This thread is all about that which sustains us - Food.
Its open to everything: fave restaurants, best experience, recipes, links, questions, shops...
Do you have a love or hate realtionship with food? I think seeing as how dominant dieting, body image & eating disorders is in our society :no: and even within this forum, it is important to promote a healthy attitude towards food.

i LOVE food :hearts:

At work it often takes me all morning to decide what to eat for lunch :o

Im quite a food critic though - food is very important to me and if im not satisfied with my meal im often quite grumpy!

Going to East Oceans tonight (a chinese restaurant in Sydney) and looking forward to the most delicious prawn dumplings!!!

I love good food and firmly believe in trying and eating anything in moderation. Thankfully I can have those two squares of choc or a couple of bickies and stop there (I know others find this extremely difficult!).

Dined at Philippe Mouchel's Brasserie at Crown not long ago, best meal I have had in ages - make sure you have the terrine!:spin:

I love my food too, I can never diet. Food is such a sensual experience I think - the smells, the taste, textures, colours, craving. Its a very seductive thing.
I love to cook & bake too. I grow my own herbs and wish for a complete permaculture vegie garden one day. I especially love Asian foods (Yum Cha :p ) I also have a sweet tooth, I'm a sucker for chocolate especially when I'm PMT. Luurrve Dark choc.

This is a good link if you are searching for a restaurant & has honest reviews from the general public www.eatability.com.au

I am lucky enough to have dined, and tried, some lovely food at divine restaurants, but here is my pick of fav's:

For an unbeatable eye fillet (Best in Melbourne) you must go to Squires Loft Steak House. There is one in the CBD and one on Toorak Rd. They also have a nice wine selection :worship:

For a french twist, France Soir on Toorak rd has the most delicious lamb cutlets! This was the first place I tried snails.... :whistle:

I'm also a huge fan of Indian food. The best Indian I ever ate was from a dodgy little shop somewhere I thought I might get food poisoning from, but sometimes places that look like that actually produce the most amazing food.

For the best traditinal pizza in melbourne, you must try Ill Caruzzi (think that's how you spell it) The first time I went there it took me 20 minutes to find it. The shop looks closed (lights off) and there is no signage at all, but the pizza is fantastic and it's essential to make a reservation, Tuesday to Sunday.

A great meal must ALWAYS be paired with a great bottle of wine and friendly fun company.

I Carusi is definitely a find! Just a few blocks away from me. Nothing on the outside but fun and hospitable and of course, great pizzas!

I have been having a hell of a time with food for the last year.I am having digestive problems that very little seems to work on I've been on four different medications which either made it worse or disagreed with me.I can't eat my favourite savoury type foods anymore and the real kicker is I can't take antacids as they make the heartburn worse I am literally scared to eat for fear of indigestion which I can't take anything to relieve.My diet has reduced down alot to only foods I know don't cause me trouble and I don't know how much longer I can take this I am very depressed and can't face living like this for the rest of my life I have also lost weight and am getting comments on how thin I am which I really don't need on top of the main problem
If you have any advice or have been in this or a similar situation coping on a restricted diet I really need all the help I can get

I absolutely adore dining out and eating in general!

We are so lucky here in Tasmania as we have absolutely amazing cuisine! Everything is so fresh and seafood is a Tasmanian specialty. At this time of year seafood is in abundance and is so inexpensive down here compared to Sydney or Melbourne. Today i went Christmas shopping with my Mum and we went to a seafood restaraunt in Hobarts trendy Salamanca place. I had fresh Tasmanian Cray Fish (you might know it as lobster) and a it came with a gorgeous seafood salad which included Prawns, Calamari and Tasmanian Scallops. The seafood sauce was amazing! Very tangy! It was easily enough to feed at least two people and it only cost $35.

In Melbourne I love to have Chinese at the Empress of China! I go there every single time I visit Melbourne. It's easily the best Chinese I have ever had and the owners and staff are so sweet and extremely efficient. They also never forget a face.

I have eaten at so many places that it is hard to keep track of. I like all sorts of dining. Fine dining is a special treat but I am just as happy sitting in your average cafe having a snack.

In a couple of weeks I am lucky enough to have a reservation at Fifteen Melbourne. That's Jamie Olliver's newy where the disadvantaged kids are working. A good friend has been and told me it was very impressive. I can't wait to try it out. I think the entire concept is just wonderful and it is a shame a guy had to come from England to establish it!

