happy birthday mum!

Despite my love for fine food and dining out, there is nothing like a home cooked meal.  When talking to some of my peers, colleagues and friends about food, a common theme arises and that is there is something special about the food your own mother makes.  A few people have mentioned how nothing beats the way their mum makes that certain dish and how no other similar dish can compare.  I asked a colleague once, is that because it is actually the best dish you have ever tasted or is it only because that is the way you are used to having that particular dish growing up?  We both agreed that perhaps it is the latter but regardless, mum’s cooking is more or less always the best and for a more apt word - comforting.  This post is dedicated to my mum on her birthday.

I have lived in a different city from my parents for eight years of my life and one of the things I miss most is mum’s cooking.  The weekly ritual of noodle soup or Cambodian style congee as we gather as a family for weekend lunches is priceless.  One thing about my mum is that her fridge and pantry is always overflowing with food.  I think about our family history and how we escaped war-torn Cambodia for a better life in New Zealand.  I think of the people that starved, adults, children, and babies. Then I realise these people are my family.  As someone lucky to be born after the horror that struck my birth nation, I have been told the stories so can only imagine what my family went through.  It is something I can barely fathom but it is a reality.  It is our history.

It is no wonder that the food in our family home is always plentiful and my mum has always fed us well and continues to do so.  She always cooks ample food, more than enough to feed an army and is always very meticulous in the way she cooks.  There is always a “proper” way of making something.  Here are my top two favourite dishes that I crave for and no matter where I go, I cannot find it anywhere where it tastes the same as they way my mum makes it.

Cambodian Noodle Soup - Kuy Teav

The broth that my mum makes for her noodle soup is complex in its making and therefore well-developed in flavour.  She makes it a few days in advance as she tells me that stock gets better over a few days.  I know she uses a lot of bones hence the flavour, the true recipe however is not written down and I have tried to mimic it but have fallen short.  The amount of effort alone does not always fit into my schedule which is why I always appreciated having it almost every week when I lived in the same city.  The one pictured here is her “combination” served with beansprouts, chicken, beef, squid, prawns, pork and some innards.  Topped with coriander, spring onion, chilli sauce, fried garlic and lemon, it is in my opinion the best noodle soup.

Nom Puchok

Nom Puchok is my all-time favourite dish.  It is traditionally Cambodian, the one pictured here is served with literally translated “Khmer Soup”.  Once again, the process for making this dish is time consuming.  Oftentimes mum and a good friend will get together to make this.  It is great to see that not only the eating of food brings people together but the making of it also.  This dish comprises of a lot of fresh vegetables such as cabbage, carrots, cucumber, beansprouts placed into the bottom of your bowl, followed by rice noodles that have been hand twisted into separate mounds, and then the “Khmer Soup”.  To top it off are the optional choices of lemon juice and chilli.  There are other variations of soup that can go with this dish but this one is my favourite.  The main ingredients of the soup are lemon grass, ground chicken, fish and stock.  The flavour of which is very intricate and some would say an “acquired” taste.  However I grew up with this dish and associate it with special occasions – I think due to the difficulty in its making.  That is why it counts as my most favourite dish ever.   While merely writing this description, I can almost taste it in my mouth.  I have not yet attempted to make this dish but for now I will always look forward to when mum makes it.

It is the familiarity of the food that I grew up with that I find comforting as it brings back fond childhood memories.  As far back as I can remember, I always watched my mum cook and helped wherever needed - or ordered - with those tedious tasks of preparation through to cleaning.  But through these experiences is where my cooking skills and my passion for food originated and I will always be grateful for learning these skills as a child to enable me to develop them further as an adult.  Thank you mum for being my food mentor, always feeding us well and of course, happy birthday!

lunch & da city

How time flies, this very blog turns one this month.  I look back on the past year of my foodie wannabe experiences and am grateful to my loyal readers who I am able to share my passion for food with.  This month’s post is aimed at those who need ideas for lunch in the city of Melbourne.

