Our dinner lasst Friday at E'cco.....

Dinner at E’cco http://www.eccobistro.com/default.html was really nice. It was a great night regardless of anything else as we were both in a great mood, lots of talking and laughing. Now I need to talk about the place and the food as usual.
 
Food. The food was great. They must use the very best produce because I still remember the taste of most things today, one day later. Lovely combinations of food and perfectly cooked lamb and salmon..... Yum. No baby portions either, it was not too much but not too little either, it was just right... (would have tasted even better with nicer decor)

Decor. The decor was a bit dull. Bit too casual for my liking. Not that everything has to be posh and have squeaky clean white linen everywhere but this is after all one of Brisbane’s top restaurants and the interior just did not reflect it. More of a casual local bistro feel than a nice restaurant. All they have to do is update the interior and it would have a better feel I believe.  

Service. The service did not let us down. Everyone was friendly and helpful. High scores for service!

 What did we eat;

Entre for me; field mushrooms, olive toast, rocket, parmesan, truffle oil & lemon whilst jon had the duck, rabbit & foie gras terrine, quince, candied pecans & brioche. I absolutely loved my entre. Could eat it every day. Sounds simple but the different flavours just melted in my mouth. Very clever and great produce. The mushrooms were excellent.... As a matter of fact I am still thinking about the dish and remembering the flavours, today, one day later. 10 out of 10.  J’s dish looked so much better than mine (mine really just looked as a pile of rocket) and he said it was to die for. He even said the terrine could be eaten as is with no bread or condiments. Sounds good to me. No i did not taste the dish, apparently I am supposed to stay away from foie gras.... boohoo.

For mains I had the grilled salmon, potato rösti, green beans, chilli, garlic,pancetta & horseradish cream and J had milly hill lamb loin, celeriac purée, du puy lentils & watercress. The salmon was wonderful, the potato rösti was ok. Maybe because of my heritage (I have eaten a lot of potato rösti in my life) I have had better. But hey, it was nice and to anyone else probably top notch. Green beans cooked to perfection and the horseradish cream delish! J was more than happy with his lamb this one also cooked to perfection. He also mentioned the jus which apparently was something out of this world. He also enjoyed a couple of glasses of lovely red. (I am always the driver these days hehe) 

 For Sides we had: roast sweet corn, pecorino, chipotle mayonnaise and one of the best potato wedges/chips I have had in ages. Nothing else to say really, delicious however the sweet corn a bit hard to eat. I mean how do you prevent the corn from falling off the plate  when you are trying to get the corn off the cob? And you clearly can’t pick it up and eat with your hands (this is not a pub).

Anyway, really scrumptious food. So much that we did not get to dessert. I knoooow this rarely happens but after all of the above we were stuffed.... Had some peppermint tea instead and that was it. I am happy we went and we had a top night. Would I go again. Hm yes, but with other expectations than I had this time.

No WiFi

On hols. No wifi in the house, hence I have been  a little quiet. I have heaps of time though so if I did not have to go to the cafe to post I would keep you updated all the time...
We are having the best time. Walks on the beach, reading, watching movies, eating well and hanging out. We can hear the waves from the house and there is no better sound in the world - love it! Back soon with piccies - off to lunch now... x

A beautiful day

Yesterday was a wonderful day. Just a really really lovely day and I loved every minute of it.

Early morning talk with the fam, opening of presents, breakfast and more presents from J (J is a fabulous gift buyer, I am very lucky and spoilt), calls all day and at night a lovely dinner at Ecco (more about that later).

I am counting my blessings and thinking how lucky I am to have the friends I have, the family I have, the man I have, the life I have. Sometimes it is nice to concentrate on those things and not let life take over. Just to be in the moment.

Celebrating your birthday I believe is extremely important, and I am so happy mine was fantastic!

Me with my Moctail at Ecco.

J with a Chardonnay at the bar around the corner from Ecco (have forgotten the name already!)

60 minutes

Watched 60 minutes tonight (we missed it on Sunday) and there was an interview with a bunch of men (or shall I say boys – they were in their early 20’s) who have decided their only calling in life is to throw themselves down huge waterfalls (bigger than Niagra falls) in their kayaks! Why, one might wonder?  Just for the thrill they say. When I see things like this I wonder whether I am wonderfully normal or just plain boring!

There was also an interview with Joanna Lumley - I think she is fabulous... She is so talented and has done so many things over the years. Quintessentially English she has, despite her fame, stayed in the UK and not moved to the US. I don't know why, I just get the feeling she is a really genuine person. Maybe it's her voice, when she speaks I have to listen. :)  Of course she is funny as well (and I actually mean as herself not as Patsy Stone). It was an excellent interview.

