I Love Canberra

For the second year in a row I have ventured down the Hume to stop over in Canberra on the way to Thredbo. It's a good idea for a few reasons: it's a great way to break up the trip being only about three hours south of Sydney; it's a really pretty town; culturally exciting; and the food is amazing.

We stayed at the Hyatt Hotel which is such a lovely way to remind your senses that you are on holidays. It oozes classic old world charm and I always request to stay in the heritage part of the hotel where the walls in the hallways leading to your room are adorned with photographs of past politicians. If the walls could talk it would be very interesting.

We booked a table at the highly recommended Italian & Sons and were not disappointed. What a meal, and so professionally executed both from the kitchen and the wonderfully informed and friendly people on the floor.

We started with garfish and the most lovely peperonata, dotted with toasted pine nuts and plump little currants. With a squeeze of lemon to spike things up it was a perfect way to start.

Next up we ordered a salad of witlof, cos, apple, and house smoked ricotta di Buffalo. So fresh and crisp.

For the main we shared a couple of dishes, although, the one that stood out for me was the beef short ribs cooked slowly in wine and served with polenta.

Dessert was the bomb! Italian ricotta doughnuts rolled in cinnamon with a nice scoop of mascarpone ice cream on the side.

The next morning on our way to visit a couple of local wineries, we dropped in on the Londsale Street Eatery.

They served brekky all day and are roasting their own coffee beans on site. We had a large brekky of braised beans, poached eggs, bacon, and sausage with a nice piece of pissaladiere bumped up on the side which I thought was a groovy idea. The coffee was outstanding too.

On the way to the snowy, we diverted west to visit one of my favourite wineries Helm Winery. The 2014 1/2 dry Riesling is my pick at the moment. Quite fruit driven, made in the style of many of the famous German and Austrian wines, and just fab served alongside a spicy Thai curry dish.

Well stocked and happy, we head off down the road with bellies full and a boot full of wine to Thredbo vowing to return on our way back to town.

Happy eating,
Simmone x

Somewhere on the South Coast

Every now and then I just have to cut out and head to a quiet place close to the ocean where I can sleep, cook, eat, drink, and breathe in a whole lot of fresh sea scented air.

I jumped in the car with my fishing rods, tackle box, and a case of beautiful wine and headed south about 5hrs from Sydney.

The reason for why I'm being so cagey about the location of this spot is because my newfound fishing friends are very protective of their special spot. They made me promise only to refer to this place as somewhere on the south coast. This place is true paradise……

It was around magic hour when I crossed an old rickety timber bridge with sandy flat waterways on each side. Bird life and fisherman abundant, I knew this place was for me.

When I spotted the little beach house, which was going to be my home for a week, feelings from my childhood stirred. This was the archetypal fibro beach house, just like the one I spent my holidays in when I was a kid. Those days are truly my fondest memories growing up.

Salty air, wet sandy dogs, the smell of stinky bait and diesel, bare feet, curly sun beached hair, sunburn, and fish & chips. All this represents holidays and relaxation - that is what I needed and that is what I got.

I woke the next day to sunshine and the most beautiful white sandy beach. This was paradise. I ventured to the fisherman's wharf to make some new friends and see what possibilities there were for dinner.

I met Alan… he has the only licence to dredge for clams on this part of the coast and I marvelled at his great catch that day. I bought two kilos of his prize flame clams to cook up that night for dinner, straight off the wharf. Couldn't get fresher than that!

I had so many questions for Alan. I was just so excited to see these glistening nets of freshness being heaved onto the wharf. He explained how he only brings in one size, throwing the little ones back so they can grow into big ones and through the big ones back 'cause they make the little ones… sweet!!! I love how fishermen are looking after the sustainability of our ocean these days. He doesn't throw the empty shells back, which he brings up from the ocean floor. Instead he tips them on his driveway at home…. 800 metres of it evidently!!!

My clams with garlic, white wine and tomato… heaven!

The next day my new fishing buddy Rainer took me out on his boat. We trawled off the beach for kingfish and then went out further hoping for flathead. We came home with both.

That night I prepared sashimi with the kingfish and we cooked the sweet flathead tails up on the barbie bumped up alongside a very yummy potato salad.

Each night as the clock struck six I mixed a cocktail with gin, elderflower, and the piquant and mouth-popping finger limes.

