le chef film review

I saw the sweetest movie last night. That's the poster above - looks very french non? I went in hopeful that I'd like it - after all, it was French and about food - and oh, it was such a delight. Funny, a really great plot, sweet and inspirational.

It's the story of two chefs: one is a three Michelen Star celebrity chef, {or trois etoille if you say it in French, which you should because it sounds heaps better} who's under pressure - lose a star, lose the restaurant. He's worried he's lost his touch. He needs inspiration, fast. Could he find it in the other chef?

I shan't give away any more of the plot, but it's an absolute delight. And there's enough shots of Paris to sate my appetite too. The performances are sublime, Jean Reno is fabulous as always, and I've a new fave in Michael Youn. Don't get me started on how absolutely gorgeous the women were in this film - le sigh...

I saw this at a special Films for Foodies night at The Tower Cinemas. Such an innovative idea. Upon arrival you're greeted with a glass of wine and a bag filled with food-goodies. Then former MasterChef contestant Peter Vickery came in and was really quite sweet chatting about the passion he's discovered for gardening and getting back to basics with his cooking. A rather fabulous sommelier then shared a few wine tips and then the movie began. Apparently they're hoping to introduce cooking demos at future screenings - how cool is that?

I'll be back for the next one - gotta support innovation like this don't you think?

PS: after writing this I tuned into David and Margaret At The Movies to find they were reviewing this film. Well, they said they were reviewing this film, but it appears they saw something else. They saw something unfunny that they hated. Me, my friends and every other person in the cinema who was laughing uproariously would disagree. Ignore them, it's funny and sweet.

meal planning monday

Well hello, here we go, off on another round of meal planning to get through the week. It's well and truly wintery here, so the meal plan's going to reflect that. Ready? Let's go.

Monday: I called for husband and daughter's input on meals this week. Before I'd even finished my sentence my husband said "Cassoulet" seconded by my gal. So cassoulet it is. What a nice way to finish a long weekend. Mine's the quick version, not Anthony Bourdain's three day number. But it's tasty. Here's the recipe.

Tuesday: I'm terrible at using frozen meat. I'll throw it in the freezer the day before its due date and then wonder what I can do with it. I have some chicken mince I bought at a two-for-one special, so I need to use it. I'll defrost it in the morning and then make a dish with it tonight. I'll follow something I saw Jamie Oliver make once. I'll cook up some noodles in boiling salted water and while this is happening I'll sauté the chicken mince in a dry pan until it's super-brown and caramelised. Then I'll add some garlic, red chilli, finely diced onion and some fresh thai basil (I'm growing it and have loads! But normal basil would work just as well). Then I'll squeeze over lots of lemon juice. I'll drain the pasta, saving a little water to create a sauce. I'll add the pasta to the chicken mixture and toss. Finally, I'll add lots of fresh parmesan. Early dinner tonight as I'm off to see a French film - Le Chef at a Films for Foodies night at the Tower Cinemas - awesome!

Wednesday: I'm off to Sydney for a work meeting, so I'll buy the fixings for home-made pizza for my gal and hubby to make.

Thursday: I think it's time for some pork cutlets with apple slaw. I cheat with this. I buy a 'gourmet coleslaw mix' (one that has red cabbage in it) and then I'll slice apples into cheeks and slice them thinly. Then I'll roughly chop some whole almonds. I combine all this and add some mayonaise with lots of lemon and garlic added. So good.

Friday: Hubby's going out with some buddies to the pub, I'll make a garlic prawn fettucine. You know what? I finally succumbed recently and bought frozen green prawns. Nigella uses them so they must be okay, and you know what? They are. I'll simply add them to a pan with some olive oil, lots of garlic and cook till they change colour. Then I'll throw in some fresh breadcrumbs and fry till golden, add a sloosh of white wine and toss through pasta. Throw on some chopped italian parsley at the last minute.

Saturday: chicken kebabs tonight. Something easy. Served with a really super-simple salad.

