The Redux

This blog has been sadly neglected of late. It was originally set up to document what we ate over the course of a year ~ what we cooked, who we ate it with, what the occasion was. It kind of lost its way, and over a year has passed. But... It is back with renewed vigour. What's causeed its rengeneration? Well, a couple of things. The first, I finally gave the cigarettes away after.. ahem.. 30 years. God knows why it took so long. I did need some help, mainly in the form of the Allen Carr clinic And, touch wood, it seems to have worked. Result ~ one very happy camper with renewed tastebuds and a lust for good food.

Strange things are happening.

Strange thing 1:
I didn't want to drink at all for a month or so. Maybe the hypnotherapy session took away my desire to drink AND smoke. Surely not! A red wine drinker all my life, when I did think about a drink, it was for a white. The dudes at my local bottle shop recommended the Yealands Way Pinot Gris and I've got to tell you it's de-bloody-delicious, (I'm having one now) and the Yealands story is a good one, with a commitment to sustainable practices.


Strange thing 2:
S.O. ( who readers of earlier posts will know is Significant Other) is loving vegetables. I witnessed him eating a ricotta and nettle ~ yes, stinging nettle ~ fritatta and loving it. He also hoe-ed into the eggplant with balsamic and mustard dressing, declaring his approval. Who would have thought. Perhaps he's learnt the value of good nutritional intake from his bout with shingles last year.

This last item is not strange at all really, but very exciting, and the primary reason for the resurgence of the blog ~ I found a CSA in New South Wales.

Some years ago I picked up a book called Farmer John's Cookbook: The Real Dirt on Vegetables, a great book by Farmer John Peterson and Angelic Organics. Farmer John runs a CSA. Okay, for those of you who don't know, CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It was something that had fascinated me from the time I picked up the book, but didn't know of any CSA farms in Australia. With all the extra time I had from not smoking (did you know a pack a day smoker spends 17 DAYS A YEAR SMOKING) I went looking again for a CSA Down Under. And yay, I found one ~ Near River Produce ~ isn't that a beautiful name. I've very much enjoyed reading their story so far, and very excited about being part of it. In two weeks we'll receive the first produce box. I can't wait. So the future of this blog is in what participate in, and how we enjoy our CSA experience.

Come with us, it'll be fun.

Fast Slow Food

I think there's a misunderstanding that needs rectifying.

I've heard critics of the Slow Food movement say plaintively, "But I like some fast food... like char kway teow and banh mi and pizza." I don't think adherents to Slow Food have a problem with a carefully and well produced food item; what they do wish to see the end of, is the absolute dumbing down of once important elements of a food culture. Food variety is going to become as extinct as quickly as the animals and birds we’re knocking off every few years.

Take pizza for instance. There’s pizza and then there’s pizza. There’s unidentifiable fat with plastic cheese and nasty processed meat sort of pizza, delivered by a spotty youth on a motorbike who is no advertisement for the product. And then there’s thin crisp dough topped with a ‘less is more’ essence of tomato sugo, a slice of provolone and a couple of olives. Maybe an anchovy if you’re feeling risqué. And sold with pride by the person who made it.

I’d call the first version fast ‘food’ (I use the word food loosely. Maybe it should be called fast ‘food.’) and the second slow.

Slow food does not dictate that you must grow everything yourself, cook every single dish from scratch, and never eat out. I had the ultimate slow breakfast last weekend ~ delicious ful madammes (Egyptian beans) ~ cooked long and slow with lots of spices and topped with a free range egg. And I had it out, at an Egyptian restaurant, to which we drove by car.

Marvellous quickly prepared fresh food is available all over the world. Pho, flash in the wok noodle dishes, felafel, bacon & egg rolls. All ready to the consumer in the wink of an eye. But it’s their preparation and provenance that determines whether they’re slow or fast. Did the pig for the bacon and the chickens for the eggs grow up in a cage full of its own excrement, choking on ammonia? Was the bacon smoked using a cornucopia of chemicals in a factory with dodgy hygiene standards? Was the rice for the noodles of the pho genetically modified.

The Slow Food movement, if I’m not mistaken, just wants to see respect, care and concern taken over the growing and production of the ingredients that go into our favourite bodily function ~ eating.

In my world, the slow includes: slowing down to think about who produced it, in what circumstances, using what aids, in what sort of factory, to what end. It doesn’t just mean braising something for 5 hours.

Rules to live by:

If it contains more numbers than things you recognise in the ingredient list DO NOT put it in your mouth.

If it’s claim includes less fat, less sugar, less salt, DO NOT put it in your mouth, and at least ask yourself ‘less than what?’

