Kimchi with @nilbarcode

Yesterday I spent a relaxed Saturday afternoon with Evangeline learning how to make kimchi at the Canberra Environment Centre, and met some lovely people along the way!

Evangeline is a self taught kimchi cook and as she’s a busy mum, she’s got all the short cuts.

I was very impressed to learn that it’s actully quite easy to pull together a batch of that great tasting, ancient Korean fermented food and that it tastes completely different as it ages.

Great just made as a salad…

…or a few weeks old (without chilli this batch!)

…or really tangy and tasty after a year!

Apparently it’s the low pH and the salt that keeps it safe from the ‘bad’ bacteria but it does encourage the useful bacteria to flourish.

After combining the roughly chopped Asian cabbage with a brine to wilt it…

…you add a puree of garlic, ginger and onion with a bit or sugar or fruit and some fish sauce. Last you add the chilli flakes.

It’s a good idea to buy the salt, fish sauce and chilli flakes from Korean grocery stores for the best flavour and effect.

There’s plenty of additonal options to add like carrot, spring onion or leek and then you leave it all at room temparature to bubble away, before sealing it in an airtight container and refrigerating it!

Evangleine has plenty of ideas on ways to serve and eat kimchi at different ‘ages’ but I especially liked the sound of the kimchi topped hot dogs and kimchi stir fried with meat.

But having just tried Evangelie’s batch with a just poached egg, I’m a complete fan! So delicious!

Looking forward to creating my own batch soon!

Little Oink, Cook, another suburban Gem! @littleoinkcafe

Little Oink in Cook is another suburban gem that everyone’s been talking about.

It’s open everyone day Monday – Friday 7am – 4pm and Saturday – Sunday 8am – 4pm and takes bookings (a good idea as it’s small and cozy) and has easy parking.

I loved the friendly and flexible service…

..the cute, relaxed, funky and casual decor.

…all the inexpensive options with low cost add ons $2-4 which were very popular…

….like two eggs any way, on a lovely thick slice of sourdough $10…

….or the Jordo $12 with smokey bacon, eggs, cheese and tomato on a brioche bun.

There’s also good larger meals to share, perhaps with some of the lovely autolyse bread like…

…fantastic Autolyse fruit bread $7

There’s also lemon myrtle tea on the menu!

Two Before Ten, Aranda – a first look @TwoBeforeTen

It’s taken a while to get out to Aranda to see what everyone’s been talking about at Two Before Ten , but there’s just so much to love about this opportunistic spot.

I love the easy parking, the casual, friendly and accommodating staff who are very happy for you to share dishes.

The coffee is roasted on site…

There’s an all day menu with lots of interesting bush tucker touches that includes the Lamb Burger with Slow Braised Lamb Shoulder with Pickled Onions and Roast Capsicum.

The pulled meat was very delicious.

It’s immensely popular but you can book and it’s open any day of the week 7-4 weekdays and 8-2 weekends.

And the prices are great, with lots of inexpensive great looking options like the

Eggs, Poached or Scrambled, with house tomato chutney $11

or $15 with Bacon, Mushroom or Salmon

On my wish list is…

BEAR: Boiled Egg with Smashed Avocado on a Rye Muffin $9

Big Bear (with extra egg) $11

Polar Bear (with salmon) $13

Brown Bear (with mushrooms) $13

Koala Bear (With Native Dukkah) $13

And tosties $11 that are large enough to easily share…

…with Roasted Chicken, Lemon Aioli, smashed avocado and provolone…

…or Braised Wallaby with Sauteed Mushrooms and Bush Tomato Chutney…

….Roast Pumpkin, Sage, Fetta and Spinach.

I’m also keen to try the Three Mills Raisin Loaf with yeasted sourdough (to achieve a lighter loaf) with house milled rye grain and fruit served with espresso butter $6.50

The Banana Leaf, Canberra City

Banana Leaf holds a prime position in the Canberra City. It has soft furnishings and lovely attentive service.

Catering for both Sri Lankan and modern Australian style dishes, meals are designed to be eaten by one person rather than shared.

