Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

It’s been a quiet, calm time in our house.

The HSC seems to go on forever – three weeks for the actual exams, but a couple of months of serious study leading up to them. Small Man is traveling very well – thank you all for your kind wishes.

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After a long winter, spring has arrived, bringing with it a lightness of spirit. Our star jasmine is at its most glorious…

At the back door, my unnamed succulent – a tiny $3 Bunnings’ purchase that I stuck into a pot years ago – has exploded with colour. I’m not sure how it survives in the same small container that it was originally planted in…

Like all desert flowers, these are daylight sensitive, opening with the sun and then shutting again at night…

Spring has also meant the return of the dreaded cabbage moth. This year we’re trying decoys – Pete read somewhere that they won’t lay if there are already other moths in the same area…

So far, it’s working well – we watched the little pests circle over our bed of broccoli raab but none of them actually landed…

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We’ve been eating a lot of pizza and drinking beer – I’m told this is appropriate study food. Big Boy is delighted that his favourite Little Creatures Pale Ale comes in proper pint bottles. We’ve also discovered that defrosted sourdough focaccia, sliced in half, is a fabulous substitute for freshly made pizza bases…

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When I caught up with my cousin Seng for the first time in twenty-five years, we were both wearing rings made from vintage spoons. It’s funny how things like that work in families. My cousin Lynette and I have very similar tastes as well, but we’ve all grown up in different countries…

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My gorgeous nephew Bryan (my cousin son) is currently studying in Sydney. He’s become an instant part of our family and I’m madly scheming ways to try and keep him here. I sent him home with birthday treats a couple of weeks ago…

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I’ve just discovered Petal Post Sydney – a new company offering floral subscriptions at just $38 per month. All the flowers are Australian grown and my first box was delivered by the florist herself! Lovely Zoe is based in the inner west and has a keen eye for blooms…

I couldn’t resist taking this photo in the morning spring light…

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Finally, as well as baking like a madwoman these past few weeks, I’ve also been tempering chocolate. This 40 piece tray was a gift for our dear friend Johnny, and included Belgian milk chocolate dragons, nutella cane toads, and hazelnut praline squares…

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How are things at your place? I hope you’re all well and happy! ♥

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After a fairly tumultuous year, we’re having a gentle time.

Small Man finished school last week and has three weeks to go before the final HSC exams. He’s studying hard, but not too hard – I can hear him playing a computer game as I type this. I think he’s got the balance just right.

A few weeks ago, he threw himself into a wind tunnel with gusto. He’s completely hooked on indoor skydiving and is keen to learn more. His skills  and control are constantly improving – he can now move in almost every direction at will. When his superpowers kick in, he’ll be ready to take off…

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We’ve been spending lots of time with my Mum, who is doing very well. She’s become a wiz at WhatsApp, which lets us keep in touch all day long. We’ve also been catching up with old friends, including Nick and Mary, who cooked us a delicious Greek meal last week. It’s a joy to spend time in such easy, comfortable company. The food was amazing and I loved the tablecloth…

Kitharaki sto fourno…the lamb was so tender it cut with a fork…

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On Wednesday night, we had dinner with dear friends at Bistro Cocotte. Cliff and Kathy are celebrating the 20th anniversary of their café this year, so we shared a bottle of 1995 Yarra Yering pinot with Jay’s truffle brie fondue. It was a sublime pairing…

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The knitting continues, and sample cards arrived from Bendigo Mills (is there anyone who doesn’t love samples?)…

My latest project is a Chinese wave dishcloth (instructions are here)…

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I picked up a packet of sustainable mussels from Boston Bay in South Australia. They were just $5.99/kg and I cooked them in tomato, white wine, garlic and onion, and served them with freshly baked sourdough. The leftovers made a delicious clam soup the following day…

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The very gorgeous Fiona from Tiffin Bite Sized was in town for the day and was kind enough to spend it with me. We had a blast! (As an aside, I’ve just noticed how silver I’m getting in the photo below..ah well…)

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I’ve been cheerfully tempering batches of chocolate, including these dark chocolate ginger pieces for Aunty Marty…

A large batch of chocolate coins, Spanish doubloons, clockwork pieces or whatever else they might look like to you…

The chocolates above were shaped in my ma’moul moulds. These were made in Syria and are probably irreplaceable now. It’s incredibly sad to reflect on what the people who made these moulds might be going through now…

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It’s a birthday weekend! This plate is for my lovely friend Luca who turns 16 today…

…and a jar of baby choc chip cookies and musical chocolates for Not-A-Baby-Anymore Grace, who is four today!

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Folks, I’m sorry to be posting two catch up posts in a row. I’m not online very much at the moment, but I do miss you all, and I just wanted to touch base. Hope you’re all well and having a gentle time too! ♥

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A brilliant new French restaurant has opened in our neighbourhood.

We locals were hoping to keep it a secret, but after just two weeks of trading, it’s already getting hard to make a booking. And that’s because every neighbour we know has already eaten there twice.

