Street Food Australia Launch

Late last year I pledged money to support Street Food Australia’s Pozible Campaign. It’s a terrific project genuinely worthy of support and I along with hundreds of fellow supporters was very excited when the project successfully raised the $20,000 they were aiming for and production on the first of their street vending bicycles could begin.

In short, the project aims to give disadvantaged migrants to Australia, including refugees, an opportunity to start their own business preparing and serving street food. Training in basic business is provided and Street Food Australia (SFA) support the vendors for 2 years to get their business off the ground and running successfully, providing people with a self-sufficient hand-up and a real opportunity to start a new life. According to their website, ‘We (SFA) are working with a quadruple bottom line which targets economic, social, ecological and cultural sustainability.’ If that ain’t worth your cash I don’t know what is.

An official SFA dumpling cart.

Last night was the launch of the Street Food Australia Project in Brisbane held at the IMA in the Judith Wright Centre. When I arrived at 6:40, the IMA terrace was heaving with people. Even the streets outside and Glass Bar were thronged. 

The crowd outside the IMA.

Scrumptious Reads. Totally worth a visit.

The Scrumptious Reads supported book bike. The best shot I could get in the crowd.

There were four food stalls and one bar. Food on offer was Indian paratha, Banh mi, tequila smoked ribs with corn cobs and dumplings. Everything looked and smelled delicious! I couldn't wait to try everything. Yes, I could have fitted in one of everything, I was that keen.

Five for Friday no. 55

She killed at Superbowl earlier this week: Beyonce has a blog. It's free like blogs should be but you need to sign up for it, which I just don't care enough to do. But I am intrigued, so could someone else sign up and let me know?



6 myths about travel that cost you money.

Bean Hunter website. Reviews coffee and cafes all over the world. And yes, they do have an app for that shit. 

Have your say on Brisbane City Council's draft new City Plan. 

Excellent Lego brain teasers.

Book review: The Unfinished Journals of Elizabeth D by Nichole Bernier

Read the full review on Sassi Sam.

The Unfinished Journals of Elizabeth D is a novel about the secrets we keep and the lies-by-omission that we tell the people closest to us. Elizabeth is a young dedicated mother who lives in a picture-perfect Connecticut world. When she dies in a plane crash, she leaves a lifetime of journals in the care of her closest friend Kate. Reading the journals, Kate realises she knew nothing at all about her seemingly close friend. Elizabeth did not trusted people with her secrets and no one in her life ever questioned her choices. 

The Unfinished Journals of Elizabeth D is light holiday read about the secrets we keep and the bonds of relationships. The thread of mystery running through the novel as Kate reads back through Elizabeth’s past is intriguing and makes this book readable. The subject matter is good if a little unoriginal. As a first novel, however, it is good.

Today is World Nutella Day

You had no idea there was such a thing, did you? 

Really though, if you’re going to celebrate a product, why not Nutella? Nutella is delicious. I’ve never met anyone who doesn’t like Nutella. And if you do indeed not like Nutella, I don’t want to know you. Go away. 

 Happy Nutella Day!

Nutella almost deserves a Day for its international popularity. A staple of breakfasts all over Continental Europe, it is as popular if not as ubiquitous in America and Australia. The product was developed by Italian chocolatier Ferrero in 1944 but released onto the market as ‘Nutella’ in 1963. Not unsurprisingly, it was instantly popular. For me, Nutella is so reminiscent of Europe. Going on family holidays in Europe, I got so excited by the little packet of Nutella sitting by my plate every morning. Who am I kidding, I get pretty excited about that now.

Nutella Marshmallow French Toast. Image courtesy of Go Cook Yourself.

Nutella crepes. Image courtesy of Real Mom Kitchen.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, Nutella pretended to be healthy. The goodness of milk and nuts, the energy-beneficial chocolate, all of that toss. With ads full of happy smiling kids, you had to believe it. Let’s be honest though, it’s not healthy. Not even vaguely. But no one cares. Except for the people who sued Nutella for incorrect advertising. It is delicious, glorious, nutty chocolaty spread goodness and I can’t keep it in the house because I Will Eat It.

