Back Left, Host Natascha Moy, Left Front, Jennifer Evans, Back Right Steve Shipley, Mikey Robins and Richard Tenser

On the show yesterday I had a stellar cast, Jennifer Evans winner of the last My Kitchen Rules TV show, I love her! She is the most delightful young woman with this fantastic light energy that makes you want to hug her. Jen has introduced a new Thai curry range.  The new range dubbed ‘Jennifer’s Kitchen’ features five varieties including Real Panang Curry Paste, Real Mussaman Curry Paste, Real Red Curry Paste and Real Green Curry Paste – all carefully created using hand-grown, natural ingredients. Jen made us the Mussaman curry for the show and I couldn’t get enough. A good amount of heat, some clear flavour profiles and a perfect spice balance. In fact I loved it so much I insisted she invite me for dinner!

Jennifer Evans MKR winner

The Lunchalot.com crew comes with the delightful CEO Richard Tenser and the funny man Mikey Robins. These business partners have created a fantastic venture that I truly believe is a win win for both diners and restaurants. And believe me I get a few of these ideas across my desk a month.  For those of you who often grab a spontaneous bite to eat after work, or arrange last minute dining plans with family or friends over the weekend, then you should consider giving this website a try. lunchalot.com have hundreds of restaurant partners across Sydney who upload last minute available tables for up to 50% off. Restaurants choose one of two offers, either 50% off the total food bill or 25% off food and drinks. Sounds good to me!

Mikey is always hungry!

Everyone’s a winner as it’s a great way for restaurants to fill empty tables and we get a great meal at a fraction of the price. Restaurants include Catalina in Rose Bay, Watts on Crown in Surry Hills and Kaya in Darlinghurst. As the bookings are all done online through the website you don’t have to worry about coupons or printing a voucher. Just turn up, enjoy and be pleasantly surprised when the bill comes. Membership is pretty cheap around $10 a month and that gives you 5 bookings a month. Anyhow Mikey was funny and Richard delightful so I’m in.

Steve Shipley was my wine guest and he is a great wine blogger who does it all for love http://sazinthecellar.blogspot.com.au/  He made me very, very happy because he brought on my favourite white wine varietal, Riesling. Each of these wines was superb from the affordable to the slightly more special. Seek them all out and try for yourself and sign up for Steve’s blog he loves wine and isn’t selling anything so you know its all from the heart.

2007 Annies Lane Copper Trail Clare Valley
2000 Pokolbin Estate Hunter Riesling
2009 Hugel Alsace Riesling
2008 Grosset Polish Hill

2008 Grosset Polish Hill, was on the show but the 2006 will be even better!

Until we meet again, eat, drink and live the life you deserve!

Natascha X

MSC Certified King Prawns

I had the joy of eating at a new restaurant called Bishop Sessa on Crown Street in Surry Hills. For those of you who are nostalgic it resides in place of the old Taboo. This is a modern clean space and the food reflects this too. Chef Paul Cooper who was also on my show hails from Melbourne and he brings some interesting textures to play. There were many stand out dishes like the Beef and Bone Marrow Dumplings, Black Vinegar, Pearl Barley  $11, the  hugest MSC certified prawns I have ever eaten with a flavourful chermoula.

Scallop Ceviche

The delicate Scallop Ceviche, Cucumber, Avocado, Lemon & Ginger beer sorbet $16 is fresh and textural. And then there is the Soy & Honey Glazed Brisket, Avocado Mousse, Cucumber Kim Chi, Avocado Yoghurt $28 served with a spoon, not a knife because it falls apart with ease, delicious and perfectly matched with freshness cucumber and the creamy avocado this is a stand out dish. Plus for the price you can share two mains and leave with a very reasonable bill.

Honey Glazed Brisket

They offered a very good Riesling which is all I really care about at the moment. If I can’t find one by the glass at a restaurant these days my enjoyment factor is diminished immediately so all round my Avo experience has been a positive one. A great restaurant, a great radio show and truly I am a happy eater!

On air at Eastside, Stewart White, Andy Stewart, Paul Cooper

Bishop Sessa
A: 527 Crown Street, Surry Hills
T: 02 8065 7223
E: eat@bishopsessa.com.au
W: www.bishopsessa.com.au

At Grain you will discover a beautiful bar with style, class and a little pizazz. I have such a spoilt and blessed life (fortunately I am aware of this and so don’t take any of it for granted). Last week I was a VIP guest at the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel’s newest venture, Grain. The room is designer chic with lots of subtle textures all worked together into a succulent tapestry of beauty.

