Welcome to the November 2003 edition of the C&C newsletter. We're running a few days behind this month with a particular horse race getting in the way, but we're back on track . There's plenty to report with news from last months Tasting Australia festival, new  food and wine books and terrific produce to enjoy.

 

Spring is certainly hitting it's stride now if the range of ingredients at fruit and vegetable shops is anything to go by. We've been enjoying some good mangoes recently along with a couple of really luscious, sweet pineapples. Both have been enjoyed in the Campion-Curtis household as fruit salad for breakfast. On the vegetable list we have had excellent broad beans - they're particularly good in risotto - Asian greens, sweetcorn and Hass avocadoes. Cherries are still a week or two away. Latest report from the local greengrocer indicates some supply coming from Queensland, but the bulk of the cherries are yet to ripen due to the late cold spell of winter.

 

There is no doubt the long running drought has broken across much of Australia, which is good news for our primary producers, however it's not all good news. ABC radio recently reported on sub-zero temperatures across Victoria's Goulburn Valley causing widespread orchard damage. A number of stone fruit growers reported loosing all of their crops, so expect limited supplies of apricots, peaches and nectarines this summer. Victorian wine and table growers were also frost affected in certain areas, as were asparagus growers in Gippsland. Limited supplies will no doubt mean higher prices for these ingredients.

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Chef Frank Camorra has made a great name for himself in recent times with his beautiful Spanish fare. His MoVida dining room has a new home now in Hosier Lane, near Federation Square. We can highly recommend the set menu that is suggested for groups of 8 or more. A seemingly endless array of tastes is included - starting with Galician style octopus with kipfler potatoes and Spanish paprika, South Australian Manzanillo olives marinated with seville orange and thyme, before moving onto olive oil and sherry pastry filled with tuna, piquillo pepper and egg, Angel Cardoso's jamon, half shell scallops oven baked with jamon and potato foam and tortilla of course. A terrific wine list offers plenty of Australian and Spanish choices to match beautifully with the food, and we can highly recommend the Dominique Portet Fontaine Yarra Valley 2003 rose. MoVida, One Hosier Lane, Melbourne. Phone: 03) 9663 3038 www.movida.com.au

 

The 13^th Symposium of Gastronomy will begin on Friday the 13^th of February 2004 and promises three days of eating, drinking, listening to and discussing what it all means with a group of 80 people who possess a deep and abiding interest in food. The theme for the symposium is: Food, Fears, Fads and Fantasies and will be held in Orange, New South Wales. The events and papers delivered during the symposium will address the food choices we make daily between competing forces: Novelty vs Tradition, Health vs Indulgence, Economy vs Extravagance, Care vs Convenience. There’ll be the traditional Boxed Dinner; a sort of Culinary Sports where symposiasts are split into teams of eight, given a box of produce and some simple rules for using it, and cook in competition with and for each other.There’ll be a light-hearted Frolic in the Vines, utilising local wine and produce; an Atkins Diet Lunch for privation; and a Brown Paper Bag (complete with lunch monitor) for memories. Symposiasts will be more than ready for the big finale: the famous (or infamous) Symposium Banquet, an event traditionally combining gastronomy, theatre and lunacy. The cost to attend is $750, which includes all meals, wine, accommodation and activities. Bookings and information: Roberta Muir – 02) 9904 1140 or robertam@sydneyfishmarket.com.au

 

Rare Breeds Trust of Australia will hold their annual Open Farm weekend this weekend, the 8th and 9th of November at Eastwind Rare Breeds Farm. The focus of this weekend is sustainable farming with rare breeds. Eastwind specialises in the Large Black breed pigs but other breeds will also be on display. All species of rare breeds of domestic farm livestock (Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Pigs and Poultry) will be represented and speakers will be on hand to provide information regarding their care and availability. Sustainable farming practices such as organic vegetable growing, permaculture and hot composting will be demonstrated along with displays of Heritage fruit trees and rare trades including Coopering, Stonemasonry and Post and Rail fencing. Other activities include a sausage competition, goat milking, animal husbandry demonstrations and children’s activities. Tasting of rare breed pork and ham will be available throughout the day and some products will also be for sale. Lunch will be able to be purchased on the day. Eastwind is situated at 25 Coopers Road, Macclesfield, Victoria. Melways reference Map 307 H 12. Entry is $20.00 per family, $10.00 per person, $5.00 concession. E-mail christine@largeblackpigs.com.au for further details.

