Meghan and Prem have moved on. You can now find Meghan writing at Small Bag Big Appetite, and Prem at Disquiet. Thank you for being with us on our journeys!
Vicky Cheng (far right) and his crew
Egg, Truffle, Parmesan, Cavear
Oyster
“I do it for the boys. When you do something with so much passion, how can you go wrong? It used to be about the cooking for me — of course, to some extent it still is — but what inspires me now is the passion in these guys.”
This past Sunday was the type that every Sunday should be. Lazy from start to finish. Abundant sunshine and minimum heat. Out and about without ever leaving the neighborhood. Breakfast at home, Farmers' Market, picnic, the weekend paper, ice cream, slow walking. That kind of Sunday.
Read MoreBroccoli Rabe at Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket
The Farmers' Markets were good to us last weekend. We visited two different markets, one that used to be our regular — Grand Army Plaza Greenmarket — and is the largest in Brooklyn, only open on Saturdays, and our new regular — Carroll Gardens Greenmarket — which is a bit smaller and open on Sundays. Both had seasonal products we took well advantage of.
Read MoreWithout a car, the only way to get here was to take the 7:22am train to Birregurra from Melbourne. Walking out of the station a little after 9, the autumn air felt crisp and cool. I walked the road to Main street, my ears automatically tuning in to the distinct chirping of birds -- sounds I’m not used to hearing in the city. The scene: pastoral -- cows grazing on the fields, sparse vegetation, the air fresh.
Birregurra General Store, on Main street, is a motley gathering of locals -- elderly members of the bike club enjoying their post-ride cuppas, young parents, teenagers, crossfitters. Locally roasted Kazbah coffee, roasted by Joe, literally a couple of doors away, is excellent. I spent my time appropriately, relatively in context, reading the very engaging, very dumbed-down bestseller The Rosie Project.
And then it was time.
Read MoreOne of our favorite ways to eat is outdoors. Whether in a park, along the water, or on a hike, there’s something special about a picnic. Every now and then we'll share these experiences, mainly what we ate, here.
Picnics are a thing of simplicity. The meal shouldn’t be too heavy or require too much planning. In our case they usually comprise of a smorgasbord of food, whether it’s tossing together random pieces from the fridge, just some simple ingredients (think cheese, chocolate, fruit, nuts), or a light salad. Usually wine or beer makes its way into the bag. Cutlery and napkins should always be on hand.
Last weekend we had our first picnic of the season...
Read More