Dining with a Stud

Woolloomooloo is pretty well known to Sydneysiders as the swanky place by the bay. It’s where Russell Crow lives. It’s where the rich and famous come for a casual dinner in sky high heels. It’s where the rest of us go for a very special occasion dinner, or a work lunch when work’s paying With my sense of direction, (Stud will read this and I will do doubt get an “I told you so”) its quite easy for me to either not know where I am, walk the wrong way down a street I have been to a million times, or just get lost all together (thank God for my iPhone!). So I was pretty surprised to find out how big Woolloomooloo actually is! Did you know that it goes all the way up Crown Street, almost to William Street? Oh really? Ok maybe it’s just me then. Any...

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You all know about Queen Finefoods right? Remember my Margarita Sorbet? My Salted Caramel Gelato? Or maybe my Strawberry Balsamic Gelato? Well thanks to those posts, I was lucky enough to be invited to Masterchef Live a couple of weeks back to join in on one of the Queen Finefoods workshops. I have to admit, Im pretty well versed in the essence section of Queen, and also their Vanilla Bean paste (amazeballs!) but I hadn’t actually used any of their other products. The workshop with Queen was to showcase the cake decorating range and included their writing pens (Glitter of course, a way to my heart), cachous (which I had no idea how to pronounce properly before that day) and the icing flowers. I would have never actually picked any of these up to buy them. Maybe the cachous, but probably not. So it was a great way for...

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So I have a bit of an announcement. Actually, some would call this announcement huge, some have scoffed and mocked, some have been supportive and suggested helpful tips. Its one of those announcements that really splits the room. Quite possibly more so than politics! As of yesterday, Stud and I have been vegetarian for a month Well pescetarian. Well kind of. Its a little grey. As a lifestyle change, Stud and I have decided to forgo meat for a vegetarian diet however occasionally we dabble in some seafood. I thought it best to celebrate the milestone with the tofu dish that changes Stud’s mind. Prior to said dish, Stud would turn his nose up at anything tofu, no liking the texture, flavour, or smell of tofu. So yeah basically everything about it. But you know, when one makes such a drastic life change, something’s gotta give. Armed with some...

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I love high tea! Its the ultimate girls indulgence of socially acceptable minimum savoury and maximum sweet. You dont get judged for the amount you devour either Things have been a little hectic lately, so I’m just scraping in by the skin of my teeth for this months Sweet Adventures Blog Hop, High Tea! But hey, I made it right For more awesome High Tea-ness, head over to the fabulous, and newly “Mrs” (YAY ) Delicieux where you can also indugle in some Triple chocolate and honeycomb deliciousness! Its hard to get shots with a nosy kitty As always, the monthly Sweet Adventures are brought to you by your hostesses – The Hungry Australian, Dining With a Stud, The Capers of the Kitchen Crusader, Delicieux and 84th & 3rd. Fig & Pistachio Biscotti Adapted from Taste Ingredients Melted butter, to grease 55g (1/3 cup) pistachio kernels 3 egg whites 80g (1/3 cup) caster sugar 115g...

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A little less conversation a little more food porn…. Here’s a few random eats that Stud and I experienced on our honeymoon. I have to say, in 2 weeks of lunches and dinners, we weren’t really too disappointed. Win

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Earlier in the year, Stud and I were in Thailand on our honeymoon, and while staying at Phi Phi Island Village Resort & Spa, we did the rounds on the island (more posts to come) food wise. Our first night in Phi Phi was spent at Coconut Grill and Bar, one of the hotels many restaurant options. A gorgeous setting, either out the front with your feet in the sand, in the restaurant, or out the back on the balcony, overlooking the lake. We went with the balcony seating - romaaaantic The menu isn’t extensive so it was easy to choose our seafood basket to share, with a few dips to accompany. Our complimentary bread basket arrives and to my surprise, is a few different types of bread. Gotta love that. Needless to say, my normal “don’t fill up on carbs” mantra once again, goes out the window as I...

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We have a tradition in our family that we don’t do cards for birthdays. We buy a chocolate bar or some lollies, you know, something edible rather than a card that may just get thrown away anyway. Father’s Day and Mother’s Day also fall in to this category, so this year I baked I baked for my daddy! Using my grandmother’s trusty choc chip cookie recipe, I used a combo I had been meaning to try for ages – black sesame and white chocolate. Black Sesame and White Chocolate Cookies Makes 28-32 cookies Ingredients 70g butter 45g black sesame paste 1/2 cup white sugar 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla 1 egg 1 3/4 cup self-raising flour 1/2 tsp salt 150g roughly chopped white chocolate buttons 75g black sesame powder Method Preheat oven to 170. Cream butter, black sesame paste, sugar and vanilla. When fluffy, add egg and...

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I’m not sure what it is about us females, but we tend to like dessert. Now I don’t want to generalise and I’m sure I’ll get some hate mail following this post, but really, majority of the female persuasion like dessert. We forgo an entrée in order to eat dessert (my mother). We’re tempted by vending machines filled with chocolate and sugar lollies (my workmates). We’re excited when we get chocolates for Valentine’s Day, or any day for that matter (ALL of us!). Lately I have been trying to eat a little less sugar where I can, but I still allow myself those small indulgences. Like last week for example when the lovely ladies at Wasamedia invited me to sample the new dessert menu at Essen Restaurant and Beer Cafe. This menu just so happened to be paired with one of the girliest drinks known to man – Schnapps. Needless...

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I find it hard to snack smart. With so many deliciously unhealthy options around, and not many deliciously healthy options, its much easier for me to play dumb and go for the quick fix unhealthy snack. Dont get me wrong, one needs a good sugar hit every now and then for the pure unadulterated pleasure. She saays as her hips scream in pain But balance is key here people. Balance. As some random stroke of luck, the awesome peeps at Harvest Box sent me over a little pack to try at my desk. No questions asked! Love! Included in my Harvest Box was “The K2″  banana chips, goji berries, dark chocolate, pepitas and sunflower seeds, “Kokoda Trail”  roast almonds, pistachio kernels, cranberries, flame raisins, macadamias, sunflower seeds, pepitas and milk chocolate, “Spiced Up” Lightly spiced and roasted peanuts, cashews, almonds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, egg white, cane sugar, sea salt, garlic spices and...

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We buy a lot of jam at home. Not because we go through it quickly, but because when it comes to jam, Stud very much resembles Goldilocks. This one is too runny. This one is too lumpy. I don’t like the bits in this one. Etc, etc….. So when we find a jam that’s just right, we hold on to it! Meanwhile with all the leftover jam in our house, its hard to know what to do with them. Well no more! This dessert is one of those mutton dressed as lamb dishes…..In the difficulty department anyway. It by no means lack flavour, imagination or impressiveness. Using your Queen at Home Gelato Mix, you simply use your leftover jams and some balsamic vinegar, and you can come up with a strawberry (raspberry, blackberry…….you get the picture) and balsamic swirl gelato within half an hour. Perfect timing as the weather...

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