Easy Entertaining

Happy summer!  It’s party season, time for picnics, BBQs and dinner parties.  If you're planning on hosting a dinner party here are some tips to ensure easy, stress free entertaining.

1. Have a shared dish party, where everyone brings a contribution.  This is a very cost effective option and easy on the host.  You can be in charge of the main course and your guests can volunteer to bring other items or dishes such as cheese and dips, salad, dessert or drinks.  Guaranteed to create a fantastic feast with more than enough food.

2. Focus on one feature dish – a deluxe dessert or succulent main and keep everything else simple.  This way you only have one thing to concentrate on and more time to enjoy your guests company.  Visit a gourmet deli for some cheeses and crackers and arrange on a platter for entrée   For dessert buy a moreish ice-cream or mousse (I love Maggie Beers Burnt Fig, Honeycomb and Caramel Ice Cream) and serve in Martini glasses.

3. Keep in mind seasonal ingredients when planning a menu.  Not only is it more affordable to use ingredients which are local and in season, you won't get caught out having to substitute or use frozen food.

4. Be prepared!  Make as much as possible in advance.  You can make dips, salad and dessert all before the event day.  If you’re having a BBQ you can pre-make salads, meat balls, veggie skewers – then all you need to do is fire up the BBQ and cook.  Everyone can then help themselves.

5. Table settings – try a pot of fresh herbs or some native greenery/sticks/flowers foraged from your garden or different size pillar candles.  Play around and have fun, you'll be surprised by what can look good from items you already have at home.

6. Serve a signature cocktail or welcome drink, for my housewarming I served shot glasses of Bloody Mary.

7. Have a theme – it doesn’t need to be dress up, you could have a pizza night where you make fresh dough and have an abundance of toppings for guests to get creative and make their own pizzas.

8. Finger food or bowl food can be a great option if you don't have much space for guests to sit and eat.  Just make sure the food is filling and substantial so no one goes home for cheese on toast.

I hope these tips ensure your next party is stress free and affordable.  I'd love to hear your entertaining tips?

Elise xo

Veggie Curry Puffs with Herb Yoghurt

I must give credit to Mr H. for this recipe - whilst house/dog sitting at the tree house last weekend we prepared some snacks and supplies, including very tasty curry puffs made from scratch.  I have to admit, it is time consuming making your own pastry and filling the little pockets, but well worth the end result.  Crisp, fresh pastry is wonderful! And you can freeze them, just defrost before frying.

Veggie Curry Puffs with Herb Yoghurt

Pastry

3 cups plain flour

200g chilled butter, chopped

2 egg yolks

1/4 cup water

pinch salt

1. Process flour, butter and salt in a food processor, until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add egg yolks and water, then combine with your hands.

2. Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 10 mins or until smooth. Wrap in glad wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.  Make filling in the meantime.

3. Slice dough in half with a butter knife.  Roll each piece of dough until 5mm thick on floured surface with floured rolling pin. Using an 10cm biscuit cutter, cut rounds from each pastry half.

Filling

You can use anything you like as a filling, I used whatever veggies I had on hand.  It's good to have a pumpkin or potato base.  Same goes with the seasoning, the more the merrier!

100g pumpkin, mashed

100g sweet potato, mashed

1 cup broad beans, shelled

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

1/2 brown onion, finely chopped

1/2 tsp ground cumin seeds

1/2 tsp ground coriander seeds

1/2 tsp fennel seeds

1 tsp paprika

2 tsp curry powder

2 tsp oregano, chopped

salt and pepper

1. Combine all ingredients, and let cool for about 10 minutes.

2. Spoon 1 tablespoon of vegetable mixture into centre of each pastry round. Wet edge of pastry and fold in half to enclose mixture, pinching edges together to seal.

3. Half-fill a large fry pan or wok with vegetable oil. Heat over medium-high heat until hot. shallow-fry curry puffs for 1 to 2 minutes or until pastry is golden. Transfer to paper towel to drain.

