September 20, 2007: The Horn Restaurant

1001 Dinners, 1001 Nights together with decided it was worth a visit. I wandered inwards roughly seven to come across Cindy together with a grouping of friends for dinner together with the friendly together with relaxed staff laid me upwards at the dorsum corner tabular array alongside 1 of the organic Ethiopian beers that they offer. I could convey quite happily sat at that spot together with relaxed all evening, but eventually everybody else arrived together with nosotros could larn downward to the trace of piece of job organization of eating.

The card contains a fairly extensive make of Ethiopian snacks together with meals, alongside a reasonable expose of vego options. It was difficult to get exercise the vegie together with dahl combination, which Cindy together with I shared, - a jeopardy to endeavor 5 of the dishes on offering without eating until bursting point. Our waitress explained the traditional Ethiopian mode of eating where stews are placed on peak of giant pancakes (injera) together with eaten without implements - the injera providing something alongside which to pick upwards the liquidy meals. The pancakes arrived on large pizza trays, consummate alongside a salad garnish together with a twain of rolled upwards injera for extra grabbing power. To accompany this bully area of breadiness, nosotros got a choice of 3 vegie stews together with a twain of dahls. Four of the dishes came out inwards a fashionable petty serving device, piece the 5th languished rather sadly inwards a evidently bowl. The nutrient was tasty without beingness specially mindblowing - virtually of the fun came from excavation roughly alongside the injera together with to a greater extent than ofttimes than non making a ridiculous mess.

With a few to a greater extent than organic beers (including a real overnice stout) nether our belts together with the terminal of the sauce-soaked injera devoured, nosotros were only settling dorsum inwards our seats when the tiny spare infinite adjacent to our tabular array was transformed into a makeshift phase together with out came the band (one of whom doubles every bit the proprietor of the venue). We shuffled ourselves across to a tabular array a petty chip farther away to give them some room together with and thence sat dorsum every bit they played a fantastic xl infinitesimal laid of rhythmic jazz. It killed off our conversation, but nobody actually minded - the music had us all transfixed.

We snuck out inwards their intermission betwixt sets (some of us to caput off to bed together with other, less responsible types to force on to to a greater extent than alive music together with beer farther into Collingwood), happy alongside a adept meal, some fine companionship together with an unexpected outburst of enjoyable jazz. The solely (slight) downside of the whole level was the unexpected encompass accuse nosotros had to pay for the band. It wasn't actually a problem, but it's in all probability a adept sentiment to allow people know that there's going to hold upwards an extra accuse for staying inwards the eating theater subsequently a sure enough time. But that was a nipper quibble - The Horn has all the ingredients for a real satisfying nighttime out.

Address: 20 Johnston Street, Collingwood
Ph: 9417 4670
Licensed
Price: $30 for a vegie platter for 2 ($16 for one)
Website: http://www.thehorn.com.au/

September 21, 2007: D.O.C.

Melbourne Gastronome, showed us just what it had to offer. Then, of course, I was all emails as well as dates as well as meetings for Fri night.

I met Kerrie as well as Daniel at that topographic point correct after move as well as nosotros settled inward alongside a bottle of crimson as well as a plate from the mozzarella list. The exclusively vegetarian plate was the cheapest of the bunch, Australian Fior Di Latte alongside Pomodori Con Pesto (vine ripened tomato plant alongside pesto, $13.50). For the mozzarella buff, there's the pricier selection of buffalo mozzarella air-freighted from Italy for an extra $4. I was virtually content alongside the basic version, yesteryear the fourth dimension the vino was poured as well as we'd broken out the grissini sticks nosotros had Michael, Mike as well as Jo-Lyn earthworks inward too.

I Carusi, though Jo-Lyn astutely noted that they're a piffling on the salty side. The bases conduct maintain the correct residual of crispness as well as chew as well as are sparse plenty to permit the toppings present off their flavours. But they're also sparse plenty to conduct maintain us all looking at the dessert list...

tried it already. I for sure noticed the goaty aftertaste inward my showtime few spoonfuls but every bit I pushed on, my tastebuds dulled as well as it was all lite as well as airy cream alongside only the coffee-soaked biscuits adding bite. Also worth noting is the nutella calzoncino alongside vanilla edible bean icecream ($8), an enormous pastry filled alongside molten chocolately nutella - best ordered to part betwixt two.

Friday at the D.O.C. was a success all circular - at that topographic point was never a tranquillity infinitesimal inward this companionship as well as the pizzas were superb. The service included a few glitches every bit powerfulness last expected for a novel eating seat as well as the friendliness of the staff easily smoothed that over. I'll definitely last dorsum for to a greater extent than high-end pizza, but powerfulness conduct maintain my dessert desires dorsum to Brunetti or Lygon St afterwards.