Entrees include…

Vegetarian Delight – Potato and green pea with Sri Lankan spices wrapped in a triangle shaped patty pastry and lightly fried. Served with chilli yogurt $22.90 for three ($15.90 for two)

Garlic or Chilli Prawns – King prawns lightly pan fried with garlic-infused olive oil, cream and white wine Served with savoury rice and garnish $19.90

Chicken Pan Rolls – Mildly curried minced chicken and potato rolled in a crepe, finely crumbed and lightly fried, served with a garnish and sweet chilli $15.90

Wattleseed Mussels – Green shell mussels cooked in macadamia and olive oil with birds’ eye chillies, Spanish onion and garlic, served with wattle seed mayonnaise $17.90

Mains include….

Tasmanian Salmon- Pan-sealed and grilled Tasmanian salmon fillet on Sri lankan milk rice with mung dhal cake topped with mango and ginger gravy. $29.90

Pan grilled Barramundi – Grilled with lemon myrtle and dorrigo pepper, served on a bed of sweet potato and macadamia mash and vegetables of the day $28.90

Pork Black Smore – Slow cooked pork loin casserole prepared with black spices from southern Sri Lanka, Served with savoury basmati rice and sweet mustard pickle $28.90

String Hoppers – Sri Lankan rice noodle dough pressed through a special mould and steamed on string hopper mats, served with your choice of beef, chicken, fish or vegetarian curries and the traditional accompaniments $28.90

Spicy King Prawns Curry – Sri Lankan spice induced Prawn curry served with fried vegetable rice and pappadam strips accompanied with coconut and chilli sambol $29.90

Corkage is $12.90 per bottle, but wine is also available by the glass.

The Tree House, North Sydney

I know I’ve mentioned the Tree House before, but it truly is a great ‘go to’ spot if you need a place for coffee, brunch or lunch or just somewhere to camp and do some work before a meeting.

There’s plenty of cozy, quiet nooks…..

….great coffee…

….chai….

…..fruit toast $6…

…..bathrooms

Staff are endlessly flexible, friendly and accommodating.

Looking around, it seems it’s a favourite for work coffee meetings with many.

The North End Cafe, Maroubra

We didn’t quite have time to enjoy a spread like Not Quite Nigella, but the North End Cafe was a cute and friendly spot to enjoy a quick lunch in Maroubra.

O
It’s not on the beach, but still has a beachside vibe.

Serving all day breakfast like simple poached eggs on rye $9.50….

….or all day lunch like the chicken breast burger $17…

…it’s a small but versatile menu for a light meal.

Din Tai Fung, North Sydney – a second look

I just had to go back for more dumplings at Din Tai Fung.

This time I had the Chinese tea $1 with free refills, an excellent idea.

I also tried the Seafood Jiao Zi $7.80…

…but sadly they weren’t quite as good as the Shrimp and pork Jiao zi $9.80 or steamed pork dumplings xiao long Bao $5.80

I also ordered the Steamed mini bun with red bean – $1.90

…but again, it wasn’t as good as the savoury pork bun.

The Green bean with minced pork and dried shrimp $11.80 looked pretty good as a share dish…for another time perhaps.

Faheem’s Fast Food, Enmore Road – the real deal!

Faheem’s Fast Food on Enmore Road is the first real Indian eatery I’ve discovered in Australia. The decor is perfectly authentic,as is the service and it has the very best (almost Indian) prices!

It’s open daily for dinner everyday, there’s no need to book.

The menu is extensive and includes options like….

Dal Makhani $11 – black lentils with fresh herbs, corriander and spices

Fantastic!! soft naan from $2.50

Garlic naan $3

Rice larger serve like this is $3

Yogurt mint sauce $1.50

Two people can eat for $20.

There’s also the option of three veg curries and rice $10.

I will have to go back!

A South Indian home cooking delight

My gorgeous friend Anu cooks the very best Indian food I’ve ever tasted. Specialising in the cuisine of her home city Hyderabad, all her creations, purely vegetarian, bring the ingredients and favours to life.

It’s such a treat to watch Anu cook, with great passion and pride.

Recently I enjoyed watching her cook a ‘simple family lunch’ of…

Sambar…

Samosa scrolls…

Chickpea curry….

…perfect with poori

Egg Biriyani….

Naan created with just 1/2 cup yogurt, 1 cup plain flour, salt and water, left for 2 hours, rolled, dimpled and baked on the Tawa and then flamed over the gas to create the same effect as a Tandoor oven.