta & white chocolate rum raisin torte

this sophisticated cheesecake is of spanish origin & is neither too heavy nor too sweet

tip...do not refrigerate, serve at room temp, will last 2 days, serves 8

ingredients - butter, for greasing, 100g (31/2 oz) freshly made white breadcrumbs, 160gms white chocolate roughly chopped, 100g honey, plus 3–4 tablespoons for glazing, 600g ricotta, 55g castor (superfine) sugar, 5 large free-range eggs, 200g thick plain yoghurt, 350g mascarpone, 1 lemon, zest finely grated, 55g of raisons soaked in heated dark rum, 50mls dark rum, thickened or whipped cream, to serve

prepare - preheat the oven (convection, not fan-forced) to 170°C (350°F). grease the sides & base of a 26cm (101/2 inch) spring-form tin with butter & line with breadcrumbs. process the ricotta & sugar in a large food processor until smooth. add the eggs, one at a time, processing briefly after each addition. add the honey, yoghurt, mascarpone & lemon zest. process until smooth, then add half the raisins & pulse once. pour the mixture into the tin, sprinkle with the white chocolate & the rest of the raisins & mix by swirling with a skewer. bake for 1 1/4 hours or until cooked. cool to room temperature. warm the extra honey in a small saucepan over medium heat, then smooth over the tart to glaze. dust with icing sugar & serve warm with cream.

blake & taylor, 11 latrobe tce, paddington

2011-06-08T09:37:00.002+10:00

i was introduced to blake & taylor by my friend roz macallan. we met for a light lunch & a general fossick a little while back & i have been meaning to blog this gorgeous business but time has been spinning by! blake & taylor is a unique shop specialising in new & recycled furniture & homewares along with an in-store cafe serving savouries, sweet treats, veneziano coffee & tea drop tea. i was told that stock arrives often...the store has so many beautiful pieces/items/old & new...i bought some gorgeous oatmeal linen napkins & use them all the time!

visit blake & taylor's website for more details including their high tea special.

willow & spoon kitchen espresso, 28 samford rd, alderley

2011-06-05T09:41:00.001+10:00

i discovered willow & spoon on recommendation from natascha mirosch sending a tweet about it. owners/bus ptrs keith & tracey opened 3wks ago & the locals are loving it...so much so that they have decided to extend their opening days to 7. they use blue sky coffee with organic barambah milk, nine owls teas & focus on using local produce serving ala carte style breakfasts & lunches. keith also said that they will be running monthly them nights (1st friday of every mth)...the first will be christmas in july serving 4 courses @ $65pp byo. i love a them night! rub's & i shared the buttermilk pancakes w strawberries & vanilla cream - they were light, fluffy & delicious...my latte was also very good + i liked the sound of their bfast special...goats cheese, beetroot relish w avocado, poached egg & rocket.

follow them on facebook or on twitter

monday morning cooking club book launch @ grub street eatery

2011-06-03T12:01:00.006+10:00

jacqui israel & merelyn frank chalmers (2 of the 6 authors of the book)

last night i attended the book launch for monday morning cooking club @ grub st eatery,...the night was organised by a big fan of the book...gabby magnus. gabby was gifted the book by her twin sister & soon feel in love with the recipes/stories & all over warmth of the book...so much so that she decided to organise & cater (recipes from the book) a book launch in brisbane for the authors. i met four of the authors, lisa goldberg, merelyn frank chalmers, natanya eskin & jacqui israel (lauren fink & paula horwitz unable to attend due to family commitments). lisa spoke on behalf of the girls & explained the creation & drive behind the book...such an amazing story! over 5,000 copies have been sold with all proceeds going to charity & the major beneficiaries being wizo & ozharvest. the book itself is stunning with alan benson on photography & sarah o'brien as the stylist. congratulations monday morning cooking club on a book that i will cherish & love cooking from!

follow the girls on facebook

gabby magnus explaing her passion for the book & introducing lisa goldberg

lisa goldberg, co-author, talks about the book 'monday morning cooking club'

morbier cheese

2011-06-01T21:12:00.002+10:00

morbier is a cheese i have long liked, especially to eat in the cooler months. i remember being first introduced to this cheese when i worked in the sj's fromagerie in pyrmont & i was fascinated with the story of how it was made...mornings cow milking on the bottom, layer of ash & then the evenings milking on top...it is a sensational cheese & wonderful enjoyed cut chunky & savoured with a pinot noir or hearty chardonnay.

