MEL’S TOP FOODIE TIPS
Where to eat around Australia?
• WA – Lulu La Delizia, Subiaco
• NSW – Marrickville Pork Roll, Marrickville
• VIC – Alta, Fitzroy
• TAS – Masaaki’s, Geeveston
• SA – Adelaide Central Market
• QLD – Nu Nu, Palm Cove
Favourite dessert to cook?
When it comes to dessert, I’ll usually outsource to anyone more capable. If I need to, there’s a simple cake recipe that bears repeating.
Equal weights sugar, butter, self-raising flour, eggs. Cream the butter and sugar, fold in the eggs (lightly whisked), sift in the flour, fold gently to combine. Then you add anything. Pineapple rings on the bottom of the springform and syrup after baking for a tropical upsidedown cake, swirl jam through it, fold through chocolate chips, bake at 180 for 30-40 minutes or until the skewer comes out clean. It’s quick, simple and gets you out of trouble every time.
Where is your go-to for coffee?
Jock Zonfrillo’s a weapon on the coffee machine. I’m extremely grateful to work with a kind, talented person who makes everyone a morning jolt. JZ specials aside, I like Small Batch Roasting Co. in North Melbourne and Paramount Coffee Project, Sydney.
Where to eat at sunset?
Icebergs at Bondi Beach, Sydney. Glamour, good food, great drinks and hospitality like no other.
Where’s the best place to dine for a special event?
I like great produce, atmosphere with warmth and good people. ‘Special’ is subjective. I believe in small celebrations, often. You can’t go past a martini and salumi at Napier Quarter in Fitzroy, a negroni at Geralds Bar, or a fun evening with friends in the courtyard at Di Stasio Carlton, (all in Melbourne), for starters.
Which celebrities would you invite to dinner?
Tracee Ellis Ross, David Bowie, Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Vincent van Gogh.