feast of the senses

The 'feast of the senses' kicks off in Innisfail next week on Friday, 19th March. I have just stumbled on this after listening to an ABC radio interview with Clare Richards from Tropical Cuisine. Clare is to be a judge in the Ultra Tropics BBQ Recipe Competiton as part of the Festival of the Senses in Innisfail, which starts the 19th of this month.

This could be an opportunity for any aspiring foodies out there to show their style however entries close this Friday so you will have to be quick! There will be a final cook-off at the market day on Sunday, March 28.

The Kitchenslut is famous for his pyrotechnic seafood bbq, however as I have never learnt to follow a recipe, this is more a process outline than a defined recipe which would meet the competition criteria.

Kitchenslut seafood bbq process:
1)Open wine bottle.
2)Mix n match various combinations of quality seafoods, lime, garlic, ginger, mint, chilli, coriander, nahm jim, green mango or whatever else seems like a good idea at the time while consuming vino.
3)Do not commence cooking until at least half the bottle is consumed.
4)Limit extra virgin olive oil sprays during cooking to short bursts to reduce possibility of distracting explosion (note: ignore safety warning on can)
5)Don’t overcook!

The only other critical factor is a secret, well seasoned, stainless steel mesh seafood grill which is a family heirloom acquired many years ago now and passed down by my dear old dad.

Theatre deadlines @ The Edge

Some of the Kitchensluts more prominent dining angsts in Cairns have revolved around theatre deadlines. These can be tricky! A 7.30 or 8pm start for a show doesn't leave much room for great night to enjoy both food and entertainment.

Consequently some memorable experiences include leaving cash on the table and just running from Naked Nut; cancelling desserts; and dashing from Kin Kao Thai down Grafton St to Civic to arrive breathless as the doors are being closed. ALL after being absolutely assured that they would feed us get us out of their restaurant in ample time for the show! Did they lie to us!

Tonight KS was scheduled in for the Little Theatre at Rondo and by rights this night should have turned into a disaster. Almost an hour late for dinner (our fault after drinks elsewhere) we even considered scuttling the show to give time to at least enjoy the food.

Had wanted to try Yama at The Edge for a while and finally getting there, timepoor, there was no disappointment with the food and especially the service! The urgent timeframe kicked in fast with advice on what they could get out of the kitchen to still get us to theatre on time.

The sushi kitchen was loaded with orders so that was out! The hot kitchen delivered with more time to spare than any of the other previously mentioned restaurant failures and rescued the night to have as the show with time to spare! Will even have to check out the menu on what we had for more detailed food comment sorry. A tasty chicken dish, some beautifully presented light seafood and vegetable tempura, and the standout was the dumplings ..... exceptional!

How good is it to be able to write about such a wonderful experience in Cairns for a change!?

A sign of the times

The small French Cafe Lumiere, on the boardwalk in front of Harbour Blights, has ceased tradingfor dinner. This precinct has never taken off and remains half vacant with just Dundee's and Olano's now trading for dinner.

My only experience at Cafe Lumiere last year was excellent and included a delicious Coquille St Jaques and a tasty rabbit dish. Its menu wasn't cheap although I couldn't complain about the value for money.

The shame is that Lumiere was one of the few in town to openly promote local produce on the menu board. So, I didn't get to try their braised Atherton Pig's trotter and instead wandered along to Olano for some OK mussels with not enough crusty bread to mop up the juices.

Update: I did drop by Cafe Lumiere at the weekend and shared a vino with some delightful company. A discussion with the owner confirmed that it wasn't worth their while opening in the evening with business so slow. More disappointing was her comment that some had criticised their most recent menu as "too adventurous for Cairns" while the plethora of franchises and pizza shops continues to grow.

Eyes bigger than Belly

The Cairnsblog restaurant debate drew a comment from Joy who writes the Eyes bigger than Belly food blog. Joy is based in Brisbane but as a sales rep is a visitor to the Far North and has previously posted some comments on a few local dining experiences.

Joy has posted on Sebel Cairns, Sushi Zipang, Sushi Train, Ba8, and Skybury Coffee.

Jamie Oliver on food education

Lively Cairnsblog debate on Cairns Dining

There has been lively comments discussion over at Cairnsblog on the local dining scene with some observations and recommendations not too far removed from the Kitchenslut perspective. The discussion follows a post of yet another tale of woeful service experience in Cairns.

Note: Dutchie has also posted a comment in that debate disagreeing with my views below on the zucchini at Istanbul Kitchen which he reckons is too bland. I missed it this week so will have to wait until next friday for a second opinion .....

