Holiday entertaining recipes
Dare to think outside the box this season with an elegant lunch menu that will inspire you to dress up the table, crack a few special bottles and spread the festive cheer.
David Thompson’s Thai recipes
Scholarship and street food come together in David Thompson’s latest work, Thai Street Food. In this exclusive excerpt, he shares his recipes for familiar favourites and unusual specialities from the alleys and markets of Thailand. For more from David Thompson, read our web exclusive interview with him.
Strawberry recipes
Sweet, juicy and bursting with flavour, strawberries add a bold splash of colour and a musky perfume to summery drinks, refreshing ices, and delectable pastries.
Longrain recipes
It’s been 10 years since Longrain introduced us to big Thai flavours and funky cocktails. Martin Boetz and Sam Christie share a vibrant feast showcasing their banquet-style dining which has become the new benchmark for modern Asian cool.
Barbecue recipes
Grab the tongs and novelty apron and fire up your imagination -– and the barbie. These easy, breezy char-grill recipes are a cinch to prepare.
Fast spring recipes
Fast and fresh food can be ready in just 30 minutes with these quick spring meals.
New-wave Mexico City
Kendall Hill arrived in Mexico City expecting chaos but left marvelling at the charisma and sophistication of this modern-day metropolis.
Peanut butter chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice-cream
Australian Gourmet Traveller dessert recipe for peanut butter chocolate fondant with salted caramel ice-cream by Adelaide restaurant Sparrow Kitchen and Bar.
Talking Thai: David Thompson on Thai Street Food
On the eve of publication of Thai Street Food, his exploration of the cuisine of the noodle stalls, soup vendors and papaya-pounders of Bangkok and surrounds, London-based Australian Thai authority David Thompson sits down at Sailors Thai on a sunny Sydney morning to talk to Pat Nourse about kanom jin fermented rice noodles, the complexity and dynamic nature of Asian hawker foodways, opening a Thai restaurant in Thailand and why you shouldn't put your photographer in the back seat.
Great cocktail recipes that won’t disappoint
Searching for the perfect drink for a celebratory toast? From Bellinis to Negronis, we have you covered with this round up of classic concoctions.
Baked salt cod
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for baked salt cod by Pacific Dining Room in Byron Bay
Warm cauliflower, chickpea and beetroot salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for warm cauliflower, chickpea and beetroot salad by Sydney restaurant Cru 54.
Child’s play
Julia Child introduced French cuisine to ’60s America, and now – thanks to Hollywood’s Nora Ephron – her home-cooking ethos is as influential as ever, writes Cerentha Harris.
Star attraction
After a serious nip and tuck, the chic Villa Magna hotel in Madrid is doing famously, writes Kendall Hill.
Gourmet Barcelona
From the city's best sandwich bar to its favourite charcuteria, our gourmet guide to Barcelona has it all.
WORDS KENDALL HILL PHOTOGRAPHY SHARYN CAIRNS
Bar city
Madrid is a city of – wait for it – 350,000 bars. Undaunted by the scale of the task, Kendall Hill explores the scene and nominates 10 of the Spanish capital’s most distinctive drinking holes.
Jamón it up
Kendall Hill signs up for “jamónturismo”, the ultimate experience for devotees of the famed Iberian ham. Think of it as wine tourism for carnivores.
Divine inspiration
From the dry, rocky soils of Priorat, in remote Catalonia, has sprung an ancient winemaking tradition, awe-inspiring monastic architecture and a proud cuisine both frugal and flavoursome.
Passage to Iberia
Fortuitously wedged between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the ancient, sun-drenched province of Cádiz entices visitors with its ramshackle charm and a cuisine shaped by the bounty of the sea.
Artichoke dip with salt and rosemary crispbread
Australian Gourmet Traveller appetiser recipe for artichoke dip with salt and rosemary crispbread.
Recipes inspired by Julia Child
So you can't wait to watch Julie & Julia and don't have a copy of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking to hand? Or perhaps you like the theme but want a more modern take on things - either way, take a look at these recipes we were inspired to pull from the GT archives after we left the cinema ourselves.
Spanish dessert recipes
Whether you're keen on flaky pastries, chocolate-dipped shortbread or icing-sugar dusted nutty treats, there's plenty of Spanish sweets to indulge here.
Recipes from Spain’s Catalonia region
Who better to extol the virtues of this rich Spanish cuisine than Barcelona-born chef Javier Codina. He lets trad dishes do the talking.
