Ah, quinces – they so inspire me! Their gnarly, rustic appearance, the beauty of their blossom, and their diversity of uses endeared me to them from the first time I saw them. This wonderfully evocative fruit was my first link to the land in a sense, as when we were looking for a place in the Barossa all those years ago, even at the most derelict of places, where the gardens and orchards had been left unattended for years, there would be a surviving quince tree. I remember reading that of the many references to this ancient fruit, some believe it was actually a quince, and not an apple, that tempted Eve in the garden of Eden, and my next thought was, well then, we can hardly blame her - I’ve been drawn into many a garden on account of the quince! Read the rest...
When I cook chicken, I never use anything other than a well-brought-up chook, the texture and flavour are so different from that of a mass produced bird, you wonder whether they are even of the same species. There is little point buying a free-range chook under 2 kilograms; the smaller birds haven’t had the time to develop in flavour or texture. Read the rest...
Everyone arrives at food knowledge in a different way; for some it is simply fuel to keep a busy life going, for others it is an activity bordering on obsession. Knowledge is key and I believe that whichever way you can increase an understanding of where your food comes from, and the best ways to utilise every ounce of it, is a good thing. Read the rest...
March 09 2016
News
Last weekend, Colin and I had a great weekend away in Geelong. Friday night saw us eating fish and chips on the wharf, followed by lunch at Brae Restaurant on Saturday. We had a fantastic experience at Brae, with beautiful food, and incredibly knowledgeable staff who knew about every tiny element on the plate. It was the most beautiful room looking out on the country side and garden; it was really quite exceptional. On Sunday we had a fleeting visit to Werribee to visit my team at Fromage a Trois - Cheese & Cider Festival who were there sampling my heritage cider; what a lovely location for sampling such an array of food producers- MB | Read the rest...
The pear tree is integrally linked to my life in the Barossa, and in particular to my sentimental attachment to our cottage. We are lucky enough to have a grand old pear tree, well in excess of 100 years, defining our landscape at home and as I look down from my attic window, its majestic form, towering over the cottage itself, is one of the most beautiful of all those I’ve admired in the Valley in my time here. Read the rest...
