Welcome to another edition of the Foodie Files, this month I’m chatting to Sarah from Sarah Cooks! I have been following Sarah’s blog for a while now, but didn’t meet her until we headed out to Cobram Estate together. I’m excited to be featuring her here on the blog this month, and I’m sure you’re going to love following her if you’re not already!
Do you have a philosophy towards food?
My approach to food is simply to enjoy it! Life is too short to eat a meal you don’t enjoy. Whether you’re eating to treat yourself, to be healthy or for pure sustenance, I think it’s important to take the time to enjoy and appreciate the food you are eating. I try to follow this philosophy in life, and on my blog. I post a mixture of recipes – some healthy, some indulgent, always delicious.
What’s your favourite food memory?
I love the Chinese New Year meals that my mum cooks every year for our family dinner. She’s been cooking the same wonderful traditional Nyonya (Chinese Malaysian) dishes since I was a little girl – chicken curry, salted vegetable and duck soup, and loh bak. (That’s minced pork wrapped in bean curd skin and deep fried). So wonderful!
Do you have a go-to food of choice?
Potatoes. I love potatoes in all their forms and can eat a frankly ludicrous amount. Fried, roasted, mashed, steamed, boiled, gratin, baked – it’s all good!
What’s your favourite meal of the day?
I look forward to all meals, including snacks! But if I had to choose a favourite, I’d say breakfast. I love the ritual of starting the day by making myself something delicious and nourishing. And of course, instagramming it! My favourite breakfast is avocado toast (which will come as no surprise to anyone who follows me on Instagram). I like generous helpings of thinly sliced avocado on light rye toast, with lots of lemon juice, salt and pepper.
What’s the strangest food you’re ever eaten (and would you eat it again?!)
I suppose “strange” is a relative term; what one person finds exotic might be positively mundane for another! However, for me, one of the most unusual things I’ve ever eaten is a German delicacy called Bratwurstfilzl or Mett, depending on what part of Germany you’re in. It’s actually raw bratwurst filling, which you eat as a cold cut – spread onto bread, with a little paprika and raw onion sprinkled on top. The first time I tried it was 10 years ago, at a Christmas market in Deidesheim with my mother-in-law. I’d never tried raw pork before, and I tried it out of curiosity. I didn’t expect to like it, but I totally loved it! It’s become one of my favourite foods ever, and when we go to visit Germany, my in-laws always keep it in the fridge so I can have it as my first meal after landing.
If you were showing a visitor around town for a weekend where would be your must-eat destinations?
On the Friday night, we’d start with drinks and dinner at Harley House. They do awesome pisco sours and delicious Peruvian food! This place also has a great vibe – hidden down a flight of stairs in an alleyway. Very Melbourne. We’d then go for more drinks at the Lui Bar, on the 55th floor of the Rialto building, for excellent cocktails, table service, and gorgeous views of the city.
The next day, I’d take them for a proper Melbourne brunch, at Rustica Canteen in the city. (Their breads are fabulous and the eggs benedict are fantastic!) Then we’d pop around the corner for donuts at Short Stop. In my opinion, these guys are the best of all the fancy donut places in town.
I’m assuming we’d be too full for lunch, but we’d definitely do afternoon tea at Beatrix in North Melbourne. Nat bakes the most amazing cakes, and her cafe is so cute! I’d recommend the sour cream cocoa cake with chocolate cheesecake icing, the glim glam biscuits, the ricotta pie in polenta pastry, the Moroccan snickers tart, the apple hand pie…
We’d do a late dinner at Spice Temple, for well crafted regional Chinese food in a slick atmosphere. And great cocktails as well!
On the Sunday, if my imaginary visitor wasn’t sick of eating already, we’d have to get the chicken and waffles at Belle’s Hot Chicken. This dish is my current obsession!
Where can people follow your food (and other!) adventures?
My blog: http://www.sarahcooks.com.au
Instagram: @sarahcooksblog
Twitter: @sarahcooks
Facebook: Sarah Cooks Blog
I hope you enjoyed this Foodie Files chat with Sarah, aka Sarah Cooks!
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I Spy Plum Pie is Liz, an early 30s kiwi-born, Melbourne raised girl who is passionate about the environment and sustainability, food, exploring and learning new things. Join me on my journey to a happy, sustainable life!
Sarah
July 1, 2017 at 5:26 pm (7 years ago)Yay! Thank-you for featuring me! Was lovely to meet you at the Cobram Estate event! 🙂
xox Sarah
Sarah recently posted…Das Kaffeehaus, Castlemaine