Category: Food

Bondi Beach Blues

March 17, 2018

Everyone said that Bondi is overrated and so touristy that I wouldn’t like it, but I couldn’t disagree more. The view on the approach from the top of the hill on South Bondi is just breathtaking and never fails to make me smile. I admit it is very busy, however I think this is part of what makes Bondi and in fact Sydney as a whole so great too – the diversity of people from all walks of life who find themselves in this paradise.

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On the weekends during summer there’s always events happening on the front and nothing beats a Sunday afternoon drink at one of the many bustling bars after a day on the beach. My favourite hangout is the popular Bucketlist, located right in the centre of Bondi Beach with casual dining and fantastic cocktail pitchers. Later into the evening there are a number of other cool hangouts to party into the early hours including Hotel Bondi and the highly rated Ravesis. Not forgetting the famous Icebergs Bar on the cliff at South Bondi overlooking the expanse of the beach and blue ocean, perfect for sunset drinks whilst watching the surfers catch the last waves of the day.

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How could I not mention the abundance of health food cafes and restaurants in Bondi too, selling beautiful foods that are as much of an art to look at as they are delicious to eat. Of course my favourite smoothie bowls and particularly acai bowls are sold everywhere and it’s hard to go wrong in choosing where to go. My favourite for an acai on the run is Acai Brothers Bondi. This gem is hidden in the neighbourhood of North Bondi and attracts locals with its friendly staff and super yummy, thick acai bowls which can be personalised to your taste with all sorts of toppings. My favourite is the original acai topped with banana, strawberries, kiwis and burkini grain. For a more substantial bowl to graze over when you have more time, Bare Bowls located in Bronte and Manly is the other place I choose to get my acai fix.

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The Bondi beach walk is another absolute must! Simply follow the coast path and beach hop around to Tamarama, Bronte, Clovelly, Gordans Bay and finally Coogee. It’s the best way to enjoy the stunning coastline with hidden rocks and caves to explore and if you’re lucky you might even spot dolphins or a whale. A trip to the Coogee Pavillion for drinks and dinner would be the ideal way to complete the day and soak up those final rays of sun at golden hour.

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A Beautiful Bowlful

August 6, 2017

Scrolling my Pinterest feed this summer I’m always drawn to the rainbow colours of perfectly decorated smoothie bowls (alongside the dreamy photos of white sand beaches and paradise sunsets). So experimenting with my own recipes for these bowls of goodness, I found the key ingredient of frozen banana gives the creamy texture alongside chia seeds to thicken the smoothie. Using a dash of the Rude Health coconut milk adds delicious flavour and frozen berries result in a stunning pink colour.

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The method is very simple: Blend 1-2 frozen bananas, a handful of frozen berries, a teaspoon of chia seeds, a teaspoon of cinnamon and a dash of coconut milk. Add the milk slowly as too much liquid will give a thinner consistency harder to decorate. Then pour the mixture into your bowl – these coconut shape bowls my brother brought in Vietnam compliment the tropical theme of this recipe. Finally decorate with your choice of toppings, which could be anything from granolas and seeds to nut butters and spices.

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I topped mine with fresh banana, strawberries, blueberries, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, coconut chips and a sprinkle of cinnamon. This time I decorated it in lines but working in a circle towards the centre of the bowl also gives a nice finish (the symmetry of these bowls really satisfies my OCD eye!) Basically you can personalise the smoothie to your own taste – try adding cacao powder for a refreshing pudding – and have fun experimenting with different toppings to perfect that Instagram photo ❤

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Summer Slaw Recipe

May 29, 2017

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With summer here and BBQs at the ready, there’s nothing better than getting friends and family together to soak up the sun and enjoy a few Pimms. Everyone likes to make a contribution and has their signature dish – my auntie makes the most incredible celeriac roulade! So in search of a light dinner on these hot summer evenings, when scrolling a favourite blog of mine called Sheer Luxe, I came across this buttermilk chicken served with a homemade cabbage apple slaw.

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Whilst the buttermilk southern fried chicken was a delicious accompaniment, this slaw on its own would be the perfect addition to a BBQ, or could even be made in batches to have in the fridge for a quick lunch or dinner side dish. Healthy, cheap and easy to make I can’t recommend trying this recipe enough, and don’t be afraid to personalise it to your own taste too – I added mixed dried fruit or you could exchange the parsley for another mild herb such as coriander. I can’t wait for my first BBQ this summer to make this again and try mixing it up with something different.

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Recipe

  • 1/3 red cabbage, shredded
  • 5 spring onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 granny smith apple, peeled and grated
  • bunch of fresh parsley leaves, chopped
  • 125g sour cream
  • juice of 1 lemon and a wedge to serve
  • sea salt and freshly ground pepper

Method

In a large bowl, combine the shredded cabbage, spring onions, grated apple and most of the parsley. In a separate small bowl mix the sour cream and lemon juice before seasoning with sea salt and black pepper. Pour this dressing over the salad and toss to combine. You can then add any extras like sunflower seeds or dried fruit – apricots work particularly well – serve with a sprinkling of the remaining parsley and a wedge of lemon.

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Springtime Feels

April 7, 2017

There’s nothing better than those first few days of spring; the sun makes its debut, days get longer and the thought of summer festivals and sipping on Pimms all afternoon is close in sight. So with a Sunday coffee date followed by a late lunch at Brasserie Blanc, it was time to dip into the summer wardrobe.

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I wore my Bershka denim stud skirt, ASOS bardot top, Zara tan satchel and Zara silk print scarf as a neckerchief. Being in England there was of course still a nip in the air, so my Grenson ‘Alice’ Boots made the perfect spring footwear to keep my outfit casual and most importantly my feet warm! And with the sun shining I wasn’t going anywhere without my trusty Rayban ‘Lennon’ round sunglasses to complete my look.

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Finishing the afternoon with a lovely meal at Brasserie Blanc where the food was delicious with good wine and excellent service to match. A perfect springtime day.

Happy Pancake Day

March 3, 2017

Ok, so I know it’s a few days late but I think it’s time we enjoyed pancakes all year round! There’s so many delicious ways to mix them up and with the ingredients being store cupboard basics, they’re cheap and easy too.

This pancake day I decided to try something new and have banana oat pancakes for breakfast. Sticking to four ingredients – mashed banana, jumbo oats, rice flour and almond milk – I whipped it all together to make one big pancake. Perhaps not the traditional method, however once I added lots of berries, yoghurt, more banana, my homemade granola and a sprinkling of cinnamon on top, this made one tasty and filling breakfast to keep me going throughout the morning.

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And with the weekend coming up, I’m sure my Dad will be sniffing after his favourite crepes topped with simple fresh lemon juice and sugar. My fail safe recipe for these comes from Delia Smith and can be used as the basis to sweet and savoury pancakes. With leftover batter I’ll be making savoury open pancake salads which can be embellished with whatever takes your fancy – mozzarella, tomato, basil and balsamic rocket salad is always a winning combination. Experiment with your pancakes and they can become a go to dinner or a healthy breakfast choice any time of the year.