Istanbul Kitchen

We have previously posted on the potential of 'street food' at the Rusty's precinct and while wandering last weekend noted the new Turkish offering there. KS looked but didn't buy which sounds like it may have been a mistake from email scuttlebutt floating about such as this today ....

"I tried out the dolmades from Instanbul Kitchen last week and they were absolutely divine. So fresh and such a contrast to the sodden morsels that have languished 4 weeks in the display cabinet at the supermarket deli! Can’t wait to taste the rest of the repertoire -- there was about 4 different traditional, freshly made salads, stuffed zuchinni flowers, condiments and a couple of things I cannot remember the name of... not to mention a tempting array of sweets (which should be a great compliment to Barista Sista)! A full plate costs only $9."

I have since tried this on the following friday. Apart from the dolmades, the stuffed zucchini were a standout. Also the green bean salad for a healthy fix, and the orange and cinnamon baklava for dessert made up a cheap light sunset beach picnic at $14 for 2. Geez I hope I got that right as he was too busy to work it out with a few people waiting and all wanting a selection so I worked out the bill and rounded it up to $14!

Kafka's Soup

Kafka's Soup, a complete history of world literature in 14 recipes by Mark Crick, was a brilliant little discovery among the cluttered cookery book shelves. The shop assistant at A&R strongly recommended the Lamb with Dill Sauce a la Raymond Chandler although I think my favorite is the Boned Stuffed Poissons a la Marquis de Sade:

"should not the supreme aim of gastronomy be to untangle the confusion of ideas that confront mankind, and to provide this unfortunate biped with some guidance as to how he should conduct himself and his appetites? Buffeted continually by the studies of scientists, the inventions of dieticians, the fashions of restaurateurs and the disguised marketing campaigns of a thousand trade associations, his own tastes are often his last point of reference. The tyrrany of political correctness, undermining him further, makes of him a man who avoids endangered species, factory farming, deforestation, genetic modification and inhumane slaughter. If he is unfortunate enough also to have a religion, then he will probably live the meanest of lives in the most tightly fitting of gastronomic straightjackets. By walking such a culinary tightrope, he believes that he will reap his rewards in long life, good health, moral superiority and in heaven hereafter. Yet all around him our unfortunate sees good vegetarians pushing up daisies, teetotallers' hearts tightening and sugarphobes queueing in dentists waiting rooms. Reader, recognise that all your years of abstinence and your naive trust in low-fat yoghurt have not saved you from a pot belly, heavy jowls, and an inadequate sex drive. A life of dieting has rendered your face pinched and furrowed from harsh judgement of your fellow diners and your evenings long and lonely."

Throw in the Quick Miso Soup a la Franz Kafka a an entree, and the Rich Chocolate Cake a la Irvine Welsh for dessert for a fun menu of literary cuisine.

Although I was somewhat perturbed to discover that there appears to be a subsequent edition "the complete history of world literature in 17 recipes"? Perhaps the 14 recipes was not quite so complete?

Koek! an interesting food blog from Cape Town has just posted similarly on Kafka's Soup ......

A Lemonade Tree

Lemonade Tree has now been open a few weeks at the previous location of Chapter One / Ti Adora and after a visit last Saturday is a welcome small boutiquey addition to the scene worthy of support. The same operators as the previous Star Apple at Yorkey’s Knob which has some good feedback.

Menu is small but has interesting selections reasonably priced and on the Saturday night they also had 3 or 4 additional specials. Can recommend the pork belly curry for those into their pork bellies!

It is BYO and they may stay that way so bring your vino as the nearest bottle shop at the Holiday Inn is expensive with limited range (note: there will be a Woolies bottle shop opening around the corner in Aplin next to the IGA)

Service was good for Cairns and they also indicated they would stay open for post show patrons from the CoCA centre next door when there is something on .......

Pants Off Salmon

Browsing the food supplement of today's Courier Mail (no link available) KitchenSlut discovered a review of a new food book, "Pants Off Salmon".

The book is $19.95 for only 20 recipes so presumably the value is in the 'panty-drop' rating for each dish?

"It's not a politically correct book - the title suggests that - but in my defence I think girls get a good deal out of it if the guy cooks for them" author Alec Bragg told the CM. Bragg is an Airlie Beach physiotherapist with no culinary training.

:Each dish has been tested at least 10 times by his mates to "idiot-proof" them". There is no indication whether this "idiot-proofing" relates just to the food or includes the panty-dropping?

Braggs own response: " You mean - how much action am I getting? Let's just say I'm a lot happier guy now I'm cooking, but you don't cook and tell"

Curiously for a book aimed at pleasing women there are no desserts .....

More comings Less goings ....