Recipes from Spain’s Basque country
Spanning the French and Spanish borders and the fertile land from the Atlantic coast to the Pyrenees ranges, the Basque country is a gourmand’s paradise. Open the culinary coffers of this most intriguing of European cultures and make some tasty discoveries.
Tapas recipes
Small bites of savoury delights and a glass or two of sherry: the tapas trend has taken this country by storm, and we like it.
Fast Spanish recipes
Put down that packaged meal and step away from the microwave - try one of these Spanish-inspired dishes instead, made in next to no time.
Rumi
REVIEW Rumi’s still got it. It helped introduce share plates to Melbourne in 2006, winning umpteen awards and locals’ hearts ever since. It’s that “where can we go with a group?” place when two mates are vego, one only eats lamb, one’s a pescatarian and one doesn’t drink (hello mocktails – try watermelon with rosewater, […]
Hellenic Republic
REVIEW Now part of a small chain with outposts in Kew and Williamstown, the original Hellenic Republic sits comfortably in its East Brunswick surrounds, its exterior brightened with commissioned graffiti, the inside evoking the Mediterranean coastline. Start off with pita bread that’s perfect with the sharply salty taramasalata or try the kounoupidi, a salad of […]
Coda
REVIEW Coda has cemented its place as a CBD stayer. Its basement location has lost none of its industrial-chic edge. And despite the changing of the guard in the kitchen (still overseen by Adam D’Sylva), the dining experience hasn’t skipped a beat. Today, Coda’s Asian accent is more pronounced than ever, making the old buffalo […]
Jellyfish
REVIEW Jellyfish has a long, open dining room designed to take full advantage of Story Bridge and river views. Drag your eyes from the vista, though, and you’ll find the array of seafood on offer just as captivating. The daily ‘fresh fish’ menu is the way to go, with as many as 14 species to […]
Light spring lunches
Spring ingredients sparkle when handled with a little tenderness. This light lunch menu, featuring the best of the new season, is simply sunshine on a plate. The table is set.
Quick spring recipes
Celebrate the new season with these fresh and fast spring recipes from food editor Lisa Featherby, each of them ready in just 30 minutes.
Roast lamb racks with mashed peas
Australian Gourmet Traveller quick spring recipe for roast lamb racks with mashed peas.
Racine Restaurant at La Colline
REVIEW Watch out for the new hit from chef Shaun Arantz, ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Menu’. Now it’s just four entrées and four main courses, plus a charcuterie platter and four desserts. But no complaints, because every dish has been perfected. Arantz marries seemingly incongruous flavours and textures with impeccable grace – snapper with wheat […]
Pipers of Penola
REVIEW This quaint white timber restaurant was a turn-of-the-century ex-Methodist church, tucked down a quiet Penola street. Ten years ago, accomplished floor manager Erika Bowen and her chef husband Simon transformed it into a tidy, efficient dining room, and have remained true to the building’s historic charm. A small but carefully considered à la carte […]
2010 Restaurant Awards night
The 2010 Restaurant Awards were celebrated in style at Rockpool Bar & Grill in Sydney. Here are the winners after the event.
Hong Kong’s top five yum cha
Pat Nourse ate his way through trolleyloads of chicken feet and tripe to pick Hong Kong’s top yum cha spots.
Hong Kong on a plate
Dishing up everything from dan dan noodles to grapefruit Danishes, and boasting a wave of Michelin stars, Hong Kong dining has never been hotter. Pat Nourse headed to China’s most vibrant territory in search of gustatory awesomeness.
How to prepare artichokes
Cooking with artichokes isn’t as daunting as their prickly appearance might suggest – these delicious treasures are highly prized and easily prepared.
Master chefs
Pat Nourse and Kerryn Burgess track down some of the best in the business and, amid the rattle of pans, find out what it really takes to rise to the top.
Tuscan treasure
Cue the spa gently perfumed with local herbs. Alain Ducasse’s outpost of understated luxury, L’Andana, offers guests an experience that is as rooted in the terroir as the tenacious vines in this quiet corner of Italy.
Phuket party
Expect fun, sun and, yes, occasional excess when you stay at the hot new clifftop resort of Sri Panwa on Thailand’s island playground. Kendall Hill kicks up his heels and experiences the life fantastic.
The art of packing
Kendall Hill, a firm believer in the “more is more” school of packing, learns how to travel with minimum clothing and maximum style from – who else? – a Louis Vuitton employee.