Sunday: pork belly roasted on a bed of rhubarb. So simple. Score the top of the pork belly and rub with olive oil and salt. Season the underside with salt and pepper. Place a bed of rhubarb the exact size of the belly in a pan. Add some thyme sprigs. Place the pork over the rhubarb. Add to a smoking hot oven - 220 degrees and immediately turn the heat down to 150 degrees. Cook slowly for three hours. Serve to rapturous applause with lots of roasted vegies. That rhubarb will become a caramelised delight - far superior to any apple sauce you've ever served with pork. No rhubarb? Use apples or pears. Go on - you will NEVER regret it.

so french, so chic

There's quite the revitalisation happening in the East End in Newy. See that building on the left? It's a spanish place that's moved from teeny tiny premises next door to this fabulous building. Now, traditionally (so they say) this building has a bit of a curse - but word on the street by peeps and tweeps in the know say that bocados may well be the place to break that curse. I need to visit to put that to the test.

Instead, see that place on the right? We went there. Opening day, saturday, petit dejeuner. Le Petit Deux may well be my new place to catch up with my friends.

I perused this. Pondered that. Ended up choosing this.

Brioche french toast with a rhubarb and berry compute and creme d'Isigny. Was it as good as it looked? Nope, better.

Mon dieu!

There's care, love and passion in this food - you can see it and you can taste it.

The word's already out. The place was packed, and the dejeuner (lunch) menu looked even more amazing. Lesley Taylor is the head chef - she who's creating miracles at Restaurant Deux. If ever you need evidence that Newcastle's future lies in fab food - she leads one of the places you must visit.

I'm visiting again on Tuesday. And again later in the week. Well it'd be rude not to wouldn't it? And you really need to visit with different friends just to make sure that everything suits every mood.

ps: I couldn't get a shot, but there's the most awesome velo out the front with fleurs in the basket. Shall photograph it next time when the sun's less harsh.

pps: the croissant met my daughter's harsh criticism - tasted just like in Paris apparently. Gotta be happy with that.

flowers for friday

Couldn't these just bring a glorious splash of happiness into your day? I love the sherbet orange colour, and the gorgeous old bottle they're in.

The sun's come out today - and oh, that sky out there is BLUE. I'm so looking forward to a long-weekend. Do you have any plans? We've got loads, hopefully we can fit most of it in.

croiser les doights

My new fave French saying is croiser les doights - it means cross your fingers. Cute non? You know what's also cute? This IMAGE! Found on pinterest via WeHeartIt - whoever's responsible - genius.

For mon ami C who got some very good news today, my friends M and N who are in the midst of something seriously wonderful - and you. Let's hope something fabulous your way comes. (At the very least a snog from a moustachioed man with a jaunty hat...)

meal planning monday

Well hello Monday. Short-time, no-see. My daughter has her first high school exams this week, so I'm cooking up all her favourite meals to help her get through the week. We started off last night with shepherd's pie with polka dot corn on the cob {pretty yellow and white kernals!} - let's hope it boosts her brain power. Here's what else we're eating:

Monday: chicken schnitzel, mashed potato and wilted tuscan cabbage with bacon. I'm growing the cavalo nero in the garden, it's so dark green it's almost black so is positively bursting with B-vitamins. I saute a little garlic with a finely diced french shallot (or red onion). Then I add some diced bacon or pancetta and fry till crisp. On top of this I add the shredded cabbage and add enough chicken stock to generously cover the base of the pan. I top this with a lid and steam until it's soft and delicious.

Tuesday: beef in red wine pot pies. I'm going to cook up a simple beef in red wine casserole in the slow cooker this morning, and at night, add them to little pots and top them with puff pastry to make pot pies. I'll serve them with roasted vegies {might as well use the leftover space in the oven while they're cooking} and I'll be making roasted brussell sprouts too! {cut in half, doused in olive oil and roasted till crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.

Wednesday: we went to a food and wine masterclass last Friday night and the chef showed us how to make cassoulet. I'll test it out and share the recipe once I've given it a go. This hearty stew of white beans, sausage and duck is a winnner.

Thursday: my gal's final requested meal, bangers and mash. Gotta love a simple meal of grilled sausages, mashed potato, onion gravy and steamed carrots and zucchini.

Friday: I think I'll make salmon patties with a salad tonight, that's an easy Friday night meal.

