It’s July and it’s cold. We had the longest summer ever in Brisbane but in the past week, winter has arrived. Sure, it’s not snowing like it is in some parts of Australia but when you live in a wooden house without central heating, 8c is a pretty frosty start to the morning. On Monday… Read more
wine
A few weeks ago I found myself in wine country. Not WA’s Margaret River, nor SA’s Barossa Valley or even more locally in Stanthorpe. I found myself in the wine country of the Scenic Rim, *invited there by Tourism & Events Qld. Now I know what you’re thinking. Wine country in Qld? Set aside your… Read more
After discovering Flaxman Wines a few years ago via the Good Food & Wine Show in Brisbane, we visited them last Vintage Festival for a fantastic private tasting. Many wines were tasted and quite a few dollars charged to credit cards as we enjoyed a relaxed afternoon set on the gentle slopes on the vineyard… Read more
Unless you’ve been living in the bottom of a wine bottle, it’s hard to avoid the brilliant marketing campaign for the Barossa Valley in South Australia. Using dark gothic imagery set to a foreboding Nick Cave soundtrack, the ad is visceral and compelling. You want to grab a bunch of friends and make a weekend or… Read more
In November I visited Perth, capital of Western Australia, to attend a food blogging conference, ‘Eat. Drink. Blog.’ After the conference, we toured for a week, visiting some of south-west of WA. As part of the #tiffingoeswest extravaganza, we spent a couple of days in the Margaret River, famous for Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnays. Regular readers will… Read more
A short while ago I went to the Australian Small Winemaker’s Show in Stanthorpe, Queensland. I am now sufficiently recovered to let you know what an amazing event this is. Amazing because it showcases over 1400 wines from small winemakers all over Australia and New Zealand. Amazing because it’s run by volunteers from the industry… Read more
Well here we are….January….a new year. There will hopefully be lots happening in my kitchen this year as TIFFIN is getting a new kitchen. Follow my bite sized kitchen adventures each month as I travel from optimistic and excited through delays and disappointments via budget blow out and scaled back expectations and onwards to rising… Read more
In my July kitchen….….I have a huge bowl of Barossa Valley walnuts that I bought over Easter from the CWA in Angaston. They are sitting in a beautifully hand turned wooden bowl I won at the Ziegenmarkt auction whilst we were at the Barossa Vintage Festival. They’re burning a hole in my pocket. I… Read more
You’re hardly starved for choice in the Barossa Valley. Local providores, markets, cafe and restaurants abound. Throw in the huge array of cellar doors in close proximity and it would take you months, if not years to eat your way through it all. So, as you can imagine, planning a visit to the biennial Barossa… Read more
It’s been a big few weeks, what with the Vintage Festival in the Barossa Valley followed hot on its heels by the inaugural Adelaide Food and Wine Festival. Over the coming weeks, I’ll be catching you up on my (hardly) bite sized adventures and it seems appropriate that I start with my last adventure, first…… Read more
Despite a minor touch of jet lag and a huge backlog of posts to write, less than 24 hours off the plane from Chile, TIFFIN was out there rubbing shoulders with the Foodistas of Bris-Vegas to make sure you have the up to minute facts on cooking schools in Brisbane. Last night I was lucky… Read more
When was the last time you visited Sirromet Winery at Mt Cotton? We had a couple of vouchers for the winery tour that we needed to use so we visited last Sunday and let me tell you, there’s a lot going on there nowadays. As we drove in, we could see cars parked all the… Read more
I love Heston Blumenthal because he’s the antipathy of the power chef. Self taught, a bit of a nerd, he’s had a few famous disasters (food poisoning at his Michelin starred Fat Duck restaurant to name one) and is a bit of an average looker. Yet, he’s hugely popular, much of it on the back… Read more
I had intended to post a different blog today but then I saw Anthony lying on the couch in a self induced funk. With a sore head and hooded eyes, the haze of alcohol visibly evaporating out of his pores, how could I not write about what led to him to this and have a… Read more
To blog, or not to blog? That is the question. I wasn’t going to blog about this dinner because it’s not really a review of a restaurant or the wine is it? On the other hand, all my friends were there and we had a great time so I thought it would be nice for… Read more
What Club, I hear you ask? The Club I seem to have spent most of my most time in. Not Mannequin’s Partyhouse at the old Treasury Hotel as you may think, but the Qantas Club. I travel a lot for work and consequently spend a lot of time in the QC. I know all of… Read more
Upon reviewing the numerous photos taken in the Middle East, I noticed a distinct trend in hilarious drink names. So, for your edification, I introduce you to these delicious beverages…..Syria – Spiral Orange, Ugarit Cola & Cheer Up Lemonade. If I’m, not mistaken, these look remarkably like Fanta, Pepsi and 7Up Turkey – Bi Cola. Not… Read more