Category: RECIPES

Top cocktails to make using Tia Maria

Tia Maria and cocktails on the bar while a bartender works behind

Posted: 15/05/2019

Aaaah, the 80’s. What a decade to celebrate. Not only was it famous for power suits, shoulder pads, big hair and awesome music like George Michael – it was also about this time the very first Espresso Martini recipe was created using Tia Maria. Yes, the Espresso Martini is over 40 years old – believe it or not – and still partying. But since then, coffee lovers have enjoyed many variations of the coffee cocktail using Tia Maria as a base. The three most prominent elements of Tia Maria – the full bodied rich coffee; the fragrant Madagascar vanilla; and the Jamaican rum – make this sweet liqueur perfect on its own over ice; with a splash of milk (just like mum used to make), or combined with other ingredients to create extraordinarily delicious cocktails. So to celebrate the ongoing coffee cocktail revolution, Tia Maria master blenders have come up with some mind-blowing creations that we recommend you try at home next time you plan to invite a few friends over. Problem is, they’ll probably keep coming back for more….so get grinding and enjoy! The Dancy Tangerine 30mls Tia Maria 45mls Grinders Coffee 30mls Cointreau 20mls Chocolate Syrup Garnish – Dark chocolate shard with Orange zest shavings Shard & Salt 30mls Tia Maria 30mls Vodka 30mls Grinders Coffee 20mls Pineapple and Salted Caramel Syrup 4 dashes Chocolate Bitters Garnish – Salted Caramel Glass The Aphrodite 20mls Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum 20mls Tia Maria 20mls Baileys 30mls Grinders Coffee 15mls Chambord Garnish – Star anise and… Read More

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: cocktails, THE F Cocktails, THE F Tia Maria, tia maria, Tia Maria cocktails

Recipe: Protein breakfast ‘brekkie’ bowl with Bulk Nutrients

by James Banham

Updated: 12/03/2021

Serves 2 Ingredients: 2 serves (50g) Bulk Nutrients Egg Breakfast 1-1 1/2c cooked quinoa (approx.200g) 3 stalks of kale 6 mushrooms 6 cherry tomatoes 2 tbsp pine nuts spring onion bean shoots Method: 1. Cook the quinoa. We cooked ours in vegetable stock to add the flavours. 2. Heat a pot and add in some butter or coconut oil to cook in. Add cherry tomatoes and mushrooms – prick tomatoes to ensure they do not burst open. 3. After 2-3 minutes, add the kale and toss to coat well. Add pine nuts, spring onion and bean shoots. Cook for 2-3 minutes. 4. Season with salt and pepper. Add to the bowl with the cooked quinoa. 5. Keep pan hot. Quickly make up the egg breakfast as directed. 6. Add to pan, and stir at intervals. We did not cook this directly as an omelet, more a scramble without stirring too much. 7. Serve on the side of quinoa and veggies. Best enjoyed immediately. Nutritional Information Per serve/per 100g Energy (Kj); 883/535 | Protein (g); 6.3/3.8 | Fat (g): 10.7/6.5 | Sat.fat (g): 0.7/0.5 | Carbs (g): 20.6/12.5 | Sugar (g): 1.7/1 | Sodium (mg): 13/8

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: breakfast bowl, breakfast bowl recipes, breakfats bowl recipes, brekkie bowl, bulk nutrients

Cocktail recipe: Patron Tequila coconut cucumber margarita

by James Banham

Updated: 15/12/2018

Patrón Coconut Cucumber Margarita A light and refreshing margarita that puts a refreshing twist on the classic with cucumber and coconut water. Ingredients: 45ml Patrón Silver 60ml Coconut water 15ml Fresh lime juice 15ml Simple syrup 7 thin slices of cucumber, 3 for garnish Method: Combine all ingredients except garnish in a cocktail shaker and shake vigorously with ice to chill. Strain onto fresh ice in a highball glass. Garnish with a cucumber fan.

