It doesn’t take much to figure out men. One thing I know is that for the most part, straight men a) like Beer b) like big, filling meals and c) if they ever were to become clothing designers, hem lines would be permanently raised and tops low cut.
I call this stew the Marriage Maker and its existence preceded Masterchef although it was the beer and meat cooking Chris that reminded me of how good it was. It’s also easy enough, tastes delicious and filling but unfortunately is not the most photogenic of foods. Call it the antithesis of a picture perfect and dainty High Tea (and a straight man’s worst nightmare).
I was lucky enough to receive a carton of beer from the Blue Tongue Brewery. In it I received four six packs of beer: a Premium Lager, a Lite Beer, a Pilsener and curiously, an alcoholic Ginger Beer. I was delighted to see such a generous package but my reaction wasn’t anywhere near as excited as my husband. Yes, when men come home tired and a tad grumpy, showing them a carton of this beer will make them very, very happy. Although that’s pretty logical really.
If I had to describe it as something, I’d say the stew resembles a meat pie filling. Not your cheap and nasty pies with mince and gristle and random bits of human finger but a gourmet pie with chunky, succulently tender pieces of beer with a richness from the beer. You can certainly taste that it’s there although it isn’t as strong as say a Beef Bourguignon.
I know calling it a Marriage Maker is risky. After all I cannot offer anything to substantiate these claims. And it’s true I’m no expert on marriage being married for only 3 years. I have been proposed to more than once and most of the proposals were after I had fed someone (oh the bruised ego that it wasn’t for my brains, looks or charm). Perhaps it’s a culinary version of Beer Goggles.
So tell me Dear Reader, what tricks do you have up your sleeve to entice the opposite sex?
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August 6th, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella
I am an odd creature in Winter time. During Summer I am a night person and love going out at night but in Winter I prefer to stay in at night and huddle close to warmth. My solution to this Winter Night-time hibernation is going out during the day when the sun is shining and then retreat back into the house at night when the sun has gone down and the temperature dips. This also is good for the species Foodus Bloggerus. This ensures that we get enough light to photograph our meals whereas dining at night means that I don’t have to eat at 5pm to catch the last vestiges of light. So on Sunny days you’ll find me perched outside, lizard style, bathing in the warmth and getting my Vitamin D before scurrying home. One such day was our Sunday afternoon lunch at Manta on the sexy Woolloomooloo Finger Wharf, just around the corner from where Russell Crowe and other lucky individuals live.
We’re seated across from the wharf where in October, they’ll host an Oyster festival featuring the best oysters of the season. We take a look at the menu – Manta is known for its seafood but their meat page (done in a leather look material) is beckoning. Is it silly to go to a seafood restaurant and order steak? Perhaps, but Mr NQN is liking the look of the steaks. We order some entrees and mains based on their recommendations (I always ask for staff recommendations) and sit back and soak up the sun while nearby boats bob up and down on the sparkling water.
1/2 dozen chef mixed oysters $25
We’re served three types of oysters: the Clair de Lune from Batemans Bay, Coffin Bay Pacifics and Sydney Rock Oysters from Port Stephens. As similar as oysters appear to be, when faced with the three different types we taste they’re also quite distinct. The Clair de Lune is sublime and my favourite of the three, the Pacific is rich, creamy and enormous and the Sydney Rock is all briney deliciousness.
Raw Selection $38
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August 5th, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella
Have I ever told you what wonderful people my readers are? I’m sure I have on many occasions. The best thing about having wonderful readers is when they tell me about very cool things to make. Case in point is reader Carol who left me this comment stating simply: “Oh go on … make us Panda Bread!” and linked me to a blog who had indeed made a gorgeous Panda bread based on a Japanese blogger’s brilliant idea. My heart skipped a beat with excitement when I saw it and I knew I had to make it. There was only one thing stopping me. It was the 20 boxes of things that I was in the middle of moving.
Luckily things such as fate intervened and I hadn’t yet packed some of the final boxes. The ones that were left outstanding were a packet of green tea and Valrhona cocoa powder that I bought from our Tokyo trip. So I stashed these two packets in my already bulging handbag along with a host of other necessities that I didn’t want lost in the boxes like drawings that my Mother in Law did for me, anti Swine Flu hand sanitiser, Crabtree & Evelyn Earl Grey Teabags, a camera battery charger along with my normal ramshackle mix of things.
