Cinnamon Apple Crisps

This post is short and sweet - quite literally!

Lately, the Boyfriend and I have been trying to eat a mostly Paleo diet (with the exception of a couple of cheat meals on date night) to improve our overall health and wellbeing. We have tried to eliminate almost all grains, dairy and processed food from our diet and are sticking to wholefoods as much as we can. But what do we do when at that sweet tooth just can't be ignored?

Make Cinnamon Apple Crisps!

These are so simple and super delicious - plus they last a few days so we can save them for when we really need a treat.

Instructions:
1. Core your apples and slice them up as thin as you can get 'em then sprinkle them with cinnamon.
2. Pop them in the oven on the lowest heat you can (I cook mine on 40C degrees) for about 2 hours.

Mine might not look the best but they taste amazing and are a great snack to nibble on instead of reaching for some processed or overly sugary.

The Paleo Cafe

Recently I encountered a few health problems and this, combined with my boyfriend's new-found love for crossfit, has seen the two of us slowly adapt to following a Paleo lifestyle (for more information on Paleo scroll to the bottom of this post).So it was with much excitement that we waited for The Paleo Cafe to open up in Brisbane last month (we had visited the Cairns location earlier in the year and simply loved it).

Our anticipation for lifestyle-friendly food reached fever pitch when I clocked the new cafe - with its signature orange and white decor - opening just down the road from us at Paddington (look out for a few new franchises set to open up around Brisbane in coming months).

The week it opened I went twice in two days and I'm happy to admit I was one of the many people lining up again last weekend for a table.

Eggs and Avocado on Toast with  side of Nitrate Free Bacon

The food is simple but delicious!

To date I've enjoyed the following:

- Eggs and Avocado on Paleo Toast with the addition of nitrate free bacon - this was yummmmmy! Completely no fuss but still full of flavour - and the bacon tastes amazing and contains no harmful additives or preservatives. Win!
- Pistachio & Coconut Crusted Ocean Fish served with seasonal greens - this meal was delicious. I absolutely adored it and will definitely be going back again and re-ordering it. It was a great size for lunch and the combination of pistachio and coconut was really light and complimented the fish perfectly.

The boyfriend tried the following and loved both of them:

- Caveman's Big Breakfast of free range eggs cooked to your liking served with sirloin steak, crispy bacon, pork sausage, wild mushrooms, roast cherry tomato, red onion and spinach on Paleo toast with Paleo tomato sauce
- Seared Tasmanian Salmon served with sweet potato and pumpkin mash, grilled asparagus spears and caper and lemon ghee. I can confirm the salmon was excellent, but perhaps not as amazing as my ocean fish.

Drinks wise I've tried the Breakfast smoothie, the Acai smoothie, an iced coffee and some chocolate banana smoothie thing - all non dairy and all very, very delicious.

The Caveman's Big Breakfast

Overall, I can safely say that The Paleo Cafe has already become my new local favourite and I am positive that I'll keep it in business for years to come. It is perfect for anyone with food intolerances (hello all you non-gluten and non-dairy warriors) and also for those who just love good grub.

Now if only they opened for dinner all my prayers would be answered...



If you're looking for more information on the Paleo Lifestyle some websites I found helpful include:
- Eat Drink Paleo (I also have this recipe book which is full of delicious and easy to make meals!)
- Paleo Diet Lifestyle 
- NomNomPaleo

Green Smoothie Love

Source: twopeasandtheirpod.com via Kirst on Pinterest

Green Smoothies are all the rage right now and I am a full-blown devotee. I can't think of a quicker, easier, or tastier way to get a huge hit of nutrients and the subsequent energy they deliver.

I have been having green smoothies for over a year but I recently completed the Simple Green Smoothies 30 day Challenge and it really pushed me to get more creative with what I put into my Smoothies.

