food friends fun
Biteclub OR "You'll never eat lunch in this town again!"
25/08/2007 12:07 Filed in: Bite Club
Just to let everyone know, the following entry was written by our Founding Father and Biteclub president/organiser Jason. As usual, my travel commitments had me circling the globe and I wasn't there to enjoy this event. Enjoy Jason's take on a fun filled, gourmet fest...
From the people who brought you Bite Club, we bring you Bite Club Lunch!
The inaugural daytime edition of our food and friends fest kicked off on Sunday, August 19. Could a weekend lunch, possibly be as successful as the traditional Tuesday night affair? After five seasons, changing time slots is always a risk. However, despite appalling weather conditions - and at least one member getting the shits, literally - it turned out to be a fun afternoon.
The day began with a clap of thunder and bolt of inspiration. Due to the torrential rain, Vanessa and I abandoned our plan to seat everyone in the spacious courtyard at Spring Street. Instead, we decided to slap two tables together and squeeze everyone inside. As they say, bad luck always comes in threes - and it did. Soon after, Paul was seconded to free a staff member from a laundry press at Valitel. Minutes later, Mark Meredith found himself knee deep in raw sewage, at Mafia Headquarters. As always, Maria arrived, with apologies from the absentees - and takeaway requests.
Nessy and Jason
In keeping with Bite Club tradition, two special guest surprise intruders were invited to add spice - newlyweds, Victoria and Ben Richards. Victoria needs no introduction. She's always a hit with the gang. As a fellow professional marathon runner, I knew Ben would have much in common with myself, Ryan and Michael. Over the course of the afternoon, he even managed to pick up a few sporty tips. Winning the City to Surf is easy - all you need to do is smell like a fragrance counter and follow the bouncing bum!
Victoria and Ben...welcome intruders
With everyone seated, we got down to the serious business of serving food. Vanessa and I opted against an overall theme for the three courses - after all, our backs are still out from doing the can can, at our Parisian night. Instead, we kept it simple. For entrée, Vanessa prepared a traditional Chinese dish: Cannelloni stuffed with ricotta, baked in a rich tomato sauce. Add a touch of rocket for extra flair. It was truly delicious. If the Great Wall can be seen from the moon, so could our waist lines, by the time the four individual servings were devoured.
Vanessa's Canelloni
For a main, I dished up spicy Mediterranean burgers. I was once given the recipe by a wonderful old Greek lady, who lives on the island of Siros, in the Cyclades. It's been passed down through her family for generations. Simply bake a sour dough bun (I started from scratch but you can buy identical rolls from the Queen Street deli). Combine fresh beef and lamb into paddies, season with parsely, ground cinnamon, garlic, peppers and chilli. Grill to taste. Prepare the rolls with a layer of sundried tomato, then add Greek yoghurt to the burgers, top with spring onion, and serve with a side of warm potato chips. Amazingly, the entire meal has zero cholesterol.
Beaut burgers
Purely for decorative purposes, I whipped up three side salads: Fennel, grapefruit, nicoese olive and walnut, in a mustard dressing. Also, basil and pinenut, in a Balsamic vingerar dressing. Finally, a traditional green salad, with cherry tomato and avocado.
healthy salads
For dessert, Vanessa baked a mouth watering sticky date pudding. Special mention must go to Albert Stangle, who expertly advised the correct cooking time. For all Vanessa's recipes, please subscribe to her Mail Ling List. Finally, with coffee, we offered fresh strawberries, home made rocky road and coconut truffles.
mmmm...fantastic options
Special mention must go to Sal, who ate everything on his plate. However, the management would like to advise that there's no truth to the rumour that his subsequent stomach bug had anything to do with Bite Club.
A thorn amongst the roses
Special thanks to Victoria and Ben, for joining us. As we look forward to the next Bite Club at Mark, Maria and Sal's place, perhaps we should ponder a question raised by Tony. Just why is it, that intruders never make a second return? (Cue creepy think music.)
From the people who brought you Bite Club, we bring you Bite Club Lunch!
The inaugural daytime edition of our food and friends fest kicked off on Sunday, August 19. Could a weekend lunch, possibly be as successful as the traditional Tuesday night affair? After five seasons, changing time slots is always a risk. However, despite appalling weather conditions - and at least one member getting the shits, literally - it turned out to be a fun afternoon.
The day began with a clap of thunder and bolt of inspiration. Due to the torrential rain, Vanessa and I abandoned our plan to seat everyone in the spacious courtyard at Spring Street. Instead, we decided to slap two tables together and squeeze everyone inside. As they say, bad luck always comes in threes - and it did. Soon after, Paul was seconded to free a staff member from a laundry press at Valitel. Minutes later, Mark Meredith found himself knee deep in raw sewage, at Mafia Headquarters. As always, Maria arrived, with apologies from the absentees - and takeaway requests.
