Carolyne Roehm & Workshopping Christmas

Each Christmas I choose a theme and everything is teamed with that theme. Even my Christmas day outfit.

Green and Pink have featured once, and as I have explained in an earlier post, I think it might feature again this year.

A friend and I did a book swap a couple of months ago. I got the ones below to borrow for a while. I LOVE them.  My favorite one is 'Presentations'. Carolyne Roehm creatively displays how to wrap any gift perfectly. I like that. You can visit Carolyne Roehm's website here. I have long been a fan of her stuff, and her new website is beautiful.

You know, I would prefer someone give me a beautifully wrapped gift with nothing inside, than a CD in a plastic bag. Its all about the WOW factor for me - that's how I roll.

Carolyne Roehm Books

So this friend doesn't know that I am going to drop this on her. But in a couple of weeks time I am descending on her house armed with the books to return, and we are going to sit and workshop Christmas ideas. She is going to hook me up like no ones business with what I am going to give the teachers, the work friends, the neighbours and I will be set like jelly.

Now what does she get in return? Well apart from the wonderfulness which is Digella, I will bring some cured meats, fresh produce and something sweet from Couquette I think.

I wonder if she will comment on this post. I haven't told her yet. How's Saturday 20th November looking?

Macarons the new Cupcake?

Ever since my friend sung the praises of the macaron during a Peekaboo styling photo shoot and my Chouquette goodie breakfast at Black Pearl with Maggie Beer HERE I have a) wanted to taste a macaron and b) get to Chouquette.

Perfect combination for after lunch treats at polo I'd say!

So my first experience with a macaron was the flavour of Lemon and Basil. And it was magnificent! I can now understand why some people claim that macarons are the new cupcake. I say - Why not have both!

In a post by over at Adventures of a Wandering Nyonya which I found while googling 'cupcakes and macarons' (I know how very Confessions of a Shopaholic of me?)

The world it seemed has gone mad about macarons. I don’t blame her, I am too. Cupcake craze is yesterday – today they are these dainty sweets. Both are rather similar, pretty to look at and heavenly in taste – although not entirely the same thing, one is a cake while the other is , well a macaron, light as a feather and yet it can satisfy your sweet craving to the fullest.


I have to admit I am more fascinated by the way they look and I love their diverse fillings and somehow they don’t feel as heavy as your regular cupcake. I guess it does depend on what craving you are trying to fulfill. They are made of sugar, egg whites and finely ground almonds and you can add a variety of flavours and colours to them. As for the filling, any combination you can think of , I supposed goes!

So there you have it! You read it here first. I ate a macaron, at the Polo on a sunny winter's day in 2010.

Would love to hear what everyone else thinks about this? Is the macaron the new cupcake? I am including them in a little dessert table I am creating for next month, but of course there will be cupcakes. Lemon and cream cheese cupcakes to be exact!

Maggie Beer + Bunny Ears

I just LOVE this photo of Maggie Beer and a new food lover I met today at Black Pearl Epicure, Brisbane.

What a fantastic morning hosted by Black Pearl! Lovely coffee and tea, meeting some new friends (well I would like to think we are now all friends, we have already bonded over twitter all day) Once I have links to all their blogs I will be sure to share.

Maggie was lovely. As expected. What a wonderful Senior Australian of the Year, foodie and woman.

Maggie explaining the Constitution Day which she was involved in yesterday.

Maggie also proudly spoke about her Constitution Cake made with fruit from all states of Australia. See the recipe HERE.

Post script: The yummy pastries we were served came from Chouquette, Barker Street Newfarm. Just next door to Continental Cafe.