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Cooking at La Varenne

By Tonya|2014-01-23T19:08:50+11:00January 23rd, 2014|0 Comments

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Tonya’s Musings

Chocolate – how to temper it and why it is important to do so
Ras el hanout – the magical Moroccan spice blend
Walnut and onion bread
Mandarin and Pistachio Flourless Cake
Wonderful emails from happy class participants bring a lot of joy to hearts

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An unusual visitor! Sunday night, I had a lovely

An unusual visitor!
Sunday night, I had a lovely dinner with some friends in a new Noosa restaurant called Peli’s Noosa. When visiting Noosa for dinner, I always stay overnight with my lovely friend Max. Next morning, we always get up early , Max goes off to the gym and I return home ready to start my ‘work’ day. After I unpacked the car and was getting organised in my office, I glanced over the balcony, and saw this huge ’crocodile’ like animal, sunning himself on the edge of my pool, and under the protective netting! I was a bit shocked as this had not happened before! By the way, I did realise it was not a crocodile!! I thought it was a big goanna, which we do see here from time to time.
What did surprise me, was that he seemed to feel quite at home and relaxed lounging around my pool. He must have sensed my presence because he slowly turned around, and quietly slid over the side of the pool to the ground. From there he lollopped through the garden and eventually meandered slowly off into the rainforest below. My friend, Julia, thinks he might be a Lace Monitor which the second largest lizard in Australia. And it can reach up to two metres in length! My visitor looked about two metres long.
When I showed my French friends down the road the photo, Daniel said he was sure it was the same lace monitor that visits his garden. Plus, he said that at one stage, they had nested in the garden laid some eggs, so there could be quite a family of them.
I’m happy with all of that as long as they stay well away from my house, the courtyards and pool. There is occasionally some excitement here, in the animal department, otherwise, it is mostly quiet here in the countryside! #wildlifeatkureepla #lacemonitor #kureelpawildlife #unexpectedvisitor #cookingonthebayatkureelpa #lacemonitorlizard #sunshinecoasthinterland

At Kureelpa, my early morning walks are always suc

At Kureelpa, my early morning walks are always such a different experience. I am miles from a beach, in the heart of the hinterland countryside, quite the opposite to where I live in St Kilda. I need to leave home about 6 or 6.30am before it gets too hot. On the road the other day there were a few dead cane toads after all recent the storms, and a small dead snake. On the brighter side, opposite my home there are the cows grazing in the paddocks, there are many kookaburras, which are a favourite of mine, plus many other birds I do not know! Plus I see the occasional huge hare lolloping across my path….not a favourite for the framers and us gardeners. Walking along under these lovely blue skies, seeing the colourful plants and trees in the gardens and our special Land for Wildlife Landcare bushland acreage reserved in it’s original natural state of forest, sets my mind for a really good working day. #cookingonthebayatkureelpa #morningwalkincountryside #kureepla #wildlifeinkureelpa#sunshinecossthinterland #goodstarttotheday #workingatkureelpa #cookingclassesmelbourne #cookingclassdates #cookingclassmelbourne #cookingclassesmelbourne #cookingclassdates2025

Sunday’s cooking class was my program called Coo

Sunday’s cooking class was my program called Cook Real Food Healthy Lifestyle Low Carb Healthy Fat Keto cooking class….there is so much information given out in this class explaining the program, plus excellent references sources given, and then all the recipes for the food we cook in class and the food we eat at the end! It is a great day full of learning, cooking and dining on very tasty, flavoursome food which keeps you well sated and happy! The main course was a delicious lamb rump, coated with a herb and seed, spicy rub we make in class, and served with a herbed butter and lamb jus made with the lamb bones and stock, a roasted eggplant and walnut ‘salad’ with pomegranate seeds, plus herbed and balsamic roasted tomatoes with basil. We started with a luscious cold, flavourful gazpacho soup, seed crackers, a beetroot dip with feta, and a lemon ricotta bake. Dessert was chocolate lace ‘tuilles’ with berries and lashings of cream. Very happy cooks left after the class with a new start to the way they cook and eat! #ketorecipes #ketolifestyleforlife #healthyeating #healthyfoodcookingclass #cookrealfoodcookingclasses #cookingclassesforhealth #ketocookingclassmelbourne #cookingonthebaycookingclasses #cookingonthebaycooksketo #cookingonthebaycooksrealfood

It was another busy weekend at Cooking on the Bay

It was another busy weekend at Cooking on the Bay with a Spanish class which cooked the paella in the sunshine on the balcony plus Catalan spicy topped mussels, Manchego sheep cheese croquetas, pimento marinated octopus salad which is a favourite of mine , a fabulous paella mixta with saffron ailioli and the tarta de Santiago de Compostella Almond torte with cranberry jelly and cream… #cookingonthebaycookingclasses #cookingclassesmelbourne #spanishcookingclassesmelbourne #cookingpaella #cookingonthebalcony #spanishcuisine