Disappointing to see that one of our faves, Sacred Spice at Stratford, has gone ... to be replaced by Amaru Jay's. Sacred Spice brought welcome diversity with spicey flavours beyond the typical Asian offerings. Kitchenslut will miss his West Indian goat curry! A quick look at the new lunch menu offering is not inspiring but we will refrain from judgement until some feedback arrives from the suburbs.

More promising the Chapter One / Ti Adora site next to the jelly babies is to be reborn this week as 'A Lemonade Tree'. KS bumped into one of the new owners while peering in the window this afternoon and understands the kitchen will be run by the chef previously at Star Apple in Yorkeys Knob. Diversified Asian influences are intended and a prompt visit is planned to suss this out.

Cocoa Amour, which emerged from the ashes of the old Chocolat with it's HQ down on Grafton St, has opened on The Esplanade where Jamaica Joes was, beneath the Chapel. Some much needed diversity of style on the 'narde and we can only hope it drives away the likes of Gloria Jean's next door. It appears that Jamaica Joes will be moving upstairs to replace the Chapel bar(wrong will be a new Thai like we need another one?). KS doubts he will bother climbing the stairs after his only previous experience with a lamb shank that was more like a ball of mutton fat on a bone.

The old Mangostin's which has been dead about a year is now posted with signage promising an 'exciting new concept' from Rattle & Hum next door. Hmmmmm? Work continues down Shields St at the old Verdi's and Red Apple as the franchises move in. There was a report of a previous Masterchef contestant opening a seafood cafe down Shields also, presumably where the Liquid Bar is now defunct.

I'm sure there are more ..... but thats enough for now .....

Hanuman Numero Uno?

The only question is by how far is Hanuman, inside the Hilton, the best in Cairns just now? Excluding Palm Cove and PD ...... but then again value adjusted maybe not and that it deserves to be rated with the salubrious award winners such as Nu Nu etc? Hanuman is exceptional value for quality which makes diners downstairs at Mondo's look like mugs!

Hey, go to Mondo's for a drink and the waterside, but slip upstairs for the food! Too many Hanuman oysters can not be enough! The tasting entree for 2 at $32 is simply exceptional value for comparable quality and quantity against anything in town (maybe Bay Leaf risstafel?). The crispy Thai fish was a standout at a previous visit. The waiters are informed to guide you on what's 'hot'! The spicey aromas wafting around are almost enough to make a visit worthwhile on its own!

The key competitor here is Tamarind at the Casino which is more expensive for a lower ambience location and a recent shocker feedback report to KS of yet another appalling Cairns service experience. Service at Hanuman on two visits equals the best experienced in Cairns ever.

The website link above includes signature recipes but Kitchenslut still just can't get those oysters right .......

service cairns front and centre at salt house

As a ciy dweller tonight I did a little bar crawl. The salubrious newish Salt House was on the agenda. The serving barman managed to sucessfully pour and present my vino and simultaneously during the entire service period engage in a conversation on his mobile! No kidding!!

cutlery supremacy denialism

Australia reigns supreme! The $AUD now confirms our moral and cultural superiority!

This would have always been obvious to anyone who bothered to look at our clear superiority in cutlery engineering! Yes! The most brilliant cutlery invention of recent generations, the splayd, is all ours! Disregarded globally as a mere fad for a decade or two now and consequently ignored by undeserving subsequent generations around the world!?

Kitchenslut cringes here as his dear old Mum still sometimes drags the splayds out as the ideal implement to tackle a somewhat sweet and and less than punchy chicken curry! Actually KS is on a current diet of cultural self-masochism and will next weekend be subjecting himself to self imposed torture at the promising 'needle and the damage done' at the Civic, which threatens to be equally shocking!

What? No chopsticks? What sort of culturally biased diagram is that?

"I murdered the state"?

As a consequence of not owning a television KitchenSlut missed the entire first series of Masterchef as well as the celibrity version this week featuring Anna Bligh. Apparently Bligh's contribution to the Far North was, in tune with KS, an attempt to highlight our magnificent local vanilla beans! Although it would seem the vanilla bean featured in a less than cameo role being tossed in whole in a blink with scant regard and no theatrical slicing to arromatically excite the senses!?

But did Anna really mumble the line "I murdered the state" ...... errrr or was that steak(?) as she presented her downfall meat dish? Was the detraction of a flawed main from a "cracking" fnq vanilla enhanced dessert an ironic metaphor for the state's political economy?

2010 Vogue Produce Awards

The 2010 Vogue Entertainment + Travel Produce Awards are open for nomination.

The awards acknowledge those who are committed to quality and consistency in what they grow and create, and food lovers who promote small producers through restaurants, providores and markets.

