Global Gobbler guest #10 - Maria-Christina

Name: Maria-Christina
Age: 51
Occupation: Linguist, thinker, writer and mother
Favourite food: Olives, extra virgin olive oil, bread and garlic - I could live on this!
Why she deserves the Global Gobbler experience: What better way to reward this mother on the second Sunday in May.

The Verdict

Imagine...May late afternoon....beachside....palm trees and large mature cypresses,,,a breeze blowing up from the sedately cold St. Kilda beach....sounds of traffic...a taxi ride with four large bags and assorted boxes…sitting in a park on a warm rug…no plastic or take-away food indeed…a picnic it is, only in location.

The entree of sharp pomegranate seeds layered below spicy almonds, honey cured olives all tossed in Nigella seeds and separated by a lemon slice presented in a beautiful glass. Served with a sparkling Shiraz for the occasion.

The tangy taste of the almonds, olives and seeds were delicious and combined with the pomegranate seeds made for a luscious flavour and a feast for the eyes. Being a small eater this was just about a whole meal for me! But I loved it! Particularly knowing that these olives were home-cured - they were the best - juicy and fragrant - and I would gladly buy such olives any day!

The next course...buckwheat flat bread and goats cheese, pistachio, figs with fresh tomato and basil. This was delicious....the combination of goats cheese and pistachio worked really well....and added to that some figs, it was a true palate pleaser. The buckwheat bread was very tasty...but a little too heavy given this mother's small appetite. The recipe for the muddled goats cheese please!

The main course was a lightly tossed salad with crunchy truffled potatoes with juicy roasted sweet corn, roasted hazelnuts and perfectly cooked asparagus all blended with a gentle olive oil and red wine vinegar dressing. This is the food I would like to eat all the time.

The dessert...a light almost cloud like rhubarb crème oozing tangy rhubarb flavour over a sweet banana and carrot bread made with pine nuts, juicy raisins and a subtle blend of warming spices. The bread tasted of an Oriental bazaar...perhaps cooked in the time of Marco Polo…

Each dish was memorable, delicious and healthy. One point....the feast would easily have fed more people! I will not forget this afternoon as it slowly darkened and the gleam of the beach dimmed.

Gracias hijo!

A Gourmand's Picnic - RIP 11 May 2008

Can you hear the crunch of the pomegranate seed? Taste the sweet muddled goats cheese? Smell the pungent truffled potatoes? Or marvel at the pillows of rhubarb creme?

I hope so. Photos from A Gourmand's Picnic were taken, edited and then lost care of a faulty usb.

Hopefully the review provides adequate colour and flavour.

The highlights for me:

• A olive success and another winning combination care of the amazingly adaptable Nigella seed;
• Rich creamy goat cheese offset with sweet fig and crunchy pistachio and a wholesome flatbread;
• Truffled potatoes - what a flavour with a salty hit of capers. Thankfully balanced with a fresh salad highlighted by roasted sweet cornm hazelnuts and mint; and
• The rhubarb creme - another hit stand-alone dessert. Banana and carrot bread - moist, spicy, sweet and nutty.

A Gourmand's Picnic required a boot-load of cutlery and serving dishes, a mountain of tupperware and plenty of patience but was definitely worth it. Perhaps the first of many offsite GG meals...perhaps once the thermometer rises above 20C...

A Gourmand's Picnic

E
Combination of home-cured split olives in lemon and rosemary flavoured olive oil, almonds roasted in Nigella seeds and salt, shaved lemon, mint and pomegranate seeds.

S
Goats cheese muddled with figs, thyme and cracked pepper and coated in a crushed pistachios and thyme then served on home made walnut and poppy seed buckwheat flatbread rubbed with tomato, basil and olive oil.

M
Twice roasted kipfler potatoes tossed with truffle oil and chives and served with a salad of asparagus, grilled sweet corn, roasted hazelnuts, red onion, avocado, rocket, mint and dressed with red wine vinaigrette.

D
Banana, carrot and pine nut slice spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg and and served with creamed rhubarb mascaporne and lemon zest.

