Monthly Archives: April 2013

Guilt Free Dessert

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I’ve really taken a beating this week so i was after some much needed comfort food last night. I was about to reach for a chocolate bar at my local 7/11 but with a big weekend ahead I thought I’d go healthy instead (groan).

This is sheeps yoghurt which is AMAZING. I don’t generally like cows yoghurt much, especially the natural stuff but this one is beautiful. And there’s no added sugar because it has a naturally sweeter taste.

I added some rice malt syrup and some oven roasted mixed nuts. YumMo. Dessert

Ladies, could we shut the **** up?

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I wrote an article in response to some things I’ve seen in the press lately and it got published! It’s a trade press so many wouldn’t have a clue what it is, but for my industry it’s a pretty big deal.

Like it or hate (which many many do), check it out.

http://mumbrella.com.au/ladies-could-we-shut-the-up-151670

 

Sugar-free Avocado & Chocolate Mousse

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Pantry

Don’t get the wrong idea, I have NOT turned into a vegan, organic loving healthy hippy.  I just suddenly have the time (and money after not going out this weekend) to organise my meals for the week ahead! I’m taking some of the less extreme pointers from Sarah Wilson’s “I Quit Sugar” book and going to try out some sugar free meals – more out of interest and boredom than anything else!

First of which is this Avocado & Chocolate Mousse which is sugar free and surprisingly good!

It’s still a treat of course, the sugar and chocolate is removed but replaced by rice syrup, coconut cream & stevia so is it really worth it….hmmm?? I don’t know, but still impressive given it’s based on avocado!

Avo Mouse

2 very ripe avocados

125ml chilled coconut cream (it has to be quite firm)

¼ cup of raw cacao powder

Granulated stevia (Wilson’s book suggests 1-2 teaspoons but I needed more like 3-4 for my taste)

2 teaspoons rice syrup

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used more like 1-2 of cinnamon)

Pinch of salt

Whiz it all together with a bar mix of in a blender until smooth and taste. Add more stevia, coconut cream or whatever you like to get it to your taste. Chill in the fridge for a couple of hours.

The Granny-Case

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Granny Case

This Happened

Melbourne – the only place where this is ok…cool even!

Walking around the Vic markets every morning can be tiring. And on top of my markets purchases, I tend to do my weekly shop at Woolies on the way home, leaving me with a serious number of bags on my arms. I eventually find myself not buying heavier things because the walk home would become too much for me!

Enter the granny case.

Looking around the markets, no one else is struggling! No looks of torture on their faces, just sheer happiness and I realise – it’s their granny cases. Trendy girls, hipster dudes, young couples, everyone! All wandering around with a bag or basket on wheels, which I would never be caught dead pulling behind me.  You know the ones i mean, usually grey bags on wheels that the elderly lug their groceries in.

Alas, I hang my head in shame because after my hands feel like dropping off from the pain of the 10 shopping bags on my hands –  I decide to join the masses and take one more step in my “I’m from Melbourne, “I don’t give a fuck” journey.

On a side note, the journey I’ve just mentioned was kicked off when I rocked my new jelly bean sandals  on the same day.

Jellies

Link

I’ve just been profiled in magazines.org.au’s Industry Person of Interest. Check it out by clicking on the photo below.

Anna Southcombe, you’ll be happy – you’re famous! 

04-Peta-Southcombe-resized

Footy & Fitzroy

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The G - West coast v Demons

The G – West coast v Demons

Now that I’m a Melbourner, I’m determined to become fully versed in AFL so I’m delighted when a friend from work offers to take me out to a game on Saturday before I “Make Melbourne my Bitch” that night (seriously, he even sent me a meeting invite with that in the subject line).  I’m told it’s a terrible match to be going to, West Coast vs. Melbourne, but I’m still buzzing for it.

After spending a billion dollars on shopping in the morning, I meet my friend at The “G” in the afternoon and we watch the game and as expected, the Demons get annihilated by West Coast. By the end of the game I can name almost every team in the comp and I’ve even shouted out some footy jargon at the ref. Come Monday morning I’ve even moved up the ladder on the tipping comp!

After the game, we head to Fitzroy – the Newtown of Melbourne and somewhere I’m thinking of living. I’ve been to the main street of Fitzroy once before and ever since I’ve argued that I’m not nearly hipster enough to live here. Even so, I’m thrilled to be venturing out of the city for once and excited for my first real night out in Melbourne.

Naked in Fitzroy

Naked in Fitzroy

We head to “Naked for Satan” on Brunswick Street and it’s just the epidomy of why I love Melbourne. Home infused vodka’s line the bar next to tapas style finger food which you can buy for $1 each.  We have a drink downstairs for a while and then head up to the rooftop, “Naked in the Sky” which has only recently opened.  This is definitely a tourist’s dream, without the touristy vibe which I’m told they’re worried will creep in eventually. It’s got a view of the city skyline which I’ve never really seen before and I just can’t help but take some photos.  Strangely though, there’s no one else like me taking photos. People all appear to be locals and it’s a really nice spread of people and I wonder how long until it becomes mainstream and uncool for the likes of Fitzroy.

Infused Vodka Selection

Infused Vodka Selection

After a while we’re fascinated by the sound of these infused vodka’s on the menu and order a tray which comes out in 3 shot glasses each with a selection of vodkas, sort of like a beer paddle. Uber cool. The menu has about 20 different flavours, including salted caramel, cucumber & ginger and I think we get through about half of them.  As we leave to head to a house party we commit to round 2 to get through the rest of the menu and I’m looking forward to it!  I think it would be easy to live in Fitzroy, especially for me. We only go to one other place later on in the night called “Laundry” but it’s clear the nightlife here is pretty great. The morning brings a nice little headache and a dose of reality – nightlife suburbs are great to visit, but I’d hate to have to wander down the mainstreet for my morning coffee and see the scene of the previous night’s debortury.  Don’t shit where you eat.

