Pindarie in the Barossa

Early Autumn is the best time of the year in South Australia. Sunny days in the mid to high 20’s, clear sky’s and gentle breezes day after day  – so perfect it feels like there’s no weather at all. And what better way to enjoy it than to lunch outside under the shade of a pepper tree with valley views.

Pindarie is a new find for us. A cellar door set in farmland in the Barossa with a ‘sustainable mix of sheep, cropping and vines’. The cellar door is in a restored grain room next to original stables. The photos on their website do justice to the views.

The day was gorgeous and the company lovely (Mum and Dad, my partner and daughter). The Graziers Platter we shared was outstanding made up with very local produce including a Grana Padano and a washed rind cheese (Barossa Valley Cheese Company) which were a great combination. The prosciutto was fresh and soft and tasty (my Mum’s favourite) while I particularly enjoyed the sopressa. The platter was served with warm, freshly baked crusty bread (Apex Bakery), olive oil (from 100 year old wild trees on the property) and dukkah (Kurianda). A couple of glasses of the wine we tasted before lunch and we were set for several hours.

Lola found some good company and some haystacks to play on too.

One Magic Bowl

About a six weeks ago (when Summer was still here) a bunch of my friends and I joined upwards of 2000 other people on the beach for a feeding of the masses. On an incredibly gorgeous late summers evening on the picturesque beach ringed by golden red cliffs that is Port Willunga we were greeted by a long line of old-fashioned striped canvas beach shelters. Each was serving up a different take on seafood stew or soup from an amazing array of chefs. The food was served to each person in their own handmade ceramic bowl designed by Prue Venables (Artistic Director of the Jam Factory) and made by local artists.

Breakfast of sunshine

Picked a fig from the tree in my backyard this morning, sliced it over natural yoghurt, sprinkled with toasted seeds and drizzled with honey mmm….

Plenty of Ottolenghi in a fine English garden

The Xmas fairy (my Mum) granted my wish for the new Ottolenghi cookbook Plenty and I made the first of the dishes that took my fancy this week. Those of you who know this cookbook and the previous one with the eponymous title Ottolenghi will already be familiar with the rich, creative mix of flavours and ingredients that make really surprising dishes full of colour and flavour.

Skillogalee for another 50th anniversary

Just prior to Xmas it was my Mum and Dad’s 50th wedding anniversary. Now that’s a much more impressive 50th anniversary than my 50th blogging post that I wrote about recently – and we went somewhere suitably special to celebrate: Skilogalee Winery Restaurant in the Clare Valley.

NYE 2011: Not 43 and windy after all!

Pretty revolting weather was forecast in Adelaide for NYE but we decided to press ahead with our planned outdoor soiree regardless, fingers crossed that once the sun dropped so would the wind. However, as luck would have it a cool change kicked in way earlier than expected and we ended up with a perfect balmy evening.

Last minute Xmas gifts

Here’s a couple of foodie gifts I made this week – very easy and Xmassy. If you’re keen to do something home made but haven’t quite got there, you still have time for these.

Xmas cookbook wishlist

This post is a shamelessly stolen idea from Lambs Ears and Honey blog this week because I love doing lists of stuff where I am required to agonisingly choose just a few things from a much larger list, like the one where you have to choose 5 foods you would take with you to a desert island. Posting up a  5-only-cookbook-wish-list is like throwing down the gauntlet!

50th anniversary and an award

I realised the other day that I reached my 50th post two posts ago (well three if you count this one). What made me realise it was being honoured by being included in Laws of the Kitchen‘s list of blogs to whom she chose to pass on the ‘One Lovely Blog’ award. Thanks very much Cakelaw! It means a lot to know that others enjoy reading my blog  – especially when I’m quite new to the game.

Finally Ottolenghi – turkey meatballs and roast capsicum sauce

After having read about, and drooled over, recipes from the Ottolenghi cookbooks on various of my favourite blogs I finally ordered a copy of their first book from The Book Depository and it arrived last week. This is the first recipe I have made from the book and it was utterly delicious.