Christmas Hams…

Posted on 15 December 2009 | No responses

Christmas Hams – have a look at this flyer for details on the delicious and succulent Schinkentec smoked and cured legs of Australian pork….for the most divine ham.  I have attached the stocklist also so you can easily procure your Christmas Ham.  These hams are injected with Schinkentec brine, made from dissolved honey, water and curing salts; after a 24 hour period of curing time they are then placed in the smokehouse.  Details are also there on how to store your ham for the best eating after it has been opened….

Click on the below link to view flyer:
http://www.ontheridge.com.au/images/stories/pdf/ham%20flyer%20091115.pdf 

Click on the below link to view stockists:
http://www.ontheridge.com.au/images/stories/pdf/stockists%20of%20schinkentec%20ham%20091118.doc

Slow Food and Carlo Petrini

Posted on 4 November 2009 | No responses

Tonight on the ABC 7.30 report there was a feature on the Slow Food Movement and Carlo Petrini, the founder of the movement. Carlo spoke about food giving pleasure and happiness as well as the sustainability aspects that are important to us…the report also included coverage of the school kitchen gardens working in the same way as the Chevallum garden I have just written a post about….

The 7.30 Report covered Australia’s developing awareness of Slow Food and people’s growing interest in the source of the food they eat.  Presenter Kerry O’Brien said more Australians were shopping at local food markets and even growing their own fruit and vegetables.
‘Real devotees have joined the Slow Food Movement,’ he said, introducing the segment, ‘which was created in protest against fast food.  The organisation has supporters in more than 150 countries.’
In a story centred on the visit by Slow Food international president and founder Carlo Petrini to Australia three weeks ago, reporter Tracey Bowden talked with Sydney chef Alex Herbert, Brindabella Ranges’ rare animal breeds farmer Michael Croft, Mangrove Mountain vegetable grower Michael Champion, Sydney school garden co-ordinator Sarah MacMaster and Petrini.
Bowden also questioned Petrini about perceptions of food elitism: ‘What do you say to those who believe this is just an elitism movement?’
‘I do understand the reaction,’ Petrini said’, ‘because I believe in what I call an ‘austere hedonism’.  It’s not that we are sad environmentalists.  We want happiness, we seek pleasure, but at the same time we also seek sustainability.’

For the full report see >>> http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2733547.htm

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden at Chevallum State School

Posted on 4 November 2009 | No responses

I recently attended a wonderful morning at Chevallum State School to celebrate the launch of their Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Project.  They have been working on their kitchen garden for 12 years now and so the next step was the building and fitting out of a kitchen to enable the children to develop their cooking skills and to learn to cook their garden produce.

The school vision was ‘to entwine the children with the gardens, to deepen their understanding of the nature of life and to encourage them to discover the delights of food through the wonder of gardening’.

As the result of the hard work by Robyn Cook and a team of enthusiastic parents, teachers and community volunteers, Chevallum State School has been awarded a grant from the Stephanie Alexander Foundation to build this purpose built kitchen. It is very exciting for the children to learn how to grow their own vegetables and herbs and then to appreciate the cooking of these and the creating of nutritious dishes.

In her address to the meeting, Robyn Cook, said that the ‘new facility is an asset, one that can be hired out, used for functions, cooking classes and workshops.  Regular gardening and soil nutrition courses will be offered to teach others how to grow nutrient-dense foods and how to cook up wonderfully nutritious foods for families without losing sight that food should also nourish the soul, excite the palate and spark scintillating dinner conversations. We have a vision of the future and when you join us again for the opening of our facilities in early 2010 you will see what that vision is’.  So I look forward to the opening…..

For a complete version of Robyn’s speech – check www.ontheridge.com.au/content/view/104

If you are interested in volunteering – email me and I will put you in touch with Robyn.

Julie and Julia – the movie

Posted on 8 October 2009 | 2 responses

Last Sunday night, my daughter, Yolanda,  and I went to see the new film – Julie and Julia…we loved it; so much so, I am going again tomorrow! It has many very funny moments that caused us to ‘laugh out loud’, as did many others in the audience.  Julia Child, was a large woman, at least 6ft 2, with a musical voice and swaying body, and is played extremely well by Meryl Streep. She is so overly enthusiastic about food, cooking and France, I just love  her…Yolanda thought there were parts of both of them that were a lot like me!! Well, that is a great compliment to be likened to Julia Child, but, I think Yolanda was, not only referring to Julia’s love of France, food and cooking, but also to her affections, exuberance, funny ways and their frustrations in the kitchen!  There is one scene, where Julia Child is at a restaurant in Paris with her two co-authors…..and it is the same restaurant Yolanda, Cathy and I went to last year!  Now it is called La Maison and is just near the Shakespeare Bookshop on the left bank.  We enjoyed it very much and returned there with other friends later in our stay.

It is a wonderful movie and one I might just have to add to my cooking collection of films.  I would love to hear your comments….

