Second Helping | Personal blog
Second Helping
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25.01.2022 Legend has it that the history of mango began thousands of years ago on the Indian subcontinent where the Buddha was presented with a mango grove so he could rest in the shade. No mango groves on my balcony in Melbourne, but I do love this sweet summer fruit. These ones came from my cousins property in the Noosa hinterland (she does have a very fruitful grove) which I think the Buddha would have found very restful. The colour is not always an indication of ripeness, like most stone fruit the best way to tell is by feel (like an avocado) and smell (like a peach).
24.01.2022 If I stare hard enough, theyll ripen faster - wont they?
24.01.2022 Weekend rituals. Coffee at @marketlane whilst I write my @prahranmarket shopping list and plan meals for the week. Its calming, means I shop purposefully, and helps reduce waste as I only buy food Im going to use. If youre near the market today drop in between 11 and 3 and support their bushfire fundraiser - details on my Stories.
24.01.2022 Last night I met Hazel. Shes classy but unpretentious, welcoming and fun. The friend youre always happy to spend time with. Its the latest from my friends at @themulberrygroup and a tasty addition to Flinders Lane. The menu from @zacharyjaynicholson puts flavour and ingredients first - your only challenge will be choosing what to eat. The beautifully designed space spans two levels offering front row seats at the bar when downstairs or next to all the action of the kitchen upstairs. Say yes to the strawberry negroni and the roasted oysters with chicken sauce and leave room for the cookies and cream smoked soft serve. @hazel_melbourne opens her doors tomorrow, so go and make a new friend like I did.
23.01.2022 Want to wrap your lips around some bright, juicy reds? Try @youngandcowines_nz. I was recently sent some to try and was happy to find substance to match their very sassy style. Great value too. Check the website and my Stories for more.
20.01.2022 Pie time. Dropped in to pick some up from @wonderpiesmelb because its #nationalpieday and I couldnt resist. I promise I also ate salad.
20.01.2022 Cannot think of a better way to see in the new year.
19.01.2022 My number one sign that Christmas is coming isnt dodgy carols being played in the supermarket nor it is the queues of people lining up to see what Myer did to their windows, its these glorious red beauties. The arrival of cherry season means summer, Santa, and red stains on my fingers from eating them. One of my fave places to get cherries is @yarravalleycherries in Seville. Their farm gate is now open daily from 8:30am - 5:30pm or you can buy their premium picked that day cherries online. #yarravalleycherries
18.01.2022 Seen these tropical beauties around lately? I have been, so I thought Id do a little research. Originally from South China, the Australian lychee season is from Oct - Mar and is the longest in the world. (who knew...) The sweet white flesh has a similar texture to grapes and they are full of vitamin C and antioxidants. What would you do with a bag of lychees?
18.01.2022 Working on a Sunday isnt half bad when it involves wine, views like this and time with @epito__me #toasttothecoast #pouritinplumm
18.01.2022 Hands up if you love brunch. If yours is reaching for the sky like mine then do yourself a favour and get Brunch In Melbourne. It’s a fabulous tribute to this city’s brunch scene and has recipes from some of our best loved cafés, drool worthy photography and (most importantly) information about @oneplate.co who are helping build sustainable food projects in the developing world. I think it’s a beautiful way of capturing the joy our café culture gives us (something I’ve missed during these crazy times) while at the same time helping children in need. Visit their profile for more details. #gifted #charity #oneplate
18.01.2022 When you get through winter cold free only to get brutally cut down by one in the first week of spring, the best answer is staying in with comfort good and Netflix. Im trying the new @barillaaus legume based pasta. This one is the the chickpea casarecce which Ive made with a sausage, mushroom & cavolo nero sauce. Its perfect for keeping me company whilst I binge season 2 on Mindhunter.
18.01.2022 Breakfast this morning at @citizen_cafe_ - The Beauville Bennie. A delicious take on eggs Benedict with pulled pork, julienne apple and lemon pepper hollandaise. I love it, but I might be biased as this cute little local is run by my mate @domantay_jd so check out Megan Millers review in this weekends @heraldsunlifestyle for her thoughts.
16.01.2022 If you find yourself on the Sunshine Coast, do yourself, your mates, and your taste buds a favour and go to @the_spirithouse. Really good food in a stunning and calming setting with a well thought out wine list and service almost as friendly as youd get in Thailand itself. @ Spirit House
16.01.2022 Its Sunday night, no alarm to wake to tomorrow and Im on the couch with Netflix and a bowl of @barillaaus pesto and baby zucchini. #happy #gifted
15.01.2022 I brought what must be the last blood oranges of the season on the weekend at @prahranmarket which reminded me of this tart I made a while back. How vibrant is that colour! The ones from the weekend have been juiced and made into ice cubes for Campari & soda on the balcony when summer remembers what its supposed to feel like...
14.01.2022 Im doing jury service at the moment. I cant tell you anything about it because its too secret and I genuinely take this civic duty seriously. I can tell you that last nights dinner was impressive and dead easy thanks to @luvaduck. I had the red curry duck legs with some asparagus (still in season and delicious) zucchini and rice. The whole lot took 15 minutes which meant I had the washing up done in time to watch the finale of @bacheloretteau
14.01.2022 As the end of the year gets closer, Im being good to myself. Lots of rest, no habitual checking of emails, and beautiful breakfasts like this.
13.01.2022 Do you have a favourite nut? Mine is probably the macadamia. I could say its because theyre full of anti-oxidants, good fats and are an amazing brain food. But the truth is, I just like the way they taste. Slightly buttery with a soft crunch - very moreish.