A menu for the senses...too broad for just one country...breaking down cultural barriers with food.

A invite has already been issued for this menu but don't despair - a trip to the land of the maple leaf is on the way. Remember, a seat at the table is always on offer - globalgobbler@gmail.com for reservations.

Global Gobbler guest #9 - Cathy

Name: Cathy
Age: 25
Occupation: Full-time traveller, part-time marketer
Favourite food: Japanese – simple, cheap and thankfully with a distinct lack of MSG.
Why she deserves the Global Gobbler experience: Being a bit of a foodie and new to Melbourne I may as well start at the top of the culinary chain!

The Verdict

Entrée – there was a nice balance between all the ingredients. The grapes soaked in balsamic vinegar were not too tart or acidic, and it complemented well with the feta cheese and roasted walnuts. My suggestion would be to half the portion as it was perhaps a little rich for an entrée.

Side – This was a fantastic ‘giant ravioli’! The filling was delicious and left me wanting more, but only declined because I knew that if I stuffed myself early, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy the main and dessert. I loved the way the roasted tomatoes were prepared. When I had cut into them, the fragrance of the rosemary made it really alluring. A minor tweak would be to have a slightly thinner pastry and perhaps a drizzle of premium olive oil if the chef wanted to heighten the flavour a little more.

Main – The presentation was colourful and an inventive take on the humble pizza. The roasted veggies layered over the polenta were just perfectly prepared. For the second time in the evening, I was left wanting a little more, but sadly felt quite full. The melted bocconcini had hardened by the time it reached the table, but that did not take the attention away from the other ingredients.

Dessert – Really enjoyed the hazelnut flavoured cake. The portion that was soaked in coffee was quite subtle, and would have preferred a bit more flavour. Everything else was wonderful.

Overall, I had a fantastic evening as the host is warm and friendly. He has a wonderful journey ahead of him because of his passion for food and his eagerness to perfect his meals.

The Italian Job - RIP 3 May 2008

Chef Notes
Creamy feta, sweet grapes, sour balsamic and crunchy walnuts with a fresh hit of mint – despite the ambitious mix I think it worked. Portion size was an issue even for me! Was it a small plate or a big serving…








Chef Notes
Man-sized ravioli although could have done with a softer touch on the pastry – I really need to upgrade my rolling pin from the bottle of plonk… The pesto ricotta had the strongest and flavour and cut through the pastry. I loved the visual of the shafted tomatoes.





Chef Notes
The polenta base just wasn’t crispy enough for this to be classified a real pizza. Topping worked well with the salty caper tapenade but inexperience with bocconcini showed up in the lapse between ‘out of the oven’ to the ‘into the mouth’ phase.







Chef Notes
Where was the coffee? I think the cake needed a few hours of soaking in espresso to really lift to the next level. The combination of hazelnuts, coffee and strawberries seem naturally affiliated though and a little refinement could see this dessert really sing.

Never have I eaten so much dairy in a meal - my bones are happy. Credit to all those cows out there. Menus on the way…a Gourmands picnic….Canada…..the Carribean…. Stay Global. Keep Gobbling.

The Italian Job

E
Danish feta coated in roasted walnuts and dressed with balsamic marinated black grapes and minted honey.

S
Oversized ravioli filled with oregano and basil pesto flavoured ricotta topped with parmesan and olive oil and served with rosemary shafted tomatoes dusted in paprika.

M
Polenta pizza base of roasted pepitas, Bulgarian feta and oregano topped with a caper, olive and ginger tapenade, baby spinach, red onion, roasted red pepper, fresh basil and bocconcini the served withcracked pepper and sea salt.

D
Twin slices of ground hazelnut, cinnamon and coffee cake soaked in espresso with 1) topped with mascarpone and a split of lemon zest and grated dark chocolate and 2) topped with a hazelnut, coffee and honey crust and grilled then served with gashed strawberries and a hiding sprig of mint.

Italy...sweet basil, cheese, ripe tomatoes, cheese, coffee, cheese. Obviously not a menu for any lactose intolerants... An Italian menu with the seal of approval from both Silvio and the Cosa Nostra. Got a craving for an Italian feast? Email me: globalgobbler@gmail.com for an invite. Buona salute!

