Do you remember English lass Rachel Khoo? She’s one of the young and talented food stylists I’ve featured here in the (blog)house kitchen many moons ago. I met Rachel in Paris in 2008 when she was studying at Le Cordon Bleu. Back then she was flitting around Paris as a food stylist for the likes of Elle à table and Galeries Lafayette,  creating fun workshops in the gorgeous little bookstore La Cocotte, and regularly cooking up a storm of new recipes.

Today, I am very happy to hear she’s coming to Sydney this March to host one of her  fabulous “underground” culinary evenings with her food + design writing friend Frankie…

From penal colony to gold rush eldorado, to sun and surf mecca, British gals Rachel and Frankie interpret the tastes and influences of past and present Australia over a six course dining experience.  Rachel has been hosting a few of these underground dinners in London and Berlin over the past year with great success, and she’s super excited to be coming to Australia.

The edible immigration tales will be told for 3 nights only (Friday 12th, Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th March) in a secret Eastern Suburbs Sydney location. It will be 6 courses paired with wine and a recommended donation of $75 pp will be very appreciated. Seats are limited.  In order to book you can email Rachel and Frankie directly or click here for more details.

In more R.Khooks news (geez I love to hear about my (blog)house guests incredible achievements!), her first and super gorgeous book has just been released today. It’s called muesli et granola maison -which translates as “homemade muesli and granola” – and is published by marabout, with photography by akiko ida and beautiful prop styling by elodie rambaud. Here is a rather exclusive sneak peek inside…

miam, non? I love muesli and making anything muesli related, especially muesli bars. And with that perfect touch of french style, who can resist.

Congratulations Rachel! Have a fab time in Sydney (and try not to get too many colours like I have done, it’s really not so pleasant).

xx

Under palm trees and ferns, through an ancient archway and across a grand lawn is an incredibly inspiring slice of Sydney history called Vaucluse House. I have visited this house many times over the years. Mostly to wander the gardens and imagine the life of all who have nurtured the estate over the years. Because it’s not the opulence of this home that I love, it’s the simplicity in the detail of the way things were…

Of all the bedrooms in the house this is my favourite – it is tucked at the end of an upstairs hall. I can’t remember whose room it belonged to in its day, but it inspires me all the same. The most incredible space in the house though, without a doubt, is the kitchen and adjoining larder and dairy rooms…

The simple, functional furnishings and design are beautiful…

And what house is complete without the ultimate head housemaid’s room a.k.a in more modern times as “the laundry room”…

Isn’t it glorious? One of the first times I ever visited Vaucluse House was for an evening play in the gardens. It was a date with my boyfriend, I was just 18 years old. He had packed a delicious evening picnic and when we arrived we were instructed to find a patch of lawn to call our own.  The audience were scattered across the front grounds, only about 30 people in total. Before the play began we ate our picnic, and watched the sun begin to set in the sky. Before the night fell the performance began. It was Lady Chatterly’s Lover.

Various scenes were played out in various parts of the estate, and the audience were quietly informed at the end of each scene to meet at the stables, or near the well, or by the garden gate.  It was pitch black, the stars shone brightly above and the air was balmy. I was mesmerized – completely enraptured by the romance, and scenery.   It remains to be one of the most wonderful performances (and yes, dates) I have ever encountered…

I’m not sure if they still hold plays in the gardens of Vaucluse House. But a visit to the house and then lunch in the tearooms is just as wonderful.

On Saturday I met the lovely Lee Tran Lam for breakfast at Baffi & Mo on Redfern St. Lee Tran had recommended it some time ago (for those who don’t know, Lee Tran writes a fabulous food blog called the unbearable lightness of being hungry) and she knew from my blog that I love a decent breakfast and  a good, real chai so she was eager for me to try this place out once back in Sydney.

I chose the ricotta hotcakes with fresh figs and honey. It was superb, and as for the chai? It was perfect.

Thank you Lee Tran! It was wonderful finally meeting you, I hope we get to do this again sometime.

xx

Last week I took my mum and french boy to Vaucluse House for lunch in the tearooms.  It is one of my favourite places to go in Sydney for a slice of historial home inspiration. I will share some photos of the house itself soon but for now, I just wanted to show you what I had for lunch…

…aren’t the colours glorious? To me, this epitomises food in Australia – fresh, healthy, creative, inspiring and utterly delicious. I then had some scones with jam and chantilly cream, and a cup of english breakfast tea. What a treat.

Bonjour mes amis, how are you? Well and full of energy to start the new year I hope. My two week computer hiatus has come to an end. It was really great to take the break. While I was not blogging or checking emails I was reading, napping, eating, and enjoying some quiet time with my parents and french boy. I am settling in nicely to Sydney life. But this time, for the first time, I feel foreign in my own home town. It’s a strange feeling, but also rather exciting – I see the area with fresh eyes, and yet every space is filled with memories.

French Boy and I have been having two breakfasts a day – a light one before we take a long walk on the beach and then one after that which is a little more extravagant – white peaches, mango and banana with french toast, or avocado and eggs on thick buttery toast, and so on. This is the city for breakfast, there is no doubt about that.

I will be back again soon as there have been a couple of lovely surprises that I want to share with you. Until then, welcome to 2010! May it be a year filled with love and happiness for all of us…

xx

PS how gorgeous is the little guy in the first photo? He lives in this tree and comes out at dusk, climbs up to the tallest branch and gazes out at his surroundings. I’ve grown attached and love to watch him while he wanders around his home. It’s possum magic.