Dancing on My Table

The Battle of The Soups

admin — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:30:03 +0000

I visited my dad 2 weeks ago on a windy wet Saturday. The day before I had bought a bacon hock to make soup and I mentioned this and told him I’d bring him some once I made the soup. And then we reminisced about the great pots of comforting soup my mother used to [...]

A Fine Tradition - taking time for tea

admin — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 16:24:45 +0000

Stopping work for a cup of tea and a natter during working hours is something most of us indulge in regularly, but an invitation to a formal afternoon tea served in the home is rare these days. But after enjoying a few special hours at the Langham Hotel in Auckland on Tuesday, I’m thinking of [...]

Father’s Day Treat

admin — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:43:38 +0000

Help your kids cook something special for dad on Father’s Day A little birdie told me that Father’s Day is just around the corner… well, in the US at least (we celebrate it in September in New Zealand). I remember making treats for my father on his special day, usually inappropriate sticky gooey things which he [...]

You don’t go to Masterclasses to be served up what you make at home

admin — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:10:23 +0000

Savour New Zealand has established itself as New Zealand’s premiere food and wine event. Now held annually and in Auckland at the Langham Hotel 2008 through to 2010, it’s a showcase of talent, local and imported, featuring a range of Masterclasses, tastings, special event dinners and themed lunches. It caters to the cheffing brigade as [...]

The Cookbook Corner

admin — Wed, 14 May 2008 00:51:33 +0000

The kitchen at The Cookbook Corner is about the size of an average western kitchen. With its sink, fridge, benches, shelves etc this space would be a fine set-up for a single cook.…but it wasn’t like that. Oh no! In the middle of the room is a very tall fridge, and all around benches, one [...]

Succulent New Zealand Lamb

admin — Sun, 11 May 2008 16:48:02 +0000

The London International Book Fair (LIBF) is held annually at Earls Court, London, in the northern hemisphere spring (the date for the 2009 Fair is 20-22nd April). It attracts publishing professionals from around the globe, and an enormous clutch of national and international press. It is the world’s leading international spring event for bookselling, rights [...]

Delicious soft shell crab in New Orleans

admin — Thu, 01 May 2008 16:05:22 +0000

I’m not going to beat around the bush - a lot of the food in New Orleans is not to my taste. I’m taking about fried starchy things which to me have no reason for being other than to add unnecessary calories to one’s diet. That said, some things stand out from my recent visit. [...]

It’s funny what happens on planes.

admin — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 15:18:45 +0000

Don’t you dread sharing space with a stranger? You might even be the type to have nightmares about a persistent cougher or snorter seated behind your back or screeching kids running amok while you’rew cooped up on board…. Still, it doesn’t put you off traveling, and next thing, there you are, being herded onto a plane, [...]

Judging Apple Cakes

admin — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 22:43:14 +0000

I want to warn you that should someone ask you one day to judge an apple cake recipe, you would be wise to think it over before saying yes. Because while visions of fluffy sponges and caramelized apples and layered cakes dusted with powdered sugar might tease your taste buds, the reality is something else. I [...]

Juicy

admin — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 22:14:18 +0000

My life’s about to change. For the first time, one of my books – number 13, to be exact (now there’s a good omen, I hope) Sizzle is going to be published in the States. My journey thus far has been a circuitous one, but come mid-April, I’ll be smack-bang in the middle of it [...]