Category: wine country cooking

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!

Red Gold – Saffron that is!

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, cooking classes, delicious recipes, food and drink, food and wine, gourmet cooking classes, Seasonal Kitchen, wine country cooking

Walking around our garden today in the Autumn drizzle, copper leaves cascading off of our old Pear Tree and the first signs of our saffron Crocus’s sprouting through the soil, reminded me of a time over 30 years ago when we lived albeit briefly on the Herts and Essex border in the UK. This was … Continue reading Red Gold – Saffron that is!

Just Nuts about Hazelnuts…

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, baking, cooking classes, delicious recipes, dessert recipes, food and drink, food and wine, gourmet cooking classes, home preserving, sugar confections, wine country cooking

Piemonte is one of the food and wine world’s best (or worst) kept secrets. Little wonder that the Slow Food Movement is headquartered here because seriously, there is so much great food and wine packed in this little region of Italy than is really fair. Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, & Arneis are but a few of … Continue reading Just Nuts about Hazelnuts…

Its Marvelous What A Difference Milo Makes!

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, baking, Barossa Wine, cakes, cooking classes, delicious recipes, dessert recipes, food and drink, food and wine, gourmet cooking classes, sugar confections, wine country cooking

Choosing a dessert to serve to a group can be a difficult thing, especially for a group of family and friends with wildly divergent tastes. Some people love them, others claim not to but will still devour them, while others, self included, prefer cheese or something savoury. But there are so many options, from extravagant … Continue reading Its Marvelous What A Difference Milo Makes!

What’s Hiding In The Pantry

by chefmarkmc, posted in australian chefs, baking, cakes, cooking classes, delicious recipes, dessert recipes, food and drink, food and wine, gluten free, gourmet cooking classes, Seasonal Kitchen, wine country cooking

While most of my posts celebrate seasonality, just occasionally something comes up that has nothing to do with my obsession that “fresh is best” and this is one such occasion. In fact for more than one reason this will probably give those that know me reasonably well, cause for a good old chuckle. Firstly because, … Continue reading What’s Hiding In The Pantry