Little Weekend Cookout

I’ve been very fortunate in my few weeks of living in HKG (the last 8 months didn’t count as I didn’t make any friends since I was perpetually in transit and not living my life for myself) I made a handful of new friends who share the same obsession for food and wine as me. V’s foodies HQ is her very own fully equipped private kitchen where little groups of friends go to cook and have dinner. I’m next in line to cook a full Singaporean menu come November… I haven’t done this in years, although P and I use to throw Asian dinner parties all the time in Treviso.

Last week, we did an Italian inspired menu, L’s slow-cooked barolo ribs unfortunately was undercooked! There was more than enough food to go round. I made bruschetta, I’ve done quite a fair bit of canapés and find it almost theraputic, so that was fun and effortless. I’m not good with recipes from books and have always been taught to cook intuitively since I was a kid.

bruschetta

Porcini mushroom soup and bread with mascarpone, rosemary and thyme.
herbs and cream

S made polenta taragna from her region, basically polenta with lots and lots of cheese and butter—it’s a no fail formula of tasting amazing.
making polenta

polenta

This saturday, we’ll be making strawberries risotto that I learnt from my Bergamo friend N living in Treviso. Another Italian friend will bring raddichio rosso for a Trevigiani risotto. Memories from my days living in Treviso! Will share the risotto recipe after Saturday, I’ve experimented with red and white wines and Sichuan pepper really works better than ground black pepper with this one. I’m tagging along with the Italian ladies on this one.

Bruschetta Recipe
Well roughly.. always taste as you cook to get that right.

6 or 7 ripe plum tomatoes
2-3 cloves garlic, chopped finely
6-8 fresh basil leaves, chopped.
Salt and freshly ground black pepper and sea salt to taste
1 fresh baguette
1/4 cup olive oil

Top with Gruyere cheese

I think a really good olive oil makes all the different. Thank god for city super and Great supermarket that sells dream imported products.

3 Comments

  1. alex
    Oct 15, 2011 @ 06:19:26

    hey! what’s the recipie for the polenta can? I’ve been wanting to try polenta the traditional way forever but havent had the time or the opportunity.

    Reply

  2. baobabs
    Oct 15, 2011 @ 18:36:09

    It’s quite simple, let me email you the recipe after first consulting some Italian girlfriends. not for lazy people as there’s so much stirring involved, makes my arms tired.

    Reply

  3. A Brown Table
    Oct 17, 2011 @ 14:08:14

    Your Italian meal sounded like a fun time. Everything looks delicious!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

*