Under the Tassie Sun

Posted on February 2, 2017 by missamateurchef

Happy year of the rooster everyone!

After the non-stop family gatherings and reunion meals over the past three days, my life seemed to go back to normal. I finally have time to sort out all the photos from my Tasmania trip. I feel a growling rumble in my stomach while going through the films, and it wasn’t because I haven’t had enough of turnips cakes, my all-time favourite…

Just like any other wanderluster, I have an constant yearning for new tastes and discoveries. “Under the Tassie Sun” summarized my adventure from the North to the South of Tasmania. Starting in Launceston, Tasmania’s second’s city that has forever been locked in rivalry with Hobart, but to me somehow has the zestier food scene, to the humble but charming seafood shack in Freycinet. Up long winding roads and down farm tracks, through blazing sun and misty rain, I visited producers and local shops that are fighting the big corporations and creating artisanal products to sell with pride. I fell in love with the delicious giant oysters and all the colourful dishes that radiated the true spirits of summer (and don’t get me started on the affordable but very flavoursome wine).

At the end of the trip, I returned home with my suitcase laden with all the edible souvenirs like jasmine infused honey, whisky marmalade, but most importantly a grateful heart to all the people who welcomed me into their farms and shops, shared with me their passion for food. I hope u like my photos and enjoy Tasmania as much as I did. Bon Voyage!

Fantastic sauces to sample that have been made on site using only fresh local ingredients. I’m amazed by all kinds of sauces they came up with, an excellent variety from sweet to savoury, with Whisky Seville Marmalade being my personal favourite.

You can buy their products in HK at Feather & Bone.

Tasmanian Gourmet Sauce Company: 174 Leighlands Rd, Evandale TAS 7212

Longford- a country town full of colonial charm.

Evandale’s Sunday market is one of the highlights of the trip. Unlike most food markets in the states or in Europe, where the selection is excellent, but resellers run most stands. In Evandale the producers (farmers) run the majority, you really get to interact with each and everyone of them and listen to all their stories about starting up a local business.

Breakfasts on the road usually means a cup of black coffee plus a flaky croissant at best. In Evandale’s Sunday Market I enjoyed some extremely scrumptious homemade baked goods thanks to Anabel! I’m already missing her orange loaf cake which had an unapologetic burst of citrus flavour.

Evandale Sunday Market: Falls Park, Logan Road, 7212 Evandale (open every Sunday from 8am to 1:30pm)

A charming restaurant with an interesting fusion menu. I seldom go to the same restaurant twice when I travel but I made an exception for this one. With great expectations when i returned for breakfast and it didn’t disappoint. Loved the rye waffles and the omelette made with slow cooked pork and kimchi!

Stillwater: 2 Bridge Rd, Launceston TAS 7250

Highly recommend Black Cow Bistro, another establishment by the Stillwater team, which serves some pretty solid steaks. My wagyu filet was melt-in-the-mouth perfection!

Black Cow Bistro: 70 George St, Launceston TAS 7250

All things lavender from the jam to the scones to the cookies! Since when did I become so girly?!

Bridestowe Lavender Estate: 296 Gillespies Rd, Nabowla TAS 7260

Sheffield- a picturesque town, in literal sense, is effectively Tasmania’s outdoor art gallery. There are more than 80 murals adorning its buildings.

Situated on the Main St of Ross, the Ross bakery Inn, is a heritage building from the early 1800’s which was once a horse-drawn carriage stop. Along side the Inn is the famous Ross Village Bakery. By all means try their vanilla slice and scallop pie, totally worth a detour!

Ross Bakery: 15 Church St, Ross TAS 720

A nice joint to stop by for a quick seafood taste before heading to the wineglass bay. Highly recommend the oyster trio as you get to eat them in various ways instead of just having them with lemon.

Freycinet Marine Farm: 1784 Coles Bay Rd, Coles Bay TAS 7215

Love everything about this modern farm! Tim and Jane and their family dogs, Billy and Sandy are super friendly. As weird as it sounds, I had the best scones in my life there… The clotted cream made by Jane gives an unique decadent consistency and a wonderful flavor. It’s quite thick and spreadable, and when you slather it on a freshly baked scone there is no better thing in the world.

Curringa Farm: 5831 Lyell Hwy, Hamilton TAS 7140

Fruit always tastes better when you pick it yourself!!

Sorell Fruit Farm: 174 Pawleena Rd, Sorell TAS 7172

See you soon Tassie! ❤

Whirlwind to Sydney in 36 hours

Posted on January 22, 2017 by missamateurchef

Question: What do you do when you are in Sydney?

Answer: EAT, visit some friends, go to the Sydney harbor, Bondi Beach…

Question: What do you do when you are in Sydney, and you have been there a few times before?

Answer: EAT, you can still visit your friends, I guess…

Question: What do you do when you are in Sydney, you have been there a few times before and this time you are there for 36 hours only?