cheese notes - pressed cheese made from raw milk in a cheese dairy in the jura mountains, belonging to the aoc family. a layer of coal ash is in the centre, matures for at least 6 weeks. little cracks on the side of the morbier are a sign of a soft cheese and a creamy flavour. full-bodied flavour, savoury yet fruity, made from full cream cow milk.

mecca bah, 3 oracle boulevard, broadbeach, gold coast

2011-05-31T16:48:00.001+10:00

mecca bah on the gcoast opened end of 2010 in the new oracle building, broadbeach. i have to say the gcoast appears to be loving it & needed it! we visited on a saturday lunch & the food, service & prices were fantastic. we ordered 2 of the turkish pizzas (1) pastirma, roast garlic, fennel & goats cheese...this was really delicious & (2) roast pumpkin, chilli, pomegranate jam & feta...the combination of the feta, jam & pumpkin was really delicious...we slurped on house red (we were at the start of a big weekend) & found the whole mecca bah experience excellent. just thinking about the pizzas makes me want to go back now! they have jazz on the weekends...check their website mecca bah for more details/menus + other mecca bah locations around aust.

friday fizz w cinnamon & honey tea cake

2011-05-29T20:56:00.001+10:00

baking has never been my strong point & this tea cake recipe was given to me by my friend kellie with the promise that it is blending all ingredients & simply putting into the oven. kellie said the recipe is fool proof & that you can give the cake your own stamp by adding apple, sultanas, lemon zest etc...i added honey. the cake literally took me 10mins prep with approx 30mins baking time...i served the cake at mady's for friday afternoon tea...the children loved it...mady & i enjoyed the cake with aperitif to match...thanks kellie. x

cinnamon tea cake

ingredients - 125gms softened butter, 2 eggs, 1 level tblspn cornflour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 cup SR flour, 1/4 cup milk + (i added 2 tblspn honey)

prepare - place all ingredients in mixing bowl & beat for a few minutes till mixed well. place mixture in a greased round cake tin (20cm). bake approx 40-45 mins until golden. cool on wire tray. while hot, drizzle with honey & sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.

cabinessence, 117 enoggera tce, paddington

2011-05-27T10:52:00.001+10:00

i have been to cabinessence a cpl times (old work friend, arlia, put me onto it). cabin is 1 of a fabulous kind in brisbane...serving black star coffee (revolution blend), toast w various daily toppings using leavain organic italian pane & gf muesli. owner philippa runs the place with an air of casual, calm...coolness. everyone seems to know each other & the old furnishings add a gorgeous charm to the place. our coffees were excellent & the toast toppings delicious! the avo mix w evoo, salt, pepper & lemon - yum!

salami sugo w fettucine

2011-05-25T12:05:00.001+10:00

my 7yr old thinks salami is delicious. this is her favourite pasta sauce & i made it for a friend gathering recently hoping that all the children would like it...and i had success! they all loved it!...there is something seriously cute about little faces covered in pasta sauce!

salami sugo w fettucine (serves 6 hungry children)

ingredients/prepare - roughly chop approx 200g hungarian salami, crush 2 garlic cloves & pan fry in a little evoo, pour in 1ltr passata sauce & simmer gently, stir through some torn basil leaves & 1tspn ground cinnamon. cook 3/4 pkt of fettucine in salted water until al dente, drain. combine pasta with sauce & serve.

buttermilk cake to die for!

2011-05-24T21:26:00.001+10:00

i have been making this cake for the last 10yrs. i found it in the vogue entertaining cookbook "morning noon night"...and the page is very much buttermilk splattered (with love). i believe in this cake so much because i have made it for non-cake lovers & they like it! it is really easy to make & you can give it your point of difference if you want by adding lemon zest/orange juice or berries...i made this cake for my f-inlaws bday lunch & the girls helped me! i decorated this cake with (thawed) frozen blueberries...thinking of the antioxidants!