Saturday: fillet of lamb with a chick pea mash tonight. Warmed chickpeas, a little garlic and a squeeze of lime, roughly mashed with a fork. A seasoning a salt, pepper and fresh parsley - yum. I'll also roast some red capsicum and top that with a little crumbled feta. Nice.

Sunday: hello soup weather. I'll see where the mood takes me, but possibly a bean and vegie soup tonight.

And that's it. How about you?

ps: that image is from Fried Green Tomatoes - I need to see that again. Such a gorgeous film.

flowers for friday

I had the most incredible dream last night. It was a launch party for Veuve Cliquot rosé and it was filled with pink. Pink tulips, bottles of pink champagne - bliss. I nearly cried when I had to wake from it. It's strange where your subconscious takes you sometimes isn't it?

So here's a fabulously pink ombre pile of peonies, roses and other fabulous fleurs to make up for my not inviting you to my dream last night. Isn't it just succulent?

Oooh, last night I went to a pop-up small bar. I know - exciting! It was intimate, fabulous and inspirational. Set up in a gorgeous old bank (complete with marbled panelling, original cubicles and mezzanine level, hunter wine producers served their delicious wines from behind the long marble counter while sophisticated peeps mingled, nibbled on cheese and chatted about solutions for this town.

A small tweak to the licensing laws, some innovation and vision - and a lot of support can see Newcastle's transformation continue. There's the passion and the motivation out there to get things started - it's now up to the residents to get behind the new ventures and help make them a success.

This starts next month with the June 22 launch of the Terrace Bar. I'm excited about this one. It's a new venue: wine bar, performance space in one of my old haunts. This old terrace style building was once The Gunfighter's Rest - undoubtedly one of Newcastle's finest night spots. It was small, it was unique, it was fabulous. And, excitedly, it looks like Chris Hearn, the new owner of Terrace Bar is continuing the innovation. He called for funds on Pozible to raise money for a PA system and screen. He needed $5000 so the high quality equipment would be on-site ready for bands and acts when they need it. Such a good idea. He had a month to raise the money - he surpassed the target in 48 hours. Now funds are going toward making the place even more fabulous - and giving his credit card a rest.

What was unique was that he offered rewards with pledges. Those who donated $25 received exclusive access to the opening night - with a max capacity of 120. Higher donations could choose from cool vinyl packs, vouchers from ace nearby stores or other choice rewards. My fave came with a $1000 donation - have a cocktail named after you. My bank account settled for a golden ticket to opening night.

I love seeing innovation and creativity blossom, so I'll do what I can to support it. Particularly when it's fabulous. Cheers.

eye spy

A friend and I went to a new café the other day. It was fine, but it just lacked a bit of oomph. It was only recently opened, and they'd obviously spent a bit of money on the fit-out, but we both agreed it was just a bit too... sterile.

I've spent a bit of time thinking about it. Because obviously these people are passionate about their business and would like it to succeed, but I'm a bit worried that it's just not possible. You see, when it comes to a successful café it needs personality.

And I think I've worked out what it needs.

It needs to be instagramable. (Is that a word? Is now).

Ideally you should go into a space and be seized with inspiration. Your eyes need to alight on something interesting that fills you with delight. It can't be sterile - it has to offer something. Here's a few shots I've snapped off in other cafés recently. Each of them offers something that delights you, intrigues you and makes you feel you're somewhere worth being. 

See this shot above? It's at Bank Corner Espresso - the most FABULOUS Art Deco hole-in-the-wall café. It was FILLED with Instagram-worthy moments. I could have gone crazy. Actually, I did. And so did my friend. We loved it.

Here's another teeny tiny. The WoolStore at Maryville. Teeny. Two tables teeny. But fabulous. My friend and I both managed to snap an almost identical shot here - but look at it - gorgeous!

I love Frankie's Place. Seriously you could just wave your phone around at random snapping shots and they'd all be incredible. Great atmosphere, fabulous staff, cool menu. Love.

Here's Ground Up at Carrington. For a start it's housed in an old butchers so has the authentic tiles on the wall. Love. But there's much to look at here. And the coffee is divine. Oh, and crispy bacon? Totes drool-worthy.

Here we have Dark Horse Espresso. Love the dark painted walls, cushions, and vintage-style artwork. Heck, even that fan's worthy of a close-up.