This morning I woke to this beautiful sunny day; s

This morning I woke to this beautiful sunny day; such a great contrast to the storm, rain, hail and wind from last night. #kureelpa #sunshinecoasthinterland #backtosunshine #cookingonthebayatkureelpa

After arriving here at Kureelpa on Tuesday in beau

After arriving here at Kureelpa on Tuesday in beautiful sunshine, yesterday afternoon the sky went black and we had a huge storm with these large hailstones pelting the roof, the loudest I have ever heard and it continued for a very long time. Today, there is beautiful sunshine again. Plus a large cleanup to do.#stormandhail #stormonsunshinecoast #sunshinecoasthinterland #sunshinecoaststorm #stormykureelpa #stormynights

From the Mediterranean-Touch of Spice! A few more

From the Mediterranean-Touch of Spice! A few more photos including Turkish dessert almond and date Torte, pissaladiere, za’atar and herb tomatoes, eggplant rollatini… I think jet lag has popped into my posts!! #cookingclassmelbourne #cookingonthebaycookingclasses #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneanfoodexperience #melbournecookingclasses

To capture more of the cooking moments from the we

To capture more of the cooking moments from the weekend classes I thought I should post these extra photos. So many photos are taken on the day. It is hard to select the best! #cookingonthebaycookingclasses #cookingclassmelbourne #melbournecookingclasses #italiancookingclass #cookingisfun #melbournecooking

With the end of the year so close, the cooking cla

With the end of the year so close, the cooking classes are filling up with bookings, which is wonderful after my recent time away in France. Last weekend we cooked ‘around the Mediterranean’ with the Mediterranean - Touch of Spice cooking class and the Italianicious - Cooking with Passion cooking class. And they certainly did cook with a great deal of passion and zest! They were lively with lots of laughter and great cooking as is typical of the Mediterranean way of life which Centres around the love of good food, generosity, spirit and warm hospitality. The Cooking on the Bay kitchen was definitely demonstrating this love of food in a warm, happy hospitable environment with these very happy cooks! #cookingonthebaycookeryschool #cookingonthebaycookingclasses #mediterreancookingclass #melbournecookingclasses #cookingwithlove #cookingwithkids #mediterraneandiet #mediterraneancookingexperience #italiancookingclassesmelbourne #mediterraneancookingclassesmelbourne

This Saturday morning my cooking class is a Medite

This Saturday morning my cooking class is a Mediterranean class… and today in Melbourne it is a dreary, drizzly cool day quite unlike a typical , lovely Mediterranean warm sunny day with blue skies. We will be cooking some great Mediterranean food which will warm our hearts with some spice and those delicious Mediterranean flavours of tomatoes, garlic, thyme, basil, rosemary, eggplant, fennel,, herbs and seeds, plus some of our dukkah and labneh. As Keith Floyd said in his Mediterranean book… ‘ cooking is a way of demonstrating your appreciation of nature and making a gift of kindness and love to those whose company you enjoy. The love of good food, generosity and hospitality is central to the Mediterranean way of life.’ This is what Mediterranean cooking is about and what I believe and practice in all of my cooking classes… food#cookingonthebaycookingclasses #mediterraneancookingclass #mediterraneanfood #mediterraneanhospitality #generosityofspiritbestwaytolive

The French cooking classes last weekend were jam-p

The French cooking classes last weekend were jam-packed with the cooking of wonderful food and were lots of fun! Here are some more tempting treats… the next French cooking classes and the last for the year are on Saturday 30 November and Sunday 15 December…. so book a place and prepare yourselves for Christmas feasting. www.cookingonthebay.com.au #frenchcookingclasses #frenchcookingclassesmelbourne #melbournecookingclasses #cookingonthebaycookingclasses #christmascooking

The weekend French cooking classes were a most app

The weekend French cooking classes were a most appropriate way for me to return to work after a wonderful six weeks travelling around France. We had the best two days of French cooking classes, one was French Desserts and the other a French Odyssey regional cooking class. Both groups were keen, good cooks and they all cooked great dishes for our lunchtime dining feast. One of the cooks on Sunday was young Leo, who at 14 held his own, and with his mother cooked an excellent crème caramel, nicely and tastefully decorated, a well seasoned and flavoursome duck liver pâté and our all-time favourite the Burgundian Comté cheese gougères. So remember those keen your cooks in your family need to be encouraged and allowed to experiment in your kitchens at home.

The menu was my classic menu for all first time cooks in each French class; after this first French class, usually of cheese soufflés, a salade composée of mixed greens, goats cheese, walnuts and pear, duck breast, cooked to perfection, and various desserts sometimes a crème brûlée or crème caramel, etc, the menu changes, to suit the group, plus with the seasons. So a highlight was the return of asparagus on the menu. We cooked asparagus crème petit pots as a vegetable side dish, and this can also double as a delightful entrée alongside, freshly steamed asparagus spears with a hollandaise sauce. The Comté and chorizo canelés are a surprise, as they are savoury and spicey, still with the caramelised and golden exterior and soft custard like inside. A perfect amuse bouche along with the gougères.