Sadly, my week seemed to pass too quickly as most holidays do, and on my last day as I drove out of my new favourite place in the universe, I dropped into their farmers market. Could it have been any more perfect..? No!!!!

I purchased a beautiful big bunch of organic beetroot, a kilo of local honey, and a bucket of the sweetest and reddest little cherry tomatoes, which I roasted.

Slow roasted cherry tomatoes… great folded through piping hot spaghetti with olives, basil, and goats cheese.

Whoops…!

Happy fishing,
Simmone x

A Weekend In The Country

A weekend in the country was all I needed to get my culinary juices flowing. A walk in the garden to collect pine cones is a great way to get a good gulp of country air and stock a big basket by the fire. They make the best fire starters and look really pretty too.

I created a beautiful rustic roasted beet and Dutch carrot salad with goats cheese and a balsamic drizzle. It accompanies a roasted organic chook stuffed with lots of preserved lemon and bay.

We sat in our formal dining room for a sense of drama and pomp!

On the Sunday we drove to Orange for a day of wine tasting. I packed little chicken and walnut pesto finger sambos, gorgeous baby crème pâtissière tarts with strawberry, banana and figs, and a thermos of English breakfast tea for a picnic down by a bubbling stream. What a lovely day we had.

On the way home we stopped by the side of the road for free range eggs for our brekky the next day. I love the way the honesty box works so well in the country.

When we arrived home from Orange we fired up our bush barbie and cooked up my salmon fillets with preserved lemon and herbs from the garden.

We then moseyed down the mountain on Monday morning leaving the farm behind but still wearing our Akubras.

Happy cooking,
Simmone x

Peaches and Cream

I've just spent the last week as the camp cook at Texas Downs in Menindee whilst the peach harvest was on.


 

I arrived with my suitcase full of all of my favourite accoutrements to help the food taste amazing. I would be lost without my Thai dressing, chilli jam, dill mayonnaise and blood orange marmalade.

 

There's nothing quite like boiled eggs & soldiers and endless cups of piping hot English breakfast tea around a country table at breakfast time.

 

Mick and his trusty dog, Gidgy, delivered freshly laid eggs each day which were the colour of the sunset.

 

One day I made my chicken and ginger Vietnamese rolls for the entire crew in the packing shed.

 

They were very appreciative and the following night a long line of Chinese and Taiwanese appeared at the door of my quarters all holding their favourite dish from home. We had pork with ginger and shallots, fried chicken, chilli vegetables and a very scary looking green bean soupy dessert thing??? Lots of beers were drunk and then they played magic tricks with a pack of cards until all hours.

 

On the last night my friends asked me to cook my chicken schnitzel with yummy ruby red potatoes that Marino (aka Sheepy) had dug up for me.

Potato Mafia Marino Pasin (aka Sheepy)

I boiled the gorgeous fresh as fresh potatoes up with lashings of herby butter and a crunchy slaw on the side.

 

As a surprise I prepared a tarte tatin with peaches I'd pinched from the orchard earlier in the day. I served it with vanilla ice cream on the side. "How long's this been going on?" they asked as they shovelled it down. "About a couple of hundred years" I said as I shared the cute little story of how the tarte tatin came about. It was a real hit!!!

 

It's always hard to say goodbye as I fly over the property heading back to Sydney. I feel quite sentimental as I reflect on the week that's passed, the yummy dishes I cooked and the new friends I made.

 

With a suitcase full of stone fruit I arrived home with red dust on my boots and a whole lot of great ideas of wonderful ways to cook with peaches.

 

 

My Easy Salad of Prosciutto, Buffalo Mozzarella, Rocket and Peach

(serves 4)

 

Ingredients

1 bunch fleshy, peppery rocket

2 balls buffalo mozzarella

2 peaches, washed

12 slices prosciutto

1/4 cup roasted walnuts, toasted and chopped

Caramelised balsamic

Olive oil

Maldon salt

Freshly ground pepper

 

Method

1. Divide the rocket between four plates.
2. Place three slices of prosciutto on each plate.
3. Slice peach over the top and break half a mozzarella ball on each plate. Sprinkle with walnuts and drizzle caramelised balsamic and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

 

Happy cooking,

Simmone x