Australia Food and Drink
Oz Survival Guide to Food- Pizza
MMMMMMELT PIZZA! Yummm! The exception to the rule. (Gluten Free Pizza also Available!)
Pizza in Australia is generally pretty uninspiring to those of us from other corners of the globe. For starters they don’t really put sauce on their pizza, there isn’t much salt content, which while it isn’t that good for you, it is what makes pizza tasty. The crust isn’t amazing, and the toppings are generally just down right weird. That said, many people do manage to choke down the occasional big doughy piece late at night from those Kebab shops in Kings Cross….dodgy…..
Late night binging aside, the pizza thing has me, and most of my internationally born buddies, down right disgruntled.
UNTIL! Two weeks ago- I discovered Melt Pizza! Theirs is quite honestly probably the best pizza I have ever had- weird ingredients and all. That is a HUGE call to make coming from a native Chicagoan.
On the North Shore of Sydney in Neutral Bay, across from the notorious Oaks, their pizza is out of this world. Creative and absolutely delicious, they have been winning awards in Australia for years- but also just went to an international pizza competition in Las Vegas. While there, they managed to sweep up a Best Pizza Award with their Morrocan Lamb. Here are a few of their AMAZING pies on offer.
Date: April 19th, 2007 |
No Comments
McLaren Vale, South Australia, d’Arenbergs Winery
A couple of months ago I flew to Adelaide for the U2 concert. Since I was headed to the area, I was on a mission to try and experience some of the local produce both in eaten and imbibed forms.
I have to relay a funny but relevant story first. This past week a van full of girls went on a trip. As we drove past a vineyard, one of the girls eyed the vines laden with fruit, rubbed her tummy, smacked her lips and stated- a few of you are going to have to die tonight…
While I’m guessing the grapes in the wines we tried on the trip to d’Arenbergs had given up their lives and been sent to the smasher a few years before, their sacrifice was not in vain.
d’Arenbergs prides themselves on doing things just a little bit differently. Whatever it is they are doing I heartily approve. Desperate for food, we showed up to the winery a bit road weary and not in our Sunday finest (on a Sunday at that). Fully expecting to be turned away as we had been from another local restaurant, we pulled up to d’Arenbergs. A beautiful country space and a gourmet restaurant, we were graciously and warmly welcomed. Huge acolades for the very kind and thoughtful staff !
A bustling Sunday afternoon in the popular McLaren Vale, we were not surprised that they were completely booked out. With a genuine smile, the Maitre’d said she’d see what she could do and directed us to go enjoy ourselves in the tasting room while she could figure something out.
Date: March 22nd, 2007 |
No Comments
Art and Schnapps at the Arthouse Hotel in Sydney
Late last week I received an invitation to the Spalding exhibit opening at the Arthouse Hotel at 275 Pitt Street. While the invitation looked appealing, I was puzzled how they had gotten ahold of my name and address. Upon closer inspection, I noticed www.wildbrumby.com in very small print. A HUGE grin came to my face and I remembered a completely enjoyable and slightly tipsy afternoon in the Snowy Mountains spent at the gorgeous Wild Brumby Schnappery.
After this discovery, I HAD to go and see if …
Date: March 19th, 2007 |
No Comments
Australian Wines, Mudgee Wine Tours
Man oh Man! What a way to see the country! Mudgee is currently one of the lesser known wine regions of Australia, but it is should soon be shaking that problem. Get there before everyone else discovers what a find it is!
The drinking and driving laws in Australia are extremely strict, in fact the very first thing that occurred upon entering Mudgee was a police stop for a Random Breath Test. Whew! good thing it was on the way into town eh? In order to appreciate the local wines and cellar doors to the fullest the next day, I asked around and several people guided me in the direction of Mudgee Wine Tours, run by Jan and Terry Hill. It was great! I was able to sit back and start drinking wine at 10:00 am and was deposited nice and safely back at my campsite 8 hours later, not a care in the world and loaded with wine….the stuff that I purchased you silly people….oh ok…probably a little loaded after the tastings as well. But since I had Jan to drive me around- it was fabulous!
A true local operator, the husband and wife team provided a quality, clean, and well run vehicle to tote our merry backsides about the countryside. They let the group choose the wineries, dished out cheese and crackers after each stop, gave nice personalized background information about each place we visited, helped orchestrate the group so we could get our tastings in an organized manner, and really just let us the patrons decide how the day went.