If you’re anything like me and on the odd occasion where you haven’t packed your lunch, then deciding what to eat can be a struggle.  We all know that Melbourne is spoilt for choice when it comes to food however here are a select few of my favourite regular choices to fill that gap in the middle of the day.

My love for sushi…

I randomly came across the ‘Sushi Monger’ on The Causeway (in between Bourke and Little Collins Streets) one lunch hour and noticed the excessively long queue.  Of course this normally can guarantee that a place has to be good. For those of you who are familiar with ‘Sushi B’ on Woodward Street in Wellington, the queue at ‘Sushi Monger’ is of those proportions.   There are a variety of options of hot food as well as freshly made sushi rolls to choose from.  I normally have three rolls plus miso for $6.80 or if I am unusually less hungry the two rolls plus miso for $5.  You can also just select single rolls without the miso and pay per roll.  My three favourite choices of rolls are ‘Spicy Salmon’, ‘Crispy chicken and avocado’ and ‘King Prawn and avocado’.  I have found it hard to find a casual sushi place that fulfils my expectations and was so happy to have stumbled across the ‘Sushi Monger’.  Dare I say it, for Melbourne standards, their sushi is the best and absolutely delicious it fills the spot every time.

And continuing my love for Japanese…

I love Japanese food and one of my favourite dishes is a ‘Katsu Curry’.  Matsuki Japanese Café in Centreway 259-263 Collins Street do a mean ‘Katsu Curry’.  It is only $6.90 for the ample regular size and such a great lunch time hunger filler.  They also have a variety of rice and noodle dishes on offer but admittedly I started and stopped with the ‘Katsu Curry’ and it is the same order every time.  The chicken is deliciously crispy and the curry sauce covering it is full of the balance of flavour that a good Katsu Curry has.  If you are a fan of this dish as much as I am then I highly recommend a visit here.

Vietnamese bakeries…

Throughout the city there is a scattering of Vietnamese bakery chains such as N.Lee or Kenny’s.  I love having a Vietnamese roll or traditionally called ‘Banh mi’ from these places when I feel like a deliciously filled bread roll.  They have options of having the traditional pork loaf, barbequed pork or pork meatballs as fillings amongst other mainstream choices of ham, chicken and salads.  My favourite option is to have a chicken schnitzel roll with the traditional Vietnamese salad, which consists of pickled carrot, cucumber, coriander.   The roll is also buttered and spread with pate and I ask for chilli to give it a kick.  For a roll at N. Lee it is $6.50 and $6.20 at Kenny’s.  The N.Lee Bakery that I prefer is at 61 Little Collins Street and Kenny’s at 190 Queen Street is conveniently located for a quick lunchtime grab.

Da roti wrap…

The idea of wrapping curried meat and salad in a roti is pure genious.  I love a roti wrap and from ‘Spice Kitchen’ in the Galleria food court (enter from Bourke, Elizabeth or Little Collins Streets), they are so good that one is almost not enough.  For $6.95 each it is a bargain and with the choice of chicken or lamb, the choices are simple.  Although the service here is a little slow, for wraps that are pre-prepared, I can look past it as both the chicken and lamb are delicious.  They are toasted upon ordering and I would recommend eating it there rather than take away as on then you will get the two condiments on the side that add moisture to the wraps.  ‘Spice Kitchen’ also offer a variety of mouth watering curries with rice and naan to cater for both meat and vegetarian lovers alike.

So if you are having a lunchtime dilemma hopefully these suggestions will hit the spot or perhaps give you some inspiration when you can’t decide what to eat in the middle of the day.

da vue de monde experience

Vue de Monde www.vuedemonde.com.au

·      Level 55, Rialto, 525 Collins Street, Melbourne

·      Dining at Dinnertime

·      Party of two

Set on the 55^th floor of the Rialto tower offering amazing views of the city as well as amazing cuisine is Shannon Bennett’s Vue de Monde.  A restaurant that was recently awarded ‘Restaurant of the Year’ in the Good Food Guide 2013, it is renown by foodies and foodie-wannabes as the place to dine.  I had been wanting to visit Vue de Monde for a considerable amount of time and was pleasantly surprised and spoilt by my husband as he had sneakily booked us in for dinner a good three months prior to my birthday.