Answer: Oh, that leaves only eating!

Question: Where then can I find something good to eat in Sydney?

Answer: Go to these places!!

The first thing to draw your eyes in this patisserie is the trays of delicately constructed slices of cakes- watermelon cakes in particular. Topped with strawberries and edible flowers this dessert is just heavenly freshness! There is a generous slice of watermelon in the middle, but the layers of evenly spread almond meal help to absorb the moisture and stop the watermelon from making the whole cake soggy.

Newtown is an interesting neighbourhoods, the beating heart of Sydney’s bohemian arts scene. Do spend some time exploring the local art galleries and street art murals afterwards.

Black Star Pastry Newtown: 277 Australia St, Newtown NSW 2042

A must-go whenever I’m in town! While oyster is a popular choice for many, I had my heart stolen by the scampi sashimi long ago. Originated from NZ, the scampi is slit down the center which allows you to easily split the crustacean into halves and pull out the sweet and buttery flesh that literally melts away in one’s mouth. Absolutely divine!

Sydney Fish Market: Bank St & Pyrmont Bridge Road, Sydney NSW 2009

My favorite hotcakes in the whole wide world. Period.

bills: 359 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010

Instead of macarons, these colorful babies are called zumbarons here. The name may be different but they taste as good- light and crisp with a gooey center, just the way they should be.

p.s. glad to see more and more zumbo stores, not just in Sydney, but across the entire Australia!

Zumbo Patisserie: 296 Darling St, Balmain NSW 2041

Warning: Contains Outrageously Good Doughnuts

A rapidly growing doughnut chain, Australians’ equivalent of Krispy Kreme that sells yummy, funky and not so little doughnuts!! I love the quirky little names they give to each of them. Love At First Bite is my personal favorite — a doughnut covered in cinnamon sugar and filled with half a bottle of Nutella.

Doughnut Time: 500 George St, Sydney NSW 2000

A rarity: Sydney when it drizzles. The city keeps surprising me in one way or the other.

Baked Oysters with Miso-Mayonnaise

Posted on January 8, 2017 by missamateurchef

I am a real party animal, house parties, to be exact. Nothing beats sharing hearty laughs and intimate conversation with your closest friends in a cozy environment. The truth is, I approach house parties with the same mix of excitement and apprehension you might feel before a first date—what if my home looks messy? What if I get an elaborate menu planned, and then they cancel at the last minute? And obviously you don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard… To ease off the pressure of hosting a house party, every hostess should have a few quick, easy recipes up her sleeve for any event on the calendar.

Made this very simple dish with the leftover miso from last week, this serves as a great snack or party appetizer, taking next to no time or effort to do. Add this dish to your arsenal and you won’t regret it, I promise!

Ingredients:

½ Dozen oysters
¼ Onion (minced)
1 cup Japanese mayonnaise
1 tablespoon miso
1 teaspoon butter
Paprika (for garnishing)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 180 deg C.
In a small bowl, combine the miso and mayonnaise into a smooth paste; set aside.
Heat up butter in a small skillet over medium heat. When the oil is shimmering, sauté the minced onion until they turn transparent.
Divide the onion evenly into shells and top off thickly with the miso-mayonnaise mixture, make sure to completely cover everything in the shell with the mixture.
Place oysters in the oven on the top rack and bake for 20-25 minutes. The tops should be a nice dark brown when done.
Remove oysters from the oven, garnish with paprika and serve!

Sous Vide Miso Maple Salmon

Posted on January 1, 2017 by missamateurchef

Happy New Year!

The beginning of a year is always a good time for me to review my resolutions and take stock of what I have done over the past year. In 2016, I ditched Korean fried chicken for the Chairman’s smoked pigeons, feasted on numerous macarons and cupcakes, and let countless meals go cold in the search of photographic perfection. As I loosen my belt and take a look at the culinary fads that flooded my social media feeds in the past year, including superfood sensation (kale chips? really?), sweet-savory creations and an array of pimped up ice-cream sundaes crowned with egglettes, I wonder how many of these gourmet trends can stay in the scene.

2016 was also a year for upgrading my kitchen gadgets- I owned my very first sous vide machine!! Sous vide cooking was developed in the mid–1970s by chef Georges Pralus at the Michelin Three-Star Restaurant, Troisgros, in Roanne (still remember this place?) initially as a means of cooking delicate foie gras. In the last two decades, sous vide cooking has become the secret of top chefs at major restaurants around the world. This alternative method of cooking promises incredibly succulent meats without having to worry about overcooking, charring, timing. Unlike the aforementioned culinary fads, I’m sure this gadget will be something I swear by for the years to come.