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: patron tequila cocktails, tequila cocktail, tequila cocktail recipe

4 Longbranch whisky cocktail recipes

by THE F

Posted: 28/11/2018

Because spring means drinks and drinks are good, make these using the latest Wild Turkey Longbranch. Longbranch Plumwood Old Fashioned Ingredients Wild Turkey Longbranch Smoked Plumwood Liquor, Bitters How to make Pour 50ml of Longbranch into a mixing glass with 10ml of Smoked Plumwood Liquor and 2 dashes of Angostura bitters Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir Strain into a double Old-Fashioned glass over a large block of ice Twist an orange peel over the glass to express the orange oils and discard. Garnish with a dehydrated plum wheel Longbranch Citrus Highball Ingredients Wild Turkey Longbranch PS40 Smoked Lemonade Lemon juice Soda water How to make Pour 60ml of Longbranch into a large highball and add 10ml of lemon juice Fill the glass with ice top with PS40 Smoked Lemonade and stir Garnish with a Lemon twist and a cherry Longbranch Manhattan Ingredients Wild Turkey Longbranch Cinzano 1757 Rosso infused with Toasted Wattle Seed Cynar Angostura Bitters How to make Pour 45ml Longbranch, 15ml Cinzano 1757 infused with toasted Wattle seed and 15ml Cynar into a mixing glass add a dash of Angostura and fill with ice Stir & strain into a chilled Nick & Nora glass and Garnish with an orange twist

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: cocktail recipes, whisky recipes, wild turkey longbranch recipes

Absolut Love cocktail strawberry and basil vodka soda

by THE F

Posted: 22/11/2018

Because gay is good and now there’s a love bottle by Absolut to prove it, called Absolut Drop, here’s a cocktail just for you. Catch is: You’ve gotta make it with Absolut Drop otherwise it doesn’t count. Go forth and drink in good equality, friends. Serves: 1 Prep time: 5 minutes Ingredients 30mL Absolut Vodka 100ml soda water Fresh ice 2 lime wedges 1 strawberry Fresh basil Method Fill cocktail shaker with ice. Add 30ml Absolut Vodka and 100ml soda. Squeeze two lime wedges and throw them away. Shake with love, pour into two tumblers and garnish with sliced strawberries and a basil spring. Say three cheers to LOVE OVER HATE and sip with a smile. Skål!

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: absolut, absolut drop, absolute vodka cocktails, vodka cocktail recipes, vodka cocktails

Recipe: Cone Bay barramundi with mango & kiwi salsa and breole tutter

by THE F

Posted: 19/08/2018

Want a getaway, but don’t have the time? Sorted. Shoal Bay Country Club is bringing the goods from its far away lands to us with the chef sharing has shared his secrets on how to bring a Shoal Bay beachside evening, to your very own dining room. Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 1 (220gm) boneless barramundi fillets with skin on, skin scored 200gm baby chat potato (steamed) 2/3 cup extra virgin olive oil Baby coriander for garnish Salt & pepper Creole seasoning: 2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced 1 tsp creole seasoning 2/3 cup clarified butter Kiwi-mango salsa: 2 firm (not too hard) peeled & cubed kiwis ½ cup diced ripe mango 2 tbs fresh lime juice ½ tsp chopped coriander ½ tsp deseeded & diced long red chilli ¼ tsp salt 1 tbs olive oil Method: Step 1: preheat oven 200c fan forced. Line a small baking tray with baking paper. Place steamed potato on prepared tray. Drizzle with 1 tsp oil. Season with salt & pepper. Toss to coat and bake for 3 mins. Step 2: meanwhile, heat a large non-stick frying pan over medium high heat. Add fish, skin side down. Cook for 2 mins until skin is very crispy around edges and centre is just starting to crisp. Place fish skin side up on top of the potatoes on tray. Bake for 4 mins or until fish is just cooked through and potatoes are roasted. Step 3: heat clarifies butter in a small sauce pan over medium heat. Add garlic… Read More

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: barramundi recipe, recipe, shoal bay, shoal bay country club

Recipe: Diced wagyu beef with black pepper

by THE F

Posted: 12/08/2018

Winter is here, which means hearty red meat dishes with no guilt. Yes! Try this wagyu beef recipe with pepper sauce by the masterminds at Chefs Gallery to keep you going. Serves: 4 Preparation time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 20 minutes Ingredients: 500g Wagyu beef, sinew removed and diced into small cubes (2cm x 2cm x 2cm) 200 mL vegetable oil 2 teaspoons butter Black pepper sauce: 1 tablespoon white sugar 1 scant teaspoon ground pepper 1 teaspoon Maggi Original Seasoning sauce 1 tablespoon tomato sauce 2 garlic cloves, crushed 1/4 small red onion, diced 1 teaspoon red chilli, chopped 800 mL water Mint leaves (optional, to serve) Method: To make the black pepper sauce, heat the wok and add half of the cooking oil and butter until melted Fry crushed garlic, purple onion, chopped chilli pepper and water in butter/oil mixture Add sugar, ground pepper, Maggi sauce and tomato sauce, stir for 2-3 minutes. Pour into a small bowl and set aside. Allow wok to cool slightly, and clean Heat the remaining cooking oil in the clean, dry wok until about 150 degrees Add the diced wagyu and stir fry until about 70% done Add sauce mixture and mix in To serve, sprinkle with ground pepper and mint leaves

