14.09.08 - Kitchen Confidential

I find solace in a warm kitchen. This is the way it's always been - it explains why I was a chubby kid, but also the reason why when I need to pour any creativity out of my system - the spatula comes out and I bake. I think of my sis when I bake, if not her - my nanny who taught me how to stir fry when I was 9 and makes a mean roast ginger chicken.

Actually, it's a winter revival - how wonderful that the seasons drive a hobby. In the summer our default activity is "beach". I think in the winter, while we pile on the pounds - the chef inside peek-a-boos a little.

This is my "Everything But the Kitchen Sink" Cookies - a recipe modified from this one. Except I swapped out toffee for pecans (too sweet otherwise), and then dissed cherries for cranberries, since I can't find them here.

Here's what they look like.

12.09.08 - Burgers by the Burgerman

Or as it were, by the BurgerWomen. Because every time we walk in to the Burgerman in Darlinghurst, typically after some boozing somewhere - we are served delicious stacks of gourmet burgers by the friendliest butch lesbianese that you'll ever find.

Tonight was really no different. Except since Darlinghurst is the centre of the gay Sydney universe, my friend I found ourselves rushing our exits as we spotted ex-trade milling about in other tables - there is just no decorum for that really. Waving, or even polite hellos is just taboo when you're hands are too full heaving burgers in to your eager pie-hole.

And in case you're wondering - this burger is the Vegetarian Not-Vegetarian = fried eggplant, roasted sweet potato and capsicum, beetroot, garlic/basil mayo, lettuce and tomato (that's the usual Vegetarian), slapped with a burger patty and tasty cheese. Yum.