Hilton Brisbane Masterclass Weekend - July 24 + 25, 2010

This years Hilton Brisbane Masterclass Weekend looks to be one well worth attending with a hive of activity and exciting presentations on subjects such as Queensland seafood, cocktails, chocolate and pastry and blending of spices. This year's event will be held on July 24 and 25.

The presenters are Chef Alastair McLeod (Bretts Wharf), Chef David Pugh, Wine Consultant Ben Edwards and respected food and wine commentator and author Peter Howard.

Queensland Catch - see and taste what 2 Queensland chefs, Nick Holloway and Russell Armstrong, cook up with an abundance of fresh Queensland seafood.

Martin Boetz (originally from Brisbane) from the famed Longrain will be flying in to present Asian Affairs with Luke Nguyen. This is set to be a great class with Thai vs. Vietnamese. I'm sure all will enjoy the dishes they will devise matched with the aromatic Granite Belt wines that so suit this style of food, presented by leading consultant and master of wine, Peter Scudamore-Smith.



Sunshine Coast based chef Matt Golinski from Noosa catering company The Rolling Dolmade, which produces a mezze range based on locally sourced ingredients,and is a regular on TV show Ready Steady Cook tackles the challenge of what bites pair with big rich wines in the Greatness of the Graveyard, Vintage Room session.



Being into desserts as I am, two things set to blow my head back are:
Chocolate On My Mind . A sensory and sensual journey through the wonderful world of chocolate from bean to bar, under the guidance of Lindt Master Chocolatier Thomas Schnetzler.
The other one would be the Passionate Patissier with Adriano Zumbo from Balmain. Indulge in his famous French macaroons or his luscious cakes and pastries lauded as unique in concept and execution.

Put it in your diary now...

Check out www.qldmasterclass.com for more information.

Freestyle Escape

Freestyle Escape is looking a picture with all this rain. Rainforest trees are in flower and both our dams are full. The wildlife is unbelievable: whip birds, kookaburras, ducks and many other birds in singsong. The fruit trees in the orchard are looking very happy indeed. The kaffir limes, tahitian limes, lemonade trees and kumquats are all fruiting. I picked the last of a bumper crop of tamarillos. Mmmm let me see..maybe panna cotta with tamarillo compote or tamarillo jam mmm yum.












Sally from Taste Trekkers cooked up a storm for our guests at the Escape house on Saturday night and then joined us at the Arthouse. For dinner, I did a yummy simple pasta with bacon and vine-ripened tomatoes and an awesome salad (using fresh herbs and nasturtium flowers from our herb garden) with a dressing of maple syrup, side of vinegar, olive oil and seeded mustard (delish). This and a few vinos..magic. Waking up to a beautiful morning I just had to make french toast with bacon and maple syrup for breakfast. Before you go getting jealous, we had to work it off weeding the herb garden which had become quite feral. The thought of which made Sally hightail it out of there straight after breakfast!

Cocktail Jugs at Freestyle!

Introducing Freestyle Tout's new Cocktail Jugs!

Choose (if you can) from 3 delicious flavours:

The Ladybird with Bird in Hand Sparkling Pinot Noir, Lemoncello, Chambord Liquer and lemonade topped with raspberries and strawberries


Pimms No 1 Classic Pimms served with ginger ale, lemonade and brimming with a garden of fruit


Twilight Saga with white wine, Creme de Peche, apple juice, a dash of soda, passionfruit, citrus and fresh lime.


YUMMMMMOOO. My favourite is the Ladybird.

Also on offer are yummy things to have with drinks after work...

The Cheese
Served with Lavosh & muscatels
Heritage Red Square (Tas)
Shadows of Blue (Vic)
Top Paddock Cheddar (Vic)
Willow Grove Brie (Tas)
Witches Chase Goats Cheese (QLD)

With drinks ...
Warm marinated olives
Salted Roasted Nuts N
Hot Buttered Popcorn
Trio of Dips with lavosh and toasted bread V
Chips with lime aioli & homemade tomato sauce V GF

See you soon...

Kim Walters Choice program Sponsors Morning Tea

Last week Freestyle Tout West End hosted a morning tea for the major sponsors of one of our favourite charities, the Kim Walters Choices program.

This is a great charity as it supports women diagnosed with breast cancer. The Choices program was started in 1998 as a legacy to Kim Walters to ensure her vision of a support network for women with breast cancer was achieved. The program provides support, counselling, information and therapies to both women and men with breast cancer and also their families free of charge. Unfortunately, the Choices program receives no ongoing government funding so relies solely on the generosity of the community.

