Feast magazine - my new fave foodie mag

I know what you're thinking: another foodie mag.



No. This one is vastly different.



I liken this new kid on the block - Feast magazine - to the feeling you get when you're invited to your friend's folk's house. The one whose parents speak Greek and serve up delicious delights which are wildly exciting to you. To them, it's part of their daily fare.



The pictorials are colourful and brilliant and place you right in the action at your new friend's home... picking at all the homemade fare you've been desperate to try.



The news bites in the mag are plentiful and hearty and give you a sense that the six bucks fifty you spent was well worth the loose change.



And the gorgeous layout and friendly tone (the Argentinian family BBQ gave me a sense I was actually at my friend Carina's Argentinian family BBQ) give you a lovely feeling that Feast is your new best mangiare buddy.



I predict Feast will continue to surprise and inspire, each and every month.



For an excerpt of the interview with Red Lantern's Luke Nguyen (the launch issue cover star), go here: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/5349/Chef_in_action



And to see a mini-preview, go here: http://www.sbs.com.au/food/feastpreview



Snap up this magazine now... yum.

Amazonia Acai products - all sorts of goodness and yum wrapped into one

By now, you've very likely heard of the amazing properties of the acai berry, and Amazonia is the only certified fair trade source in Australia of acai (or 'purpleberry'). A 100% Australian company owned by three young, dynamic men (Dwayne Martens, Jesse Kaniecki, and Chris Norden), they supply the purest form and highest grade of acai possible through an extensive product range www.purpleberry.com.au.

All products are natural whole foods with no preservatives or artificial additives, gluten free, wild harvested, raw, vegan and fair trade*.

I was sent some Amazonia products to try - the capsules and some bars - and I swear popping some of those capsules (you can take six daily!) in particular helped ward off an imminent cold, pre-holiday.

Next on my list to try is the acai chocolate (helllllooo! How delicious does that look?) and the freeze dried version to throw into a smoothie. The taste is a blend of chocolate and berries – delicious. And you can also add it water, juice, yoghurt, over fruit salad or breakfast cereal.

Amazonia acai also comes in puree form; with 2 x 25 ml shots recommended per day. You can also pour the liquid form on ice cream, in yoghurt or drizzle over fruit salad, or in a healthy smoothie.

My fave (so far) are the Amazonia acai health bars. They are seriously good, and with every bite you get a whole lotta goodness: filling, delicious, and low GI snack each bar contains six grams of freeze dried scai berries, cranberries, sunflower oil, organic rice malt, organic dates, tahini, sesame seeds, pumpkin seeds, flaxseed, organic coconut, rice protein, blackberry concentrate, and natural citric acid.

(*Amazonia products by law are not intended to diagnose treat, cure or prevent disease).

For more, and to buy this purple goodness, see: http://www.purpleberry.com.au/

And for a clip on the Amazonia story, watch this:

Donna Hay: Fast, Fresh, Simple - new TV show

Leading food editor and best-selling cookbook author Donna Hay presents the brand new 13-part, half-hour series Donna Hay – Fast, Fresh, Simple, produced exclusively for The LifeStyle Channel.

The first ep was tonight - did you miss it? Don't worry - it'll be on again at around 2am (IQ it!) and tomorrow at 11am. Then this Saturday at 6.30pm and again on Sunday at 12.30pm, on LifeStyle. I can't wait to watch it in HD - food porn, taken to another level!

Donna’s first television series will reveal what makes her recipes, books and magazine so well-loved and admired. Her simple and style-driven approach to food is reflected in her award-winning cookbooks, of which she has sold more than four million copies worldwide (phenomenal!), setting the benchmark for food publishing and inspiring a whole new generation of cooks. She really was one of the first to bring out visually pleasing, easy-to-follow cookbooks, which others seem to have emulated.

Donna Hay – Fast, Fresh, Simple will showcase the natural charm and passion Donna brings to the world of cooking. A relaxed and composed cook (from what I have seen so far, she's an absolute sweetie - such a pleasure to watch), Donna loves to share her tricks and tips of combining fresh and pantry ingredients to create fast and simple dishes, presented in her signature style. In the first ep, she creates these delightful ice cream coconut 'macaron' concoctions that made me want to lick the TV screen...

For more on Donna Hay's new show, see: http://www.lifestyle.com.au/donnahay/

Donna Hay – Fast, Fresh, Simple screens on the LifeStyle channel, on Foxtel and Austar.

