I sold wine for around 10 years and during that time I observed the majority of customers sticking to what they know. They would buy the exact same wine each time they visited, or stick to the same variety without being willing to explore new stuff. I get it, though. There’s so much to learn […]

As a kid I spent many years living in Tokyo, Japan and that time has had a huge impact on the way I understand food, cook and live. The Japanese influence pops up pretty frequently on the menu both at home and in our catering ventures at the Brown Paper Kitchen. In this recipe it’s […]

On my last trip to New Caledonia I had lunch at the Baronnet’s cattle farm near Bourail. This humble family takes New Caledonian hospitality to a new level, and the dishes they prepared were delicious – in particular, Cindy’s tarte au citron meringuée. It was the perfect combination of bitterness from the lemon, sweetness from […]

Newly renovated about a year ago, the Charing Cross Hotel Dining Room sits separately from the bar area of the hotel. The hotel itself, of course, stands out prominently on the intersection of Carrington Road and Bronte Road in Waverley, so it’s easy to find. My companion and I arrived at the Dining Room on […]

Most wineries have wines that they produce every year, or at least in years when the fruit is good enough. Go to Yalumba, for example, and you’ll find a release of ‘The Signature’ each year. These are wines that you can rely on for a decent drink year in, year out. Some of these producers […]

Every time I make a big batch of granola I package some of it up and pass it onto a friend, neighbour, or family member, or even a client at a meeting (random, but true). It’s always well received because, seriously, who doesn’t love a gift of food? The funny thing is, every time I […]

I now have a reason to look forward to a visit to the hospital – great coffee, fresh food served up quickly, and cheery service, thanks to the good folk at High St. Society, a new café in Randwick that has made everyone sit up and take notice. Located across the road from the Prince […]

This chocolate espresso tart with hazelnut crust is so silky-smooth and decadent – you would never guess that the secret ingredient to this perfect texture is tofu! With a crispy, nutty crust filled with rich, velvety chocolate espresso mousse and topped with a thin spread of vanilla chocolate cream, desserts don’t get any better than […]

Jeffrey Grosset of Grosset Wines is pretty much the undisputed Riesling king of Australia. His two top shelf Rieslings (the ‘Polish Hill’ and ‘Springvale’) are found in most serious cellars (including mine), because they age so well. Recently there have been a few new wines added to his portfolio, which has got wine buffs like […]

Pumpkin has to be one of my all time favourite vegetables for the cooler months. It’s grounding, wholesome, nourishing, beautiful in colour and rich in flavour. With this recipe from my book, Seasons to Share, I’ve teamed it with quinoa, parsley, cabbage and walnuts to create a delicious salad, and the dressing is the perfect […]