And perhaps the 7 most important words of the 21st century given to us by Michael Pollan: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants.

And perhaps I’d add one more word ~ SLOWLY. You know your mother would applaud that.

Wedding Cheese Cakes

No, not the nasty refrigerated cream cheese variety, or even the delicious quark baked German variety... an architectural wonder of artisan Irish cheese availalbe from Sheridans Cheesemongers in Ireland. I LOVE IT.

The Organic Challenge: Shopping in Sydney

So I decided to go online shopping to see how 'organically' we could live for a week. As I've said we spend around $200 a week on food (we love to eat), but I thought I'd try $100 ~ say you're a single person who loves to eat.

And this is what we got from Abundant Organics delivery service in Sydney, had we decided to press the checkout button.

You can see what we had in the basked more clearly by clicking on the two images. There certainly wasn't going to be a lot of meat eaten this week. That's okay.

The premise was there should be something to add to all this left over in the store cupboard at home, just like next week there'll still be rice.

I feel like I'm playing 'Ready Steady Cook' but here's what I'd do with this lot.

I think one could make Osso Buco using the meat, the carrots, the onions and maybe add the cannelini beans, a zucchini frittata, a risotto with the pumpkin and feta and herbs. And then there's still the chicken to do something with. Perhaps on the barbie, with some grilled red capsicum and a Greek salad with some more feta, cucumber and tomatoes and any parsley that might be hanging around. There's not a great deal of fruit in here. But I think maybe you could get five lunches and dinners from it with the addition of bread for sandwiches. And to continue on the Greek theme, perhaps devote a potato or two to making a skordalia (We surely must have garlic and olive oil in the store cupboard.)

The pros of this site: a big range in all departments.
The cons: I would rather be able to order a number of lemons (say 5) than a percentage of a kilo.

AND I really would have liked to have had a whole chook on offer, because then I could have used the bones to make stock to use in the risotto.

Please visit

Yes, another new blog. Please come and visit at organic australia. It's devoted to discussion and resources of all edible organic things produced and consumed in Australia.

As part of this blog though, let's do the organic challenge. Find an online delivery service, buy $100 worth. I certainly don't expect that we can eat 100% organic/sustainably produced, but I'd like to see how to utilise the delivery services for a week. Will it be enough for two? Will we be too many potatoes? At least, given it's summer here there should be some interesting fruit. I get very tired of apples and pears in winter. Will we able to afford any meat. We're going to interrogate organic delivery in each of Australia's capital cities. Want to try?

We're Off To Vietnam

Here's something a little spooky.

My name is Kerrie, I live in Kepos Street. Kepos in Greek can mean garden, and is where Epicurus took his students... With me so far? But have a look at the picture. Is it Kerrie or is it Kepos? You decide.

Significant Birthday with the Significant Others

We're off too Hanoi. I'm having a significant birthday in November and have decided to spend it in Vietnam. It will certainly conform to an Eating Year, as I plan to scoff my way around the country. (With the exception of Thit Co ~ I'm sorry I just don't think I could do it, what with my own two pups waiting at home for me.)

I'm hoping a gang of friends is coming to join S.O. and I for dinner. I rather like Sticky Rice's Moon River review. I've become an avid reader of the Stickyrice blog.

I'd love to hear from anyone who reads this blog who have had some really special food experiences whilst in Vietnam. Restaurants, Pavement food, Markets, products. Anything really.

I'm going to use this blog as a bit of an info site for those who are joining us, which some links that I've found that look interesting.

For instance, HanoiKids, a group of college and uni students who'll show you their home town. I've got in a request for them to take me to the market and reveal the food secrets.

I've been dealing with the lovely Nhan at Footprint Travel who is very helpful. Even did an online chat with her on Saturday arvo re our plans. My Asian technology has changed since I last visited.

And for the first week we are staying at the Hanoi Elegance 2 [That's 2, not 1!]

Would appreciate any food 'must-dos' from anyone who stumbles across this blog.

Details for my friends:

We are arriving morning of 21 November, CX flight.
Staying at Hanoi Elegance 2 (subject to confirmation of numbers... come on, hurry up)
Dinner on 23 November maybe at Moon River. (The Egg Hating Vegetarian Coeliac, who I hope is coming on same flight as us... and Jan and Andre will check it out).




S.O. is a huge fan of the Vietnamese chicken baguette, so I'm sure he'll become the expert on those while we're away. While the look of that crab thrills me to the socks.

Hen Gap Lai!