I must devote an entire paragraph to the service at Vue de Monde.  It can only be described as impeccable and meticulous.  From the moment you are greeted on the ground floor, through to taking their private lift straight to level 55, through to being escorted to your table via the impressive wine room, through to being seated in a kangaroo fur chair and right through to having your kangaroo leather covered table dusted of crumbs by staff between each course.  As well as the usual napkin folding when you leave the table, the attention to detail was impressive.  But this is just how the ‘Restaurant of the Year’ rolls, it is their thing and contributes to the experience.

Cucumber Sorbet and Herbs

We were advised of two options for our dining session, the “Freedom” or the “Choice”.  The “Freedom” is the degustation, basically a tasting meal of nine courses that would progressively grace your table over a comparably lengthy period of time.  And at $250 per person, I considered this option to be overly indulgent for the occasion that we were dining for.  To include matching wine it is $15 - $25 per course.  So we opted for the “Choice” menu which is a four course meal where there were several options under each course.  At $150 per person, I felt this option satisfied this particular occasion.

Each course had its in betweeners such as palate cleansers (a Cucumber sorbet with on the spot crushed herbs) and the fancy things you would expect in a restaurant of this caliber. 

"Snacks" to Begin

Salt Cured Kangaroo

The experience began with Oyster, Salt cured kangaroo, Celeriac, Sunflower seed and Smoked eel, white chocolate, caviar.  The presentation and how each item was strategically placed on the table intrigued me perhaps more than the actual food.  However the salt cured kangaroo was exceptionally tender and delicious and was rolled right in front of you.

Trout Belly

Ox Tongue

For entrée we had the Trout belly, smoked eel, nasturtiums, wasabi and to be adventurous I chose the Ox tongue salad, Gascony butter.

Duck, Yabbie, Kale

For the main event we chose the Wagyu beef, onion, mustard and Duck, yabbie, kale, raspberry.  The Wagyu was perfectly seasoned however not as tender as hoped.  The duck however was deliciously tender and the yabbie was so full of flavour.  It was a perfect combination with the crispy kale giving a contrasting texture to the smooth fleshy yabbie and duck.

Wagyu

Cheese Course

Course number three was an Assortment of cheeses, bread, jams.  The chesses are especially served to you from a mobile cabinet of different cheeses after you tell the waiter what kind of cheeses you prefer.  Served with a variety of jams and bread, this course is not something I normally have when dining out however is a pleasant lead up to the sweet finish.

Pavlova

For dessert we chose the Pavlova and Chocolate soufflé, chocolate mousse, crème anglaise.  This course was an anti-climax to what was one of my most unique and special dining experiences.  What we did not realise was the Pavlova would be “deconstructed” and therefore did not meet our longing expectations of crispy meringue and fluffy light egg whites.  The chocolate soufflé was served by the chef where a knife was inserted to create a hole for the crème anglaise to be poured into.  Very nice in theory but so very disappointing in taste.  A lackluster finale to an enjoyable experience.

Chocolate Souffle

Petit Fours

And to round up the meal petit-fours were served.

From booking right through to after the meal where the menu complete with wine choices is emailed to you, It can be described as nothing other than an experience - and a memorable one at that!

all eyes on london

With the 2012 Olympic Games drawing to an end, all eyes have been on the grand historic city that is London.  I have been fortunate enough to have called London “home” six long years ago.  Needless to say I was brimming with excitement to have the opportunity to visit London again pre-Olympic Games at a time where it was buzzing with electric atmosphere.  My first visit since I left, the time was spent with my favourite combination of great friends and delicious food.

