Mayor4Unley

Here's a good read, all about taste and flavour, from the womb to old age and through sickness and medication. Explains a lot, especially about weird food desires. Read the story

It was sad to hear of the death of Sisto Malaspina, killed by a terrorist in front of his Pellegrini's coffee shop in Bourke Street, Melbourne. He was a mate; a friend to all who visited. He remembered you after years of absence; and after only a few occasional visits to Melbourne. I had the pleasure of having coffee (many short blacks) with him earlier this year. When in Melbourne, a visit to Pellegrini's was always my priority. Pellegrini's will continue as an institution (because the coffee is just so good; simply the best) and the family will maintain that special relationship with the clients. RIP (far too early) my friend.

Jarlsberg cheese - it's a nice cheese. Ideal in a cheese and tomato sandwich. It's full of holes and originated from the region of Jarlsberg in Norway. You think of contented cows in the pastures of Norway. Before throwing out the empty packet I read the label. The label says ... Made by Tine SA Oslo, Norway Cheese product of Ireland Packaged in Germany Imported by: Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd 118 Wetherill Street Silverwater NSW 2128 Australia The only thing that happened in Australia was the Cantarella Brothers sticking on a label with the price, expiry date, an Australian barcode and reference to the website www.jarlsberg.com.au Click on this website and you discover that the contact is Vittoria Food & Beverage (118 Wetherill Street, Silverwater) with an email contact of marketing@vittoriacoffee.com So maybe it was the guys at Vittoria Coffee who stick on the labels. It's a small world of traders and confusing for the consumer who genuinely wants to kno...

When Dr Karl makes a statement, we sit up and listen and accept it as the gospel. We accept it as fact. He explains the complexities in nature so simply and in an entertaining manner. Recently Dr Karl Kruszelnicki proposed that the magic of coffee and chocolate could prove the existence of God. He claimed that the very similar chemical properties of coffee and chocolate and the way they complement each other, is proof that God exists. “Caffeine is remarkably similar to the stuff that makes chocolate so wonderful,” he says. “It’s led to a deep and philosophical insight.” He explained that the chemical in caffeine is a vasoconstrictor, which closes your blood vessels; whereas the chemical in chocolate is a vasodilator that opens up the blood vessels. So if you're worried about the harm of drinking too much coffee, have a few pieces of chocolate. If you're a purist, then ensure it's an espresso and dark chocolate. Read more here ...

I love my coffee and probably drink too much. It has to be real coffee, short & black and sometimes a macchiato – definitely not cheap and nasty instant coffee like that provided free in most workplaces. We’ve always been told to only drink coffee in moderation. New research reveals that coffee (even many cups a day) is mostly beneficial. Check out this link

Most of us have a coffee machine at home. The coffee grounds make an excellent fertiliser and should be thrown on the garden or in the compost bin - don't waste them by putting them in the rubbish bin. However, there are other uses. They make an excellent body scrub that rejuvenates the skin. You can use fresh ground coffee or preferably the left over grounds. Here's the recipe: 3 cups of left over coffee grounds (or 2 cups of fresh ground coffee) 1 cup of medium ground rock sea salt (or flakes) Half a cup of coconut oil (or cream coconut from a can) 2 teaspoons of peppermint oil Mix it up into a grinding paste. Get naked and get into a dry bath. Rub it all over. Be careful around the eyes as the oil may cause irritation. Enjoy the experience. It's even better if someone else gives you the scrub. To avoid too much mess in the bathroom, you could retreat to the garage or garden shed. It's an absolutely refreshing and stimulating cleansing experienc...

On Sunday 25 January I participated in the Crush Festival in the Adelaide Hills – a multitude of venues with local food and wines. I selected Uraidla and was enticed by the food on offer and the associated wines. The late breakfast was green eggs and ham at the Owl & Elephant Café . Sounded good. Sounded fantastic. I was thinking of Dr Seuss and green eggs and ham. It was described as an uber cool café. The food was crap. Very disappointing. It was an overcooked egg with a green/grey mix (and supposedly ham) in a bread base, curled at the edges. It was cold and served with a cold fried tomato half. I’d rate it at 1/10 . The waitress was surprised that I didn’t enjoy. (She did ask how I found it.) There was no offer to redress my concern. I should have selected the rhubarb and quince on rye toast. That did look appealing. The coffee, a latte, scored slightly better (at 4/10 ). The milk was good, but the coffee had no depth or finish. There was no lingering after...