Julia Child and her passion for food

Posted on 8 October 2009 | No responses

Whilst in Melbourne last weekend, I was reading the A2 section of the Melbourne Age and came across an article by Michael Pollan called ‘Food for thought’. Reading it, I realised it was the same article which had appeared in the New York Times in August.  In it Michael Pollan gives his views on food and cooking today. It was written as a result of the release of the new movie with Meryll Streep on Julia Child, called Julie and Julia – a true story based on the lives of these two women - Julie Powell, a budding writer, come blogger, and Julia Child, who is credited with being the first US television ‘celebrity chef’ way back in 1963! Her autobiography called ‘Julia Child – My life in France’…… is a wonderful story for food lovers. She was such a passionate cook, trialling recipes tens of times until perfected and then with the results writing her famous two volume work – Mastering the Art of French Cookery….a serious ‘bible’ of classical French cookery. Julia studied her commercial cookery at La Varenne Cooking School in Paris, the same La Varenne, still operated by Ann Willan that I attended in 2008. However it is no longer in Paris but at Ann Willan’s Chateau du Fey in Burgundy. Click here for the link to the New York Times article>>> http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/magazine/02cooking-t.html?pagewanted=1&emc=eta1

On the Ridge in the Press

Posted on 24 September 2009 | No responses

It is always so nice to be included in articles in the press, and there have been a couple of good articles written recently about cooking schools where On the Ridge has been a cooking school  featured.  One was the July edition of Notebook magazine, the winter Salt magazine and the Courier Mail Escape on Sunday 16th August.  You can read these online at:

http://www.ontheridge.com.au/content/view/63/77

France 2010

Posted on 28 August 2009 | No responses

Next year come and join us in cooking classes at La Combe en Pèrigord in south-west France.  You could also enjoy a taste of regional France – between the 25th June and 5th July, 2010 – cooking at La Combe en Perigord, in the Dordogne…for a whole week – come and join me there.  I am the guest chef for the 8 days, cooking and taking 3 afternoon cooking classes where you will prepare and cook your dinner. 

The beautiful old 18th century farmhouse will be your home for the 8 days. It is here you take the cooking classes in the divine old country style kitchen, enjoy breakfast each day and dinners in the dining room, relax around the pool or under the vine covered terrace.  We dine out at some excellent local restaurants, visit local markets, brocantes (antique shops), visit an ancient walnut mill and anything else that might take your fancy in this beautiful corner of France.  Wendely Harvey and her husband, Robert Cave-Rogers have lived at La Combe for 12 years now and have developed a superb program for their guests including secret places known only to locals.  Their background in food publishing and knowledge of French food and cookery make them the perfect hosts for this special culinary experience.  Check the La Combe Culinary Tour page on the website for more details:

http://www.ontheridge.com.au/content/view/99/82/

Figs – heaven…

Posted on 27 August 2009 | No responses

And now it is the fig season again in France – heaven…..i am looking forward to enjoying some delicious figs again.  If you love figs, you might like to read about ‘Figs – fruit from the tree of life’ in Tonya’s Musings at  www.ontheridge.com.au/content/view/92

…will also find some fig recipes in the recipe section – figs in syrup, fig jam, fig and frangipane tart.  When in season we always feature figs in our classes especially in the French Odyssey….one of my favourites is figs with duck breast – I love it.  We often pickle the figs to preserve them and  extend the season!

Touring in France – August – September 2009

Posted on 23 August 2009 | No responses

August, 2009 – as many of you know, I am currently on my way to Maasbracht in Holland to barge on the beautiful 100 year old Betty B through provincial France.  We are starting in Maasbracht and will travel through Belgium on the same route as last June into France.  This time we aim to travel as far as we can towards Avignon, where we will leave the barge till next year.

I am looking forward to cooking many fine dinners after shopping in the marvellous markets, charcuteries, épiceries and boulangeries and supermarkets along the route….last time we cooked such dishes as moules marinière, lapin au moutarde, porc rillettes, chicken paupiettes, magret de canard with plum sauce, slow cooked pork belly with blueberries and chocolate mousse…..

Welcome to the new blog for On the Ridge Cooking School!

Posted on 23 August 2009 | No responses

Fancy – we are now in the modern age of the blogger! Here is our new blog for On the Ridge Cooking School.  It is your opportunity to communicate your culinary views and news to us and for us to share  with you.

I look forward to hearing from you on all things culinary.  It is also a good way for me to keep you informed of what is happening in the cooking classes, plus other interesting food related stories. 

Each class experience is different with the varying group dynamics and dishes we cook, the weather…there is usually quite a lot of feedback received in the ‘inbox’ after a class – this blog is an opportunity for you to read what others are saying about the cooking days at On the Ridge.

In these days of instant communication, blogs provide just that…a quick and easy means of communication with our culinary public who are interested in our food stories.  We are creating our tale here to share with you and for you to share between you all. Let’s see how it goes…..