Salt Meats Cheese of Alexandria…

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Billy Connolly, Cheese, Dairy product, food, Food Importer, Food Shop, Jay London, Lactose intolerance, Mitch Hedberg, Pizza, Salt Meats Cheese, Sydney Delicatessen

Salt Meats Cheese of Alexandria
(Image by TSL)

So, you might imagine that in a house where one of us has a gluten issue and another is allergic to dairy, pizza would definitely be off the menu. Permanently. But guess what?  It’s not! I have discovered a pizza base recipe that works. And, after much experimenting, we have also established that LM’s dairy problems are limited to pasteurised cow juice. Regular milk, cheese, ice cream, yoghurt and the like are still no go for him, but goats’ milk, sheeps’ milk and buffalo milk are all good. Different protein structure, apparently. Woohoo!

My whole family is lactose intolerant and when we take pictures we can’t say cheese. (Jay London)

As you can imagine – that means pizza night becomes kind of a big deal at Casa TSL. And today, in preparation, we headed off to explore what Salt Meats Cheese might be able to offer by way of pizza toppings…

Let me begin by saying the absolute W O R S T thing about visiting Salt Meats Cheese of Alexandra is the challenge to find a car park. Especially if you are coming at lunch-time (the Grounds is right next door). But once you have achieved the impossible, or if you have a parking angel to call on, the fun can begin.

I don’t believe in angels, no. But I do have a wee parking angel. It’s on my dashboard and you wind it up. The wings flap and it’s supposed to give you a parking space. It’s worked so far. (Billy Connolly)

Salt Meats Cheese is a huge emporium of imported food specialising in – wait for it – salts, European cured meats and cheese. I’ve been wanting to visit for ages. I should have gone sooner. It is a piece of foodie heaven. Truly.

The salt counter is chock-full of amazing flavour combos for salt-lovers – spiced, smoked, infused with red wine – there’s something for everyone. Each flavoured salt has its own wee personalised shaker so that you can taste before you make your final selection.

Some of the Salts at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

Some More of the Salts on Offer at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

The cheese and salumi bar is to die for. Now that we have discovered LM’s ability to branch out in the cheese department, we lingered over pecorino options – finally deciding to go with a pear infused number. Our cheese man was endlessly patient as we umm-ed and ahh-ed over our choices. On his recommendation, we went with a Parma ham for tonight’s pizza.

Cheese and Salumi Bar at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

Some of the Pecorinos on Offer at the Bar
(Image by TSL)

The cheese room is a challenge. So many choices. But, at a temperature that prevents you from giving it the time it deserves. There was a particular brand of haloumi on offer that we love (and that is LM-friendly) so I snapped that up along with a few other goodies.

Inside the Cheeseroom at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

Buffalo Mozzerella at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

…and the hits just keep on coming
Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

And, if the salts, meats and cheeses weren’t enough, there are all sorts of other goodies on offer throughout the warehouse.

Teas at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

Imported Mexican Chillis at Salt Meats Cheese
(Image by TSL)

Pour Your Own Olive Oil at Salt Meats Cheese
(Images by TSL)

Anyone for Pasta?
(Image by TSL)

fettucine alfredo is macaroni and cheese for adults. (Mitch Hedberg)

…or perhaps paella is more your speed?
(Image by TSL)

The very affable and enthusiastic Franco has informed me that there may be valet parking on offer at Salt Meats Cheese in the lead up to the crazy Christmas rush. This is great news.

And, if you live in Sydney and haven’t yet checked out the offerings at this most fab’ of food providores – it is well worth braving the traffic. Honest.

You can check out the Salt Meats Cheese website here (there’s a great wee video to watch). And, if you really can’t deal with the parking challenge, you can even shop online!

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OzHarvest – What a Cause…

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Bill Granger, Charity, Cookbook, Cooking, food, George Calombaris, Maggie Beer, Neil Perry, OzHarvest, Peter Gilmore, Ronni Kahn, Sydney OzHarvest

It’s been a little quiet on the TSL front lately. Sorry about that – the change in seasons brought about a spot of the bot. And then, well – life just got in the way. But here I am…

OzHarvest Cookbook Image
(Image by TSL)

If you live in Australia, particularly Sydney, you kind of have to have been living under a rock if you don’t know about what the seriously fabulous peeps at OzHarvest achieve.