Nessy and Jason
In keeping with Bite Club tradition, two special guest surprise intruders were invited to add spice - newlyweds, Victoria and Ben Richards. Victoria needs no introduction. She's always a hit with the gang. As a fellow professional marathon runner, I knew Ben would have much in common with myself, Ryan and Michael. Over the course of the afternoon, he even managed to pick up a few sporty tips. Winning the City to Surf is easy - all you need to do is smell like a fragrance counter and follow the bouncing bum!
Victoria and Ben...welcome intruders
With everyone seated, we got down to the serious business of serving food. Vanessa and I opted against an overall theme for the three courses - after all, our backs are still out from doing the can can, at our Parisian night. Instead, we kept it simple. For entrée, Vanessa prepared a traditional Chinese dish: Cannelloni stuffed with ricotta, baked in a rich tomato sauce. Add a touch of rocket for extra flair. It was truly delicious. If the Great Wall can be seen from the moon, so could our waist lines, by the time the four individual servings were devoured.
Vanessa's Canelloni
For a main, I dished up spicy Mediterranean burgers. I was once given the recipe by a wonderful old Greek lady, who lives on the island of Siros, in the Cyclades. It's been passed down through her family for generations. Simply bake a sour dough bun (I started from scratch but you can buy identical rolls from the Queen Street deli). Combine fresh beef and lamb into paddies, season with parsely, ground cinnamon, garlic, peppers and chilli. Grill to taste. Prepare the rolls with a layer of sundried tomato, then add Greek yoghurt to the burgers, top with spring onion, and serve with a side of warm potato chips. Amazingly, the entire meal has zero cholesterol.
Beaut burgers
Purely for decorative purposes, I whipped up three side salads: Fennel, grapefruit, nicoese olive and walnut, in a mustard dressing. Also, basil and pinenut, in a Balsamic vingerar dressing. Finally, a traditional green salad, with cherry tomato and avocado.
healthy salads
For dessert, Vanessa baked a mouth watering sticky date pudding. Special mention must go to Albert Stangle, who expertly advised the correct cooking time. For all Vanessa's recipes, please subscribe to her Mail Ling List. Finally, with coffee, we offered fresh strawberries, home made rocky road and coconut truffles.
mmmm...fantastic options
Special mention must go to Sal, who ate everything on his plate. However, the management would like to advise that there's no truth to the rumour that his subsequent stomach bug had anything to do with Bite Club.
A thorn amongst the roses
Special thanks to Victoria and Ben, for joining us. As we look forward to the next Bite Club at Mark, Maria and Sal's place, perhaps we should ponder a question raised by Tony. Just why is it, that intruders never make a second return? (Cue creepy think music.)
The Boat Cruise...Sort Of
31/03/2007 18:04 Filed in: Personal
That beautiful selection of food you see here was a sight to behold. Unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy it in its intended environment!!! Let me explain. Our hard working Biteclub secretary Jason, had organised a boat cruise on Sydney's magnificent harbour to celebrate the end of summer. A group of friends, enjoying the last rays of sunshine, eating and drinking together whilst taking in the beautiful sights of Sydney harbour. Unfortunately for him and us, Mother Nature unleashed her anger in the form of a tropical storm one hour before we were due to depart!!! Of all days. Anyway, with a mountain of food we made our way to his cool inner city premises to enjoy our "Clayton's" cruise.
There was food everywhere!!! Pea and Pancetta Tart, herbed ricoota fritters, roast chicken with stuffing, home made vegetarian lasagna, Maltese pastizzi, Jason's home made sausage rolls...the list was endless. Party food at its best!!! It was good to see everyone had made an effort. We feasted and drank and danced to some old LP's Jason had from his teen years. Who needs the SS Minnow now?
A variety of cous cous salads and Michael's home made veggie lasagna. It was all perfect and we need that recipe Michael.
Myself and Maria on the left. Nessy and Ryan on the right.
Jason, our Biteclub Secretary and boat cruise organiser, is in the orange, on the left with Lisa and Hilbert. Sal, on the right with Katie and Juliet.
And finally the desserts came out. A beautiful selection of Italian and Greek cakes. Arthur and Ryan had also made their famous Peach and Raspberry Tart. A fun night indeed and we were quite full by the end of it. All that food and dancing. I also wanted to say thank you to Jason again for going to all the effort of organising this event. It might not have gone the way we intended it to but we certainly made it up for it other ways. Thanks again Jason.
Pete