North Avalon Birthday Lunch

A few weekends ago we catered for  a ladies birthday lunch at a very creative house at North Avalon on Sydney's Northern Beaches. There was so much style and inspiration in the surroundings I was a little worried the food would be outshone....so much attention to detail at this fabulous house, it was hard to keep my focus on the task at hand! But all went well and another succesful lunch was had. Thanks for having us Miss Crowe! 

North Avalon, Northern beaches private catering, ladies lunch, vintage inspiration, beautiful home, nautical theme, house inspiration, pomegranate and quinoa salad, goats cheese tortellini, creme brulee, chocolate fondant

North coast seafood birthday lunch.

Nothing says summer beach lunch like a bunch of beautiful local lobsters and huge juicy freshly shucked pacific oysters. this is what we experienced on the weekend at talented chef, Amanda Gale's birthday lunch on the NSW north coast.
We had local caught lobster, marinded in a chilli, preserved lemon, garlic and olive oil marinade. Grilled to perfection on the large outdoor grill, then frehly shucked pacific oysters that were so large it would almost take two bites to finish them....almost!
Then to begin there was the snapper carpaccio, with ruby grapfruit, shaved fennel, wild rocket and rucy grapefruit dressing. Heaven. This is showcasing the world class Australia produce avalible to us on a daily basis. My type of birthday gathering. Cheers and Happy birthday!

Sophie & Nick

So to set the scene, Saturday 16th February, stormy summer afternoon, pouring with rain our team heads over to Rodd Island on Sydney harbour to cater for 75 guests with all the gear loaded on a water taxi, to cook in a gazebo thinking how are we going to pull this one off. 

We arrive and trolley everything over the little hill and start to get set up, drenched. 

The island has no electricity but a beautiful little hall that the groom and groomsmen have set up like a festive picnic, praying for sun. 

Three  beautiful cocktail dispensers,vintage ball glasses to hold the beverages,  ice buckets brimming with beers and plenty of food to feed the hungry guests, if only the rain would ease. So the count down was on, the guests start to arrive and the bride putts by in a gorgeous little boat to set the scene. We are starting to dry out and the ceremony has begun. 

As if they have had a union made in heaven, the rain departs, the summer sun beams down on us all, dries out the catering team and a magical day was had by all! they even got to play the shuttlecock and boules that had been organised prior to the crazy summer weather. All in all a success! so here a a few pictures to prove we made it and celebrate the vintage tea houses on the islands dotted through the harbour, highly recommended for a wedding venue, even if the weather doesn't agree! 

Laura & Josh Palm Beach wedding

Such a beautiful wedding Laura & Josh held at Palm Beach last November. It was a pleasure to provide the food in such a chic but relaxed setting. Laura did an amazing job styling the event and was also so relaxed at the time of the ceremony I was amazed at how she pulled it off! So a few snaps of the food, cocktail style canapes then a buffet style main meal and a beautiful dessert bar to finish.
The menu read like this...cocconut prawns with mango and baby corriander, crispy pork wontons with chilli soy, peach iced tea, lamb kofta with pomegranate, molasses and yoghurt, seared ocean trout with lemon and pomegranate, roast whole chicken with salsa verde and slow roast lamb shoulder with tatziki. Although the menu was simple it suited the crowd with alot of guests coming down from the country to attend the event. It covered all bases for a nourishing feast then it was dessert and dancing!

Pomegranate, quinoa and sumac salad

Pomegranate, quinoa and sumac salad

So lately I have been using instagram a fair bit, such a easy app, really inspirational and you receive great feedback. I posted this salad and received some interest so I thought with summer coming and I'm sure everyone is looking to get all toned and terrific, or even if you just need some fresh flavours on your palette, I thought I'd post the recipe so you can try this one at home. Inspired by Greg and Lucy Malouf's book, Saha. 

1 generous tbls natural yoghurt, optional

100g wild rocket, washed 

1 c cooked quinoa

2 Lebanese cucumbers, sliced in long wedges

2 spring onions, sliced into rounds

1/2 pomegranate, seeds only

1/2 c flat leaf parsley, torn

sumac

fresh lemon

extra virgin olive oil

sea salt and cracked black pepper

If you would like to use the yoghurt now is the time. I love to paint it around the bottom of the platter so when you pick up the dressed salad it adds to the dressing a creamy tart element.

Sprinkle with rocket,

Then scatter over the cooked quinoa, 

then place on the quinoa the slice wedges of crunchy cucumbers, topped with the spring onion. 

Add the pomegranate seeds on top, along with any juice they may have had, this adds as a dressing also when your finished. 

Now I squeeze a half a lemon evenly over it and drizzle with eevo, season with the salt and pepper. Sprinkle the sumac over, maybe 2 nice pinches, it goes beautifully with the lemon, adds and interesting flavour and also makes it look good. 

Serves 6 as a side. Enjoy! 

Salad Love......

Salad Love.....
I have been loving the warm weather today and it has inspired me to quickly post a few snaps taken on my phone, so please excuse the photography, during my cooking sessions in the kitchen in warmer weather when all you want to eat is light, crunchy, clean, healthy food. I am a big fan of the salad and any way to make vegetables and salad ingredients more interesting and appealing to all the better.
I feel as if today you go for quick and not nessecaraliy heathy, I was ready a celebrity magazine the other day and actually, shock horror, got a fabulous tip that said if it goes off in 5 days or under it probably isnt that good for you ( not the pantry staples that is). But it made sense, it may take a few minutes longer and a touch more experimentation but it is well worth the chop!

Backyard wedding

A few weeks ago we threw a beautiful little ceremony in a lush green backyard with cake, vows and flowers! Really when it comes down to it all you need is friends, love and of course good food. We all ate lots of mexican pulled pork tacos and an amzing cake from my friend Anna, we all lived happily ever after as well!