This year's key events include:
Think Pink Week 19th-24th July
97.3FM Outside Broadcast 19th July
Bras by Stars 19th July
Think Pink Ball 24th July
Trivia Night TBC
Fashion Parade 22nd October
Race Day TBC
Melbourne Cup 2nd November

We encourage you to take part in the various sponsorship opportunities that are available for each of these events or host an event at your office or venue. Contact Linda Grieve for more information (details below)

Linda J Grieve
Funding Development Coordinator
Kim Walters Choices Program
PO BOX 499 Toowong QLD 4066
P: 3232 6228
F: 3232 6227
M: 0417 732 583
E: linda.grieve@uchealth.com.au
W: www.uchealth.com.au/thinkpink

i have just been reading Salvation Creek by Susan Duncan
her husband and brother both die of Cancer and then the Author herself gets Breast Cancer not only is it a fantastic read its also relevant to many....

regards
Martin

Freestyle Happenings

Wine 101 at Freestyle Tout Emporium
Join us for an evening of bubbles from around the world on Wednesday March 17, 6.30pm for a 7pm start. $30 per person includes wine and canapes.
RSVP essential: 3252 0214. Spaces limited so book now.
Next month: Explore the differences between Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris. Enquire now: 3262 3077.

Book Club
Join the Freestyle Tout bookclub and meet others who are passionate about good books and great food.



The next book club is on Wednesday April 7, 6.30pm at Freestyle Tout West End. Also on the night, we'll be serving a 2-course dinner of recipes from the book with a glass of wine for $30. Bookings essential: 3255 3288
This month's book is Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran, an enchanting tale of family, friends and renewal with a taste of something truly magical.

Last month's book club was fabulous, everyone enjoyed the book Lunch in Paris by Elizabeth Bard and the dinner of recipes from the book was sensational and consisted of Savoury Cake with bacon, chervil and figs, Wild Salmon with dill and cucumber salad, Duck Breast with blackberries and Potato and Green Bean Salad with pastis vinaigrette. Then a little treat of raspberry sorbet drizzled with Cointreau and onto dessert which was tastes of Mini Almond Cakes, Yogurt Cake and Individual Molten Chocolate Cakes. So good that everyone has already rebooked. We're all looking forward to a Persian feast with recipes taken from Pomegranate Soup!

Young and the Restless Nights
Pop in after work on a Monday at Emporium or Tuesday at West End with a girlfriend or 3 to share a pizza and salad over a glass of bubbles for $18 each. This is your night to catch up on the weekends goss or your latest fictional hearthrob. May we suggest You or Someone Like You by Chandler Burr, The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite by Beatrice Colin or The Story of a Marriage by Andrew Sean Greer.

Exhibiting Artists
Steph Stewardson (top) and Joannah Underhill (bottom) are exhibiting at Freestyle Tout Emporium throughout March...




...AND Amanda Krantz (top) and Cate Collopy (bottom) are exhibiting at Freestyle Tout West End.




Kate French sculptures on show!
www.katefrench.com.au

When you next venture to Melbourne, try out these

The new Movida in Bourke Street, Melbourne is worth checking out (as is the original Movida and Movida next door). This new one is on a rooftop and a great space, have a casual drink outside in the bar or venture into the restaurant for fantastic Spanish tastes. Staff are very knowledgeable on both food and wine.
www.movida.com.au

Breakfast or lunch at Richmond Hill Cafe is always a must when you're in Melbourne. Check out their website for food and wine events ie. cheese and beer matching, Bastille evening, discover Spain evening or Stephanie Alexander's garden companion dinner.
www.rhcl.com.au

Another new venue on the dining scene is Cumulus Inc. Both food and service are fantastic. Great space. Breakfast, lunch or dinner is well worth a look and is definitely a place to try.
www.cumulusinc.com.au

Bar Lourinha is also a must if you are in Melbourne. Matt and Jo are fantastic hosts and the ambience and food are sensational.
www.barlourinha.com.au

Pop into Koko Black. Amazing array of chocolates. Venture upstairs and try out one of their sinful Belgian hot chocolates blending full cream milk with cream and 60% dark Belgian chocolate. Also available in chili, chocolate mocha and cinnamon.
www.kokoblack.com

Another one to check out if you are a chocolate fiend is Ganache Chocolate.
www.ganache.com.au

Also of note if you are a chocolate fiend, there is Chocoholic Tours.
www.chocoholictours.com.au

New kid on the block Coda Bar and Restaurant is definitely worth checking out. This basement restaurant has a great feel both with decor and ambience. Another restaurant specialising in small tastes, this time with mostly Asian twist. The spanner crab, galangal, roasted chili and lime betel leaf and the roasted spring bay scallop rocked my boat.. yummo.
www.codarestaurant.com.au

The Cupcake Bakery..I'm forever amazed with the popularity of the cupcake since Sex and the City. On this occasion I tried the Red Velvet which is a red chocolate mixture topped with a wicked cream cheese icing..mmm nice, unusual, different...
www.thecupcakebakery.com.au

Longrain is one of my favourites in both Sydney and Melbourne, the best of the best Thai food. I love the communal tables and sharing great food.
www.longrain.com

One of my favourite bars in Melbourne is Madame Brussels, run by Miss Pearls - animal trainer. Located on top of an old building with a deck and views of Church spires, trees and inner city buildings. Great cocktails and punches by the jug with naughty names or Pimms. Staff all sassy and camp it all up in little tennis outfits or similar so you feel like you really are at a garden party. Park benches and old English garden furniture, fake grass in the bar and the parlour make for a unique experience.
www.madamebrussels.com

Other bars to check out include Gin Palace, The Red Hummingbird, The Emerald Peacock, Supper Club, The Rooftop Bar and Alumbra.

Enjoy...