An old favourite…

GBK www.gbk.co.uk

Gourmet Burger Kitchen is my favourite burger place in da world!  I am not sure if it is because I discovered it at a time when the food in London was more or less mediocre, or because it is a kiwi initiative, but I can honestly, hand on my heart say, I have never been disappointed by a GBK burger.  Six years on, it had felt like there was a GBK on every corner, having expanded greatly.   It confirms that Brits have embraced these burgers.  When arranging a catch up with some old colleagues, I put in the suggestion for a meal at GBK Canary Wharf.  As a spice lover, I opted for the ‘Habernaro’ – a beef burger with fiery tomato & habanero jam, mozzarella, salad & mayo.  It had the right amount of heat and was perfect washed down with a glass of New Zealand Pinot Gris.

Some new experiences…

Gaucho Grill www.gauchorestaurants.co.uk

I had heard a lot about Gaucho Grill when I worked in London from colleagues who often frequented the local Gaucho for a Friday lunch.  Never having experienced these Argentinean steaks, it was on my list of things to try in my return visit to London.  Fortunately after arriving late in the evening, thanks to our wonderful host, we managed to have a late dinner at the infamous Gaucho Grill complete with a view of Tower Bridge!

The service was friendly and impeccable.  They brought out the steaks to show us the different cuts and provided recommendations for the cooking time variant to each cut.  We chose the 300g Rump cooked to medium rare with smoked garlic hollandaise sauce, chips finished with deep fried thyme and the ‘Gaucho Burger’ - A blend of all four cuts of beef with smoked bacon, cheddar, brioche bun and tomato  & chipotle chutney  - cooked to medium. 

 The Rump was unfortunately disappointing as it was tough and chewy.  I am talking a minimum requirement of fifty chews before being able to swallow – not the melt in your mouth variety of steak that I had high hopes for.  The Gaucho Burger on the other hand was mouth wateringly delicious.  The pattie was bursting with flavour, no doubt from the combination of four different cuts and made up for the disappointing steak.  I would visit Gaucho again if not for the burger but perhaps for a better choice of cut, not to mention the ambience, atmosphere and view from Gaucho Tower Bridge.

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal www.dinnerbyheston.com

After speaking to some friends who had recently been to ‘Dinner by Heston’, I thought I would use my London visit as an opportunity to dine at his Knightsbridge restaurant.  Again with the help of my wonderful host, we secured a table for six.  Not until I researched for this post did I realize that this restaurant has in fact one Michelin Star.  My intention for choosing to dine here was for the quirkiness of Mr Blumenthal himself and not for the accolades it has received albeit unknown by myself at the time.  Funnily enough this foodie wannabe has never dined at a Michelin Starred restaurant so I am pleasantly surprised to have ‘Dinner by Heston’ be my very first. 

The menu, besides obviously giving the options of dishes, also contained a section called “Sources of origin” that provided an explanation for the inspiration of the dish.

I started the meal with the infamous ‘Meat Fruit (c.1500)’, mandarin, chicken liver parfait and grilled bread.  It looks like a mandarin but is anything but.  The chicken liver parfait is deliciously light and creamy and went well with the opposing texture of the grilled bread.  The waiting staff luckily made the point that the stalk and leaf were not edible!  I wonder how many people have tried to eat it before they began warning patrons!  All in all, the perfect start to the meal that I had decided on before I stepped foot in London.

Another notable starter was the ‘Hay Smoked Mackerel (c.1730)’, lemon salad, gentleman’s relish & olive oil.  A perfect, refreshing combination to begin a three-course meal. 

I thought I was adventurous in my main course selection opting for ‘Spiced Pigeon (c.1780)’, Ale & artichokes.  To my knowledge, I have not tried pigeon before and I was pleasantly welcomed with the flavours and tenderness of the pigeon.  It was cooked medium rare and the warming spices were challenging to my taste buds.  The artichokes complemented the pigeon in texture and taste.  

