Friday 21 October 2011

The Ultimate Design

Birthday come only but once a year for each and every one of us. This year is my Pop's 80th Birthday a great milestone in life of which needs a grand celebration.

Together with my Sister who celebrates the same day for her Birthday this year is going to be a triumphant day of feasting and candle blowing.

I have been asked to make the Birthday cake, of which is a huge honour in my book as most of the time I get asked to just arrange a cake from my work as they are just so devine and decadent. It never seems to amaze me how my cakes from work seem to brighten up anyones day with it's outstanding design and amazing taste. 'Laurent' surely know how to bring that smile to your face.

But I have taken onboard the making of not one but 2 cakes for the festivities. Being that it will be bought out towards the end of the day, I know this will be one of the last things people will take with them and remember. To design a cake that brings the same pleasure to people just like my work does is uncomparable. I am not skilled like my work nor do I have the tools, but I have chosen to face it head on and develop a cake that will still please the crowed and most importantly the Birthday Boy and Girl.

I have just spent a day out at cake suppliers such as Cake Deco in Melbourne and it has given me a taste of what I could do along with shopping online as Cakes around Town, an amazing site for any home cook who enjoys making and decorating anything from cakes to cookies.

The funny thing is that everything I saw was more for a female design cake so at least I know that my sisters cake is ready to go, and fingers crossed I can pull it off from what I can see in my head to the actual cake. But my Pop's cake is much harder to get all the items I envisioned, but finally have found what I am looking for and am now just waiting for my parcel to arrive so I can get started.

Nervous to be asked to do this, it is my chance to test my skills and see what I can do from my self teaching. With any luck it works out to be a success rather than a failure. I can only but hope!

Saturday 8 October 2011

Eating like Royalty

Croque en Bouche
Dating back to the 17th Century Low and High tea has been enjoyed by many, sipping loose leaf tea in quality china cups with delicate bite size pastries and scones whilst socialising. To this day we have developed this tradition and now enjoy a glass of champagne whilst we gorge ourselves in magnificent sandwiches, quiches, cakes and pastries as well as having tea and coffee.

Low tea being what we now call High tea is truly a fantastic way to lay back and spend your weekend whether it be on a sunny afternoon or a wintery rainy afternoon, it brightens up the best of both worlds.
Savoury selection

I have had the pleasure of once again enjoying this part of the English life with my family today at Chimmy's located on Bridge road Richmond. Would you believe that for only $47.50 per person you are overwhelmed with a selection of mixed quiches along with spinach and fetta and sausage rolls, not only to follow by platters of fine cakes and fresh scones with jam and cream. For 4 people we received 1 tower of savouries and 3 towers of cakes with 2 plates of scones. It could feed at least 6-8 people if you had eaten lunch already.

Cake selection
Luckily we all thought wisely and did not eat lunch prior to our High tea, and if you choose to do it do the same thing. DO NOT eat before hand. Served between 2pm - 5pm this deluxe high tea is well worth every penny. Accompanied with a glass of champagne and tea or coffee you truly gorge yourself in delights all afternoon.  Not only to you get to enjoy all this food you also receive a small croque en bouche to either enjoy there or take home.

Chimmy's on a Saturday afternoon has a fantastic vibe as others dine around you indulging amongst there own high tea, along with the waiters being attentive and friendly, your afternoon is truly enjoyed. The best bit is that if you can't eat it all they are more than happy to box anything up for you so you can continue to enjoy back at home for dinner or perhaps breakfast the following day if you wish.

Although bookings are essential there are various High teas to choose from ranging between $24.50 to $47.50.  I highly recommend to do this one afternoon and unwind with friends or family. It's a great way to have a gathering and is enjoyed by all. I know I will be returning with friends for years to follow.


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Sunday 2 October 2011

Country Cooking

There is something different to country cooking than city cooking that's for sure. I have recently journeyed  down to Daylesford with Paul to attend our Friends wedding and not only do I have to Congratulate my friends on becoming husband and wife I have to speak about the food.

Is it something in their water that contains more minerals than the city that makes their produce so delicious? Or perhaps it's the fact that it's so cold down their that the air crisps up their produce to seal in those extra flavours........

We dined out at a small little pizza place called Frangos & Frangos on our first night, avoiding the pizza choices as we had it the night before.  But we were able to engorge in some flavoursome meals. Starting off was a good fashioned potato and leek soup to warm me up from the terrible down pour of rain and 5c outside, served with beautiful sour dough bread and Paul's choice of  Herb and taleggio crusted globe artichokes.  For mains a slow cooked pork belly with a pickled fennel salad and white bean puree which Paul thoroughly enjoyed, so much so it was hard for me to steal tastes from his plate, for myself it was a spaghetti with chorizo calamari and basil sauce which also was very tasty.

Meredith's Goats cheese tart
On the day of the wedding which was held at the Lake House a current 2 hat venue, we were treated with utmost service from delicate canapes while the Bride & Groom had photos to a 3 course Luncheon which was beautiful. Our canapes of choice were raw king fish that were slightly mixed with coriander & lemon, rare seared roast beef, smoked salmon crostini and a cheese wafer.

The Bride & Groom chose a delightful alternate luncheon of an asparagus on grilled polenta with prosciutto and hollandaise or a Meredith's Goats Cheese Tart for Entree. For Mains we had a delicate Ocean Trout served on a bed of Bok choy with a citrus butter or a Truffled breast of chicken served on a barley & mushroom risotto. Dessert the meal that makes the best ending to any meal was Tiramisu served with espresso syrup and lake house biscotti and a Honey pannacotta with a compote of rhubarb and strawberries with a crisp tule. For a luncheon the food was well selected as although it was a 3 course dinner and the meals were quiet a large size, the meals were light that it did not make you feel like you just ate a Christmas Dinner.

Saganaki
Dinner that evening Paul and I travelled into Hepburn and found a quaint little place called Cosy Corner. A very home styled type of cooking we chose to enjoy an entree of Saganaki which was accompanied not with lemon but with cider poached pears and a house made relish. This was amazing one of the best Saganaki's Paul and I have ever had. Whether it be the relish that went with it or just the way it was cooked, it was truly to die for. Mains on the other hand were lovely but massive. Paul enjoyed his Carpet bag of rump steak filled with oysters, pancetta and if I recall a mushroom sauce on the side. Although he asked for it rare he was unfortunate to receive a medium rare steak which does put a downer on the meal. I enjoyed a grilled pork rib with a rhubarb and apple chutney, but could not get through it all. Both meals were served with wither scollop potatoes or mash potatoes and a large serving of mixed vegies which were cooked to perfection.

Our last morning in Daylesford and we chose to dine in the Gourmet Larder to enjoy a cooked breakfast to get us going for the scenic drive home. We enjoyed a lovely creamy cup of coffee and I chose to have s serve of chilli garlic and pancetta cooked chic peas served with a poached egg and grilled mixed tomatoes and Paul a delicious Breakfast Tartaine of grilled mixed mushrooms, bashed avocado, taleggio cheese with lemon and chives on a sourdough bread with bacon. All using local produce the beginning of our final day was a great start. We figured that seeing that Dayelsford had beautiful local produce we decided to make a small hamper for a picnic and enjoy the final tastes of Daylesford on our way home.

Breakfast Tartine
If you haven't been to Daylesford before you should, it's a great day tip approximately 2 hours out of Melbourne, if you visit on a Sunday check out there Trash and Treasure or perhaps check out the Mineral Spas around the area, just DON'T forget to embark on the great produce while you are visiting. It's a beautiful part of Victoria and am glad to have been down there to enjoy an elegant wedding whilst I was there.