Thats terrible Ishtar, Is it a reflux problem? My dad was having all sorts of trouble with indigestion/heartburn to the point where they thought he was having a heart attack a couple of times. After a couple of years on a very restricted diet they (specialists) discovered that it was a side effect from an arthritis medicine he was taking. His diet has been restricted further now he has been told he has high blood pressure.

I get reflux,heartburn and I have a hiatus hernia
Sorry to hear about your father you don't realise how much you take food for granted till you get something like this

I have been having a hell of a time with food for the last year.I am having digestive problems that very little seems to work on I've been on four different medications which either made it worse or disagreed with me.I can't eat my favourite savoury type foods anymore and the real kicker is I can't take antacids as they make the heartburn worse I am literally scared to eat for fear of indigestion which I can't take anything to relieve.My diet has reduced down alot to only foods I know don't cause me trouble and I don't know how much longer I can take this I am very depressed and can't face living like this for the rest of my life I have also lost weight and am getting comments on how thin I am which I really don't need on top of the main problem
If you have any advice or have been in this or a similar situation coping on a restricted diet I really need all the help I can get

Ishtar, that sounds awful, how depressing not to be able to eat what you want (and need). Have you tried something as simple as peppermint oil caps (Mintec) ?

Pinkcupcake, yes you are lucky in Tassie with all that wonderful produce. I have been three times (once went all around Tassie) and 3 trips to Hobart. We always stay at the Lenna as it is so close to Salamanca and lovely Battery Point.

Have fun at Fifteen, be sure to report back!:typing:

Would you belive I know the owners of the Lenna! Well Tassie is a very small place! Also worth considering is The Salamanca Inn and also The Old Wool Store Apartments. All also very central!

Thanks for that! Do love the Lenna though!

Tassie has fantastic wines and Cheeses! We stock up every time we go down. I feel sorry for people who can't (or refust to try) all the fantastic different food on offer in Australia.

If you are after Indian food i dont think you can go past Fitz Curry on Johnson St in Fitzroy. I also went to Blue Chillies on Brunswick St the other night which was fantastic as always.

I love food, and I'm ashamed to admit that sometimes even though I'm completely stuffed, I keep eating what's on my plate - I hate wastage! And sometimes it just tastes sooooo good. :redcheeks:

I think we are supposed to exercise what's called " portion control" - sounds very restrictive to me!! :(

I know, but sometimes my eyes are bigger than my belly. I have to workout twice as hard sometimes!

I always do that! If the food is amazing, even though I'm full I keep eating until I'm sick. Then I regret it.. :whistle:

I too enjoy my food a little (actually no, a lot) too much! It is hard to stop when something tastes good.I love 'homestyle' food - Nataraj on Camberwell Rd is my current favourite restaurant. I like a bit of Thai and Japanese, I love love love Italian etc - but I hate snotty restaurants where the menu goes something along the lines of.. 'pan fried peppered and lightly spiced heart of whale, served with a splattering of cous cous and deep red wine and cranberry jus'. So pretentious and you wind up with a massive plate and a tiny tiny amount of food in the centre of said large plate, and it will cost you $50. I prefer cheap and cheerful places - you always have more fun and can be noisy and boisterous rather than sitting primly in an uncomfortable chair!!

Lol!! That is so true. Who wants to spend heaps of money for a small dish containing food you can't understand the ingredients.

:) What an ace thread! I just ADORE food (and wine!), both the cooking and the eating of it! I spend most of my day at work busting to get home and hit the kitchen! My favourite cuisine is Sichuan (bring on the chilli!), though as soon as the hot weather hits I crave Vietnamese like nothing else - that's what we're having all this week in honour of the first week of summer! And with all those yummy fresh herbs from our garden too! My fav thing to cook is dim sum - I just loving sitting down to a meal of 4 or 5 different sorts of dumplings, wontons and dipping sauces!

Our favourite eating spot is Box Hill - you just can't go past it for value and sensational food! Sichuan Restaurant in Carrington St is my favourite spot - we can eat about 5 dishes for $30 for both of us! The dipping sauce with their zhong dumplings is gastro-orgasmic! I end up eating any leftover by itself... :redcheeks: Love Tien Dat (Vietnamese), also in Carrington. Plus Carrington Cake Shop has the best Portuguese Egg Custard Tarts the world has ever seen!

Dammit, now I'm hungy thinking about all this ace food... will have to check out this pizza joint that's had a few raves...

