Cookies

Cookie baking madness NZ style! Happy Baking from Vanilla Table!

Tui Bird Elixir

A New Zealand recipe for Tui Bird Elixir: 120g/4 oz sugar, 175ml/6fl oz hot water, 280ml/10 fl oz cold water. Add sugar to bowl, boil kettle and pour hot water over sugar. Stir to dissolve. Add cold water and place bowl inside a bright red or hot pink bowl. Wait patiently, Tuis will approach cautiously at first then word gets round the bird neighborhood and they will be singing and positioning themselves to land, have a few dips and race away chasing each other through the Manuka trees!

The Old Packhouse Market

Check out this exciting NZ new local market filled with produce growers, artisan food makers and more! The Old Packhouse Market

Co-op gals Sandra and Alexa at The Old Packhouse Market sold out of all their delicious from scratch treats including pate au poulet with tipsy cherries, smoked cheese, beetroot chutney and Mikey's Genuine Pork Pies-served with Branston Pickle and proper english mustard!

Koru Club Coffee Lounge at Auckland Domestic Airport

Kia Ora New Zealand! Back to the healing land of the long white cloud and a chef's inspirational playground! First up the Koru Club Coffee Lounge at Auckland Domestic Airport a short head clearing ten minute walk from International. The classic NZ coffee called a Flat White made to order in the lounge are worth it! Air NZ even has an app you can use to order your drink before you've even left the plane! The hot beverages come quickly and time is estimated to the minute for their arrival at the counter! Then a quick jaunt to board the 19 seater in what sounds likes a vacuum gone crazy, but the joy of being able to watch the cockpit every inch of the way. Greeted at home by a prize winning fisher woman, Kendra who caught a 20kg snapper and finishing the day with a NZ Grapefruit Vanilla Greyhound sparkle bevvie! Bliss and blessings to be back! Happy Thanksgiving today all!

VT Available on Amazon

Pre-order on AMAZONAvailable April 1, 2015

VANILLA TABLE The essence of exquisite cooking from the world's best chefs

With the help of 33 outstanding chefs, who have each contributed a 'vanilla plate', international chef Natasha Macaller has created a truly global compendium vanilla expertise, showcasing this most exotic and yet everyday spice in over 100 vanilla dishes, sweet and savory.

The Sweet and Savory Spectacular

I helped out @SherryYard and her assistant LeahChoi @HelmsBakeryDist at "The Sweet and Savory Spectacular" Food, Wine and Culinary Competition event for C-CAP a non-profit leader providing culinary scholarships for at risk high school students Sunday, October 19 at the gorgeous Art Institutes Santa Monica campus Caught up with @Duff_Goldman, @JetTila, @BarbaraLazaroff, SuzanneTracht @Suzanneatthejar, @SuzanneGoin, Barbara Fairchild @fairchildonfood and the effervescent Lori Wressell and tireless LA C-CAP director, Mitzie Cutler @mitz207! Congrats!

Favourite Farm Shop

One of my favourite Farm Shops just moments from the Cornwall Shore. Lucy's team Tracey and Maggie are full of smiles at Padstow Farm Shop supplying locals and visitors alike with outstanding local seasonal food and provisions including handmade bread with grains harvested and milled at the farm plus local fruit, vegetables, meats, sauces, and don't forget the Kernow chocolate (sea salt is my weakness). I left laden with gifts of chocolate, Cornish sea salt and bottles of Mary's Shed lavender hand soap! www.padstowfarmshop.co.uk

Vanilla Table Presentation

Jacqui Small and Quarto Publishing seemed pleased with the Vanilla Table presentation pitch that took place at Quatro in London. Afterwards, served and tasted bites of Saturn peach and vanilla caramelised onion flaky crust pie with thyme and dolcelata.

A Toasting Cocktail

A toasting cocktail catch up with my UK assistant for Vanilla Table Kathy Kordalis whilst sipping Prosecco and a Hemingway Daiquiri in Barnes, South London. Cheers!

Biscuiteers

Always something new and clever at Biscuiteers Baking Company! Biscuiteers make hand-iced chocolates, biscuits and cakes in London. www.biscuiteers.com

Salem, Massachusetts

Greetings from Salem, Massachusetts! A great setting to meet, chat and present Vanilla Table aboard the Beaufort Princess cruising Gloucester Harbor to the wonderful book team launching Vanilla Table in the USA and UK!

Rei do Gado

A delicious dinner at the landmark Rei do Gado in the heart of San Diego's Gaslamp district. Cassio the "between shift" bartender (right) makes Caipirinhas learned from his Mum Isabel in Brazil. “It's the sugar stirred in just so” he told me. Manager Rose and team gave spot-on-service and the endless tastes of marinated roasted meat and salad bar offerings from crab legs, soups, Brazilian palm salad to chocolate chip cookies set in a classic 40's setting made for a most relaxing eve! www.reidogado.net

Vanilla Table Release in the USA & UK

EXTREME NEWS FLASH! Just announced! Vanilla Table official release date in the USA and the UK by Jacqui Small Publishing is March 19, 2015. Pre-order, purchase details and book signing events to come!

Keauhou Store 1919

A grocery store treasure high in the hills above Kona, Hawaii, the Keauhou Store opened in 1919 is a must visit stop during your next trip to Hawaii! Don't forget to try the pickled egg salad sandwich and a handful of freshly baked cookies. Aloha!

If you wish to read more about the stores history go to Keauhou Store.

James Beard Awards - A Fun Time Was Had!

Sherry Yard and me in NYC.

Chefs Rick Bayless and Elizabeth Falkner at Chefs Night Out in NYC.

Charles Phan and Sherry at Chefs Night Out.

Sherry Yard and husband Edward share a secret on the yellow (red) carpet!

Lifetime Achievement Award for Sirio Maccioni.

Mario Batali dancing for the press in his signature orange crocs.

The Mario Batali Foundation (MBF) and Books for Kids (BFK) have announced the opening of another Books For Kids library this fall in the Las Vegas, Nevada area.

Amanda Hirsh, Executive Director of Books for Kids. "Like the other Mario Batali Foundation libraries, this new library with Books for Kids will give underserved youth access to books and greater literacy resources, to help prepare them for school and for life. We are honored to continue this partnership with MBF as we further both of our missions to eradicate illiteracy in this country."

James Beard Awards

2013 Daniel Boulud soirée with Sherry Yard and Elizabeth Falkner the day before the James Beard Awards. I am ready for the NYC visit of the 2014 James Beard awards and posting the latest news for New Zealand's Dish Magazine!

News flash!

Vanilla Table has got a publisher in the UK and the USA! The gracious Jacqui Small will publish in both regions under the Aurum Publishing Group. Vanilla Table will be distributed in the USA by the lovely group at Quarto Publishing, also a part of Aurum Publishing. 

Boston Ballet Reunion

Boston Ballet Alumni, Bernie Gardella took the Études photo that inspired my Dancing Chef logo. It was great to be back to thank her at the Boston Ballet reunion!

Sherry and Duff

Sherry Yard and Natasha handing out Sherry's divine cookies from the Helms Bakery Truck at LA Magazine Best Chefs event in front of her new Helms Bakery opening later this year!Duff Goldman at Fancy Foods Show in San Francisco with his recipe from Vanilla Table!

Curious Cat

Look even Mick's curious nature has him buried in the pages of Vanilla Table!

 
“For he will do As he do do And there’s no doing anything about it!” ― T.S. Eliot, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats