Friday Five

Since making my own gluten-free pasta I've decided to invest in a Cucina Pro Fresh Pasta set. I have since found them cheaper online. It pays to shop around!

Check out these great prices


CucinaPro 178 Fresh Pasta Set


Atlas Original Italian Stainless-Steel Past...




 
Fasta Pasta Microwave Cooker with Spiral Bound F.P. Cookbook


Norpro Ravioli Maker and Press


  Norpro Pasta Drying Rack

Local Food Heroes: Italian Cuisine - Pasta Fina

Growing up in Wollongong  with Italian uncles Rocco Annechini and Carlo Dressino, I spent a lot of time being surrounded by European food including Lasagne, Canneloni and Spaghetti Marinara from Pasta Fina in Wollongong. You can now buy Pasta Fina products in many delicatessens and supermarkets throughout the Illawarra but if you can do so I suggest you visit the source and visit the Pasta Fina store in Crown St, Wollongong.

Married to the job: Flaminio Fina - nobody does it his way.

Photo: Natalie Boog of SMH

 When you enter the store you can see Flaminio and his team making the product fresh or you can purchase their dried, fridge or freezer packs for eating at home or at a special event. Take the time to explore the different varieties and talk to the experts about their favourites and what each pasta is best suited for. 

One of my favourite products is their authentic Spaghetti Marinara which you just heat and eat. Delicious!

Read more about this treasure trove of foodie delights in an article by By Helen Greenwood, SMH 

Pasta Fina

63 Crown St (East End), Wollongong
NSW 2500, Australia

Phone: (02) 4228 1021

Shopping: The Good Oil

It is so important to source the best ingredients you can. Sometimes this means you are paying a little extra. One of the investments I make each month is to choose a good  oil.  Often this is an Italian Olive Oil purchased in bulk from Mitchells Fruit for Less in Warilla Grove. They often have specials on bulk oils and it just makes sense to stock up on the best. If I had the extra money in my budget I would splash out on a locally produced Olive Oil such as that produced by Razorback Olive Oil located near Appin or another local producer.

With my drop in income from freelance photography and web design due to businesses suffering from the economic climate I have to spend my money wisely and try to purchase the best quality I can within my budget. I know that I am not alone in having to tighten my purse strings but I have learned from experience that buying the cheapest bottle of oil without paying notice of the per unit amount often leads to paying more over time.

 I like to keep on eye on Homeshop and Coles Online to compare prices and let my mouse-clicks do the work rather than walking up and down the aisle in-store. This week I noticed a special on Woolworths Homeshop on Four Litres of Moro Olive Oil .

When you click on a store aisle and then narrow the search by clicking on a category within that aisle you can order your search by price or by unit. When it comes to finding the cheapest price per 100ml the by unit sort method makes light work of finding the best buys.

Moro Olive Oil Extra Virgin 4L  was 54.74 now 23.99 ($0.60/100ml)

If you have any shopping tips this week please comment on this post.

Illawarra Food and Restaurant Reviews http://illawarrafoodreviews.blogspot.com

Gluten Free Eating Directory of Australia

After my previous efforts to find Gluten Free items I am happy to share that there is a directory of Gluten Free Eating in Australia.

Welcome to the Gluten Free Eating Directory … a comprehensive gluten free guide dedicated to making gluten free eating easier across Australia! Our established free-to-use website provides detailed information about restaurants, cafes, takeaways, shopping outlets, products, manufacturers, gluten free online shops, services, publications and ‘eat’n’stay’ options that cater for gluten free diets. So if you have coeliac disease, gluten intolerance, dermatitis herpetiformis, or just prefer not to eat gluten, this site is for you.

http://www.glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au/online_shopping.php

Unfortunately there are no Illawarra restaurants or cafes added to the NSW map search but I hope that we can change that. If you have seen the words 'gluten free' on a menu near you, please let me know or contact the Gluten Free Directory directly. Many hands make light work and here's hoping the Illawarra restaurants and cafes will make it easier to find gluten free eats!

