Monday 14 October 2013

The machine that will put me out if a job!!!!!

Being a chef is one of those careers that you could almost always gaurentee you a job because well everyone has to eat right??
We'll I have recently become fascinated with a kitchen appliance that will soon put me out of a job and let everyone have restaurant meals right at home.

This genius personal chef is none other than the Thermomix TM31


It is a little pricey, costing just under the 2,000 dollar mark but once you see what this German engineered robot it is capable of, the cost will be the last thing on your mind.

It chops,beats, mixes, whips, grinds, kneads, minces, grates, juices, heats, stirs, steams ,mills  and weighs your foods all in 1 machine.
Seriously do yourself a favour and check out the link www.thermomix.com.au and watch the videos of what it can do!

It allows you to know what goes into your food without the preservatives and hidden ingredients.
Great for dietary needs as well, it produces top quality restaurant food in minutes and you don't even have to watch it just set the timer and walk away, Done!

I am now completely in love and with one on order am sure many more of my posts will be thermomix inspired.

However if that doesn't inspire you George Columbaris has one too, and if it's good enough for George I'm sold!!



Sunday 23 June 2013

Luke Nguyen Red lantern,


Luke Nguyen, legend in his own right! 
For those of you living under a culinary rock. Luke is not only an author, television host, and restauranteur he is also an inspiring chef that travels the culinary globe showcasing some of the worlds most simplistic yet indulgent dishes.

So when a girls weekend came up in Sydney I couldn't wait to go to the Vietnamese kingdom.. The Red Lantern on Riley,Darlinghurst.

So we were early and walked in right as they were briefing the staff on their evening ahead, but instead of shooing us away they all welcomed us and took us to the bar where house specialty cocktails and wine went down a treat! 
The restaurant was warm (not just because I had a couple in the bar) inviting and modern. I don't know why but I was expecting a large packed place but cozy and intimate with a real family friendly feel to it. 

Once seated me on the verge of wetting myself in anticipation looked at the menu, wow!!
We decided to go with the a la carte menu as I was being slightly selfish and didn't want to share. 

Entree was served 

BAHN TOM CHIEN
Rice cakes with tiger prawns, caramelised pork, pork floss and shallot oil 

Mid course- an extra course before main probably unnecessary but I wasn't going to complain.

BANH XEO CHAY
Crisp rice flour crepes filled with oyster mushrooms, tofu, snow peas and mung beans
Served with lettuce leaves and Vietnamese herbs to wrap

Then mains

BO LUC LAU
Cubed black angussirloin wok tossed in sesame garlic and black pepper

Then Dessert (feeling slightly uncomfortamble but would feel like I was letting everyone down if this wasn't consumed )


THE DESSERT PLATTER 
Consisting of
Organic banana fritters crumbed in coconut rice, with palm sugar caramel, tapioca and house made vanilla bean ice cream 
Coconut creme brûlée and Chocolate Dumplings with creme anglaise



Over all everything was delish obviously, but being a savoury girl I am voting that entree was the best!

The staff was great as was the atmosphere but the food , words cannot
Explain plus everything was served on funky platters and bowls, a modern flair on Vietnamese classics. 
Deffinatly recommended 5/5 for sure.



Saturday 23 March 2013

French escargot

France.. what springs to mind? The Eifel Tower? The Arc De Triomphe ? Well for me the things I link to the decedent paree are words like foie gras, terrine, pâté,and not to mention the delish array of French patisseries with creme brûlée, Mille fuilles and don't get me started on the champagne, ohhhhh yeahhhh!!!!

The fact is that without the precision and technique that is French cuisine our western world as we know it would be completely different!
As chefs we Are taught a great deal about French cooking not only by learning technique but by learning terms and definition as well.

Now however creative these French culinary genius are you have to wonder what is going through their heads when they come up with these few dishes....

Tete de Veau or Calf’s Head.
Smoked Ox Tongue
Tripe the French soul food.
Ris de Veau or calf’s pancreas
Frog’s Legs
Escargot – snails


And it makes you wonder how they thought ... Well lets eat a snail

Today there are over 100 different types of garden snails but in France, only two types are found.
the snails are normally killed, removed from their shells and cooked in garlic butter, stock or wine. escargot is high in protein and low in fat content (depending on how they are cooked and how much butter is smeared all over them.) but they do contain 15% protein, 2.4% fat and about 80% water.

Now I am defiantly not suggestion going on a scavenger hunt in the backyard but these slippery little suckers also come in a tin ( what doesn't?) and the health benefits are they are high in protein, vitamin e and magnesium,

So maybe It is the week to be impulsive or experimental.. Buy a tin and pretend to be Manu,


Bon appetite

Thursday 21 March 2013

Apple crumble muffins

Apple crumble and ultimate classic and so easy to mix up and make different.
Crumble was more popular in world war 2
In Britain and Ireland and was popular because it made a filling dish that was cheap and could be rationed out!

