I am not a dessert person.  Hand me a glass or red, soft gushing ripe triple brie, mild creamy blue and a sharp cheddar after dinner and you will win me over every time.  Therefore, I admit when I first heard of the Halloween Dessert Degustation taking place at Studio Neon, I wasn’t quick to jump at attending.

Attend I did!  Of course I was going to when the three ‘chefs’ on the evening are friends of mine.  It was much excitement that Josh and I rocked up to Studio Neon to enjoy the spoils of two days hard work by fellow food bloggers, Billy (A Table for Two), Phuoc (Phuoc ‘n Delicious) and Karen (Citrus & Candy). Read more →

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These arachnids are more cute than creepy, but they are still perfect for Halloween.  Even somebody with severe arachnophobia would have fun with these.  Just look at what gorgeous big eyes they have.  Did you know that generally spiders have eight eyes as well as eight legs?  As these are mini tarts there just isn’t enough room for eight eyes, so two big ones will have to do.

You may remember my mini Chocolate Pumpkin Whoopie Pie recipe from a few weeks ago.  I fell in love with the pumpkin filling.  If you are able to catch me in the kitchen running my finger around the mixing bowl, to eat the remaining smudges of a cooking endeavour, you know it must taste good. Read more →

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There is a little debate going on how one should pronounce or call, what I will refer to as French macarons.  Two almond meringue discs joined together by a flavoured filling.  Macaron is the French spelling and pronunciation, and some say that in English it is macaroon and pronounced that way.

How do I pronounce those ‘biscuits’ that Sydney has gone nuts for, and Adriano Zumbo has become famous baking.  I pronounce them macaron.  When I hear people refer to them as macaroons, it effects me like somebody dragging their nails down a blackboard, shudder! Read more →

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Paul’s ‘famous’ Hamburgers has been around for ages.  Since 1957 actually, when Paul and Katina Zerefos established a mini-market/milk-bar and burger shop on the present site.  Today only the burger shop remains.  Did you know that Paul actually never made a hamburger?  It was his wife Katina that devised the famous burger recipe.

Katina and her children were the driving force behind the burger shop.  Originally it was only burgers that were made, they specialised in them.  Eventually the menu expanded to include milkshakes, hot chips and their signature freshly ‘squeezed’ pineapple crush.

It has been a long time between visits to Paul’s, many years, well over ten.  When we first moved to The Shire 20 years ago, Paul’s was our go to burger joint.  We really loved the burgers, but then something happened, in 1998 new owners took over.  We ventured back a couple of times but the burgers were never the same, so we stopped going. Read more →

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I instantly fall in love with the decor and I silently pray that the food lives up to the look of this funky cafe.  Inc stands alone in mass of eating options in Cronulla, it does not play on the seaside location look and feel, instead it would easily be at home in Newtown or Darlinghurst.Josh and I grab a table and I pinch a menu from one of the neighbouring ones.  We are promptly bought over another menu, so we don’t have to share, by a person I take to be the owner. Read more →

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The smell of burning wood fills the nostrils when you enter Puntino.  Don’t panic, the place isn’t about to burn down, it is their wood-fire oven roaring away full speed.

A lovely light and airy feeling restaurant, due to the wooden floors, white walls and wooden tables.  The large glass windows opening up onto a court yard, at the back of the restaurant, also aid that feeling.  There is a slant of quirkiness too with the home-made jam jar lights hanging from the ceiling.

The lighting may be quirky, but there is nothing quirky about the food.  Chef Antonio Sabia has been serving traditional Italian food to Sydneysiders for 12 years.  Is an advocate of rustic, home-made food from his home town of Basilicata in Italy.  Tony makes good use of the oven, not only is it used for their pizzas, but also other various dishes on the menu. Read more →

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I live in the Sutherland Shire and I love it.  Actually I grew up in the very multicultural suburb of Mascot, but The Shire is where I choose to live and have done so for 20 years now.

We have the best beaches in Sydney (not up for debate, we do, deal with it), the  Royal National Park is on our doorstep, gorgeous beaches, flora and fauna.  Two rivers, the Port Hacking River and the Georges River form part of the area, which means there is water everywhere.  Majority of the housing is low density, wide streets, there is room to breath.

When it comes to eating out, sadly, The Shire doesn’t shine compared with the rest of Sydney.  I don’t tend to eat out close to home.  The main reason for this is actually due to Belly Rumbles;  I usually eat at places of interest, which I want to share with my readers, dining at places I have been invited to, trying the latest ‘buzz’ restaurants for myself, or tracking down a decent Asian meal.

I am often asked for recommendations of where to eat, or if there is actually anywhere decent to eat in The Shire.  This question is asked more and more frequently, often met with my blank expression as I wrack my brain for an answer.  I do offer a few places, but nothing ever stands out as a must-try in my mind.

The ‘where should I eat/is there anywhere to eat’ questions, has set me on a quest.  Where does one eat in The Shire?  I need to open my mind to revisit old haunts and try new ones, take time and make the effort to reinvestigate eating out closer to home. Read more →

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Whoopie pies, don’t panic if you haven’t heard of them, not many people have.  I read an article about two years ago regarding upcoming food trends.  According to the author, whoopie pies were going to be the next big thing in Australia, move over cupcakes and macarons.  Like you, I am still waiting for the trend to hit.

About 12 months ago, I did think “here they come….” when Betty Crocker mixes appeared in the baking isles of Coles, but I am yet to see ready to eat whoopie pies anywhere.  You can buy ginger kisses from Woolworths and Coles, not called whoopie pies, but they are a mini version and have been available to for purchase for donkey’s years.

Whoopie pies are two round domed cake like biscuits which are stuck together by a creamy frosting style filling.  They are considered to have originated in Pennsylvania by the Amish.  That is unless you are from Maine or New Hampshire who also claim their origin.

I have been wanting to make whoopie pies for a while, and what better excuse to bake a very American cookie/cake than an extremely American celebration, Halloween. Read more →

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Have you heard about Plates for Mates?  Have you heard of Chef Matt Golinski?

Matt is an Aussie chef that reached celebrity status for his appearances on the television cooking show Ready Steady Cook.  Tragedy struck Matt and his family during the early hours of Boxing Day (26th December) 2011, when their family home was engulfed by fire.

Matt’s wife Rachel and their three daughters Starlia, Willow and Sage’s lives were lost in the fire.  Matt not only suffered the unbearable loss of his family, but also sustained third degree burns to over 40% of his body.

Plates for Mates is a fund raising initiative conceived by some of Australia’s leading chefs; Janelle Bloom, George Calombaris, Manu Feildel, Damian Heads, Alastair McLeod and Gary Mehigan.  A way for them to express their care, concern and support for Matt.

Funds raised from Plates for mates fundraising initiatives go to the Matthew Golinski Recovery Fund Trust and also The McComb Foundation.

Most fundraising events were held between 1st – 30th April 2012, however there are still a few events happening.  One of those events is a cooking class with Zigi Ozeri. Read more →

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