May 2017 - Week 4

Monday 22nd to Sunday 28th May 2017

Monday I did a supermarket shop, cleaned the terrace, watered the plants, made phone calls and ate fried bacon with cauliflower cheese for dinner.

Tuesday I got petrol, picked up 96 litres of water and went for a walk. For dinner I made a carrot and cumin soup, then went to pick Sam up from the airport. It’s a late flight from Newcastle so we didn’t get home until 10.30; I’m not used to driving in the dark these days!

Wednesday I went for a walk along the promenade at Ghardira Beach. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion in the early afternoon heat. Even the sea seemed too exhausted to fall upon the shore. A few tourists staggered from sunbeds to the water to cool down but not much else moved. Our mini heat wave hints at things to come.

For dinner I tried something a little different. I bought a chicken (corn fed) from our local butcher but for a change I brined it; that is, I soaked it in salted water for four hours. I used a 6% salt and water solution. I then roasted it covered in a foil tent for 45 minutes. After that I uncovered it and basted it with a BBQ sauce every 10 minutes for another 30 minutes. I then took it out of the oven, covered it in foil and let it rest for 20 minutes or so. And I have to say, it was AMAZING! Tasty, soft and juicy and everything I hoped it would be. Time permitting, I will never again roast a chicken without brining it. For years I’ve heard Heston and other great chefs saying than you should always brine your chicken first but thus far I’ve ignored them. Silly me! The brining advice also applies to all sorts of meats, not least pork ribs, so watch this space!

Thursday after dropping Sam at art class I went and had our car air conditioning serviced. The car is now freezing! I went for a hike along the cliffs above Golden Bay and Riviera Bay before the heat built too much.

Friday we shopped and worked. In the evening we met Chris and Tina at Bayside for not very good sangria, then went for dinner at a new Ligurian restaurant, Trattoria a’ Lanterna. We had a selection of focaccia which were tasty but a bit doughy followed by mixed starters of calamari two ways, salt cod and potato mash and mini vegetable tarts. For mains Sam and I both had pasta Genovese, very authentic with green beans and potatoes, and I had a fresh side salad. Chris had a salt cod stew. For desserts we had tiramisu which was rather too creamy and I had a ricotta cheese cake. The food was okay but nothing to write home about and the restaurant lacks atmosphere but we will probably give it another go sometime. Afterwards we went to The George where a guitarist was performing and had a fun time as we always do with Tina and Chris.

Saturday I went for a wander, stopping for an excellent cappuccino at Miracles. For dinner I defrosted chilli con carne.

Sunday we worked mostly to get ahead before our holiday. We couldn’t be bothered to shop or cook so Sam had salmon and broccoli and I had a pizza.