I’ve spent the weekend in Brisbane visiting Miss13, Miss17 and my parents. We have some activities planned and I’ve taken Monday as recreation leave so we could fit things in. I’m writing a series of short posts about the food we ate on this visit.
To get things started we needed a good breakfast on Saturday. Miss13, Miss17 and I headed to Groove Train at Chermside.
Miss13 asked for French toast, Miss17 asked for the Spanish eggs and I asked for corn fritters.
Miss13 also asked for a guava juice while Miss17 wanted a chai latte and I needed a long black.
Corn fritters with poached eggs, smoked salmon and lime yoghurt SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/100sec, ISO 100
The corn fritters came with poached eggs with runny yolks, smoked salmon and lime yoghurt. The corn fritters at Groove Train are filling and full of flavour.
I’d happily recommend them to anyone who has a hearty appetite.
Do you have a favourite ‘local’ you visit for breakfast when you’re visiting family and friends?
At this time of year a lot of restaurants in Canberra close for the Christmas New Year (CNY) break. Bron and I thought we’d go to The Cupping Room for breakfast but at 8 am the doors were closed and the chairs stacked on the tables. We went around to Lonsdale Street to look around. Eighty-six and Elk and Pea were closed (we’ll go back later in the year). Lonsdale Street Roasters were open so we walked in. LSR has space in front on the street, inside and out the back. We chose out the back because it was shaded and because the roasting shed was close by. It looks like the shed had its own lot next to LSR itself. Bron reckons the smell was fantastic. I couldn’t smell it myself. The shaded back was also good because the cool shade provided some relief as the day approached it forecast 34 °C (93.2 °F).
We ordered food, took a number and found a table. I asked for the muesli and Bron asked for quinoa with avocado and tomato. After we sat down I was told there was no muesli so I asked for smoked salmon, cream cheese and bagel.
The coffee is good at LSR and the food is too.
Photograph courtesy of BronPhotograph courtesy of Bron
Bron said her meal was very good. I’d not tried quinoa before and had a couple of mouthfuls. It was an interesting taste.
The bagels are made in house at LSR and was very good. The salmon was flaky and light. I’d happily eat it again.
We’ll be back to Lonsdale Street Roasters. I’d recommend it to anyone in need of good coffee and a good meal.
So I’m up in Brisbane a little earlier than usual. I’m here to help Mum and Dad for a few days while Mum continues her recovery from spinal surgery. She’s doing well and maintaining her exercises. I’m pleased to see her getting around and moving better than I imagined. I’m still trying to convince her though that things like ironing and perfect hospital corners on her bed are not essential to living and enjoying life.
Given that I’m in Brisbane earlier than usual I was so happy that Miss13, Miss17 and Miss19 came for a visit yesterday for Christmas dinner
I started the day knowing I had a lot of cooking and food ahead of me.
Vegemite on toast bathed in butter SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/10sec, ISO 800
Vegemite on toast, also known as the breakfast of champions.
For lunch I made a simple smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread plate for Mum and Dad. They both enjoy smoked salmon and sour cream. I should have bought bagels.
Smoked salmon and sour cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/13sec, ISO 400Smoked salmon and sour cream on toasted wholemeal bread SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/20sec, ISO 400
In the afternoon as I was thinking about preparing for dinner I got some cheese out for Dad. Dad loves cheese and this was a treat for him. What I also love about my daughters is they will try anything, even smelly cheeses. Miss13 said it wasn’t something she’d actively go looking for again but understood when I explained our palates change over years and as she gets older she may appreciate cheeses like this more. I love the spirit of Miss17, from an early age she’d try things, like oysters. I remember the first time she wasn’t that impressed but she made a conscious decision at a young age to try one every time we went out and now she loves oysters.
For afternoon tea we had Roquefort, Castella white and a Tlba cheddar SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250
Christmas dinner is usually quite large in the Lum household. I tried to explain to Mum we could do something simple and still enjoy it. So I suggested we limit ourselves to two meats and just a salad plus some spuds (potatoes for refined readers).
So here we have a series of photographs that I shot as dinner was being prepared. I’m grateful to Miss17 for help with the salad and of course Mum who supervised and made the apple sauce even though I was meant to be looking after her.
So I apologise in advance for the number of photographs in this post but what you won’t see is the number of photographs I shot and are still in my Adobe Lightroom library.
Rolled pork shoulder prior to being rubbed SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 1250Rolled pork shoulder after a rub of Chinese five spice and pepper with some star anise plugged in and bathing in sherry and whisky SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2000Our chicken before roasting. I love this angle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500
Rolled pork shoulder out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 3200Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2500Roast chicken out of the oven SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 5000Roast pork and roast chicken after carving SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 1250Roast pork and roast chicken after carving. More of the chicken in this view. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/60sec, ISO 2000This salad had carrot, cos lettuce, Lebanese cucumber, tomatoes, mangos, avocados, and nectarines SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/250sec, ISO 6400Smashed potatoes with mayonnaise SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 2500Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 5000Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000Our simple dinner setting SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 4000
My plate SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 6400
And then we had dessert
Dessert was red and green jelly with peach slice embedded and three types of ice cream SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200
It was a good day with my parents and daughters. The weather in Brisbane was warm and it was moist. My skin was happy and I was happy.
I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra’s Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/5.6, 1/60sec, ISO 3200I bought Mum flowers for her birthday next week. The Lotus pod reminded me of Canberra’s Skywhale because it looks like a carbuncle. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/8, 1/60sec, ISO 12800
So if you’ve made it this far thanks for reading.
Please feel free to leave a comment and tell me what you have planned for your Christmas dinner.
This morning Bron invited me out to Ricardo’s cafe for breakfast. The smoked salmon was very good and even better with egg yolk running over it into the bread.
Sunday breakfast. Smoked salmon and poached eggs. SONY ILCE-7S with E 35mm F1.8 OSS at 35mm and f/4, 1/100sec, ISO 1600Ricardo’s Cafe cake display Apple iPhone 5 with iPhone 5 back camera 4.12mm f/2.4 at 4mm and f/2.4, 1/100sec, ISO 64
If you have any comments or questions please send me a comment in the space below.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Cookie Policy