On another matter she has made a documentary that I can see over and over again. I think I have blogged about this one before but if you have not seen it, please find the documentary "Joanna Lumley in the land of the Northern Lighs" and see it. I cried, it reminded me of Sweden. Ok I know, I cry all the time so you might not, but it was really good - see it!!!

Meeting in the city....

Wednesday morning

Woke up at 4 am with razor blades in throat. Not good. i am less concerened about the fact that I might have a cold. More concerned about the fact that we go to Byron soon and I want to be fit for fight for sand, sea and general relaxing.
Must go to the pharmacy today!

Weekend in Sydney + food safari

Last weekend (11 - 13May)  I went to Sydney. I took Friday off and flew down at the crack on Friday morning. Went directly to the hair dresser, got fabulous hair – then nana (who also had the say off) came and picked me up. We went for a coffee then for lunch, then home to the cave (we call her house the cave) and got ready for dinner at ‘Morena’. We have a little tradition, every time I cut my hair I ask my (very trendy) hairdresser about the new and good restaurants that he recommends. We then go to that restaurant that same night....
Morena is owned by Peruvian-born co-owner and chef Alejandro Saravia (apparently he has cooked at Britain's Fat Duck), now he is going back to his Latin American roots... Morena is all about Peruvian food and we liked it a lot, great service and exciting menu.

After a lovely amuse bouche (with quinoa) for entrees nana had Ceviche Peruano – Peruvian ceviche w/ pink snapper, cancha & caramelised sweet potato and I had Camarones a la Piedra – Pisco flambé Queensland king prawns, aji amarillo & panca sauce w/ cucumber mint salad. Both were yummy! Nana also had a coca leaf infused pisco sour which was really nice apparently. I don’t drink these days J

For mains nana had a special which was a lamb cooked for ages with lovely veges and puree of some sort (sorry I can’t remember!). I had the Escabeche de Pato – Duck breast marinated in Annatto seeds & Aji mirasol pepper, served w/ caramelised sweet potato & orange purée w/ pickled globe onions& dried black olives. For dessert we had the Crocante de Pecanas– Pecan snaps stuffed w/ chocolate mousse served w/ dark chocolate and rocoto ice cream.....

Are you salivating yet? It was really nice. However we both felt a bit let down by the fact that the presentation did not really live up to the taste. All good though and maybe we are spoilt with so many great Latin American restaurants these days... Have a look here for more details about the restaurant.

On Saturday we went to see the Archibaldexhibition as we do every year. It was as always a grand experience and I already long for next year.... I love, love, love the art gallery of NSW!!

I had lunch with Debbie at Sloan’s Cafe in Paddington. Was great to see her and we had so much to talk about! Then nana and I did a short tour of the Paddington markets where I bought a little top for my god child (who is going to be born in the next month!! How exciting!!)

On Saturday night nana took me out to dinner for an early birthday celebration! We went to one of nana’s old favourite places... Wet paint in Bronte. I have actually never been and to be honest not ever noticed this restaurant ever even though it has been there since 1999. Nopt that I go up this particular street when i am in Bronte – I am usually only on the beach in Bronte so have missed this gem. It is a family restaurant – very popular and have honest and great quality food without being pretentious. Just nice food in a loving environment. We had a lot of laughs and enjoyed our food. We had salt and pepper Calamari with an aromatic salad, Vietnamese dressing and peanuts followed by Louisiana Stuffed Chicken their signature Cajun spiced breast, stuffed with cornbread, sun dried tomatoes and cashews, served with a lemon butter sauce and also King Prawn Spaghettinni with parsley, sage, currants, capers, pine nuts and a caramelized tomato sauce. After all of this we were too stuffed to have dessert and went home to chill in the cave like two nanas. And we loved it!! Thank you for a great night nana!!!!!xx

The day after I flew home and had huge turbulence on the plane and spent most of the flight in the loo being sick. Eeeeks!!! Not pleasant however seeing what a great weekend I had, it was almost worth it.....

                     Ceviche at Morena!                                                               Prawns!                                              

                   

Ohoho and the lovely dessert!!!!                                                                                                                              Lamb!

The Art Gallery of New South Wales....

Below dinner at Wet Paint!  

Salt and pepper squid at Wet paint!

Cajun Chicken - yum !

Prawn Spaghettini

Forgot to tell you that on Friday afternoon i went to SPARKLE cupcakery in Surry Hills and bought 2 cupcakes for us nanas. See I don't usually like cupcakes but these are faaaaaabulous. They are not like normal cupcakes as they are (as far as I am concerned) just boring sponge and heaps of cheap icing that only taste and look fake.... NOOOO these cupcakes are more like mudcake, with the right amount of icing and are just delicious. I also converted nana (who nitially was not impressed with me gettign the cupcakes, as she does not like them either) and she now loves them too.... Please do yuorself a favor and go and try them out. My favorite is this one with dark chocolate. Seriously you will be amazed!!!

