Not much to report. I ate way more than I should have and took not enough photos (note to self: eat more at lunch, the light is far better).
But here are two tidbits to wet your appetite before dinner. Also I apologise for the watermark, I was in a bit of a rush and it was on the last thing I exported.
Prawn Rolls at yum cha, at Dragon Boat on the Yarra
Autumn Spoils for Two at Koko Black
Hey world, I’m officially in my mid-twenties and it seems to be okay and not soul-crushing. It’s nice of Jesus to pop back in for my birthday this year. That’s all I got folks because really that’s all I know about him except that he would have wanted some of my savoury french toast.
Anyways, started out the morning with a 4.5km run / battle with the cyclists (he called me stupid, I called him a fuckface – definitely not a what would Jesus do moment) and then on to breakfast.
I have a thing about sweet breakfasts. In my head they sound like the best idea ever, but when it finally gets in my mouth I enjoy like a couple bites and then I’m pretty much over the fact that my mouth tastes like a sugar cube. Which is why I was dying to try a savoury french toast recipe. It’s pretty simple and all about the yummy things you get to add on top. The recipe I used said to use a French baguette which obviously adds +10 Frenchiness but you could also use normal bread or Challah bread if you are lucky enough to have it close by (damn you Brisbane!)
Savoury French Toast with Mushrooms and Cherry Tomatoes
| Preparation Time: 15 min Cooking Time: 15 min |
| 4 small egg(s) | |
| 120 g baguette, (4x30g) | |
| 1 clove(s) fresh garlic, crushed | |
| 200 g fresh mushrooms, (button), halved | |
| 200 g cherry tomato(s), (grape) | |
| 1 Tbsp fresh parsley chopped | |
| 2 tsp unsalted butter | |
1. Whisk eggs and milk in a large jug. Pour into a shallow dish. Add bread and turn to coat. Set aside, turning once, for 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat butter in a non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Cook garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes for 5 minutes or until mushrooms have softened. Transfer to a plate. Cover to keep warm.
3. Wipe frying pan with paper towel. Cook bread, 2 slices at a time, for 3 minutes on 1 side or until golden.
4. Top toast with mushroom mixture and sprinkle with parsley. Season with freshly ground black pepper. Serve.
Like Jesus rising from the dead, our Chinese Watercress soup from a couple nights ago makes a reheated comeback Good Friday lunch. Or something like that.
It’s actually a very simple soup. Get some pork ribs, boil them in water with goji berries and red dates and then add the watercress. If you’re like me you can also whatever the hell you want (carrots, corn, mushrooms etc) and then call it a day. The key is to simmer the soup until the meat is falling off the rib. Make lots and freeze it for later.
In honour of our most excellent Easter and ANZAC five day weekend mash-up (which includes wishfulpantry’s birthday on the 24th, btw) we’re doing a weekend long marathon of posts dedicated to what’s we’re stuffing our faces with over the holiday and we’ll also give you details on how to similarly put things in your public holiday mouths.
Quick Boston Baked Beans with Crispy Mountain Bread Bowl
We took our recipe from Food.com and replaced the muffin with a mountain bread that was toasted in the bowl in the oven to create that lovely bowl shape. Otherwise if you’re not too fussed about the shape of your mountain bread you can also just toast it flat.
Beans-wise the recipe uses Borlotti beans but we just used whatever we had in the pantry which included some leftover kidney beans and black beans.
I was so scared of poaching my first egg but it turns out all those tips do work. (Add a little vinegar to the water, whisk the water before you add the egg, crack the egg into a cup or glass before pouring it into the pot of whisked water).
If there’s one thing Berkeley does well it’s breakfast. Behold my giant stack of Lemon Gingerbread Pancakes from La Note. Also giant breathtaking parks for puppies.
I was looking through all the dishes we ate at Chez Panisse and it was too hard to choose so here’s a photo of the entrance signage. Go if you have the chance and try everything they put on your table.
We found it by accident while looking for something to eat near the Museum of Arts and Design and we sort of stumbled into the shopping centre Bouchon and Per Se live in. While there’s a very large Samsung sign which kind of looms over the dining area the food at Bouchon Bakery sounds so simple but it’s done oh so well. The lobster mac and cheese was not only the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had but also the nicest lobster I’ve ever tasted. Not too over-powered but the cream and cheese and very very soft.
PS. We went there twice.
Egg was recommended to us by a friend of a friend and now I’m recommending it to you. We had the Eggs Rothko (an easy cooked egg in brioche topped with cheese) and the duck hash and it isn’t what you’d call pretty food. But it’s freaking delicious. Also you get to draw on their tables; we left Andy the Unicorn.
Wishful pantry and plus one went to America for three weeks!
Most of it was delicious (San Francisco holla!) some of it not so much and I did think about doing separate posts for the best of and worst of or one post for San Francisco, one for LA and one for New York but honestly the whole thing was a big yummy mess and I haven’t had the heart to step on the scales yet.
So instead here are some of my favourite food places that you should definitely check out if you’re in the neighbourhood.
Baja-style Escolar with a side of sweet potato fries from Pacific Catch, in the Marina District in San Francisco which was recommended to us by the most friendly salesperson I’ve ever met at Fleet Feet across the road.
Black iron seared Day Boat scallops on a bed of truffled potato mousseline, chanterelle mushrooms, leek nage from Park Chalet at the ocean end of the Golden Gate Park. Some of the largest and juiciest scallops I’ve ever had. Period.
Fish and Farm is in the city centre of San Francisco and we managed to get a table in the bar and while the food was very much up to par it’s the Saucy Pear and our very lovely and understanding bartender (after I accidentally dropped the Saucy Pear on the floor).
You’ll have to get your own water and bus your own tables but to eat a truffle sausage at Rosamunde Sausage Grill, I would bus a thousand tables. Also you save on tips.
TCHO is a San Francisco based chocolate factory and if you are ever in the area definitely take their free chocolate tour (not just for the chocolate-y air and free tasting) but it really was an eye-opener into how chocolate is grown and made. Also buy some cacao nibs covered in dark chocolate. They’re great on their own or if you like your coffee, add a teaspoon to your morning cup instead of sugar.