Serve with herb yoghurt

200g natural yoghurt

1 tbsp parsley, chopped

2 cloves garlic, finely chopped

salt and pepper

Next time I will try oven baking, for a healthier option.  I'd love to hear what veggies you use if making this recipe?
Enjoy.
Elise xo

The Red Hen - A Review

Italian is one of my favourite cuisines and I've been longing to devour another delicious, creamy pasta dish ever since my trip to Italy over a year ago.  Italy has a fantastic food culture nourished by passion and basic recipes.  Quality ingredients and loving preparation are fundamental to creating the perfect Italian dish.

I was lucky enough to be invited to a special dinner at The Red Hen with a group of food lovers.  Located amongst Indonesian, Ethiopian, Greek, Vietnamese, Mexican and Tibetan restaurants on Hardgrave road, West End, it is definitely a culturally diverse place to be, and also very appetising place to be. 

I'd never met my fellow dinner companions in person, but sure enough conversation flowed easily as we all shared a common interest - food. 

For entree we shared five items from the menu:

Polpettine di pollo - chicken meatballs served with a white wine sauce and crostini.

Calamari fritti - fried baby calamari served with fresh rocket, lemon wedge and aioli.

Bruschetta al pomodoro - toasted sourdough with fresh tomato, basil, garlic, extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

Involtini di melanzane al forno - oven baked eggplant parcels filled with ricotta and fresh herbs, served with napoletana sauce and topped with parmesan cheese.  This was definitely my favourite entree, full of fresh ingredients and lots of cheese.

For main course I had to make a decision, a very hard decision based on the enticing menu selection.  I eventually decided on the gnocchi al gorgonzola - housemade potato dumplings with gorgonzola, cream and spinach.

It was an excellent choice, perfectly creamy with strong gorgonzola flavour, garlic, and freshly chopped spinach.  If you're a blue cheese lover, this one is for you.

And just when I thought I couldn't possibly fit anything else in, it was dessert time! I was told, the Rich Chocolate Brownie is the best in Brisbane.  Moist on the inside with a delicate crust, the sweetness melted with slight bitterness from the cocoa. Mouthwatering.

To sum up, The Red Hen is a great casual dining spot in West End and you won't be disappointed by their good, hearty comfort food.  The dishes are simple with only 4-5 ingredients, classic, authentic Italian, made with love.

The Red Hen is BYO (corkage $5 per bottle).  Gluten free bread and pasta options $2.00.

Elise dined at The Red Hen as their guest.

Food and Wine Celebration - James Street

I’d just like to make a quick announcement about an exciting foodie event coming up next week.  James Street Markets will be celebrating 10 years next week with a huge program of food, wine and style events. The James Street Food & Lifestyle Trail, 15th-20th October, will involve restaurants and shops along James Street showcases their wares.

Here are a few of my top picks:

Gerard's Bistro - live cooking demonstrations throughout the day Saturday 20th, including free tastings of breakfast bites from the new menu and spring cocktails with Matty Hewitt, Bar Manager and Bartender of the year 2010.

Magnolia Interiors - partnering with Marie Claire Executive Fashion Editor, Jane Roarty, showing you how to set the perfect table for summer entertaining whilst sipping champagne. 11am Saturday 20th.

Taste - wine education with Mezzanine Wines, Italian varietals. $10, 1pm Saturday 20^th.

Scrumptions Reads - book launch for the Brisbane Foodie Guide by Karen Reyment, lucky door prizes of Hardie Grant book packs, Foodies' Guides, champagne and goodies from a selection of those featured in the book. 2pm Saturday 20th.

Visit the website to view the full program of events.

Flowers and Wine are a Girl's Best Friend

It's spring time, the weather is gorgeous and there is nothing better than a blissful glass of vino whilst relaxing outside and soaking up the sunshine. Hmm, I’m day dreaming a little as it’s only Thursday and I can’t wait for the weekend! 