Thats sounds great. We have to go into China Town now.

I went retro and cooked Jam drops last night. Yum

:typing:

I asked my boy to cook dinner tonight & it was all a bit much for him. So we're having cold prawns. Thats it! :shakehead:

On Christmas Eve I'm having "fake christmas" with my boy, my brother and his girlfriend, as my brother and I are going to Avoca for Christmas day and won't be able to spend Chritmas with them.:(
Any way I am making a feast and I thought I'd tell you all about it!

I am making Blood Orange cocktails for when they arrive
I'm doing delicious lime and honey prawns on my new christmas present BBQ as well as bbq teryaki scallops.
I'm making a BBQ chicken salad and an asparagus salad.
And for desert I'm making Raspberry and Shiraz jelly! (Donna Hay recipe... I love her)

Does everyone think that sound nice? Am I missing anything that you think would improve my "fake christmas" BBQ?

Sounds fantastic - can I come?? :santa:

Those lime and honey prawns sound fantastic.

Here's the Recipe!!

Serving size: Serves 4
Cooking time: Less than 30 minutes



INGREDIENTS


1 dozen ocean king prawns, green
½ cup olive oil
150g unsalted butter; softened
2 teaspoon honey
¼ teaspoon sea salt
¼ teaspoon white pepper
1 lime, juiced
1 teaspoon lime zest
1 long red chilli, seeded and sliced thinly
¾ cup coriander, picked and chopped
salt, to season




METHOD


Remove the heads of the prawns, place in small saucepan with olive oil. Warm through on a gentle heat; to allow flavours to infuse. This will be a prawn oil to use in your dressing.

Meanwhile with scissors remove the legs of the prawns. Slice straight through the back bone and tail, devein; set aside.

In a medium bowl soften butter by beating with a wooden spoon. Mix in honey, salt and pepper. Spread butter mixture on the open side of the prawns.

Heat large frying pan, place prawns in pan, cook for about 4 minutes, turn over once, and remove from heat when cooked.

In a small bowl mix lime juice, zest, chilli, coriander and 2 tablespoons strained prawn oil; season with salt.

Place cooked prawns on serving dish, drizzle with butter from the pan and dressing.

Note: Left over prawn oil to be stored in an air tight jam jar or glass bottle in the refrigerator.

I think I'll book a flight and come to your place for Christmas! Yummm!

I wish I could have you all!!:santa:

Thank you for the recipe that is very kind.

Hey VeeE,

I have decided to cook the prawns for Xmas day but have a question :dunce:;

when you "Slice straight through the back bone and tail," are you cutting them in half or just opening them up. Is the shell still on at this point? is it left on?

I have just baked a seriously rich cake. :drunk: It has banana, dates, maple syrup & apple sauce in it so its not very naughty but is as moist & decadant as a sticky date pudding.

I am just now making pizzas from scratch for dinner. A xmas ham & pineapple for the kids, a margarita & my fave garlic.

Medusa sounds gorgeous. Making my mouth water. I just had four saos with vegemite and somehow they weren't quite as satisfying as I'd hoped....hmmmm.....

My favourite meal is the good old-fashioned lamb roast with lots of crispy potatoes. It's the easiest meal to make and always tastes great. Love Pad Thai too, I seem to order it for most if not all Thai meals. I'm usually very adventurous but in this case, I must have it!

I really like to bake too and there's nothing like walking into a house with that beautiful smell wafting from the kitchen. I've got an apple teacake and choc-chip biscuits down pat and a few weeks ago I tried a pear and blue cheese bread. It was delicious!

Gosh, girls, I have just finished dinner and you're making me salivate. Those cakes sound gorgeous, if you have the inclination (no pressure or obligation!), those recipes would be welcome by all, me thinks!:worship:

Does anyone else love Sushi?

I am a sushi addict. It is the one food I crave above all else. Granted I always have the nori rolls but they are just sooo good. My friends think I am totally obsessed with it (which is annoying for them as they hate it). Has anyone ever made their own? I especially love Prawn, california, smoked salmon, tofu, tune and teriaki chicken!

Yum Yum Yum! Stephen makes it for us, we have the proper rice and roll up bamboo mat and just love them. I equally love sashimi (the raw fish one). Bring on the soy sauce!

I really wish i liked sushi but i can't get my head around it. I find the seaweed to be too fishy if you get my drink. I've only ever tried the cucumber ones and it was pretty boring.