Glorious Mudgee
Cosy bars, world-class wine, historic towns and farm-trail foraging are all part of the landscape in Mudgee. Rob Ingram takes a break in the picturesque NSW region where boundaries blur between heritage and hot new experiences.
2010 Restaurant Awards
We’ve downed forks, the votes are in, and we are proud to present the Australian Gourmet Traveller 2010 Restaurant Awards.
Wine list of the year 2010: Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney
Oh, lordy. If you were asked to dream up the best wine list in the world, no expense spared, all indulgences indulged, all bases covered, all classic estates and legendary vintages included, you probably still couldn’t come close to matching the very real wine list at Sydney’s Rockpool Bar & Grill. This list is winning […]
Regional restaurant of the year 2010: Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld
It’s a big ask in terms of time, distance and money to eat at Dunkeld’s Royal Mail Hotel, but this is a restaurant that answers all the questions with a resounding yes. It’s a place that truly embraces the philosophies of regionality and seasonality, presenting them in a way that’s unmistakeably modern and complex but […]
Maitre d’ of the year 2010: Tom Sykes, Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney
Tom Sykes’ first Sydney restaurant job, back in 1996, was at a little place called Rockpool. Fast-forward almost 15 years and Sykes has not only climbed the ranks from waiter to headwaiter to assistant manager to general manager in time for the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in the crucible of the city’s most talked-about restaurant, […]
Bar of the year 2010: Gerald’s Bar, Melbourne
Gerald Diffey has worked at and with some of Victoria’s great names – Karen Martini, Rita Macali, Tansy Good and Stefano de Pieri among them – and has spread his affable charm wherever he’s appeared. But it’s at his small bar in Rathdowne Street, Carlton, propped next door to the pizza cacophony that is La […]
Sommelier of the year 2010: Kjell Ove Almeland, Jackson’s, Perth
Jackson’s has always been the kind of restaurant where minor miracles of the edible kind occurred, but the wine list sometimes felt like a bit of an also-ran in the presence of chef/owner Neal Jackson’s perennially quirky fare. Enter Kjell Ove Almeland, a flamboyant Norwegian with a patois so chunky you could carve it. (His […]
Outstanding contribution to the industry 2010: Leo Schofield, restaurant critic
There’ll never be a need to carbon date the quantum leap in Australia’s food fashion. Or to ponder its greatest influence. In 1975, Leo Schofield penned the first guide to eating out in Sydney and went on to become the senior restaurant critic for The Sydney Morning Herald. Today, as editor-at-large for Australian Gourmet Traveller, […]
New restaurant of the year 2010: Rockpool Bar & Grill, Sydney
In retrospect, the 12 months since the last GT awards might not seem like the most felicitous period in which to open an ambitious new restaurant. And yet here we are with an embarrassment of restaurant riches. It’s hard to remember a year in which the new restaurant gong was anywhere near this hotly contested. […]
Best new talent 2010: Ryan Squires, The Buffalo Club, Brisbane
When Cam Birt and Stephanie Canfell, partners in Brisbane’s standard-setting Bowery bar, decided to open a dégustation-only restaurant in an old bank building one storey above street level in the still-edgy Fortitude Valley, Ryan Squires topped their chef shopping list. Queensland-bred Squires had made a splash a few years earlier, returning from stints at The […]
Restaurant of the year 2010: Quay, Sydney
Yes, lightning really can strike in the same place twice. If anything, the Quay that is Restaurant of the Year today is, dare we say it, a better place than it was 12 months ago when it first won the award. All the things that made it great then – the unmatched commitment to sourcing […]
Australian Gourmet Traveller 2010 Restaurant Awards: The Top 10 by Region
Here are the restaurants our reviewers rated best in each state and region at a glance, from those awarded stars to those next most highly ranked.
Australian Gourmet Traveller 2010 Restaurant Awards: The Top 100
This list has been compiled using our star ratings, moderated by our state and national editors. Every restaurant listed in the Guide should offer a winning dining experience; any that achieve a placement in the Top 100 represent another order of excellence again.
Australian Gourmet Traveller 2010 Restaurant Awards: The Stars
We award stars to restaurants which we have found to be genuinely and consistently exceptional in their food, wine and hospitality.
And the winners are
We’ve downed forks, the votes are in, and we are proud to present the Australian Gourmet Traveller 2010 Restaurant Awards.