OzHarvest is a charity that rescues excess food which would otherwise be discarded. This excess food is then distributed to other charities supporting the vulnerable and under-privileged in Sydney, Newcastle, Adelaide, Melbourne and Brisbane.

Ronni, OzHarvest Founder
(Image from OzHarvest)

Founded in Sydney by the very charismatic and inspirational Ronni Kahn in November 2004, OzHarvest began with one van and delivered 4,000 meals in their first month of operations. In Sydney, OzHarvest currently delivers over 320,000 meals per month with a fleet of 11 vehicles. And yes, you read that correctly – 320,000 meals.

Australia wide OzHarvest delivers 441,500 meals per month with a fleet of 15 vans. That’s about 147 tonnes of food each month.

To our friends at OzHarvest,

You help us out immensely with all of the food that you donate to us. We are able to provide our community with fresh fruit, vegetables and other things that help us make delicious meals for all to eat. The residents really appreciate all the stock that is donated by you and are very thankful. Keep up the great work.

(Sarah M, OzHarvest Recipient)

When you check out some of the statistics around food wastage, it really is pretty scary. Well, it was to me. See what you think…

* Australians waste up to 20% of the food we buy. That means for every 5 bags of groceries we purchase, we throw way 1 of them
* Australians throw away $7.8 billion worth of food every year. That’s about $1036 per household. I know I’m guilty of throwing away food.
* Of every 10 pieces of fruit or vegetables grown by suppliers, between 2 and 4 pieces are rejected by supermarkets, usually because they don’t meet the strict cosmetic guidelines of colour, shape and size. Seriously? Let’s hear it for sexy-ugly heirloom tomatoes…
* More than 25% of all school lunches end up in the bin I wonder if the teenager has contributed to that statistic?

And, that’s just here in Australia. Worlwide, try these numbers on for size…

* The world’s richest countries have nearly twice as much food as their populations require
* Up to 50%of the entire food supply is wasted between the farm and the fork
* ALL the world’s hungry people (nearly 1 billion of them) could be saved from malnourishment by 25% of the food wasted by rich countries

OzHarvest Cookbook
(image by TSL)

I suspect one of the reasons OzHarvest has established such a huge level of awareness, not to mention success, is the calibre of the ambassadors it has recruited from the local food industry down under. Many of them are represented in the recently launched OzHarvest Cookbook, which uncovers secrets from top chefs’ for using leftovers and is very much a who’s who of the Australian cooking scene. It includes leftover recipes from Maggie Beer, George Calombaris, Peter Gilmore, Bill Granger and Neil Perry.

I have posted about the gorgeous Maggie Beer and her plum cobbler recipe here, and I still think she’s wonderful. And, her recipes, too! But, the OzHarvest Cookbook recipe that I most want to try is Peter Gilmore’s garlic custards with smoked ham juices and peas…

Garlic custards with smoked ham juice and peas by Peter Gilmore
(Image by TSL)

I do love a savoury custard. And, if it’s a Peter Gilmore recipe, you know it will be something special. I’m just not so sure I can translate it into a successful dairy-free version for LM.

If you’d like to learn more about the amazing work carried out by OzHarvest, or if you’d like to order a cookbook or donate, head to the website here.

Under the weather…

Tags

Under the weather, Weather

Under the weather…
(Image from here)

There’s no such thing as bad weather, just soft people. (Bill Bowerman)

Bill, I’m a softie. Back soon…

NOT the Australian Garden Show Sydney…

Tags

Australian Garden Show Sydney, Centennial Park, community, Garden, Gardening, Indira Naidoo, nature

Australian Garden Show Sydney Cover Image
(Image from here)

A good friend won two tickets to the Australian Garden Show Sydney. Small problem. She lives in Auckland. So, she sent me the tickets. Lovely girl…

I was all set to visit the show yesterday. And, to tell you all about how fabulous it is. And, how you should go down to Centennial Park this weekend and check it out. I was planning on having lots of pics to whet your appetite. I imagined having a good old chin wag with the seemingly wonderful Indira Naidoo, she of the Edible Balcony fame. And,  perhaps checking out some workshops in between ogling all the pretty flowers. LM and I even talked about how we would be like spring chickens in amongst all the ‘more mature‘ visitors we imagined such a show would attract.

