$2 Steaks at the Fox

I got a text message the other day telling me about $2 steaks at The Fox.

Yep, that's right - $2 for a steak on Sundays, so long as you buy a drink at the same time. You'll pay another princely $1 for chips, salad or sauce. And if you're not into red meat, then there's always the option of reef fish for $2 instead.

Sounds like it's worth a try at the very least. I've read a few tweets that the steaks aren't too bad. How could you complain for $2? It would still be cheaper than buying a packet of chips at any other pub in Brisbane. If anyone has tried one, let me know. I haven't been over there to try one yet.

The Fox Hotel
Corner of Melbourne & Hope Streets
South Brisbane 4101
P - 07 3844 2883
E - admin@thefox.com.au
W - http://www.thefox.com.au/

Paniyiri Postponed

Due to the crazy amounts of rain we've been having this week, unfortunately Paniyiri has been postponed until 4 & 5 July 2009. Hopefully the sun will have come out by July!

In the meantime, we'll have to wait a little longer for all that delicious Greek food, but it sure beats sloshing around in the mud.

Paniyiri
Saturday 4 July 2009 & Sunday 5 July 2009
Musgrave Park and The Greek Club
Edmondstone Street
South Brisbane 4101
W - http://www.paniyiri.com/

Paniyiri

Well its Paniyiri time again - this weekend actually. If you've never tried any Greek food, wine, ouzo or beer and you're sitting around twiddling your thumbs on the weekend, then get on the next bus to South Brisbane and go to Paniyiri.

Paniyiri is one of my favourite food events in Brisbane. It's always such a great day. You get in, wander around the food stands, grazing on delicious tastes of grilled octopus, galaktoboureko (a custard filled filo pastry that I would happily break my gluten free diet for), souvlaki, haloumi and dolmades. While you're downing the beautiful Greek food, pick up a Mythos beer or four and in no time you'll be having a fantastic afternoon.

As you can probably tell, I'm a big fan. Every year I go, it reminds me of the amazing generosity of the people in Greece, and the terrific food we gobbled down almost everywhere. If the food doesn't do it for you, there are usually all kinds of entertainment (music, dancing, olive eating competitions), rides and even fireworks.

Tickets this year are $7, but kids are free. You can read my post on last year's festivities here. I even got a photo with a couple of the Queensland Roar players last year, so it was a great day all round. This is one Brisbane food event you shouldn't miss.

Paniyiri
Saturday 23 May 2009 & Sunday 24 May 2009
Musgrave Park and The Greek Club
Edmondstone Street
South Brisbane 4101
W - http://www.paniyiri.com/

Kalleske Wine Dinner

Before my last trip to the Barossa Valley (in 2004), I did a bit of research and sent an email to Troy Kalleske. At the time he was one of the up and coming young winemakers in the Barossa. I'd never met him before, but he was good enough to have us around to his house to taste the current vintage Kalleske wines that were in barrel at the time.

Since then, Kalleske wines have been on a stellar rise. They are widely recognised as some of the best wines coming out of the Barossa at the moment. Wineaway is hosting a Kalleske Wine Dinner this Friday (attended by Troy Kalleske), where you will be lucky enough to try a good selection of Kalleske wines, matched with food from Brent Farrell. The wines on tasting will be:

Kalleske Florentine Greenock Chenin Blanc 2008
Kalleske Clarry’s GSM 2008
Kalleske Moppa Shiraz 2007
Kalleske Old Vine Grenache 2007
Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2004
Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2005
Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2006
Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2007
Kalleske Greenock Shiraz 2009 (barrel sample)
Kalleske Johann Georg Shiraz 2007
Kalleske JMK Shiraz VP (Fortified) 2007

Tickets are $95 all inclusive and the night kicks off at 6.45pm. If you want a taste of the future of the Barossa, get along to Wineaway on Friday night. As luck would have it, I'm going to be away from Brisbane for the weekend.

Kalleske Wine Dinner
Friday 22 May 2009, 6.45pm
Wineaway
Unit 3, 276 Abbotsford Road
Bowen Hills 4006
E - email@wineaway.com.au
W - http://www.wineaway.com.au/

Gordon Ramsay at Sanctuary Cove

If you've been waiting for something ridiculously extravagant to spend your stimulus payment on, have I got the perfect event for you. The always entertaining Gordon Ramsay is coming to Sanctuary Cove in June to host a few lunches and dinners.