Address: 295 Drummond St, Carlton
Ph: 9347 2998
Licensed
Price: veg pizzas $8-21.50, dessert $8

September 22, 2007: Dull Nutrient Market

Collingwood Children's Farm.

The marketplace is spread out across the grounds of the convent (most of which is a schoolhouse I think), amongst a few fruit together with vegie stalls, but about butchers, cheese-makers together with a lot of other bits together with pieces similar dips together with jams. I'd saved room for a mo breakfast, together with thence the get-go halt was The Convent Bakery - offering a make of staff of life together with pastry products together with a few sandwiches together with panino. I decided to dive into 1 of the raspberry danishes, which was sweet, tangy together with chewy inwards all the correct places, piece Cindy ducked exterior to grab 1 of the fancy-pants cupcakes from 1 of the stalls.

The cupcake was a scarlet velvet cake amongst marshmallow icing ($2.50) from 'Tea amongst Alice'.

Loaded upward amongst saccharide (and caffeine inwards my case) nosotros were cook to confront the stalls. We picked upward near of the ingredients for our even out repast (coming soon!) together with Cindy was seduced past times but about frozen blueberries together with preserved lemons (which I don't intend we've tried yet). I, on the other hand, couldn't resist buying to a greater extent than goodies for a guilty lunch: pumpkin bread, 2 kinds of cheese together with an asparagus pesto.

The staff of life was every bit adept every bit you'd aspect - especially when slathered amongst the tasty dip or the drippingly delicious soft cheese.

The bluish cheese, which was a reasonably mild offering likewise hitting the spot on but about of Cindy's knackerbrod (although I'm non convinced past times her add-on of maple syrup!). Meanwhile, my cholesterol in all likelihood hitting half dozen million.

As ridiculously adept every bit all the nutrient was, the existent highlight for me was but the sunshine, the grass together with the outdoors - Sabbatum morning time markets are destined to hold out a highlight of the warmer months ahead.

Address: 1 St. Hellier's Street, Abbotsford
Timing: The 4th Sabbatum of each calendar month from 8a.m.
Website: http://www.mfm.com.au/slowfood.htm

Where's The Beef? Switches Off

Even though nosotros create got a issue of tasty novel posts to publish, where's the beef? volition live on distinctly placidity for the adjacent 24 hours. We'll live on minimising our greenhouse emissions in addition to joining the Big Switch Off. The challenge is to become 24 hours without using whatever electricity, gas or battery-powered devices from 8pm tonight, Oct half dozen through to 8pm Oct 7. We're going to cheat simply a trivial in addition to choke on our refrigerator running, but there'll live on no lights, no TV in addition to no internet. What nosotros produce create got to hold off frontwards to is a walk into the Treasury Gardens for a community event of food, stalls, alive music, comedy in addition to speakers. Also, hold off to the metropolis this evening every bit the Arts Centre in addition to Giant Sky Wheel switch off.

The marking of liberate energy usage that nosotros convey inwards our daily living is actually non sustainable, in addition to it's ultimately to a greater extent than of import that nosotros drive to trim our habitual liberate energy consumption. If you lot haven't already, reckon requesting green power from your liberate energy supplier.

September 22, 2007: Sugariness Source

Update, 27/1/2019: Sweet Source has closed.

markets inwards the morning, as well as nevertheless Michael as well as I wanted to soak upwards those final few rays of jump sunshine inwards the afternoon. So off to the common alongside books as well as a blanket nosotros went. Trouble is, in that place was a lilliputian rumble inwards my tummy as well as Sweet Source inwards our at 1 time path. It's hard to believe that we've lived as well as then to a greater extent than or less Sweet Source for the past times twelvemonth as well as I've non visited since our get-go weekend. Even their endeavour at serving me a beef pie shouldn't accept pose me off that long! The tiers of cupcakes inwards all shades of pastel are a lilliputian twee, but there's no denying the delicious looks of their sweetness as well as savoury baked goods.

I picked out a spell of blood-red grapefruit frangipane tart ($5) as well as it proved to last a winner. The almond frangipani is sweetness as well as cloud-like as well as there's a shiny glaze on top, but what makes this tart a existent jewel is the truly bitter grapefruit segments that convey it dorsum to earth. Sweet Source's saccharide as well as spice are overnice enough, but it's that grapefruit border that impresses me more.

September 22, 2007: Light-Green As Well As Gorgeous Jump Salad

been ticked off, on to saltation as well as asparagus! The pretty light-green vege was my principal target on our market trip (though plainly I was distracted past times simply about impulse buying along the way...). I had cheesy lunch. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 rarity alongside salads, I was actually looking frontward to a 2nd run of this 1 for luncheon the adjacent day. Unfortunately the asparagus ribbons aren't looking their best past times then, thence attempt to consume them freshly blanched if yous can.

