So here we are nearly at the end of January 2014. Did this month go past ever so fast for you also? I seemed to have been doing a lot of eating this month. My most recent posts have all been about eating out. It seems like I have been eating out a lot – so I can’t be doing much cooking at the moment!!

And there is more eating out….Went back to Tonka again the other night….It was just as good – ordered a couple of things I had tasted the first time there and some different dishes. Yep – just as satisfied, second time.

I had dinner with some wonderful friends and their three delightful, gorgeous kids. Dinner was super delicious, but what I was really thrilled about was the fast tracked “social media class and update” I received from the kids. Want to know how to use technology? You just have to ask the kids!!

BUT the big news for PCH right now is the safe and welcome arrival of CONSTANTINA “Connie” CHESSELLS, the Labrador puppy that Tez has been waiting to pick up, for quite a while now. 

Those of you who have visited PCH will have met MAXIMILLIAN “Max” CHESSELLS. The dog who came into our life 5 ½ years ago and captured my heart. History tells the tale that I am not a pet person, at all. Until the day Max came home. Now I simply love him. So when it was time to consider a new puppy, Tez did not have to work so hard to convince me this time round.

We knew we wanted a girl this time and also wanted to go back to the same place where Max came from. So they are directly related by blood line and are definitely brother and sister.

Max has taken a while to warm, but appears to be softening to the cuteness of Connie. Tez is as committed to training as he was with Max and takes the responsibility of “puppy owner” very seriously.

I do the puppy cute – Tez does the puppy responsibility and training. That seems fair!

So Connie is a very lively little girl – she yaps a lot….In fact she never seems to be quiet. Even with Vivaldi playing softly for the “Mozart effect” she still keeps yabbering. Apparently she is just like me – so it has been stated.

It pleases me to introduce to you all, our Connie.

Pictured here with big brother.

Yep, we are definitely feeling the puppy love at PCH!

DC XX

I never take for granted how fortunate I am to be able to enjoy good food, beverages (not just wine) and the freedom to make choices.

Couple of little gems worth mentioning that I have been introduced to me recently;

Bar Americano. What a hidden gem in CBD Melbourne this place is. Only has standing room for 10 people at any given time and food list of one item during the day and olives in the evening. But the cocktails are incredible. Yep, so enjoyed this little treat/retreat introduced to me by Meggsi after dinner recently.

While in Canberra not so long ago another friend introduced me to a place called The Farmer’s Daughter. Had to visit the old stomping ground for some meetings with one of the people I work with the week before last. We had a short amount of time between meetings so grabbed a quick brunch. Such a delicious menu, good service and I liked that there were kids and mature folk there and all ages in between. Good coffee!!! Now that is a big one coming from me.....You all know how fussy I am about coffee.

And lastly for this post, is perhaps not such a good “review”. A much overdue catch up with my dear friend Bella was arranged a couple of nights ago. We decided to meet in the “city”. I had heard about a place called Cumulus. I understand it is owned by a restaurateur that owns another place in the beach side suburbs, that I really like….a lot. So that bode well for me.

I called to book a table. No reservations for a party of less than seven people, I was advised. I must confess that did not sit so well with me, but others have said it was a good eatery. So we headed for the address and arrived along with other younger and spunkier folk. So the younger folk seemed to be able to be seated immediately but we were asked to sit/stand at the end of the bar and a table would be ready soon. There happened to be two vacant stools at the bar, which we sat down on – relieved to be sitting. We had walked a reasonable distance to get to this place. The barman took our order for a drink and then we were advised that we could not sit there – could we please stand at the end of the bar. Which we did, as we glanced quizzically at each other!

Two places were set – that is, two napkins and some cutlery were placed where we were sitting. Moments later, a bubbly young person came along and offered us to sit on the two stools we were just asked to vacate!! Again we looked at each quizzically and obediently sat down!!