Delizie Di Casa

Sometimes the opening of a small, unpretentious eatery can make a difference to a local community. That's what Delize di Casa has done for East Redfern.

It's a very Melbourne kind of place. (Well, actually it's a very Italian sort of place, but it has that real local ambience that I've found isn't as easy to find in Sydney as it is in Melbourne). And it smells fantastic.

Daniel opened his deli just before xmas, and the impact on us locals has been fantstic. It's a true neighbourhood eatery, and I think I speak for all his customers when I thank from the bottom of my heart for his

Great coffee
Sublime Lasagne
Soup of Day
Marvellous pizza bases
Delicious Italian sausages
and truly gorgeous range of italian small goods and cheeses.

And I hear a rumour there's an Osso Buco pie in development. Bring it on ~ family sized thank you!

Daniel, Jo and V know all their customers by name. And while sometimes, in this hurried, harried world of ours it's too easy to think the service could be a tiny bit faster, you realise that the gang's commitment to the finest produce and not cutting any corners in its service means you get to chat to your neighbours, you hear the local goss, you meet new neighbours, you spend quality time talking about important things like food with the crew from Vine, the bottle shop. (Needs an entry of its own).

It's the principles of Slow Food and buying local at its very best. I have never felt so welcomed and respected as a customer. It's a warm and enthusiatic and big hearted place, so much bigger than its not so large square metrage.

I love having my morning coffee there, and even call in after work (they're open til 7 most nights) just for a catch up. See what's gone on during the day.

Go for a visit and buy yourself a Delizie showbag. I recommend:

Some italian butter
Slices of San Daniele Prosciutto
A fresh lasagne
A couple of pizza bases
Homemade gnocchi
Some olives
a tub of eggplant

oh, and Daniel's tuna dip... oh, and the artichoke and cannelini bean dip.

A good crusty loaf and you're good to go. And go you will ~ back and back.

And a Waste Not, Want Not tip for all you dog loving foodies: Did you know that the skin of a leg of a prosciutto, scored with a sharp knife and slow baked on a rack in the oven til crispy, makes the most delicious doggie treat a canine ever had. Ask you local deli for their ham and proscuitto rinds to make your doggie a happy chappie. (I have even known S.O. to get stuck into them before they reach the pooches).

I for one look forward to the day Daniel opens his pizzeria. In the meantime you can find him at:

Shop 2B, 780 Bourke Street, Redfern 2016. Tel: (02) 9699 9413

Sweetie Darling

I know this blog's neglected, I know. It's because I've discovered the horsies. No, not to eat, to wager on. I was about to give up on this one... It was just something I discovered in an article, when it came third. And I love a grey. Had a good day today. S.O. cooking dinner while I listen to racing. Oh well....

Autumn is here.

I dunno, I just can't get so excited by summer food as I do eating in the other three seasons of the year. Maybe that's why this blog has become a wee bit neglected of late. Sure, there was the great Asian 'slaw, of which we ate a lot, there were many bug tail barbies, there was the ricotta hotcake Xmas breakfast and S.O. even glazed a ham. Kibbeh, tabbouleh and hummus made with just a touch of preserved lemon also featured heavily. (Note to self: Asian slaw and tabbouleh look alike. What's that about?)




It always takes me months to get over the excess of Xmas, not that we went overboard this year. Just S.O. and I home, with some of the family joining on Boxing Day. But it seems to me that we never start preparing dinner until way too late in the evening ~ I blame daylight saving ~ having had too many beverages to really pay attention to the cooking process.

I must prefer easter. Four days off, great autumnal weather, no pressure ~ an altogether much nicer time, I think.

More cookbooks have joined the library. And I have discovered NPR's Hidden Kitchens series which is the most marvellous series of podcasts. It's just fantastic, and I urge you to subscribe. It's not a cooking show, but captures people and kitchens "under the radar".

We have a lovely new Italian deli opened in our 'hood. Great people ~ Daniel, Veronica & Joanne ~ really wonderful quality Italian cheeses, meats, pastas. So good, that it smells like Melbourne! More about them later.

20 kilos of tomatoes have been turned into sugo, chicken stock has been made. And we've discovered a laden guava tree around the corner ~ who would have thought in inner city Sydney ~ with very generous owners, who put out bags for anyone to take as many guavas as they would like. Love that sort of behaviour.

My friend T and I are investigating a plot at our local community garden.