buttermilk cake w vanilla butter icing (serves 8)

cake ingredients - 1/2 vanilla bean, 250g sugar, 125g butter, 2 eggs, 250g sr flour, 1 cup buttermilk

icing ingredients - 50g unsalted butter, 2 cups icing sugar, 1 tspn vanilla extract, pinch salt, a little boiling water

cake prepare - preheat the oven to 180. grease & flour a 23cm round cake tine. scrape the seeds from the vanilla bean into the sugar. beat the butter & sugar together until creamy. beat in the eggs, alternating w a little flour. add the buttermilk & beat until smooth. gradually & lightly fold in the remainder of the flour. pour batter into the prepared tin & bake for approx 35 mins or until firm. turn out & cool on rack.

icing prepare - beat the butter until light & creamy. then gradually beat in the icing sugar together with the vanilla extract & salt. thin icing with 1-2tbpns of boiling water. spread over cooled cake w the back end of a knife...wonderful served w fresh berries or toasted coconut.

pho hien vuong pasteur, H Mkt Sqr Shopping Ctr, Sunnybank

2011-05-22T10:32:00.004+10:00

i have said it before...i adore pho! when the craving hits me there is nothing else for me to do but to get in the car & drive to get some. my littlies are fast becoming addicted too! pho hien vuong @ sunnybank did not disappoint, at 12pm on a saturday they were packed with people waiting. my sliced beef with egg noodle was excellent! & the girls were very happy with their crispy skin chicken with egg noodle. as a treat i ordered the pink bubble milk for them...seriously sweet & the jelly bubbles are a sensation...i reaped the rewards of their hyperactivity after this!

monty's chocolates, 155 latrobe tce, paddington

2011-05-20T14:07:00.000+10:00

...above (right) charbonnel et walker...imported by monty's from the uk

...above liquid sea salted caramels from gerard coleman

my friend carla from vanillapod recently introduced me to monty's chocolates in paddington. (carla is a fan of monty's & stocks several of monty's lines in her shop in ascot).

we met steve (owner of monty's w ptr dori sheldon) & he took us on a little chocolate journey that lasted much of the morning...no complaints from me! steve is so passionate about his beautiful store, chocolates that he imports & everything to do with fine chocolate that you can only find his enthusiasm contagious! first up we devoured the house made thick custardy hot chocolate...our chocolate tasting order is listed below...i have to say the stand-out favourite was the barre infernale noire from francois pralus - OMG!...& the liquid sea salted caramel is something i will never forget...advice...eat in one bite!

chocolate tasting order:

valencia almond 75% from pralus, france

barre infernale noire 75% outer with praline hazelnuts & almonds from piedmont, pralus, france

chilli & highland whisky ganache with 72% outer, coppeneur, germany

ecuduor hacienda iara 62% from coppeneur, germany

hazelnut covered with 45% milk chocolate from pralus, france

liquid sea salted caramel (made for gordon ramsay claridges restaurant) by gerard, uk

...all this was washed down with a fine cup of yorkshire gold tea!

steve & dori import chocolate from france, germany & uk + stock lief chocolate from eumundi. monty's is open 7 days m-f 9-5pm, sat 9-4pm, sun 11-4pm

monty's...pralus...coppeneur

...above (left) my standout of the tasting barre infernale noire from pralus, france

...above (left) lief chocolate from local maker at eumundi

...above (right) carla gets the run-down from steve

...above during the tasting process

...above (left) sea salted caramel sauce also sold at vanilla pod

...above (right) my tea was well needed after all that chocolate!

5 chefs tasting for starlight foundation @ the sofitel, brisbane

2011-05-18T20:29:00.002+10:00

...above rhett's course 1

...above pablo's course 2

...above rhett talking through his course 1

i was invited to this event by peta, city publicity & knew immediately it was something i really wanted to attend...the five chefs involved in the tasting event & dinner for the starlight children's foundation's signature fundraising event for 2011 are...tony percuoco (tartufo), javier codina (moda), pablo tordesillas (ortiga), mathieu astier (sofitel prive 249) & rhett willis (jellyfish). all these chefs are excellent at their craft & to be invited to this private, intimate tasting was such a treat & priviledge!

