From the Editor, Leigh O’Connor.
There is Noel time like the present to have your elf a Merry Little Christmas! If you are not ready for Wednesday by now, yule have to work fast to finish everything in the St Nick of time!
This year has been a phenomenal one for talking to Chefs around the country – finding out what excites them, where their passion and inspiration come from and what drives them to continue on their culinary journeys.
As we reflect on 2024, let’s recall five of our most memorable Chef Chats – take 83-year-old Alfredo Forte who is still in the kitchen and wasn’t just born with a spoon in his hand, but also a whisk in his heart. This Italian Chef declares he will never retire from Basilico Café in Prospect – he will die in the kitchen!
Not too many ingredients turn Alan O’Keeffe off a menu, it’s more the descriptions of the dishes. Don’t put ‘on a bed of’ if you want this seasoned Chef’s approval! Born in Dublin, Ireland, Alan now heads the kitchen at waterfront Catalina restaurant in Rose Bay, which has built a reputation for its effortless luxury and uniquely Australian approach to dining.
Recipes come across our desk every hour of every day…some captivate and some strike the fear of the Chef’s Gods into home cooks.
We’ve curated 10 recipes that excited and inspired us to get in the kitchen. Split into two parts, the first five dishes range from a signature French dessert to Mediterranean ceviche bites and everything in between; make sure to bookmark these recipes to try in 2025.
Many of us would rather spend a New Year’s Eve at home rather than going out to celebrate – it can be a lot of work getting dressed up, organising transport and ordering drinks in a crowded bar.
You can have even more fun at home with your besties and a bottle of bubbles…for those who want to host the perfect NYE soirée, we serve up top tips for a memorable party to ring in 2025. Decorations, themed snacks and drinks, along with party games and setting a dress code all rank as non-negotiable items to tick off your party list.
No New Year’s celebration is complete without a glass of bubbles at midnight! As we reminisce on the past 12 months and try to make resolutions for the next, remember – no ‘pagne, no gain, after all, fizz the season to be jolly.
Don’t make pour decisions come December 31…make sure one of our five recommended bubbles is on your menu for fun.
The growth of veganism in Australia is experiencing remarkable momentum with the number of people identifying as vegan steadily increasing over the years.
In 2019, about 250,000 Aussies were identified as vegans but by 2023 that number had surged to 900,000. As of 2024, this figure has climbed even higher with roughly 1.3 million Australians now embracing a vegan lifestyle.
Don’t forget your vegan friends as you prepare to ring in 2025 with a memorable New Year’s Eve bash! To help plan for the big night, we have five vegan finger food recipes that will shine a light on plant-based eating.
So many books are published every year, it is hard to single out those that make the biggest impact. From an award-winning Chef’s take on awards and food journalism to cooking out of a van and Korean slow food for a better life, 2024 has been a roller coaster of cooking emotions. For those looking for a good read over the holidays, check out eight titles to put on your list.
Time to get merry and get cooking…
