MasterChef Professional: Being a Winner!

Me and my Mate Marco

I won!!!!!! I don't normally win things but, apart from the lottery, there was nothing better I could think of that would be better than winning a Pre-screening of MasterChef Professionals, which started last Sunday. So off we went to Fox Studios to see the kick off of what promises to be "the most challenging food competition yet." Of course, I've been looking forward to Marco and Matt putting the pros through some gruelling challenges, so it was pretty exciting. What I had failed to remember in the excitement of winning something, was that Marco and Matt were also going to be there answering questions. With only another 20 or so people there there was plenty of opportunity to hear from Matt and Marco on Australian food culture, MasterChef behind the scenes, favourite moments from the series, George and Gary ability to let go and Marco's reputation for making Gordon Ramsay cry. What a great afternoon and an amazing opportunity to meet an amazing food great (oh, and Matt Preston!)

Mojito Sorbet

Thinking of tropical climes, for the Sweet Adventure Blog Hop hosted this month by Nic from Dining with a Stud, always makes me crave a great cocktail - something refreshing and cool to soothe the sizzle of the day. There are some classics I love when on vacation like Pina Colada or Sex on the Beach, but one of the most refreshing after a long day on the beach is a Mojito, zesty lime and muddled mint with a hit of rum and plenty of ice. Delicious!

And, what better to cool you down during these hot evenings than a sorbet. I decided to have my cake cocktail, and eat it too with this easy to prepare, fun to eat summer dessert

Mojito Sorbet

1 cup of caster sugar
1 cup water
rind of 2 limes
juice of 5 limes
1/4 cup of loose mint leaves sliced thinly + whole leaves to garnish
60ml bacardi

Make a sugar syrup by dissolving the caster sugar in the cup of water. Leave to cool;
Mix the remaining ingredients (reserving some whole mint leaves for garnish) into the cooled sugar syrup;
Churn in the ice cream maker following the instructions of the machine;
Serve in Martini glasses decorated with a mint leaf as a refreshing end to a summer meal.

Food: Transforming America's Table

Food: Transforming America's Table

Food: Transforming America's Table in the Smithsonian museum of American History had been open only for a month or so - just in time for our visit to Washington DC. It was a real highlight of the trip to become acquainted with some of America's celebrity chefs from the early days, and to see some of our favourites from top chef cooking with Julia Childs' early in their careers!

Julia's kitchen was replicated looking like she'd just walked out of it a few minutes earlier and her infamous recognisable chortle resounded around the place as if she was doing a demo right there!

Julia Child's Kitchen

Another fascinating exhibit case had appliances from the ages. It was the fondue set that caught my eye having just had an experience at a fondue restaurant on the West Coast. A crepe pan, pasta roller and Dutch oven  were displayed here again, perhaps to highlight the European influences to food culture in the US.

After about an hour in the food gallery, I dragged myself away and I decided I really should see the star spangled banner as a more traditional take on American history before immersing myself in the other sights of Washington DC and enjoying some of the modern food culture at the city's restaurants shaping the new food history!

Food Resolution

The end of the year is a good time to reflect on the year past and gear up for next year.

2012 was my year to master fish. I wouldn't say I am quite a master but I do have coral trout, scallops, bugs, salmon, snapper and whiting under my belt. I am no longer fearful of the fishys.

This year I received my amazing Kenwood mixer. We experimented with sausages and now have a few sizzlers up our sleeves for summer BBQs. I tried some great desserts in the Sweet Adventures Blog Hop, attended my first pop up restaurant hosted by Kylie, Audra and Mindy of Masterchef fame, learnt and feasted during an amazing trip to Adelaide for Eat Drink Blog 2012 and discovered some new favourite recipes from my wonderful collection of magazines and books on our new food bookshelf! We are now set up for great success in 2013.

Armed with the Kenwood and some great new cool books from Jamie Oliver, Andy Allen and Gordon Ramsay we are heading well equipped into 2013. What will 2013 bring? MasterChef Pros is just around the corner to keep me occupied! Health kick, at least in Jan, more fresh produce to cook with and in winter I am going to augment my soup repertoire with M(i)sch(i)ef soup kitchen with an attempt to post some recipes! So, with that, let's crack open the champers, clink your glasses! Happy New Year and here's to 2013!