Christmas 2020 – A Victory of the Possible
My reflections on Christmas 2020. I didn't grow up with hard-and-fast Christmas traditions - my family has built them as we went along. But this Christmas was perhaps the sweetest ever.
Edible Christmas Presents
Homemade gifts are the best! As well as the deliciousness, the recipients can taste the love that you put into them. My 10 gift ideas include versatile condiments, chocolatey treats and an emergency dinner pack for the time-poor. These really are gifts that keep on giving!
Visa Holder Hustles
Everyone is doing it tough in hospo but temporary visa holders have a particularly hard road because they have no access to JobKeeper or JobSeeker, and many of them are restricted in the kind of work they can do. Basically, it sucks. However, some of them (like Nicole from Mangan Yuk) have started micro-businesses to get them through to COVID-normal. If you can, support them!
Warming Winter Desserts
Let's make winter sweet! I've gathered together some of my favourite puddings, pies, desserts and cakes for you here. Make them for a special occasion, because you DEFINITELY deserve a treat or as a fun cooking project.
International Hummus Day
Have you got an hour? Ask a Middle Eastern person about their favourite hummus and be ready to listen long and hard! Hummus is an everyday traditional food all the way from Yemen to Egypt, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey but there are as many variations as there are eaters! At its simplest, hummus combines chickpeas and tahini, then there's the potential addition of salt, pepper, spices, garlic, lemon juice, olive oil and water. Plus, there's the question of texture. Should it be smooth or sturdy? We dig in...
Peter Gunn at IDES Restaurant and the Black Box
In mid-March, not long before Australia went into lockdown, I visited Peter Gunn's IDES restaurant to talk to him about his signature Black Box dessert. This is an incredible dish - mystery giving way to intricate layers of taste, revealed through an act of sunny, sanctioned violence. For me, the Black Box is the thread which allows us to explore other themes. I love what the dessert says about the chef who created it and the restaurant he owns and runs. It's a tale of creativity, persistence, leadership, teamwork and the importance of fun.
OS Workers Resources
This page is to assist overseas workers in Australia on working visas who have lost jobs or reduced hours due to COVID-19. I am a food writer who cares about your plight. I am not qualified to give you legal advice. Please use this page as a starting place. I can take no responsibility for your actions or the consequences that may arise from them. I wish you all the best and I want you to know that many people care about your situation!
Rescue Pack – Pasta (and other stuff) for Pick Up
No pasta at the shops? Some of Melbourne's best restaurants are coming to the rescue! Order your #rescuepack now and #savehospo
Chatting Healthy Eating with Stephanie Alexander & Curtis Stone
When you're invited to morning tea with cooking legend Stephanie Alexander and chef Curtis Stone, you say 'Yes!' The purpose of the event was to launch a partnership between Coles and Stephanie's Kitchen Garden program but I grabbed Curtis and Stephanie for a broader chat about healthy and diverse eating. I hope you enjoy my little video above! One of my main takeaways is that good cooking doesn't need to be complicated, and it's fine to rely on great ingredients to make a meal satisfying. I plundered my own recipe archives to find some recipes that reinforce these messages.
Exploring Hong Kong
Hong Kong is thronging, noisy, tasty - and troubled, as protests continue to up-end life in this most engrossing of cities. In the meantime, and in amongst it, street life and market life persist. Join me as I eat my way along the streets of Mong Kok.