Excellent Thursday ~ the day before Good Friday ~ is a significant one for S.O. and my's relationship, so will be having friends around to celebrate it. It's our favourite entertaining night of the year, as you know there's another 4 days of R&R following. No long drives or rushed air trips but a long, languid magazine reading, pod listening, book reading, DVD watching , dog walking food fest. Gee, we might leave the house to see a movie, but it's doubtful. And it's even greater to know that our non-Christian cafe owners and restaurateurs in the area are open to cater for us if we get bored with our own company. Couldn't be better, I say.

Greater Success...

...was had with the apple jelly. Gorgeous colour, lovely consistency, not bad flavour. I used Granny Smiths but would like to try it with a more fragrant apple. So if anyone out there knows their apple properties and can recommend one that will give the same jellyesque quality I'd appreciate your thoughts.

Great Appliance Disasters

It was like something out of a Jacques Tati film. A friend lent me his blender to test drive, as I wanted one with a strong enough motor to do ice. No instructions, but hey, it's a blender. What is there to explain.

Let me tell you what there is to explain ~ don't under any circumstances unscrew the base from the thread or this will happen...



It was meant to be a pumpkin mousse made with silken tofu, with pumpkin pie flavourings. It ended up literally everywhere ~ walls, floor, animals, anything there was to cover in orange slop got covered in orange slop.

Sensational!

I have just had the most sensational dinner. Goes like this:

Slice up the best tomatoes you can lay your hands on (I used the Johnny's Love Bites, which are fantastic at the moment)
Put them in a shallow baking dish. Sprinkle over a few leaves of shredded basil. Dice a bit of preserved lemon and sprinkle it over. Break up a piece of fetta over the top. Throw a slug of olive oil over the top, a bit of pepper. You probably don't need salt because of the fetta and the preserved lemon.

Put in a 200 degree C oven until the fetta browns. Scoff immediately with a crusty roll.

It was absolutely sensational. Much more than the sum of its parts.

Think I'll have it again tomorrow night.

What We Hunted & Gathered

Here is a selection of some of the marvellous things we did find though: Grandvewe Cheeses, absolutely marvellous Pecorino, Manchego style and a Camembaa.
Ice cream from the valley ~ with the blueberry and cinammon unmasked.
And this stuff is fantastic~Bill's Beetroot Marmalade. The Drink of the Gods ~ Ashbolt Elderflower Concentrate. Absolutely delicious wth soda or mineral water, as a hot tea with lemon, and bloody gorgeous with a slug of vodka. And when you're already struggling under the weight, the airline restrictions and the eskies, what better thing to do that stop at Wursthaus at Oliver's and pick up a few kilos of wallaby and beef fillet on the bone.

Scoffing in the Land Down Under the Land Down Under

While Sydney foodophiles ~ boggers and non-bloggers alike ~ took time to indulge in Good Food Month during October, we were off for 10 days in Tasmania. The object ~ to find a piece of affordable paradise, and eat everything we could.

Now while I'm sure that the abundance of stone fruit, berries, crayfish and oysters is true, we were slightly out of season for all of it.

Before we get into some food details, a couple of things you probably didn't know about the Apple Isle.

1. While most of the rest of the country has green or black, or sometimes blue rubbish bins, Tassie has Pink. Matching rubbish and recycling bins. Very elegant. The twinset of refuse collection.



2. Although it's absolutely magnificent, and located on a beautiful harbour, it is impossible to buy a piece of fresh fish in Strahan.

Looked OK, but didn't taste like much...

Had to have a laksa, just had to. Couldn't go and get one from the local Thai takeaway. Oh no. Had to make one. I don't know what I did or didn't do, but it was very bland. I did like the fresh pineapple in it though.

Note remote and TV guide ~ a night in front of the box.

Due to ongoing tooth problem, there is very little else to report. Hopefully that will be rectified very soon.

I Can't Exactly Remember...

...what I did with these prawns. However it never ceases to amaze me that something that starts off blue will change to pink with the application of some boiling water and about 30 seconds.

I have been monumentally slack...

...at keeping my blog up to date. After all, the whole point of it was supposed to be about what we ate for a year. I have been working on a number of forthcoming TV series about food, including Bill Granger's and Maeve O'Meara's -- formerly of SBS's Food Lovers' Guide to Australia -- Food Safari. At the end of the day, my photos just don't cut it! But that's no excuse. there was a great Harira , although we went a bit early on that one, as it's Ramadan now.

This one needs a food stylist

A kind of guacamole withe corn. Corn, avocado, spring onions, chillis, sumac, lime juice, coriander.

Lovely but ugly. Good with my tuna and a dollop of mayo.

Goosey...Goosey...

After the success of the roast goose, I decided to try a goose egg found at my local market. It was huge.

It made the most fabulous omelette. And again, preferable to duck for me.