a good thing to do

Is to go to Empress Garden chinese restaurant on Jervois Road, pre-order two Peking Ducks and then bring ten of your friends along to eat them with over three courses. You need to drink lots of Tsing Tao for optimum results. Empress Garden is in a pretty villa and has Lazy Susan facilities(messy as!)

it has been a while

Things I have done recently that might be of interest:

Went to an incredible food show at Victoria Park. We had free tickets and wandered around stuffing our faces with cured meats and cheeses and ciders and breads and chocolates and NO VEGETABLES. There was an unattended table with a giant plate of shredded roast duck on it and I ate heaps of it. It made me spin around slowly with my arms stretched out in the fashion of Bill Murray in Ghostbusters after he meets up with Sigorney Weaver after her orchestra rehearsal. If you know what I mean. Oh and fried HALOUMI, too. We stayed there, just eating, for four hours. Four of the best hours of my life. 

Then I went to Tawaharanui with some pals and we basked in the sun and New Zealand's ridiculous beauty and built a boat out of sand. Seriously, that beach is one of the most beautiful in the world. New Zealand's beaches tend to be surrounded by rolling hills covered in little sheep, which is pretty idyllic. The water was clear and warm. It was a nice way to end a really sad week. I know two people who lost loved ones last week and along with the horribly sad Pike River Mine...well, I think we were all in dire need a good surf battering. 

forgot to mention asparagus

After the not-a-good-choice lammington I had some skinny spears with lemon juice, butter and parmesan. I ate it with my fingers, while watching An Education in my track pants and wishing I could have a sixties makeover like Carey Mulligan. And Sezza, you are SO right about Nigel. Pictures from here.

Saaarsssgaaaaarrrrrd

reeepeat

(This is not a food blog.)

Foods I have eaten recently:

grilled lamb cutlets with mint, feta and thyme, it was simply the best and the fat rocked my world (I like fat, OK? I'm not sorry, it tastes too good)/ciabatta with hummus and fresh orange juice for breakfast all week, because I have heard that hummus is the healthiest spread for toast/scones made by mum with lots of butter and cream/vegetarian eggs benedict with a huge slice of avocado and parsley pesto (by far the best eggs benedict I've ever had, perfectly balanced and not at all sickening). You can get it from a cafe near the Parnell rose gardens/chicken livers with red onion. I liked the flavour but not the texture/a lammington from the Fridge - a hungover choice I lived to regret/countless pepperoni rolls from sals, the pepperoni fat crystallises at the bottom of the roll, making it a perfect cheesy juicy meaty scone-like treat and they're only $3 or two for $5/lemon pasta, this time without cream. You whisk olive oil, lemon juice and parmesan together, then mix it through the pasta with a huge pile of fresh basil/about 7 bubblegum flavoured iceblocks from the asian supermarket on K Road dipped in vodka/pork chops with thyme butter made with feta, thyme and a squeeze of lemon juice, melted in the pan with the pork juices, eaten with more ciabatta and a pile of rocket to make me feel less guilty/strawberry oreos(gross yet oddly compelling)/a hamburgini from Burger Fuel, which is a teensy burger (not quite a monkey fist) that has aioli, melted cheese, bread and butter pickles and tomato sauce, and is basically the most moreish thing you can eat for $4.95/avocado and feta with pesto on toast for an after dinner snack/sour lollies/rocket and cheddar scone at the art gallery with a short black and trashy mag/oh and last night I went to a bbq for my friend Max's birthday and the boys surprised everyone by getting all the meat from the organic butcher in West Lynn, so I ate a fairly rare steak and it was incredible.

Most things I cooked were taken from The Kitchen Diaries, which I bought last week, which takes my Nigel Slater recipe book tally up to three, which is possibly too many? Or NOT ENOUGH. <3 u Nigel.

eating (dis)order

Damn it han you've made me hungry despite the fact that I've been eating pretty much continuously for the past few days (early starts makes me hungry? drinking coffee makes me hungry? cooked breakfast being given to me makes me eat regardless?).

The top image I found on Design Crush and the bottom is from the adorable series by Kawashima Kotori.

peas and other things

I love eating frozen peas straight out of the freezer! Another really good thing to do is to smash them with broad beans and pop them on some toasted ciabatta with a wodge of mozzarella. Another thing I feel like eating is ravioli. Like, really good hand-made ravioli from Maria Pia's, covered in sage butter. Dripping in it. I could also go a giant American hot dog, with onions and mustard, cheese, and a medium-to-low quality sausage in the middle. Yesterday I ate the rest of the Gouda that Lou gave me while making a lemon and asparagus risotto, and that was pretty good. I would like some lamb, marinated for hours and cooked on a barbecue. A cheeseburger from a fish and chip shop, cooked on a grill. I had Cocoa Pops for breakfast. I wasn't allowed them when I was little but I figured "Hey! I'm a grown up! I can eat whatever I want!". Take that, Mum. We bought the most incredible honey-cured streaky bacon from the Kerikeri farmers' market on the weekend, it made my fingers smell delicious. The market also had beautiful orange juice - or perhaps a mix of orange and tangerine - which we actually kept a secret from our friends waiting for us back at the bach so we would not have to share. Corn fritters with fresh mozzarella. Vietnamese salad with mint and lemongrass. Mushroom lasagne with bechamel and no tomato. Pizza blanco with Gorgonzola, prosciutto and big basil leaves. 

fanny hill

Hey, Lou. Um. Look? 

