Saint Valentine's Day

Macaroons and a range of truffles from Bittersweet - the Chocolate Boutique.

Saint Valentine's Day was established by Pope Gelasius I in 500 AD and is the annual celebration of love and affection between two individuals bound together in a mutually exclusive partnership. One of my friends used to remark if you need one day a year to tell your partner that you love them, then there is something wrong with the relationship. However I think it's a still a lovely thing, so for all my gentlemen readers, Saint Valentine's Day is this coming Monday. So if you haven't organised something here are some quick ideas for you:

• Bittersweet - the Chocolate Boutique: Founded by the late Ann Atkinson, Bittersweet is an amazing chocolate shop with a stunning range of premium hand-crafted chocolates, feather light macaroons and the odd cook book - chocolate themed of course. Bittersweet are offering free delivery within the Brisbane central district for orders over $35.
  
  
• Black Pearl Cooking School: While the class for Valentine's Day is fully booked, Black Pearl offering love birds the chance to learn how to cook a range of cuisines. The Valentine's Day event was a hands on dessert workshop, which ranged from Rich Chocolate Pudding to a Chocolate and Strawberry Pannacotta. All the joy of cooking and no clean up. Keep it on your radar.
  
  
• Cirque Du Soleil: So your partner has everything they could ever want? Well it's time to look into the realm of experiences and what could be better than a trip to Cirque Du Soleil? Saltimbanco is coming out to Australia, mid year.
  
  
• Edible Blooms: Are flowers yesterday's news? These guys certainly think so and believe you should say it with cookies, chocolate or fruit. I'm a fan of their strawberry blooms. Just adorable and delicious.
  
  
• Flowers by Jane: Still want to say it with flowers and reside in Brisbane? Then Jane from Flowers by Jane is your woman. Beautiful, fresh flowers, delivered on time.
  
  
• Mecca Cosmetica: Food, fashion and beauty are all hedonistic pursuits, so is it any surprise that I also immensely approve of Mecca Cosmetica? I really like the Ren range of products and think Mecca's approach to marketing is fantastic.
  

There are still a number of other things you could do, but this is start. I still believe the number one thing you can do for you loved one is just write an old fashion love letter. Say it words, say it like you mean it and carry through with actions.

Jan Power's Farmers Markets, Powerhouse

I just love produce markets, I love the quiet of the early morning drive, the cool breeze as you to stride towards a colourful world of possibility and passion of the stall holders. My favourite market to this day still is Jan Power's Farmers Markets at the Powerhouse and I thought I would share with you the results of this morning's fossick. Pictured above is Veal Ravioli and a container of Cream Mushroom Sauce by Capriccio. Capriccio is an Italian word meaning naughty or whimsical and cheeky. I have to say the first definition suits as the sauce is amazing, viscose due to the lack of eggs, but oh so full of flavour. It looks expensive with the ravioli is $10 and sauce is $9 but when $19 feeds three, it's not bad.

This gorgeous cake is a Plum, Raspberry and Custard Cake by Boutique Bites. Boutique Bites have the most amazing stand, from tiny morsels to giant raspberry lamingtons. I have a thing for their fruit based cakes and presented the above cake to my riding instructor.

However the Plum, Raspberry and Custard Cake isn't my favourite. My favourite is the Pear, Candied Rhubarb and Custard Cake and I would kill for the recipe.

Naturally I also picked up a number of fresh produce items and some lasagne sheets from Pasta Riviera for Cannelloni. It angers me immensely that Latina Fresh believe that consumers are too lazy to cut a lasagne sheet in half and market it as some kind of revelation.

Just to finish my entry, I would like to show you my market bag. It's a strong calico bag from the Fortitude Valley Dogstar store that folds into a neat package, so much easier to handle than one of those green shopping bags. I brought it before I went to Adelaide and if you ever get over there the Central Markets are another amazing market! I love Markets ... but I like what I cook with the produce even better. Stay tuned.

Bar Merlo, Fortitude Valley

Located under the Endeavour College of Natural Medicine, Bar Merlo, Fortitude Valley has stripped back industrial style feel and offers Merlo Private Blend coffee, a range of salad and sandwiches. The Merlo brand of coffee has wound its way into many of Queensland's tertiary institutions so I must admit I have a soft spot for their hot chocolates and paninis. The Paninis come in a range of flavours including:

• their classic Breakfast Panini of Ham, Cheese and Napolitana Sauce,
• Chicken and Pesto and
• Roast Vegetables.
  

