LET’S EAT, LET’S PLAY... LET'S COOK!
THE KITCHENS – YOUR NEW FOOD PLAYGROUND
If you live locally to the Gold Coast or are here visiting I highly recommend a visit to ‘THE KITCHENS’ at Robina Town Centre. It certainly delivers on the claim to be your new food playground.
A fantastic mix between night market inspired food stalls, cafes, restaurants and quality produce as well as cooking demonstrations, cooking classes, global cuisine workshops, relaxation areas to peruse cookbooks and visits by renowned Chefs.
One of those Chefs, George Calombaris, the well-known judge of Masterchef has opened his first Queensland venture Jimmy Grants. A take on a Soulvaki bar with a modern twist. The restaurant is named after the Greeks and Italians who moved to Australia post-war and were nicknamed “Jimmy Grant’ (rhyming slang for ‘Immigrant’). One of the many new restaurants I am looking forward to trying.
My mission for the day was to buy the ingredients needed for our early Xmas Dinner whilst trying not to be distracted by the likes of delish looking Cannoli (Wholly Cannoli), Rainbow Bagel (NYC Bagel Deli) or Crab Claw Inari (Hero Sushi). The crab claw Inari proved to be a worthwhile distraction 10/10.
I had decided on cooking Lamb so paid a visit to Pure Meats - a Butchering Master Store bringing what they call a paddock-to-plate experience. They had an impressive selection of meats and even had a Sausage Bar where you could create your own flavoured sausages – any meat combination, spices, flours – like coconut flour, almond meal – the sausage possibilities are endless! To create your own sausages the minimum purchase is 1kg at 24.95 a kilo. Not needing a kilo, I decided on some prepaid sausages from the cabinet - Preservative Free Pork & Leek. Other options that day were Lamb & Lemon Myrtle, Beef, Worcestershire & Black Pepper or Paleo. Pricewise I was pleasantly surprised with the Lamb Leg Roast (bone in) coming in at 12.95 per kilo. The major supermarkets are priced around the $10-12 per kilo mark at the moment.
Next door at the family owned and operated Earth Markets I gathered the vegetables for my side dishes. Keeping in season with Asparagus (September – March) and Mint (November – March). Everything looked so fresh and vibrant.
An atmosphere of enjoyment in food really has been created everywhere you look. Let’s Eat, Let’s Play... Let’s Cook!
AUSSIE XMAS DINNER FOR FOUR
WEBBER LAMB LEG ROAST
2.1kg Lamb Leg Roast (bone in)
Rosemary
Lemon Rind
Olive Oil
Combine rind, rosemary and olive. Put lamb in large snap lock bag. Massage in oil mix. Refrigerate. I did this 4 hours prior to cooking – this is flexible depending on the level of flavour you are after. Heat BBQ – we used a Webber heated to 190degrees. Season Lamb and place on BBQ plate hood down. Cook for 2 hours. Rest for 10 minutes, carve and serve.
ROASTED BABY CARROTS WITH DUKKAH
1 bunch Dutch (baby) Carrots
Olive Oil
Dukkah (Good Quality – I used Gourmet Morsels Red Earth Dukkah with Pistachio)
Set oven to 180 degrees. Trim carrots leaving a little of the stalk, scrub (don’t peel) place on roasting dish with olive oil to coated. Roast until tender cover with Dukkah, season and serve.
BBQ ASPARAGUS AND HAZELNUTS (recipe credit taste.com.au)
3 bunches asparagus, ends trimmed
Olive oil spray
½ cup Dry Roasted Hazelnuts
1/3 cup Mint Leaves
Pomegranate Dressing: 2 tablespoons pomegranate juice / 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Spray BBQ with Olive Oil, grill asparagus until bright green and slighjtly charred. Set aside to cool.
To make the dressing whisk juice and oil in a small bowl add salt and pepper. Pour dressing over asparagus and sprinkle with Hazelnuts and Mint.
2013 Pepperjack CABERNET SAVIGNON (Barossa)
Price $16.99 11/2016
Rating 4/5
Beautifully full bodied. Well suited to BBQ red meats. Great value for money when purchase price is under $20
2013 Brown Brothers Ten Acres SHIRAZ (Heathcote / Central VIC)
Price $24.99 11/2016
Rating 3.5/5
A nice Shiraz I was a little disappointed I couldn’t identify the hint of mint but the spice comes through. It is of popular opinion that wines from the Heathcote region benefit from a bit more age - would be interesting to try this wine in another two years.
Sieur d’Arques Grande Cuvee 1513 de Aimery (Languedoc – Roussillion)
Price $15.70 11/2016
Rating 5/5
I was originally introduced to this French sparkling as a gift and it has stayed a firm favourite ever since. It has won multiple awards and is always featured on top wine lists. The taste is dry yet still refreshing and crisp. Try it!
Developed By Aimee White
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