Gourmet Giveaway - French Food Safari

In all honesty I don't really watch that much television but recently I have been glued to both the French Open and Maeve O'Meara and Guillaume Brahimi's latest series, French Food Safari.  Since France is such a long way away from Australia I am using TV as some sort of substitute to actually poking around in French markets and spending afternoons feasting on stinky cheese and copious amounts of red wine.

Scalloped potatoes from French Food Safari

Rita's Cafeteria

Over a summer spent at the beach in Lorne I discovered the excellent Bottle of Milk cafe, a new addition to the town.  Serving up great coffee and even better burgers it quickly became my favourite place to eat so I was excited to hear that the boys from Bottle of Milk and Pizza Pizza in Lorne have just opened a place in Melbourne, Rita's Cafeteria, a pizza place in Abbotsford.

Peeping through the window to Rita's

Fitzrovia

The dilemma with Fitzrovia is whether to go there for brunch so you can have the excellent cured Tasmanian ocean trout or for dinner so you can order the truffled polenta chips.  These are the decidedly first world problems that I have to deal with in my life.

Cured Tasmanian ocean trout with quinoa for breakfast

Huxtable

Guess where Heston Blumenthal ate when he was in Melbourne last week?  Huxtable, I wasn't there then but the staff proudly tweeted a picture of themselves with the chef.  Named in honour of the all time classic Cosby Show Huxtable's menu has American influences alongside dashes of Korean, European and Australian.

My favourite dish at Huxtable - the lamb filo rolls

Sponsored post: 8 Michelins stars, 6 chefs, 1 cube

For my UK readers and anyone else lucky enough to be in London around the Olympics time, Electrolux is bringing the Cube to London.  The glass box will sit 18 people around one table overlooking London's Houses of Parliament and the London Eye.  Guests can watch their meal being prepared in an open plan kitchen and as part of the experience, each chef will also offer their hints and tips on how to create restaurant quality food when entertaining at home.


The Michelin starred chefs will present a menu using locally sourced ingredients to complement the setting. The first chef to cook at the Cube by Electrolux will be the double Michelin star chef Sat Bains from Restaurant Sat Bains in Nottingham.

I will keep my fingers crossed for a cube in Australia as well.

This is a sponsored post. 

South Melbourne brunch: St Ali v Chez Dré

St Ali is a South Melbourne brunch institution after several years in operation but now there is a contender to St Ali's crown with newcomer Chez Dré located right next to the South Melbourne market.  Chez Dré boasts a sunny courtyard, an onsite bakery and serious coffee but can it compete with the legendary St Ali?

My Mexican Cousin at St Ali

Afternoon tea at The Langham

After a disastorous afternoon tea at The Sofitel I was a bit worried about what would be on offer at The Langham.  I had booked in with my Mum and sister for afternoon tea there for Mothers' Day.  I needn't have worried at all, afternoon tea at the Langham was everything you could want from an afternoon tea plus a little bit more.

The tiered cake stand for afternoon tea at The Langham

Gourmet Chick in Nepal

Sitting typing this in Melbourne my trip to Nepal last year seems like it was to another world.  Most people visit Nepal to trek but I've already shared my experience with you of trekking the Annapurna circuit last year.  Now I thought it was probably time to let you in on what else there is to do, see and eat in Nepal.

The monkey temple in Kathmandu

Best brunches in Collingwood

It's well known that Melbourne does a good brunch.  What I have also discovered is that the little suburb of Collingwood is well represented in the good brunch stakes.  The hordes of people who come from all over town to queue at the front of Proud Mary are obviously in on the secret, but I think my favourite brunch in Collingwood comes from newcomer Gorski and Jones.

The brilliant baked eggs at Gorski and Jones

How to make Shakshuka

Last Saturday when it was lashing with rain and MTV and I ducked into a little cafe in Richmond.  We were sick of the house hunting we had spent all morning doing and wanted to get a late brunch while escaping the weather.  I ordered the Shakshuka, a dish I knew would warm me up from the tips of my toes to the top of my rather bedraggled and wet head.

Shakshuka (serving for one) 

Henry and the Fox

"Henry and the Fox sound's like a children's book" said my friend Sophie when I arranged to meet her at Henry and the Fox on Friday night for dinner.  She was right.  According to the chef Michael Fox inspiration for the name came from a favourite children's book while also managing to get his own moniker in.

Confit ocean trout with salted cucumber - this was presented so beautifully like all the food at Henry and the Fox

Afternoon tea at Sofi's at The Sofitel

With Mothers Day this Sunday lots of people will be booking in for afternoon tea with their Mum.  I've just got what I think may be the last table at the Langham for some scones, jam and cream action for my Mum which I think might be looking forward to even more than she is.  Researching the different afternoon tea venues prompted me to post about the afternoon tea I had recently at Sofi's at the Sofitel with my friend Joyce from Mel: Hot or Not.

The whole afternoon tea tiered stand

How to make fish pie

Sometimes you just feel like eating something comforting and familiar.  For me fish pie is that dish.  It's rich, creamy and incredibly satisfying.  I know some people make fish pie with a pastry topping but finishing the pie off with a layer of mashed potato gives you a whole meal in one dish.   All you need to do is serve the pie with a crisp green salad on the side.   The thing to remember with this recipe is not to mash the potato topping too much, you want it to be light and fluffy.  It's also best to use sustainable fish.  I picked up my fish at the South Melbourne Market for a pricey $50 but it ensured guilt free eating.

Fish pie fresh from the oven

The World's 50 Best Restaurants: The winners and losers

The World's 50 Best Restaurants were announced last night to great fanfare in London.  I received an email from the organisers telling me I could follow the awards on Facebook and Twitter which would allow me to "feel the emotion as if I was there".  Not quite... no champagne for a start.

Heston Blumenthal's Fat Duck in the UK, No 5 last year and No 13 this year