It was always there, just out of sight, waiting.
But what was it waiting for?
- The Tangle Box by Terry Brooks
I have been doing a lot of eating out lately, which is not to say that I haven't been cooking (which also happens a lot...and in case you started to feel concerned, I have still been cooking way more than I have been going out) but just that, well, there are reasons. But anyway, what you really want to see is some food and, with my crappy camera in tow, I have some...
So on Wednesday morning I met my cousin D at the Heritage Hotel Lobby Bar for breakfast because I'd managed to score a 2 for 1 voucher off Moira's blog. Well that wasn't the only reason but it helped! We both ordered the pancakes (there wasn’t a lot of choice in terms of larger meals although there are several small options) and fresh juices.
I have a favourite juice combo - carrot, apple, beetroot and ginger so naturally when I saw that on the menu (Liver Lover) I knew I had to order it and I have to say, this was the best version I've had. I loved how super thick and super gingery it was.
The menu was new and for some reason (of which I can’t remember now) we got one plate of pancakes before the other. To make up for it though they brought us out another dish as well, the soyurt parfait with cranberry muesli, grated apple. I thought this was really awesome but D thought the yogurt tasted a bit too much like soy (I'm pretty sure it was the Kingland Soy yogurt).
We both ended up ordering the pancakes (there wasn’t a lot of choice in terms of larger meals although there are several small options). To be more precise, berries, macadamia and buckweat pancakes served with maple syrup and grilled banana.
The pancakes weren’t very sweet which I loved and had an awesome nutty texture (both from the buckwheat and the macadamias). They tasted healthy...but in a good way if that makes sense. Plus they kept me full all morning and into the afternoon which was fortunate as I was so rushed off my feet at work I didn't get to have lunch until quite late.
I will be honest here and say that I didn't exactly expect that much when I went but I came away feeling very excited. Our waiter was excellent and the manager came over to have a chat with me and he seemed genuinely passionate about their new menu and the direction the food at the Heritage is going in. You've gotta love that.
But come back next time (or at least some time in the future) for an even more exciting meal at the Lobby Bar...
He shook his head sharply in the hope that it might dislodge some salient fact which would fall into place and make sense of an otherwise utterly bewildering Universe, but since the salient fact, if there was one, entirely failed to do this, he set off up the road again, hoping that a good vigorous walk, and maybe even some good painful blisters, would help to reassure him of his own existence at least, if not his sanity.
- So Long, and Thanks for all the Fish by Douglas Adams
Hello!! I have been floating around on another planet but tonight I have briefly touched down to give you a post (and a recipe!!!) and just say, well, there is some big stuff happening soon which is all terribly exciting but terribly scary at the same time but you'll have to wait.
So...food.
For the last few weeks I've been getting a fruit and veggie box from Ooooby (you can see Moira's posts about Ooooby here) which has been really cool because not only does it save me trips to the shops where I ultimately end up buying the same thing every week but it has also led me to try things I don't normally cook with. My goal each week is to finish the box and try everything. It's not a very hard goal but it's fun!
Anyway, each week they include a piece of paper that tells you where everything is from and if it's organic or whatever. They also include a few recipes which normally I ignore because I'm not very good with recipes but one week they included a red cabbage in my box and I had no idea what to do with it so I thought I'd give the recipe a try...and was pleasantly surprised! Perhaps I should do it more often!
Cabbage, Avocado and Pear Slaw
I ought to say here that this is not quite the recipe that was included because, well...but it is pretty much the same.
Sesame Dressing
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/2 cup olive oil (or rice bran oil but I used olive oil so therefore that's what I've put!)
1 Tbsp sugar
1 Tbsp sesame seeds
1 tsp sesame oil
Salt and pepper (which I think I might have forgotten to put in but I can't remember now
Salad
2-3 cups (approx) finely shredded red cabbage (or sort of chopped as thin as I could be bothered if you are like me)
1 pear, cored and sliced
1 apple, cored and sliced
1 avocado, peeled, de-seeded and sliced
Make the dressing by whisking all the ingredients together and set aside. Toss all the salad ingredients together, pour over the dressing and serve.
You might not want all of the dressing but it is quite nice! The slaw is quite good on the side with almost anything but even better with slices of fried tofu on top.