Global Gobbler guest #8 - Aimee and Lauren

Name: Aimee
Age: 23
Occupation: Marketing manager and official Jagermiester taster
Favourite food: Silverbeet, I mean spinach, or maybe silverbeet…?
Why she deserves the Global Gobbler experience: I need some evidence to back up my nightly claims about Joel’s WEIRD food!








Name: Lauren
Age: 23
Occupation: Marketing manager and and barrista stalker
Favourite food: Pop corn - Aimee-style
Why she deserves the Global Gobbler experience: Surely my awesome taste in movies deserves a free meal.

A review from my two Kiwi friends is on the way - so I am told...

Some highligths from the evening:

• An opening statement from Aimee that she isn't that into 'spicy food' - hard to marry with Thai cuisine...
• A chilli in an eye incident - always funny unless you're the person suffering
• A classy ambience created by the background viewing...Gladiators...

The Verdict

Aimee: Considering my mouth is pretty much a hater of anything with a hot spice to it, one couldn’t help but worry with the first dish having a raw red pepper as garnish on the top. More worrying than this, was the fact that a fellow hung-over passer-by had decided to handle the chilli prior to rubbing his bloodshot eyes, the screams of pain we're errmmm encouraging on tasting the dish. However I was pleasantly surprised with the mild yet tasty combination of flavours which complimented each other nicely. Fantastic way to start this 4 course meal!

Lauren: as a lover of hot food I ate my chillies and really enjoyed them. The laska cocktail was really nice and may I add beautifully presented.

The next course looked very interesting as the combination of purple rice textured middle, garnished with fresh papaya around the edges. The centre was quite nice, very mild and plain tho, which went along nicely with the fruit. This actually appeared to be more like a dessert at first, but after sampling was indeed savoury and very filling, quite unique.

Aimee: Already full by this state, but very keen to sample as always, the rice paper rolls came out. This would have to be my favourite. The preparation for this was obvious and definitely worthwhile. Although not entirely sure at the time exactly what the combination of many colours and flavours was within, they were downed in no time. Delicious!!

Lauren: A lot of work had gone into the rice paper rolls. You could see the amount of time and the vast number of ingredients that went in. And they were extremely good - and you could also tell very good for you. A nice light meal with a really authentic Thai taste.

Lauren: I’m not usually a dessert eater and was rather full by the time this came out but this was surprisingly my favourite. To have a hot desert brought out with such a good combo of spices and currents was really delicious. 10/10 for me on that one - really good coming from a girl who doesn’t have a massive sweet tooth.

Overall a delicious and very unique combination of foods presented beautifully, well done JOEL, and thanks again for opening our eyes past the standard frozen veg mix, pasta snacks and silver beat that would usually fill our tummies!

Thinking Thai - RIP 27 April 2008

Chef Notes
The creamy consistency of the laksa was just how I imagined and the bite of galangal, ginger, turmeric and lemon grass cut through the coconut cream while the bok choy gave it the required fresh hit. Hot snow peas got the taste buds going but i'm not sure about the fried bean sprouts, maybe they needed the tempura treatment.






Chef Notes
The first time I’ve used green papaya and it didn’t quit live up to expectations – was expecting something a little more sour. The tangy marinade lifted it above it’s disappointingly bland beginnings though. Black coconut and kaffir lime rice is such interesting combination – a good balance to the hot papaya.





Chef Notes
These were the highlight for me. The fresh vegetable filling accented with crunchy peanuts and ginger would have would have worked with a simple soy and sesame oil dipping sauce. The spicy persimmon jam had a great flavour but may have been slightly out of place – might work a little better with Brussel sprouts or something a little less oriental.





Chef Notes
Evidence cardamom seeds can cut through even the richest flavours. Coconut cream and palm sugar made sure this wasn’t mistaken as a standard boarding house ‘baked custard’. The pear sandwich could have stood alone with the sweet currants offset by the roasted walnut flavour and spicy cloves – traditional Thai
? Hmmm…

A meal shared in front of the intellectually stimulating Gladiators on a cold Melbourne night. A world away from the street stalls of Langkawi but hopefully the flavours bridged the gap.