the wine matching was superb (pity i decided to drive!)...& the tasting dishes presented to us that will be served at the event "starlight 5 chef dinner" on monday 6th june included:-

rhett's creation, course 1 assiette, wasabi leaf w mud crab remoulade, tuna tartar w compressed aloe vera, white fish nummus

pablo's creation, course 2 mar y montaña of oysters with pig trotters & stinging nettle picada

mathieu's creation, course 3 warrick lamb, slow roasted lamb loin, butternut puree & toasted quinoa with arabica jus

javier's creation, course 4 duck leg & cassoulet of white beans & chorizo, pear chutney

tony's creation, course 5 semifreddo al torrone - ice cream terrine of hazelnut nougat, marsala & strega liqueur served with an orange syrup

all the above dishes were so delicious & unique in their own right!

tickets on sale to attend this dinner (but not many left) through this link

also you can join their facebook & event community page through this link

...above pablo talking through his course 2

...above tony percuoco

...above mathieu's course 3

...above javier talking through his course 4

...above javier cuts his course 4

...above tony percuoco's dessert course 5

...delicious dessert wine to finish...

lunch with the autumn sun setting

2011-05-17T18:27:00.002+10:00

i wanted to share a recent lazy sunday lunch that i had at home in our back garden...the autumn sun was slowly setting & the afternoon was gorgeous...this time of year is so beautiful in brisbane...blue skies, crisp mornings & evenings...& no flies!

autumn lunch in the sun menu

entree - fennel, radish, radicchio & rocket salad with chianti washed sheeps milk cheese & lemon olive oil dressing...served with grilled ciabatta & extra virgin olive oil
ingredients/prepare - thinly slice or mandolin fennel, radish, radicchio & wash rocket. scatter over platter. whisk juice of 1/2 lemon with 5tblsp evoo, salt & cracked pepper until well blended. drizzle dressing over salad & shave shards of hard sheeps milk cheese over...serve immediately with toasted ciabatta

main - green lentils, pork & fennel sausauge & chicken baked in white wine & tomatoes with steamed green beans, dijon dressing & cracked pepper (really easy to do!)

ingredients/prepare - pan sear 8 chick thigh on the bone until brown set aside & in the same pan juices saute finely chopped 4 celery stalks, 4 crushed garlic cloves...pour 3/4 dry white wine into pan & reduce to 1/2. in a large dry baking dish place 1 cup of green lentils, place raw sausages & chicken...pour over 1 punnet cherry tomatoes, 2 cups of pasata tomatoe sauce or crushed tomatoes, cooked celery mix, roughly chopped lemon thyme & reduced white wine...cover with foil & bake for 1.5hrs on med oven.
beans - cook until al dente, season with s&p...whisk 1tsp dijon mustard w 2 tblsp evoo & pour over beans.

dessert - baked cheesecake with drunken muscatels & cream (i will blog the dessert soon)

five sisters art house cafe, 141 fish lane, sth brisbane

2011-05-14T08:02:00.002+10:00

five sisters is a little cafe i have been meaning to try since i first discovered it whilst driving down fish lane urgently looking for a park before a client appt & made a mental note to try it one day soon. five sisters opened in october last year & sadly were heavily affected by the brisbane floods earlier this year. since then they have rebuilt the business & are today back on their feet serving a selection of greek delights, sweet & savoury, traditional & contemporary along with segafredo coffee. the moment we arrived my little girls were engaged by the staff & shown the turtles in the tank, my latte was excellent, the girls loved their shakes & were given complimentary greek sweets. the family warmth from the staff was felt by us & i loved the outdoor area along with the indoor area of the heritage listed building. also you can enter five sisters from melbourne street...look for side lane entrance. they also do catering.

five sisters

pia jane bijkerk...my heart wanders book launch

2011-05-10T18:24:00.019+10:00

my dear friend mady (+ check out her gorgeous blog anabundance) invited me to pia jane bijkerk's book launch "my heart wanders" on saturday. pia is an internationally acclaimed stylist, photographer, blogger & author specialising in interiors, still life & food. "my heart wanders" is her third book to be released...her others are paris made by hand & amsterdam made by hand.

