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RECIPE: Strawberry Balsamic Sauce - Savoury

This is a great topper for Scallops, Fish, Chicken or a range of Vegetarian Options.

INGREDIENTS:

1 punnet of ripe or a little over ripened Strawberries

4 Tbsp of Balsamic Vinegar Glaze

100ml Olive Oil

Pinch of Sea Salt Flakes

Pinch of Cracked Pepper

METHOD:

Place all ingredients in a bowl. Using a stick blender combine until smooth and silky. Add extra balsamic or seasoning to suit your taste.

Lime Juice may also be added if you want extra zing.

RECIPE: zesty Lime Hollandaise

This recipe goes great on Salmon/Fish or my favourite is on a good quality piece of Steak such as a Rib Fillet or Eye Fillet. You can also omit the lime for a traditional Hollandaise Sauce if you prefer. If you replace the White Wine Vinegar with Tarragon Vinegar you will make Bernaise.

INGREDIENTS:

1 Egg Yolk
1/2 tsp of Dijon Mustard
100ml White Wine Vinegar
200g Butter, melted then clarified (take the white milk out and discard)
1 Lime, zest
Squeeze Lime Juice
Salt and Cracked Pink Pepper

METHOD:

In a metal bowl place yolk, mustard, zest and vinegar. Place a saucepan half filled with water on the stove and bring to a simmer. (Hint: pot should be small enough for the bowl to sit over without the bowl touching the water).

Whisk the yolk mixture until combined then place over simmering water. Ensure that you are constantly whisking whilst over the heat to make sure the eggs do not scramble. Your goal here is to ensure that the egg mix will thicken to a custard looking mix without scrambling the eggs.

Once your mix has thickened. Slowly pour in the melted butter, whilst whisking to incorporate. (Hint: add about 1/2tsp at a time until incorporated then add a little more as the mix starts to stabalise.)

Once all the butter is incorporated, and looks smooth and silky, take away from the heat and add Lime juice and season a little. Taste then adjust seasoning to desired taste.

Serve immediately over your Fish or Steak. (Note this also goes great on eggs, Roasted Tomatoes, Asparagus etc.)

If not using immediately: keep in a warm but not too hot area of your kitchen. Cover with gladwrap.

Hollandaise can not be kept longer than a few hours. Do not make this up too far ahead of service time. (Best done 20 minutes or less before)

RECIPE:: Pineapple & Lime Nachos

INGREDIENTS:

1 Lime, zest

2 Limes Juice

3 Limes diced Flesh
1/4tsp diced Kachai (found in Asian goods stores, omit if not found)

4 or more shakes of Tabasco (to your taste of hotness)

200g Diced Fresh Pineapple

2 ripe Avocado's, diced

4 Tbsp of torn Coriander Leaves (Use half in Salsa and half for Garnish)

150g Sour Cream (Use half for Garnish and half for Dipping)

200g good Quality Mozzarella and Tasty Cheese Combined

175g good Quality Tortilla Chips (I use Lime Tostito's)

METHOD:

Combine Lime juice, zest and flesh with tobasco, pineapple, coriander and avocado.

Place tortilla chips in desired, heat proof, serving dish and top with cheese. 

Allow Cheese to melt on top under a grill or in a moderately heated oven. (approx 180℃)

After removing from oven, immediately top with Salsa and a couple of spoon fulls of Sour Cream.

Garnish with a little more Coriander and serve extra Sour Cream on the side for dipping.

Catering an Event

Warwick RSL.

Lately I have taken up residence in the beautiful Warwick district. Working with a great team at the Warwick RSL. There are a number of great rooms to book your event at the RSL and the food is of 5 star quality as any I have worked in over the years. Presentation and options are well thought out and the head chef Emma allowed me to add my own little twist on a few functions recently. Here are a few photos and descriptions of recent events.

My Sticky Date Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce and Caramelised Dates.

I love taking photos of the plate line up.

There were various dietary requirements for this event so I roasted and marinated Capsicum, Tomatoes, Mushroom and Zucchini and gently layered them over baked Polenta on a bed of Spinach accompanied by my home made Tomato Relish.

Warwick RSL have their own Butcher and his Chicken Mignons are an absolute tummy pleaser.

My version of Waldorf Salad.

Garnished with fresh Sring Flowers.

REVIEW: The Dock - Urangan/Hervey Bay

Positioned on the boardwalk at the Hervey Bay Marina, Shop 6-7, 7 Buccanear Drive, Urangan (Hervey Bay).

I first stopped at this little restaurant to read the AFrame out the front - Customers Wanted, no experience necessary. Full training provided. APPLY WITHIN.
So then I was curious. Walked up to the menu to read what they had to offer. Tappers and everything was around $10-12. Sold
I had been looking for something different for lunch and had grown tired of the same old menus and the boring sandwiches for lunch.
Ordering the Greek Yros Pita which was marinated lamb with Tzytzyki and Rocket. I asked if I could change the bitter Rocket to Mesculin or another type of lettuce. (Fussy Chef thing) They were accommodating. I accompanied this with an English Breakfast Tea. The outdoor seating is comfortable and comes with an amazing view. Definitely recommend "The Dock" for great food, friendly staff and a tasty menu.

