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The Food Wine Travel team recently spent a lovely few days in the Hunter Valley getting a taste of what’s in store during Wine & Food Month in June. We visited Whispering Brook vineyard and olive grove where we fell in love with their beautiful olive oils. With thanks to the kind folk at Whispering Brook, this lime-infused oil made its way home to our kitchen where we’ve already put it to good use in a number of Asian-style salads.
Easter has come and gone but we’re still feasting on a delicious array of chocolate treats. From one of my girls, a Ferrero Rocher bunny for me and an Old Gold bunny for Maurie (she knows our tastes exactly!), and from my sister, cute little chocolate bilbies and a dozen quail egglets. The egglets are from UK producer Hotel Chocolat and come in yummy flavours such as salted caramel, hazelnut praline, gianduja, raspberry supermilk, speckled pralines and vanilla ganache.
Yalumba’s Christobel wines have really brightened up my kitchen. Aren’t their labels gorgeous? The Semillion Sauvignon Blanc and newly released Moscato sell for around $15 and are named after Christobel Hill Smith, the late aunt of Yalumba’s current proprietor Robert Hill Smith. She was apparently a keen gardener and gracious hostess. What a wonderful tribute.
From one kitchen to another: At left, bay leaves that I had growing in my previous garden in Canberra. I left the pot plant with my sister when we moved and broke off a few leaves when we were down there again recently. On the right, some kaffir lime leaves courtesy of my very kind friend Bizzy Lizzy, who we also caught up with while we were in Canberra.
As well as the lime-infused oil, we picked up a bottle of lemon myrtle infused oil, which is beautiful with fish and other seafood. On our way to the Hunter Valley, we spent a night in Newcastle where we browsed in some of the quirky little shops in Cooks Hill. We bought the Morpeth muesli, gluten-free ketjap manis and vegetarian strawberry jelly crystals in an organic shop there.
The coffee beans are organic Fair Trade beans from East Timor and were a gift from my sister, who ordered them from the Leprosy Mission gift catalogue. They can be purchased online for $10 and are a great way of supporting a good cause. I love the Relax tea from Qi Teas. It’s an organic chai-style tea redolent with spices such as cinnamon and cloves, and hints of ginger and orange. It’s made from white tea leaves that give it a natural, sweeter flavour, and I find it a lovely soothing way to wind down before going to bed.
When we were in Canberra recently, we realised how much we missed the fantastic Capital Region Farmers Market. We enjoyed catching up once again with stallholders such as Carmen from Honey Delight, and we made sure to stock up on her Active 17+ honey, which I’m convinced is the cure for all ills, but regardless, it’s a winner in the taste stakes. Also in this motley line-up is a spray bottle of Xtreme Stain Remover. This is essential in the kitchen for anyone who enjoys a glass of red (or who’s a bit too sloppy with the tomato sauce bottle). It’s bleach free and it works like a dream, folks!
Pop over to Fig Jam and Lime Cordial where the lovely Celia hosts In My Kitchen each month. What’s happening in your kitchen this month?
Nice the coffee and chocolates made this story !
that dark chocolate looks gorgeous. and i adore lime pressed olive oil. aren’t those wine labels lovely?
I know you shouldn’t buy wine just because of the label but these are really enticing, aren’t they Sherry?
Life after a long standing weekly gig as a wine/food/lifestyle columnist, I quoted you recently to an acquaintance as an inspirational example for the transition. If you have the knack of readability and an eye for the odd and the interesting, you will always have a welcoming readership.
Thank you for your very generous comments, Warren. Now, more than ever, writing is a labour of love.
What a lovely post and always enjoy learning something new when it comes to unique products and companies throughout Australia!
Thanks for this month’s kitchen view too!
Thanks Joanne. It’s a bit sneaky – the vineyard/olive grove shot is not actually the view from my kitchen but I can dream! The bottle of lime-infused olive oil is now in my real kitchen, in our apartment in Queensland. 🙂
I love how glossy those leaves are, just stunning. You guys are so lucky to be able to catch up with each other like that! Great IMK
A lovely collection, I’m envious of the fresh kaffir lime leaves and that lime olive oil.
My goodness, Christine, what a lovely haul in the kitchen this month. Those kaffir lime leaves make me envious.
Thanks Maureen (and thanks to Liz for the leaves!)
What a great sounding trip, I love food souvenirs! Also a reminder that I really need to get a kaffir lime tree as they seem to grow surprisingly well here.. Thanks Christine!
I’d definitely plant a kaffir lime if I could, Beck. It’d be wonderful to be able to pick the leaves fresh from the garden.
What lovely things you have in your kitchen this month! The wine labels are indeed beautiful, worth saving and using for something fun later. The chai staple tea sounds great, just my kind of drink.
I’m not a huge Yalumba fan, but oh how beautiful those labels are!! Some very tasty treats in your kitchen this month Chris – I’m particularly taken with those very cute bilby eggs! 🙂
The Easter chocolates were so delicious, Celia!