Our drinks were delivered and a very young person came along to explain the menu to us……Mmmmm….I may be mature, but I can still read!! So this was a menu designed for people to order various dishes and then share (This seems to be a theme in dining these days), we checked it out and ordered. I mentioned to the bright young thing who had just explained the menu to me and how best to order, (yes my eyebrow is now very quizzically cocked!!) that I did not think it would be comfortable to sit all night at the end of the bar on small stools and eat dinner. “Would we be able to be seated at a table, when one is available?” I asked politely.

I am not sure, but I think I detected a slight “cluck of the tongue” as the young person turned to speak to the maître de. We were eventually sat at a table half way through eating our “first course”. Our unfinished plates, half full glasses of wine and water glasses moved for us very efficiently.

The food was tasty. The wine delicious. Noise levels extremely high and the waiting service efficient.

The company was exquisite. Bella and I had not had a decent old chat for such a long time so we nattered away and caught up on the recent chapters of our respective worlds. The evening was wonderful because of the company.

I am afraid I can only give it one Nonna on my PCH Nonna scale, due to slight attitude, extreme noise factor, good food but with relatively high cost. You may really enjoy this eatery, but it is not up there amongst my favourites right now!

Where have you been lately that has been disappointing and where have you been that was fantastic?

DC

I love reading books. I don’t have particular favourites. I like to read the first chapter and if it hooks me……I am in. Then I read the last chapter, ‘cos I like to know if the ending is worth me putting the effort in to reading all the parts in between the first and last chapter.

It seems to me that I never have enough time to read the never ending pile of books on my bed side table waiting for me to read.

Recently a friend just happened to mention a book and handed me a copy. “I really enjoyed this” she said, “I think you will like it”. So I tossed it into my handbag and headed to the airport. I had a few flights that week and I thought it would be nice to read for a change instead of watching the new iPads on QANTAS.

Well what a surprise I was in for. Once I started to read the “The Coat Route”.

I was so hooked. Two flights and I had finished it…..such a wonderful book, I was enthralled. It is a long time since I have been so engrossed by something – especially when it is such a simple story in the telling. I loved this book (love, love & loved) and think it is one of the best books I have ever read.

It made me feel good. Not because of its extravagance, you need to look past the decadence and incredible cost of the coat and appreciate the skill of true artisan workmanship. I have so much respect for such skill and craftsmanship.

DC 

Don’t you just love it when someone mentions something to you in passing and so unexpectedly, it leads to something memorable?

Before Christmas break one of the people I work with told me about a restaurant he heard about in Melbourne that was apparently quite good. I checked out the website and thought – Oh yeah, must go there one day!!

Earlier this week, I caught up with a good friend I had not seen for a while, so it was inevitable that we needed to talk…a lot! Let’s go have a nice meal and a glass of wine; this was agreeable to both of us.

We headed to the area in Flinders Lane that appears to be blooming with many great eateries. And of course we needed to walk past the new Chanel store – corner of Russell and Flinders Lane – it is always therapeutic to walk past a Chanel window. We both had a couple of suggestions in mind for dinner. The first place did not have a table available, so we headed further up Flinders Lane. As we walked past one of those graffiti decorated lanes that you think go nowhere, I spotted out of the corner of my eye the name of the restaurant my colleague had told me about. TONKA restaurant.

“What about we try that place?” I suggested. They had a table available, so we sat down and perused the menu. The menu is designed as an “all at the table shares the choices” type menu. Must say I don’t mind this type of menu – but not all the time.

So we chose several things each and shared the plates. The three stand out taste sensations for me were Pani Puri – Pani puri, crispy parcel filled with spiced potato, mung beans, date and tamarind chutney with aromatic water……incredible little burst flavors in your mouth.  

Lamb Kebab type things wrapped in lettuce leaf - Kakori lamb kebab from the tandoor with baby iceberg and minted yoghurt……

And Salmon of the Tandoor - Huon Atlantic salmon from the tandoor……that just melted!