REVIEW: Santini Pizza E Cucina - Torquay/Hervey Bay

Located at 470 Charlton Esplanade, Torquay - Hervey Bay,  Qld.

This is a lovely Italian Restaurant that is right on the Esplanade in Torquay. The menu has Pizza, Pasta and Chef Suggestions, I opted for the Scallopini Masala shown above.

Staff seated me straight away even though I had not booked. They took a while to come back for my order but I was brought over a bottle of water in the meantime. There is a large selection of drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic. Desserts and Gelato are all made on premises.

No wood-fired pizza, but from what I observed coming out to other tables, look like they are on homemade dough.

The restaurant caters for large and small groups and was rather busy already at 630pm. I would suggest booking.

Decor is rather eclectic but relaxing with atmospheric lighting. I managed to get a table by the window overlooking the park.

The Scallopini arrived with lashings of vegetables and real veal. Great flavours for each vegetables and the Masala sauce was so tasty and I wanted to lick my plate clean. I stopped myself from doing this only because I wanted to try the homemade Cannoli, which also was authentic and had that perfect crunch with the amazing custard. 

Even though I don't normally eat dessert I had to accompany this with the homemade Pistachio Gelato.

This is the Lemon Crepes, the table next door allowed me to photograph. This lovely family asked me to join them and were quick to tell me how enjoyable their Risotto and Crepes were.

Overall it was a fantastic atmosphere, food and the owners are a delight to chat with.

The Owners Of Santini are Greyhound Rescue dog owners and I was privileged enough to meet the two family additions. Feel free to ask to meet them.

HOTEL REVIEW: Silver Sands - Hervey Bay

Located at 47 Charlton Esplanade, Torquay - Hervey Bay QLD.

I booked the Bedsitter through Bookings.com for a mere $73.70 for the night.
The room was clean, tidy and had nice decor. The shower had low pressure and the bed was very hard.
The stay was peaceful and as I was at the back of the complex did not hear a peep from anyone or anything all night.
Brilliant location and easy access to the beach and restaurants.
I did a review on the Italian up the road called "Santini", this was a must and I can't wait to come back and do the food there again.
The staff at the accommodation were very lovely and suggested things to see and do.
There is an on-site laundry and parking plus free WiFi.

HOTEL REVIEW: Stockyards Distillery - Rockhampton

Situated at 52 Gladstone Road, Allenstown in Rockhampton QLD.

This quaint old pub turned into a distillery is worth a look. From the outside she screams for a little TLC but when you open the door to the inside you will change your mind.

The distillery is currently making Rum and Gin, and is quite an point of interest. I booked for one nights accommodation here and was surprised that they were only charging $65 a night.

The room has ample space, is clean and recently re-decorated. The wall had a fresh painting by a local artist and made the room look a little boutique like.
There is no TV so if you are planning a night in... ensure you have your laptop with you. There is free WiFi and I had no problems connecting.
The water is hot and not too bad on the pressure side.

The bed is comfortable and not too hard.

The staff here are very friendly and especially Carla, who made me feel welcome. Carla went out of her way to assist me in finding what I needed in the area and was lovely to chat with. There is off street parking available, all though limited, so get in early.

There is a cafe on-site that is open for breakfast and lunch. I did not get the chance to try this due to my schedule but I was informed they make all their own cakes on premises and that the breakfast is a definite for next time.

Restaurant Consultancy

See my new Restaurant Consultancy Tab for more information on how I can help your business TODAY!!!! or go to www.nutmegandpepper.com for more information and pricing.

Recipe Creation and Menu Creation are just a part of the services on offer.

Front of house styling.

On Trend Menu/Food Styling. 

Everything you need help with: HACCP, Franchise Manual, Food Costing, Wastage, Training and much much more.... phone Chef Nadene today on 0403800010 leave a message if I am on the road and I will call back within 24 hours or email on nutmegandpepper@outlook.com.

REVIEW: The Grazing Goat Cafe - Mackay City

Located at 58 Wood Street, Mackay.

Wow....looking for a place to brunch today, I headed down the main street and took a turn down past the old Australian Hotel. I found this little hidden gem. The locals must be keeping this one to themselves. I wandered in to a very active little cafe with lovely outdoor and indoor seating options. The staff are friendly and courteous. Pricing is reasonable for what you get. 

I ordered the Eggs Benedict with Bacon and the Hollandaise is home made and very very good. Gave compliments to the chef on this one. Presentation was fantastic and even came with watercress spinach and Avocado which wasn't on the menu and a very nice touch indeed. All though the Sourdough was a little over toasted and quite hard, the rest of the food was fantastic and I struggled to finish the whole meal. 

My English Tea didn't disappoint either. The flavour of the tea they used was spot on, nice and strong and just what I needed this morning. I chose to sat outside as inside was a little noisy if you are trying to talk. I highly recommend this Cafe for brunch ...with Fathers Day tomorrow it would be a great treat for Dads.

