Author: chefmarkmc

With over 45 years as a professional chef running restaurants and kitchens at the highest level, my focus today is on our simple honest food. Based in the famous wine growing region of the Barossa Valley in South Australia, I produce a range of food products that are available at the Barossa Farmers market and other gourmet food outlets. and offer business mentoring and skills coaching to food business.

Lemon tree very pretty

by chefmarkmc, posted in cooking classes, delicious recipes, food and drink, preserving, Seasonal Kitchen

Like almost everyone else, for years I associated vibrantly bright citrus fruits with summer, maybe it’s the association with sunny places like Valencia, Sicily or Morocco or perhaps the memory of lemony ice blocks and cool drinks on hot days,  lemon meringue pie on the picnic table and of course wedges of lemon with shellfish and … Continue reading Lemon tree very pretty

Kale…FFS……its just ancient cabbage …..

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, cooking classes, delicious recipes, food and drink, gourmet cooking classes, indian cuisine, Seasonal Kitchen, Spicy recipes

To be honest I have had it with the mania surrounding Kale, not that I don’t like the stuff, it has its place, but talk about over exposed and over hyped. Seriously does anyone really “love” the taste of Kale juice or think that shredded kale in a salad is “amazing” and don’t get me … Continue reading Kale…FFS……its just ancient cabbage …..

I may be colour blind, but I do know what green tastes like!

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, cooking classes, food and drink, Seasonal Kitchen

"Eat the Weeds"........I’m certainly not the first person to use this phrase, nor to suggest that there is  a bounty of free, nutritious greens growing right under our noses. After all if you have a productive vegetable garden, you need to keep on top of the weeds and instead of spraying them with poison or hoeing them … Continue reading I may be colour blind, but I do know what green tastes like!

In a bit of a pickle …..

by chefmarkmc, posted in cooking classes, food and drink, indian cuisine, preserving, Seasonal Kitchen, Spicy recipes

  Our house smells kind of awesome right now, let me explain why…. The weather in our fair valley has turned, autumn seems to have come to a premature halt and it certainly looks and feels like winter out there right now. Of course that means our little vegie patch, along with everyone else’s, has entered that … Continue reading In a bit of a pickle …..

I Love a Bit of Crumpet!

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, baking, Barossa Wine, Bread and Yeast goods, cakes, chocolate cake, cooking classes, delicious recipes, dessert recipes, food and drink, food and wine, gourmet cooking classes, wine country cooking

A few days ago we hosted a little afternoon tea, nothing exciting in that I hear you say, maybe some simple tea cakes or scones and jam, even a sandwich or two but you would be wrong, what we served brought back memories of something very special because more years ago than I would care to … Continue reading I Love a Bit of Crumpet!