16 December 2008
My Top Ten International Culinary Experiences '08
A delicious year;
- Fergus Henderson's whole pig's head at the Melbourne Masterclass. (Thank goodness for Martin Bosley who carved the choicest pieces for me.)
- The Press Club in Melbourne where I lingered over a stylish modern Greek dinner on a Sunday evening in March. (The best dinner I have ever had in this top 'eat city' of the Southern hemisphere.)
- A southern gulf shellfish boil-up at a private camp on Avery Island in Louisiana with the McIlhenny family. (Look for more about my New Orleans trip, with recipes, in Cuisine magazine in March.)
- A sensational burgundy tasting with Julie Leflaive at the Brisbane Masterclass in July. (Nine oustanding chardonnays from single plots.)
- The freshest organic healthy food for dinner at The Garden Restaurant at The Sentosa Spa in Singapore. (And the outdoor massage there was pretty good too.)
- Three outstanding meals in London at Roka, Mark Hix Oyster Bar & Chop House and Albemarle in Brown's Hotel. (Two Kiwi culinary stars rule the roost at Roka; Nic Watt and Hamish Brown.)
- A visit to London's Borough Market with foodwriter Rosie Barron and lunch at Roast. (Sensational Josmeyer Pinot Blanc from an exceptional winelist.)
- Almond granita topped with a dollop of coffee granita at Caffe Sicilia in the Baroque town of Noto, Sicily. (I would fly back in a heart beat to eat that again.)
- The impromptu casual lunch at Pino Cuitaia's La Madia restaurant in Licata, followed by a superbly sophisticated dinner there the following evening. (We travelled with Italian food writer Faith Willinger who has impeccable taste and amazing connections.)
- Jeffrey Chilcott of Marchesi di Gresy rescued us from the Alba truffle festival (a real bun fight) and took us to his 'secret' ristorante, deep in the countryside outside Turin. (The best home style Italian food I have ever eaten.)