Entertaining can be hard work and stressful at times.  It really doesn’t need to be when you have some quick and easy dishes in your repertoire that taste great and look impressive.

I recently made this dish for a get together of a bunch of friends.  A casual affair where we all bought something along for lunch.  I really felt like I was cheating by bringing a couple of rounds of brie along, but it was a success with all.The brie was prepared up to baking point at home.  Not that there is much preparation involved.  It may seem simple but the addition of the rosemary, juniper berries and brandy magically transform humble brie to something quite addictive.  The most difficult part of this recipe is wrapping it in baking paper and tying it with string.  You will need an extra pair of hands for that step. Read more →

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You may have taken part in a Barilla cooking class when visiting  a food show around town.  Like their cooking classes at the Good Food and Wine Show.  What I didn’t realise until recently is that Barilla actually run cooking classes throughout the year at the Casa Barilla Cooking School, located in Annandale.

They are Italian cooking classes, of course, and are run by Executive Chef Luca Ciano.  They are fun intimate classes, the format can vary depending on what is being covered.  They can be hands on or pure demonstration.  And we have a class for two to giveaway!

It was a demonstration class that I attended.  Casa Barilla are running a series of classes with prominent Sydney chefs.  In my case it was a Master Class with Eugenio Maiale, head chef and owner of A Tavola in Darlinghurst.

On arrival we are offered a glass of prosecco and there is a generous antipasto plate for all to enjoy.  I am more than content to munch on prosciutto, olives and cheese while waiting for the other class attendees to arrive. Read more →

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Exciting news!  Russell Hobbs are The Sweet Swap’s prize partner.

Are you an Australian food or lifestyle blogger?  Have you signed up to take part in The Sweet Swap?

The Sweet Swap is an online event for Australian food & lifestyle bloggers which results in packages of sweets arriving on your doorstep and a few friendships formed. Each blogger is matched with three other bloggers and will mail off parcels of homemade lollies to their matches.  In return three parcels of lollies arrive on your doorstep.  Post about the experience, raise money for Child Fund and receive sweet inspiration from your fellow bloggers. Participation is easy and fun!

Yes, there is a chance by just taking part in The Sweet Swap that you could walk away with one of three great prizes!  All you need to do is sign up for The Sweet Swap, there is nothing more you need to do.  Except of course to make some delicious sweets, send them to your secret matches and post about your experience.

If you have already signed up for The Sweet Swap, you are already in the running to win!

Russell Hobbs have kindly donated three amazing prizes that would be a bonus in anybody’s kitchen.  They are all from their very snazzy Graphite range. Read more →

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Ippudo is a very popular Japanese ramen restaurant chain.  The first Ippudo restaurant opened in 1985 in Daimyo District of Chuo Ward, Fukuoka City.  From there restaurants popped up all over Japan, but mainly in the Kanto and Kansai regions.

With Ippudo restaurants securely established around Japan,  world domination seems to be on their to do list.  Restaurants have opened in New York, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Taipei, Shanghai, and late last year Sydney.

Like most restaurants which open with a big buzz, I take my time to visit, wait for the hype to die down a little.  They hype hasn’t really died down, Ippudo is as busy as ever.  My recommendation is get there early, they don’t take bookings.  We get there early, 5.45pm on a Thursday night and have no problems securing a seat.  By six o’clock people are lined up to get in. Read more →

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Who is Dylan Carter?  This was a question I found myself asking after Dylan followed me on Twitter.  A quick look at his Twitter profile revealed ’14 Year Old Aspiring Chef.  Worked at some great restaurants around Australia’.  14 year old chef?  I seriously thought I was being punked.

On further investigation it turned out I wasn’t.  Dylan is a real boy, or should I say young man.  His love of cooking was inspired by MasterChef.  So much so that he auditioned for Junior MasterChef making it in to the top 27 before sadly being eliminated.

Since MasterChef Dylan has been busy gaining experience in some of Sydney’s top restaurants, Assiette, Four in hand, Ormeggio, Flying Fish, Cutler & Co, Biota Dining, just to name a few.  His passion for food, skills and knowledge gained since Junior MasterChef saw Dylan take the next step, his first pop up restaurant, Wombarra by Dylan Carter.

