Those of you who are old enough will remember ‘school milk’. How could you forget! This public health initiative called the Free Milk Scheme went national in 1950 and was aimed at improving the nutrition of all Australian children. Milk was supplied to kindergartens and primary schools so that, in theory, no child under the age of 13 would go without. The scheme ended in 1973, unable to be justified on nutritional grounds in children over seven.Speaking to friends about school milk recently, it seems this daily ritual divided us neatly in two camps; you either loved or hated it! ...
On The First Lick of Spring
While here in Adelaide the leaves are starting to turn shades of crimson and gold and markets brim with autumn produce, in Paris, April heralds the first glimpse of spring. Parisians shake off the weight of their heavy coats, and on the street is a sense of celebration and renewal. The length of the cold, dark winter only heightens this feeling of rebirth and lightness, and makes springtime all the more precious. My friends in Paris tell me that this winter has been particularly long with lots of snow, the most since 1945.Printemps (spring) may throw off the cloak of ...
On The Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market
With the days becoming cooler and crisper after a long, hot summer, thoughts turn to the flavours of autumn and there’s no better place to witness the change of seasons than at a farmers’ market. The Adelaide Showground Farmers’ Market is the largest in South Australia and attracts up to 5000 locals and tourists every Sunday morning. Established in 2006 with the assistance of the Royal Agricultural & Horticultural Society, the non-profit organisation supports small family farms and regional producers who sell fresh, seasonal produce directly to consumers. It’s an authentic South Australian experience and has become a regular outing ...
On a belle parfumerie française
Roaming the crooked streets of the Marais on a recent trip to Paris, I stumbled across the most adorable little boutique with a lipstick-red façade. Tucked on the sleepy Place du Marché Sainte Catherine, Marie Antoinette is filled with rare perfumes and wonderful scents. For an original gift, these treasures are far more interesting than anything you can pick up duty free or in a Parisian department store. Just as charming is the store’s owner, Antonio de Figueiredo, a passionate man who loves perfume and loves what he does. His store is all about a return to authenticity, elegant products ...
On Toasting Forks & Wood Stoves
The house is still asleep as my father lights the fire in the slow combustion stove; an Everhot that lives up to its name. A barrow load of wood sits outside the back door to fuel the day, red gum swiftly split with an axe. By the time he has fed the sheepdogs and milked the cow the kitchen is warm and the coals are red hot. He slices a loaf of bread, threads a slice onto the prongs of the long toasting fork, opens the door to the fire and gently holds the bread near the coals, not too ...