Green as well as gorgeous saltation salad

2 bunches asparagus
120g infant spinach
1 ripe avocado, sliced into sparse wedges
juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1/3 loving cup of your best olive oil
salt as well as pepper

Cut the fibrous ends off the asparagus spears, thence acre them lengthways into ribbons using a vegetable peeler. Fill a large saucepan with water, add together salt, as well as convey it to the boil. Blanch the asparagus ribbons inward it for alone 1 1/2 minutes, thence drain them as well as rinse inward mutual frigidity water.

Whisk together the lemon juice, mustard as well as olive fossil oil as well as flavor to taste. In a large bowl, toss the dressing through the asparagus as well as spinach, thence add together the avocado.

September 24, 2007: Maya Aureate Chocolate Mousse

post from Neil of At My Table reminded me of the importance of seeking out Fair Trade chocolate, together with after led me to a Fair Trade chocolate spider web log event over at R khooks. Fortunately, buying Fair Trade chocolate is only getting easier together with easier for me - Green & Black's build is at in 1 trial available at my local Safeway, together with their Maya Gold is 1 of my all-time favourites. This is a nighttime chocolate amongst "spices together with a twist of orange". And what amend agency to savour those subtle flavours than inward a chocolate mousse? To extend the taste, I added a pinch of cinnamon to the mousse together with tried my mitt at around candied orangish rind to garnish.

Unfortunately my mitt is non thence expert at the gentle folding that gives a mousse its light, airy texture. I ended upwards amongst around fairly dense dessert cups but the rich, buttery texture was yet thoroughly enjoyable, specially when teamed amongst the chewy strips of rind.

I won't effusively recommend the mousse recipe since I didn't master copy it together with I won't effusively recommend the candied rinds because, overnice every bit they are, they're rather labour-intensive. However, I volition channel all my effusiveness into recommending you lot purchase Fair Trade chocolate (and coffee) products whenever possible: allow no-one else behaviour the terms of the pleasance these luxuries plow over you.

I'm far likewise belatedly (and likewise honest close my mediocre result) to operate into this into the Stop the Traffik chocolate competition. Still, caput on over to R khooks to run across around to a greater extent than delicious together with to a greater extent than timely entries.

Spiced chocolate mousse
(based on this recipe from Simply Recipes)

2/3 loving cup double cream
90g Green & Black's Maya Gold chocolate (eat the terminal row of your 100g block every bit you lot cook!)
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon terra firma cinnamon
2 eggs, separated

Whip the cream until soft peaks form, together with lay it inward the fridge.

Using a double boiler (or two-saucepan set-up) amongst hot H2O inward the lower saucepan, melt the chocolate together with butter, stirring continually. When the mixture is fully melted together with smooth, withdraw it from the rut together with allow it cool until "it is only slightly warmer than trunk temperature". Stir inward the cinnamon.

Whip the egg whites inward a carve upwards bowl until soft peaks form.

When the chocolate's laid upwards stir inward the egg yolks, thence 1 3rd of the whipped cream. Fold inward one-half the egg whites until only combined. Repeat amongst the remaining whites, thence the remaining cream.

Using a spoon or a pipage bag, transfer the mousse to a serving bowl or laid of spectacles (this should build 4-6 serves). Refrigerate for close 8 hours, upwards to a day.


Candied orangish rinds
(taken from this page at Epicurious)

3 large umbilicus oranges
1 loving cup castor sugar

Use a vegetable peeler to withdraw strips of rind from the oranges, avoiding every bit much of the white gist every bit possible. I flora that piece the strips were yet moist, it wasn't likewise hard to scrape the remaining gist from the strips amongst a knife. Slice the rinds into thinner strips. Place them inward a small-scale saucepan together with comprehend them amongst mutual depression temperature water. Bring them to the boil, thence drain the rind strips. Repeat this procedure amongst fresh water, thence pat the strips dry.

Over moderate heat, convey 2 cups of H2O together with the saccharide to boil, stirring until the saccharide is dissolved. Drop inward the rind strips together with simmer them until they soften together with larn translucent, stirring occasionally along the way. This volition accept close 25 minutes.

Take the saucepan off the rut together with allow it to cool. Drain the rinds - the original recipe instructs you lot to discard the syrup but I'm certain you lot tin honour something overnice to produce amongst it! (I'll possess got a recipe upwards inward a solar daytime or two.) Set a cake rack over a baking tray together with spread out the rinds across it to dry out properly. Give them an hr or thence - they'll yet move mucilaginous but much to a greater extent than manageable.