Chef and owner Jay is well-credentialed – he was the former head chef of Bistro Mémé and previously worked at La Grande Bouffe. Apart from being an incredibly nice guy, his food is excellent – well crafted, carefully balanced and delicious…

Charming Jeremy runs the front of house. His staff are well trained – the service is professional and efficient, whilst still being relaxed and friendly…

We’ve now eaten there at every sitting. At Saturday brunch, Pete had the Honey and Cinnamon Roasted Granular with Greek yoghurt and baked rhubarb ($13.50)…

Jay’s Duck Liver Parfait with pickled cauliflower and onion jam ($17) is my favourite dish so far, and that’s saying a lot, because I’ve loved them all…

As Small Man is in the middle of his HSC trial exams, we took the boys down for dinner as a mid-week treat. The bread basket ($7) arrived and we demolished it. As you all know, I’m pretty fussy about bread, but this was that perfect French baguette that I just can’t seem to master – crispy with a tender crumb, served warm…

Soup of the week was a richly flavoured, slow cooked French Onion ($16), served in their trademark cocotte…

Pete and I weren’t particularly hungry, so we shared a few entrees. The Seared Panchetta Rolled Scallops with Leek Fondue and Saffron Emulsion ($19) was sublime…

The Rabbit and Ham Hock Terrine ($18) was very good, but I think I prefer the Duck Liver Parfait…

Small Man was starving, so he had the Grilled Eye Fillet of Beef with Trumpet Mushroom Jus ($32). He ate every morsel on his plate…

For sides, we ordered Petit Pois and Lardon, Ratatouille, and a bucket of Pomme Frites ($7)…

Big Boy chose the Confit Pork Belly with Honey Apple Purée, Braised Red Cabbage, Fig and Chestnut ($29). He’s always been a fan of confit pork, but he declared that this combination of flavours was the best he’d ever tried…

For dessert, Pete and I shared the Apple Tart. Hmm…shared as in I let him have a couple of bites…

…and Big Boy raved about the Creme Brûlée, with it crackly caramel topping…

Bistro Cocotte offers a fixed price three course dinner (with a choice of dishes) for $55, as well as a $35 Tuesday to Friday lunch special (entree and main). Their full menus are available here – there are only a few vegetarian options listed, but if you advise your food preferences when booking, Jay will happily create to order. The restaurant is fully licenced, but BYO is available Tuesday to Thursday. We can now take our old bottles of wine, walk to a fantastic French bistro, eat glorious food, then walk home!

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Bistro Cocotte
78 Ramsay Street
Haberfield  NSW  2045
tel: 02 8964 1301
www.bistrococotte.com.au

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Folks, the second week of August is International Scone Week!

If you’ve never heard of it before, that’s because Joanna, Heidi and I made it up in 2010. Since that time, it’s been a very casual gathering, where bakers all around the world make scones in August and share their photos of them.

I’ve hosted the event in previous years, but things are incredibly hectic here at the moment and I’m not really in a position to run it anymore. Thankfully, lovely Tandy at Lavender and Lime has offered to take it over from now on. It’s an extremely fun week, so please consider joining in!

International Scone Week will run from 10th – 16th August. Everyone is welcome to participate, whether you’re a blogger or not. And if you need some inspiration, here are links to the scone photos from previous years. I can’t wait to see what we all come up with this year!

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International Scone Week, 2012

International Scone Week, 2013

International Scone Week, 2014

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Our friends Marty and Joyce live in the neighbouring suburb.

We’ve known each other since we were eighteen years old (we lived together for three years), and our children are now older than we were when we first met. We have that easy, comfortable relationship that only comes from a lifetime of shared experiences. Marty and I MC’d each other’s weddings – he’s passionate, highly intelligent, and completely bonkers. I love him to bits. So when he said he was opening a wine bar in nearby Summer Hill, we had to go and check it out.

Obviously this isn’t an unbiased review – our old friend has a new establishment and I’m keen to tell everyone about it. But I have to say, for a man who nearly demolished his bathroom trying to install a shower rail, he’s done a magnificent job.

The gloriously named Temperance Society Wine Bar offers a wide range of top shelf spirits, craft beers, wines by the glass and a limited selection of cocktails (for now – hopefully the list will grow with time). Everything on offer is unusual, interesting and carefully chosen.

Our friend Will raved about the two boutique beers he tried – an Indian Pale Ale (IPA) and a Rye-O-Rye Red. Sullivans Cove Whisky from Tasmania – recently voted the finest single malt in the world – is available by the glass. Here are a few photos from their second night of trading (they only opened on Monday).

The bar is run by the charming Alex and his smiling team…

My cocktail of the night – a Lackey Street Lush (Zubrowska vodka, cloudy apple and lemon juice). It was deliciously refreshing and not overly sweet…

The whole place oozes ambiance – the ground level has an easy, laid back feel with high tables and chairs. There’s a courtyard out the back which closes at 9pm (council regulations). We walked upstairs and I let out a deep, contented sigh…the room was filled with comfortable burgundy Chesterfields, books and quirky artwork…

I could imagine myself losing a few quiet evenings in this little corner…

The food was simple, tasty and generous, a testament to Joyce’s deft touch with all things edible. The large wedge of Black Forest Smokehouse rabbit and quail terrine ($9) was accompanied by green tomatoes, a small pot of relish and sourdough…

The mixed meat plate ($18) came with a wedge of cheese (brie or cheddar), olives, two meats, preserves and bread…

Their primary focus is on beverages, so only a limited selection of cold platters are available (at the moment). This is the perfect place to pop in for a drink, but don’t count on having dinner there.

Are we a bit excited at having a new wine bar within walking distance of home? Oh yeah. Are we über excited that it’s Marty’s newest project? Absolutely. I’m torn between hoping it’s a roaring success and wanting it to stay just a wee bit quiet so that I can always grab a Chesterfield on the top floor. I strongly suspect it’s going to be the former.

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The Temperance Society Wine Bar
122 Smith Street
Summer Hill   NSW 2130

Open 4pm – 11pm Mon – Thurs
12pm – 12am Fri, Sat
12pm – 10pm Sun

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