It was such a pleasant surprise to go somewhere that offered food and service that was unexpected. So, as a result I give my second highest PCH rating!!!

Brilliant  -  3 Nonnas on the PCH Happy Tastings Scale

Think about it if you are Melbourne and looking for somewhere yummy to go.  

Happy tastings and happy thoughts!

DC 

While heading down the freeway last night, homeward bound, the phone rang and Tez said, “Would you like to go out for dinner tonight or cook at home?” It had been a busy week and the thought of a nice dinner and someone else cooking was very appealing. “Leave it with me,” said Tez.

Spontaneous date night…..YES! It had been a while. Usually our busy lives mean that we have to schedule regular catch ups and lock date nights into the diary.

I was delighted when he said he had managed a booking at a local (45 minutes’ drive from ours, but that is local in the rural world!).

Tinamba Hotel is a credit to local folk who have worked hard to establish it as a high standard eatery – in the middle of nowhere, in particular!

As I am still nursing my post-surgery mouth, choices from menus need to be considered carefully. The menu at the Tinamba Hotel restaurant was extensive and with enough variety that I was able to choose, without needing to ask for the chef to mash any of the components on the plate. To top it off, the food was delicious.  

So spontaneous date night was very enjoyable, much needed and very satisfying. If you ever find yourself in the Gippsland region, I would definitely recommend that you try this local venue.

Using my PCH Tasting scale that I talked about once before I give Tinamba Hotel 2 Nonnas and consider the whole night out, to be great!

2 Nonnas on the PCH Happy Tastings Scale

Happy tastings and happy thoughts

DC XX

This week, many of us are back to our day jobs, our other jobs or just trying to entertain kids for the school holidays. The two weeks of the “holiday break” are always interesting. We try to do so many things. We try to relax. We try to catch up with those friends and family we have not seen all year. We try to garden.

I always try to pack up the year and have a “clean-up”. Well, I have to confess, the clean-up has not been so successful this time round. I have culled clothes and shoes – but there is so much more to do. I know that it is time to do a book cull – that is the hardest to do. I do love books !

Well I just do.

What do you find the hardest to cull?

DC 

Photos in this post are from Tony Matera of FilmBooksAnything www.filmbooksanything.com.au 

Have you noticed the latest rage is not garage sales or flea markets any more – but *pop-up* spaces and events? There are pop-up sales, pop-up restaurants, pop-up book stalls, pop-up drink booths etc, etc…..the list goes on.

Well I don’t like to be left behind and like to keep up with trends so I had a pop-up cooking class….Well sort of.

The gang were together for new year’s eve and I thought it might be a treat to have a chef come and cook lunch for us on new year’s day. To make it a bit inclusive and interactive, I figured we could have a class and then sit down to a shared table. 

I have started to expand the cooking class idea and have had several “private class” functions at PCH in 2013 and this seemed like a natural next step. As we were not in my kitchen but in someone else’s kitchen, I thought well we will just join the trend and have our own *pop-up* Plough Creek Cooking Class.

Menu

Indian corn fritters with mint chutney
Tuna steak with som tam salad
Snapper in banana Leaf with baigan bharta
Salt baked pineapple with candied walnuts and coconut, cardamom and star anise ice-cream.

Was it delicious?? You better believe it…
Was it fun?? It sure was…

HAPPY NEW YEAR.…HOPE YOU HAVE WELCOMED THE NEW YEAR IN WITH HAPPY TIMES, HAPPY TASTINGS AND HAPPY FACES.

While looking at Facebook recently I noted the “Year in Review” that appears on everyone’s pages. I started to reflect on my year through this review and it made me realise what a busy year we have had at PCH and PCCS.

I have already posted a retrospect about the cooking school (that I hope you enjoyed reading), however I did start thinking about so many other aspects of *LIFE* that happened in 2013.

So here are some of my reflections – via pics – of some of my happy faces, places & spaces – in no particular order or reasoning – just ‘cos they make me smile (and of course…it is all about me!!)