After seeing this dessert on the menu, it only took me one second to decide this was the one for me ‘Brown Bread Ice Cream (c.1830)’, Salted butter caramel, pear & malted yeast syrup.  I am a huge fan of salted caramel hence the reason it did not take me long to choose this dessert.  Unfortunately it did not meet my expectations being more on the salty than sweet side.  The dessert confused my palate, perhaps as I expected something completely different to meet my taste buds, however this could be what Mr Blumenthal wanted to achieve.  Despite my disappointment, it was not enough to dampen the experience.

Another dessert, the simply named ‘Chocolate Bar (c.1730)’ with passion fruit jam and ginger ice cream was an exquisitely smooth and shiny chocolate bar.  It was so good; good enough to even lick the plate!  No joke – it did not stop one of our party of six from licking their plate in this fine dining restaurant, this person will remain nameless.

Upon returning to Melbourne, a timely article appeared in the Melbourne newspaper The Age that showed ‘Dinner by Heston’ ranked in the top ten restaurants in the world.  It was the highest new entry, coming in at number nine in San Pellegrino Worlds 50 Best Restaurant Awards 2012.  Mr Blumenthal’s infamous three Michelin Star restaurant ‘Fat Duck’ was notably missing from the top ten.  This affirmed that ‘Dinner by Heston’ was a great choice to highlight my London culinary experience.  The service was outstanding and unpretentious, the setting was stylish and sophisticated and ultimately a most delicious dining experience was had.

Ella’s Bakehouse

When Lorraine Pascale known in the UK for her show “Baking Made Easy” appeared on Australian TV as a guest on Masterchef, I immediately wanted to visit her bakehouse in Covent Garden.  Unfortunately finding the little cupcake specialising store was not as easy as expected, but with the assistance of wi-fi from the Apple store I managed to locate it and indulged in a ‘Malteser’ cupcake.  It was everything I had hoped it to be and more and very much worth the half hour search!  I now place Lorraine Pascale in the same cooking heroine category as Nigella Lawson.

High Tea at the Langham www.palm-court.co.uk/#/afternoon-tea

Set in one of London’s oldest hotels, The Langham’s Palm Court, was the venue of choice for a highly anticipated high tea.  I love high tea and what better place to experience it than its birthplace.  The setting was beautiful, the décor was contemporary and stylish, the armchairs were comfortable and cleverly placed so that the experience felt private and intimate. 

But what about the food?  Unfortunately the best part of the food was its presentation.  This was one of the cases where the looks did not match the taste.  It didn’t even come close.  The bread was stale and there were no notable highlights.  Although it was not all bad, the few positives were unmemorable and definitely dominated by the negatives.  The service was not as polished as you would expect for a restaurant that is a part of a five-star hotel.  I would not hurry back to the Langham for high tea, however would definitely give a different venue another chance if I visited England again.

Spoilt by old friends…

And finally the time in London was completed with old friends treating us to wonderful hospitality and feeding us with local English fare.

My friend Ivonne’s husband Zubin who is conveniently a trained chef took the day off work to cook us a three-course lunch.  We had spiced chicken tenderloins with mango chutney to start.  Grilled Salmon fillet with roasted potatoes, tomatoes, onions and sautéed mushrooms.  And chocolate cake with strawberries to finish.  A meal that was most memorable for delicious flavours as well as invaluable time with most hospitable, lovely friends.

Our friends Dom and Greg treated us to a seafood feast, rising early for the infamous Billingsgate Market.  We had oysters to start, a flavoursome creamy mussel soup, garlicky pan-fried scallops and homemade battered fish.  What better way to catch up than over a great meal with great food and great company.

Lastly, forget Dinner by Heston, how about Dinner by Nutter, our host for the week.  One of my oldest friends put together a hearty meal for our last dinner in London.  It included roast lamb, roast chicken, delightfully crispy potatoes in goose fat, cheesy veggies and roasted veggies.  A perfect meal to end a perfect week in a city that will always hold a special place in my heart.

bon appétit

France is notorious for being a great producer of wine and food, arguably the best in the world.  The French know and understand food.  It may be a cliché however after my recent travels to France, it is a valid one.

