andycapp
Grumpy Old Griper
Whilst posting in another thread I got to thinking about my favourite foods - a subject that is probably always hovering around in my subconscious. For me, one of the joys of life is sitting around a table enjoying good food, good wine (and/or beer)and a good flapjaw (talk) with friends. In a topic such as this, the difficult part (for me) is trying to decide whether (for example) I like a bowl of rogan josh (lamb curry) more than a bowl of gnocchi carbonara (pasta) - simply impossible - I'll have both thanks waiter and that's only entree!
There are so many types of food and ways of preparing it that my mind is reeling (and mouth drooling) at the prospect of choosing between them. I'd like to hear what sort of food other people like, so feel free to give your favourite dish, or dishes in as much, or little detail as you like. I could easily fill many pages listing the food I like so I've exercised (tried) some discipline and restricted myself to describing food under a number of headings - although to say which are my favourite I found impossible.
*Seafood
I like most fish but particularly Atlantic Salmon and Barramundi - a freshwater fish from Northern Australia. I like to bast Atlantic Salmon with a pesto (basil) mixture and then cook it on the barbecue until the outside is seared but inside is still pink and tender.
Also love Kalamari (squid) as long as it's not over cooked and rubbery and shell fish - oysters and scallops. Paella (Spanish rice dish) is one of my favourite seafood/shellfish dishes. Also like a good Sushi or Sashimi (Japanese raw fish dishes).
Damn! Nearly forgot prawns (fried with butter and garlic) and lobster (crayfish).
*Meat (if you're a vegetarian or animal liberationist I suggest you skip this
)
I love most red meats although I don't eat alot of it or in great quantities. Veal (calf - young beef) is my favorite done in a variety of ways - cooked in a white wine sauce with mushrooms, spinach and herbed potatoes - delicious! Also love roasts - chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, etc.
A few snags (sausages - the Spanish Chorizo is a favourite) and lamb chops thrown on the barbecue is an Aussie favourite. One of the more unusual meat dishes is kangaroo which tastes a bit like venison - it's not widely eaten here.
*Vegetables and herbs
If I'm feeling a bit tired or run down I love cooking a simple dinner of roast vegetables, I always feel better for it. The other thing I love about veges and herbs is I can grow them in the backyard - this past summer I grew lettuce, rocket, spinach, tomatoes, capsicum, butter beans egg plant and a variety of herbs. I tried to grow water melon but only got one miserable little melon the size of a lemon.
I particularly love potatoes (done just about any way), carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, rice and mushrooms - I know they're not veges but this is a convenient category in which to place them. I must have some Hobbit in me, because I LOVE mushrooms!
*International Food Dishes
One of the many things I'm grateful for about living in Australia (and particularly Melbourne) is the range and quality of food at reasonable prices. And the fact, due to the influx of migrants, that I can eat cusine from just about any nation in restaurants and cafes (or takeaway at home) - pure bliss!
Some of my favourites are:
Italian - varied pasta and rissotto (rice dish)
Japanese - Tempura, assorted pieces of seafood and vegetables deep fried in a very light batter.
Thai - green curry - hot stuff!
Indian - variety of curries and Tandoori chicken
Vietnamese - sesame chicken on a bed of Vietnamese spinach
French - don't like snails or frogs legs, but just about anything else
Chinese - noodle dishes
Greek - that fried cheese - can't remember the name - haloumi?
Many Australian chefs are developing their own style of cusine by experimenting with combinations of European and Asian foods and methods.
Takeaway fast food (convenience food - or what ever you call it) such as fish and chips and Pizza I'll eat as long as the ingredients are fresh and well cooked.
My apologies for waxing lyrical about food but as you've probably noticed I'm partial to food
- so what about you?
Btw I didn't even get on to sweet/dessert foods or fruit - I'll come back on that one.
There are so many types of food and ways of preparing it that my mind is reeling (and mouth drooling) at the prospect of choosing between them. I'd like to hear what sort of food other people like, so feel free to give your favourite dish, or dishes in as much, or little detail as you like. I could easily fill many pages listing the food I like so I've exercised (tried) some discipline and restricted myself to describing food under a number of headings - although to say which are my favourite I found impossible.
*Seafood
I like most fish but particularly Atlantic Salmon and Barramundi - a freshwater fish from Northern Australia. I like to bast Atlantic Salmon with a pesto (basil) mixture and then cook it on the barbecue until the outside is seared but inside is still pink and tender.
Also love Kalamari (squid) as long as it's not over cooked and rubbery and shell fish - oysters and scallops. Paella (Spanish rice dish) is one of my favourite seafood/shellfish dishes. Also like a good Sushi or Sashimi (Japanese raw fish dishes).
Damn! Nearly forgot prawns (fried with butter and garlic) and lobster (crayfish).
*Meat (if you're a vegetarian or animal liberationist I suggest you skip this
I love most red meats although I don't eat alot of it or in great quantities. Veal (calf - young beef) is my favorite done in a variety of ways - cooked in a white wine sauce with mushrooms, spinach and herbed potatoes - delicious! Also love roasts - chicken, turkey, lamb, beef, etc.
A few snags (sausages - the Spanish Chorizo is a favourite) and lamb chops thrown on the barbecue is an Aussie favourite. One of the more unusual meat dishes is kangaroo which tastes a bit like venison - it's not widely eaten here.
*Vegetables and herbs
If I'm feeling a bit tired or run down I love cooking a simple dinner of roast vegetables, I always feel better for it. The other thing I love about veges and herbs is I can grow them in the backyard - this past summer I grew lettuce, rocket, spinach, tomatoes, capsicum, butter beans egg plant and a variety of herbs. I tried to grow water melon but only got one miserable little melon the size of a lemon.
I particularly love potatoes (done just about any way), carrots, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, rice and mushrooms - I know they're not veges but this is a convenient category in which to place them. I must have some Hobbit in me, because I LOVE mushrooms!
*International Food Dishes
One of the many things I'm grateful for about living in Australia (and particularly Melbourne) is the range and quality of food at reasonable prices. And the fact, due to the influx of migrants, that I can eat cusine from just about any nation in restaurants and cafes (or takeaway at home) - pure bliss!
Some of my favourites are:
Italian - varied pasta and rissotto (rice dish)
Japanese - Tempura, assorted pieces of seafood and vegetables deep fried in a very light batter.
Thai - green curry - hot stuff!
Indian - variety of curries and Tandoori chicken
Vietnamese - sesame chicken on a bed of Vietnamese spinach
French - don't like snails or frogs legs, but just about anything else
Chinese - noodle dishes
Greek - that fried cheese - can't remember the name - haloumi?
Many Australian chefs are developing their own style of cusine by experimenting with combinations of European and Asian foods and methods.
Takeaway fast food (convenience food - or what ever you call it) such as fish and chips and Pizza I'll eat as long as the ingredients are fresh and well cooked.
My apologies for waxing lyrical about food but as you've probably noticed I'm partial to food
Btw I didn't even get on to sweet/dessert foods or fruit - I'll come back on that one.
...And again after they tried to get me to eat fried shrimp. I tried to pretend it was chicken nuggets, but it just didn't work...
I don't mind indulging in fried ice cream every now and then as well.
