Essential Food fact 101- Apples all over red is not best !

Are you over apples yet? I’m certainly not and am desperately trying to hang on to them for as long as the season lasts -i know it’s over really I do! 

Anyway visited the local apple growers today 4 farms down.

Picking through the huge trays of different apples Fuji, Gala and Pink Lady -collecting my stash  (BTW $2 fill a bag amazing!!) and the man remarks casually

did I know that the all over red apples are not the best? I need to look for blemish free, pale hued apples, green and yellow pale spots are good, the all over red ones tend to be dry and floury. I have been buying apples for years and this really floored me but on taste test it was confirmed he was absolutely CORRECT (funny that being a professional apple grower and all that!) . See you do learn something new everyday! Thanks Apple man x

little treats catering

Finally Kathryn Read (who also happens to be my cousin in law lucky me!) has decided to harness her culinary knowledge and skills and has launched her own catering business Little Treats Catering

Kathryn has been my go to girl for all things fresh and fabulous in Melbourne for over 15 years. Not only has she been cooking for me for that long but also is seriously in the know for preferred suppliers in Melbourne. When in doubt I ask her. Kathryn takes great pride in the very freshest ingredients, simple honest food that speaks for itself.

Best for

Feta stuffed crumbed olives served with aioli

Rare tuna spring rolls with lime & soy

http://www.littletreatscatering.com.au/

little treats catering
PO Box 439 Ashburton 3147 Victoria
         0408 510 316

Neils Meats Prahran Market- quite possibly the best butcher in Melbourne

I am always asked where I buy my meat from and my answer has been the same for over 10 years. When I first moved to Melbourne I was introduced to Neil McNair (who has since been taken over by his son Paul) and have never looked back. I love a family run business, generations of family working side by side perfecting their craft, the McNair’s have been doing this for over 45 years.Tucked in the far end of the butcher section at the Prahran Market, Melbourne they are hard to miss.

It is a family run business where the service is second to none.They take pride in old-fashioned personalised service. Not only do they specialise in dry aged beef from the Western Districts to Warnambool, they also have an amazing understanding of all things meat, their suppliers and who does what best.

Over the years with all my odd requests, nothing is a hassle, nothing is too much for them. My family has brought Neil’s amazing turkeys and a wombat sized ham every year for as long as I can remember. For truly exceptional product and service- come and see Paul and his team.

Best for

Milk fed veal

Sausages

Racks of Pork

French lamb shanks and their spring lamb

Porterhouse/ New York cut steak

TBones

Butterflied Greek Legs of lamb

Neil’s Meats

Prahran Market Shop 508

163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra VIC 3141

03 9827.6574

Open Tues/Thurs/Fri/Sat

Top Shelf Fruits

I had my reservations in doing this feature not because I had any kind of qualms in recommending this little beauty but because of the potential influx of people to my little sleepy local village once people find out about it.

I had shopped successfully at Prahran Market for many years but had moved further afield  and needed to find a new local .I found it hard as I kept making comparisons back to Pino’s. By the way I had been totally spoilt with superior personalised service but I needed to find a new local. My cousin Kathryn who is totally in the know about all things gastronomic and a local pointed me in the right direction, explaining in great detail where to go and who to ask for. This kind of info is priceless!

Top Shelf not only have one of the most beautiful, freshest ranges of fruit and veg in Melbourne but they are super serious about their suppliers and staying true to what they are good at. I love the fact that they know who does what from all over Australia and beyond and who’s the best at it. If it’s the best you can guarantee it will be on their shelves.

They are all about value and treat their relationships with their existing and new customers as something really special and as a member of their family. They just don’t miss and are the place to go for a truly whole food experience. I love the fact that they keep surprising me with their produce and products. Everything from Truffles to Italian candy to a virtual forest of mushrooms. Heaven!

No I’m not on the take and sadly I’m not a member of the family but seriously don’t waste your time and money elsewhere visit my friends at Top Shelf Fruits and tell them I sent you and remember sssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhh…………

Ashburton Store
225 High St
Ashburton, VIC 3147
(03) 9885 2242  (by the way this is my local there are 2 others)

Beaumaris Store
1 South Concourse
Beaumaris, VIC 3193
(03) 9589 2170   

Brentford Square Store
21c Brentford Square Shopping Centre
Brentford Square, VIC 3131
(03) 9878 0909

http://www.topshelffruits.com.au/