Thank you for a pleasant experience and I will come back before I leave Mackay.

REVIEW: Avenue Cafe - Mackay North

Located on Evans Avenue, in North Mackay.
This little cafe is a nice treat, for both the food and ambiance. For a small cafe it certainly is of Restaurant quality.
Being a huge brunch fan, I was not disappointed by the home made Hollandaise Sauce and my eggs were cooked perfect. Sorry no photo for this one as it came out just in time to fix my hunger pains. lol.
The staff were friendly and quick. The tables were clean and they even bring water without asking. Great reflection on the company that the staff are trained well and are on top of everything, even on a day that seamed a little hectic. Noticed they were out of a few things being asked for by previous customer to me. Shows that if  you have a favourite item at this venue you will need to get in early.
Parking is easy as there are rows of parking out the front, center of the road and across the road.

RECIPE: Vanillabean, Lemon and Dill Sauce

Ingredients:

4 lemons juice
4 tbsp dill chopped
2 lemons zest, finely grated on a microplane
100 ml white wine
100g butter diced
2tbsp vanillabean paste
2tbsp cornflour diluted in water

Method:

In a small sacepan, add lemon juice, zest and white wine. Place on stove over medium heat and allow to come slowly to the boil.

Whisk in dill and vanillabean paste, then add in cornfliur mix. Once the sauce has boiled again reduce heat to low and whisk in butter, a little at a time, making sure each piece is completely incorporated before adding the next. Adjust seasoning to taste.

Serve immediately nape over Salmon or other fish. May also be used over chicken or asparagus.

REVIEW: My Rainbow Cafe - Cannonvale

 I set out on a mission to go for brunch in Airlie Beach today. On my way I stopped at a little harbour just outside of Cannonvale to nab a few photos of the glorious day and accidentally stumbled on this little gem.
My Rainbow Cafe is on the first level of the Shingley Bay Resort in Cannonvale. With an alfresco balcony boasting amazing views of the harbour, I could not resist.

I first walked in to see a well stocked cabinet of pastry selections. Everything is made on the premises and I could not go past the Beef Pie.

You can choose to have this with Salad and Chips or if you are like me and prefer not to overload, I just had the pie.

The staff are friendly, attentive when required and most of all they care if you are having a great experience. The owner of this business should be proud of the effort and ease at which these girls work.

My tea came out in this cute little pot, I felt like I was at a high tea rather than just a mere lunch. Nice touch with the home made shortbread biscuit as well. The whole experience mad me want to drive back the 1 hour and 45 minutes from Mackay again. This was worth the drive by itself.

Make sure you try a pie or take one away for a light dinner. They are not filling... but the pastry is light, flaky and sensational. Above was the view from my table.

Thank you for an enjoyable experience to both the owner and the staff that were on that day. Keep up the great work I will be back.😉

RECIPE: Smoked Salmon and Roasted Vegetable Salad

Ingredients: (4 pax)

800g Smoked Salmon                                         1 large Beetroot

1 medium Sweet Potato                                       1/4 Butternut Pumpkin

4 medium Washed Potatoes                                 1/2 bunch Rosemary

1 Red Onion                                                        1 large Carrot

1 large Zucchini                                                   500g Mixed Lettuce, washed

2 Tbsp Balsamic Vinegar                                    150ml Olive Oil

pinch Nutmeg                                                      pinch Cumin

Salt and Cracked Pepper                                      150g Persian Fetta Cheese

Method:

Top and tail Beetroot and cut into cubes approx 10cm in size. Place in a roasting pan with a little seasoning and roast on 190℃ for 15 minutes or until just cooked through. Meanwhile skin and cube the sweet potato roughly the same size as beetroot. Do the same for the Pumpkin and cook the sweet potato and pumpkin in the same roasting pan for 10-15 minutes or until just cooked through.

Lastly dice potato, a sprig of rosemary and carrot and cook in a roasting pan for 15-20 minutes or until just cooked through. 

Place all vegetables into a bowl and add 50ml of Olive oil, nutmeg and cumin. Toss lightly and set aside. 

With the remaining oil add the vinegar and mix together with a little seasoning.

To Assemble:

Place washed mixed lettuce in the middle of the plate. Top with roasted vegetables then drizzle a little of the balsamic vinegar dressing over the top. Lightly arrange the smoked salmon and fetta cheese around the top of the roasted vegetables then garnish with fresh rosemary. Serve immediately.

REVIEW: Oscars Cafe - Mackay

Located on the corner of Sydney and Gordon Street in Mackay. This is a great little Cafe to sit Al Fresco or Inside if you wish. Plenty of tables and offers all day breakfast options. I chose the Breakfast One which consisted of Organic Poached Eggs (Cooked to Perfection), Bakery Toast, Tomato and Bacon. The bacon was a little greasy from being cooked on a dirty grill but still tasty. I was impressed that the tea was leaf tea not a bag and the service was quick and friendly. I recommend this for a great place to relax and you are a short walk to Coles and other shops to walk around afterwards.