13.01.2022 Yesterdays fried rice. Because eating the same thing two days in a row is totally fine with me.
13.01.2022 Haven’t missed a @pinotpalooza since it started and wasn’t going to let 2020 stop the tradition. Nice work @dan_sims and the @revel.global team. I always did love a good B side
13.01.2022 Spent a lovely couple of hours chatting, drinking and making fresh pasta for dinner. Id forgotten how much fun making pasta is. Havent forgotten that Rosé goes with everything and a magnum shows you mean business.
11.01.2022 Some people Netflix and chill. Last night it was Stan and snack for me. With @dessousmelbourne deliveries like this I may never leave the couch.
10.01.2022 #cafesmart is today so its time to drink coffee and do good. Over 750 cafés around the country try are donating $1 from every coffee sold today to @streetsmartaust. The money helps fund projects that tackle the issues around homelessness. Critically important with so many without a safe and secure place to call home. Its local too, so the money raised in your hood stays in your hood. So get out there my coffee loving friends, find a participating café (link is in my profile) have a brew or two and match the cafés donation. @breakfastthieves
09.01.2022 The sun is getting ready to set and Im ready for @openaircinemasmelbourne. They are opening tonight on the St Kilda Foreshore and I cant think of a better way to end the week. #invite #openaircinema @ Saint Kilda Foreshore Park
08.01.2022 On a warm day in Spring you can literally sit and watch asparagus grow which is far more exciting than watching paint dry. The spears grow around 1 cm every hour. Its peak season at the moment which means they are plentiful, cheap, and taste their best. It also means its asparagus pee time
08.01.2022 Dragonfruit for breakfast on the first day of the new decade because they say you should start the way you want to finish, right? Ignoring the health benefits, Im drawn to this curious fruit because, like me, its curious. Its also bold and bright, and whats on the inside might surprise you.
07.01.2022 The trusty old internet tells me its International Cookie Day (yes, another random day for the calendar) so Im now craving some. Whats your cookie of choice? If you like them both crunchy and chewy then these choc wattleseed ones might fit the bill. Recipe is on the website
07.01.2022 Ever made passata? I hadnt until today when I channeled my inner Italian - and I must say its hard work but a lot of fun. My tips are: many hands make light work, get good , start early, have everyone contribute to the days playlist and have lots of space. Step by step passata making on my stories.
07.01.2022 How good is pasta? I devoured this delicious bowl of spaghetti today at the @australianopen as a guest of my good friends at @barillaaus. If the tennis is on your to do list make sure you visit them in the very well laid out Grand Slam Oval, watch the action on the big screens (they have prime position for viewing) and get amongst all the fun. Its a very tasty way to enjoy the tennis. More in my stories. #invited
07.01.2022 Its Christmas and mine is feeling very merry and bright thanks to finding coffee and then getting calls first from Brazil where one brother and his family are then from NYC where my other brother is. It brought a big smile to my face. Whatever youre doing today, I hope its lovely. Im now going to enjoy my coffee on my balcony and try to get the Michael Buble my neighbours are playing out of my head.
06.01.2022 The lovely people at @citylarder sent me some of their new Cooks Series products to try. They are pre-cooked and ready to be turned into beautiful dishes without too much effort from you. The first one I tried was the slow roast duck leg which ended up as this duck, asparagus and shiitake mushroom risotto. Ive shown two serving options, one with the duck leg whole and the other with shredded meat mixed through the risotto. Either way it looks pretty good, right? Tasted Ill be putting the recipe on my website .
06.01.2022 I thought Id lead into the caption about this luxuriously sweet Botrytis Semillon with a clever song lyric with sweet in it, then I got lost in an internet spiral and gave up. What I can tell you about @debortoliwines flagship wine is bunch rot never tasted so good. Noble One has been a familiar feature at many family functions over the years and was the first sweet wine I ever had. Im all for making any occasion a special one, so when I was sent the 2016 to try I was more than happy to. I loved their suggestion to serve in a whisky glass with unmeltable ice blocks and will be sipping this whilst I have some blue cheese because sweet and salty is #gifted
04.01.2022 PSA: @prahranmarket is trialling a new delivery service so you can get fresh produce from your favourite stalls whilst sitting on the couch drinking the glass of wine were all needing right now. Simply contact the traders directly to place and pay for your order. Hit up as many as you need to get your meat, fish, eggs, fruit, vege or whatever. Your order will be collected from each trader the next day and delivered - free of charge during the trial period - within 5km of the... market. The trial will help them work out what the demand is and helps the community by letting you eat well, shop well and #stayathome The trial runs from today until April 5 and you can read all the details on the markets website, including how theyre partnering with @thebiggroup and keeping people on jobs. I know how Im stocking up next! @ Prahran Market
04.01.2022 Worth queuing for.
04.01.2022 Any excuse for a plate of comfort food at the moment is a good one, but according to my friends at @barillaaus it is #carbonaraday! This version uses Spaghetti No5, streaky bacon from @garysmeats, pine mushrooms from @damianpike and my newest discovery cold smoked raw eggs from @thesmokedegg - the flavour is amazing. More about the eggs later...
03.01.2022 B is for burrata and all the beautiful things you can put on the tasty toasty thin bits of bread at @embla_melbourne
03.01.2022 I think Fellini was onto something...
03.01.2022 Homemade macadamia granola. Its a good thing Im pleased with this batch - I made enough for my entire apartment building... Recipe (of sorts) in my Stories
02.01.2022 And on Sunday we eat Easter eggs. These are from one of my faves @xocolatlcafe. I popped in there on Thursday to get myself a few treats. Theyre a family business and make chocolates as delightful as they are. Now I have to try and ration them... #notsponsoredijustlovethem #eastereggs