And it's not just in Newy that has image-worthy places. Here's a gorgeous nook at the Maitland Art Gallery Café. Love it. You should have seen the piles of fabulous books to browse through. This bookworm's going to spend an afternoon there one day...

Here's a bit of coffee art from Conroy Bradley Pistol Club. Fab coffee, vintage spoons and saucers and a gorgeous table topped with a vintage map make for an Instagram-worthy café experience. Oh, and the barista may well be one of my faves - enthusiastic, great service and so very sweet.

So there you have it, my guide to starting a café. You might have great coffee and food, but you need to consider the ambience first. That's what makes people come in, order and linger. It doesn't have to be vintage (although that's obviously my fave style) it just needs to be atmospheric and interesting.

What do you think?

ps: that loveheart coffee is from Ground Up - bless.
pps: what some would arguably say is Newy's first 'proper' café, Goldbergs, totally subscribes to this theory. It has an amazing ambiance that's visible from the street. Showing why it's still as popular after years in trading and many owners (who were smart enough to go with the flow and not try to make it their own).
ppps: these are just a couple of fab places I've visited in the last month, a mere snippet of what's on offer. Newy coffee peeps - share some of your faves?

meal planning monday

Ah, I'm feeling lazy and nostalgic this week, so the meal plan shall reflect that. Last week's meal from my vintage cookbook was a huge success, so I'll be trying out another old family favourite from my youth on my family this week. Finger's crossed it'll be well-received. I've got a few busy nights and days this week, which is where meal planning saves my sanity. Here's what we're eating.

Monday: roasted pumpkin soup. This is so easy: in a baking tray I add chunks of pumpkin, a quartered onion and a few cloves of garlic and roast till tender (but not browned). Then I add it to a pan, throw in a litre of so of chicken stock, some thyme and salt and pepper and blitz it with a stick blender. Dinner is served. With warm, crusty rolls and maybe a dollop of sour cream on top - and a few chopped chives.

Tuesday: here's the retro-meal, Tuna Noodle Casserole. So simple, and, from memory, so tasty. Let's see how it goes down.

Wednesday: netball training till 5.30, so I need something quick I can throw together when I get home. it must be time for chicken pot pies. These are so simple to make, and so delicious that they make my heart sing. I'll serve them with mash and big pile of peas. Comfort food to a tee. I'll make the filling earlier in the morning, and then simply throw them together when I get home. Perfect.

Thursday: I'm off to a meeting, then dinner with a friend. We're checking out a Sudanese night a few suburbs over - $10 for curries and rice. Brilliant. My husband and daughter can make home-made pizzas for their dinner.

Friday: my gal has netball early in the morning, so I'll make her a meatloaf for energy. Served with lots of roasted veg: potatoes, sweet potato, beetroot, carrots and pumpkin. And green beans perhaps.

Saturday: it's got to be a bbq doesn't it? Lamb do you think? Lamb chump chops, salad and a pile of buttered noodles? Yep, that sounds good.

Sunday: Roast beef I think. Haven't had that for a while. It must be time I think. With a lovely red wine gravy made with the pan juices.

How about you? What's on your menu this week?

girls just wanna have fun...

And they did!

Check out G, the birthday girl, in all her double denim, crimped haired glory. I went with early Madonna - many layers of bracelets, necklaces and lotsa vintage lace. N and J frocked up in fabulous fluoro which really lit up under the blue light on the dance floor. My friend R was seriously authentic after using a vintage crimper to add some glitz to her side pony! She even had a teeny clinging koala on her neckline - love it!

Nibbles by Sprout catering, bubbles from France and lots and lots and lots of dancing made for the ultimate party. Everyone got into the spirit and dressed a la 80s. There were mullet wigs a plenty, shoulder pads and fab bright make-up everywhere you could see.

Sure, I can't walk today after all that dancing - but oh, it was worth it.

I love a good party.

PS: what kind of handbag does a gal dance around at an 80s blue light disco party? Pink Glomesh - natch.

80s makeup a go-go

Beside myself with excitement as it's my friend's 40th birthday party - 80s Blue Light Disco themed.

See those eyes? That's pretty much what I'm doing tonight.

Using this.

Ignore the manky sponge applicators - I'm a brush gal. Those sponges have been used when my gal's dived in to have a play.