Desserts included a tart tatin with our puff pastry and a caramel sauce, profiteroles and crème pâtissière, passionfruit soufflés, crème Anglaise, meringue roulade with chocolate discs, pistachio cream, Turkish delight and berries, a crème caramel also with berries, Langue du chats and speculoos. There are always extra desserts to take home as well.
#cookingonthebaycookingclasses #cookingclassesmelbourne #frenchcookingclass #frenchcookingclassmelbourne #frenchfoodlovers

This photo, for me, is just picture perfect and i

This photo, for me, is just picture perfect and is one of my . It was taken very quickly from a bridge over the Canal de Garonne in Moissac on our way to dinner. We stayed on this canal some years ago with some friends and had a lovely few days so I guess it’s a very nice memory for me as well. Moissac is in Gascony, south west France . It is a very important town on the Camino route, especially noted for its beautiful Abbaye Saint-Pierre, the abbaye’s beautiful architecture, Cloisters and the monastic buildings surrounding it. #cookingonthebayinfrance #moissacfrance #canaldegaronne #moissac

It was a fabulous six weeks travelling in France.

It was a fabulous six weeks travelling in France. Some of it was spent in Paris, some in rural France and there were 12 days walking along the French Camino route from Le Puy en Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port. Although this distance is approximately 800 km we actually walked about 250 of it. The most picturesque paths were the ones we took so there was beautiful scenery in a peaceful countryside. I thought I would share a few of my favourite photos. From time to time I will post some more as there are many stories to tell.#cookingonthebayinfrance #frenchcamino2024 #viapodensis2024 #walkinginfrance #lechemindesaintjacquesdecompostelle #lepuyenvelay #saintjeanpieddeport #walkinginthefrenchcountryside

Saint Eustache church has a concert or organ recit

Saint Eustache church has a concert or organ recital every Sunday at 5pm…. We went 3 weeks ago and loved the organ recital, yesterday was a choral concert. The music and singing was beautiful and a wonderful end to the day. The church is glorious and is Paris’ second biggest after Notre Dame, and is was packed on both occasions. #sainteustacheparis #churchconcerts #churchchoirsinging #parisonsundays #cookingonthebayinfrance

My last night’s dinner, after the fabulous choir

My last night’s dinner, after the fabulous choir concert singing at Saint-Eustache church was at au Pied de Cochon, one of my favourite places to eat and right next to the church. .. and also Dehillerin! The oldest cookware shop in Paris where yesterday I purchased a few tools! I did not order a crepe Suzette but the table next to did and so the waiter entertained me with finishing off of the crepes and flambéing the Grand Marnier. He seems pretty happy about it! I choose an oeufs mayonnaise and delicious pork slow cooked trotter dish which came rolled in a light breadcrumb crust with tiny potatoes and sauted mushrooms … It tasted better than presented! #slowcookedpigtrotter#pigtrotters #aupieddecochon #oeufmayonnaise #cookingonthebayinfrance #crepesuzette #flambéing #crêpesuzette

Saturday night dancing in le Place Colette outside

Saturday night dancing in le Place Colette outside La Comedie Francaise…. It was a mild evening and people were out to enjoy the music and dancing…it gives you a special joy to see dancing in the streets.#parisdansing #cookingonthebayinfrance #parislastdays

This was the view that greeted me on my walk home

This was the view that greeted me on my walk home from dinner and the concert at Saint Eustache tonight … this is looking down my street, Rue de Richelieu, towards the Le Louvre . A beautiful location and what a sunset. Sadly I leave tomorrow after an amazing 6 weeks of learning, dining, touring, walking, pilgrimage, and cathedrals, churches crosses, cruficixes, plus l my wonderful fellow Camino pilgrims in our group on the ‘way’. A very memorable and remarkable journey . #cookingonthebayinfrance #parisisalwaysspecial #finaldayinparis #caminopilgrims #chemindecompostelle #cheminstjacques #parismylove

I am actually having a cafe creme at the Grande Ep

I am actually having a cafe creme at the Grande Epicerie across the road from
Le Bon Marche! It’s raining today and I need a coffee! This is an amazing huge food store …

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COOK REAL FOOD PROGRAM
FOUR HOUR HANDS ON CLASSES
FRENCH ODYSSEY
ITALIANICIOUS
MEDITTERANEAN
SPANISH CUISINE
MOROCCAN EXOTIC SPICES

Recent Posts

Chocolate – how to temper it and why it is important to do so
Ras el hanout – the magical Moroccan spice blend
Walnut and onion bread
Mandarin and Pistachio Flourless Cake
Wonderful emails from happy class participants bring a lot of joy to hearts

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