Gosh! I remember when the first Bar Merlo coffee shop opened up in lower Queen St in the CBD. Well before chain store coffee shops or even artisan single origin beans were on the scene, Merlo were producing fantastic coffee as well as feeding sweet and savoury Italian snacks to office workers. You had to queue… Read more

In my September kitchen… …are two mega bottles of Tabasco Sauce, lugged back for me all the way from the USA by my friend Mel. I’ve included a normal size bottle in the photo so you can see just how big they are. Like me, she can’t resist a bargain and can’t bear to pay over… Read more

Yes, you read that title correctly. Black Bean Brownies. A friend sent a link to me some time ago but it took me a while to check it out. Black Bean Brownies are a clever gluten-free bake that uses black beans for moisture and texture and, cocoa powder as a flour replacer and chocolate flavouring. Most… Read more

I love the idea of going out to breakfast with friends and family.  You can catch up and still having the day ahead of you.  I love the idea but the reality if often very different.  Many places do not take bookings for breakfast, instead preferring to make their valued customers queue. Even if you can get… Read more

Remember those walnuts I bought from the local community centre in Angaston? They were sitting on my bench making the kitchen look very rustic but had yet to make it into a recipe and the situation was getting urgent. Not only did I need my bench space back but with summer just around the corner… Read more

Since Alfred & Constance opened 18 months ago, I’ve traipsed past it with alarming regularity on the way to and from my dentist, just around the corner.  I often take a look at the menu and a peek into what’s happening but usually have a mouthful of anesthetic or a dentist bill in my hand so… Read more