Ingredients (2 servings)

12-ounce skinless salmon fillet
1/4 cup miso paste
2 tablespoons mirin
1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions:

Set the water bath to 104ºF (40ºC).
Place the salmon in a large zipper lock bag. Add the miso, mirin, and maple syrup. Seal the bag tightly.
Place the bag in the water bath and set the timer for 30 minutes.
When the timer goes off, gently remove the salmon from the bag and discard any remaining cooking liquid.
Heat up oil in a non-stick skillet over high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the salmon and sear until well-browned on top and bottom, about 1 minute total.

An Edible Roadtrip in California Part I-LA and SB

Posted on July 26, 2016 by missamateurchef

There’s something special about going on a road trip, isn’t there? It screams adventures, great tunes and spontaneity. Some would say it makes the best kind of holiday. So, with my bags packed, playlist created, I knew an American road trip was the way to go…

The term California cuisine arose as a result of culinary movements starting in the 1970s. It emphasized a lot on the non-traditional take on classics, as well as a lot of fusion- involving the freshest ingredients possible. In California, your meals may be served on a simple wood plank set with mismatched cutlery. No fancy china and polished silver in sight, but there is always abundant sunshine, and, the meals are always magnificent. Dusty and down-to earth, Californian food reaps its star power from its authenticity.

I simply appreciated the fresh take on everything I ate in the Golden State, from homemade ice-cream to super fresh seafood and produce… Here are some of my favorites!

Lived up to expectations and I enjoyed strolling around the well presented food stalls and eateries.

The Original Farmers Market: 6333 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Nothing screams California more than the Venice beach. Best place for people watching.

Friendly staff and nice location as you can watch people walking on the boardwalk while eating, sometime enjoying the street singers.

Figtree’s Cafe : 429 Ocean Front Walk, Venice, CA 90291

Route 66-aka the Mother Road crosses 8 states from Chicago to Los Angeles. The famous route cruises its 90th year this November, driving down it has been one of the items on my bucket list.

So many delicious food choices to satisfy any palette.

Grand Central Market: 9, 317 S Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90013

The beautiful Sterns Wharf, Santa Barbara.

Situated at the end of the wharf, is small enough to make you feel like a local. Food is fresh and delicious. Standing at the end of pier and looking back at the city of Santa Barbara… is a very special moment you will never forget!

They also serve clam chowder in a sourdough bowl (which is a typical San Francisco dish) and pretty decent crab cakes.

Santa Barbara Shellfish Company:230 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Simply the ice cream heaven!! I went there twice within 3 days, they have all these unique flavours but whisky & pecan pralines definitely won my heart.

McConnell’s Fine Ice Creams: 728 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101

NYC Part II-Sweets in the City

Posted on December 25, 2015 by missamateurchef

I know what you are thinking, yea the title is very cliché but how can I write about NYC without paying tribute to my favorite TV series of all time! NYC has always been called the fifth major SATC character, alongside Carrie, Charlotte, Samantha, and Miranda. A decade has passed since the last episode was aired, surprisingly I can still vividly recall how I happily lost sleep over the show in my teenage years… How I went through numerous emotional rollercoasters while watching the fabulous foursome in their endless pursuit of the two “Ls”- labels and love. Just like the two “Ls”, dessert is essential in women’s lives (think of all the heartbreaks and PMS that you were able to get through because of it :p).
Life is uncertain, let’s eat dessert first!

1. Magnolia Bakery
1240 Ave of the Americas, New York, NY

Carrie tells Miranda about a major crush while scarfing down one of this bakery’s signature cupcakes. While Magnolia is famous for its buttercream-topped cupcake, it’s the bakery’s creamy banana pudding that impressed me most. Just a tip, skip the long line at the original Bleecker Street location and head to the other branches, e.g the ones in Grand Central Station/ Rockefeller Center.

2. Wafels & Dinges
W 35th St, New York, NY 10001

Originally started as a food truck in East Village, now it’s everywhere in New York. The waffles are soft, chewy, and caramelized along the exterior. Don’t miss the absolute best part – the spekuloos spread!!

3. Sprinkle cupcakes
Upper East Side, 780 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10065

Sprinkles actually first started in Beverly Hills, California, it then became so popular that it can now be found in almost all major US cities. All their cupcakes are topped with its trademark modern dots or seasonal decorations, bringing a cute sophisticated look to the American classic. I ordered my cupcake from the cupcake ATM, the cake tastes nice and moist and doesn’t have an overwhelming amount of frosting.

4. La Bella Ferrara
110 Mulberry St (btwn Canal & Hester), New York, NY

With the encroachment from Chinatown and expansion of SoHo, Little Italy is becoming Littler Italy. Though many claim that it exists mostly as a nostalgic memory or in the minds of tourists who still make it a must-see on their New York itinerary, I had some really good cannoli there.

5. Jacques Torres Chocolate
350 Hudson St, New York, NY 10014

The chocolatier has long earned its place as a worthy detour for lovers of baked goods and chocolate. It also serves my favorite hot chocolate in the city! The intense cocoa slurry is thick and has a good hint of bitterness from the dark chocolate. They also offer to add in whipped cream, so that’s an added bonus!