6

The best panna cotta of my life.

It’s amazing how something so unassuming can assault your senses with one tiny mouthful.

I actually groaned when I first tasted this.

Rich and creamy. Perfect wobble. Warm, very dark chocolate sauce. Heaven.

It was devoured at a gorgeous little restaurant we found in the back streets of Florence called Osteria del Cinghiale Bianco which I think translates to Tavern of the White Boar. Correct me if I’m wrong, native Italian speakers!

Before this dessert we ate fried zucchini flowers, buffalo mozarella with fresh truffles (yes, that was as incredible as it sounds!), boar ragu with fresh parpadelle and braised boar with polenta.

It was definitely one of the best meals we ate in Italy.

Next week I’ll feature all of those dishes in the Foreign Food Fridays post, so make sure you drop by then.

Enjoy the weekend, Christie x

Read more »

9

Traditional British fish and chips. You can’t beat them.

This particular plate was eaten at Bankers Fish Restaurant in Brighton on a windy October day last year.

You might think that’s a very small amount of mushy peas, but rest assured it’s a small dollop that came from a much larger bowl.

I really loved the greasy ‘chippies’ (fish and chip shops) in England. At first, it was a strange novelty to eat them with mushy peas, pickled eggs and drowned in malt vinegar. But soon I couldn’t have them any other way!

Saying that, a good home-made Aussie tartare sauce and a big wedge of lemon truly is a great way to enjoy fish and chips. Especially if you’ve got your shoes off and your feet in the sand on an Aussie beach (sorry, pebble beaches in England just don’t cut it!).

Have a great weekend, Christie x

Read more »

9

This week it’s a photo that’s not actually mine. I got sent this from my hubby’s Aunty and Uncle who recently visited Beirut (thanks guys!).

Can you believe it’s a street stall selling figs and cherries! Very cool.

Even though my Dad was born in Lebanon, I’ve never been there, so I love seeing the grid-locked traffic he’s always talking about.

Plus, those big plump green figs and shiny cherries look sooo yummy!

Hopefully I’ll get to Lebanon one day, for now I’ll just drool over the lovely Joumana’s blog, Taste Of Beirut. Check it out, it’s totally delicious.

Have a great weekend, Christie x

Read more »

7

The French sure know how to cook a great steak.

Here is a very good example of a perfect rare steak eaten at La Braisiere.

Us Aussies might think we know how to do it best on the BBQ, but nothing I’ve ever tasted even comes close to comparing to this one.

Way back in 2005 our very good friends Celine and Bi took us to La Braisiere for dinner where we ate the best steak of our lives.

In those days, it will still OK to smoke inside restaurants and being in France, naturally everyone was smoking between courses.

It was a very different story when Dillon and I returned there last year in October to re-live that magical first taste.

There was not even the slightest whiff of smoke in the air, but the steak still tasted as good as ever. Served with the crunchiest goose fat potatoes and a large well-dressed green salad it was the perfect meal for a cool Autumn evening.

Of course we accompanied it with a delicious local red wine and smiled ear-to-ear all the way back to our rented apartment (even though it was a good 20 minute walk!).

If you have missed previous Foreign Food Fridays posts then click here to view them.

Have a great weekend, Christie x

Read more »

9

I’ve got tears in my eyes as I look at this photo.

It’s for two reasons:

1) I heart Barcelona! Out of the 26 cities we visited last year it was my favourite (tied 1st with Tokyo).

2) Now that I’m pregnant I can’t eat cured meats. Besides, nothing will taste as good as eating pure Iberico ham in the country the lucky (black-hoofed) pig was raised in.

And, I feel guilty guzzling it here in Oz due to the food miles it has racked up, just to enter my hungry belly. Sigh.

This shot was taken at the famous La Boqueria fresh produce market in Barcelona.

I’ve got plenty of other great shots of olives, pineapples, mushrooms, seafood and more – but you’ll have to wait for future Foreign Food Fridays posts for those. (Note: Click those blue words to view all the previous posts!).

Have a great weekend guys, Christie x

Read more »

7

I was completely obsessed with eating these aubergine kebabs in Istanbul when we were there last year. The charred aubergine combined with the spiced lamb mince is a really addictive mix.

When the aubergine is properly done and becomes a super silky texture, that equals pure heaven, for me. I had a perfect version in the first few days we arrived and I went around chasing that first experience the whole time.

A big chunk of aubergine stuffed into a hot piece of pide and topped with a slice of raw onion tastes sooo good! The tomato rice, although nice, is totally redundant.

There were so many other amazing dishes in Istanbul, but you’ll have to wait for future exciting episodes of Foreign Food Fridays for those!

Have a great weekend, Christie x

Read more »