WINDOW SHOPPING // FREEDOM & MOZI

 

Well it was a hot one in Sydney this weekend and it seems the hours spent outside are about to increase dramatically. Bust out the sunglasses because picnics, BBQ's and general splish splash by the pool are about to get a little brighter if the new summer range from Freedom is anything to go by. Today I have paired the colourful outdoor range with the flirty illustrated textiles of Mozi's new Tropicalia collection. Is it not just a match made in alfresco heaven?

1. Pear Cactus | 2. Hamilton Pot Stand | 3. Melamine Dinner Plates | 4. Macrame Pot Hanger | 5. Moloko Occasional Chair | 6. Pineapple Door Stop | 7. Tropicalia Scarf | 8. Pineapple Cushions | 9. Coin Purse | 10. Tropicalia Cushion | 11. Deck Chair | 12. Demijohn Vessel | 13. Pineapple Lantern | 14. Paper Napkins | 15. Colour Palette Tumblers | 16. Finger Cactus

STICKY BEAK // NICOLE RICHIE'S SUMMER SOIREE

For about the last 10 years there is one girl I have dreamt about switching lives with in a freaky-friday-esque style scenario. She is my style icon (post The Simple Life - let me get that straight), creator of fashion & accessories label House of Harlow, daughter of music royalty and all round totally cool chick - Nicole Richie. She epitomises fashion's 'contemporary boho' and now after reading her guide to dining alfresco on Domaine Home recently I can see she carries this relaxed eclectic styling through in both interiors and entertaining too.

Take a sticky-beak at the recently rennovated gardens of her Laurel Canyon abode which she unveiled with an intimate summer dinner party for Domaine. You can read all about it, along with a guide to shop Nicole's style and recipes for the amazing middle-eastern style feast here.

And FYI Nicole, i'd be more than happy to drop everything and jump on a plane for the next dinner party xx

Photo Credit: Justin Coit

cool kids: ms g's

By no means am I a restaurant critic, but when you find something this good you just can't help but want to share. A few months back the work girls got together for our not-regular-enough 'wine & dine' at the latest Merivale venture Ms G's in Potts Point (can Justin Hemmes ever put a foot wrong?)

As soon as you step foot in the door you can't help but absorb the 'hip' air. Hip decor (who else but Sibella Court), hip soundtrack, hip staff and hip menu: one that can only be described as modern asian share food. Too cool to take bookings, you can however wait for your table in the upstairs bar where you can sip on bubble-tea inspired cocktails in sealed cups with giant straws - the Good Morning Vietnam goes down a treat.

Food wise, most of the meals are designed to be shared and you really can't go past the pork belly or chicken katsu mini bánh mì, prawn toast with yuzu aioli, fried baby chicken with kimchi mayonnaise and last but not least Ms G's grilled corn on the cob with parmesan and lime.

Even for the sweet tooth, the Stoners Delight is a dessert best shared. Doughnut ice cream, mars bar slice, pretzels, peanut brittle and marshmallows all on the one plate may sound like someone raided the pantry of left overs but gee whiz the combination is amazing!

Pictures courtesy of Spicy Ice Cream 

nectar summer

Jen Altman is one amazingly cool cookie. Photographer, writer and mum to three seriously cute girls, Jen has just released her newest blog Nectar, aptly subtitled 'slice of life and rock n' roll'.  At Nectar Jen waxes lyrical about food and family, but my favourite part is the playlists that often accompany Jen's posts, matched to the food like an accompanying wine (see Jen's weekend playlist here).

The Turkish Prawn & Vegetable Kebabs with Grilled Watermelon Salad look perfect for the upcoming summer.

TURKISH PRAWN & VEGETABLE KEBABS

1 1/2 lbs large prawns, peeled


1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil


2 teaspoons Turkish baharat kebab spice blend 


1 zucchini, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced


1/2 large red onion, sliced into thick half-moons

8-10 button mushrooms, cleaned and stems removed


additional olive oil for brushing


8 to 10 metal or bamboo skewers *soak bamboo skewers first so they don't burn

Cacik

5 oz Greek yogurt


1/2 small garlic clove, minced


1/2 cucumber, finely grated

Toasted Pita with Za'atar 

4 pitas
extra virgin olive oil for brushing

za’atar spice *za'atar is a ubiquitous Middle Eastern spice blend of sumac, thyme and sesame seeds that can be used on virtually anything and everything from pita, vegetables, fish, poultry and more.  

GRILLED WATERMELON SALAD WITH CUCUMBER, FETA & MINT

½ watermelon, cut into triangular wedges, rind discarded
1 cucumber, diced
1 small red onion, thinly sliced
4 ounces Greek or Bulgarian feta cheese
¼ cup fresh mint, roughly chopped
½ hot red chili, thinly sliced, *if desired
extra virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons red wine vinegar
juice of ½ lemon
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
sumac for sprinkling  *sumac is a Mediterranean spice with purple-reddish hue and a tangy, lemony flavor. 

Heat a grill or grill pan on medium-high.  Grill watermelon triangles for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until light grill marks appear. Arrange slices on a platter.  Mix remaining ingredients together in a mixing bowl and spoon over top watermelon.  Sprinkle salad with sumac.

Photos by Jen Altman | Recipes by Marissa Lipert