When we had finally settled in, I unloaded the Kitchenaid onto the counter at my parent’s house which is where we are staying while renovating our kitchen and bathroom. My mother had never used one before and I warned her not to pick it up or move it as it was heavy. “You mean this stays here all the time?” she said somewhat curious and perhaps a little wary of this new benchtop intruder.
As for my styling, I admit I’m the least clucky person I know except for perhaps my friend Gina. However I couldn’t resist buying this Tiffany & Co. child’s cup and saucer for an imaginary child. My imaginary child wouldn’t break it, be well behaved, eat adventurously, be kind to strangers and nice to animals and love to eat Panda Bread. Although if this imaginary child were to materialise I could only guarantee the last point.
So tell me Dear Readers, what is your imaginary child like?
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August 4th, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella
Bidding farewell to the North Shore is a sad goodbye. For years, I’d always thought that there wasn’t much in the way to eat around here but I was sorely mistaken and set straight by many loyal readers who pointed out great finds in the area. Living close to Neutral Bay meant that I had a range of fantastic Japanese food within 10 minutes and one of my favourite places was Japaz, a Japanese tapas place. I later learned from Yas from Hungry Digital Elf that Japaz also has a cafe called Atomic Espresso across the road and they happen to serve Katsusando (Fried Pork Katsu Sandwiches) from Thursdays to Saturdays. Only 20 of these sandwiches are made on these days and if you want to nab yourself one, you need to ring ahead and reserve your “sando” (Japanese for sandwich).
Evidence of my Limited Edition lunacy
Yes this is a Limited Edition Sandwich. The two words Limited Edition can either bore or excite someone. Sadly I’m one of the latter. If I hear that only a few are available of something, the desire to covet and own one of these things is exponentially increased. The Louis Vuitton Murakami collection was one such instance of instant smitteness. I had to have the Murakami Retro bag. I rang LV and put my name down and pestered them every few days to see whether a shipment had come in. When it did, I bought it, used it and then after a big fat raindrop plopped on the cream leather trim (you can probably see it on the right of the bow), stowed it away in its dustbag for years, just in case it ever got marked again, taken out only on occasions where a dress or outfit specifically matched the colours. I never said I made sense did I?
Cappucino $4
This afternoon Mr NQN and I find ourselves on the small Atomic Espresso cafe on Wycombe Street in Neutral Bay. The chef from Japaz walks past us and gives us a quiet Irasshaimase and nod. The waitress is friendly and we tell her that we are here to collect our Katsusando and have lunch so we order coffee and a pasta dish that she recommends. It’s called Atomic Espresso so we have high hopes for the coffee and we’re not let down. It’s a great, full bodied coffee.
The Limited Edition Pork Katsusando $15
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August 3rd, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella
This month was a crazy one. Not only were we moving (and I promise I’ll stop talking about that-the way I’m carrying on it sounds like I’m the first and only person to ever move) but I also had a Daring Baker’s Challenge to do which comprised of two items and I was also co-hosting August’s Daring Baker’s Challenge. I thought I was ok until a last minute switch around of plans meant that we had to pack within 2 days rather than 5 which had my baking schedule squished up tighter than an accordion. And I was jammed inside it.
I didn’t get to make these in time but curiousity got the better of me. These cookies are based on the Pepperidge Farm Milano cookie. We don’t have that brand readily available here but I have fond memories of eating their Chess Cookies and these very Milano cookies so one day when I had an excess of egg whites (fromthe choux that I’ve been making so often) I decided to make them as they required almost a cup’s full of whites. Bakers will know what I mean. You’ve made plenty of pavlovas and meringues and you yearn for something else to do with your egg whites. This proved irresistible along with the chance to eat these cookies again.
The recipe is very straightforward and easy and as for the cookie? It’s wonderful – crispy, light and buttery it’s also lightly aromatic via the inclusion of lemon essence and vanilla. Sandwiching them together with the chocolate is also delicious and very much like my memory of the MIlano cookie but even by themselves I found these irresistible. So if you’re ever faced with the excess egg white dilemma or if you just love delicate, crispy buttery cookies I urge you to make these. When Mr NQN ate his first one – and I should preface this by saving that he dislikes most cookies – his eyes lit up and he nodded. “Yes! I like that one!” he says enthusiastically.
So tell me Dear Reader, what is your favourite ever cookie or biscuit?
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August 2nd, 2009 by Not Quite Nigella
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