April Mildura Visit

Although I mentioned I was eager to return to Stefano's this visit, I was again, tight on time, so even better I spent more time with my dear family instead. I still had many culinary joys, the one most memorable: harvesting my parents backyard garden. It is still a very young garden, so the little that I harvested was a special batch.  

Mildura never fails to give me beautiful calm sunny days when I visit, a nice break from the windy grey days that Melbourne has been lately..

So back in Melbourne, I was to put my small harvest to so good use. As for all the bell chillies, they were blended with some garlic and salt then put in jars with some diced lemon to make a zingy sambal for everyday use. I came across a Nonna selling some passata in beer bottles at the Sunday Market, so pasta time it was, I made some veal and pork polpette. My polpette consisted of veal and pork mince, fresh bread crumbs, parsley, grana padano and egg. I bought some fresh pasta from David Jones Food Hall, as Donninis was too far and I was too late to get there in time.

                        

Short Visit to Mildura

Over my short visit to Mildura we decided to have a light lunch at Stefano's Cafe Bakery. I didn't have enough free time to go have dinner at his restaurant, will try and make some time next trip back. 

Overall I would say we had a pleasant lunch. The service definitely needs a total overhaul, but wasn't so bad that we left disgruntled. Let's just say I'll be heading back when I return to Mildura in a few weeks to see what they have for lunch! 

Doben chose a better dish than mine as always - Moroccan lamb with couscous - an absolute delight at every mouthful. I really loved the combination of the couscous, with the braised lamb, the yoghurt and tart tomato chutney. Would go back to eat this, but their menu changes daily!

My slightly average stuffed fritto misto of eggplant and red capsicum, still with a lot of flavour, but probably could have been better if it was freshly cooked..

I made some Sarma for my Tata's 80th Birthday. Whole sauerkrauts are difficult to buy in Mildura (let alone anywhere?) unless you have some stored in your garage, so instead I just par-boiled the whole cabbage leaves so the leaves could be rolled. Obviously the sour taste of the sauerkrauts was absent but I was pleased with the result. My filling included a mix a veal and pork mince, garlic, onion, parsley, paprika, rice and egg.

Final product - Nana and Tata were very pleased :) 

And here are some green beans that my mum's friend had picked the same day we cooked them. From plant to mouth in less than 5 hours - that's what it's all about.