winosandfoodies

Grasshopper Dinner for Brisbane Food Bloggers

No, there were no grasshoppers on the menu. Last night Todd, at Grasshopper,  kindly hosted a dinner for Brisbane Food bloggers. Our part was to enjoy the food, meet other food bloggers and make a donation to the The Little Lantern Foundation.

I should have known everyone would take their big cameras to a food blogger dinner.  I was the odd one out with my tiny point and shoot. Here are a few photos of the evening - the people, the food and the chef.

Always check the dessert before starting the night. That way you'll know to save room for the last course.

THE PEOPLE

Seated opposite me, Mel and Julia.  Mei Yen popped down from the other end of the table for a chat. I'm looking forward to meeting up with her on Thursday.

Sarah playing with Haikel's very big camera.

on my right...Haikel

THE FOOD

Sashumi of yellowtail kingfish with ponzu vinaigrette and tomato salsa

Beef tataki with potato salad, quail egg and lemon vinaigrette

Japanese scallop with duck ma hor, crisp prosciutto, daikon and wasabi puree

lime and chili sorbet with chili/lemon zest sherbet...hothothot

Lamb cutlet with prawn mousse, sweet potato and wasabi mash, soy beans and lamb jus gras

Slow braised beef cheek cooked for 6 hours in Vietnamese style aromatic stock with coriander and chili polenta cake and baby vegetables. An amazing dish where the meat was so tender it just fell apart.

Coconut and white  parfait infused with kaffir lime leaves, served with berry consomme and basil seeds. There is a secret surprise in this dessert. But you'll have to go to Grasshopper to find it. I would spoil it if I told you what it was.

THE CHEF

.....and finally...... the master of the evening Head Chef Minh Le with our host Todd from Grasshopper. Follow Todd on Twitter at @lovegrasshopper to get updates on what's happening at Grasshopper.

Visit Eat Drink + Be Kerry for more photos. You'll see Bryan and I right down the end of the table.

....  and meemuncher  for her impressions.

DISCLAIMER: This is not a review, just my impressions of a great meal with a group of new friends. We were not asked for anything in return apart from a donation to  the Little Lantern Foundation. 

grasshopper * 36 Vernon Terrace *  Teneriffe * Brisbane * phone (07) 3252 8622

I Heart You #6

Fruit Mince Heart Tart

and isn't this beautiful from Sarah

Project 365 - week 5 round up

35 days = week 5 complete. To see original photos visit my Project 365 blog.

Have You Seen Today's Courier Mail?

"Cos I'm in it. I'm the featured home cook in their brand new Taste magazine section.  I'm pretty chuffed to be in a magazine with my favourite Masterchef judge, Matt.

We were up early this morning as I wanted to get some sunrise photos for my  Project 365  blog. So early,  by the time we had walked back from the beach the newsagent wasn't even open. I hope we didn't look too needy  standing outside  waiting for them to open to buy our Courier Mail.

The lemon tart in the photo is from The French Kitchen by Joanne Harris and Fran Warde. I love this particular lemon tart recipe as it doesn't require blind baking the pastry first.

UPDATE: Here is a copy of the article. (click to enlarge)

I Heart You #5

A heart on a t shirt from my BFF  Helene who is visiting from America this month.

Project 365 - Week 4

Week of Project 365 is complete. You can view the original photos at my Project 365 blog.

A Short Break

I Heart you #4

Wire heart for holding precious cards and memos.

Dunelm-Mill 

..and this sweet plate from my friend Rosemary.

 

...and finally a request... ..my dear friend Maryam of My Marrakesh is a finalist (best African blog) in the Bloggies . Please visit her blog and I'd love if you could vote for her  at the  2010 Bloggies site........voting closes 31st January. Thank you.

Project 365 - week 3

Visit winosandfoodies project 365 to see the entire week in photos.

Bread Wafers with Tomato and Chilli Jam to serve with Cheese

Here is my current favourite mid afternoon snack . Goat cheese served with bread wafers and a tomato and chilli jam.

BREAD WAFERS

Day old bread (or older), sliced

Remove crusts

Roll flat with a rolling pin

Brush with oil

Sprinkle with salt flakes and lemon zest. (play around with other flavours if you wish)

Bake in 180C oven for about 5 - 7 minutes. Keep watch as they go from ready to overdone in the blink of an eye.

Here's how mine look. They will be dry like a cracker.

TOMATO AND CHILI JAM

INGREDIENTS

500 grams tomatoes, peeled and roughly chopped. Remove seeds if you wish, I don't bother.

1 and 1/4 cups sugar

juice of 1 lime

1/4 cup white balsamic vinegar

4 red chillies, thinly sliced (do not remove seeds)

1 teaspoon salt flakes

METHOD

Put the tomatoes in a large bowl, add the sugar and stir to combine. Place a plate on top and leave to stand for several hours

Put the tomato mixture in a heavy based pan, add the juice, vinegar, chillies and salt, bring slowly to the boil, stirring so sugar dissolves.

Reduce to a simmer, cook for about 30 - 35 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until mixture starts to thicken.

Pour into hot sterilised jars and leave to cool.

Seal when cold.

I don't know how long this will last as we eat ours in about 2 weeks.

More tomato recipes for those enjoying our summer produce

Use Real Butter -  tomato garlic pasta sauce

Simply Recipes - Basic tomato sauce recipes

White On Rice - Tomato jam

Oat Biscuits - Recipe

These are so easy to make I whipped them up when I had the oats out making breakfast yesterday.  The recipe is from an article on healthy eating in a newspaper. I replace the margarine with butter so maybe not so healthy...but tasty.

OAT COOKIES (BISCUITS)

150 grams sugar

2 tablespoons golden syrup

150 grams butter

2 tablespoons milk

150 grams porridge oats

150 grams self raising flour

METHOD

Heat oven to 180C

In a saucepan - melt sugar, syrup, butter and milk over a low heat until dissolved.

Add oats and flour, stirring well.

Place teaspoons of mix onto baking  paper lined tray.

Bake 10 - 15 minutes.

Allow to cool for 5 minutes before removing from tray.

Kitchenware Shopping

Kitchenware Plus has been on my must do list from the day I first saw it, while driving along the M1. Finally I had an excuse...under my Christmas tree was a  voucher with my name on it.

decisions decisions....pretty glass bottles maybe...

...what would you serve in a red bowl?

Amongst all the colour ....cute little white milk jugs

....I see stars and spots

...and a whole shelf full of coloured serving ware

..... and a rainbow of spoons

....glass from Spain for my olive oil

...sensible storage and preserving jars

Do I need a chef's jacket? No. Scales with mixing bowls ....and one can never have too many wooden spoons.

Oooh look ......a beautiful white domed  Tagine

.... and a  mortar and pestle for grinding my spices.

I fell in love with these art deco salt and pepper mills for the table from William Bounds.

Cupcakes and coffee.....

.... I like a little music with my champagne.

..and one last look at the pretty purple glass.

 

But I was on a mission. I  wanted a pasta maker.... a really good pasta maker. Not some cheap namby, pamby pasta maker. I wanted a Made in Italy Marcato Atlas 150...and that's what I have. Soon you'll be seeing home made pasta at my table.