Category Archives: Dessert

Christmas Menu 2013

Posted on December 27, 2013 by ben

Sour cream and cold crab. Perfect with Pierre Gaillard Saint Joseph 2011. The concept was to have this with fresh figs (and rosemary and honey icecream), but it was the week or two between regional fig seasons.

Posted in Apple, Bell pepper/capsicum, Cheese, Chicken, Dessert, Eggplant, Fish, Fruit, Icecream, Lettuce, Menu, Nuts, Onion, Pumpkin, Salad, Shellfish, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Spring GM Menu

Posted on November 30, 2013 by ben

Amuse for Sparkler Vegemite and cheese just works as a combo, although I think most diners believed the plain gougère were superior. Surf, Turf ‘n’ Garden Barramundi and bacon sandwiched together with transglutaminase (“meat glue”) and baked (slightly over-baked in … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Bell pepper/capsicum, Canapé/Hors d'œuvre, Cheese, Chocolate, Dessert, Eggplant, Fish, Icecream, Lamb, Menu, Molecular gastronomy, Pork, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Easter/Autumn Menu

Posted on April 7, 2013 by ben

Autumn. There’s a chill in the air. One might imagine animals brought into the barnyard, the hot breath of Robins (Erithacus rubecula) in the crisp morning, hedgerow fruits, composting oak and birch leaves, undergrowth, game, red Burgundy… But Easter is … Continue reading →

Posted in Asparagus, Beans, Beef, Cheese, Chocolate, Dessert, Fruit, Menu, Radish, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Australia Day Menu

Posted on February 4, 2013 by ben

Australia Day means lamb, not so much because Sam Kekovich tells (Anglo?) Aussies it does. More because, of all the readily available meats available in Australia, lamb is possibly the best. But before the lamb, a seafood starter. Every time … Continue reading →

Posted in Beans, Cheese, Dessert, Eggplant, Fennel, Fruit, Lamb, Menu, Mussel, Sorbet, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Christmas Menu 2012

Posted on January 23, 2013 by ben

White truffle custard, mushroom ragu From the first time I made Thomas Keller’s white truffle custards I served them with a mushroom “ragu” rather than Keller’s black truffle “ragu” of veal stock base. I feel mushroom and truffle is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Beans, Cheese, Dessert, Duck, Egg, Eggplant, Fruit, Lamb, Lobster, Lobster, Menu, Mushroom, Mussel, Rhubarb, Salad, Shellfish, Strawberry, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Strawberries and cream

Posted on June 2, 2012 by ben

I’ve always preferred the flavour of fresh strawberry to cooked strawberry, but these strawberries tossed in butter, sugar and cracked black pepper, before being roasted to soft, were a delight. A particularly good use of firmer winter (Queensland) strawberries. Some … Continue reading →

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Szechuan and Sauternes

Posted on May 26, 2012 by ben

GrapeRadio have some interesting videos on YouTube, including some pretty nice cinematography in the The Scent of Black, a short film about Cahors. I found the video on Château Suduiraut (Part II) discussing the pairing of Sauternes with Szechuan cuisine … Continue reading →

Posted in Chinese, Dessert, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Easter Menu 2012

Posted on April 13, 2012 by ben

Salad of greens, fresh beetroot, green beans, walnuts, goat cheese Discussions with others following the prep for this dish led me to realise just how time consuming the preparation of a properly exectured salad can be. And how typically underrated … Continue reading →

Posted in Beans, Beetroot, Cauliflower, Cheese, Chocolate, Dessert, Fruit, Greens, Lamb, Lettuce, Menu, Nuts, Pork, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

March Menu 2012

Posted on March 31, 2012 by ben

Oyster risotto I was trying to think of a starter that was reasonably filling and could accompany Chablis… Arborio rice (naturally) stirred endlessly while vegetable and shellfish stocks and white wine are continually added and reduced. Then, for the last … Continue reading →

Posted in Cheese, Chocolate, Dessert, Fig, Lettuce, Menu, Mushroom, Nuts, Rice, Shellfish, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Classic chocolate

Posted on March 10, 2012 by ben

It’s been five years since this rendition, but the theme remains the same because the classic combination of chocolate, nuts, caramel/fudge just works so well. I hold rich desserts (in moderation) under my belt (pun intended ). A chocolate semifreddo … Continue reading →

Posted in Chocolate, Dessert, Nuts, Uncategorized | Leave a comment