Last night I attended the Laneway Ladies special event to taste Spring Seed Wine Co’s incredible range of organic wines. Traditional winemaking, natural, minimal processing combined with organic viticulture are key elements to ensure purity, integrity and flavour in Spring Seed Wines. The grapes are grown in the Bosworth family’s organic vineyards, located in the McLaren Vale, South Australia.

Louise Hemsley-Smith from Spring Seed and Urbane head sommelier Sarah Ramwell were our hosts for the evening which started with a glass of ‘Forget-Me-Not’ Semillon Sauvignon Blanc. The first thing you notice about the Spring Seed wines is the stunning labels of painted flowers. Yes, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but in this case I think the labels are definitely and indication of how beautiful these wines are.

The evening was casual and a friend and I seated ourselves amongst the group of ladies excitedly chatting away. We were interrupted only for some delicious canapé offerings thanks to Head Chef at Urbane, Alejandro Cancino. Louise and Sarah worked the room topping up glasses and taking a few brief moments throughout the evening to talk about the wines.

The ‘Poppy’ Pinot Grigio, a brand new 2012 variety from Spring Seed, launched on this very evening was a stand out for me. It was light and fresh, with citrus and pear flavours, perfect for warm spring days!

I must quickly mention the food as it was absolutely delish and I love taste testing as many ingredients as possible. We tried smoked paprika octopus with potato, pâté on brioche, smoked duck breast and poached pickled quince, aniseed pastry and caramelised onion and cheese tartlets. All were packed full of flavour and complimented the wines nicely.

Back to the wines, The ‘Four O’Clock’ Chardonnay and ‘Scarlet Runner’ Shiraz followed the Poppy. Both of which I’ve tried before and loved. For those of you who don’t like Chardonnay, try the ‘Four O’Clock’ I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. We finished with the ‘Sweet Pea’ Moscato which the bar tenders at Laneway mixed into a superb cocktail with Aperol, an Italian aperitif. This was very fresh and citrusy, easy to drink. A quick tip - if you like Moscato, try it with Gin for a tasty and easy to make cocktail.

I highly recommend trying these wines if you love a good drop, you’ll be saving yourself a headache from preservatives and also promoting the benefits of organic farming for the environment. 

Festival Flavours

Brisbane Festival started recently with a huge exciting program of events for the next few weeks. During the festival some of Brisbane's top restaurants are participating in Festival Flavours, offering delicious dining deals from 8th-29th September.

Here is a quick taste of the culinary delights on offer:

5ifth Element

Two course meal plus any James Squire beer or any Vinaceous wine - $50

Stokehouse Brisbane

Lemon and dill battered local flathead, hand cut chips, tartare sauce, cress matched with a James Squire 150 Lashes Pale Ale - $30

Libertine Restaurant

Libertine Street Food Platter for two with 375ml Carafe of Vinaceous Rose -$30

QAGOMA

Roast rack of lamb, crusted in mustard served with rosemary roasted honey glazed root vegetables and redcurrant jus matched 2010 Vinaceous 'Raconteur' Cabernet Sauvignon, Barossa Valley. - $50

Watt Restaurant + Bar

Two share plates (BBQ prawns/Seared sirloin/Duck spring rolls/Zucchini flowers) + two beverages (Vinaceous Sparkling/White/Red wine or James Squire Cider/Pale ale) - $40

Check out the latest Style Magazine for more participating restaurants.  Make sure you mention Brisbane Festival or Festival Flavours to claim these offers.

Laneway Love

I'm still having withdrawals from my indulgent week in Melbourne. There was plentiful food, wine and shopping. Read on to escape to the Melbourne laneway culture, culinary delights and restaurant hot spots.

After checking in to our hotel on Little Burke Street my travelling companion and I decided our first priority was food and we ventured to nearby Chinatown. It was late on a Tuesday evening and there were plenty of restaurants still abuzz with diners. Seven days a week you can get a decent restaurant meal until early morning, one of my favourite things about Melbourne.

Ling Nan Chinese Restaurant, open till 3.30am, was the perfect choice for hungry travellers. Cheap and cheerful is probably the best way to describe Ling Nans, the food was good and the staff very attentive. Bed time..

