The Gourmet Forager - foraging for tasty finds in Sydney and abroad

Good riddance to a bittersweet 2011 – here’s to a happy 2012!

by Forager on January 1, 2012

There is an undeniable sense of guilt-ridden déjà vu as I write these words: “I’m sorry for the absence and the lack of posts of late”. I’m not sure where the cultural custom owes its roots, but for guilty Chinese children confessing their sins, the customary stance is to have your head bowed, pulling on [...]

Tagged as: Cantonese, Chinese, Chinese culture, new year, pork, roast pig, tea ceremony, wedding

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A degustation on a lungful of air

by Forager on November 2, 2011

Busy is a monumental understatement describing my past few months. Ever since returning from New York over 4 months ago, my professional work went into turbo hyper drive and has now settled comfortably into a constant state of wide-eyed panic; I contributed to another freelance writing project with a super tight short turnaround time; and [...]

Tagged as: Chefs, collapsed lung, Daniel Puskas, degustation, French, Herve This, Josephine Pignolet Award, Martin Benn, Mitch Orr, molecular gastronomy, Phil Wood, pneumothorax, science, sepia, SIFF, Terry Robinson

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Foraging for abalone and a recipe for abalone and chicken congee

October 9, 2011

Foraging is the new black. No longer solely a pastime of individual or community hippies, herbalists, naturalists or ethnic groups – foraging is going mainstream and from the highly specialised and exclusive kitchens of Noma to local commercial kitchens, foraged food is finding its way onto menus and plates everywhere. It’s encouraging but not entirely [...]

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DIY black Perigord truffle feast

September 7, 2011

“A friend of mine owns a truffle farm – do you want some truffles?“ So said the Chi Master, a good friend and former colleague that I’d worked with for about 2 years. Did I want truffles – what sort of stupid question is that? And more importantly, what’s this about a truffle farm? Two [...]

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Win an exclusive masterclass with Peter Gilmore of Quay Restaurant, Sydney!

August 30, 2011

Competitions are raining down thick and fast here at The Gourmet Forager, and this one enviably good. Want the chance to win an exclusive, intimate Masterclass with none other than Peter Gilmore of Quay Restaurant, Sydney? Ah, I thought that might get your attention… The Electrolux Appetite for Excellence program was founded in 2005 by [...]

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Win one of five Eating and Drinking Sydney 2012 guides!

August 23, 2011

This is a momentous occasion as I have been published! Well, strictly speaking I’ve been “published” a few times in science academia before, so it isn’t a first time I’ve squeezed my name amongst others into print media. Nor is it the result of months of angst-ridden, neuron murdering, tear soaked soul searching self reflection [...]

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Getting reacquainted with my old friend Tequila

August 9, 2011

I’m reminded that at the beginning of the year, I declared it was to be one of learning and new experiences. And I’m reminded also that you should be careful of what you wish for, as just before we went to New York, an opportunity presented itself to overcome my long standing rivalry with my [...]

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The Impatient Cook’s Corned Beef Reuben Sandwich

July 30, 2011

Having a Reuben on rye in New York, the city where the delicious sandwich of layered meat heaped with tangy sauerkraut, creamy sauce and molten Swiss cheese was first concocted is special; having it at Katz’s Deli was just inspirational. That Reuben was so hypnotically good and left a lasting impression on us. I think [...]

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A New York food pilgrimage from Katz to lobsters

July 21, 2011

Being “The Tourist” is usually an unsavoury concept for those who deem themselves as worldly and widely travelled. They are words that are spat out with arrogant contempt and unbridled pity when you’re in the know and count hole-in-the-wall joints and speak easy underground bars amongst your “local hangouts” and are on first name terms [...]

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Dining on 3 shiny Michelin stars at Daniel, New York

July 5, 2011

We thought 10 days in New York would be enough to get a great taste of the city – to really get under her skin, get to know her and convince her to divulge her secrets. But we were wrong, New York unleashes an overwhelming stream of possibilities on the unsuspecting naive. “The city that [...]