So excited. My fingernails are already a vivid shade of yellow - and my hair shall be sprayed so big they'll have to widen the doorways to let me in.

FUN!

PS: For serious intensity it's best to wet the brush first - this really gives great depth of colour. Shall I be wetting that brush? Damned straight I will.

flowers for friday

Look what I saw in Coles the other day. Peonies!

They were fabulous - but $30 a bunch which is $5 over my max limit for a bunch of flowers {I prefer to pay $10...}

I'm now regretting not splurging, particularly as they had the most glorious range of colours, including the most fabulous deep coral.

Can you really put a price on fabulous?

oh em gee it's laduree

Am in the midst of an hysteria attack as I've just found out that Laduree are opening this year in Sydney.

Yes, the ultimate in pastel prettiness and macaron magnificence.

Oh my.

oh my wow

How amazeballs is this bench made out of books? It's in Tokyo and I'm pretty sure I'd squeal if I saw it in person. What an awesome idea for a desk in a study.

Oh my.

meal planning monday

Life's back to normal this week. I'm off the crutches and we'll get into the swing of normal meals again.

Monday: my daughter wanted to make home-made pizza yesterday, so I moved the roast dinner to tonight. Autumn calls for crispy-skinned roast chicken don't you think? And I'll have to make a potato bake as well. But don't worry, we're not going heavy on the cream, I have a sneaky version that tastes as good as the cream and cheese laden version - with way less fat. Here's the recipe.

Tuesday: I dug out a childhood fave recipe book the other day. I spent my teen years cooking from this, and when I found a copy in the Salvos one day I nearly screamed with joy. It's the Leggo's Italian Cookbook, circa 1970 complete with awesome illustrations. Those of you who follow me on Instagram would have seen a special shot. I heart it so. Tonight's a beef and capsicum pasta bake. Simply delicious. I'll serve it with a green salad.

Wednesday: I'm out to dinner with friends, so hubby and daughter shall fend for themselves. They're both steak fans so it'll be steak, chips and salad.

Thursday: I have a hankering for pork chops, served with lemon-roasted potatoes, green beans and apple sauce (I have many apples taking up space in my crisper - they shall become a quick apple sauce)

Friday: Prepare for an excited squeal to be inserted here as I'll be cooking paella in my $6 Aldi Paella Pan.  So excited. I've been waiting for these to come back in stock again and they finally have. I caught up with a friend for coffee the other day and she told me she'd just been to Aldi to buy a pan, but they weren't on display. So, tempting fate, I called in there later this night and saw the space for paella pan was empty. There was an Aldi dude stocking the shelves, so I thought I'd ask him if there were any paella pans out the back. And there were! I quickly applauded, then asked if he could grab me another for my friend. This week's my first attempt at paella. I'll give it a shot and post the recipe if it's a success. Check back on my recipe blog next week!

Saturday: it's a friend's birthday party tonight. An 80s, blue light disco themed party. Excited! It's retro-authentic with West Coast Coolers and everything. So I'd best prepare for this before leaving - there shall be pancetta macaroni cheese for dinner tonight. With a green salad.

Sunday: Roast night. I'll see what tickles my fancy at the farmer's markets. I'm thinking pork, or lamb shoulder. With plenty of roasted, seasonal vegies - and greens on the side.

oh sweet sunday

Don't you just love the weekend? Even more so, don't you just love weekends where the weather is so utterly sublime? The sky at the moment is the deepest shade of blue - perfect weather for a trip to the farmer's markets I think. Hubby's off to play golf today, so it's a bit of girly time for me and my gal. We'll shop for dinner provisions at the market and then come home for a spot of baking. This afternoon we might just get on our bikes and go for a bit of a slow ride. My knee's made enough progress that a bike ride seems more than possible.

Ah autumn, you're a very special gift. I'm going to really embrace it today. You?

flowers for friday

Mother's Day roses still kicking on. Pink, white and green - oh my.