Chin Chin

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It’s Friday night and given I’m alone, I have the option of staying home and watching bad TV or brave the city and go solo. In a moment of confidence, I decide the latter and figure I’d try out Chin Chin, a restaurant everyone’s talking about and happens to be right near me on Flinders Lane. At 5:45PM, I’m still at work and mention to a friend that I’m going to head to this restaurant where I’m told there’s a kitchen counter which is perfect. She looks at me shocked. At first I assume it’s a pity shock, like a “you’re going ALONE?!”. Instead, she says “It’s 5:45PM, you’ll never get in now!”

Um, what?

She continues and explains that like many Melbourne spots, they don’t take bookings and people will line up from mid-late afternoon (mid-late afternoon!) to secure a spot at the new buzz place. She suggests I don’t even bother.

I leave work, still set on my solo dinner date plan and out of sheer curiosity I head to Chin Chin and there’s the line. At least 15 people deep and curling around the corner, I figure I’ll go through the motions and join the crowd.  They know they’re cool at Chin Chin – they expect this line, and have a light show projected onto the beautiful sandstone building across from the restaurant. I get to about 3rd in line surprisingly quickly and overhear the maître d say casually, “table for 2? Sure! It’s about a two and a half hour wait at the moment so we’ll see you then”. The couple smile gratefully and after giving over the details happily walk out and begin their epic wait, apparently at the bar “Gogo” downstairs.

I have a date with a movie at the local cinema in an hour so as much as I want to try to place, there’s no way I’m waiting that long.  This is when I’m seeing the benefits of being alone though – i tell the man it’s just me and he says, very quietly, says “come straight in my dear” and ushers me straight to the bar in the middle of two couples.  Boom.

The place is so cool and it’s buzzing – I can see the appeal.

I look at the menu and its massive. I scan it quickly and realise it’s Thai…no Chinese…I mean, Indian. Hell, I suppose it’s actually Modern Australian! But the real modern Australian – it’s like the holy grail of Asian. You’ve got your Thai classics contrasted against contemporary gems with a side of quirk.

Chin Chin

Chin Chin

I ask for a recommendation from the waitress who’s lovely and I order the Kingfish with lime, chilli, thai basil & coconut to start with some Sake.  I’m lucky I’m a chili fan because the kingfish packs a punch but it’s one of the best entrée’s I’ve ever had. It was like a sashimi with green curry sauce poured over with a hit of lime.  Amazing.  Next is chicken, sweet corn and shitake mushroom dumplings with spring onion and ginger dressing. The amazingness continues with this and when I’ve finished the dumplings, I’m left with a sauce in the bowl that I could drink! (which I do, as ladylike as I possibly can).

The downside of being alone is that was the end of the meal for me. The menu is designed to be shared and I vow to return with a crowd. Having said that, I also decide I will definitely go back alone and try to get through the A3 menu eventually!  I ask her for some recommendations when I come back and I jot them down on my iphone. A few seconds later the girl on my right turns to me and says , “are you a food blogger?”.  I explain that no, I’m just a lonely Sydneysider with a love for food.

chinchinrestaurant.com.au

Chin Chin 32

Hello Healthy!

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I’m often stumped on a Sunday night on what on earth I’m going to eat for the week ahead, especially when week nights are all about being healthy in preparation for falling off the wagon on weekends. Since my memory isn’t the greatest, I’m going to start writing down any good healthy dinner & lunch options I actually enjoy so I can refer back on those Sunday nights.

I’m a creature of habit and I will literally have the same dinner at lunch every weekday for weeks and weeks on end so there won’t be too many. The intention here is not food porn – just really healthy, easy meal ideas.

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Red Lentil/Tabouli-type salad with Lamb

I found something similar in a magazine and just doctored it so that it’s low fat, low salt, low sugar and low calories – seriously it’s low everything! … except it tastes amazing and it will fill you up.

Red Lentel Salad & LambLow fat, low sugar, low cal, low everything!

Red Lentel Salad & Lamb

First cook ¾ cup of red lentils in boiling water for about 3 minutes, then remove and place in cold water.

Then chuck all this in a bowl:

2 finely chopped capsicums (any colour – I chose yellow & red)

1 finely chopped Lebanese cucumber, seeds removed

1 finely chopped tomato, seeds removed

1 small red onion finely chopped

1 bunch of mint roughly chopped

1 bunch of parsley roughly chopped

Juice of one lemon

Good shake of cumin, around a small tbsn

Drizzle of olive oil

Pepper

Remove as much moisture from the veggies as possible by draining in a colander or patting with paper towel especially if you want to eat the salad again that week.  Add lentils and toss. Add more cumin or lemon & pepper to taste.

Serve with some pan fried lamb and tzatziki or if you’re feeling super skinny, just have it on its own.

It makes enough that you can have it another 1-3 times, I would have it again for lunch at least twice the same week.

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I tried another option to go with this salad last night which was great. Keep a big batch of the salad in the fridge and then you can alternate between lamb & chicken.. it would also be really nice with falafel!

Chicken thigh with fat trimmed, tossed in olive oil, garlic & dried chili flakes. The chili flakes lose most of their heat when cooked so keep that in mind and don’t use sparingly – chuck it all on there!  Panfry, but make sure the windows are open in your kitchen!  It was a cold night in Melbs so I had my apartment all closed up and I almost choked to death from the fried chili!

Chili Chicken

Serve with some lemon & hummus, instead of tzaziki.