Where previously I stuck to simply adding spinach to berry or banana smoothies, the challenge helped me to branch out and include a wider variety of fruit and vegetables into my concoctions including cucumber, kale, avocado, and even broccoli. The creative possibilities are endless! Throw in a peach or a mango, celery, frozen or fresh berries, peanut butter, parsley, chia seeds, natural yoghurt - any combination is possible but not all of them taste amazing so experiment and see what you like best.

If you're new to the idea of drinking your greens, I'd recommend you stick to a 2:2 fruit and vegetable ratio, but I personally aim for 1:3 ratio or fruit to greens or even no fruit at all to minimise the sugar. So what is my favourite green smoothie of all time you might ask?

Here it is!

Step 1: In your blender dump the following:

• 250ml Coconut Water (Or water or unsweetened Almond Milk if you prefer)
• Juice of one whole lime
• 1/2 Cucumber chopped up
• 1 Large handful spinach
• 2 branches Kale (rip the leaves of the stalk)
• Handful of Mint
• One medium Banana (I normally peel them and freeze them to give the smoothie a better texture but you can use ice and a fresh banana if you want)

Step 2: Blend until smooth. A word of warning; Kale can be unpleasant if not blended properly so don't stop the action too soon.

Step 3: Sprinkle with chia seeds and enjoy!

Now while you look at all the delicious fresh ingredients above, and day dream about amazing smoothie combos I'm off to make one for tomorrow.

xx Kirst

Notes: Want more information on Green smoothies and juices? Check out Lorna Jane's Move, Nourish, Believe website here.
Note: Simple Green Smoothies are running another Green Smoothie Challenge for the Month of April so why not head to their website and sign yourself up! You won't regret it for a second.

Vote for ME!

A lovely friend of mine just informed me that I've made the Top 10 in The Urban List's Best Brisbane itineraries! GO me! This was something I did a while ago and I then forgot about it so it was a huge surprise when her email popped into my inbox this morning.

If you've got a chance please PLEASE, vote for my itinerary as the best and you could score yourself a $200 voucher to River Bar and Kitchen.

Look at how Ahhhhmazing it is! You want that voucher don't you? Get voting here and here's to good luck  for both of us in the competition :)

All photos courtesy of Riverbar and Kitchen

In search of a good brew

Since Archive Beer Boutique opened its doors a couple of years ago, the Brisbane "beer scene" has really come into its own.

No longer is a Corona with lime considered the beer of choice and although I'm still quite impartial to that light mexican flavour, it makes me ridiculously happy that there is more choice in both beer and in bars around Brisbane these days.

I'm going to warn you here, I'm no beer aficionado but I do like to enjoy a glass or two of golden goodness in the company of friends on occasion, and so I was a teeny bit excited when I finally crossed another two places off my 'Resolu-fun list on Friday night.

Beers at Tippler's Tap - Image from Brisbane Devoured

First up was Tippler's Tap in Newstead. I just knew I would love this place after receiving a cheeky, comical response from the Owner/Manager when I enquired about bringing a Birthday cake for the boyfriend (in case you're wondering they don't charge cakeage).

Tippler's looks like nothing from the street, but when you walkthrough those doors you're immediately transported to The Rockies. Decorated like an American log cabin and offering up traditional favourites like chicken wings, pork sliders and onion rings the food at Tippler's Tap is reasonably priced and extremely tasty. We also had the Corn on the Cob and Ploughman's Lunch both were top notch. The only real negative observation was the lack of Gluten free options available which made it difficult for some members of our party.

Onion Rings at Tippler's Tap - Image from Brisbane Devoured

The beer at Tippler's Tap is of course the standout selling point. There is sooooo much to choose from! The staff are super friendly and very knowledgeable in relation to the huge range of local and imported beer on offer and our group certainly did our best to order a plethora of different beers over the few hours we were there. We'll definitely be returning to sample some more Stone and Wood on tap in the near future.