Flowers from friends

On Saturday whilst in Country Road looking for presents for some friends, I got a phone call.... It was from a flower company letting me know there was a delivery for me!! I got really excited of course and was wondering who this was from...?
I got home and found a huge bouquet outside the door. It was a Congratulations card from Familjen Elofsson!!!
Seeing I have emotions running left right and centre (due to hormone levels), I of course started to cry!! I am so blessed with lovely friends and so very happy for the flowers, they were my favorite - lillies!! Thanks J and T !! xx

Just hangin out

F just hanging out at her house......

Everyday pasta with Bill

Gotta love Bill Granger... J is in some kind of flow at the moment and keeps impressing with food. The other night I got this lovely dish on organic wholemeal pasta. Seriously good!!!
We have the Everyday cookbook by Bill and so far every recipe has been fabulous! Yum!!!

Spaghetti with Garlic and Spinach

400g spaghetti

1/3 cup (80ml) extra-virgin olive oil

1 cup diced bacon

6 garlic cloves

1 thinly sliced red chilli, deseeded

(80ml) white wine

90g spinach (think J used more)
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Small handful finely chopped parsley

finely grated parmesan cheese

Cook the spaghetti in a large saucepan of boiling salted water until al dente.Meanwhile, put the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add the bacon and cook until almost crispy. Add the garlic and chili and cook, stirring frequently, for about 5 minutes, until the garlic is golden. Add the white wine and cook, stirring, for about 20 seconds.Drain the pasta, add to the frying pan with the spinach. Toss to coat in the sauce until the spinach is wilted. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with the parsley.Serve with lots of parmesan. Serves: 4

I found the cord - and Salsa Verde

I have been quiet. This time it was not because I have been too busy or lazy - I just could not find the cord I need to download photos..... Well as you can see below i have now found it and I endeavour to write more often from now on. Have lots to tell you and show you photos from trip to Sydney and other things (mainly food of course!).

Tonight J bbq’ed a couple of nice steaks and made a Salsa Verde to die foooor. (I only contributed with the salad). Back to the Salsa - Oh it was delicious. I have a thing for pickled things at the moment and seeing the salsa has cornichons in it you can only imagine.... I could have eaten it with a spoon with nothing else to it. So good....

ingredients

• 1½–2 cloves of garlic, peeled
• 1 small handful of capers
• 1 small handful of gherkins pickled in sweet vinegar
• 6 anchovy fillets
• 2 large handfuls of flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked
• 1 bunch of fresh basil, leaves picked
• 1 handful of fresh mint, leaves picked
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
• 8 tablespoons really good extra virgin olive oil
• sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

method

The best way to make salsa verde is to chop all the ingredients very finely by hand. It’s great served with grilled or roasted meat and fish.

Finely chop the garlic, capers, gherkins, anchovies and herbs and put them into a bowl. Add the mustard and vinegar, then slowly stir in the olive oil until you achieve the right consistency. Balance the flavours with freshly ground black pepper, a bit of salt and maybe a little more vinegar.

Calm weekend

It has, for once, been a very quiet long weekend. Not much fixing of the house and no big errands, socialising etc. Lots of sleeping, nana napping, movie watching, reading, eating and resting instead – does wonders for the body and soul every now and then. J has had a bit of a cold and has been rugged up most of the weekend. (Or man flu as he calls it haha)

Today we actually ventured out to meet Paul and Claire for lunch at Ruby in Paddington. Ruby is in the Good Food Guide and the food was what we call ‘good honest food’. Has a simple but satisfying menu and warm colors inside. Good service and not expensive... We will be back...

Lazy

Very lazy afternoon on the sofa with lots of movies.... 11 degrees here today and J has a cold. We are taking it very easy today and loving it. tonight chili con carne then maybe a an apple crumble.
Sorry for not psoting any photos lately but I can't find the cord to the computer....!! Will have to buy a new one if I don't find it over next coupla days...

Solo

J has been in Sydney this week and Frida and I have been solo here in Bris Vegas. Seeing we do everything together (J and I I mean, not me and Frida!) and spend most of the time together - you'd think I'd be jumping up and down for some 'me' time. But nooo, I really have missed him!! Oh come ooooon I am not a total softie, I am fine and not scared or worried to be alone -  i just get on with it but I have just missed having him here!!!  Things have changed - when I was single I was quite happy being alone and spent a lot of time just doing things on my own. I like my own company and I am a person who need some personal space. Now life is different, i have foudn my soul mate. I am pleased to say that we are bette when we're toegher and J is home - order is restored!!! x