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Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
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Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
Australian houses, from architectural masterpieces to suburban family homes, Victorian terraces, mid-century marvels, coastal shacks, city apartments, and everything in between.
Award-winning Australian architecture, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top architects.
Award-winning Australian interior design, inspiring homes, and interviews with Australia’s top designers.
In depth features on Australia’s most beautiful gardens and landscape design.
Studio visits with Australia’s most talented creatives, from artists to architects, ceramicists to stylists, furniture makers to lighting designers.
Studio visits with Australia’s top artists, and unmissable art exhibitions in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and beyond.
Weekly recipes and meal ideas from our favourite cooks, authors and foodies.
Unique travel destinations, design-led accomodation and day trip ideas in Australia and New Zealand.
This week we welcome Sophie and Nicole of Cookes Food to the Guest Blog! We got to know Soph and Nic last Friday after Lucy interviewed this talented duo, and we are SO excited to have them Guest Blogging for us during the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival. This week Sophie and Nicole will be sharing their favourite local suppliers and some of Cookes Food's delicious recipes using this fantastic local produce! - Jenny x
I have been using Donati’s since Nic and I started our business. In the early days of Cookes Food I spent a long time finding suppliers and researching produce around Victoria. I stumbled onto Donati’s because I drove past them by accident, looking for something else. I went in, looked around and felt that a family run business was the way to go.
They care about the meat they sell and they use traditional techniques to get the bests results. They have, hands down the best mortadella (terribly underrated) and their leg hams are incredible, we use them all year, it's always a good time to have glazed ham.
Recently we catered a large wedding in Lorne and they supplied us with amazing veal cutlets that we crumbed and served with herb aioli and shaved cabbage salad. I cook seasonally so I’m excited to use more wintery cuts like shoulder, shank and rump very soon.
Leo, the owner is gruff on the phone and occasionally loses his temper… it adds to the charm of the experience. He is extremely knowledgeable about his art and will happily chat with me about how I am using cuts, and if I want something special he will be accommodating. There is Italian opera in the background of their answering machine message which also amuses me – it's nice to have a smile on your face when you place your orders after a long day.
Donati's Fine Meats
402 Lygon Street
Carlton VIC 3053
(03) 9347 4948
1 pork chop (1 between 2 is quite enough)
200g different coloured peppers
2 green tomatoes
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 beetroot (large)
½ cup sugar
½ cup red wine vinegar
Salt and pepper to taste
First off, grate the beetroot into what ever size or shape you like, I mince mint so that it’s easy to eat. Place in a saucepan with the vinegar and sugar, cook on a low heat for 1 hour.
To cook the pork, pre heat the oven at 200 degrees. Brown the chop on all sides, including the fat which you need to render a bit. Then place in an oven tray with the peppers for 8-12 minutes. Then allow to rest.
Serve on platter or board all together, a dollop of the beetroot pickle, a mitt full of dressed rocket and the green tomatoes with olive oil, lemon zest and salt. Finish with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
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