So I have created my own crumble with a twist that is super easy and utterly delish....
Apple crumble muffins !
So in a bowl all you need to do is place
2 grated royal gala apples (skins on )
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 a cup of almond meal
2 eggs
3/4 cup milk
And 125gr melted butter

Mix it all together untill blended well and place in either muffin tins or patty pans

Now for the crumble

Rub together 100gr of butter and 1 cup if flour to resemble bread crumbs
Then add 1/2 cup desiccated coconut
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup brown sugar
And 1 tsp cinnamon

Sprinkle mixture on to the muffins and bake at 180deg for 20-25 min

Mmmm.......
Let me know how they go



the wrong side of 25

Food …
So many varieties, so many ingredients, so many options .
As a chef/foodie/aspiring writer food is something that really gets me excited.
This blog is going to get slightly emotional so don’t say I didn’t give any warning.
After a recent realisation that I am on the wrong side of 25 I have decided that I don’t need to be ashamed of the fact that I have a million things that I want out of life.
That being a dreamer is perfectly normal and that doing something that makes me happy even though I may not be saving the world or breaking records it is perfectly ok.
So with my new insight into life I have decided that I am going to do what I love cook home-style food and open a little business where I can showcase my passion and enjoy the feeling of making people happy if only for a second or third mouthful.
I am also going to continue to write even if no one reads it and even if it doesn’t get me a job as a food critic or journalist.
After some recent events in my life I have decided that life is short and I am going to do what I love because it makes me happy.
So if anyone does read this please comment tell me what you want or wanted to do in life it’s never too late to be happy....

Wednesday 30 January 2013

Woman vs Food

American food,

what astonished me is not only the portion sizes but the fact that there is an entire show with 4 series based on 1 American man taking on some of the biggest food challenges in the world.
What's worst thing is that I'm obsessed with the show, so when I realise that there is a massive burger challenge right here in my home town I am there.
It's called Misty's diner and its located on high street in Prahan, this place is great! It is like stepping back into the 50's into a scene from grease.

"I got chills, there multiplying and I'm losing control" ohhhhh imagine it you step out of your Cadillac in your pink poodle skirt and your pink ladies jacket and you sit on a blue padded booth seat and a sexy young John Travolta stares back at you with his gorgeous brown eyes and says....

Ok so I will leave the next bit to you and although I can't guarantee that Mr Travolta will be there...i can tell you that it won't be disappointing.
It's a fun place with great food from burgers to hotdogs, chilli fries to BBQ ribs even peanut butter milkshakes to deep fried twinkles if its American they have it.

But the thing that caught my eye was this....
The ULTIMATE BURGER CHALLENGE !!!

You have 14min to eat an entire 5 beef patty tower if you will that is a 1.2 kg slab of meat, along with 200 gr of chilli fries !
Now call me crazy but it was impossible , well for the 3 people attempting it that night it was but I have been assured that quite a few have succeeded and received the "I bet Misty's burger challenge" T-shirt and there photo on the wall of fame.

Now I chickened out and instead of the challenge opted for something a little less messy... BBQ pork ribs and buffalo wings with home style ranch dressing haha get it??

It was sensational and to top it off finished with a chips ahoy or choc chip cookie thick shake served with delicious whipped cream and crumbs of cookie over the top.

Extravagant and fattening but worth it. It's one of those places you have to experience to believe it.

Now that I have eaten all that food it's time to relax and watch the charming Travolta in grease,

What more could a girl want xxx

Monday 28 January 2013

Seed cafe Mordialloc

Hey guys,
Today I headed out to breakfast at a local spot I have been dying to try called "seed" at 9 Centreway Mordialloc.
It's open 7 days a week for all day breakfast and lunch and renown themselves for good wholesome food.
We arrived at "seed" at around 10.30am and the place was buzzing.

There were cyclists,families, couples it was a real homely atmosphere.
It was quite deceiving because what from the street looked like a small cafe once you were inside was a rather large space.
As we walked in we were greeted immediately and offered a table near the window.

We had a lovely waiter taking care of us who brought us our tea ( has to be English Breakfast but I can go into that another time) and menus as soon as we sat.

The menu was quite extensive with something to tantalise even the fussiest of eaters.
After some ummming and Ahhhing I decided on a dish which I couldn't pronounce it was called...

Tunisian Shakshuca

It consisted of a chickpea and roasted tomato stew topped with fresh roquette, Labne cheese ,2 free range poached eggs and toasted ciabatta.

Now I have to say I was sceptical as I was unsure as to what I was going to get.
A stew for breakfast? With cheese and gooey eggs ??

Well not only was it presented beautifully it was so delishous I could have eaten it twice over!
The stew was a lovely thick consistancy with spices like smokey paprika and cumin made it a winner from the start then the Labne added a creaminess to it and the eggs just added a velvety thickener when those yolks oozed over the stew.
Plus l ensured nothing went to waste and soaked up ever last drop with the crusty bread.

So I am highly recommending "seed" it was resonably priced it had cost me $19 for my breakfast and tea, they provided quick lovely service and call me a sucker but when I went to tip I was told that all the staff that were tipped put their money towards a young 6 year old girl named Graciela from Ecuador She was "seeds" sponsor child from world vision.

So I left feeling full and happy and felt like there are some lovely people in the world.
So over all two thumbs up from me 👍👍