After a little research (and some help from @sejtraav ) I can confirm some gluten free action at Lee and Me in Crown St, Wollongong and at Beachouse Restaurant, Wollongong harbour. More to be added to http://illawarraglutenfree.blogspot.com


Gluten Free Eating Directory
For all enquiries, including feedback about our site, please contact:
Email: enquiries@glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au
Phone: (03) 5443 7777
Mobile: 0400 558 741

Update: I just heard from the lovely people from Gluten Free Eating Directory and there are two businesses listed in the south coast area



Gluten Free Options
Range of gluten free food hamper bags
Convenient, easy and deluxe gluten free catering option

http://www.glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au/view.php?business=335

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Available From
Orders can be placed directly with Berihurikari (see contact details above). Curry choices and prices are available on the Berihurikari website (click link on this page)
Deliveries are made to NSW Central Coast, Blue Mountains and Sydney suburbs. See website for details or contact Berihurikari direct
Berry Markets (1st Sunday of the month)
Kiama Produce Market (4th Saturday of the month)
Bowral Produce Market (2nd Saturday of the month)
Wollongong Mall Markets at Crown Central (every Friday)
Major events at Homebush stadium (from the food vendor area outside the stadium)
Various retail outlets including Manuka Fine Food Store (Canberra), Green Poppy (Shellharbour), Jamberoo General Store (Jamberoo), Kangaroo Valley Supermarket (Kangaroo Valley), Mangerton Convenience Store (Mangerton), Keiraville Fine Cuisine (Wollongong), Emporium (Berry)

More information:
http://www.glutenfreeeatingdirectory.com.au/view_manufacturer.php?business=76

Gluten free flour sources

Image via Wikipedia

In my search for Gluten Free flour, sugar substitutes and coconut oil for my biscotti and canneloni recipes I have visited both Woolworths in Warilla, Coles in Warrawong and some delicatessens. Sadly it is very difficult to source Millet, Quinoa and buckwheat flour in the larger supermarkets. What's worse is that there is no longer a health food store at Westfield Warrawong so I have returned home with Xanthum gum from Coles, Polenta flour from an Italian deli in Warrawong, and some sore feet!

When I got home I decided to look online and source all my ingredients in the one place. I've had some success locating my supplies and learned some things along the way, including how to make my own nut meals and the health benefits of Coconut flour. I am curious to learn how the texture of baked goods will be affected by the addition of coconut flour and coconut oil. One site which produces its products in Philippines but based in Australia is NUI.

"Supplying Australia and New Zealand with 100% Certified Organic Virgin coconut oil, coconut flour, 100% Pure organic black chocolate, coca nibs, Nui Maple Biscuit Mix, Nui Coconut Pancake Mix."

100% Pure Organic Coconut Flour

organic & natural

Coconut flour is made from ground coconut meat and is an excellent high-fibre alternative to wheat. It has the highest fibre content of any flour. Having a very low concentration of digestible carbohydrates makes it an excellent choice for those who must restrict their carbohydrate intake.

Coconut flour can be used to make breads, cakes, pies, and other baked goods. Use 15-25% in place of other flours in standard recipes.

• gluten-free
• wheat-free
• soy-free
• contains no fillers
• low-carb
• high-fibre
• product of the Philippines
• Ingredients: Organic Coconut Flour

100% Pure Organic Coconut Flour	Size	Price
100% Pure Organic Coconut Flour	1kg	$15.95 +

100% Pure Organic Coconut Flour

500g

$8.95

http://www.nuicoconut.com/australia/nui_products_AUS/nui_food_range.htm#OrganicCoconutFlour

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I've been reading about the benefits of Coconut Oil since learning of the dietary requirements of some young friends who cannot process animal fats in a normal fashion. NUI offers a 100% Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil in bulk or smaller packs which may prove to be cost effective over time.

100% Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Food Oil

Coconut oil is the most versatile dietary oil on earth.

