Not Quite NigellaThe cooking, eating and travel blog of a hungry blogger from Sydney, Australia featuring original recipes, interviews and articles on all things food @

The Royal Mail, Dunkeld, Victoria

Not Quite Nigella — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:00:14 +0000

It was pitch black when my phone alarm went off. I fumbled for my phone and put it on snooze but before it could chime again I raised my weary, sleep deprived body out of its four hour sleep and got up remembering why I had set it so early. I was on my way [...]

Pink Popcorn Pomanders

Not Quite Nigella — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 18:00:26 +0000

I was watching the 2010 Academy Awards. Of course one of the benefits of working from home is the ability to camp yourself in front of the television popcorn at the ready and taking in the important bits – you know, the red carpet. I was delighted to see Jack Donaghy hosting (yes I know [...]

Cavallino Ristorante, Terrey Hills

Not Quite Nigella — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:00:48 +0000

Over the past few years my friends have been sprouting up little’uns faster than I can count. And as a consequence of this, I’m asked if I can recommend any places that are kid friendly but also adult friendly. Many places are of course mutually exclusive. the fancier it looks, the less welcoming they are [...]

Watermelon, Feta and Mint Salad

Not Quite Nigella — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:00:29 +0000

Oh I know, I may have scared you with the mere idea of this salad but hopefully you’ve already seen it in cookbooks (Nigella has a version using olives) and at restaurants. A friend of mine Nic tried Nigella’s version and pronounced it unpalatable so I was put off eating it for the longest time [...]

Win 1 of 5 Double Passes to See My One & Only!

Not Quite Nigella — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:00:12 +0000

Ladies and Gents, you know I do love retro and things that hark back to yesteryear. The new movie My One & Only is set in the 1950’s (how Mad Men!) and is directed by Richard Loncraine (My House in Umbria)and stars Renee Zellweger, Renee Zellweger, Logan Lerman, Kevin Bacon, Eric McCormack & Chris Noth. “My [...]

Taste of Sydney Festival, 2010

Not Quite Nigella — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 18:00:06 +0000

The skies are looking ominous… I look up at the sky and one moment it’s sunny and five minutes later it looks grey. Not the most ideal weather for an outdoor food festival but I’m hoping the gods of fashion look after me and ensure that I don’t get wet. For tonight is the opening night [...]

La Piadina, Bondi & What is a Piadina?

Not Quite Nigella — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:00:58 +0000

The Missing Brontosaurus “What number is it? Mr NQN asks and I had forgotten to write down the street number for La Piadina. I know that it’s somewhere in the hundreds. It’s not a glorious sunny day the Sunday that we visit La Piadina. The rain has settled in and we’re driving up and down Glenayr [...]

Goldfish Cookies

Not Quite Nigella — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 18:00:45 +0000

When I was a child the only pet that I was allowed until a certain age was a goldfish. Cats were too much like a fully grown organism for my parents to handle (and therefore for us to handle as children) and my parents have never been dog people although I desperately wanted a cat [...]

Afternoon Tea At The 7 Star Burj Al Arab Hotel, Dubai

Not Quite Nigella — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:04 +0000

Synchronised champagne pouring “Honey, do you mind if I put an afternoon tea on the credit card? It’ll be $120. Ok thanks bye!” I ask Mr NQN by instant messenger. Perhaps you may have heard of the Burj Al Arab Hotel which is Dubai’s 7 star (self rated) all suite hotel that is said to be a [...]

The $5 a Head GFC Dinner Party!

Not Quite Nigella — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 18:00:13 +0000

My friends and I are terribly busy people. So much so that when this dinner idea was first conceived it was around the time of the Global Financial Crisis last year. And whilst we love dinner parties, the fact was one friend was mid renovation, another mid toddler and we were mid moving so our [...]