There's an article about it,and bigger pictures,here. 

Sexy puns!

So awesome...yet distasteful.

a fowl feast

On Saturday night I ate Turducken. It was grotesque, a bulging avian feast. An alien bird, a fowl set of engorged matroyshka dolls. So fatty, so totally American, the Turducken epitomizes conspicuous consumption. After spending eight hours in the oven, the outer layer of turkey was dyed a shiny vermilion by the rashers of streaky bacon which had hardened on top. The bacon fat moistened the turkey, the turkey flavoured the duck, the duck fat spread through the chicken. The parsons nose crystallised into a hardened knob, a savoury lindt ball that the birds' juices exploded from, gushing into my mouth. We tore at the meat, picked it off the bones and doused it with gravy, then basked in a post-Turducken afterglow. I felt food-high, fat and sleepy. Giggling uncontrollably, we could not stop talking about the Turducken. It was medieval, primal, ridiculous. Can you believe we ate that? A turkey with a duck with a chicken in it? The mind reels.

Photos from the lusty Tom Jones inn scene, starring the adorable Albert Finney.

fleurs

I spent about five hours lying on the couch at my Dad's house yesterday, watching Food TV. I discovered that my taste in cooking shows runs distinctly to country style UK shows, like the ones hosted by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall or Nigel Slater. The Edible Garden, presented by Alys Fowler is my new favourite. Alys says: 


I garden because I am hungry. Or more precisely because I have a hunger, one that can only be satisfied through soil and satiated through fresh growth. I garden because I have to, it is how I define who I am, it is one of the ways I make sense of this world and it is how I pay back my place in it.


The show is so twee and so very British; yet my natural instinct to mock was quashed by my intense envy of Alys' lifestyle and talents.  Alys is a very pretty (not that it matters, really) red-headed gardener with a Keira Knightly accent, vintage clothes and lovely big gumboots. Her show is about avoiding supermarkets and growing everything you eat. Or, as Alys puts it:


Making The Edible Garden has been about finding a way to garden that is as gentle as possible upon the world. A garden that will please and feed me and still be a home for all others that visit it. By choosing to grow my vegetables alongside my flowers in a perfectly pleasing muddle that is polyculture, I have found a way that allows the best of all worlds.


The show follows Alys and she tends her garden, makes lavender biscuits, feeds caterpillars to her chickens and drops off herb bouquets to her friends. She goes camping, makes Elderflower champagne and hangs out with an adorable puppy.* Ye Gods, I wish I could live like Alys. I wish I had the time, the smarts, the space, and above all, I wish I had the giant red hair. 


*I have decided to call my future dog Feckless.


The Edible Garden and its matching book. 

aubergine

I was going to write a post about a conversation I had on the weekend. But it had a slightly depressing undertone and since I slammed my finger in the door this morning, have misplaced my keys since arriving at work, and have a dentist appointment this afternoon, this day feels negative enough already so I'm going to leave that out and just write a list (or three).

In response to Han's things she loved/hated as a child and now hates/loves, here's mine, but food:

Foods I hated as a child but now love:
Zucchini
Stinky cheese
Spicy things

Foods I loved as a child but now hate:
Goody goody gumdrop ice cream
Mint chocolate chip ice cream
Omelettes
Canned spaghetti

Foods I still hate:
Eggplant
Green lollies

when I was a young warthog!

Things I hated when I was little but love now:

1. Olives

2. Seafood

3. Skincare

4. Boys

5. Knickers (wearing of)

6. Hand-me-downs

7. The taste of beer

8. The smell of antique stores

Things I hate now but loved when I was little:

1. The thought of becoming a teenager

2. Playing the recorder

3. Talking on the phone for ages

4. Bike pants

5. Hawaiian pizza

6. Indeed, pineapple on anything savoury

7. Cross country

8. Wearing zinc

In all other areas, my tastes have remained remarkably similar.

a recipe and an unrelated photo

Here's a soup that I made for dinner the other night. It's hearty and comforting and I know that you will like it Han. It probably isn't something you'll want to make for at least 4-5 months if you're in the Northern hemisphere, however.