Our virgin oil is:

• fairly traded
• certified organic
• contains no hydrogenated oils
• no trans fatty acids
• is not refined
• is not bleached
• is not deodorized
• no GM ingredients

100% Vegetarian. Ideal for cooking, baking, frying or spreading. Delicious enough to eat straight from a spoon. A smooth, creamy, all purpose oil.

100% certified organic virgin coconut food oil	SIze	Price
Nui 100% certified organic virgin coconut food oil	440ml	$17.00 + P&H

Nui 100% certified organic virgin coconut food oil

1 litre

$32.00 + P&H

Nui 100% certified organic virgin coconut food oil SPECIAL PRICE

10 litre

$225.00 + P&H

Nui 100% certified organic virgin coconut food oil SPECIAL PRICE

20 litre

$400.00

+ P&H

Other products from NUI include:

• Nui Coconut Pancake Mix
• Nui Maple Biscuit Mix
  
• Nui 80% Raw Dark Chocolate - with Nibs
• Nui 70%Raw Dark Chocolate
• Nui Raw Cocoa Beans
• Nui Raw Cocoa Nibs
• Nui Certified Organic Choc Coconut Spread
• Nui Raw Cacao Butter
• Nui Raw Cacao Powder

Other brands of Coconut Oil and Flour include:

Tropical traditions
http://www.tropicaltraditions.com.au

Kokonut Pacific Niulife virgin coconut oil
http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/OilSales/OilIndex.html
http://www.kokonutpacific.com.au/OilSales/Shopping/Cart1.php

And a great overview to nut meals
http://www.foodsubs.com/Nutmeals.html

I also found a great organic food store called 'Doorstep Organics' which delivers to Sydney and Wollongong. Thankfully they stock Millet flour around $8/kilo and Buckwheat flour around $6 per kilo and Quinoa at a staggering $14/kilo. I am sure to put in a large order next week and in the meantime ring around some local delis and ask them to order in more gluten free flour as I am certain I am not the only one finding it difficult to source gluten free flours and coconut oil in bulk quantities.

I may take a trip down to the lovely Shellharbour Village to Green Poppy. I had a vague memory of them stocking gluten free flours and after some googling I've found their website and reviews and it seems I'm in luck! I've just emailed them asking what gluten-free products and sugar-alternatives they stock and hope to finally source some agave syrup for one of my biscotti batches.

My young friend Siobhan is on a cancer-fighting diet which restricts most types of sugar and I want her gluten-free and sugar-free biscotti to taste the best they can. I am hoping to have a taste test this weekend and bring a smile to her sweet little face. Her Dad Michael has been a fountain of information and due to her restricted diet I have been learning a lot about suitable sugar alternatives, oils and flours. It has been a challenge learning to bake with buckwheat on a very short list of flours which are suitable. The last time we baked I made a cake out of buckwheat pancake mix and some pears for sweetness. It wasn't the most appetising cake but she loved it anyway and I'm hoping that with the addition of coconut flour to that list since they will not only be healthy but taste great. All the recipes I have been reading state that buckwheat flour should only make up half of the flour in a recipe. I can only imagine that the coconut oil and coconut flour would make them taste extra delicious. I guess the proof is in the tasting.

I'll keep you updated on my gluten free baking progress. Wish me luck!

Vanessa



On a sidenote, I did hear some heartening news that the House of Hope Food Barn at Warrawong stocks Gluten Free Flour and Bread. I hope to visit next week and will share what I learn. There is talk of a Food Barn opening in Warilla in the future, something that I am sure will be well-received with free bread, fruit and vegetables for low income earners, pensioners and students. They also have boxes of food for $30 including meat and groceries. Please print out the flyer and spread the news.

If you know of any sources of gluten free flour either in the Illawarra or Online please leave a comment on this blog post and I will add it to the directory with a link to your profile or comment link.