Thinking Thai

E
Layered laksa and bok choy cocktail served with crispy sesame flavoured bean sprouts and hot snow peas.
S
Green papaya carpaccio marinated in sweet lime, tamarind and chilli and served with black coconut rice infused with kaffir lime.

M
Steamed rice noodle rolls filled with baby sweet corn, shitake mushrooms, red pepper, snow peas, mixed chilli, garlic, ginger, roasted peanuts and spring onions and served alongside spicy persimmon and mint jam.

D

Baked coconut and cardamom custard topped with palm sugar and served with a pear sandwich of clove, currant and walnut paste.

Thai food - in my opinion the most versatile - so many influences and flavours makes it easy yet also challenging to put a menu together. Lemongrass, ginger, turmeric and chilli are highlights while persimmon might be a stretch...

How does this menu rate? Are there any takers for the GG experience? If anyone is game for four courses of Thai send me an email globalgobbler@gmail.com. And for those who might be daunted with the one-on-one set-up, bring a friend. See you at the table.

Global Gobbler guest #7 - Bill and Keps (The Brothers Mince)

Name: Bill (creator of the new Global Gobbler logo - champion)
Age: 24
Occupation: Sketching the world - one face at a time and a valuer on the side
Favourite food: Mince - with pasta
Why he deserves the Global Gobbler experience: A fellow blogger bucking the corporate trend - the world needs more of them.

Name: Keps

Age: 22

Occupation: In demand jazz man and up and coming writer.

Favourite food: Mince - with rice

Why he deserves the Global Gobbler experience: The fact that he just got back from 7 months in South America was enough of a reason - i held back the envy well I think...

The Verdict

As a university student of limited finances it is a rare treat to eat out and enjoy a meal that is prepared by a creative and passionate chef, with flavours so delicate and varied that you become emersed in the experience. After this Saturday night, I am convinced that I’ve found the best four course meal-deal in Melbourne. While I came to Joel’s house on the promise of free food, I left with a whole new appreciation for the subtleties of cooking.

Having only recently returned from a holiday in Samoa, Joel shared his experiences of eating simple, plain meals. He has built on the potential that the island’s staple ingredients offer and set the scene for a modern adaptation of Samoan cuisine, complete with the key protagonists: coconut, plantain banana, taro and papaya.

The entrée, papaya with coconut jelly, had an understated tang, owing to the combination of lime juice, mint leaves and soothing texture of the coconut jelly. Served with fresh coconut juice, it was a subtly sweet introduction to the flavours of Samoa.

The fa’alifu fa’i put plantain bananas to interesting use, where they took on a potato-like role in the dish. These bananas were cooked in a spicy, creamy sauce and covered with roasted peanuts, seeds and turmeric. The nuts and seeds compensated for the lack of solid texture, adding a nice amount of chew and injecting a kick of flavour into the dish.

After eating two courses, it was a surprise to then see our main meal brought to the table! The palusamis, little bundles of flavour held together by roasted cavalo nero, combined the sweeter currants and wakame with more savoury ingredients. Taking a bite was best done slowly, to give these splashes of flavour an opportunity to be fully explored. The coconut-roasted taro chips were an interesting addition.

The humble pancake was given a makeover for the dessert. Melted palm sugar, roasted coconut and cocoa coconut butter replaced the ice cream and maple syrup, creating a rich and indulgent conclusion to a spectacular meal.

Meticulous attention to detail, creative presentation and an exciting variety of flavours and colour. Thanks for a very enjoyable meal, Joel.

Dreaming of Samoa - RIP 12 April 2008

In Samoa you can buy young coconuts (not readily available in Melbourne) straight out of the esky for 50 cents – heaven.














Chef Notes
I could live off papaya and lime – such a natural combination. Tried to tart it up with the clean taste of coconut jelly (lessons learnt from my first for into agar-agar when doing Japan were put to use…) and the refreshing flavour of the mint.





