Courier Mail 26th June 2010

Article in the Brisbane Courier Mail newspaper of 26th June 2010 about BSE's succesful docking of the Manly Ferry "Freshwater"...a significant achievement to win the tender bid & bring the vessel to Queensland for its major refit.

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The Very Fine Taste of Orange

Managed to spend the last few days of my holidays taking in the Orange wine show judging, and visiting some of the many exhibitors.

My very first stop and in fact very first tasting was of Brangayne of Orange's extraordinary 2008 Sauvignon Blanc...sensational! This wine won a gold medal at the New Zealand International Wine Show this year...very well done to Pamela, Don and David Hoskins indeed to beat the kiwis at their own game! Their 2006 Isolde Reserve Chardonnay was also awarded the best wine of show in Orange this year.

Also enjoyed Dindima Estate's gold medal wining Shiraz. Well done Lee & family.

Special trophy of regional excellence went to Murray Smith for his 2005 Canobolas Smith Chardonnay..

The best Sauvignon Blanc of Show went to the 2008 Logan Wines Sauvignon Blanc.

Special mention to the great hospitality and range of products (including Hunter Valley cheeses) of the Prince of Orange winery.

Congratulations too to Printhie for the presentation of their cellar door and their impressive line up of products...the largest producer in the district, set well off the beaten track and well worth the drive in.

Must spend more time out here in the Orange district...missed a couple of beaut events including " Stew and Shiraz in the Shed" due to time constraints.

Note for the diary...17 - 26 April 2009 Orange Food Week.

Also enjoyed the delectable goodies at Manners and Borg Fine foods, and the best local meats from M & J Butchery.

Go West more often young man, I say!

Pearly Oysters

Back home now reminiscing about my recent holidays...especially remembering those magnificent Clyde River oysters grown in Batemans Bay.

Pearly Oysters have just won yet another award for their produce...this time to do with quality environmental practices.

I have to say that their oysters are just as good as it gets!

Tried the local native oysters (mud oysters)... see pic above...big, juicy, salty, and very nice.

The water quality there makes their Sydney Rock Oysters very special also.

A freshly squeezed fruit juice, and a dozen freshly shucked oysters for breakfast, and you know you're on holidays somewhere special!

Bondi 2008 Sculpture by the Sea

Back from holidays and now with computer repaired (what is it with going away and coming home to find your PC unco-operative?)...lots of blog posts to catch up on!

Spent a very pleasant morning doing the Bondi To Tamarama walk taking in this year's sculpture by the sea pieces...very pleasant.

Even inspired me to go and catch the new Coen Brothers movie with George, Brad, Frances & John Malkovich...kind of dark but very spot on!

Blues news

Very much in countdown mode to the Narooma Bluesfest right now..I'm heading South to that beautiful little town on the NSW South Coast in just 3 days time. Jo Jo Zep and the Falcons, The Backsliders, Pete Murray, Toni Childs, Fiona Boyes, Doc Span & Ross Williams, etc, etc, for 3 days of blues & bliss...

And the really good part is that I'm on leave for 3 whole weeks of cruising around wineries, cheese makers, oyster growers, fish co-ops etc on the South Coast. Five Star camping out under the stars (hopefully this little burst of early summer will hang around for a few weeks yet).

Great to read in this mornings Sydney Morning Herald about the plans in place for Good Food Month in Sydney in October..literally hundreds of magic events planned in town...check it out here http://gfm.smh.com.au/

I'm a bit disappointed though that I wasn't able to get a gig at Narooma for the man I reckon is Australia's best bluesman right now...Sugarcane Collins. Andy has an amazing catalogue from jazzy North Queensland numbers through to genuine delta blues roots. If you ever get the chance to sit on a pub verandah & listen to this man, you'll know what I mean...its a life changing experience you'll never forget. Here's his website: http://www.andycollins.com/index.htm You can order CDs online...I just bought his "Way Down The River" CD recently, But reckon his Barron Delta Blue and Lake Street Seranade are equally as excellent..."Two to the Valley" is a favourite of mine, being an old Brisbane boy.

Seriously good music this...therapy for the soul!

See you next time you're anywhere near Sydney, Sugarcane!

Butter Turkey mini-pies

Spent this morning packing the car and getting ready to head off to the Narooma Blues Festival & three weeks of R&R five star camping around the South Coast of NSW next weekend. Can't wait...have packed up my Cobb Oven & all sorts of F&B goodies (the back seat is a pretty impressive wine cellar right now).

Then thought I would have a crack at making some more mini-pies to munch on during the week. I had picked up a great little box of 12 assorted 75g jars of curry blends from the good folks at Mudgeeraba Spices and Curry Blends at The Good Food and Wine Show (an old favourite from the Gold Coast Farmers Markets and the amazing Brisbane Powerhouse Farmers Markets), and thought I would use their Butter Chicken Murgh Makhani Curry blend to make up some savoury little pies.

I like their Ingredients list: "Freshly ground pure spice" and "No colours, no preservatives, no salt, no sugar, no gluten, no free flowing agents, no MSG"...just pure ground spices! Great products.

Eventually decided to make "Butter Turkey" pies, using Turkey mince I spotted at Coles...added plenty of fresh mushrooms and a some peas, corn & diced carrots. Sweetened with some palm sugar & chopped in a couple more red chillies to keep them nice & savoury.

Smaller pies this time...muffin size (a bit odd with round bases & squarish tops...but you get that!)

Anyway, a bit of fun in the kitchen & very tasty!

A new Butter Pie for Sir Paul to sing about:

"I had another look

and I had a cup of tea

and a butter pie (butter pie)

(The butter wouldn`t melt

so I put it in the pie)"

Roll on Narooma!

PS The Broncos went down inside the last minute of the game last night after leading the entire match. Guess there's always next year. Well done brave team.