the afternoon for me was gorgeous...the company...the book...the setting along with the beautiful autumn weather...the home-baked bites...the refreshments! i left feeling inspired & really lucky to have been invited - thank you mady xx

happy mums day

2011-05-08T09:57:00.001+10:00

mums day is one i embrace with open arms! this day each year is kicked off with breakfast in bed for me & this year there was no spilt tea!...i was serenaded with a rather off-beat song by my eldest...given a hand-made present by my youngest who swiftly took it off me again & was presented with a cook book that i have been longing for...enjoy your day mums! x

palatschinke...hungarian flat bread filled with herbs & cheese

2011-05-05T09:49:00.000+10:00

on our visit recently to eagle farm growers market our noses picked up the scent of the hungarian stand...there were a couple of breakfast options on offer here but the palatschinken was what attracted us...a grilled thin flat bread filled with fetta, cheddar & mixed herbs. it was rich, cheesy, salty & wonderfully moorish + went down very well with our takeaway flat whites from the coffee stand nearby.

chabichou du poitou, loire valley, france

2011-05-02T19:06:00.000+10:00

i think chabichou is a fabulous cheese! my love for this cheese started when working in the pyrmont fromagerie for simon johnson many years ago. to me this goat cheese stands out on its own...wonderful served room temperature with sliced rustic walnut bread & a glass of pinot.

cheese notes - chabichou is sweet & delicate in taste touched by a slight acidic & salty flavour. the rind is thin with white, yellow & sometimes blue mould. the pate is firm & the centre can be chalky in texture. when matured longer this cheese will have a harder, crumblier appearance & a much more pronounced "goatier" sharper flavour.

chickpea, lentil & yoghurt felafels

2011-05-01T07:00:00.005+10:00

can i call these felafels when the ingredients are not completely authentic? well felafel sounds better than balls in this circumstance i think... i have been meaning to do something with the besan flour that i bought at my favourite indian shop & this is my creation. they were tasty especially dunked into the hommus & coriander dip...although the besan flour does make "the balls" denser than a usual felafel!

chickpea, lentil & yoghurt felafels

ingredients - 2 cups besan flour, 3tbls of sesame seeds, drained/rinsed 1 tin of brown lentils, 1 cup natural yoghurt, 1tbls cumin powder, 1tbls coriander powder, 1tbls sea salt, plenty of cracked pepper, juice of 2 lemons, 3 crushed garlic gloves, 2 eggs whites whisked, chopped fresh coriander, 3 cups of canola oil/or veg oil...extra besan flour if the consistency is too wet...+ 1tpsn of chilli flakes (or leave out if making for the children).

prepare - mix together besan, sesame, lentils, yoghurt, cumin, coriander powder, salt, pepper, lemon juice, garlic, chilli flakes - best with hands. whisk whites & then fold them in + chopped fresh coriander. i added a little more besan when it came to the rolling. heat oil in saucepan & place rolled felafels gently in the sizzling oil, turn over browning both sides & then drain on kitchen paper.

great for park picnics, serve when guests arrive, eat for lunch in a wrap - actually do what you like!

peasant pasta

2011-04-30T08:28:00.002+10:00

i was caught out last sunday & monday with many shops closed for the public holidays...our fridge was down to its bare minimum & our pantry was just hanging in there. by sunday lunch time my little family were all still clad in pj's & the subject came up of "what's for lunch?"... i have made this pasta before but forgot how little ingredients you need, how simple it is to prepare & the girls love it so that is always a massive plus!

peasant pasta (when the cupboards are bare)

ingredients - 3/4pkt 500g good spaghetti, 1 cup of breadcrumbs, 4 finely sliced brown onions, 1 cup pitted black olives chopped (ligurian or kalamatta), several chopped garlic gloves, 3 lemons, finely chopped parsley or basil, parmesan, extra virgin olive oil, cracked pepper, sea salt flakes

prepare - in a pan brown & crisp the breadcrumbs with a little olive oil (set the crumbs aside in a bowl)...in a clean pan fry onions, garlic & olives with olive oil on low heat for approx 15 mins until soft/brownish...cook spaghetti in salted water until al dente...in a large serving bowl place drained spaghetti, onion mixture, 3/4 of the bread crumbs, squeeze lemons over, chopped parsley, cracked pepper, a little salt (as the olives will add salt too) + a good drizzle of evoo. toss/mix through thoroughly. finish bowl off with a good grating of parmesan & the remaining crumbs...serve, enjoy & note as my girls did you cannot suck the spaghetti up as the breadcrumbs coat the pasta...sorry girls!

