Foodies’ Diary

Waiters Race
Paris’s iconic waiters’ race attracts five hundred starters each June. You’ll have to wait until Sunday May 16th to see just how many competitors The Great Sydney Waiters Race attracts for the inaugural one kilometre course around the Overseas Passenger Terminal. The first male and female waiter across the line will win a trip to Paris and seven days accommodation – the only catch is, they can’t have any spillage! German Reinhard Wurtz is an early favourite – he’s the current world champion stein carrier and General Manager of the Lowenbrau Keller Tavern at the Rocks. All monies raised go to The McGrath Foundation, so encourage your favourite wait person to enter before the 23rd April with Events du Monde on (0401) 163 840.

Fly In For Lunch
Inner Westies in the know flock to Flying Fish for lunch not dinner, to take advantage of their great Lunch Special, running until July 1, 2010. As you dine in the glorious ironwood surrounds, overlooking the sparkling harbour, you’ll be too busy enjoying $29 mains to wonder what the poor folk are doing! I was lucky enough to enjoy Peter Kuruvita’s hospitality (and his Sri Lankan Prawn Curry) recently – I can still taste the stunning date and tamarind chutney! So be sure to check out his new range of products while you’re there. I took home the Black Pepper Curry Leaf Sauce; it proved an absolute hit with prawns, mussels and calamari on the weekend.
www.flyingfish.com.au

Weighing Up Vegan
If food ethics are bothering you, fast-track to vegan by visiting the Petersham Town Hall on Sunday 2 May between 10-4pm for the Living Planet VeganExpo. Organiser Sarah Wade thinks focusing on “the health benefits of being vegan and the environmental benefits hopefully might convince more people to give it a go or at least reduce their meat consumption.” She’s excited to see “vegan menus popping up in all sorts of places – Cafe Sydney has one (although you have to ask for it)!” While you’re getting the low-down, sample yummy vegan offerings from Funky Pies, Bounty Burgers and organic vegan wines from Macquariedale Organics.
www.vegansocietynsw.com

Just Add Spice
As well as being the ambassador to The Rocks, Lyndey Milan has also found time to release a new cook book with spice king Ian Hemphill. I popped down to the well-attended launch in the positively brimming Essential Ingredient store in Rozelle. The store itself is well worth a visit if you drool over shiny cooking equipment and glossy food bibles like Just Add Spice (RRP $49.95). The book shows you how to use spices to add freshness and a depth (rather than just heat) to a range of dishes including a clever star anise crème brulee. It also guides you through the sometimes fraught area of wine and spicy food pairing.
www.theessentialingredient.com.au

Breakfast in Bed
The autumnal weather prompts me toward buttery crumpets; so when I discovered the fabulous Milk and Coconut Jam from Bitton Gourmet in Alexandria, I was in heaven! Chef David Bitton’s Mother provided the inspiration for this unique product – when David and his brother were young, she would make a dipping sauce using grated coconuts for them to dip their strawberries and bread into as a special Sunday treat. Now with his cafe hitting the big ten year mark this year, David is offering up another special treat in the form of a Degustation Dinner on Tuesday 4th May. Celebrate his success with wines from his own private cellar matched to dishes like Pan Fried Duck Liver with Rocket and Puy Lentil Sauce. This is sure to book out quickly, so call Jessica on (02) 9519 5111 to reserve your $120/head all inclusive place.
www.bittongourmet.com.au

Choc-yo
Finally, fro-yo fans, take note! From the 1st May, 2010 you’ll be able to enjoy a new frozen yoghurt flavour, Cocoa, at all Igloo Zoo stores. Like the others, it’s super chilled, 99.5% fat free, and begging to be covered in tasty toppings of your choice!
www.igloozoo.com