Date: February 26th, 2007 |
No Comments
Little Portugal in Sydney, Petersham
Would you believe there is a road in Sydney that leads straight to the heart of Lisbon- tiled murals, terrible road signs, bad drivers and all? I of course loved Portugal, however, those last two things do stick in my mind. Driving aside, the emphasis of our travels in Portugal? Food and Wine of course. So it is really no big surprise that Little Portugal, located in the Sydney suburb of Petersham, is highlighted by Restaurants, bakeries, butchers, grocery and bottle shops.
All of the eateries and shops are absolutely authentic. Portuguese- not Brazilian- is widely spoken, the furniture, decorations, sights and smells all transport you straight to Portugal. Some items to purchase/try while visiting Petersham:
Date: January 17th, 2007 |
No Comments
Oz Survival Guide To Food- Ketchup
It goes without saying that The Aussies are a saucy bunch, however, for your own safety, there are a few things you need to know about their management, preferences and presentation of the local food and condiments. First in yet another series of Survival Guides.
First off- Ketchup- they don’t really have it. They have a similar substance called Tomato Sauce. (say it with the snobby tomahhhhto) Tomahhto Sauce, while it is different- it is basically Ketchup without the thickeners and the sugar. Not bad….most times. (You can get Ketchup in grocery stores if you …
Date: April 12th, 2007 |
2 comments
Travelling Australia as a Coeliac
Calling all people with food issues! I had pizza and beer the other day for the first time in years. For most of you that is no big deal. But for those with Coeliac Disease, or those people who have a gluten intolerance (almost 1% of the population) This is HUGE! Coeliacs and others with food intolerance’s make up a pretty substantial sector of the population. This sector is generally tentative to travel due to their dietary needs. Take heart and fear not if you are coming Australia!
The Aussies are doing a fantastic job of catering for all kinds of dietary needs. Their labelling laws are quite strict with Allergy information required to say thing like “contains soy and wheat” as opposed to having to sift through an ingredient list. Every major grocery store has a Health Food aisle. Gluten free breads, yeast free breads, Lactose free, etc…. pretty much every group can find something in just your local Coles or Wollies. How good is that! I was in the States a couple of weeks ago and STUGGLED to find anything even at the Whole Foods type stores.
Date: March 21st, 2007 |
1 comment
Manly Beach, Places to Eat, 3 Ducks Spice Bar
MMMMMM! I can’t believe it has taken me this long to discover this place. One of those cool little local places tucked away in a hallway of a shopping street- it is AMAZING! Hey Coeliacs! Almost EVERYTHING on their menu is naturally Gluten Free. That is good news for those of you who eat gluten as well- The recipes they use are made in the traditional ways and don’t use flour as a cheap thickener.
The food is fresh, high quality, healthy and tasty. Mostly Curries of some sort, …
Date: February 27th, 2007 |
1 comment
Australian Wineries, Pieter Van Gent
The heady scents of damp earth and wine enter you senses the second you open the huge barn like doors to the Pieter Van Gent Winery. More than just a cellar door, this is a small independent family winery built beside Pipeclay Creek in Mudgee. Mudgee is an established, yet lesser known wine region in Australia. Mudgee the town is a cheeky 8000 people strong and boasts around 100 cellar doors.
Pieter Van Gent is one of the more unique wineries to visit. They actually grow, make and …
Date: February 18th, 2007 |
No Comments
What’s on in Perth, Little Creatures Brewery
I realize that a large number of my posts center around the amazing social life of Sydney, so in an act of good will and opportunity to acknowledge that there are other cities with a nightlife out there, I am reaching out to our brothers on the west coast.
From a friend of mine, here is some insider information on what’s cool in Perth… Now I do trust his Judgement 100%, because not only is he a fair dinkum Aussie, but I know he takes his Social Responsibility (and his beer) very seriously.
From the book of Nathan: In the beginning God created the hops, the barley and the yeast. And the stein was without form, and void; and thirst was on the face of the travellers… (from Heather- oh dear here we go…)
Okay, it’s debatable that one shouldn’t parody religious texts, but let’s at least debate it over a beer. Where better to enjoy a cold bevvy (Aussie slang for beer) than Fremantle in Western Australia. ‘Freo’ as it is known to the locals, is located only 20 minutes south of the Perth CBD. It offers some of W.A.’s finest restaurants and cafes, and some of the states best preserved late 1800’s streetscapes… but enough about that, let’s get back to the beer.
My personal pick of the Freo ‘watering holes’ is the popular Little Creatures Brewery in the Fishing Boat Harbour precinct.
Date: January 14th, 2007 |
No Comments
