I was chatting this week on Twitter with a couple of very cool Adelaide ladies, viz., Laura and Rachael and I was introduced to Menz FruChocs  According to their website Robern Menz is South Australia’s largest confectioner and maker of the famous Menz FruChocs. Robern Menz manufacture a wide range of chocolate based confectionery and gourmet goodies. The good news is that Coles also stocks some of their products, so Friday afternoon after work I went searching. Like a lot of supermarkets, there is an entire aisle dedicated to confectionery and so finding the Menz products took me a little while. At one stage I ventured into the health food aisles because I couldn’t find them. After a taking a systematic approach I found them

There were four varieties stocked. The classic Choc Apricot Balls, the Turkish Delight, Mini Choc Honeycomb and Choc Honeycomb (sort like the now gone forever Violet Crumble). I bought some of the apricot and TD thinking I’ll try the honeycomb later. I was told by Rachael and Laura that the Choccy Snakes are a must try.  These are not stocked in my local Coles supermarket. Apart from being a science fiction fiend, I also discovered that Rachael is addicted to Menz to the extent she gets gift packs from the factory because she is such a good customer. That’s what I call good customer relations

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I waited until after dinner (see image below) to try them with a jug of happiness. I tried the apricot ones first. I like dried apricots and I like apricot confectionery but not in huge amounts. The chocolate is very nice and the apricot flavour not too strong. The good thing is they’re not too sweet. They were delicious. I then tried the Turkish Delight. I’m a fan of real TD with its lovely jelly and dusted with icing sugar. I know friends who regard the addition of chocolate coating as anathema. I’m not that puritanical about my confectionery, although I do like good chocolate. The TD was good, what I liked was the flavour of the TD developed over time and peaked after the chocolate had dissolved. We’re on a winner. I’m being careful to only have one at a time and to make them last

On the subject of South Australia and chocolate, another iconic brand is Haigh’s.  Haigh’s Chocolates now has shops in SA, Victoria and NSW. The chocolate, whether it be milk or dark is delightful. When friends at work travel to Adelaide, Melbourne or Sydney I’m often asked if I want a fix of Haigh’s. I never say no.

In other news…

We now have a resolution at work that we’re going to try to do Pay Thursday Pies

This was a veal stroganoff pie which was delicious.

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Dinner was a simple hamburger and a jug of crushed ice with mint, pineapple and lemon lime and bitters cordial

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I finally emptied my work Christmas stocking. Goodbye last Christmas lollipop

Fridays are now dedicated to hot chips or sausages. This Friday was hot chips with aioli from the Urban Bean Espresso Bar.

After those chips it was a light chicken and salad dinner.

Saturday morning clouds on my walk

Last week it was plain hot cross buns, this week it’s chocolate ones. Still too early in my opinion.

For dinner tonight I was finishing a Heston Blumenthal steak project

This image was captured two nights ago. This is a piece of Angus Scotch rib fillet

I “aged” it in the refrigerator for two days. I just left it uncovered to dry out.

I regard this as an epic fail. The steak was about as good as I could hope for. The Heston method of rapidly turning each 15 seconds for a total cooking time of about 5 minutes works well. I enjoyed a delightfully rare steak. This was the first time I tried to make a blender Hollandaise sauce. The butter split and the sauce didn’t thicken. It still tasted good because after all melted butter tastes great

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