Just a short walk from Tippler's Tap is the recently opened Green Beacon Brewing Co. We headed here for a few beers and a change of scenery and a change it was. The beer was great and set up of long bench style tables in the brewhouse was cool but after the cosiness of Tippler's Tap, Green Beacon seemed a little bit...clinical. The staff were equally friendly and knowledgeable about the beers on offer but the atmosphere didn't win me over 100%. Still the brews could not be faulted and in my opinion you should give Green Beacon a go and support a great local business.

Green Beacon Brewing Co - Image from The Weekend Edition

Green Beacon Brewing Co - Image from ArchitectureAU

Next up in the great Brisbane Beer Adventure? Scratch Bar and Bitter Suite...stay tuned

P.S. I was a bad blogger and didn't take any photographs on Friday night so please forgive me and note my acknowledgments.

 

Ortiga

Ortiga is one restaurant that has been on my 'to do' list for a long time. I have heard non-stop rave reviews about it since it opened in 2010 but had never allowed myself to step inside for fear of temptation (let's just say I live on a 'beer budget' and expensive spanish restaurants don't often factor into it).

So it was with great excitement and surprise that on Friday night, my boyfriend spoiled me with an amazing Birthday surprise dinner, downstairs at Ortiga, accompanied by Ina and her man MOC.

The evening began with some champagne and cocktails at neighbouring Lady Lamington (they have jugs of Pimms people - jump on it!) before my companions tried to convince me that I got all dressed up in my fancy girl outfit to grab some cheap dumplings and beer here.

ALARM BELLS! I was not buying it. Dumplings, whilst tasty, are not really my thing and honestly after the boyfriend encouraged me to wear a pair of my ridiculously-amazing-but-painfully-uncomfortable-special-occasion shoes, I knew we were going somewhere a little more upmarket (no offence to the hardcore dumpling lovers).

Anyway, we ended up downstairs in a cosy little corner of Ortiga where we were greeted by our waitress who recommended we order either 8 small dishes between the 4 of us or 5-6 small dishes and one large dish. We went with the latter and ended up with way too much food so if you haven't been and are thinking of going perhaps just keep that in mind.

This is what we ate:

Small dishes

• Queso fresco de cabra con puerros – House made fresh goats cheese with leeks and PX. 
• Selection of Jamones: Jamón ibérico de Bellota, Paletilla ibérica de Bellota and Serrano reserva (20gm). 
• Conejo en escabeche - Escabeche of Macleay Valley farmed rabbit. 
• Croquetas (Jamón). 
• Kingfish, apple, fennel and vinegar. 
• Gambas with samphire, guernicas and hen’s egg. 

Photo courtesy of Ortiga

Ina's gluten free option while the rest of us chowed down on croquetas

Large dish

1. Whole slow cooked lamb shoulder with patatas a lo pobre and lemon puree 

Looks ugly, tastes superb.

Accompaniments to the lamb

Standout dishes for me were the croquetas, the Selection of Jamones, the Gambas (prawns) and of course the super succulent, melt in your mouth lamb. I will say that whilst not everything we ordered was memorable or perhaps lived up to expectations, all the dishes were beautifully presented and of amazing quality.

The restaurant layout is beautiful and relaxed with lots of exposed beams and an uninterrupted view into the kitchen (where the chefs all looked quite relaxed to be honest). It really is a beautiful space that allows for intimate dining and maximum enjoyment. Overall, the food at Ortiga was amazing, the service was attentive but not intrusive and the general experience was lovely.

Photo courtesy of The Courier Mail

It was a really special Birthday surprise and I hope that we will return...fingers crossed we win the lotto soon!

On a side note, if you are trying rabbit for the first time as I was, perhaps try the meat before biting into the liver...it was a little difficult for me to get past that...um..texture...and...ahh...flavour.

Adventures...in Food and Drink

On this last day of January, I am beginning to wonder how all those New Year’s resolutions so passionately declared a month ago are coming along.

Have you quit the Kardashians and started training for that Marathon yet? Perhaps you gave up sugar or promised to floss your teeth more.

If you’re doing well and sticking to your resolve I offer you my warmest congratulations…go you! But, if you’ve crept quietly back onto the couch with a tub of Haagen-Das and a sheepish grin I’ve got a proposition for you.