Chef Notes
Such a rich combination of starchy bananas, coconut cream and turmeric – the whole thing was lifted by the kaffir lime leaves. The roasted peanuts contrasted the thick creamy texture of the soup and the grated turmeric gave the dish the required kick.








Chef Notes
Palusami Global Gobbler-style…I think it worked. Substituting wakame for taro leaves and adding currants and poppy seeds then wrapping the whole thing in cavalo nero were my touches to a Samoan classic. The taro was a little disappointing. If only I’d done the coconut cream and taro mash to face-off with the crispy taro chips.

Chef Notes
This dish went through a few reincarnations before it made it to the table – but I’m glad I went with the pancakes (fairly popular in Samoa). Cinnamon and banana mixed well and the wholesome spelt flour cut the stodge factor. The cocoa butter made with coconut oil and palm sugar added some decadence but drenching the whole thing in lime juice ensured the Samoan ambience remained (helped by a barmy 14 degree Melbourne night). Coconut roasted in lime juice and palm sugar – I’ll put that down to boredom.

What would my friends in Samoa think of this - to them, any divergence from coconut, taro, onion and banana is quite unnecessary... Malo Samoa!

Dreaming of Samoa

Fresh coconut juice shooter to begin.

E
Red papaya spears marinated in lime juice and served with coconut jelly and a minted papaya foam.

S
Fa'alifu fa'i: Plantain bananas cooked with onion, turmeric, coriander seeds, kaffir lime leaves, lime and coconut cream and topped with roasted peanut and coriander seed dukkah and freshly grated turmeric.

M
Palusami: onion, coconut cream, wakame, currants, poppy seeds, black pepper corns and coconut milk wrapped in cavalo nero and served with crispy coconut-roasted taro.

D
Banana and cinnamon pancakes served with cocoa coconut butter, lime roasted coconut, and freshly grated palm sugar.

After 8 days in Samoa I wasn't short of inspiration. Samoan flavours...coconut, banana, taro, coconut... Tried to liven the food up a little and hopefully I haven't basterdised traditional Samoan cuisine too much. A special thanks to Simolo from the village of Malie for introducing me to Samoan culture and food.

Like the look of this Samoan banquet? Flick me an email globalgobbler@gmail.com with your name, age, favourite food and why you deserve a seat at the table. Gobble up.

Global Gobbler guest #6 - Klara

Name: Klara
Age: 23
Occupation: Globalist and legal eagle
Favourite food: Chocolate – milk not dark
Why she deserves the Global Gobbler experience: Who better to test a Spanish menu than a native. Listening to poorly pronounced Spanish is also a lot easier when accompanied by good food…

The Verdict (roughly translated from Spanish...)

If it had to describe to the supper by Joel with three words I would say original, light and excellent.

Gazpacho to start was excellent, and although the colour was not the red I expected this did not alter the result. Although I do not understand much of gazpacho I believe that the presentation was perfect and the flavour was smooth but intense simultaneously. Perfect like first plate.

The salad was a surprise and the mixture was one that I would have never imagined. Every ingredient played a role and it was so original that I was hooked. I do not like heavy plates and I prefer the variety so this second dish was ideal.

To complete the meal, the last dish was charming. Although it seems to me it is not a word that is not used to describe food, the suitable one to transmit this dish would be pretty. And without repeating myself, the ingredients were combined perfectly and the resulting flavour was a success.

Summarizing, it was an excellent supper made by a boy with so much talent. If he were to open a restaurant I would definitely rate it a ten!

Eating in Spanish - RIP 17 March 2008

E
Gazpacho: tomatoes, red and yellow bell pepper, Spanish onion, cucumber, garlic, basil, mint, chives, flavoured with orange, red wine vinegar, lemon and olive oil served with walnut and rosemary buckwheat flat bread.

Chef Notes
The colour just wasn’t quite right – too many green herbs and not enough tomato. The orange juice came through just but not sure whether it took away from the sharp onion and cool the cucumber. Flatbread was flat and decidedly dry – good flavour though.