So. Yesterday Bella, LM and I tootled off to Centennial Park for the show. We got as far as the gate, only to be told, “No dogs allowed”.

NO DOGS ALLOWED
(Image by TSL)

So, I’m sorry but there will be no post about the Australian Garden Show Sydney. Not happy, Jan!

NB – for the uninitiated, Bella is a poodle and doesn’t even believe she is a dog!

Being Tempted by Sydney’s Living Museums

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Australia, Childrens' Activities in Sydney, Christmas Markets, food, Historic Houses Trust of New South Wales, Jared Ingersoll, Kate Walsh, Museum, New South Wales, Sydney, Sydney Living Museum

Sydney Living Museums Food Table
(Image from Sydney Living Museums)

There’s an awesome new set up in Sydney-town. In April of this year, the Historic Houses Trust of NSW launched Sydney Living Museums, its new collective name for 12 of New South Wales’ most important museums and historic houses.

The Trust, incorporating Sydney Living Museums, cares for significant historic places, buildings, landscapes and collections. Focusing on the lives that were lived in each of its museums and houses, Sydney Living Museums offers insights into the personal stories of how people lived, worked and played, and vital parts of Australian culture and heritage that are unique and fascinating.

From carefully curated exhibitions, events and ‘everyday’ experiences covering food, through household interiors, gardens and outdoor living, to social class, rural lives and crime and punishment – Sydney Living Museums has 12 of the best places to experience Sydney’s living history. And, the best part is that the team at SLM have created a brand that is exciting and accessible. It makes me want to visit all twelve of their sites…

Sydney Living Museums Eat Your History
(Image from Sydney Living Museums)

The summer food programme, including the ‘Eat Your History’ exhibition looks fantastic – and, it seems to have a little bit of something for everyone. Inspired by the historic homes, and their gardens and kitchens, the programme presents a specially curated menu of enticing food experiences. SLM has partnered with some of Sydney’s most highly respected chefs, foodies and craftspeople to bring you a tasty mix of experiences.

Here are a few of the offerings that particularly appeal to yours truly…

Jared Ingersoll’s ‘Farm to Table Dinner’
(Image from Sydney Living Museums)

The very talented Mr Ingersoll (you may recall him from here) has partnered with Kate Walsh of Real Food Projects to bring us the Farm to Table dinner on Thursday 14 November at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum. I’m stealing shamelessly from the SLM sales pitch when I tell you, “inspired by menus from the 1800s, this unique banquet will use local, indigenous and heirloom produce grown in the Vaucluse House kitchen garden especially for the dinner”. YUM!

The combined talents of Jared and Kate (of Real Food Projects) make this sure to be an occasion.

Shape and Bake Gingernut Biscuits
(Image from Sydney Living Museums)

Here’s one for the kids over the looooong summer school holidays.  Bring them along to Elizabeth Farm to learn the art of ginger-biscuit making and baking at the Shape and Bake. Afterwards, you can explore the house.

Baking sessions will be held on Monday 13 & 20, and Wednesday 18 & 22 January at Elizabeth Farm.

Elizabeth Bay House
(Image from Sydney Living Museums)

No surprises that I’m heading to Stories From the Cellar at Elizabeth Bay House on 27 February. I’m keen to take a wee journey through the history of food preservation with Wildwon Projects. I’m going to delve into the preservin’, saltin’, curin’, fermentin’ (there’s that word again!) and smokin’ and see what I can learn. Can’t wait!

(Image from here)

I guess I should have put THIS one first, but perhaps I was just saving the best for last. The hugely fab’ Real Food Projects are putting on the Christmas Artisan Food Market at the Hyde Park Barracks on 18 December from 4 – 8pm.

There’ll be over 50 stalls featuring the best that Sydney has to offer by way of food makers using local, seasonal and sustainable produce. There will even be a wrapping station.

Be there or be square, I reckon…

This is only a wee taste of all the events the Sydney Living Museums have on offer for their summer season of food. Do go and check out their website (here) AND sign up to get the newsletter. It looks grand!