Illawarra Food Reviews at Shellharbour Markets

After much deliberation I have decided to hire a stall at the Shellharbour Village Markets, starting on August 9th and once a month on the second Sunday thereafter. I will be selling gluten free biscotti, (chocolate biscotti and biscotti with pistachio), my world famous butter shortbread and some cannoli with a sweet ricotta cheese filling. I have been making butter shortbread since I was a teenager and it is much requested by friends and family. The gluten free biscotti is inspired by my visit to Tutti in Italia, Italian Day at Wollongong Mall earlier in the year and I will be selling hot chocolate as well, the perfect accompaniment and is sure to warm me up as I man the stall from 9am until 2pm.

I will also have my photography portfolio and some samples of my work in commercial, food and portrait photography and I will be offering special packages including glamour photography sessions and 3, 6, 9 and 12 month baby portrait sessions.

Over the next week I will be trialling three varieties of gluten free biscotti

• one with cornmeal, cornflour and xanthum gum and pistachios
• millet flour, buckwheat flour, quinoa flower and cranberries
  
• another with millet flour, buckwheat flour, quinoa flour and unsweetened cocoa

I'm also testing out a recipe for Cannoli filled with ricotta from the Womens Weekly Italian Cookbook. I'm a big fan of Cannoli since my first visit to Tonitto Continental Cakes in Port Kembla and I love ricotta cheesecake so I'm excited about the combination.

I've missed out on a lot of late due to poor health and I'm glad to be getting back into the swing of things. Bring on Spring!

My Chocolate Shoppe Kiama!

My Chocolate Shoppe has moved!

I was really sad when a comment was made on this blog that my favourite chocolate shop had closed down. Luckily I'm a wiz at research and found a listing in the White pages for My Chocolate Shoppe in Kiama. Yay! Yet one more reason to make the trek down to Kiama! Shellharbour Village will never be the same for me but I'm glad that they are still in business!

( More photos )

New address is:

Shp 13/ 106 Terralong St
Kiama NSW 2533
Show map...

Phone: (02) 4232 4225

Sweet treats of the Illawarra

A guide to sweet treats found in Wollongong, Shellharbour and Kiama cities.

Queen Street Bakery, Warilla

One of the best kept secrets of the Illawarra and they keep winning awards for their quality cakes, pastries, breads and other delectable treats. Make sure you try their pecan pie, individual lemon meringue pies, cheesecakes and their cupcakes with attitude.



                                     

Delicious cupcakes   

Individual Cheesecakes

 Birthday cake decorated with lollies

Shortbread hearts and chocolate cookies

from mixed goods store next door

Jumbo size Wagon Wheel from Queen Street Bakery has to be tried to be believed. Only $2
Sure to bring out the inner child in adults and a great experience for kids who may never have tried a Wagon Wheel before.

Contact Details:
24 Queen St Warilla
NSW, 2528 Australia
Ph: (02) 4296 7133

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Tonitto Continental Cakes, Port Kembla

I have been a fan of Tonitto Continental Cakes since my first visit as a young girl. My Uncle Rocco owned an Italian Restaurant (The Capri) nearby and my cousin Marina and I would visit Tonitto's and by some of the amazing canoncini (cones filled with custard or chocolate) or connoli.




When I grew up I became very fold of the Rum baba.

Rum Baba that will make you cry 'mama' they are so good!




And you can't visit Tonittos without a Zabaglione.


In 1996 I had my wedding cake made at Tonitto's. They make an amazing tiramisu cake with icing and fresh flowers. Everyone loved the cake, especially those who do not like traditional wedding cake.

Photos © 2009 Tonitto Continental Cakes
Email: info@tonittocakes.com.au
169 Wentworth St Port Kembla NSW 2505
Phone: +61 (02) 42751977

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Zweefers Divine Cakes

When living in Corrimal for a few years I would visit the Gourmet Platter in what used to be Corrimal Shopping World and drool over the Zweefers Divine Cakes in their cake display cabinet. Then I found out that they had a store within the same complex and was amazed at the range of products and the fresh tastes. Since then they have moved to Fairy Meadow and have a large store where you can dine in or take away these delectable offerings which are sure to tempt. Don't go there on an empty stomach! 

43 - 45 Princes Highway,
Fairy Meadow, NSW 2519

Phone (02) 4285 4155

http://www.zweefers.com.au/

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