Edamame

When you are on holidays, and especially during an Australian summer, the best foods are the most simple. Being an absolute fiend for japanese food. it is natural that edamame is high on my list of favourites.

Those of you who don't know what edamame are - they are basically green soy beans lightly boiled with salt. I'm not quite sure what it is about the humble edamame that makes it such an addictive snack in summer. Some enjoy their beans slightly warm, but personally, I like them cold.

Laced with salt, as you extract the beans from their pods (note you don't eat the pods) with your teeth, the salt granules dissolve on your tongue, providing the required seasoning. Obviously, it is mandatory to eat edamame with beer. It's summer. It's hot. It's what I call "holidays".

Where From?
Edamame - Asian grocery stores, frozen section. (I shop at Box Hill)

Jamon.

Until recently (like a week ago), I thought the only place to buy Jamon Iberico was in Spain. But thanks to the foodie's guide to Melbourne, I found a place that sells Jamon Iberico de Bellota. So I decided during my time off I'd drive all the way to Prahran Market to buy myself a small taste of the jamon,  I was initially a bit taken aback by how pricey it was but I nevertheless couldn't possibly waste the drive! Anyway, don't want to bore you with details, but on a day like today (high 20's, perfect sunshine), toasted baguette, aioli and jamon iberico de bellota - it doesn't get much better than that. AND of course, the fact that I'm still on leave, makes life that much sweeter.



Where From? Jamon Iberico de Bellota - Delicatess (Prahran Market) Bread - Phillipa's Bread (from Delicatess as well) Aioli - Neil Perry's (from Woolworths)

'tis the season to be festive - truffles

December has been an amazing month for both old faithfuls and experimentation.

I can finally say I've tried fresh truffles.. Being such a revered ingredient, when I found out that Simon Johnson would be stocking them I, of course  had to put an order in.

My fascination with the fungus, I think, started when I saw a food doco and the presenter was raving about how amazing her scrambled eggs and truffles were. That at least, is one of the first memories on my curiosity on truffles. Previous to this, I had only ever had a small slithers at restaurants, and products (eg, truffle salsa etc), so this was definitely an indulgent experience.


Anyway, cut the long story short, they are worth every damn cent!! As soon as I opened the package, the aroma filled the room. It still astounds me, that such a hideous looking fungus could produce such an amazing fragrance.

I had to ration my 90gs so I started with a pasta dish - parpardelle with truffles and serrano. It was, amazing. As it was simple and really allowed individual ingredients to really come through.

Over the last few days, I did what I've always wanted to do and have scrambled eggs with truffles. A little rich, but I don't care. It's December. It's the time to be festive and what better way to be festive than to eat well?

Where From?

Truffles - Simon Johnson (Chadstone)
Pasta & Serrano - Queen Vic

Entry 1 - Welcome

Hello World!

Well, this is the first entry of what I hope will be one of many.

Having some time on my hands during the Christmas/New Year break, I thought I'd share with you some of my food experiences in Melbourne and the surrounds. Far more constructive than my random ranting and raving to the people around me!

-Dave