It's a glorious friday here today, blue skies, crisp temperature. Bliss. What's on your agenda for today? Something fab I hope. Happy Friday. x

around my house

Hi, welcome to my house. Those of you in Newy might have seen it in last weekend's Weekender magazine, but, for those who didn't, I snapped off a few shots while it was photo ready. Here's our front veranda with gorgeous chairs positioned to sip a cup of tea and bask in the sunshine. I love this spot. Oh, and there's my bike over in the corner - it's going to help me with my knee recovery {good bike}.

Come on in. Here's my gorgeous leadlight, made by my mum and step-dad with some glass that featured in my beloved Nana's front door. I just love it. I've also kept the heart-shaped white jingle bells I bought from Sussan for Christmas {they're not really Christmassy - just fabulous}.

Here's my favourite part of our bedroom, lots of pretty things collected over the years. Dresser from an antique store in Newcastle, old mirror from Melbourne's Camberwell markets, my perfumes, make up and other bits and pieces. Oh, and I love that vintage magnolia pic we found at a random garage sale one day.

Here's my gal's room in the new French iced blue shade. As you can see there's the odd French touch in her room - somebody's inherited their mother's Francophia.

Just a tad...

It's very important to co-ordinate your Blythe doll with your bedroom decor.

Most of you have seen my big bookshelf with the ladder in my study, but I love this little one too. It's filled with many of my classic books. That bottom middle shelf has some seriously ace 1950s and 60s books for girls.

This here's our living room. We're still deciding on window coverings after the timber venetians broke beyond justifiable repair. Currently the lace curtains that used to be in our bedroom are here looking pretty. I do love the colour palette in this room, it's so soothing. This is the third shade that we've had this room since moving here. It was a bright buttercup yellow when we moved in, then we painted it rich red {looked fabulously dramatic - but better suited to a film set than a home} and now this. I love this colour. It's called April Love and is the perfect vintage green in my opinion.

This is our new love - antique french farmhouse table. It extends to seat up to 12. I'm in love. PS: why yes, that is my vintage glass collection you can spy behind it - a gal does need a glass for every kind of cocktail or aperatif...

We bought this planter holder from a lovely store in Singleton, Worn Out Wares. I am in love with these pansies and their pretty, pretty faces. This is out on the back veranda.

We had less than a week to prepare for the photoshoot, and we'd already decided to paint the verandas - but this back veranda had tester paint on it and needed a quick couple of coats. I love it. I think we're going to go with matte charcoal for the front veranda, but this really adds some light to the area.

And then there's this. I will never tire of this. The view of the pool from the daybed in the pavilion may well be my favourite thing about the house. It took so much planning, stress, and money, but oh so worth it. Every time my mother comes to visit she's like an additional part of furniture in here - I make her a coffee, she grabs a pile of magazines and relaxes in the sun. Bliss.

Well that's it for today. I've left a few things for another visit if you'd like to come back...

my favourite things...

My husband and daughter know that to make me happy when it comes to gifts, go with a big stack of books. And look, books about France - quelle surprise! I also received The Bloggess's new book - which I devoured in one hysterical sitting - the upside of a dodgy knee is uninterrupted reading time.

What's your fave pressie? Books, clothes, jewellery, champagne?

meal planning monday

Hey, you know how last week's meal-plan was all easy, peasy lemon squeezey? Well, this week's going to be even more so. See, I stepped up to umpire a netball game on Saturday after our umpires didn't show and managed to cause myself some kind of knee damage. My knee hyper-extended backwards and then just wouldn't hold my weight (surprise), so I'm on crutches, and this week's a husband-and-daughter-cooked fest. Here's what they'll be making

Monday: beef and bean nachos, with lots of guacamole and a lovely salad on the side.

Tuesday: Late ballet night. I'm going to pull a stool up to the bench and make a beef in red wine casserole. Hubby can then make some mash potatoes and green beans to serve.

Wednesday: home-made pizza and salad. I'll be hopping off to the theatre tonight - so many stairs to navigate, but hey, 30-odd years of netball-related injuries mean I'm pretty confident with crutches these days.

Thursday: Spaghetti bolognaise. Yep. Such a comfort food.

Friday: Fish and chips - from the local takeaway.

Saturday: Bbq steak and salad.

Sunday: roast chicken and veggies. Even on crutches I can manage this one. Simply cut a lemon in half and place it in the chicken's cavity, season with salt and pepper and brush with olive oil and roast until golden. A family fave.