It was my fourth time in France however this time I was fortunate to spend a decent amount of time there rather than it being a fleeting visit.  There was one night in Nice, a quick visit to Monaco followed by a road trip to Bordeaux via Cannes, Toulon, Marseille, Carcassonne and Toulouse followed by a week in Paris.  This time I felt I had the chance to experience a variety of culinary delights on offer in this beautiful country known for their traditional cuisine.   

   

To start - Beignets de fleur de courgettes (fried zucchini flowers) @ La Farigoule, 82 rue Meynadier, Cannes.

Zucchini Flowers

In the middle of Cannes where there were restaurants aplenty, a couple of French women enticed us with their three-course meal for only 16€.  They boasted that zucchini flowers were their specialty and strongly recommended to choose it for entrée.   They were the most delicious zucchini flowers I had tasted however admittedly, I had never tried them before as that was the first time I had come across them in my foodie-wannabe experience.  They were lightly battered, deep-fried, perfectly flavoured and scrumptious – a great start to the meal.  The rest of the meal was pleasant but the entrée was hands-down the highlight.  La Farigoule is worth a visit, if not for its zucchini flowers then for its eccentric and entertaining service.

Somewhere to stay and somewhere to eat - L’autre Vie, Chambres d’hôtes, Guesthouse www.autre-vie.com

Breakfast @ L'autre Vie

A simple search in Google for ‘Bordeaux region bed and breakfast’ led me to L’autre Vie, an Australian run and owned boutique hotel and B&B.  After visiting their website and reading reviews on Tripadvisor, I immediately knew that I wanted to incorporate it into my European experience.  Described as “a blend of chic hotel & B&B charm, surrounded by Bordeaux’s vineyards”, it sounded like the perfect place to relax and unwind in a beautiful, peaceful and secluded haven. 

BBQ pack

But what does L’autre Vie have to do with food you ask?  Well, the food on offer is absolutely delicious and perfect to suit any appetite.  From breakfast to a variety of platters or a BBQ pack including both salad and bread, it hit the spot for the two nights we were there.  One notable mention is the salad we chose called L’autre Vie Waldorf including ingredients such as fresh apples, walnuts, sunflower seeds, feta cheese, salad leaves, walnut oil and balsamic vinegar.  It was a refreshingly balanced and delicious combination, the perfect salad accompanying barbequed duck and sausages at the end of a hot, long summer’s day.   

Antipasti platter

If you are ever passing by the area, intentionally wanting to visit the Bordeaux region or longing for a break from a bustling city, then I highly recommend L’autre Vie as the place to escape to.  The area, the food, the wine and the friendly hosts will ensure that you have had a comfortable, relaxing and satisfying time.

   

French gourmet cuisine at its finest - Auberges des Charmettes www.aubergedescharmettes.com

My cousin Willy and his partner Nancy took us to a traditional French restaurant, Auberges des Charmettes, in the eastern suburbs of Paris called Torcy.  We enjoyed a fabulous four-course meal including cheese that rivaled that of Melbourne’s infamous restaurants Vue de Monde – a review of which is coming! 

The food at Auberges des Charmettes was simply amazing and it was there that I finally acquired the taste for blue cheese.  I was never a fan of blue cheese, never being able to get past the smell.  I did once try making a dish that contained gorgonzola and since then, have never given it another go.  When the cheese course was upon us, Nancy convinced me to try just a little bit of which was a mild blue cheese. It was beautiful, the flavour deep and intense that lingered ever so slightly in your mouth.  I am now converted – perhaps it just needed to be French.  As they say, never say never!

Here are some notable highlights from this deliciously satisfying meal.

Croustillant de Saint Jacques, Saumon, Gambas au Buerre Blanc Deglaces au Champage - absolutely delicious.