S
Orange flavoured rocket topped with crispy prosciutto, sliced figs, roasted almonds and mint then topped with manchego cheese and nutmeg

Chef Notes
The mix of sweet figs, crunchy almonds and refreshing mint foiled the rich flavours of the prosciutto and manchego (puts cheddar to shame). The orange flavour worked better this time and combined with the rocket lifted this rich combination of ingredients.




M
Baked tortilla of kipfler potato, fresh peas, black olives, caramelised red onion, manchego cheese, paprika, lemon rind and basil cooked in a saffron aioli and served with cumquat segments.

Chef Notes
Such a rich dish – melting manchego and creamy saffron aioli. Didn’t want to serve this with any greenery – sometimes you just need to soak up the flavours. This dish tasted completely Spanish to me: the poor mans vegetable, olives, caramelised onion, paprika and bitey cheese crowned by the unique taste of saffron. Tangy cumquats continued the citrus theme.

D
Frozen orange shell filled with chilled cinnamon, lemon zest and pine nut ricotta and served with basil and honey baked figs.

Chef Notes
The orange shells provided an authentic if slightly tacky presentation. The cinnamon ricotta is a favourite and pine nuts gave it a great texture. While it was a warm night, the grilled figs, still bubbling with honey and basil ensured the dessert wasn’t just ‘a bowl of ice cream’.


I think Spain warrants another menu – maybe a Catalan focus. But I promise less cervezas and better photography.

Eating in Spanish

E
Gazpacho: tomatoes, red and yellow bell pepper, Spanish onion, cucumber, garlic, basil, mint, chives, flavoured with orange, red wine vinegar, lemon and olive oil served with walnut and rosemary buckwheat flat bread.

S
Orange flavoured rocket topped with crispy prosciutto, sliced figs, roasted almonds and mint then topped with manchego cheese and nutmeg

M
Baked tortilla of kipfler potato, fresh peas, black olives, caramelised red onion, paprika, lemon rind and basil cooked in a saffron aioli.

D
Frozen orange shell filled with chilled cinnamon, lemon zest and pine nut ricotta and served with basil and honey baked figs.

The guest for this menu has already been chosen - fitting that I repay my Spanish conversation partner with some food in exchange for her having to put up with my stunted and 'muy corta' attempts to converse... The review will be coming shortly - in Spanish I am told...

Don't despair though, another menu will be posted shortly. I am feeling some Asian inspiration on the way so email me globalgobbler@gmail.com with your name, age, favourite food and why I should cook for you and you may score an invite to the next Gobble.

Global Gobbler guest #5 - Remy-M

Name: Remy-M
Age: 31
Occupation: Teacher as well as a protector of Indonesian monkeys
Favourite food: Apples
Why she deserves the Global Gobbler experience: Well, i'm never going to get to Afghanistan to sample the produce so maybe this will make do?

The Verdict

The presentation was effective. The aromas were balanced and the plate was full of colour. I loved the merging of sweet corn and earthy parsnip and spicy cumin, almost too much (!) but saved by the fresh coriander – perfect balance on the palate! The condiments were not required but were perfect all the same – a tasty jam and thick sour cream.

The three citrus rinds gave this a marmalade-y flavour without the overpowering sweetness. And what a yummy salt! The almonds could have been a bit less finely chopped – and my first, and definitely not last, experience with metallic nigella seeds.

And this is where Remy's review ended...a combination of the hot sun and beverages consumed the evening prior were to blame - and not, I am promised, my cooking! My housemate enjoyed the toils of my hours in the kitchen but was hesitant in providing a photo.

So you will have to rely on my completely biased chef notes!

And the final comments from Remy: "When I asked Joel what they ate in Afghanistan he kept on telling me goat. There was no goat but I didn’t mind at all! Osama would be proud of you Joel. Thank you. Remy xo"

Only in Afghanistan - RIP 17 February 2008

E
Parsnip, cumin, fresh coriander and sweet corn rosti served with a red onion, paprika and mint jam and crème fraiche

Chef Notes

I remember having rosti at home and tried to twist it with the parsnip – didn’t have quite the same texture as I remember probably due to me undercooking the parsnip – damn health considerations! The onion jam and the crème fraiche matched well with the cumin but presentation was a bit average – reminiscent of pepper sauce served with dirty schnitzel.