Gnocchi à la Parisienne
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for gnocchi à la Parisienne by Sydney restaurant Tastevin.
Beetroot, witlof, labne and orange salad
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for beetroot, witlof, labne and orange salad by Bodega, Sydney.
Buzo recipes
Grab a drink, sit down and relax: the talented team behind Sydney restaurant Buzo are doing all the hard work, serving up rustic wintry fare that’s perfect for a weekend away.
Walnut and Armagnac tart
Australian Gourmet Traveller fare exchange recipe for walnut and Armagnac tart from Bistro Ortolan in Leichhardt, Sydney.
Pistou-crusted barramundi with pommes de terre à la Sarladaise
Australian Gourmet Traveller fare exchange recipe for pistou-crusted barramundi with pommes de terre a la Sarladaise by Libertine restaurant in Melbourne.
Short stays, 12 ways
Staycation, holiday at home, mini-break – call it what you will, there’s never been a better time to explore our own shores, and all that lies between them. Pack an overnight bag and take your pick from a dozen of our favourite Australian getaways.
Great southern land
Renowned for stylish digs, sublime local fare and the kind of scenery that made the country a movie star, New Zealand’s South Island also boasts a cast of highly affordable luxury lodge experiences. Rob Ingram stays at five of the best that – best of all – won’t break the bank.
2010 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards nominations
The envelope, please
It’s been an exhaustive process but we’re proud to reveal our short-listed nominees for the 2010 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.
It’s been an exhaustive process but we’re proud to reveal our short-listed nominees for the 2010 Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.
Off the wall
Sharp, smart and just a little kooky, Hilton’s new Melbourne venture is a sleek accommodation option in the city’s burgeoning hotel landscape, writes Emily Ross.
Ramsay Down Under
Backstage at his Sanctuary Cove show, the Kitchen Nightmare speaks to Pat Nourse about the Grimshaw affair and his new Australian project.
Buzo al fresco
Grab a drink, sit down and relax: the talented team behind Sydney restaurant Buzo are doing all the hard work, serving up rustic wintry fare that’s perfect for a weekend away.
Breakfast recipes
Winter's probably the only time of year you can get away with having breakfast all day, so why not go all out with these fab recipes.
Bali’s new high
It’s no secret that recent times have been tough for Australia’s favourite holiday island. But with a raft of gorgeous new resorts, glam bars and clubs and, above all, the love of a good party, there’s no keeping Bali down. Dive in – the water’s fine.
PHOTOGRAPHY JULIAN KINGMA
Bali’s new high
It’s no secret that recent times have been tough for Australia’s favourite holiday island. But with a raft of gorgeous new resorts, glam bars and clubs and, above all, the love of a good party, there’s no keeping Bali down. Dive in – the water’s fine.
Gordon Ramsay’s top bollockings
Gordon Ramsay worked for some of Europe’s greatest chefs on his way to the top of the cooking game. Not coincidentally, perhaps, he also worked for some individuals who were as well known back-of-house for their tempers as they were known out front for their culinary grace. It’s no secret that Ramsay gives it today as good as he got it as a young chef, and he’s unflinching in his assessment of the top terrors he’s encountered in his time in the kitchen.
Leek terrine gratin and Roquefort sauce
Australian Gourmet Traveller French recipe for leek terrine gratin and Roquefort sauce by Belle Epoque restaurant in Brisbane.
Macarons with white chocolate and raspberry ganache
These delicate confections were born in Paris, but with a bit of patience you can make your own little bites of luxury.
Chocolate recipes
No one can resist the allure of rich, decadent, melt-in-your-mouth chocolate. Sophisticated and elegant, these desserts are strictly for grown-ups.
Burgundy, France: Top soil
“Water can rust iron. Imagine what it does to your insides. It’s much better to drink wine.” Such is the catchcry in Burgundy, where locals worship at the altar of the grape. Richard Cooke ventures to the region filled with rich traditions (and lots of wine).
PHOTOGRAPHY JOHN LAURIE
Roast recipes
Promise a roast and you’re guaranteed an appreciative crowd. Whether it’s rolled pork, lamb with a Middle Eastern twist, or perfect potatoes, these modern ideas take the Aussie favourite to another level. Carve it up.
Back to the bistro classics
With duck confit and steak frites thick on the ground these days, a good bistro meal isn’t hard to find. But what about a great one? We track down the country’s best, dish by dish.