Is there one with a little more flavour i could try?

I really wish i liked sushi but i can't get my head around it. I find the seaweed to be too fishy if you get my drink. I've only ever tried the cucumber ones and it was pretty boring.

Is there one with a little more flavour i could try?

The teriyaki chicken or peking duck ones have much more flavour. Dont forget the soy!

Luisa, is the teryaki chicken one still taste fishy and do i use the soy on it as normal?

I'm a sushi virgin. I haven't got a clue.

Lol! Must be the nori (seaweed) you are talking about! Cant get away from that unless you unwrap it! The stronger flavoured fillings may help to mask it and the soy certainly does. What about trying the sashimi, just raw fish (without a fishy taste!) and rice? Go on, experiment!;)

Yum Yum Yum! Stephen makes it for us, we have the proper rice and roll up bamboo mat and just love them. I equally love sashimi (the raw fish one). Bring on the soy sauce!

I am so inviting myself to your place for dinner Luisa Lol. My brother is really good at making it to although he rarely does. I always have soy sauce as I find the wasabi a little hot for me!

I love sushi and I love making my own - I've got all the bits and bobs (bamboo mat, rice vinegar, japanese rice, wasabi etc). I don't eat seafood so they are always chicken and vegie, or just plain vegie. Sometimes I put a tiny bit of wasabi in but not too much. Once I put too much in and I just about burnt my nostrils out! Sushi is good for you and it fills you up. I have one roll and I'm so stuffed. If you make it yourself you could put almost anything in.

Mmmmm I'm hungry now for sushi! lol :chuckle:

Mmmmm I'm hungry now for sushi! lol :chuckle:

Mmmm, me too! Pass the wasabi!!

The more wasabi the better, I say! I had these great wasabi cashews from our local markets the other day. I ate the whole packet in one sitting.

Luisa I'm with you on the sashimi. Love it when the salmon is so fresh it just melts in your mouth. Tuna too...

Methinks an early dinner is on the cards!

Any sweet tooths out there?

Got another confession...

I am rarely a chocolate eater! Only have it when I am getting my period otherwise dont crave it at all! Also cant eat chocolate cake or deserts, make me ill!

I do love a great fruit cake or carrot cake and dont let me near a lemon tart!

Frankly, I would rather have a boiled lolly than a piece of chocolate!

(Waiting for the backlash now!!!)

No backlash from me! I used to be a chocolate addict but I don't crave it the way I used to.

But I do have a dreadful sweet tooth (as my dentist will attest to). Sticky date pudding and ice cream are my downfalls. Partial to liquorice, especially Darrell Lea. And I'm with you on the fruit cake - it's a love it or hate it thing though (I think it's the candied peel!)

It's always the candied peel! Lol! You either love it or hate it. I like it but my brother used to eat by the packet full! Eewh!

I have made some fabulous cakes lately for birthdays & just had to share this one with you as it is what I would call a perfect recipe: low fat, super easy & delicious. It is moist & the hazelnut has that prailine taste so its almost like eating choc cake wihout actually indulging. I took it to a BBQ & thought the kids wouldn't like it but all 6 of them scoffed it. The whole cake was gone in 5 min!

Hazelnut Sponge

225g Hazelnut meal (crushed hazelnuts. stocked in the raw nut section @ supermarket)
4 eggs, separated
150g caster sugar
1 teaspoon Baking Powder
Whipped cream
berries - I topped mine with strawberries & blueberries

Preheat oven 180 degrees
Grease a cake tin & line the base with baking paper.
Whisk the egg whites till stiff peaks form.
In a separate bowl beat the yolks & sugar together until pale & creamy.
Gradually & gently fold the egg whites into the yolk mix.
Gently fold in the hazelnut & Baking Powder.
Pour into the cake tin & bake for 25min til cooked thru. Should be golden.
Allow to cool then top with whipped cream & berries. Dust with icing sugar.

Great recipe Medusa, i love anything Hazelnut. I'll have to give it a go.

Thanks! Just printed it out, my family will love this one! Thanks for thinking of us!:clapping:

You guys have got to try this new breakfast I have been eating this week, it is so yum & so good for you.

Mix some Special K & puffed wheat (I use Honey Wheats) with a tub of vanilla yogurt (I eat Vaalia) & some fresh berries (strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, whatever).