Pictured above is their Breakfast Panini, served in all its glory on a paper plate. The other nice thing about Bar Merlo is it ofters a number of snack size tubs that you can fill with trail mix, chocolate sultanas or my favourite chocolate almonds. Oh and they have happy hour, so keep an eye out on the chalk board for details.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5.
Address: Cnr Water & Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley, Brisbane, QLD 4006.
Open: Monday - Friday, 7:30am to 2:30pm.
Phone: (07) 3253 9539.
Price: Coffee from $3.40.

Mirasoul

Located next to Brisbane institution Gambaro's is the cocktail bar Mirasoul. Owned and run by Craig, Matt and Steven, the Mirasoul experience is described as, "more satisfying than a bar, less formal than a restaurant, the ambiance and excellent service reflects the essence of Mirasoul." It's an eclectic space that contains a small alfresco dining area out the front and depth that allows for the venue to be easily sectioned off. Mirasoul also has an extensive cocktail menu and range of tapas including items such as 'Spanish Meatballs with Tomato Chutney' and 'Crispy Salt and Pepper Calamari with Tequila and Lime Aioli. My recommendation is the 'Sesame Duck Crepes with cucumber, coriander and mint'. This dish is a more filling tapas dish or a great light meal for one. The duck is flavoursome and beautifully offset by the freshness of the cucumber, coriander and mint.

Moroccan pizza: lamb, baba ganoush, haloumi, mint and olives.


Mirasoul is a happening place any evening but my recommendation would be to book a table on Thursday when Brisbane collective, The Jericho Project plays and it's all you can eat tapas for $27.50. Salt and Pepper Calamari, Smokey BBQ Ribs, Vegetarian Risotto Balls, Honey Soy Wings, Spanish meatballs, Chick pea salad, Herb and Cheese Bread and of course the amazing Hand cut fries with house spice, served with aioli and a roast chilli sauce, which I've pictured above for your visual pleasure. So what are you going to do on Thursdays? Heading to Mirasoul of course.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.
Address: Ground Floor, 55 Caxton Street, Brisbane, QLD 4000
Open: Wednesday - Thursday, 4:00pm - late. Friday, 11am - Late. Saturday - Sunday, 4pm - late.
Phone: (07) 3367 1333
Price: Tapas from $10. Cocktails from $15.

Halal, Kosher and Vegan but will eat Seafood?

In one of my previous lives I worked as an Event Planner and special dietary requests have always been a source of intrigue. You get the standard Vegetarian, Gluten Free, Halal, Kosher but occasionally mind boggling statements such as, "Vegan but will eat Seafood." Lately there been a growing media focus on the increasing usage of Halal food and its alleged impact on Australian Culture. So I thought it would be timely to write about special dietary requests. Please note I'm not a Nutritionist and my views are crafted from secondary research, I'm just an average Jo who blogs (I've always wanted to use that).

• Dairy Free: Is the practise of avoiding of diary products due to the inability to digest lactose (milk sugar) in the small intestine. Being diary free used to mean no milk, butter, cheese and the elimination of number of delicious baked goods, but now there are a number of delicious products to assist, so all it requires is some discipline. Which I have close to zero, so I'm constantly in awe of my cousin Yens who is gluten and dairy free but continues to bake for family and friends - how can you not lick the spoon?
  
  
• Gluten Free: Is a diet that completely avoids gluten, a protein found in wheat (including kamut and spelt), barley, rye and malts. Suffers of Celiac Disease are often prescribed a Gluten Free diet to manage their symptoms but it can be difficult to adhere to due to cross contamination and gluten being used as a food additive to flavour, stabilise or thicken food. As a food additive it is often listed under the terms - maltodextrine, dextrine or dextrose. Suitable grains and starches for individuals on a Gluten Free diet include corn, potatoes, rice, and tapioca, amaranth, arrowroot, millet, montina, lupin, quinoa, sorghum, taro, teff, chia seed, and yam. Various types of bean, soybean, and nut flours are sometimes used in gluten-free products to add protein and dietary fiber.
  
  
• Halal: means "lawful" or "religiously appropriate" and like Kosher Food pork is considered unclean. However there is a number of differences between Kosher and Halal and they are:
  
  
• The animal is slaughter with a singular incision across the neck, cutting through the windpipe, food pipe, jugular, and carotid arteries of both sides, but leaving the spinal cord intact. The name of Allah has to be invoked individually on each animal to be slaughtered. I suspect this is where a number of individuals are getting hot and bothered around Australia. I personally don't mind object if my food is dedicated to Allah nor do I believe it erodes the fabric of Australian culture. Australian culture has always been a moving fest as long as we aren't harming anyone, I'm a happy scamp.
  
