'MFK Fisher among the pots and pans: celebrating her kitchens’, by Joan Reardon. Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008. It was Mary Francis who said ‘...all one needs to cook is a mortar and pestle and the full awareness of all your five senses...' This book was sent to me by my dear chef friend Cathy, [...]
All the seasons bring us their special fresh fruits and vegetables. It is nature’s way of ensuring that we have a varied diet. Summer is always much anticipated for its delicious fresh fruits – all the berries, stone fruits, tamarilloes, persimmons, pomegranates and the sweetest and oldest of them all – figs. The fig is [...]
Cooking on the Bay opened in June this year with the first class A Taste of Melbourne – Modern Australian Cuisine. Since then the classes have rolled on with many happy cooks coming through our doors...thanks to you all for contributing to a very happy and successful year at Cooking on the Bay. It is [...]
I love the aroma and flavour of vanilla, so I always keep the old dried pods in an open jar in the pantry...it gives a subtle hint of vanilla each time I open the door. We use lots of vanilla beans and the paste in cooking classes. It is a good indication of the passion [...]
I recently visited the Breville factory outlet shop in Huntingdale to buy a new iron for my son. It is an amazing place with excellent prices for all manner of household appliances. Each visit excites me as there are always new products to discover. I was tempted by a few things...an electric pasta machine which [...]
There are always interesting cooking topics discussed in the classes, usually associated with the ingredients we are using. In a recent class I was asked about verjuice....so I did some research and thought you all might to know more about it as well. Down through the centuries grapes have been used to make many products [...]
We returned from France last week and we are very excited about the upcoming new Spring and Summer classes at Cooking on the Bay. I have some interesting new menu ideas and discovered a few new foods...there are always some things you learn each time...no matter how well I think I know French food! This [...]
Frequently after classes we receive some lovely emails from happy cooks...I occasionally add them to the Musings page and I thought you may also like to read a few recent ones... Hi Tonya, It was a fun day, learnt some things and enjoyed the whole experience. I cooked the soufflé for my husband when I went [...]
The best way to learn French is to live in France. So go to the Nancy University L’Ecôle d’Eté and spend July learning French! It was a wonderful three month visit to France. Barging, touring, cooking at La Combe and studying French at L’Ecôle d’Eté, Summer School at Nancy University. The [...]
For us, one of the joys of visiting France is the discovery of special places – Château de Boursault was one of these special experiences - a divine Champagne House just near the Route de Champagne. We arrived in Paris at Charles de Gaulle airport, at 6am [...]
