Hi All!

just had a great weekend. Firstly i flew down to Sydney on Friday to cook a meal for a Ron and Stella, they paid a load of money to Variety for myself and Jared Ingersol (I think thats how you spell it) to cook up a sorm for them and 8 friend. Big day! Jared was suffering from a bug that his little boy had given him and almost pulled the pin!

He dug deep and and came through in flying colours. He did a little scallop dish to tickle the tasted buds, then I knocked out two courses. Firstly a Swimmer crab and pomello salad with wasabi. then Wagu fillet caramelized with miso and crispy ginger, shallots and garlic.

Mains was steamed groper with a Provencal style soup with mussels and clams

all this followed by a classic chocolate fondant. same recipe that i put in NW last week. Bloody awesome dish and so easy.

Saturday and Sunday were just domestic Bliss, hired a skip, filled it! Pho for  sunday dinner!!!

On the restaurant front, I have hire a Head chef! You guy From Adelaide Sydney Strange. he’s a great chef. Made him cook a six course meal for the team i did three courses and he did three dishes. I have also found a sous chef and a chef de partie. Oh I forgot to mention the restaurant manager he’s hired to “Kolby Johnston” currently at the Pacific Dinning room in Byron!! so we are on track.

Still  a bit to go but things are looking good!!

Hope to see you all there soon!

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What can I say? I just heard the news that Rose Gray, one of the most inspiring people i have ever met and had the pleasure of working for passed away. I am glad that she has found peace after battling cancer. A part of her is in everything I cook. She changed the way I thought about food and life. Thank you for all you gave me and everyone that ever had the pleasure of working for and with you!

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Went down to the restaurant site today and it was all activity!!! finally work has started! well at least they are pulling things apart disconnecting power and water prior to fitting out the kitchen etc. So we are on course for a May opening!! very exciting. Hope to see you all there!

ben

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Happy Australia day one and all! Enough said about our national dish, Maggie Beer thinks it should be a salad. Jill D thinks the idea of tom yum soups good? To be honest why do need to be defined by what we cook, are we that insecure? Does it matter? I think that we should be defined by our produce as are the English (Beef), the French (Chicken poulet nior. Foire Gras) we have some of the best seafood in the world and by far the best prawns and shellfish in the world. we live on the coast (well most of us) so just chuk another shrimp on the Barbie and love being who we are!!!

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7 days in to 2010 and its shaping up to be  an awesome year!! I hope you all had a great festive season! Needless to say I consumed far to much food and alcohol. I just got back from a weekend up on the sunshine coast with friend and family. I trialed a recipe that i want t put on the menu at the Surf club. Jambalaya (i hope I spelt that right) I’ll try and find a picture and post it up!! I actually cooked quite a lot over the break, stand out was a meal cooked for friends in Bangalow which was a 6 course train smash!!! again more trialing recipes for the restaurant (my friend will be fat by the time this place opens!!) There’s a lot on this year new book, some TV,  obviously the new restaurant some product sauces etc.  There’s also a few mile stones. my youngest Cash just had his first day at Montessor which was very emotional! Also I turn 40 this year. Shit that’s hard to write!!! still feeling 25. Also back in the pool and training for the big Rotto swim this Feb. This is my year for being fit and healthy!!!! maybe drop a few kilo? Also get loads more recipes up! plus once my kitchen/house is done will start my video recipe diary!!

stay tuned and best wishes for this year!!!

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Hi all, well i am down in not so sunny Tasmania for a few days. I am cooking for a group of people who helped support the heart foundation by buying a dinner cooked by me. I am looking forward to it! I am going to cook the Snowy morrison inspired hot smoked salmon (seemed the right thing to do in Tassie) as well as my BBQ tandor spice leg of lamb amongst other delicious things. I am also down here catching up with an old mate who has recently had a baby boy with his beautiful wife Ruby! Yes that’s two ruby’s but the scary thing is this mate is the guy I named my son Herb after before they met and now there are two Herb and ruby’s. Also hoping to catch a few brown trout while i am down here!!!

Ben

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Hi Everyone, sorry I have not been on the blog lately!! I have been down in Melbourne since the 15th. I spent a day at the Essential Ingredient doing a master class followed by four nights at the Westin Hotel running the Kitchen at the Allegro Restaurant. We put on a three course 4,4 and 4 menu plus a dego of 6 courses on Saturday night. I had the chance to catch up with my old mate Curtis on Saturday night which was a blast and left me with a nice headache Sunday!! Things with the restaurant are moving along and we have finalized our plans and should start building soon. Hopefully ready to open in late feb/march? Wewill start looking for staff in the late part of this year and early next so if you have the passion send in your CV, I am looking for front of house staff as well as kitchen staff!! Keep cooking! ben

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Hi all, just on my way be to Brisbane after a mad morning doing the 9am show with Larry and Kylie (looking great after DWTS) cooked up a storm doing the Bug and Fig skewers from my book. Speaking of which if your looking for a great gift for dad, Pop or a mate then the book might be just the ticket!! I am doing a promotion with Mission Australia raising much needed funds so that they can keep doing the great work they do looking after the needy and homeless.

Go to http://www.missionpromotion.com/communityfundraising/cookbook/ and purchase a copy and all proceeds go to MS and you enrty the draw for a chance to win an Australian day BBQ cooked by me at your home on a new bbq and two cases of wine from Penfolds!! Please help make someones life a little better!!

Ben

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Hi all! sorry I have not been on line of late!! there has been loads happening. Designing house renovations, Planning the New restaurant (South Bank Surf Club) the we finally decided on the name and I must say I can believe it took us so long to relize it was the best fit! Variety of Chefs charity function, Cooking dinner parties and yesterday We launch a initiative with Mission Australia! Its a competition which involves selling my book through Mission Australia. The proceeds go directly to MA. The book purchase then enables you to enter a draw to have me cook a barbecue at your house on Australia Day on your “New” Barbecue plus two cases of wine from Penfolds. We are hoping to raise loads of money for them. They do an amazing job looking after the homeless and in need. If you have the book then by it for a friend and maybe you might win!!

I am also due to take over the restaurant at the Westin Hotel in Melbourne from the 18th to the 21st of November so start clearing your diary!!

Ben

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Hi all! I had a great weekend and The Queensland weather really turned it on! I was at the Brisbane writers festival over the weekend cooking a BBQ Breakfast and a panel event with Rebecca Huntley. It went really well, people enjoyed the food and the discussion was great. I was a bit nervous as being just a food/chef writer I felt a little out of my depth but it all went swimmingly.  I am off to Thailand tonight with my family for a holiday and a few days work in Bangkok and Phuket which we are all looking forward too. Plans for the restaurant are progressing and we have some firm kitchen details. I am however looking for a Head chef so if anyone is in the market for a early December job email me your CV.

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