The Designer Interior is modern and edgy

Huge timber doors herald you in and I loved the fact that you can enter from the road as well as the hotel lobby. Designed by the esteemed Michael McCann with an island bar, carved of Queensland Blackbutt timber. The bar is the focal point standing proudly in the middle of the room. I managed to get a very comfy stool, (I am not one for standing in my killer heels) and watched the world go by both outside in the street and inside as people moved around (I am always a little fascinated by hotel bars there is always meant to be some gorgeous traveller in there desperate to meet the love of his life or perhaps only in the movies). It is a very airy bar with huge open windows, high ceilings and a good amount of space. You could perch as a couple or gather a crowd and feel comfortable doing both.

Natural textures set the tone

With an emphasis on superior product the bar has embraced The Rocks Brewery for a little bit of local and has included a wine list highlighting organic, biodynamic and sustainable wines from Australia and around the world. This pleases me as I still think there are a whole lot of ‘old timers’ out there who think organic wines are rubbish.

Only good quality spirits wine and beer here

The fun part of the evening included a cocktail trial that went on for some time, (I know because my head hurt the next morning) The Paloma is a tasty combination with tequila and grapefruit soda. Simple and easy to drink. The Pink Lady on the other hand was a little more complex with a  a blend of applejack, sloe gin and pomegranate syrup.

And a little bit of the bush features..delicious

I was thrilled that the food was fantastic, most launches have awful food as they are never set up to cater to a bunch of starving freeloading media. In this case however Hamish Ingham, of Bar H in Surry Hills who is the consulting chef served some interesting and very tasty morsels. I loved the  steamed brioche with smoked trout roe and had about six of those. The textured, seasoned kingfish tartare with pickled beetroot and seaweed crackers was fun.

Hamish Ingham – Consulting Chef did an excellent job

Hamish is working in some native Australian products like the  salt bush which is deep fried in what seemed to be a tempura batter. The mini Pavlova which is so Aussie anyhow was even more so when it came served with  native muntrie berry which was totally mouth watering, lip smacking good.

This is the perfect summer venue with sophistication and a touch of designer class. Perfect for a drink after work or before a night our on the town. I can’t wait to see what they do with the soon to open restaurant!

I know some of you are going “what the hell” this is a food blog but bear with me. girlpower is about balance and offers two incredible speakers one that feeds our brilliant brains and one that feeds our feminine power and wait here it is….. Wine from the boutique winery Optimiste and Cheese from the fantastic Claudia Bowman from McIntosh and Bowman

Sharlene Dadd the woman behind Optimiste Wines

Yup ladies this is for you, a sensory journey with intellect. So join us on the 1st of May at 7pm at Design Bar in Surry Hills.

To quote a remarkable female business icon,

“I have never worked a day in my life without selling. If I believe in something, I sell it, and I sell it hard.”
-Estée Lauder

Jane Winter

For many of us this is the hardest thing to do in business no matter whether we are working for ourselves or in a corporate company so our fist speaker will wow you with her Sales Knowledge and inspire you to be brilliant.

Jane Winter, the Princess of Sales will share some tips on her Aggressive Soft Sell System,  Jane is a unique executive coach, trainer and speaker, who has worked with thousands of coaches, small business owners, health professionals, salespeople, consultants and speakers across Australia. Now girlpower brings her to you.

“No woman gets an orgasm from shining the kitchen floor. ”
- Betty Friedan

Jacqueline Hellyer

The quote above makes us laugh because today we are encouraged to express ourselves and JacqueIine Hellyer a renowned sex therapist and tantra coach believes sex is a celebration of life and our sexual energy is our fundamental life energy and she is  committed to enabling women to become fully in touch with their sexuality so that they can use this powerful energy to create extraordinary lives for themselves. Sounds like a girlpower kind of woman and we can’t wait to hear her tips on how to find our “inner sexy’

Jacqueline is the Sex Coach for Men’s Health and Women’s Health magazines and Foxtel’s Lifestyle You website. She is also a published author and is frequently called on for professional comment for print, radio and TV media

To book for the girlpower event which is $50 click the link below. Tickets are selling fast so don’t delay.

http://girlpowernetworkingsalesandseduction.eventbrite.com.au/

girlpower is all about remarkable women having fun

After nearly four years doing the foodinfocus radio show on 89.7FM I have discovered that I have a contact list that reads like a who’s who of the Sydney chef, wine and producer world. If you need it I can more than likely find it for you. Or at least the person who can. So I got to thinking that maybe a wonderful new business that brought together all my skills was order of the day.