Leek, potato and fennel soup (adapted from regular leek and potato soup, which I don't have a recipe for because it's just one of those things you know how to make, isn't it?)
Serves 4-6 or less with leftovers.

Ingredients
2 tablespoons butter
2 cups sliced leeks (white and pale green parts only)
2 cups sliced fennel bulb (or whole bulb for more pronounced fennel flavour)
4 cups stock (chicken or vege) - I used about a cup of some frozen homemade chicken stock*, and then a few cups of hot water with powdered vege stock but of those tetra packs of stock from the supermarket would probably be perfect.
4 cups chopped red-skinned potatoes - I don't peel them but if you don't like the skins you can
some tarragon (optional) - however much you want really, I threw a small handful in as an afterthought
salt and pepper for seasoning

Method
1. Melt butter in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add leek and fennel and sauté until leeks are translucent.
2. Add stock, tarragon (if you have any) and potatoes and bring to boil. Simmer on medium-low heat until potatoes are nice and tender.
3. Remove pot from heat and using a stick blender, purée soup in pot, or alternatively in batches in blender. If using a blender, return to pot and rewarm if necessary. I usually leave a few chunks of potato...
4. Season with salt and pepper. Ladel into bowls and garnish with reserved fennel leaves, yoghurt, or sharp cheese like pecorino or parmesan.

You're welcome.

*it wasn't technically stock, but excess juices from a while ago when I made this roast chicken

The picture's from bookshelf porn. It has nothing to do with this soup except that it could be a nice place to eat it.

filthy, nasty girl

Lou, that was inspired. I concur with all and would like to add:

1. Letting fruit rot away in bowls and doing nothing to stop it
2. Sausage roll for breakfast, pie for lunch
3. Eating a whole wedge of cheese at once, no crackers
4. Smelly socks
5. Picking at chipped nailpolish
6. Using up all my flat's bandwidth by watching the new 10 Things I Hate About You tv series which is for tweens anyway
7. Spending all my money when I'm drunk
8. Wearing shoes without heel caps

lazy

Woke up at midday, lay in bed til one, showered, went to lunch, bought flowers and some fancy groceries, looked at expensive kitchenwares, ate a burger, drank a coke, went home. Watching TV.

NOTE: I really like this Creme flavoured soda, Boylan brand. I saved the bottle.

its like it read my mind

whatthefuckshouldimakefordinner.com

I live at the edge of the universe, like everybody else

Just got home from a weekend away in Wellington. I was totally struck (again) by how incredible the waterfront is there, and at how wonderful it is to be able to easily wander around the city. People really make use of public spaces in the Capital, which happens less visibly in Auckland.

All that being said, as someone who has called both cities home, I really don't get why some Wellingtonians are so anti-Auckland. I don't know if Aucklander's feel the same way. They seem to be less visceral about it than the Wellingtonians I know!

Anyway, things I like in Wellington: cauliflower, feta and parmesan fritters from Olive; boots from GAG (eep!); Madame Fancy Pants fixing my much treasured cat in the moon necklace; Peoples Coffee; how much Wellingtonians talk about coffee; seeing all my sweet Sweet's friends and eating quesadillas.

Pictures are of the Wellington Writers Walk, which is another thing I really like about the place.

take care

I just read about how making food can be "a way to do your best while helping your fellows". Its true. I think there is nothing more comforting than cooking with a friend if you're feeling sad, and cooking a meal for someone who is going through a tough time seems a rather primal impulse to me. Its a combination of being simultaneously distracted and focused, the sense of accomplishment you get while eating something divine you created, nourishment (as my Mum would say, its "good for the soul"), being able to legitimately cry while slicing onions and, um, bonhomie, I think.

tour of lunch

A few years ago, when I was still living in Wellington, one of my best friends and I found ourselves both working our first 'real' 9-5 jobs just around the corner from eachother. It was a part of town neither of us had spent a lot of time, Lambton Quay filled with suits from about 8am until after 6 and it was difficult to find places to eat when we were both a bit terrified of the sea of grey. We started a little tradition named 'tour of lunch', where once or twice a week we would meet on our lunch break and explore one of the little alleys, pedestrian malls and shopping centres between Lambton Quay and The Terrace, and in the surrounding blocks. The rules were: we had to eat somewhere we hadn't been before and we had to take pictures. It was through tour of lunch that we discovered 'Gallery Dellery', and a number of funny little cafeterias specialising in shepherds pie and chicken soup. The same friend now lives in Melbourne, and we have discussed a new tour of lunch, or brunch, which may well happen in the future. In the meantime, here's a wee tour of my current work-day lunches.

The big street in the middle is Smith Street, I forgot to write that on there.

I tend to favour bringing my own lunch over buying it, for reasons including the cost and the general assumption that I will eat better if I bring left-overs or a salad, however I realised recently that most of the lunches I do buy are fresh, healthy, and really cheap. I'm quite chuffed about this.



