Welcome to Sharing the Table…
What a wonderful buffer Nature provides with Autumn! After the intensity of Summer heat and the busyness of events over the season, this is the time when we all feel things are ‘getting back to normal’ and the cool change in the weather helps us to switch down a gear. That is it was, until two days ago and now we’re told we have 14 days between 30 and 39 coming! The harvest is piling on top of each other, the heat bringing everything to ripeness together. So much else to do, figs being picked, quinces almost ready, new ice creams being trialled, chocolates being boxed up ready for release and a third season of The Cook and the Chef being filmed! But then life is never boring! Just so many things to do! Read on…
Vintage Crop
We are in the thick of all things Vintage in the Valley at the moment, with grape pickers dotting the vineyards, trucks of plump grapes bouncing along dirt roads and winemakers working hard to become human weather vanes in order to pick at just the right time. There really is a wonderful energy buzzing about during Vintage, but the most exciting point of the process has to be when you are about to pop the cork (metaphorically speaking given the stelvin) on all that effort and enjoy a glass of the final result. And we have done just that with our new release Riesling. I tried it with a favourite weekend recipe of mine, Atlantic Salmon Spaghettini Baked with Fresh Herbs and Verjuice – delicious!
A Few of My Favourite Things
There is a favourite quote of mine from John Q. Tullius that goes along the lines of 'Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies…'
And I’m pretty sure he’s got it right after seeing the amount of requests coming in for chocolate! With that in mind I have created a collection based on my philosophy that dark, bitter chocolate is the ultimate indulgence, but it has to be the very best, pure and velvety with a bold edge that can only come from a high percentage of cocoa. In the case of my dark chocolates I have used up to 75% cocoa to ensure even the most seasoned connoisseur will be sated. Of course the chocolate itself is just a starting point, to that I have added some of my favourite flavours – quince, lemon and orange, ginger with our seville – it’s almost like having an orchard of chocolate!
Go For Gourmand!
It’s amazing to think back to when I embarked on the journey that became ‘Maggie’s Harvest’, locked away in my office, furiously writing, driven only by the thought of trying to capture all of my favourite recipes and anecdotes to share. Every stage that has followed the completion of the book has been beyond my control and in a lot of ways beyond my initial thoughts of how the book would be received – it has totally amazed me! So to find out that it has been short listed for the best in the world in regional food, and for best cover, at the Gourmand Awards is just incredible when I reference my starting point back at my office at our cottage in the Barossa. From a tiny acorn grows… The final awards are to be presented in April in London. Wish I could go! I’ll keep you posted on the results.
The Art Of Cooking
Speaking of waiting on results, there is another nail biter on the radar for Barry McCann, who is a talented artist from NSW. He has just found out he is amongst the contenders for the Archibald Prize. The Archibald! If my excitement is anything to go on I can only imagine how he must be feeling. He has done the most wonderful portrait of Simon and me, titled Simpatico, and is one of 40 finalists (chosen out of 693 entries) in the running for the award. All short listed entries will be hung in the Art Gallery of New South Wales with the winner announced on Friday, after a lunch I’m very much looking forward to, with all of the other nominees and Archibald subjects (I’m not quite sure what the correct term is for the people who have been painted, perhaps we’re Archibaldees). I’m crossing fingers and toes for Barry, it would be so wonderful for him to win but just being there in the final selection has been a dream come true for him. Again, we'll keep you posted!
Happy Easter everyone,
Until next time,
Maggie
2nd Helpings
If anything manages to come between you and 6.30pm Wednesday nights, rest assured you can catch a repeat of ‘The Cook and the Chef’ on ABC 1 Saturdays at 11.30am and again on ABC 2 Thursdays at 4.30pm. Some things are so tasty you can’t help but go back for more…
Wine of the Month
New vintage just in - Riesling 07.
Turn the corner into Autumn with a cool climate white - we find it smoothes the transition from the heat of Summer perfectly!
Buy a dozen bottles and we’ll throw in a jar of Maggie’s short run Green Tomato Chutney on us. Green and white go beautifully together don’t you think?
Like Maggie for Chocolate
Haven’t we always known that when Maggie did chocolate it was going to be seriously good? All we can say is ‘told you so!’ As a Farm Shop exclusive we only have a limited amount of chocolately goodness all boxed up, so make sure to order yours before March 16th if you want to have a chocolate grin in time for Easter!
World Food
It’s not too late to discover why the whole world (well nearly!) is talking about Maggie’s Harvest. Don’t forget your food club discount applies – isn’t it nice to be part of the club?
Paint The Town Green
Feel like creating an Archibald inspired masterpiece of your own? Jump into Maggie’s just released short run Green Tomato Chutney and watch what a little colour can do for your next Berkshire ham and cheddar cheese sandwich! Even if it's on white bread - good white bread of course!