I was thrilled when Dylan approached me and asked if I would be interested in coming along to his first pop up.  A pop up by a 14 year old, I knew this was going an event I would always remember, good or bad. Read more →

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Miss Chu has taken Sydney by storm, this isn’t new news.  We can’t seem to get enough of her.  The original store is a hole in the wall on the Corner of Bourke & William Streets in Darlinghurst.  Since the opening of that first store, Miss Chu’s cuisine can be found in three other locations in Sydney and two in Melbourne.  She is doing something right.

Even though I have heard her food is great, I wasn’t excited enough to go out of my way to pay one of her establishments a visit.  Why?  I just couldn’t get excited over something I make all the time at home, rice paper rolls.  It was a visit of a close girl-friend to Sydney that finally got me to Miss Chu’s.  She really wanted to go and I was happy to join her.

Staff at Bondi are friendly and helpful.  If it is a nice day try and secure an outside table, inside is a little dreary.  They have traditional rice paper rolls, but mix it up with non Vietnamese fillings as well.

Beside rolls you can order a choice of steamed dumplings, deep fried spring rolls, warm vermicelli salads, stir-fry dishes, salads and soups. Read more →

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I have been on the hunt for easy sweet recipes.  Actually due to The Sweet Swap, it seems lollies and sweet treats are all that are on my mind of late.  This quick and easy fudge recipe proves you don’t have to be highly skilled in the kitchen to make something that tastes amazing.

This recipe is inspired by one I found on Taste, Salted Caramel Fudge, you may prefer to make that version instead.  It is a great base recipe.  I decided to add walnuts and dropped the salt.  You could even substitute honey for the golden syrup.

I need to give a shout out to Loz, a work colleague of Mac’s.  She passed on this recipe to him to give to me.  She was so impressed with the result, quick, easy and tasty.  When Mac gave me the recipe, I had a bit of a laugh as I explained that it was the same recipe for the fudge he had been eating over the past week. Read more →

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Finally when somebody asks me where to eat in The Shire, there won’t be any deep thought or hesitation on my answer.  It is elementary my dear Watson, Alphabet St.

Located at the beach end of the Kingsway, the restaurant offers views over Dunningham Park, pedestrian concourse and the beach.  A group of us had organised to have a lazy Sunday lunch.  Three of my friends weren’t familiar at all with Cronulla and I was thrilled that it was a gorgeously sunny Autumn day.  If you are going to show off part of your hood, you want it to shine in all its glory.

Alphabet St opened up in Cronulla at the end of 2012, but a restaurant opening isn’t an unusual affair.  What excited me about this particular opening was that Joe Natale and his partner Oriana were behind it.  If their names don’t ring a bell they use to own the popular Rambutan on Oxford St in Darlinghurst.   You will also find ex-Rambutan Chef, Tiw Rakarin, in the kitchen.The restaurant has a modern urban vibe.  Timber box frames on the stark walls representing buildings.  Washed concrete floors giving a pavement feel.  Unclad ceilings with drop down lights representing street lights.  A wall of green behind the bar and astro turf on the balcony is the greenery in the urban sprawl of Alphabet St.  Which just happens to be named after the Prince song ‘Alphabet Street’. Read more →

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Berlei have just launched their new Dig Free legwear and to help celebrate I have a indulgent prize up for grabs on Belly Rumbles.

I have to admit that I am a bit of a Berlei bra girl.  Okay that was probably sharing to much information, but they are one of two brands of bras that are my favourite for the curvy girl with larger assets.

I also have to admit that I didn’t realise Berlei extended their range to legwear.  Berlei’s new Dig Free range (RRP $15.95) is specially designed to hide those natural lumps and bumps that most of us get.  A cleverly engineered waistband and the unique garment control technology, smoothes away those bumps and muffin tops for a sleeker shape which gives you a confidence boost.  Available in a range of colours and denier, which are perfect for the coming Winter.

I have been pretty strict of late with my diet.  I am basically attempting to get in to shape and shift a few kilos before August.  What’s happening in August you ask?  It’s a secret for now, but all will be revealed later this year. Read more →

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