S
Slow baked leeks in triple citrus rind (orange, lime and lemon), nutmeg and and sage and served with roasted almond and nigella salt.

Chef Notes

Flavours were great but the texture of the leek wasn’t as hoped –a little tough and may have needed a bit more moisture or longer cooking time. But the almond and nigella seed salt was a good mix – I think this is the end of standard salt. Dish might have worked better with zucchini or something which absorbed the flavour a little better.

M
Afghani kofta balls: millet flavoured with dates, lime zest, fresh turmeric, fennel seeds and dried chilli and coated in a crust of crushed walnuts and coriander seeds then served on tomato and cucumber checkers with a coriander, chilli and lime salsa.

Chef Notes

My favourite – I had previously used these flavours with rice and they went even better with millet which is a lot more moist. The walnut crust had a Middle Eastern flavour and was perfect crunchy exterior for soft millet. Maybe some goats cheese with the millet would have given it a melting aspect. Happy with the presentation but I don’t think the coriander salsa was right – more Asian than Afghani.

D
Baked pears stuffed with a pistachio, date and rose petal paste and served with cardamom and rose water yogurt then garnished with honey frozen rose petals.

Chef Notes

Pears were a little overcooked and a touch dry – maybe poaching them first or else more liquid. But the pistachio and date paste was good consistency – chewy with a roasted crunch, not sure what the rose water added… The cardamom flavour was surprising – haven’t tasted it outside of blended dishes so nice to isolate it – maybe needed to use thicker yogurt or even mascarpone next time.

Only in Afghanistan - the Osama Diet

E
Parsnip, cumin, fresh coriander and sweet corn rosti served with a red onion, paprika and mint jam and crème fraiche

S
Leeks slow baked in triple citrus rind (orange, lime and lemon), nutmeg and sage and served with roasted almond and nigella salt.

M
Afghani kofta balls: millet flavoured with dates, lime zest, fresh turmeric, fennel seeds and dried chilli coated in a crust of crushed walnuts and coriander seeds then served on tomato and cucumber checkers with a coriander, chilli and lime salsa.

D
Baked pears stuffed with a pistachio, date and rose petal paste served with cardamom and rose water yogurt and garnished with honey frozen rose petals.

So you've tried every other diet and need some inspiration? Introducing the Osama Diet... Want to experience the flavours of Afghanistan without ending up in Guantanamo? Email me globalgobbler@gmail.com with your name, age, favourite food and why I should cook for you and you may score an invite to a meal inspired by a country which sits proudly at the top of the Department of Foreign Affairs 'do not travel' list.

Global Gobbler guest #4 - Jordan

Name: Jordan

Age: 27

Occupation: Budding Kofi Annan – in the early stages of becoming a property magnate

Favourite food: Squid and harissa

Why he deserves the Global Gobbler experience: With a background in hospitality and an inherent understanding of flavour composition garnered from a lifetime of consumption of different cuisines on several continents, I felt that I was a perfect candidate for one of Joel’s intriguing meals.

The Verdict

Whether or not there is the absolute comprehension of disparate flavours that talented chefs sometimes display, experimentation with food must always be applauded, especially when the intention behind the experiment is to offer an enthusiastic health-oriented alternative, that is based on ingredients not commonly found in the Australian pantry. In the search for a new experience or the opportunity to impart some hard-won insight, perhaps there would be a mutual benefit discovered over a glass of wine and some nouveau cuisine.

To begin, Joel served a fresh salad of nectarine, wakame and radish with honeyed ginger and sesame oil, tamari coated seeds, and raisins. The dish had a lot of potential, particularly the pairing of the nectarine and wakame, but may have been better served by the use of daikon rather than radish. It should be noted, however, that daikon had sadly been unavailable at the markets that day. I found the seeds and raisins to be an interesting component, and certainly very tasty, but I am not sure that they added anything to the salad itself, which was complicated enough. Better, I think, to use them as a pre-appetiser. In all, however, with a bit of fine-tuning, this could have been an excellent dish.

