Category — Tips and hints

Prized for its tangy flavour and emerald-green flesh, June’s fruit of the month is the kiwifruit. The kiwifruit originally hailed from China and was introduced to New Zealand at the beginning of the 20th century where they were commercially grown. They were named “kiwifruit” after their supposed resemblance to New Zealand’s national bird and the name was officially adopted by international trade in 1974.

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It seems most people are watching their pennies these days, and dining-in has become the option of choice to get together with friends and family. However, having guests can be a costly exercise if you don’t plan your menu wisely. Is it possible to serve an impressive meal whilst still keeping a check on your budget? Yes it is! The following winter entertaining ideas should provide you with some inspiration: [Read more →]

June’s fruit of the month is the orange. Navel oranges have just hit the shelves and this year’s crop is smaller but full of flavour. Other common orange varieties include Valencia (in season mid-spring to mid-autumn), Seville which is the preferred variety for making marmalade (in season late winter to early spring) and Blood oranges (in season late winter to early spring).

A navel orange

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For a nation of food-lovers, we also like to waste it: last year over $5 billion worth of food was thrown out in Australia. That amounted to 3 million tonnes, about 145 kilograms per person. Put another way, it is estimated that the average Australian throws away 20% of the food they buy.

Apart from the obvious financial consequences, such waste has a huge environmental impact. We can all take steps to reduce waste: follow these tips and you’ll not only be helping the environment, but looking after your own wallet. [Read more →]

April’s fruit of the month is the pear. Pears have been grown in Australia since the arrival of the First Fleet and there are many varieties to choose from including Packham, Williams, Beurre Bosc, Corella, Nashi and Josephine.  Australia’s Williams pears are used to make the famous French liqueur poire William. [Read more →]

April’s fruit of the month is apples. Australia is said to be the world’s healthiest apple-growing environment and apples are grown in all states with Victoria being the leading producer. There are many varieties of apples grown in Australia, some of the more familiar being Bonza, Gala, Red and Golden Delicious, Granny Smith, Jonathon, Pink Lady and Fuji. Seasons for the different types do vary, so ask your greengrocer which variety is the best at the time.

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There is a proverb that says “if you can read you can cook”. Whilst not entirely true, it illustrates a fundamental of successful cooking: read the recipe from start to finish, well in advance of commencing food preparation. There are four good reasons for this:
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When entertaining or planning a dinner party, it is natural that the main focus is on the food and what you will be serving your guests. However, an often overlooked part of the occasion is the setting and presentation of the table. A thoughtful table setting will create atmosphere and will enhance the experience of eating the meal you have prepared.
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March’s fruit of the month is passionfruit. Sweet and tangy passionfruit add a tropical taste to whatever they are added to. The passionfruit is native to South America and is grown extensively in Australia. [Read more →]

This summer in Sydney has been a scorcher, with temperatures well above average.  This is not the weather to be standing over a hot stove, getting hot and bothered in the kitchen. However, this presents a dilemma, as I love cooking and entertaining. There’s always the barbeque, but even that can be too hot to handle in this heat. So I came up with a challenge for myself:  create a 6 course meal that requires absolutely no heat on my part: no cooking in the preparation and all food to be served cold. Oh, and a meal that will please and satisfy a group of discerning foodie friends!
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