Prices start at $300 for a three course lunch, which includes wine and a gift bag apparently valued at $150. If you really want to go crazy, for $750 you get a three course lunch or dinner, a signed Gordon Ramsay book, a spot at a private cocktail party attended by none other than Mr Ramsay himself and a gift bag. That would still leave you with $150 that you could generously send off to Foodbank.

It's not entirely clear from the Ticketek website, but it sounds like you also get to watch him cook up the meals before you eat. After being lucky enough to eat at his three Michelin starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London a few years ago, I would love to go along, but it's too bit pricey for me. A special thanks to Stuart for the great photo of the chef in action.

Gordon Ramsay at Sanctuary Cove
12-14 June 2009
Hyatt Regency Sanctuary Cove
Manor Circle
Sanctuary Cove 4212
Tickets from Ticketek

Foodbank

Just the other day I caught an ABC story on Foodbank. I'd heard of Foodbank before, but had no idea just what an amazing job they did. If you're wondering what Foodbank is, here's the blurb from their website:

Foodbank Queensland is a non-denominational community supported, non-profit organisation which relies on the support of a large network of dedicated people who have a commitment to fulfilling the aims and objectives of Foodbank Queensland.

The concept of Foodbank Queensland is simple - to feed the country's needy by redistributing surplus food.

Food growers, manufacturers and processors produce quantities of food which, for various commercial reasons, cannot be sold. The products may be incorrectly labelled, have faulty packaging, be part of a trial run or are not produced to exact specifications.

It is estimated that as much as 20% of all food produced is unsaleable for a variety of reasons.
Increasingly, welfare agencies are involved in an on-going struggle to provide food relief to thousands of people who are dependant on food handouts to supplement their welfare benefits.

Foodbank Queensland is the link between these two groups. Foodbank provides an outlet to food companies for their surplus stock and at the same time, allows community support agencies to save time and resources in the solicitation of nutritious food.

I was stunned to see just how much food is donated to Foodbank because it is apparently "unsaleable". Especially at the moment, with many people suffering financially, Foodbank is doing a tremendous job. You can watch the ABC Stateline story on Foodbank here.

If you're interested in helping out Foodbank, you can make a donation through their website.

Foodbank Queensland
179 Beverley Street
Colmslie 4170
P - 07 3395 8422
E - foodbank@westnet.com.au
W - http://www.foodbank.com.au/

Irresistible Gluten Free Food Show

Ages ago the Coeliac Society sent me a brochure for the Irresistible Gluten Free Food Show, but I've only now got around to writing a post. Lucky I did, because it's on this weekend.

I've been in previous years and always found the show to be excellent. There are plenty of gluten free samples to try, and lots of stalls hand out freebies for you to take home.

This year Tobie Puttock is a special guest at the show, cooking up gluten free recipes that are sure to look better than what you or I usually whip up after a hard day at work.

If you're on a gluten free diet, do your best to drop in to the show over the weekend. It's a great way to realise just how much gluten free food is available.

Irresistible Gluten Free Food Show
9am to 5pm, Saturday 16 & Sunday 17 May 2009
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Corner of Merivale Road & Glenelg Street
South Brisbane 4101
W - http://www.glutenfreefoodshow.com.au/

MasterChef

So what does everyone think of MasterChef so far?

Here are my thoughts, after diligently watching it for most of the last two weeks:

• It seems compulsory to say "Yeah" at the end of most sentences - eg "You've really got to concentrate, Yeah?"
• Why is there a host? The three judges are more than enough to keep the show interesting
• Does it really need to be so strung out? I can't believe they managed to stretch out the voting the other night for a whole episode. I've decided only to watch MasterChef after its been taped, so I can skip through all the repeated bits either side of an ad break
• I wish I had entered
• Why does the starting time and length of the show seem to change every night? I can't keep track of when it's going to be on
• George is brilliant
• Why is Justine never shown in any footage? This is an outrage! Please send your protests directly to Channel Ten
• Is it just me, or does Linda think she is a young Cate Blanchett?
• I can't decide who I want to win yet. At the moment I like Sandra, Justine & Trevor

Anyway I hope it stays interesting. I think everyone is starting to realise just how competitive it's going to be. It's about time there was a decent food show on every night of the week.