Have you ever wondered what your barista is really thinking (of you) when you place an order for a coffee? It usually is not a kind thought. Interesting that these days we all have our favourite barista with whom we think we get that special service. My barista showed me an article in The City Magazine (30 July). He said that it's all true. The article is shown below (with some formatting and typo changes). It’s worth a read. It will improve your understanding and enjoyment of coffee and raise your ranking with your favourite barista. What’s your barista really thinking on the other side of the counter? The City spoke to one who spilt the beans on what makes them steam up. Requests for “hot” coffee The hot water at coffee shops comes at one temperature – hot. If the 95C water in your long black isn’t hot enough, it’s probably time to look for a beverage with a higher boiling point. Very hot milk can ruin a coffee. If you ask for a very hot coffee, don’t b...

The Carnevale Coffee Cafe on East Avenue, Clarence Park is hugely popular and the coffee is pretty good. I've noticed that passing Police patrols regularly stop for a beverage - that's a good sign. They roast and blend beans for purchase. After 2 years of research they have developed a green pod which contains no chemicals, pesticides, enhancers or artificial flavours - it makes you wonder exactly what is in the other commercial coffee pods. These new green pods fit Nespresso machines - a good marketing ploy. Carnevale owners, masterminds Chris Hoskin and Paolo Scidone, have developed 4 single varieties from Ethiopia, Indonesia, East Timor and Mexico. I prefer the Ethiopian. A great effort! If you want a big breakfast and excellent coffee (especially on the weekend) then pop it.

A friend sent me a link to the latest 10 memorable Australian food trends. It seems that I have not been keeping up with the trendy ones at the head of the queue. I am a simple person and enjoy the simple pleasures of life. One of those pleasures is a strong European style short black coffee aka. espresso. Some days I opt for a short macchiato (an espresso with a thin layer of rich frothy milk). Then along comes information about what’s new and trendy. One of the latest trends is to use butter instead of milk in coffee. I write blog this before I try it, and yes I will try it. Knowing little about Tibetan food, it does sound rather Tibetan in style; they would use yak butter. The question is, should I use salted or unsalted butter? For a review of the latest food trends, visit the Australia Food Blog via   this link. Following my query about whether or not to use unsalted butter, my friend has sent me another link that expands on this topic. The recomme...

What is it about this joint? It attracts politicians who sit down and chat and sip coffee. Only a couple of weeks ago I was invited to meet Premier Jay Weatherill there. We had 2 hours together chatting and drinking coffee ... see my blog on 02 February. I am reliably informed that this week Steph Key (MP for Ashford) took Gail Gago, Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries. I seem to have missed out on an invitation :( If you need coffee, beans, a machine or just a cuppa - then pop in. They have a huge range with 20+ blends that are distributed statewide. I visited today to get some beans. I discovered that there is a carpark out the back - enter off side street, then exit onto South Road. If you do go, then say that Bob sent you and they will look after you. http://www.coffeecraft.com.au/

As Deputy Mayor, City of Unley, I am required to submit a monthly report that is included in the Council agenda. Here are copies of the last few months ... Deputy Mayor report for Janu ary 2014 Wednesday 08 January Attended an informal meeting with the  Premier of South Australia, Hon Jay Weatherill and the  State Member for Ashford, Hon Steph at Coffee Craft (on South Road, opposite Black Forest Primary School). Also in attendance was a  Black Forest Primary School Councillor. Spent 2 hours chatting, drinking coffee, learning about coffee and touring the front and back room facilities. I was impressed by the roasting, blending and storage facilities out the back. They roast ~ 500kg a week. The Premier was interested in local issues and achievements. He took onboard issues of concern. I congratulated him on bringing the Rolling Stones to Adelaide and explained that I received tickets as a Christmas gift (from my wife). An enjoyable 2 hours spent w...