Taste Tests

The best perk of being a food blogger is getting to eat lots of scrumptious things (usually for free) and then writing about them.

My personal favourite though, is receiving fresh produce or condiments to experiment with in my cooking adventures.

Pizza in a Cone, Westfield Hurstville

Posted on January 9, 2012

I was out yesterday with my mum, sister and baby Poppy at the Westfield shopping centre in Hurstville. We were heading towards the fresh food hall to buy some veggies and on the way my mum said:

“Turn left here, just past that strange new Pizza in a Cone place”.

“OK”, I said. “Hang on, did you say pizza in a cone?”

I immediately swung the pram towards the shop. This, I had to see. (more…)

Philadelphia morning tea with Louise Fulton Keats

Posted on January 5, 2012

The first time Poppy and I met Margaret Fulton, Poppy slept blissfully in her pram.

No photo for Poppy. Annoying.

Incredibly, last month I had the opportunity to meet Margaret again, and this time Poppy was ready for her Kodak moment. Say cheese!

OK, I know she’s not smiling, but she’s not crying either – and she’s awake! Miracles do happen.

Margaret is the nicest woman and so obliging with photos and kind words to Poppy. Plus, she baked an incredible cheesecake, but more on that in a minute… (more…)

Pepe Saya factory tour, Tempe

Posted on December 28, 2011

“I know you” says the woman as soon as I walk in the door. “You went to Bethany College, didn’t you?”.

Startled, I studied her face, ‘Cindy?’. No – Cindy is her sister, who I went to high school with. They look very alike. This is Merna, owner of the dessert company Homemade Finefoods. What a small world!

Today I am with my very good friend Lorraine visiting a factory shared by Pepe Saya, Pat & Sticks, Booza Ice Cream and Homemade Finefoods. Baby Poppy has also come along as she just loves a good taste testing adventure! (more…)

Lychee season is here: add booze!

Posted on December 3, 2011

They arrived in a beautiful brown cardboard box tied with a red ribbon. Baby Poppy helped me untie the ribbon and then I squealed with delight at its contents. Poppy stared at me blankly, a little freaked out by my sudden outburst.

“Lychee season is here!” I told her excitedly. “You’ve never tasted lychees, do you want to try one?” (more…)

Chocolate lava cake with mustard centre + Maille celebrates 30 years in Australia

Posted on November 23, 2011

Last week I attended an event on ‘The Island‘, Sydney Harbour to celebrate Maille mustard retailing in Australia for 30 years (which seems like a long time, however, the company was established in France in 1747, so the brand is actually older than Australia has been a colonised country!).

There was plenty of food to complement the mustard such as smoked salmon, potato salad, crumbed veal and a sausage sizzle cooked by Hayden (of Masterchef fame) but the most surprising and outstanding dish of the day was definitely the chocolate lava cake with a mustard and honey centre. (more…)