Our little black cookbook of contacts is in fact fairl large thanks to the foodinfocus radio show

Limited Table is a food and wine consultancy for restaurants, retailers and producers. Our inhouse team can do anything from graphic design to interviewing potential staff. We work on your menu assist with your wine and cocktail list and work to a strategy we develop by working with your business as if it were our own.

Our launch for Design Bar this year brough out the beautiful people and the best produce

We bring in the best suppliers and produce and make sure that you have a huge amount of support, we can also take care of your experiencial PR (touch and taste groups) which we specialise in and find you incredible talent.

Experiential PR at its best. We bring groups from the right demographic to try your produce

Limited Table Experiential PR is an exciting initiative that brings groups of people into contact with your product for a first hand account. Few buy food and wine from a piece of paper but they will always remember the taste of the food, the pristine counters of your store, the ethical processes in your factory. Plus in this case one equals many, our research shows that one person will tell up to 30 family, friends and work colleagues about your product within 6 months.

Cocktail making is a great way to bring people into a bar they may never normally consider

Our design team do everything from outdoor signage, menu design, business cards and websites including writing your copy and styling your photo shoot.

Styling is an art and we do it very well

Lastly we run some of the top celebrity chef diaries, for those who can’t afford and don’t want a full time assistant we can manage this process for you.

So if you are in need of some advice or a team to assist you in navigating the tough waters of the food industry please call me  Natascha 0438097330

Natascha

Announced on Saturday 10 Dec on 89.7FM, 4pm

However there can only be one winner and that Chef will be announced on the radio show on Saturday and they will be handed their winning designer prize from Classique in Surry Hills.

One lucky follower will also receive a $350 voucher for four people to indulge in signature cocktails and tasting platters at the soon to be launched Design Bar in Surry Hills

Simply select from the 5 vidoes which chef you think will be the winner of the FoodinFocus Dessert Competition

Giveaway End Date, 3pm 10 December 2011

Teage Ezard – Black
Stefano Manfredi – Balla
Vincent Gadan – Patisse
Richard Ousby – Quay
Darren Templeman – Restaurant Atelier

To enter click here

Winner to be announced on the FoodinFocus Radio show. 89.7FM 4pm Friday

Next week we are posting our readers choice competition, watch the five videos and decide for yourself who made the best dessert. You can then enter to win a $350 voucher for you and three friends to drink signature cocktails and eat delicious best produce platters at the Design Bar in Surry Hills being relaunched by Moi, on the 15th of December. This is a seriously great prize. The winner of the Dessert Competition receives a designer item from Classique a furniture store in Surry Hills that sepecialises in great quality pieces just like our stellar cast of chefs.

Icy fire Darren delivers the wow factor

Pretty as a garden and delicious

Phee Gardner the wonderful organiser of the annual awards was her usual delightful self. Stewart White, VP of the Australian Association of Food Professionals took the hot seat for a while although highly intelligent and owning a superior palate I am not sure he is as sexy or as silly as me. Our last entry Darren Templeman from Restaurant Atelier will feature this Saturday on 89.7FM Eastside Radio you can listen online http://eastsidefm.org/listen-online/ Enjoy the show.

The lucky chef gets to win a fantastic prize from Classique a designer furniture store in Surry Hills that stocks pieces from Italy and France. Plus an equally lucky reader will get to win a fantastic designer piece as well. Watch the last two videos and at the end of the competition you get to select your winner.

Australia on a platter, chocolate cherries and Australian spices

The FoodinFocus Dessert competition is being sponsored by Classique a designer furniture store located at the St Margarets Urban Village in Surry Hills. Winner receive a designer item and we have something special for our viewers too. At the end of the competition we will run a comp that allows you to vote for your favourite dessert. The exciting prize will be announced at this stage and someone will be very lucky.

Bulls Eye Pumpkin Pie

The charming Chairman Robbie Robertson from Table4Ten happily joined in on our fun show. Table4Ten is a fantastic event held each year in aid of prostate cancer. This year 3 states took part. Tickets sold for $250 buy you a seat at a table at a fantastic restaurant which generously donates the table to this very worthy cause. Plus after the dinner you are whisked away in a bus to a secret location and entertained at a private party. This year my name is on the list!

Stewart White, my often co-host and this competitions co-judge entertained us with his wine knowledge as we tried to match the wines to the dessert entry. Stewart is always interesting a head full of factual and frivolous facts and figures.