$5 and under
1 snacks from Sonsa
This is kind of a cop-out when we're talking about 'buying lunch' but if I'm really poor, or stuck on places to go, Sonsa Imports is the easy option. You can get a punnet of delicious homemade hummus and some carrots and cellery for just a few dollars, mini ciabatta loaves for 99c, mixed nuts for about a dollar per (big) scoop, and fresh juices for $2.50. I am obsessed with this place and would totally recommend for anyone who lives in the area to head there before Woolworths up the road. It's cheaper, the produce is often fresher (though will have more imperfections than the big chains), and the guys who run it are friendly and hilarious. They gave me a fig last time I was there, for no apparent reason, and my groceries usually total to 'hmm, twenty dollars' after some random mental addition.
2 2 x sushi rolls from Wabi Sabi
Definitely the best and most interesting sushi rolls up this end of Smith Street. Personal favourites include the spicy tempei salad, 'crumble whiting', and tempura prawn and avocado. $2.50 per roll, plus an extra dollar for miso soup. The music on their website has been entertaining me while I write this.


$5-$10
3 salad from Mezzina
There's usually about 5 to choose from in the salad bar and they're all super fresh and flavoursome (spiced cauliflower, lentil and roast vege, etc). $5 for a 'small' (they cram it in), $1 extra if any of your choices have meat or fish.
4 lunch box from The Social Studio
The Social Studio is a community enterprise engaging young unemployed refugees and migrants and teaching them sewing and fashion design skills. They have a little cafe right down the back of their shop/workroom that serves simple, yummy toasted sandwiches, salads, and traditional African dishes. The lunch box is $8 and comes all ready to take away. It's something different every day, usually something like zucchini fritters and salad, egg noodles and omelette, felafels, or Sambusa, and comes with your choice of fruit or chocolate cake.

Over $10
5 mackerel salad from Rosamond
I'd never tried mackerel before I tried this salad. Rosamond is one of my favourite morning coffee (and sometimes yummy walnut and apple muffin) spots, and over Summer I was pretty obsessed with their caprese salad. The mackerel salad doesn't have a lettuce/leaf base, it's basically a whole lot of herbs, cucumber chunks, capers, cherry tomatoes and mackerel, and it's delicousssss. Both salads cost about $13, but are filling and worth it. They also have really nice baguettes and sandwiches which are around the $10 mark.
6 crushed avocado on toast from Proud Mary
Proud Mary is on the same street as my work, they're crazy coffee fanatics and have a pretty impressive set-up if you're into that sort of thing and their coffee cups are a pretty shade of blue. This lunch is $13.50 and also has fetta and rocket all over it, it's more than I would usually pay, especially when I could basically get the ingredients from Sonsa and make my own, but it's so close to work, sometimes I'm willing to spend more in the name of laziness.

Others that haven't quite made it, because they're just a little further than I want to go on my lunch break
7 Trippy Taco - vegetarian mexican (vegan options too), the trippy fries are amazing
8 Fatto a Mano - organic italian bakery, delicious pizza slices, pies, and calzone-ish things
9 Cavallero - a cafe full of kiwis, and excellent coffee, try the chicken toasted sandwich
10 Soul food - more vegetarian meals, my favourite is the burrito but they're all good, and huge portions

Photos from here, here, here, and here. I drew that awesome and complex map myself.

di-viine

I ate the most delicious brunch on the weekend (Lou, brace yourself):

Potato rosti with pancetta and gruyere, with rocket and a perfectly poached egg on top. It was drizzled with basil pesto. It was so delicious that between bites I would point at it and exclaim "CHEESE/PANCETTA/ROCKET/RUNNY YOLK" to my bemused (vegetarian) flatmate.

ffffood

Oh god I love food. I actually dreamed about two of my favourite leafy green vegetables the other night, kale and cavolonero. If anyone knows where I can find some in Melbourne please share!

My mouth is watering just looking at these pictures. I'm excited because I have some red quinoa at home which I've not used before so if I can get my hands on some kale I'm hoping to make a kind of variation on this salad. Also I recently made this chilli and it was AMAZING and I am recommending it to everyone I can. I might have even already posted about it on here, it was that good.

I'm not going to be cooking anything tonight because as soon as I finish work I'm off to see the founders of Refinery 29 give a little talk and then another runway show at LMFF which I might tell you all about on Monday...

Here are some links to my favourite foods on the internet: Tastespotting is basically food porn and also an excellent resource for recipes and things. Salad and Candy is funny and interesting and a bit weird. Everything that Trotski and Ash make looks and sounds incredible and I want to try it all, also they're local so aren't posting about stews and casseroles when I'm craving salads and sorbet. For drinks Liqurious is like the boozey version of Tastespotting and while I generally don't have all the ingredients, is great inspiration for dinner party cocktails and the like.