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: chefs gallery, wagyu beef

Not-so-naughty protein cake pops with Bulk Nutrients supplements

by THE F

Updated: 16/07/2018

Winter means comfort food and nothing says “comfort” quite like cake-on-a-stick, right? Cake pops came about a few years ago and haven’t gone anywhere, but instead, changed to accommodate the awesome things you can now do with healthier alternatives like chocolate flavoured protein powder by the likes of Australian brand Bulk Nutrients. Here’s how to make a less-guilty version of the favourite while winter is still a good enough reason to hide it. Ingredients: 2 tablespoons organic butter or coconut oil – melted 1 scoop (30g) Bulk Nutrients WPI or WPC in Chocolate 1 scoop (30g) Bulk Nutrients Egg Protein 1 scoop (2g) Bulk Nutrients Sweetvia 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1 whole egg 60g sugar free dark chocolate – melted 2 teaspoon cocoa powder 20g hazelnut or almond meal 100g wholemeal self-raising flour 60g chopped hazelnuts 1/3 cup milk of choice 1 packet, skewers Directions: Set oven to 160 degrees celsius and line a brownie tin. Place all dry ingredients in a bowl. Make a well in the centre and add all wet ingredients. Whisk to combine. Pour mix into lined tin. Bake for about 15 minutes and check. It’s ready when the centre is firm. We overcooked ours a little bit to ensure we had crunchy edges for the Cake Pops. Ingredients 50g chocolate protein brownie – as prepared above 1/2 banana – mashed 20ml coconut oil – melted 50g of dark, milk or white chocolate 1 scoop (30g) Bulk Nutrients protein of choice – we used WPI in Cookies and Cream Directions Allow prepared brownie to cool totally, place in a… Read More

Category: FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, RECIPES

Tags: bulk nutrients, bulk nutrients recipe, Cake pops, cake pops recipe

ARTS & CULTURE

breakdance head spin pexels pixabay 159273

Experience break dancing like never before this MAy

24/04/2024

By James Banham

Get ready to experience the ultimate celebration of hip hop culture, innovation, and artistry at Breakin’ Convention 2024. An international festival of Hip Hop dance theatre, it’ll be taking over Sadler’s Wells in Islington this coming May Bank Holiday. Enthusiastically helmed by the visionary UK hip hop maker and Breakin’ Convention Artistic Director Jonzi D, this festival has become a beacon for fans and creators of hip hop from around the globe. The excitement is palpable as we gear up for two days packed with jaw-dropping performances, interactive workshops, and live music that promise to electrify the Sadler’s Wells venues on Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 May. With an extraordinary lineup featuring international sensations like Femme Fatale (USA), Sons of Wind (France), and Jinjo crew (South Korea), alongside groundbreaking UK acts such as TRAPLORD, Boy Blue, and When Time Was New, this festival is set to showcase the dynamic and diverse world of hip hop dance theatre. Attendees of all ages can look forward to a vast array of activities including spectacular dance performances, bespoke graffiti workshops, freestyle sessions, and even live DJs sessions that guarantee to keep the energy high and the spirit of hip hop alive throughout the entire building. Not to mention, the festival coincides with the historic moment of breaking becoming an official Olympic sport at the Paris Olympics, adding an extra layer of exhilaration to the festivities. Beyond the performances, Breakin’ Convention 2024 invites audiences to engage directly with the hip hop community through unique events such as the Tiny… Read More