vintage espresso, 1/43 alfred street, mermaid beach

2011-04-28T10:15:00.002+10:00

you would have to be a local to know about vintage espresso. tucked in a side street off the gold coast highway you will find vintage espresso. actually look for the retro lounge sitting on the pavement! the coffee they use is from marvel street roasters, byron bay. i didn't try their breakfast or lunch but I am told (by a local) it is good...we enjoyed coffees with some tasty slices...i love the lemon delicious!

the vintage light fittings & retro vases displayed are fabulous + i loved the wall paper!

cucumber gimlet

2011-04-26T18:53:00.002+10:00

we visited friends, nell & dave, at their beautiful home on the gold coast recently & within minutes of arriving we were handed a cucumber gimlet. so deliciously fresh & incredibly drinkable...we instantly felt relaxed & the afternoon flowed...very comfortably!

cucumber gimlet recipe

2 large cucumbers (1 1/2 pounds total)

1/2 cup gin

4 teaspoons fresh lime juice

1 tablespoon sugar

1 cup ice cubes

4 lime slices

pinch of salt

method - slice four 1/4-inch-thick slices from 1 cucumber. peel & coarsely chop remaining cucumbers; transfer to processor & purée until smooth. pour through fine strainer set over large bowl, pressing on solids in strainer. discard solids in strainer. mix 1 cup cucumber juice, gin, lime juice, & sugar in pitcher; stir until sugar dissolves. add ice; mix well. immediately strain mixture into 4 small Martini glasses. garnish with lime & cucumber slices & serve.

duo deli cafe, 58 thomas drive, chevron island

2011-04-25T10:48:00.006+10:00

on recommedation by nell we visited duo deli cafe on easter saturday...nell said she goes there weekly & thinks the place is consistently very good. duo opened 18mths ago by kylie currey & greg harper. they use piazza doro coffee, offer breakfast, lunch & wines by the glass...+ at the rear of the cafe they have a well researched deli stocking products like ortiz anchovies, colonna evoo, forvm vinegars etc. their cheese looked well cared for with good prices (considering i saw a deli @ broadbeach selling taleggio @ $139 per kilo - complete joke!!, don't get me started...)

our table of six ordered the following:

several coffees - latte, flat whites...all very good!

granola muesli with fruit & milk

seasonal fruit plate w yoghurt

omelette w fontina & cherry tomatoes

scrambled eggs with smoked salmon

avocado with organic quark, lemon on toasted sour dough

israeli eggs with roasted tomatoes, chilli & spanish onion w a side order of house made potato rosti

we were all very happy with our meals & the service was excellent - thanks nell great suggestion!

elk espresso, 16 chelsea av, broadbeach

2011-04-23T15:59:00.003+10:00

my gorgeous long time friend, nell, took me to elk for lunch recently. nell has long lived on the coast & knows the places to eat, drink & shop! elk is just 1 week old & we both firmly agreed that the place is going to be a massive hit for broadbeach & the gold coast in general! amongst us we ordered a plate of dips & crispy crackers, shoestring fries w aioli, eye fillet, oven roasted tomatoes w pumpkin, pine nuts, avocado & persian fetta + roast veg w goats cheese & rocket salad...all fresh & delicious. they use marvell st coffee from byron bay. i loved the sanded back wall with giant elk print + the fern dividing wall is fabulous...also the xavier pauchard chairs & stools look great in white & pea green! we visited the next day & the place was spilling out onto the pavement with people waiting for tables...our takeaway coffees were excellent. next time I am on the coast I will be back visiting elk!

marvell st coffee

happy easter xx

2011-04-22T21:54:00.001+10:00

i hope you enjoy the easter holidays. i love these old fashioned traditionally made candy eggs by vanilla pod...so pretty.

ruby wants eggs hidden in the garden & eve wants a trail of eggs to one very large egg. i predict that by 10am they will be sick of chocolate & we will all be craving something savoury!

matzoh meal pikelets...bubalekh

2011-04-21T07:52:00.001+10:00

i am visiting my parents in law for Pesach & for breakfast we made bubbeleh (pronounced boobala)...which the girls love saying over & over again! they are delicious freshly fried & drizzled with honey. my mum-in-law suggests using canola oil as the pikelets burn less while frying.

