York Food and Wine Fest (June 29)

Enjoy a day of food, flavours and fun at the inaugural York Gourmet Food and Wine Festival in the historic town of York on June 29 from 9am to 3.30pm. For $5 entry, gourmands can experience new and exciting tastes from around the world, with 30 gourmet food and wine stalls to sample from. Products include olives, wines, yabbies, cheese, jams, pickles, exotic spices and sauces, chocolate, biscuits and much more. To add a little mystery to your trip, see if you can find the fantastic home made pie shop on the way to York. If you do, you will be very, very happy with what you find!

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Lazy Kitchen Tip #2

We’ve all tried the absorption method, sushi rice method and the plain old boiling method and still, the quality and texture that we want to achieve in our rice dishes never eventuates.

So… what does one do? Readers what I’m about to tell you is the secret to get that fluffy rice you always wanted. Buy a rice cooker! The cheaper the brand the better – can you say Aroma 8-Cup Cool-Touch Rice Cooker $29.99 available from Target? Place the rice in a bowl in your sink under the tap, then, with cold running water wash the rice till the water becomes clear. Strain through a sieve and place in the rice cooker. For every cup of rice you cook use two cups of liquid, either water or stock, to cook it in. For added flavor throw in some traditional Pandan leaf, available from any good Asian grocer’s frozen section.

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Dish Deeelish

Ok peeps it’s winter, and where is everyone?! Is it just us or does everyone in Perth hibernate? We love Perth, but we hate Perth’s mentality when it comes to winter. People, people, people, say it with me now… layers! Get up off yer ass! Get your layers on and get out and discover Perth’s winter food scene.

The window of opportunity to discover winter time culinary delights is small here in Perth. During winter, restaurants are in their off-peak mode and chefs have the time to spend on producing some outstanding comfort foods, most with intimidating names that you should not let deter you from adventurous ordering. After all, why stick to your steak and frits, when you can have daube or Cassoulet? Allow us to explain.

Meet Daube of Beef. Sometimes called the mother of all stews, daube is a classic French dish of slowly braised beef, red wine, vegetables, and seasonings, If you see Daube of beef cheek, order it! I assure you will be dished up a plate of orgasm.

Another favourite of ours is Cassoulet. If Daube is the mother, then this hearty dish is the father. My loins quiver with delight – like those of a heroine in a Danielle Steel novel – when I see Cassoulet on a menu. Originating in the southwest of France, Cassoulet is a rich, slow-cooked stew made with white beans (haricots blancs, lingots), duck or goose confit, and meat, usually pork belly and (if the chef is culturally sound) Toulouse sausage.

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Lee’s Birthday

Now June not only heralds the start of winter it also brings two causes for celebration – the Foundation Day long weekend (the last one ’til September), and Lee’s birthday. This year Lee is turning 25 for what’s got to be the fourth year running (28 doesn’t have that nice a ring to it), so in the month of June, take a day out to get drunk, be obnoxious and embarrass yourself and your friends publicly – it’s what Lee would do!

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Lee and Sandro