Top soil
“Water can rust iron. Imagine what it does to your insides. It’s much better to drink wine.” Such is the catchcry in Burgundy, where locals worship at the altar of the grape. Richard Cooke ventures to the region filled with rich traditions (and lots of wine).
Eating in Paris for under €10
After diligently taste-testing her way through the macarons, crêpes and soufflés of her home city, Paris correspondent Rosa Jackson has come up with 10 of the best cheap eats in town.
Surreal estate
A slick and well-priced designer hotel in one of Paris’s trendier neighbourhoods? It’s an idea that just might take off, writes Pat Nourse.
Favourite French recipes
Food director Emma Knowles loves chocolate marquise, subeditor Bianca Tzatzagos is partial to pissaladière, food editor Lisa Featherby will do anything for French onion soup… We put our heads together, came up with our favourite French recipes and compiled them into a slideshow just for you. Bon appétit!
Winter soup recipes
Whether it's a hot and sour prawn, chicken and noodle soup or a thick and flavourful minestrone, there's nothing like a bowl of soup to get you through the cold.
The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, 2009
The Pat Nourse Polaroid files: "These pictures were taken at the winners' lunch at St John restaurant the day after the World's 50 Best Restaurants ceremony. I've had the pleasure of chairing the Australian and Pacific votes. It's not a paid gig, but an invite to join the critics who head the other voting panels and the award-winning chefs at a lunch hosted by Fergus Henderson is incentive enough. This year's menu kicked off with an ox heart salad (the hearts of oxen, not a type of tomato), followed by pig's head and potato pie (with plenty of mustard) and ice-cream flavoured with the Dr Henderson, Fergus's favourite cocktail of Fernet Branca and crème de menthe."
Tarka dal
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for tarka dal by Indian Tukka restaurant in Melbourne.
Chocolate sour cherry cake
Australian Gourmet Traveller flourless chocolate sour cherry cake by Central Baking Depot in Sydney.
White bean velouté with salsa verde and candied pancetta
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for white bean velouté with salsa verde and candied pancetta by Comme Kitchen restaurant in Melbourne.
Heston Blumenthal’s tasting notes
From the Ultimate Dinner to the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival (and spinning discs with Shane Osborn), The Fat Duck’s Heston Blumenthal shares his Australian diary.
Vive Vietnam
Looking for a recession-proof international holiday that delivers easy access, affordable luxury, cultural experiences and downright fab food? Welcome to Vietnam.
GT 2009 Travel Awards
You’ve voted, we’ve counted, and here they are, the results of the 2009 Australian Gourmet Traveller Travel Awards. Winners, take a bow.
Cake recipes
This baker's dozen of cakes, from polenta cake with burnt figs and honey to strawberry layer cake, is guaranteed to satisfy every sweet tooth.
Porchetta with rosemary focaccia (porchetta stile di Ariccia servite con focaccia al romarino)
Australian Gourmet Traveller recipe for porchetta with rosemary focaccia (porchetta stile di Ariccia servite con focaccia al romarino) by Svago restaurant in Melbourne.
Chocolate, almond and honey zuccotto (zuccotto di cioccolato, mandorle e miele)
Australian Gourmet Traveller Italian dessert recipe for chocolate, almond and honey zuccotto (zuccotto di cioccolato, mandorle e miele) by Lucio's restaurant in Sydney's Paddington neighborhood.
Italian breakfast recipes
The flavours of the old country meet Australian café panache in our take on classic Italian breakfast items.
Pizza recipes
Mmm, pizza… Check out some of our favourite pizza recipes, including caprese, mushroom and mascarpone and pumpkin, taleggio and wild rocket. Buon appetito!
Chef’s spaghetti Bolognese recipes: L to Z
We quizzed the best kitchen talents on their secrets to the perfect spaghetti Bolognese. The responses varied but were never ambivalent: this dish is unanimously loved, however it’s made.
Chef’s spaghetti Bolognese recipes: B to K
We quizzed the best kitchen talents on their secrets to the perfect spaghetti Bolognese. The responses varied but were never ambivalent: this dish is unanimously loved, however it’s made.
Battle of the Bol
We quizzed the best kitchen talents on their secrets to the perfect spaghetti Bolognese. The responses varied but were never ambivalent: this dish is unanimously loved, however it’s made.
Bounty Hunter
Searching for Piedmont’s prized white truffles with a trifolau is secretive stuff, writes Kendall Hill.
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