matzoh meal pikelets recipes

ingredients - 1 egg, 1 tsp. matzo meal, 1 tsp. sugar (optional), tiny pinch of salt, canola oil

separate the eggs, & whisk the whites until soft peaks adding the salt & sugar. gently fold in the matzo meal & lightly beaten egg yolks until well combined. fry in a large non stick pan until golden brown. serve immediately drizzled with honey.

ossau iraty...delicious french sheeps milk cheese

2011-04-20T19:23:00.001+10:00

recently my work, visco fine foods, hosted a cheese & wine night for industry customers...we tasted over 20 visco imported cheeses from italy, france & spain all matched with imported wines from bouchon wines. one of the stand out cheeses of the evening (for me) was ossau iraty from france. I love the nutty, creaminess of this cheese...soooo delicious. it is a traditional, unpasteurized, semi-soft cheese with a natural rind & is made with the milk of manech ewes. usually matured for a min of 3mths & with age the cheese becomes stronger in flavour. wine match (i learnt on the night) would be cotes de st mont.

petite waffles, eagle farm mkts, ascot

2011-04-18T08:06:00.001+10:00

firstly eagle farm markets are in their second weekend of trading & they are fabulous! the flow of the market, the ambience, the stall holders - all excellent. we arrived by 8am on a sunday morning & the crowds had started to arrive. coffee & breakfast was first on the agenda as our two little girls were starting to send us insane with their incessant pleas for food (& understandbly so)!!! petite waffles was our first port of call & the girls happily devoured a freshly baked blueberry waffle & cinnamon waffle. tthe waffles were straight from the waffle iron, wonderfully warm, sweet, soft & delicious. i think we all could have eaten a dozen! we were told that the waffles are made to an authentic belgian recipe...several variations are made including vanilla, maple, rum & raisin, raisin, chocolate, & swirl.

petite waffles are available at several markets...mitchelton, rocklea, eagle farm, various mr beans coffee venues & cie coffee in the valley.

petite waffles

belle epoque patisserie, emporium, 1000 ann st, fortitude valley

2011-04-16T16:34:00.002+10:00

matt & i had a rare night off recently (from our 2 busy little girls) & to conclude our time together we had breakfast at belle epoque patisserie...belle epoque bistro & bar closed down in 2010 however some space was saved for the patisserie to remain open. the space resembles a side-walk parisian cafe & their menu is wonderfully classicly french...with offerings of croissants, pain au chocolat, macaroons, brioche, baguettes, savoury tarts, salads etc.

on a drizzly rainy weekend morning i felt cosy sitting inside drinking my vittoria latte & indulging in a croque monsieur...cheesy/savoury/toasty/buttery - certainly tasty! daily papers & current mags are on offer for reading. you can also order a glass of champagne or sip a cotes du rhone, listening to french music & watch people passing by...might revisit & do that one day! also check out the gorgeous vintage french lantern hanging over the counter - fabulous!

adrienne...designated dessert maker forever!

2011-04-14T11:33:00.001+10:00

my friend adrienne makes fabulous desserts! she was designated dessert maker at a recent girl get-together with her apple & date cake winning all our hearts! the next day my girls had her cake for breakfast & matt devoured several slices too!

the cake is incredibly moist & the caramelly coconut topping is delicious!

Apple & Date Cake

2 green apples, peeled, cored and cut into chunks
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 teaspoon bicarbonate soda
1 cup boiling water
125g unsalted butter
1 cup caster sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla essence
1 1/2 cups plain flour, sifted
Topping - 60g unsalted butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, firmly packed, 1/2 cup shredded coconut, 2 tablespoons milk

1. Place apples, dates and soda in a bowl. Pour over boiling water. Allow to stand until cool.

2. Beat butter and sugar together in another bowl until pale and creamy. Blend in egg and vanilla.

3. Fold flour and apple mixture alternately into creamed mixture. Spread into a greased 23cm spring-form tin. Bake in a moderate oven (180 degrees) for 45 minutes.

4. To preapre topping: place butter, sugar, coconut and milk in a small saucepan. Heat, stirring, until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.

5. Remove cake from oven. Spread topping evenly over the top of the cake. Bake for a further 15 minutes or until topping is golden and a skewer inserted into the middle of the cake comes out clean.

6. Allow to cool completely in tin. Carefully remove sides of the tin. Serve in wedges with thick cream or icecream.