Why not make a new resolution. A fun one. We’ll call it a ‘Resolu-fun’. I guarantee it will be easy to keep because I did this on good old December 31^st and you know what? I’ve kept it going for a whole month now.

Wow! I can hear you exclaim (Ok more like ‘Meh who cares’) but still I bet you’re curious as to what this crazy resolu-fun is. Am I right?

Image courtesy of Kettle and Tin

Ok here it is: My 2013 Resolu-fun is to visit/try 50 places I haven’t been to in Brisbane this year.

That’s a new Bar, Club, Restaurant or Café almost every week. Ok so it’s not the cheapest of ideas but it’s certainly a lot of fun! This decision was spurred by the sheer number of new joints popping up all over Brisbane and the significant number of places I’ve just never made it to (living at Paddington just a short walk from the amazingness that is Anouk makes a girl lazy).  

I realised that although my love for Kettle and Tin’s corn beef hashcakes is deep and the nights I’ve spent with Black Bear Lodge will never be forgotten…as a young woman I really should be playing the field more. Call me hussy if you will but I’m going to get all over town and have a bloody good time doing it.

In the month of January alone I’ve already knocked off 8 places on my ‘to-do’list (yes 8!) and I have another 2 lined up for the next week which makes me well ahead of schedule. I’m going to blog about everywhere I visit from now on and I’d encourage you to let me know your favourite cafes or bars that might not be on my list (see the list below) and deserve a visit.

I’m sure many of you are regulars at some of the places listed and will be shocked that I’ve not yet walked through their doors but like I said, living within walking distance to some of Brisbane’s best food makes you lazy.

So I’m going to continuing my resolu-fun this weekend and will be venturing out ACROSS THE RIVER to breakfast at Sourcer Grocer with my partner in blogcrime Ina…and you know I might pop into Sixes and Sevens one night at New Farm even though I’ve already crossed it off the list…I’m kind of crazy  like that.

We’ll let you know how we get along with the hipster crowd and amazing beverages…

What do you think of the Resolu-fun and how are your regular News year’s resolutions going? Are you going to make a resolu-fun for yourself? I’d love to hear your resolu-funs for 2013 so don’t be shy now!

No. Name Visited

1 Alchemy

2 Aria

3 Bitter Suite

4 Botanica - Cross it off the list!

5 Brunswick Social

6 Bunker

7 Champ Bar and Kitchen

8 Chouquette

9 Cove

10 Dandelion and Driftwood

11 Fourth Wall - Cross it off the list!

12 Foxy Bean

13 Green Beacon Brewhouse

14 Hampton's Home Living

15 Harajuka Gyoza

16 Iceworks

17 InCider Trading

18 Jazzcat

19 Jude

20 Kerbside - Cross it off the list!

21 Lady Marmalade

22 Moda  - Cross it off the list!

23 Mr and Mrs G - Cross it off the list!

24 Next Door Kitchen and Bar

25 Oh Hello

26 Ole

27 O'lea

28 Ortiga

29 Pintxo Spanish Taperia

30 Pony - Cross it off the list!

31 River Bar and Kitchen

32 Saabi  - Cross it off the list!

33 Scratch Bar

34 Sixes and Sevens - Cross it off the list!

35 Sky Room

36 Sourced Grocer

37 Sparrow and Finch

38 Stokehouse

39 Super Whatnot

40 The Burrow

41 The End

42 The Hideaway

43 The Little Panda Bar and Kitchen

44 The Loft

45 The Survey Co

46 The Walrus Club

47 Tiplers Tap

48 Two Trees

49 Vinyl

50 Willow and Spoon

51  ???

52  ???

53  ???

54  ???

55  ???

56  ???

57  ???

58  ???

59  ???

60  ???

Oh and in case you’re wondering, I’m leaving 10 spots free on the list (to make it 60 new places) for digs that open up throughout the year.

xx K