Next we had a personal favourite of mine, soba noodles, of which I have many fond memories, invariably alongside warm sake and cold nights in Tokyo. Flavoured with miso and coconut oil, the noodles had a pleasant oiliness and were very more-ish, but were a touch overdone. Typically soba should be quite firm to the bite. With three side dishes, the dish was intricate and interesting. The first, sesame and soy marinated white cabbage was just right; the second, pickled ginger, always welcome; and the third, soy and wasabi flavoured granny smith apple puree, extremely adventurous and well worth the effort. It could only have been improved with the use of firmer apples, more experimentation and perhaps a touch of mirin. Again, all that was needed here was a little bit of refinement, and more confidence with cooking times.

The third course was nori hand rolls filled with avocado and hatcho miso paste, pureed pumpkin, red capsicum and cucumber. Probably too complicated, but valiant. The dish would have been better had the nori been toasted, and the pumpkin not pureed. The high water content of pumpkin almost guarantees excessive absorption by the seaweed. The avocado was excellent and I would have preferred a simpler mix of ingredients with that as a base.

For dessert Joel served up a cherry and mint jelly with fresh smashed cherries and a coconut milk granita. Points have to be given for a first experimentation with agar-agar, but unfortunately this did not turn out well. Coconut milk is such a strong flavour that care has to be taken with its use and I am not sure of the wisdom of using it as a sole ingredient. I also find cherries to be invariably better when fresh and unadulterated.

On the whole, this was a worthwhile exercise that certainly allowed me to experience flavour and ingredient combinations that I have never contemplated before. My only words of advice would be to caution against unnecessary complication. Japanese food, as in Japanese culture, is a celebration of the appearance of simple perfection. For those, such a myself, without the ability or inclination to aspire to such a lofty ideal, it is better to stick to simple ingredients prepared simply. However, without experimentation, the world would be much duller place . . . .

Japan on a Plate - RIP 19 January 2008

E
Salad of yellow and white nectarine, wakame and red radish flavoured with honeyed ginger and sesame oil, ringed with tamari roasted seeds (pepita and sunflower) and raisins.

Chef Notes
This turned out well and had the sharp radish flavour, sweet nectarine and salty wakame. Was maybe a little wet. I think the seeds gave the salad a much needed crunch to the texture and that familiar salty soy flavour. As noted in the review – where was the daikon!?


S
Soba noodles flavoured with kome miso, shallots and coconut oil served with (1) sesame and soy marinated white cabbage, (2 ) pickled ginger and a (3) soy and wasabi granny smith pulp.

Chef Notes
I still haven’t mastered soba noodles – I though the coconut oil and miso would prevent the ‘glug’ factor but not to be. Maybe if I had let the noodles cool then used poured the coconut oil/miso over the top like a sauce it might have been more successful – still, the flavour was interesting enough to try again. The cabbage good – the finer the better while the apple and wasabi pulp was tangy – needed more wasabi or a different apple variety to really take off.

M
Nori rolls filled with an avocado and hatcho miso paste, black sesame seeds, rice wine vinegar flavoured roasted pumpkin, red capsicum and cucumber and served with soy and wasabi.

Chef Notes
A bit of a let down from how I imagined this dish would turn out. The pumpkin was too moist and didn’t take on the rice vinegar flavour of traditional sushi rice that I anticipated. Possibly needed a grain to give it some structure – maybe shitake flavoured barley?

D
Cherry and mint agar agar jelly served fresh sliced cherries, coconut milk granita and fresh mint.

Chef Notes
The jelly/slice/brick was a bit tragic. My first foray into jelly was an interesting one which yielded a flavourful slice – similar consistency to quince paste and without the transparent characteristics of jelly. Nearing the end of cherry season you could was evident in the flavour of the cherries. And the coconut milk – I forget that not everyone is as satisfied with the flavour of coconut as me! Will definitely by giving the agar-agar a second go and hopefully the result is a dessert which doesn’t require a knife to eat it.