Opera Australia orchestrates a new era with Matthieu Arama as Concertmaster

24/04/2024

By James Banham

In a move that marks a significant milestone in its illustrious history, Opera Australia has announced the appointment of the renowned French violinist Matthieu Arama as the new Concertmaster of the Opera Australia Orchestra (OAO). This announcement follows an exhaustive global search, culminating in Mr. Arama’s selection, a testament to his extraordinary talent and leadership abilities. Set to join the OAO in August of this year, Arama brings with him a wealth of experience as the current Concertmaster of the Opéra National de Bordeaux, coupled with an impressive track record of performances with some of the world’s most distinguished conductors. View this post on Instagram A post shared by matthieu arama (@matthieu_arama) Arama’s role will be pivotal in steering the OAO towards achieving artistic brilliance across its broad annual repertoire, which spans over 250 opera, ballet, musical theatre, and concert performances for Opera Australia and The Australian Ballet. His recent engagements as Guest Concertmaster for Opera Australia on iconic productions such as La Traviata and Swan Lake, alongside The Australian Ballet, and a solo recital featuring opera and ballet excerpts, underscore his extraordinary versatility and musicianship. The enthusiasm within the OAO is palpable, with Acting Concertmaster Huy-Nguen Bui expressing excitement over welcoming Arama to the helm. “The OAO is excited to welcome an exceptional violinist and musician as our new Concertmaster. We look forward to reaching the highest levels of music-making through Mr. Arama’s artistic leadership,” said Bui. This sentiment is echoed by Opera Australia’s CEO Fiona Allan, Artistic Director Jo Davies, The Australian Ballet’s… Read More

Lauren Brincat When Do I Breathe 2024. Performer Jasmin Lancaster. Photographer Zan Wimberley. Courtesy of the artist

Public performance in Randwick Sydney by artist Lauren Brincat

22/04/2024

By James Banham

This week, the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct will experience an exceptional infusion of art and community spirit through a public performance by the celebrated multidisciplinary artist Lauren Brincat. Scheduled for one-night only, on Wednesday, 24 April 2024, Brincat’s performance marks the launch of the new Laneway Art Program. This initiative, commissioned by the Randwick Health & Innovation Precinct and supported by Transport for NSW’s Safer Cities program, seeks to enhance perceptions of safety for women, girls, and gender diverse people navigating the streets and laneways of the Precinct. Brincat, along with Rochelle Haley, another leading Australian artist, has been entrusted with the mission to improve night-time connectivity and comfort within the precinct through performance-based and site-specific artwork. Both artists have engaged directly with health workers in the area to shape their projects, aiming to make the public spaces more welcoming and to strengthen the sense of community, safety, and inclusiveness across the site. The artwork, titled When do I breathe?, is an ambitious collaboration with sound artist Evelyn Ida Morris, UNSW Choral Director Sonia Maddock, and choreographer Charmene Yap. It invites the public to actively participate in shaping new paths across the precinct, offering a unique experience that encompasses three activation sites within the UNSW Kensington and the hospital precinct. The performance, beginning at 5:00 pm on the UNSW Scientia Lawn, is a reflection on the interconnectedness of local communities, especially those separated by differing work shifts and daily rhythms. Aiming to reclaim public space through collective action, When do I breathe? presents an… Read More

Good news for National Gallery London: Eva Gonzalès piece acquired

22/04/2024

By James Banham

On the occasion of the artist’s 177th birthday on Friday 19th April, the National Gallery has acquired La Psyché (The Full-length Mirror), about 1869-70, by Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883) thanks to three generous legacy gifts from Mrs Martha Doris Bailey, Miss Gillian Cleaver, and Ms Sheila Mary Holmes, and the National Gallery Trust. This is the first acquisition by the Gallery of a work by Gonzalès and the second acquisition of its Bicentenary year. La Psyché has not been seen in public for over seventy years and joins only one other painting by her in a UK public collection, The Donkey Ride, about 1880?2, at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Gonzalès is the 20th female artist represented in the National Gallery Collection, marking a significant addition. The story of Gonzalès’s reputation, during and after her life, reflects some of the reasons why women artists are not well represented in the National Gallery. These include being offered fewer opportunities in life and the lack of interest shown, consciously or not, in works by women artists by collectors of the era and onwards, from whose acquisitions the National Gallery’s own collection was assembled. During her lifetime Gonzalès was an established artist who exhibited multiple times to acclaim at the official Paris Salon. She was the only official pupil of Edouard Manet (1832-83), with whom she studied from 1869. Gonzalès likely painted La Psyché around the same time that Manet was painting his portrait of her, Eva Gonzalès (1870). That work, in the Gallery collection, was the focal point of the recent exhibition, Discover Manet & Eva… Read More

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

Australia’s Shooshfest, an inaugural silent short film competition, invites diverse creators to innovate in storytelling sans speech. Promising an immersive experience, it will connect with audiences, honour silent film and catalyse cinematic culture.