Last night I met some dear friends at Canvas Wine and Cocktail Bar in Brisbane. Nestled discretely among the clutch of restaurants in the Woolloongabba antiques precinct (I walked right past - there's no sign, almost like they don't wont to be found, like you have to be in the club to know they're even there). We ordered drinks to sip as we caught up on all the months since our last reunion. A funeral. A new romance. A grandchild. And a new home. We nibble tapas - spicy prawns, pork belly, … [Read more...]
South Bank Dessert Walking Tour
**Warning: If you’ve Quit Sugar then stop reading now. This blog post may be way too much temptation. I’ve just done the South Bank Dessert Walking Tour – and it was a ridiculously fun way to spend a Saturday morning (even if I now have sugar burn to rival Willy Wonka!). Karen, our Tour Leader and a fellow foodie, started our tour with a history of desserts. The first apple pie recipe dates from 1381. And in 1740 they made the first cupcake! That Aussie icon the Lamington was created … [Read more...]
Sunspace Cafe
Sunspace Café is the best kept secret on the Sunshine Coast If you’re heading to the Sunshine Coast any time soon I recommend taking some time out to visit Sunspace, a joyous little café I discovered last time I was in town. Recommended by a local, it is located in a fantastic old building that was formerly a German restaurant. The setting is beautiful, with lots of room both inside and out, a beautiful garden and plenty of grass for kids to run around. Serving vegetarian, … [Read more...]
The Greenhouse Factory
Someone recently recommended the Greenhouse Factory to me - so yesterday I went to check it out. I was impressed and thought you might like to know about it too :-) The menu at Greenhouse Factory is 100% plant based, vegan, with a focus on raw, organic and locally sourced produce. The café has been open for 6 months, and one thing it seems to have going for it is you can pretty much rock up and get a seat any time of the day (unlike some overly popular cafes where you have to queue to … [Read more...]
Cooking a Moroccan feast
I had so much fun today! I joined a Moroccan Cooking Class and cooked up a storm! The class was hosted by the lovely Vicki from Red Hot Chilli Pepper near Caloundra. This is what we rustled up for lunch: Spicy Moroccan dip Chickpea flatbread Moroccan spiced cous cous Chermoula baked fish Fez carrot and orange salad Chicken tagine with saffron, preserved lemons and olives First up we started by mixing our own Moroccan spice blend; cumin, ginger, cinnamon, coriander, … [Read more...]
Ginger and spice
This weekend I decided to tick a few things off my list with a visit to the Sunshine Coast. If you are a foodie like me, then I recommend a visit to these two places: Red Hot Chilli Pepper, Caloundra I discovered Vicki Taylor and her amazing spices late last year, and was so taken with her amazing cinnamon that I gave packets to my friends and family for Christmas. I decided my trip to the Sunny Coast was going to include a stop at Caloundra so I could check out Vicki’s spice shop – Red … [Read more...]
Flyin’ Fox ice blox – yummy!
Ice blocks. They take me back to childhood, and are hard to beat on a hot summers day, no matter what your age. The other day I met the inspiring woman behind the organic ice block brand Flying Fox Benna and her husband John launched their ice blocks back in 2009. Originally from the UK, they were in awe of the top quality fruit available here in Australia and identified a gap in the market for a range of quality ice blocks. Patience and determination lead to their success (the … [Read more...]
Why I’m doing a 3 day juice fast
In the midst of silly season, when everyone is eating way too many Christmas mince pies and dealing with fuzzyhead hangovers, I have embarked on my first ever juice fast. Why you ask? Well, there are several reasons: I’m curious to see how my body responds to fasting I currently have the time and the inclination I feel like I need to rejuvenate/detox I’m half way through my fast and happy to report that all is going well. Maybe I feel a bit low on energy, but I guess that’s to be … [Read more...]
Tania Hubbard’s wicked Gluten free bread
Last Wednesday I went to a workshop by the lovely Tania Hubbard, an inspiring Sunshine Coast woman who has spent the last 12 years managing her health with the help of a grain free diet. From a young age Tania was plagued with health problems, including migraines, chronic fatigue and repeated bouts of pneumonia. It wasn’t until 2013 that she finally discovered the root of her problem was an intolerance to lectin, a protein found in grains. (Read more about lectin here) Ever since then … [Read more...]
Brisbane’s hot new superfood bar – Coco Bliss
Coco Bliss first appeared on my radar after I spotted a post about them on Instagram. When I found myself in Bulimba last Monday I stopped to check them out. Boy what a find! At that point they had only been open for 3 days. Nicely positioned on the corner of Riddell and Oxford Streets Coco Bliss is decked out simply but stylishly, with more of a grab and go feel than a sit and natter vibe. Bar stools line the walls and lovely big windows open out over beds of fresh herbs, where you can sit … [Read more...]