Food & Wine - The Newish Frontier

Regional food heroes are latest new thing! Yes I know of course they aren't, but the increasing ability to communicate with new international audiences means your star has the chance to shine very bright indeed.

One of the brightest stars is Rick Bakas. A US blogger, tweeter and online doco producer. Rick is in Australia for the next 2 weeks and has set a furious pace to pack in as many Australian wine destinations as possible.
                                          This is Rick pictured with MtPleasant winemaker Scott McWilliam

I had the pleasure of having lunch with Rick today and he is delightful company, as well as a foodie with enormous experience. Check out his blog at http://rickbakas.com/

This is my current favourite article which I am likely to less eloquently convert to a Hunter related article.
http://rickbakas.com/7-things-to-look-for-in-wine

Pancake Day

Pancake Day was on Tuesday and Lent continues through to Easter. My sacrifice? Alcohol Consumption. Mmmm - help me.

http://victas.pancakeday.com.au/

Paris in the summertime.... no wait it's spring!

Paris and France in general are always great food and wine experiences. The next lot of entries are going to be a bunch of random comments about holiday food and wine consumption.

Then there was 3. Fair Crack! Will you hurry up... - Cessnock, Australia Travel Blog

Then there was 3. Fair Crack! Will you hurry up... - Cessnock, Australia Travel Blog

First holiday in years and you get to that hurdle 2 weeks out. Your feet drag and your head wanders. You get past it. the last week is real anticipation and you get down to the real detail. Cash?...check. Plenty of underwear?...check. Travel details locked in?...check. That's where I'm at now. Ready to go. A bit nervous that all the jobs are deligated at work, but a good nervous, like I know my team will do it well cause they almost always do. I'm really just there to encourage them and move corporate obsticales out of their way so they can shine.Watched some docos on the weekend about William the Conquerer and our first destination in the French Country side Bayeux. It houses the the tapestry with the comet.Fair crack. Let's get on withit!

Blind Tasting

VIDEO: Blind wine test

Having worked in food and wine for over 20 years you can get pretty serious about assessing products. This video from feature Master of wine Peter Scudamore-Smith is a great example of the fine line we tread as professionals.

I have worked quite a bit with Pete and he is an absolute professional and a very good sport.

Eat,drink+be Kerry: Baharat Beef with olives

Eat,drink+be Kerry: Baharat Beef with olives: "The house is filled with a delicious spicy aroma and dinner is simmering away. I've just finished preparing a recipe from the Hilton Bris..."

Spanish Delights

I was taken to a fantastic Spanish butcher way out in the Sydney western suburb of Yagoona by a work mate. All of the cured meats were hanging from the roof in the main part of the shop and the price of all of the meats were unbelievably cheap. This photo is from a story in the Sydney Morning Herald.

I bought some 12 month old Manchego sheep cheese and some jarmon serrano. Can't wait to open them for a birthday celebration on the weekend

Check out the SMH story about Rodreguez Bros as the link.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/good-living/hung-out-to-dry-spanish-style/2008/06/09/1212863525310.html