Time flies faster with every passing year. I remember when ten minutes felt like an eternity, now a morning can disappear in a flash. It was just 12 months ago that this blog moved to its current home and in that time it has grown beyond my expectations. I’ve visited, eaten, shopped, cooked, written and photographed with most of my spare time this year, constantly thinking about food. Here are a few of my favourites, as well as a look back at the year that was, and what didn’t end up getting posted.
Most popular posts of 2009, clockwise from top left: Qoms persian love cake, homemade toasted muesli, Chocolate orange cake with orange blossom cream, Beetroot leaves.
- This year I had a love affair with stone fruit with recipes for summer, early autumn or anytime.
- I finally realised what Homer Simpson always knew - pork chops are amazing and got over my childhood dislike for Brussels Sprouts.
- The Daring Kitchen featured heavily this year and my favourite Bakers challenge was also my first challenge cheesecake
- Pikelet & Pie has stuck to the formula of mostly recipes with the occasional review, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t eat out. My best meals of 2009 were at Chat Thai, Mamak and Snakebean and I was blown away by deliciousness at Est and Quay.
- My favourite bakery cafe was definitely Black Star Pastry in Newtown. This was also my most popular review, and I would love one of their pies right now. I don’t need to say anything more about this place, just go.
- I don’t buy many cookbooks but my two favourite purchases of 2009 were, David Thompson’s Thai Food (Chicken Larp) and Neil Perry’s Balance and Harmony (Braised Brisket).
Despite the 112 posts of 2009 there are still many blog-worthy items that I have failed to tell you about. So here is a rundown of never before seen deliciousness.
01: 2009 started in Hanoi, I was blonde, there was brains and markets and peanut-free delicacies.
02: Missing my holiday, disliking my job saw February become Asian Restaurant month.Yum cha at Palace Chinese Restaurant provided unusual dumplings and great conversation. A feast at Mamak ended with cendol, and I found the best salt and pepper squid in Marrickville.
03: March was cooking at home, choko pickles, caramelised eschallots, the last of the tomatoes and a divine fresh fig and yogurt semifreddo which I could not find the words to describe.
04: April was dinner parties, pesach and chestnuts peeled and never eaten.
In May and June I went back to basics with simplicity and produce from Eveleigh markets, a wonderful undercover farmers market in my Sydney neighbourhood. Favourites were kale, rhubarb upside down cake and an obesity of haloumi. It was warming braises, dumplings, Bob Dylan’s meatballs (which you still may hear about) and teapot cocktails with lovely ladies at the loft in July. The ever-lovely Jen took me to Ayam Goreng 99 in August and we feasted on sate with mocha avocado shakes. Then I went to her house and was fed divine black sticky rice and durian ice cream – now there is a reason to stay in Sydney.
Carob cake, strawberries, opening week dinner at the Winery with the cutest waitress ever. Dinner at the Pastizzi cafe in Newtown with friends, now missed dearly. Mooncake from AB, kimchi at Simon’s wonderful Korean BBQ, and some smoked fish that I’ll tell you more about in a bit. In November I left Australia and went on a solo eating tour of Malaysia, chicken congee, roast chicken wings, char kway teoh and kuih kak all in Penang. December is Hanoi, more on that soon too.
My year has been bookended by Asian adventures, with Sydney in between. Who knows where 2010 will take me, hopefully continuing to eat, think, cook and live food. Thank you all for your support in 2009, and Happy New Year.
