Marilyn November 15th, 2008
Like producing your own bread, making a terrine, ballotine or even a simple pate gives great satisfaction. I’m not sure why this is … maybe it’s a tactile thing or just the pleasure of stepping back in time to when people actually made everything they ate.
When I first married I couldn’t cook at all but having married a Frenchman that situation had to change, and fast. It was also the era (is it returning?) when the dinner party was was the thing to do when it came to entertaining friends. We didn’t go out to restaurants that much in those days. You spent a full day prior to “the big night” laboriously preparing tricky (over-worked) dishes, was most of the evening in the kitchen and then the next day cleaning up. Nothing was spontaneous and freshly cooked – couldn’t cope with that!
But one of the things I did learn to do well was a French terrine. There are endless varieties, they are better made ahead of time (the flavour develops) and make great left-overs. Here is a classic recipe from Stephanie Alexander’s The Cook’s Companion: Continue Reading »
Marilyn July 31st, 2008
We recently spent a couple of days at Stanthorpe, 3 hours drive SW of Brisbane — to taste some wines, meet the winemakers and enjoy a roaring fire when the temperature plunged to 1 degree.
You have quite a choice of accommodation and we stayed at the charming Diamondvale B&B Cottages (www.diamondvalecottages.com.au). Kerrin and Tony Cridland give genuine country hospitality and a cooked breakfast that was hard to go past. The property is on a creek, very private but close to Stanthorpe, and an easy drive to all the vineyards.
This is a great place to go to with some friends, each having their own cabin and then you all get together at night in the fire hut (see left), where you can cook a BBQ, enjoy the fire and wax lyrical about the wines you have bought.
There are now outstanding wines to be found in the cool climate Granite Belt (the Queensland wine region based around Stanthorpe). This is not a difinitive list, but our favourite vineyards are: Continue Reading »
Marilyn April 7th, 2008
Whilst moored in Madang Lagoon, 27 of us chartered a plane for the short flight to Goroka to see the famed Mudmen. Those who remained on board had the option of just having a relaxed look around the town and markets, a more involved tour which included a trip to the village of Bilbil (famous for its pots) for a sing-sing, or go scuba diving.
The mudmen were fascinating and the trip also involved visiting a coffee plantation, museum and the local Goroka markets.
Since the Australians departed PNG the economy is fragile with, we’re told, corruption rife. The traditional clan (Wontok) system does not blend well with democracy and it will probably take a couple of generations for this country to get its act together. Nevertheless, the people we met were happy, healthy and many spoke English — compliments of the various church groups that still hold sway in PNG. Of course we did not visit Moresby and Lae where things are more chaotic.
In the Milne Bay area we visited a tiny island on Easter Sunday and attended the lovely stone church for a service. The harmonising voices of 100 locals soared above the pounding of a tropical storm. These people are strong, with deep faith.
Marilyn April 7th, 2008
Francis and I are a bit over travel as hard slog, so when a friend recommended that we see PNG aboard the expedition ship ‘Orion’, it sounded right up our alley. This Australian owned, small luxury ship (takes 100 passengers with 70 crew) is part owned by Paspaley Pearls and everything about it spells class. Menus are by Serge Dansereau (of Bathers Pavilion fame) and the food was superb. Likewise, the service, spaceous cabins, friendly efficient staff … absolutely flawless.
The ship goes only to small, remote locations – having first organised the villagers to welcome us with special dances, firewalking, historic tours (related to World War 11), and just to show us their way of life. We mostly did “wet landings” via Zodiacs and the ship has very knowledgeable expedition leaders who have great local knowledge. Highly recommended.
On a small ship like this you meet everyone, it’s quite a personal experience. One amazing 92 year old gentleman, who had been in the area during the War, went on all the tours including being transfered from Zodiacs to traditional outrigger canoes for a paddle up the Sepik!
Genuine, well-priced artifacts (carvings, pots, baskets and shells) were a bonus of our visit.