The sole presence from the Far North among last years finalists was Vanella Cheese Factory.

Nominate your favourite producers for the 2010 Vogue Entertaining + Travel Produce Awards and win a two-night package for two, worth over $5,000, at luxury Queensland resort Qualia. For more information and to nominate.

Kitchenslut has sought to nominate Vanilla Australia for their organic vanilla essence and beans. Vanilla has become a local food niche which should be associated with the region in the same way as coffee. Taste of the Tablelands this Sunday at the Chinese Temple Grounds in Atherton may be an opportuity to discover other potential nominees?

A Sense of the Sensual

Associate editor 'Essence' has followed current tourism trends and taken advantage of the surging $AUD and cheap airfares and exchanged the glorious October weather of FNQ for the cold of Eastern Europe where she found a great hideaway from the snow and slush in Warsaw.

Essence also discovered her waitress "was an Indian Fijian who had been in Poland 3 years with her family. She got how cold I was feeling and was so happy to see someone from 'home' - her words. Lovely girl and I left there on a high. Warm of fingers and warm of heart :)"

For currency conversion 1 Polish Zloty today = AUD 38 cents.


Loved the menu

As I've already mentioned, I discovered this great little bar/restaurant on the Royal Walk. Tickled my senses, this bar called Sense.

The menu headings:

Foreplay - entrees
Wet - Soup
Wild - Indian/ Middle Eastern
Hot - Stirfries
Obsession - Curry
Hardcore - Mains
Brief Affairs - Extras
Happy Endings - Dessert

:))

I chose some Foreplay and was not disappointed...
Tempura brie with blue cheese icecream and pistachio crusted grapes, served with pickled cabbage and caramalised vinegar - 35Z
Washed down with a light white wine
Mas Rabell - Parellada from Spain 15Z a glass

The tempura batter encasing the brie was light and crispy, providing an envelope for the warm soft brie which oozed out and mixed with the pickled cabbage and caramelised vinegar - great combination. Next taste explosion was the blue cheese icecream - this provided a series of tastes across the palette. It had a crumbly texture as it was cut, rather like a mature cheddar, but became creamy with a cold but not icy sweetness in the front of my mouth, and finished with the warm blue bite in the throat. This icecream was fantastic with the white wine. Finally, the pistachio grapes. The pistachio clung to the frozen green grape through a strong blue cheese coating. This blue was stronger than the ice cream and tended to over power the other flavours. However, when paired with the cabbage and vinegar, it moderated and worked.

This outlet was warm and relaxed and provided attentive service. I ended up there again today in respite from the snow and wrote much of the last two days experiences. The food and drink on my table would be one bite or sip from completion and the waiter would be at my elbow with an offer of refill. Great way to maximise income on a quiet day. And win loyalty.

Posted by The Essence of Good Taste at 8:50 AM

Tropical Cuisine

A link today to a Cairns based website Tropical Cuisine: Cooking in Clare's Kitchen

Looks great and we will watch with interest, add to the sidebar links, and try out a few of those recipes for tropical produce ....... the sweet potato, papaya, lime and passionfruit salad could be on the breakfast menu this week .....

Thanks for the link to Australian Tropical Foods who have also posted on the proliferation of food blogs with some further interesting links.

Lake Eacham Hotel

Kitchenslut was pleased to see in today's Compost that the old Yungaburra Pub finally has a new owner and is soon to reopen.

Sicilian mafia pizza?

Noted in the Compost business section that the tentacles of Capital Globe, associated with ex-mayor Kevin Byrne, are soon to extend into our stomach! The previous site of The Big Apple Cafe on the corner of Abbott and Shields will soon be the 'Avenue 8' with New York style Pizza. Just what we need to join the growing throng of franchised mediocrities in the vicinity?

The plan is apparently to cater to a local clientele although KS is aware of many locals who will be disappointed that the adjacent Jesters Cafe will go to make way for KB's pizza shop. Kitchenslut still hasn't recovered from the demise of the excellent little Java Joes some years ago now to make way for another Hedley edifice of architectural blandness.

The 'Avenue 8' franchise name reported is curious as the Capital Globe franchise pizza parlours in the US and Asia go under the 'Avenue A' name. Capital Globes slender slice of the global pizza market is held through a strategic interest in the Sun Valley Group domiciled in The Bahamas.

A browse through the Avenue A menu doesn't reveal anyting which would pull the Kitchenslut through the door however his interest was piqued by the new Sicilian Mafia pizza offering. Maybe they could do an opening special of a Sicilian Mafia with a Big Kev pork fat pizza topping? Should be an apt combination!