Tournedos de Filet de Boeuf, Pleurotes, Pommes Chateau.  The most tender, melt in your mouth beef.

Risotte de Gambas Decortiguees Sauce Crustaces - creamy risotto with added flavour punch from the seafood.

The cheese trolley with a mixture of soft and hard, goats and cow cheeses

Profiteroles Maison au Chocolat Chaud - creamy vanilla icecream, light profiteroles covered with  hot chocolate sauce, divine!

A touch of Portuguese in France?  Pedra Alta Restaurants www.pedraalta.pt

Once again spoiled by my fabulous French family, we were taken to a Portugese restaurant Pedra Alta for dinner.  Not really knowing what to expect, although after a fourty-five minute wait as bookings were not allowed, I started to expect a whole lot.  I thought to myself that this place must be good or probably more like it, it had better be good.  It was overflowing with locals in a family friendly restaurant that could easily seat one hundred people. 

We ordered a seafood platter that supposedly was meant to serve three people (it comfortably fed seven adults and two children), a pork skewer dish, a seafood rice dish similar to a risotto and of course chips.  For the sheer volume of seafood that I saw this restaurant serving, it was amazing how well each component was cooked.  Everything on the seafood platter was oozing with flavour, juicy, moist and cooked to perfection.  Although the chunks of pork on the skewers were large, they were succulent, tender and most importantly tasty.  This is a restaurant I certainly long to visit again and a meal I still dream about.

A cheese dish to warm your belly – Tartiflette

Tartiflette is a delicious winter dish that is filling, warming and indulgently good that only the French can justify.  Nancy decided to make this typically winter dish - essentially a Potato Bake - in what was a mild Parisian summer.  She explained and described the dish to me before she made it and it sounded absolutely delicious – the cheese, a lot of cheese, melts on top so that when you scoop it out, you can see it stretch and is all gooey.  I loved this dish, the cheese is so flavoursome, added wine gives it depth and it is very simple to make.  The recipe is as follows:

Ingredients:

500g potatoes cooked (chunks, slices or however you prefer)

An onion diced and sautéed

Half a cup of lardon (or bacon pieces) sautéed

A tub of crème fraîche

Approximately a quarter cup of white wine

Salt & pepper to taste

Reblochon cheese

Method:

Combine the cooked potatoes, onions and lardon in a baking dish and mix in the crème fraîche.  Drizzle over the white wine then top with the block of cheese cut in half.  Bake in an oven preheated to 200 degrees celsius for 15 minutes or until golden and voilà, there you have a scrumptious “potato bake” that is kind to your stomach but not so kind to your waistline. 

My advice – enjoy this dish guilt free as that is how the French would!

And finally to finish with something sweet - Ladurée

Earlier this year when I had the chance to see the Australian Macaron King Adriano Zumbo at work, I knew that while in Paris, I had to visit the place that inspired him to create his style of macarons – Ladurée – the home of macarons. 

It was clear that Ladurée had established itself in the six years since I had been to Paris.  It appeared that its pretty patisseries had popped up almost everywhere.  From the Champs Elysées to department stores Printemps to inside the Louvre, Ladurée was always bustling with people, surely both tourists and locals alike.  In its iconic mint green packaging and with so many flavours on offer I asked for their four bestsellers that were pistachio, chocolate, salted caramel and rose, also opting fort the coffee and licorice flavours.  They were heaven in your mouth, lightly crisp on the outside and creamily flavouful on the inside, this hyped-up establishment did not disappoint.

Ladurée, the French institution is ever expanding with stores in London, New York and excitingly a soon to be open store in Sydney, it emphasizes the worldwide embrace of these delectable sweet treats.

The direct translation for bon appétit is “good appetite” and used to wish the company you are dining with enjoyment of the meal they are about to eat.  The French are passionate and traditional when it comes to food.  The act of eating in France felt that it was not just for the mere function of food but also a complete and respectful experience.  With these recent, fond memories for my taste buds, I feel fortunate to have experienced fabulous French cuisine in France.