Change and Travel

First off my apologies for leaving all the blog efforts to Lush for the last few months. I came back from travelling for work to head-off overseas again for a wedding before moving interstate and jetting off on a back-to-basics Christmas 'cruise'. I am now back and cooking, so expect plenty of new recipes - hopefully without too many failures...

But where is back you may ask? For the next 6 months I will be calling Canberra home (for those who don't know it is actually Australia's capital city), but with regular (food) visits back to Melbourne. As I have been told by many people, I am here at the best time; the sun is shining, the temperatures are rising and I’ll be moving back to Melbourne before winter really sets in.

Although Lush and I always talk about Melbourne, I am beginning to get into the food scene in Canberra (as small as it is) so expect a few places to crop up over the next few weeks.

Louisiana Cajun in Melb

What: My Mexican Cousin
Where: Corner of Sturt St & Southbank Boulevard, Southbank, Melbourne

First thing you must know before going here is that it is not Mexican food. It is Louisiana style Cajun food – i.e. inspired by the USA southern traditions and flavor palate.

Drinks

• Delas Cotes du Rhone, "Saint Esprit" Rouge ('09' Northern Rhone, FRA)

Entrees

• Crispy fried chicken wings w/ coriander and blue cheese (I was glad the coriander was just a garnish - since I think it is out of place with this dish. However, the chicken was fried just right, and spiced to Cajun perfection)
• Season yourself soft shell crab w/ aioli, watermelon, chili, ginger and mint salsa (I loved the crab, and the Cajun salt to self season was great, wonderfully complemented by the salsa. The presentation of the dish in a shell was clever, but the aioli was nonexistent - only a bit in the salsa the chef said, but honestly I did not notice it - but not needed anyways).
• The "po boy" - with the flavour of the day for us being was chicken gravy (not really Louisiana inspired - and I would know my family is from the deep south - but very good. The reason I say this is because a real po boy is not on a crispy baguette).

Mains

• Beef ribs with red cabbage slaw, jus and cress (dry roasted beef ribs, which fell of the bone - very tender and juicy - delicious and with a seasoned dry rub - very yummy)

Dessert

• Pecan pie cream brulee with banana compote and sable (really three desserts: a sable, compote and brulee - but the brulee was amazing, with dollops of pecan paste in it - superb)
• Beignets, with salted caramel, Chantilly cream and strawberries (how could I ever pass by salted caramel on a menu- especially when you have Beignets to dip in it (Beignets are like a cinnamon donut from the Deep South - French origin originally though), however these were not a classic New Orleans beignet, but very tasty regardless).

Review:
The whole meal was fantastic (great atmosphere, food and service), but definitely a shock if you were expecting Mexican food. While not 100% true to Louisiana style Cajun food – a very nice adaptation.

However – one small thing – if you are going to have Beignets, and call yourself a Louisiana style restaurant, you really need to have been to Café du Monde, the home of New Orleans Beignets (located in the French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA).

Lush

Picnic Time

What: So Frenchy So Chic
Where: Werribee Park
When: Sunday 15 January 2012

To the sound of iconic French hip hop band "Féfé", we snacked in the afternoon sun on soft brioche rolls filled with rare roasted Angus beef, provided in the "Decadent French Fare" picnic basket we ordered from "Egg Unlimited", while sipping on a glass of 2009 Beaujolais Rosé - Manganése (Domaine Richard Rottiers - Gamay).

The Picnic Hamper contained:
4 x brioche rolls w/ rare roasted Angus beef, onion marmalade and horseradish cream
1 x  nicoise salad (boiled egg, olives, green beans, quartered boiled potatoes, spinach, cherry tomatoes)
1 x cheese plate (brie, blue cheeses, muscatels, quince paste w/ rye, currant and walnut croutes)
2 x pear & lemon polenta cakes (for DIY lemon polenta cakes I suggest Nigella's recipes)

Review:
A truly wonderful summer afternoon - made only better by great food, good wine, and wonderful company. However - due to the predominately crystal clear blue sky, the sun felt much hotter that the reported 26 degrees Celsius, thus for the next picnic one attends - don't forget a shade tent or large umbrella, and either a beach folding chair or deck chair.

Lush