Sparkle Cupcakery - The Little Black Book launch

The Sparkle Cupcakery launched ‘The Little Black Book’ - written by owner Kathryn Sutton - in Surry Hills this week, and it was quite the event.

I turned up at the tail-end, but the soiree was still well and truly rocking. A fresh round of canapes were served, plus more cucumber sandwiches, more trays of desserts including the delectable Sparkle Cupcakery cupcakes, pistachio macarons, delightful little jelly shots and yoghurt shots (so delightful, they'd made me say 'delightful' about a mini dessert), all washed down with Moët & Chandon and St Germain Elderflower.

The store's event was to celebrate the launch of its new ‘Sparkle Cupcakes Little Black Book’.

Guests included Today Tonight’s Sally Obermeder, Jamie Wright of Jaimie Wright Shoes, stylist Alex Zobotto-Bentley, Social Diary’s Tiffany Farrington, editor and commentator Renae Leith Manos, The Blow Dry Boutique’s Jessica Barr, and media commentator Melissa Hoyer all in attendance.

Producer Leigh Aramberri from Masterchef, and Ready Steady Cook’s Peter Everett mingled with guests, and the event was styled with stunning flowers from Garlands, with designer Jayson Brunsdon providing stylish little black dresses for the models.

Gift bags included products from MoroccanOil, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, PeepToe Shoes, Schwarzkopf, Face of Australia Cosmetics and a voucher from The Blow-dry Boutique. And each guest also received a copy of the gorgeous book itself - I am flicking through mine now and itching to make a batch of weekend cupcakes, this time with a difference!

For more on the Sparkle Cupcakery, the cupcakes, and the cupcake decorating classes (sign me up - I need these ASAP!), go to: http://www.sparklecupcakery.com.au/

The store is located at 132 Foveaux Street, Surry Hills; call 02 9361 0690.

Lotus and Ming: Chinese New Year food, sorted

I adore Chinese New Year.

The colour, the movement, the madness, the noise. My fave thing is to head to Cabramatta, where all of the above is in abundance. It's sensory overload.

Okay, I will admit. It's all about the food for me. And a pal recently put me onto Asian food brand Lotus and Ming.

Think dumplings, spring rolls and sauces (many of which are guilt free) - with a twist.

The unique blends of Asian fusion flavours was born from founder Karen Laveckys travels to New York in 2001 where she discovered a wide range of Asian food from south-east to Chinese cuisine. She then modified these recipes making them freezer safe - and convenient. From sesame barramundi spring rolls to mini BBQ pork buns, Lotus and Ming is delish for Chinese New Year parties - or anytime (my freezer stock levels would diminish rapidly, I tell you).

Or hey, what about shiitake and leek sping rolls, seafood har gow dumplings or coconut chicken sugar cane skewers?

These delicious morsels are also easy to find: Lotus and Ming is now widely distributed to over 400 clients throughout Australia.

For more, including where to buy these delicacies, see http://www.lotusandming.com.au/

'Christmas Cheers': Sydney Airport's delectable offer

I recently had the good fortune of sampling the delectable, edible wares Sydney airport has to offer in the newly refurbed Sydney airport international terminal.

It's quite literally desination dining: Sydney’s newest eating precinct gives travellers a great reason to hit the airport even earlier, as SSP opens five world class eateries as part of the $500 million redevelopment of Sydney international airport.

SSP - which has been delivering world class food and beverage experiences in travel locations
across the globe for more than 60 years - is behind the opening of the first of these exceptional venues in Sydney.

Ah, too bad I wasn't jetting off that day I did the sampling. But still. It was fairly awesome to pretend I was. And allow puh-lenty of time to savour some scrummy delights.

Oh yes, did we taste it all. And now can too...

Three of Sydney international airport’s best eateries have come up with the ultimate way to kick start the holiday season and set out on your journey in style with some special ‘Christmas Cheers’.

Danks Street Depot, Montreux Jazz Café and Bambini Wine Room will each be offering a glass of Moet & Chandon Champagne and three tasty tapas for just $32.

Those with friends and family farewelling them can celebrate their journey and catch some legendary music acts at Montreux Jazz Café or head for Jared Ingersoll’s Danks Street Depot, which are both located on the departures level of terminal 1 ahead of customs. Or you can relax and enjoy the ‘Christmas Cheers’ offer after customs at Sydney’s favourite Bambini Wine Room.
Of course, for those wanting more than a glass and a nibble, all three eateries have extensive menus and wine lists worthy of any Christmas celebration or New Year’s gathering.

Where's my passport?