  
• The meat of rabbit and shell fish are permissible in Halal. However all alcohol is banned.
  
  
• Kosher: is a word derived from a Hebrew term "kashrus" and means suitable or pure. The term kosher has other applications but we're talking about food, so in a nutshell Kosher means the following:
  
  
• The consumption of animals that both chew cud and have cloven hooves e.g. the pig does not chew cud nor have cloven hooves and the camel chews cud but does not have cloven hooves. The animal must be slaughtered humanely as Jewish law prohibits causing pain to animals.
  
  
• Birds are generally considered Kosher with the exception of the eagle, owl, swan, pelican, vulture, and stork - this also includes their young and eggs. Eggs of kosher birds are allowed as long as they do not contain blood.
  
  
• Prohibition of combining meat and milk. In strict Jewish households even the utilises used to prepare meat and diary are separated, however rumour has it there is a loophole with fish (note it must have fins and scales, shellfish are exempt) and this is what has given rise to the popular smoked salmon, cream cheese bagel combination.
  
  
• All products that grow in the soil or on plants, bushes, or trees are kosher. But bear in mind insects are definitely not Kosher. Just another reason why we shouldn't eat them.
  
  
• Gelatin, casein, and bull blood are unable to be used in the kosher wine-making process. All devices and utensils used for the harvest or the processing of the grapes must be cleansed under supervision and bottles may not be filled multiple times
  
  
• Vegan: True Vegans are individuals who refrain from using and consuming animal flesh and items produced from animals e.g. leather, silk and wool. Vegans believe their practice is compassionate but I strongly dislike any advocacy that forces the practice of Veganism onto animals, especially cats which are true carnivores.
  
  
• Vegetarians: are individuals who refrain from meat and follow a diet comprising of fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts and seeds. The practice of Vegetarianism is extremely diverse with some Vegetarians excluding dairy products, eggs and by-products of animal slaughter such as animal derived rennet and gelatin. There are also a number of individuals who follow a Semi-Vegetarian Diet that allows for the inclusion of poultry and seafood.
  

Cafe Amaretto

Tucked away in the corner of the NEC Building, opposite the Old Museum is Cafe Amaretto. Cafe Amaretto is run by Bryce and his trusty band of helpers, who get up at Sparrow's fart to diligently provide addicts like me, their 7am morning coffee.

Cafe Amaretto uses Rouge Coffee, a boutique coffee blend and offers a range of lunch options and sweets. It's simple, generous, rustic fare that is full of taste. My favourites being their Salami sandwiches (especially if you can get hold of one with guacamole), quiches and the odd Triple Chocolate, Byron Bay Cookie. Strangely Byron Bay Cookies are 40 cents cheaper here than at the various cafes dotted around the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) campus. So QUT has some explaining to do ... but I dither ... I know for a fact that Cancer Council Queensland and the Heart Foundation wouldn't run as efficiently without Cafe Amaretto. So hooray for Bryce, his team and Cafe Amaretto, you offer EFTPOS (lifesaving as there isn't an ATM in miles) and do an amazing service. You remember my coffee and get up every day to ensure the world is safe again for another day.

Rating: 3 out of 5.
Address: 527 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills, QLD 4006
Open: Monday-Friday, 7:00am - 3:30pm.
Phone: (07) 3252 0600
Price: Coffee from $3. Sandwiches from $5.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Photo courtesy of Irum at the Stock.xchng.

Wishing all my fabulous 'Eats Food, Hates You' Readers a very happy Chinese New Year. May the Metal Rabbit Year bring you happiness, good health and success in all your do.

My morning has begun in typical fashion with my Mother blasting celebratory Cantonese Opera at the ungodly hour of 5am and deep frying sweet dumplings containing fillings such as lotus seeds and red bean paste. Superstition decrees that you should avoid washing your hair today to ensure your luck stays with you all year and I have managed to survive my half day observance of Vegetarianism. It's a struggle ever year and I happily resume the consumption of souls at 12 noon!

The Tiger brought a year of social and political upheaval and the Rabbit appears to be travelling in a similar vein. However the home loving nature of the rabbit this year will force leaders to have a greater domestic focus. This is already ringing true in Queensland and my thoughts are with those affected by Tropical Cyclone Yasi. Stay safe everyone!