Its very filling without making you feel :vomit: as many cereals make me feel after I've eaten them. The cereal stays crunchy as it has no milk :clapping: . It reminds me of that Special K ad that says women spends hundreds of $ on their partners for birthdays but can't justify the cost of putting blueberries on their cereal. :rollthoseeyes: Go on treat yourself, you deserve it.

Gee whizz that certainly beats hospital food Medusa. I've been having Cold Toast, ugly fruit and cold tea! Thank god for my Mum aka the food truck at the moment!

Medusa that sounds great. Like a healthier version of Bircher Museli! Yum!

I had to have a hunt for this old thread, I have just had the most magnificent meal prepared by my hubby.

We had little kangaroo roasts with hasselback potatoes and roasted parsnip. With the pan juices he made a magnificent gravy with port and dried cranberries. The piece de resistance however was the red cabbage. We had this in restaurant in Hobart and I must say his was better. It has been stewing in a La Crueset heavy pan for three hours this afternoon. He had also put in apple, brown sugar and aged red wine vinegar. Accompanied with a sublime Hunter Valley shiraz (sitting beside me!) and I am in heaven!:hugs:

I had to have a hunt for this old thread, I have just had the most magnificent meal prepared by my hubby.

We had little kangaroo roasts with hasselback potatoes and roasted parsnip. With the pan juices he made a magnificent gravy with port and dried cranberries. The piece de resistance however was the red cabbage. We had this in restaurant in Hobart and I must say his was better. It has been stewing in a La Crueset heavy pan for three hours this afternoon. He had also put in apple, brown sugar and aged red wine vinegar. Accompanied with a sublime Hunter Valley shiraz (sitting beside me!) and I am in heaven!:hugs:

Wow! Sounds absolutely gorgeous! Love the hasselback potato, a much under-used cooking method I think (is a bit of a hassle delicately slicing cuts right across, but so worth it for the end result!). Darn, my vegetable and barley soup just isn't cutting the mustard now...

I want kangaroo and wine!

Hee Hee!

Yep, definitely a restaurant quality meal. Hasselback makes them sound so exotic but as you said, are essentially potatoes with thin slices! It was such a scrummy meal but the wine is making me a slower typist with lots of backspacing happening!

Mmmmm food.......I'm gonna have some yummy dreams tonight!

I had to have a hunt for this old thread, I have just had the most magnificent meal prepared by my hubby.

We had little kangaroo roasts with hasselback potatoes and roasted parsnip. With the pan juices he made a magnificent gravy with port and dried cranberries. The piece de resistance however was the red cabbage. We had this in restaurant in Hobart and I must say his was better. It has been stewing in a La Crueset heavy pan for three hours this afternoon. He had also put in apple, brown sugar and aged red wine vinegar. Accompanied with a sublime Hunter Valley shiraz (sitting beside me!) and I am in heaven!:hugs:

Sorry Miss Fendi anything with the word Kangaroo in it really frightens me! As a vegetarian think I will pass on this one. You are so lucky having a hubby who is a chef.

For lunch today I have left over Vegetarian Chinese from last night. It's tofu satay 'chicken' with fried rice (with little tofu prawns!) and also some mongolian 'lamb'. I like it more than real meat!

Lunch today for me is a healthy salad wrap using The Mountain Bread Light Wraps. I have lettuce, carrot, cheese, tomatoe and onion.

For lunch today I have left over Vegetarian Chinese from last night. It's tofu satay 'chicken' with fried rice (with little tofu prawns!) and also some mongolian 'lamb'. I like it more than real meat!

He he, did you get this from one of the Dickson places?? We had some faux meat fron Kingsland the other day and it was tops!

Sorry Miss Fendi anything with the word Kangaroo in it really frightens me! As a vegetarian think I will pass on this one. You are so lucky having a hubby who is a chef.

Apolgies to all vegetarians! Dinner was spectacular though, and we are all fans of game. Sorry if I have offended!:(

Apolgies to all vegetarians! Dinner was spectacular though, and we are all fans of game. Sorry if I have offended!:(

Miss Fendi I am not offended at all. Whilst I am a commited vegetarian I totally respect other people's right to eat what they choose to.

I had nacho's for dinner last night and it was so good! We were both so tired and its quick and easy.

He he, did you get this from one of the Dickson places?? We had some faux meat fron Kingsland the other day and it was tops!
Yes, it's from Kingsland! Haha, I love that someone else on here knows what I'm talking about!