The first time I tasted chickpeas was in the late 1970’s. My Mum, ever the gastronomic explorer used to cook up huge batches in the pressure cooker. They would be served just warm as a party nibble, tossed in salt and earthy spices. Most people had not even heard of a chickpea let alone preferred… 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

It’s been a while since I wrote about my op-shop or thrifting finds. With limited storage space and more than enough retro crockery and classic (some may think kitsch) barware, I have been more judicious in my purchasing. Well, trying to. I recently dropped into the Camp Hill State School Fete and made a b-line… Read more

A while ago I mentioned that I’d scored a Römertopf clay baker from an op shop for the princely sum of $9. I gave it a go that same weekend, cooking a roast chicken that was just a little too big for it. As promised in the recipe, the chicken was moist and succulent because… Read more

With 12 nights in NYC, there were plenty of opportunities to visit the celebrated restaurants of venerated chefs, doing a significant amount of damage to the credit card along the way. I decided it was easier (and cheaper) to eat locally in the East Village. In part 2, we eat at a couple of restaurants… Read more

Hypothetically, what would you do if you came home from a week away and discovered that due to a horrible oversight, you were down to two scoops of coffee for your three scoop plunger? Would you make a smaller plunger or say… be tempted to make up the third scoop using your husband’s decaf coffee… Read more