Marilyn March 1st, 2008
Bruno Loubet has headed up the kitchen at Baguette for almost a year now, and without doubt he is the best head chef we have had in 31 years of operation … and we’ve employed some pretty good chefs. He comes from traditional French training and upbringing and in his early 20s became a celebrity chef in England. He was Raymond Blanc’s head chef at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saison (2 Michelin stars) at 24 years old, and earned his own Michelin star at Four Seasons at 29 years. He went on to open his own restaurant, Bruno’s Bistrot, and it was voted Best New Restaurant in the UK. A TV series and 2 books followed.
Fortunately he chose lifestyle over celebrity status and brought his family to Brisbane 6 years ago. He owned his own restaurant here (Bruno’s Tables) which won 2 stars from Gourmet Traveller, and then went on to head up the kitchens at Berardo’s at Noosa, awarded Best Regional Restaurant in Australia by Gourmet.
Now at Baguette, his food is simply superb — modern French — and you can find his menus at www.baguette.com.au/restaurant.
Marilyn February 29th, 2008
This “find” is described by Elizabeth Meryment in The Australian: Hotel du Nord at 102 quai de Jammapes in Paris’s rapidly gentrifying 10th arrondissement is where the beautiful people hang out. This is Paris’s it spot on the Canal St. Martin. Sleek bodies are collected on the terrace, smoking and sipping wine. Built is 1885 as a rough-and-ready watefront inn, the property has endured fluctuating fortunes. After narrowly avoiding demolition in the 1960s, it has been rediscovered in recent years and given a sensitive renovation … avoiding the minimalism rampant in many Paris venues it has soft light, filled bookshelves, antique coffee machine and plush sofas chanelling a nightclub of the 1930s.
Charming waiters, almost as gorgeous as the clientele, keep the meal flowing. The prices ar eminently reasonable, with entrees from 7 euros and mains 16-29 euros. The menu is decidedly exciting, unlike most steak-frites and poulet-ftrites Parisian brasseries. There’s one hiccup: some of the food disappoints. But such disappointments hardly matter. As we step back into the night feeling decidedly more chic than when we entered, the twisting green iron-railed footbridge across the Canal St-Martin invites a late-night jaunt. This, we agree, is Paris. www.hoteldunord.org
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
A great read to get you in the mood to see a more personal side of Paris — ‘True Pleasures, A Memoir of Women in Paris’ by Australian author Lucinda Holdforth. She tells the stories of Collette, Marie Antoinette, Nancy Mitford, Pompadour, Coco Chanel and others, all strong women who made their mark. She introduces you to some of their favourite places in Paris: Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
Carcossonne – An almost perfectly restored walled city between Toulouse and Montpellier, it is of course crawling with tourists during the day but I recommend you stay at a hotel within the walls and emerge at night (everything is floodlit) to eat and enjoy the magic. Take the tour of the castle.
Hotel Donjon — hotel.donjon.best.western@wanadoo.fr. 132-157E high season for a double room. Old world setting.
Hotel de la Cite — www.hoteldelacite.com if you are feeling cashed up, this Orient Express luxury hotel is wonderful. 375-525E per double. Or just drop in for a drink as we did but expect to pay $A14 for a beer — worth it though.
Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
What better way, than to buy a house in France? It is easy if you know how, as we found out from Lidia and Stuart Darlow. We spent 3 days with them looking at renovated 17th century village houses with vaulted ceilings, an extraordinary renovated sheep fold (barn) and some country homes. They were so generous with their hospitality and have all the knowledge of 10 years selling properties in the Languedoc Roussillon region – next door to Provence. A handy spot within easy reach of Italy, Spain and skiing in the Alps. They sell properties 1/2 hr inland from the coast, away from the tourist madness.
If you get together with some friends, Continue Reading »
Marilyn October 10th, 2007
I think I have discovered my all-time favourite area to stay in Paris — Ile St Louis, the little island behind Notre Dame. This was the first part of Paris to be settled by the Romans and is like a separate little village in the heart of Paris. It’s also an easy walk to the interesting bits of the Left Bank and the fascinating old jewish sector, The Marais.
As you can tell by the photo (left), it was World Cup time Continue Reading »
