Category Archives: Salt and pepper

When the dream of an acting career turns into a dream mayonnaise

Posted on August 6, 2012 by frenchozzie

Mayonnaise belongs to the must-have preserves stored in the kitchen cabinet. In my memory, as a child, this is one of the first things I had learnt to make in my grandma’s kitchen, along with whipping cream, cutting ends off … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and education, New South Wales, Salt and pepper | Tagged Australia, Doodles creek, family business, mayonnaise, relish, Sarah Ross, Southern Highlands, Sydney, tomato sauce | Leave a comment

Not a clandestine get-away to the Poachers Pantry

Posted on June 18, 2012 by frenchozzie

In this modern immaculate food laboratory, staff are preparing snack packs with olives and smoked turkey for first and business class passengers of Qantas. This is quite an unexpected activity in this peaceful countryside retreat called the Poachers Pantry. Monday … Continue reading →

Posted in Canberra, Food and holidays, New South Wales, Salt and pepper, Wines | Tagged Australia, Café, Canberra, chicken, duck, ham, Merlot, New South Wales, Poachers Pantry, Qantas, Rieslingg, Robert Bruce, Shiraz, smoked, smoked meat, smokehouse, Susan Bruce, Wily trout, wines | 1 Comment

“Pâté”, a taste of France

Posted on June 11, 2012 by frenchozzie

So Frenchie, but less popular than the croissant, “pâté” is too often mistaken with “foie gras”, even though they have little in common. The latter is the entire duck liver. Half-cooked and cut in slices, it is served on toasts … Continue reading →

Posted in Canberra, Salt and pepper | Tagged duck, foie gras, french speciality, Kim de Poorter, meat, mousse, pâte | 2 Comments

Back to basics and peel burning hot chestnuts

Posted on May 21, 2012 by frenchozzie

Good food does not only rely on the art of the chef, but also on the quality of commodities. As part of their commitment, chefs are regularly investigating in order to track down the right providers. This is how Richard … Continue reading →

Posted in Canberra, Food and education, New South Wales, Salt and pepper, Sweet tooth, Victoria | Tagged Alison Saunders, chestnut, forest ecology, greek tradition, Janet Jeffs, kitchen Cabinet, Richard Moxham, scientists, trees, walnut | Leave a comment

Some crocodile into Italian salami

Posted on May 7, 2012 by frenchozzie

Gino d’Ambrosio’s mum is the typical Italian cook. She bakes pizza, prepares pasta, rabbit ragout, salami and tiramisu for dessert for the 27 people of her family at gatherings. This shows what kind of a character she is and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Canberra, Salt and pepper | Tagged butcher, Canberra, crocodile, food experience, Gino d'Ambrosio, Italian, kangaroo, meat, organic, possum, wallaby | Leave a comment

Wet harvest in a modest vineyard

Posted on April 29, 2012 by frenchozzie

2012 has been a hard year for winegrowers: lots of rain, mould attacks on grapes. Consequently, the harvest has not been generous. The crop is way down with 50% less quantity. Still, the hope to get a good year is … Continue reading →

Posted in Canberra, New South Wales, Salt and pepper, Wines | Tagged ACT, Australia, Canberra, dream, family, fourwinds, harvest festival 2012, lawyer, Merlot, Nappa Valley, Riesling, vineyard, wine grower, winemaker | Leave a comment

Samson the dog hunts the truffle

Posted on April 16, 2012 by frenchozzie

Australian truffle growers harvested three tons of the precious black mushroom last year, in 2011. The production comes mainly from Western Australia. But, from that amount, Australians consume one ton only. The rest is exported to Asia, the United States … Continue reading →

Posted in Canberra, Food and education, New South Wales, Salt and pepper, Wines | Tagged Australia, Blue Frog farm, delicacy, exports, festival, mushroom, truffle, Wayne Haslam | 2 Comments

Cheese and raw milk, the other point of view (Part II)

Posted on March 27, 2012 by frenchozzie

Two men, two philosophies. Nick Haddow on one side (last week’s post), defends the right to produce raw milk cheese. On the other side stands David Brown (picture) from Milawa Cheese company, in the North East of Victoria, nestled in … Continue reading →

Posted in food and politics, Salt and pepper, Victoria | Tagged Australia, battle, cheese, David Brown, food, Nick Haddow, politics, raw milk, slow food, Tasmania, Victoria | 1 Comment

Raw milk cheesemaking as a battle (Part I)

Posted on March 18, 2012 by frenchozzie

It is as if Nick Haddow, the cheesemaker was part of a Dostoyevski novel, far away in deep Siberia. Of a sturdy build, he has this determined posture which is very similar to the one of a Cossack posing for … Continue reading →

Posted in food and politics, Salt and pepper, Tasmania | Tagged Australia, battle, Bruny Island, campaign, cheese, food, Nick Haddow, raw milk, slow food, Tasmania, travel | Leave a comment

Macadamia oil, as good in the salad bowl as on the face

Posted on March 12, 2012 by frenchozzie

Macadamia oil is at least as good as olive oil, I was told. For me, this was quite difficult to swallow, having heard and read the best about the Mediterranean diet and the virtues of olive oil from physicians and … Continue reading →

Posted in Food and health, New South Wales, Salt and pepper | Tagged antioxidant, Australia, health, macadamia, nut, oil, olive, squalene | 1 Comment