Vege bar bites again

On a recent trip to Melbourne to visit family, our return flight was delayed so we relished an opportunity to visit a favourite eat. The Vege bar on Brunswick St.
It's not fancy or schmancy food by any means, but it's wholesome food served in an even more wholesome environment, Brunswick.
A loud and colourful vege burrito that screams all things B Street, a lentil and chickpea curry with brown rice and naan bread was healthy and satisfying much 'to my boyfriends dismay', filling our tummies to the brim.
It screams variety, and variety is the spice to life! The Vege bar is loud, fun and unique to Melbourne, a destination eat on the bustling Brunswick strip.
visit http://www.vegiebar.com.au/ and eat.

love amie x

Pittwater perfect - The Boathouse

The Boathouse

A beautiful iconic destination is the Boathouse cafe, situated on the picturesque Pittwater side of Palm beach. A favourite eat spot for Sydney northerners.

Colourful baskets of fruits and flowers greet you warmly, whilst you meander through the door baristas are buzzing like little bees to get the coffees out, 'stat'. Just a few steps further and your eyes can take a break on the over sized chalkboard menu or the sweet eye candy in the glass cabinet. For something simple to a little more special, the breakfasts are superb and a light lunch or a burger are a treat with a cold vino or ale!

A spot you must visit, breathtaking in summer and even through winter there is a calming warmth to this special slice of heaven that must be seen to be believed.

eat.love.explore something new this weekend.

love amie x

one pot green apple puds

This apple pot pudding is a deliciously easy winter pot pud to warm the heart of any pudding fan.

Try stewed apples, or a combination of apples with rhubarb & strawberries or apricots for those who get restless with the same, same (like I!).

one pot green apple puds

makes 2-4

cooks in 20 minutes

ingredients

3-4 granny smith apples, peeled, cored & roughly chopped

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1 tablespoon water

pinch cinnamon, to taste

3/4 cup plain flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

40g butter, chopped into 1cm squares

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/2 (125ml) cup milk

to do...

Pre-heat oven to 180C for fifteen minutes.

Place apples, brown sugar, water and cinnamon in a saucepan over medium heat. Simmer for 5 minutes or until apples are slightly softened. Remove from heat.

Place flour and baking powder into a medium bowl and rub in the butter with fingertips.

Pour combined egg and milk into flour and mix until combined.

Spoon apples evenly between 2, 1 cup capacity pots or 4 small ramekins. Dollop tablespoonfuls of pudding mixture on top of apple mixture.

Bake for 18-20 minutes or until golden brown and the pudding is cooked through.

eat.

love amie x

dee why hotel - winter delights

A paint palette on my plate, crispy skinned (just how I like it) barramundi dishes are a flavoursome surprise choice. Served with gnocchi or smashed baby chats, braised winter vegetables with a smooth pea or sweet corn puree was bright and fresh. A perfect mood improver for the recent cold and wintery nights.

Make Dee Why Hotel a Tuesday night trip, when everything on the menu is $15. At this price serving the high quality pub food, you would be crazy not to make this a weekly event with friends. Taste your way through the delicious pub menu, which has been recently refreshed. This new style of food is serenely similar to the uber cool, Melbourne gastro pub scene. Let's hope this style catches on in other Northern restaurant establishments.

This is a Northern Beaches must eat if you live locally, or just want to trek somewhere new. Dee Why Hotel serves delicious midweek food that is kind to your wallet even if you want a sneaky vino or two! The space is warm and cosy with the addition of a fire place and over sized communal tables.

Who would have thought, that Dee Why is now a foodi i to dot!
love amie x

brik

From the bustling streets of Tunisia to the quieter beachside streets of Narrabeen, comes a traditional and flavoursome entree, that is eaten daily in Tunisia. Brik is a triangular shaped paper thin pastry (known as malsouqa) parcel that is commonly filled with a mixture of tuna, cheese, spices and herbs, and then topped with a cracked egg. Deep fried in olive oil and served with a squeeze of fresh lemon. This was last night's new shared eat from Elle's travels to Tunis. We are all now new fans of this delicious snack.



Elle's Brik (pro-nounced 'breek') with tuna, Parmesan and egg

serves: 4 hungry eyed people

takes: approx 20 minutes

ingredients

1 x 300g can tuna in springwater
1/4 cup curly leaf parsley, finely chopped
2 tablespoons Parmesan, grated
1/2 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon ground smoked paprika
1 pkt frozen spring roll pastry sheets
4 x 60g eggs
Olive oil, deep frying.
lemon wedges, to serve


what to do
Combine tuna, 2 tablespoons parsley, Parmesan and spices into a small bowl, mix well.
Place one sheet of pastry on top of a small bowl, pushing down gently to make a well. Spoon 1/4 of tuna mixture into pastry well, add cracked egg and fold pastry into a triangular shape. Repeat with remaining mixture.
Deep fry in hot oil, turning once. Cook until golden brown on both sides.
Remove brik carefully from oil and drain on paper toweling.
Serve immediately with a squeeze of fresh lemon and remaining parsley.

love amie x

zucchini fritters w chunky salsa

Serve these healthy vegetarian Zucchini Fritters for a weekend lunch with a

Chunky salsa & a bottle of bubbles...

ingredients

1 avocado, peeled, seed removed, diced

2 tomatoes, diced

juice of half a lemon

1 garlic clove, finely diced

salt and pepper, to taste

50g baby spinach, to serve

a little to do...

Combine all the ingredients (excl spinach) into a medium sized bowl.

Sprinkle Salsa & spinach generously over freshly cooked fritters.

eat...

love amie x

beachy pub grub food

The Beach rd Hotel or the 'beachy' to the local cool and uncool Bondi crowds was a pleasant surprise eat.

Now a Northerner I often visit Bondi to catch up with girlfriends and on a more recent catch up I ate a delightful bowl of fresh potato gnocchi with tomatoes and basil. The gnocchi was fluffy, light and soft like tiny little clouds in my mouth. Coupled with simple flavours of freshly roasted tomatoes, beautiful basil and a touch of mozzarella proved a hit in my mouth!

Yum...

Beach Rd Hotel is highly prized for it's local and transient drinking crowds and over sized hall like nightclub vibe. A cruisy enough spot for a light ale and midweek meal that won't break the budget.

love amie x