Dancing on My Table

Video Demonstrations of Recipes from Never-ending Summer

admin — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:39:17 +0000

Julie Biuso’s new cookbook; never-ending summer. Breakfast One. Pork Balls with Sweet Chilli Sauce These are just the thing when you want a substantial and scrumptious nibble watch them disappear! Serve hot, wrapped in lettuce leaves, with a smattering of fresh herbs, sliced chilli and a splash of sweet chilli sauce. Crunchy Potato Cakes with Avocado Salsa These [...]

Black-footed pigs munching on acorns and aromatic herbs

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 16:07:15 +0000

Early September I went off to Sydney for the Fine Food fare. This event is not open to the public, it’s Trade Only, and it was good to see so many Kiwi food and drink producers there plying their products, or tasting what the Aussies had to offer.I tended to stick around the Spanish stand [...]

New York gets better and better

admin — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:32:56 +0000

Opting for lunch at Sala One Nine, instead of dinner the previous evening, was a good choice because lunch at Tarallucci is a more casual affair (it’s a great stop for a breakfast coffee and croissant, too; see previous blog). Sala at lunch was full and buzzy but not bursting at the seams like the [...]

New York Dining

admin — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 16:12:47 +0000

Last night we decided to eat Indian. It may seem a strange choice for New York, but is it? In a city where you can eat anything, why not dahi puree, peas and paneer or a masala dosa? Off we headed to a place with plenty of recommendations we’d pulled off the internet. Found it [...]

Dinner, Santa Monica again

admin — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 20:50:17 +0000

So many places to eat, so few nights…but the decision was made and off we went to the Rustic Canyon Wine Bar and Seasonal Kitchen, 1119 Wilshire Blvd (tel 310 393 7050). I wasn’t sure what we were in for but one dish I ate sent me into raptures and was instantly memorable. As is [...]

Josie’s Restaurant, Santa Monica

admin — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:44:33 +0000

I’m writing this from one of my favourite hotels, Loews, Santa Monica Beach, California. I love it because the hotel is so airy and spacious with gorgeous tall palm trees growing in the centre of the lobby, and the atmosphere is so casual and summery, which is a relief when you’ve flown 12 hours from [...]

Add a bit of spice to Father’s Day

admin — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 18:47:06 +0000

Here’s a wickedly tasty treat to serve up on Father’s Day – golden, spicy chicken drumsticks, so tender that the meat falls off the bone. Serve to dad as a snack with a chilled beer, or as part of a meal with steamed rice, or a rice salad, and either a cucumber and yoghurt salad [...]

Time to make chutney – just start early in the day!

admin — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:02:42 +0000

Yesterday I made an enormous batch of tamarillo chutney, hopefully enough to last us the year. We love it in sandwiches and rolls, with burgers and chicken, with bacon and avocado, and, well, with just about anything. So we need heaps. Now is the time to make it while tamarillos are at their peak and [...]

From The Food Show

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 19:24:31 +0000

The Food Show, held recently in Auckland, (previously Wellington and Christchurch), just gets better and better with more artisan producers than ever before showing their wares along with a broad range of NZ olive oils, avocado oils, wines, chocolates, liqueurs, beers, cheeses, Asian products and produce, organic products and produce, and kitchen and cooking equipment. [...]

All About Beetroot (Beets)

admin — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 17:14:42 +0000

The Romans knew a thing or two. They ate only the leaves of beet (beetroot) plants not the beets themselves. Ever tried them? While I wouldn’t be keen to give up beets, I have to admit that they were on to it when it came to the leaves – they’re nutritious, tender and delicious, with [...]