More Gherkin Tapas

smalltapas © 2011 Brian. All rights reserved.

For the past three weeks, I’ve been lucky enough to take photos of the special tapas of the kitchen team at The Coughing Gherkin. The food was created by Natalie Powles, Emma Rekunow & Oscar Foreman. Tapas Specials 9th November … Continue reading

Churros

churros2 © 2011 Brian. All rights reserved.

The French – the inventors of choux pastry – have mastered the art of using this very special dough in baking. Long tubes are piped to make ecclairs, small balls are baked and filled with crème patissiere for profiteroles, which … Continue reading

Tagliatelle with Oxtail Ragu

tagox © 2011 Brian. All rights reserved.

Winter is upon us in the northern tablelands, and with it – the desire to slow cook some of the more interesting cuts of meat in the butchers. Whether it’s pies, stews or pasta – the weather is brutally cold … Continue reading

Strawberries

strawberriessmall © 2011 Brian. All rights reserved.

Nobody in Australia gets very excited about strawberries. After all, they are only strawberries. It’s only for the few weeks every year at the beginning of the winter when the prices soar & people start punching each other across supermarket … Continue reading

Boiled Eggs & Soldiers.

egg © 2011 Brian. All rights reserved.

I was recently involved in a discussion via twitter about boiled eggs. Regrettable, but true. I thought my normal answer, 4 and a half minutes, would be enough. But when someone mentioned the effect of altitude, and the ‘structural integrity’ … Continue reading

Tapas

Garlic Mushrooms, Spicy meatballs & roast capsicum & fetta salad © 2011 Brian. All rights reserved.

In my next life, I’m coming back as a saniard. There are the obvious reasons – sleeping in the day time, Sangria, Santiago Bernebeau Stadium, sun-kissed senoritas in dusty white cotton dresses. The main reason however, is Tapas. Tapas is … Continue reading

The Birth of the Gherkin

before2 © 2010 Brian. All rights reserved.

A two week restaurant rennovation Before: After: Late October We had the opportunity to meet the board of The Armidale Club to discuss their restaurant situation, and to propose to them the idea of a sister restaurant to red grapevine, … Continue reading

Movember @ red grapevine

ciabattaontile © 2010 Brian. All rights reserved.

The staff at red grapevine are very excited to be involved in Movember this year, and we’re hoping to raise money for this great cause by selling whole Ciabatta loaves at the restaurant for takeaway. The Ciabatta is our signature … Continue reading

Pizza Dough

pizzadough © 2010 Brian. All rights reserved.

A standard Pizza Dough Recipe. I use this same dough at red grapevine, the coughing gherkin, and at home in the wood fire oven. Ingredients 1kg plain flour 600ml water 1 tbsp salt 1 tbsp dried instant yeast Method Mix … Continue reading

Santuzza Pizza on rgv website

santuzza © 2010 Brian. All rights reserved.

Santuzza Pizza – slow cooked lamb, caramelised onion, pumpkin, feta & fresh basil. Santuzza has been on the red grapevine menu since 2006, and in that time has become one of our best sellers. A little more complex & time … Continue reading