About This Blog

Some years ago I was working at a resort up in Port Stephens, NSW. I worked mainly in the prep kitchen but also moved around the resort, when needed, to the cafe, the buffet restaurant or occasionally in the so called fine-dining restaurant.

When I received my first pay slip I noticed with some chagrin that they had categorized me as an 'unqualified cook'. Here I was thinking I was more of a 'Mostly Martha' figure! In time however, I began to see it  as badge of honour. Chefs came and went, apprentices certainly came and went, and I realised that the food knowledge and skills I had, certainly gave me a right to be in those kitchens. No I hadn't done an apprenticeship or studied at TAFE but my obsessive interest in food from an early age, and  my love of cooking and travelling whenever I could, had left me with 'qualifications' that no one could take away from me. I always thought that if I ever wrote a book on my experiences 'The Unqualified Cook' would feature in the title. Well, there is no book but there is now going to be a blog.

I am starting the blog mostly for myself as I love to write and read about food and nothing makes me happier than discovering a new food, a new supplier, fresh produce or indeed just cooking in the kitchen or wherever I find myself. It makes me even happier to share those discoveries with like minded people.  It will give me an outlet for my often 'cluttered with ideas and food trivia' brain. I don't usually have set recipes but this will make me be more disciplined and start to set things down in detail.

I currently live in Canberra, a small capital city by world standards, but it's size makes it a lot easier to see what is going on and discover all things delicious a lot faster! We have an old 1960s fibro on the south coast of NSW at Narooma which has been in the family since new. Narooma, as well as being one of the most beautiful places in the world, also happens to have some of the world's most fantastic oysters.  We spend as much time in Narooma and surrounds as we can before retreating back to Canberra for work.  Off we go!