First day in beautiful Melbourne city, we walked briskly in the chilly wind to Brunswick Street. Forgetting how far down the street you actually have to walk before happening upon cafes in hindsight we should have caught a tram. By the time we reached Don Vincenzo, we were starving! Breakfast is what gets me up in the morning so having to walk a couple kilometres to get it is an effort for me. I chose Relish me - poached eggs sour dough, homemade beetroot and tomato relish, avocado and marinated feta. A very satisfying breakfast dish, it gave me the energy I needed to get some shopping done!

Seeking out laneway graffiti art we chose a late lunch at Movida Hosier Lane. One of my favourite spots in Melbourne, Movida offers a unique Spanish tapas experience. We managed to squeeze in a few plates one being a deliciously silky Duck Liver Parfait with Pedro Ximenez Foam and Toasted Brioche - it was absolutely stunning and inspired me to make another attempt at making my own parfait.

It was time for a nap. What? Don't judge, holidays are tiring.

Before dinner we stopped in at the City Wine Shop for a sticky beak at the vast array of wines they stock and tried a glass of Michael Hall Piccadilly Chardonnay with a Tasmanian cheddar and more duck parfait.  Not quite as good as Movida's but amazing all the same. We sat at a long wooden table out the back of the shop where all the wine was stored, the walls adorned with wine region maps from all over the world.

Dinner that evening was at the exclusive Izakaya Den. Hard to spot from the street (even when looking for it) Izakaya Den is located in a basement below street level and is seriously cool. With an expansive, sleek bar, we had to wait for a spot, but once seated food comes quickly. It's exciting to watch the Chefs in the kitchen behind the bar and the waiters busily attending to everyone. The menu was short but everything we tasted spectacular. Here is a teaser of what we tried: Kingfish sashimi, Zucchini and pickled ginger tempura and the grilled lotus root. 

The next day we made our way to the Queen Victoria Markets, not for trash and treasure but more food.  First we walked through the stalls abundant with fresh gourmet produce. Next, the cheese and deli section. With so many choices I was overwhelmed and wanting to suddenly be the host of a dinner party.

We purchased a few treats including Murray River Pink Salt and enjoyed some cheese tasting, then off to St Kilda, the gorgeous seaside town just outside of the Melbourne CBD. A trendy cafe and shopping precinct, St Kilda has a very relaxed atmosphere.  We perused a number of cake shops before settling in to a bar with comfy couches. Visit on a sunny day to take in the views of Port Phillip.

Still in a relaxed mood when we arrived back in the city, we caught up with a friend at Section 8 for pre-dinner drinks. Located down one of Melbourne's sexy alley ways, Section 8 is an outdoor container bar and a great place to start the evening.

We moved on to Cookie for dinner. Serving Thai cuisine, Cookie is decked out with mix and match furnishings, very trendy but service is a bit hit and miss. The food and wine were great but we had to wait 20 minutes for a booked table. Thankfully the company was delightful and we still had a thoroughly enjoyable evening.

Nearing the end of the trip, we decided to hire a car and drive to the Mornington Peninsula to stock up the cellar.  By cellar I mean precious cardboard box in our cupboard ;). The drive was lovely with beautiful scenery and I would have loved to spend more time in the Peninsula.  Instead we managed to visit three wineries - Port Phillip Estate, Montalto and Moorooduc Estate. All three excellent in their own right, but Port Phillip Estate definitely stood out with its views out to the bay and prestigious architecturally designed building.

Our final day in Melbourne and it finally rained, perfect to sit indoors with a glass of red and glaze outside at the passers-by. The Cellar Bar is the best spot in town to do just that. The shopfront to Grossi Florentino, it's a iconic spot for Melbourne locals. If you're feeling hungry you can pick up some delicious Italian cuisine, mmm comfort food.

Thanks to all who suggested their favourite places in Melbourne, all wonderful recommendations and much appreciated.