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

The Simple Things In Life Are Often The Best

Another gorgeous weekend at the beach soaking up the sunshine and filling up with fresh beautiful food was just what the soul was searching for. So on the way down we dropped into the fish market to fill the esky with salty delights!

 



Winding the car window down as we approached to take in a gulp of sea scented air got the taste buds hankering for freshly cooked harbour prawns shoved into crusty white rolls with lashings of my dill and lemon mayonnaise.

The simple things in life are often the best!

 

I love picking a bunch of Nasturtiums on the secret path from the beach up to the house.

Besides livening up a crisp and piquant green salad, they look simply divine on an old wooden side board in the kitchen.

Tanja, my friend's doggy, loves it at the beach too!

Fresh prawn rolls with dill and lemon mayonnaise are available at both my Double Bay and Cammeray stores every Saturday and Sunday morning. Don't be late or you may miss out!

Happy weekends,
Simmone x

Marjorie's 90th Birthday Party

When a strikingly good-looking woman walks into my store requesting to see Simmone Logue, I jump.

Marjorie came to visit me at my store in Double Bay about a month ago to ask if I would cater for her 90th birthday party. I was instantly captivated by this fantastically charming lady. My response? "Of course I would!"

I had my catering consultants book the day out in my diary. Then I set about creating a beautiful menu for Marjorie and her friends for what was going to be a memorable day.

Last Sunday was the big day so my colleagues and I arrived at a lovely home in Mosman to help Marjorie celebrate her special day. With 100 guests there, the champagne was flowing and the sun was shining. Everyone had a great time! Marjorie loves the opera so there was also an opera singer there to perform some of her favourite arias.

For her menu, Marjorie chose my lovely little chicken finger sandwiches along with the Peking duck crepes to start.



As the day ticked along, I served our prawns wrapped in wonton with chilli jam and - one of my personal favourites - the pan seared scallops with nam jim.

 

We also served our gorgeous little chunky beef pies with tomato sauce. Millie, the resident Golden Retriever, loved my pies too.

 

 

Marjorie's birthday cake was fun too!

I fell in love with Marjorie and at the end of the day invited her to my place this Sunday night for roast chook. Her response? "Oh darling, that would be simply fab!!!"

 

My catering brochure is available in both Simmone Logue stores or view online at www.simmonelogue.com

 

Happy cooking and may we all get to 90 with as much style and panache as Marjorie.

 

Simmone x