Nowadays adverts tap into the morning ritual or Nutella as delicious everyday indulgence. Or this great one from 1996 that is artisan and family and breakfast all rolled into one 

Nutella is delicious in any pastry or sweet like situation. In cakes, on toast, on crepes, in cookies, on ice cream, on bananas, surrounding strawberries, on danishes, in croissants. The way I usually eat it? Out of the jar. Using a tiny, tiny spoon because then I can ‘eat’ more without actually consuming more. Yes, I have a method for eating Nutella out of the jar. So judge me.

Several months ago I made Nutella-stuffed browned butter and sea salt cookies. They were incredible. Here is the recipe. 

Just one of the dozens of Nutella recipes you can find online. So do yourself a favour and look through some of the recipes below and when you're nice and drooling, pop to the shops, buy yourself a jar and celebrate this wonderful breakfast spread.

My favourite food blog, Smitten Kitchen have a list of Nutella-inspired recipes.

Joy the Baker also has a selection of recipes.

The best Nutella crepe recipe (apparently).

Nutella fudge brownies.

2-minute Nutella mug cake.

Mango and Nutella crepes. Image courtesy of Closet Cooking.

Kitten meets hedgehog

I don't think there is any possible way this could be more cute. Happy Tuesday.

TV review: Elementary

Last night Channel 10 aired the first episode of Elementary, a CBS re-imagining of Sherlock Holmes. It was not an outstanding debut for an 'American' Holmes. The case itself was not that intriguing and I was thoroughly underwhelmed by what was merely a good – not hyper or exceptional – level of observational skills in Holmes. The patches on the wall denoting frames that have been moved or changed, surely that is blindingly obvious and part of the dull first glimpse into Sherlock's skills. The episode is overall ok. There was obviously a lot of potential, so for a pilot it was pretty good. As inducement to watch the series, I'm not sure it would fly without the strength of the Sherlock Holmes canon. 

However, I would encourage viewers to stick with it. As murder mystery crime drama, it pays off. It is easy to watch and entertaining, with the right amount of dark content and the occasional nod to classic Holmes (the title of the show, for example, being a nod to the line "Elementary, my dear Watson"). As a reconstruction of one of the best known detectives in the world, it is rather liberal. What remains of Holmes is his name, his nationality, parts of his personality and his profession. What remains of Watson is the name and profession; doctor, or former-doctor, who spends time with Holmes as his 'companion'.

I know I shouldn't compare Elementary with Sherlock, but it is impossible to avoid a comparison when there is a British and an American re-invention Sherlock Holmes on our televisions at the same time. My conclusion is that they are both enjoyable and both have excellent qualities. Personally, I would infinitely prefer to sit down to the BBC version. The relationship dynamics are better, the cases, though bastardised, bear an infinitely closer resemblance to the original stories. I know that a re-invention takes liberties and that it is a great thing, to re-invent Conan Doyle, Shakespeare, Austin and revitalise a great story. But there should always be respect for the inestimable base material.

Five for Friday no. 54

A small list of ways you can help with the flood recovery effort across Queensland:

• Donate to the Red Cross 
• Join the state-wide Mud Army 
• or register as a volunteer
• Check out the Queensland Government Emergency Services website for more information and updates. 

11 life lessons from Liz Lemon. 

This week is the 200th anniversary of the publication of Pride and Prejudice, which is one of my favourite books ever. Here is a little look back on 200 years of book covers. I still cling to the 1995 BBC adaptation and have never seen the 2005 film adaption. The trailer made me nauseous.  

Mean Girls: the Musical is in development.

Image courtesy of Boo You Hodor. 

The Federal Election has been announced for 14 September 2013. That makes the campaign 227 days in length. Can we, as a collective nation, stand that much campaigning? I doubt it. But it does give me a link to share this photo of PM Julia Gillard, which she posted herself on twitter. I'm not a huge Gillard fan (though I loathe Tony Abbott) but I like seeing little things like this that are humanising of our politicians and public figures.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, one person's 16 reasons you shouldn't vote for Abbott.