 

Golden Olives

North East Victoria is celebrating the Fourth Annual Golden Olive Awards this weekend, Saturday Nov 8th and Sunday Nov 9th, with a program of events for food (and wine) lovers. Saturday kicks off with a Table Olive Workshop at Rutherglen High School, followed by a Growers’ Forum at the Rutherglen Memorial Hall. On Saturday evening celebrate the olive culture of the region at the Golden Olive Awards Dinner prepared by chef Chris O’Connor and matched with a range local wines. On Sunday morning start the day with brunch at the Rutherglen Produce Picnic at the roundabout in Main Street from 11am. Phone Bookings & Accommodation inquiries: Rutherglen Wine Experience, 1800 622 871.

 

The Winemakers of Rutherglen are also presenting Young Bloods and Bloody Legends on Saturday Nov 8th. This is a one day Masterclass with three sessions at three venues, hosted by the big names of Rutherglen as well as some of the younger generation of these great wine families. $150 all inclusive. Call the Rutherglen Wine Experience on 1800 622 871 for information and to book.

 

Chef Darren Perryman from Canberra's First Floor Restaurant presents Spring and Summer Salads on November 8th, closely followed by Elizabeth and Ian Hemphill on the 15th with an edible and medicinal approach to herbs. Tastes of the Sea and Vines on November 22nd features Brad Wolter, chef/owner of the Rock Salt Café, with ideas for entertaining with seafood. Terrines are the focus on November 29th with everything from a leek, potato and Brie terrine to a galantine of corn-fed chicken, roast capsicum and thyme. Bookings via the website www.belconnenmarkets.com.au  or telephone 02) 6253 5132.  

Lots of big names here again in November starting with terrific cooking and stories about Spain from Eduardo Gonzales on Saturday November 8th. If beer is your thing then don't miss a class to celebrate the launch of  Cascade’s Four Seasons Spring Fest lager on Tuesday November 11th. CUB Brewer Dermott O'Donnell will team up with chefs John Evans (cbd) and Alastair Smith (The Light Brigade) to show how contemporary pub food and top beers work together. Darren Simpson is on-board for a session on Modern Italian food on Saturday November 15th. One not to be missed is Will Meyrick showcasing some of his innovative modern Thai food from jimmy liks in Potts Point on November 25th. Bookings on 02) 9552 2522.

 

David Thompson has made a highly applauded move to London to open Nahm, closely followed by Chris Manfield to West Street Hotel. It seems the outward flights are set to continue with the news that Ondine duo Donovan Cooke and Phillippa Sibley-Cooke have their sights set on New York in early 2004.

 

The final few classes here for the year will feature Greg Malouf on Tuesday 11th November presenting a long table demonstration and banquet dinner for 20 people. Tony Tan will be in attendance on Wednesday 12th with his favourite Asian curries. Finally Barry Vera from Joseph's restaurant at The Mansion on Saturday 15th November with a wild and Mediterranean cooking class. Bookings on 03) 9827 9047.

 

Thomas Milligan of The Windsor Hotel will cover some of the Windsor’s signature dishes on November 18th as the hotel celebrates it’s 120 year history. Tony Bizzarri, of the famed Bizzarri restaurant returns share the secrets of the perfect gnocchi on November 22nd. He will teach two styles of making the actual gnocchi and then he will show some great recipes for delicious sauces to serve with this unique dish. Paul Raynor, chef at Middle Brighton Baths, will be covering everything you need to know about making terrines on 29th November. Bookings on 03) 9320 5835.

 

There seems no end to the flurry of wine and beer guides on the market. A few years ago it was a simple choice between  

Ralph Kyte-Powell and Huon Hooke's Penguin Good Australian Wine Guide, James Halliday's Wine Companion and Jeremy Oliver's Australian Wine Annual. Now bookshops have entire sections dedicated to wine guides, so here's a quick look at a couple of the new contenders.

 

Quaff! 2004 Max Allen and Peter Forrestal have sniffed, swirled and slurped their way through 2,000 + widely available wines - both Australian and imported - to find the very best value wines on offer in bottleshop-land. These wines are listed in a way that makes it even easier for you to find what you want - by arranging them according to wine style and grape variety. From sparkling to stickies, and from shiraz to sherry. $17.95

The Prince Wine Store in Melbourne recently sent through a very tempting offer to purchase three bottles of Petrus at a very special price. 1 bottle of 1993 (92/100 from Robert Parker), 1 bottle of 1994  (93/100 from Robert Parker) and 1 bottle of 1995 (96/100) from Robert Parker. These amazing wines also came with an amazing price. Anyone with a spare $6,500 can contact the team at Prince Wine Store on pws@the Prince.com.au.

 

In the December edition we'll have more cook books, news about a delicious organic shortbread, plus a Christmas quiz where you can win copies of our new books - Foodies Guide 2004 and a new BBQ cookbook titled King of the Grill.

 

Cheers

 

Allan and Michele