Autumn Mushrooms

Autumn Mushrooms

Land of the Gnomes-Autumn Mushrooms Michal Haines  The mushroom is an odd affair. Neither fruit nor vegetable, they shy away from the light only to make an appearance when the exact moisture and temperature levels are to their liking. With … Read more »

The great Caper caper

The great Caper caper

The great Caper caper Virgil Evetts This isn’t going to be one of my usual wide swaths of cynicism columns, nor will it be a list of hot and not. This week, I’m dedicating my lines to just one topic … Read more »

Vanilla - the King of Spices

Vanilla – the King of Spices

  The King of Spices-Vanilla Michal Haines  Maybe it should be known as the Queen of Spices, but the little trick vanilla played on its own species is wonderfully elegant.  Part of the largest group of flowering plants in the world, … Read more »

Marcel's Hotcakes & Crepes

Marcel’s Hotcakes & Crepes

Marcel’s Hotcakes & Crepes They look delicious, where can I buy them?   Van Dyck pre-cooked crepes and hotcakes are available nationwide, but depending where you live and what supermarket you shop at, they will either be in a Marcel’s … Read more »

Chicken and Eggs

Chicken and Eggs

Picking up chicks and learning to suck eggs Virgil Evetts. I’m never happy unless I’ve got a project on. Whether it’s distilling spirits, making salami, or maturing cheese, I just have to have a folly on the go.  I guess … Read more »

Cooking with Lemongrass

Cooking with Lemongrass

The Lemon Weed Michal Haines  Lemongrass is one of those plants that it seems you cant kill. Ideal really for those with far from green fingers, it seems to stand down right hideous soil, high temperatures, and lack of water. … Read more »

Cheese at its Best

Cheese at its Best

The Local Girls – Cheese At it’s Best Michal Haines  I have had the honour for the last four years of judging for the annual Cuisine Champions of Cheese Awards and this year I have been asked back to sit … Read more »

Too Hot to Cook

Too Hot to Cook

Too Hot to Cook Michal Haines I am in awe of those people whose adoration for the heat of the summer months allows them to roast away in the sunshine hour after hour. Sure we are told that we are … Read more »

It's not about love......Virgil

It’s not about love……Virgil

It’s not about love: Ignoring Valentine ‘s Day and surviving the summer kitchen Virgil Evetts   I suppose I could have jumped on the commercial bandwagon this week and thrown together some Valentine-inspired recipes for lovers or food for a-wooing, … Read more »

Iced Milks....

Iced Milks….

Iced Milks…. Virgil Evetts I’ve had a lifelong love affair with iced coffee.  My mother had a scandalously permissive attitude towards her children and grown up beverages- tea, coffee whatever pleased us. I think she was just glad we weren’t … Read more »

Preserving Tomatoes

Preserving Tomatoes

Tomato Glut-ton – Michal Haines  Summer has all the joys of easy gardening. No cold rains, frosts and lack of sunlight to worry about. Just long clear, glorious days to help process all those wonderful natural sugars to make for … Read more »