John's Pumpkin Soup with Garlic

Many who know me would say that I have food on my mind most of the time. This is possibly true and whilst I do enjoy going out and reviewing various eating houses, I also enjoy dabbling in the kitchen, much to my wife's irritation when I make a mess, (most of the time!), but thankfully to her enjoyment when my offerings turn out OK, and she has been relived of the cooking duties. Since recovering from surgery, I seem to be spending more time in the kitchen, this could be good or not so good from the boss's aspect!

I tried a pumpkin soup yesterday and had the nod of approval today so I thought I would share it, and if all goes well, some more of  my favourites to come.  So here goes......

Top Take-Aways...and Eat Ins

Take Away or Eat In – the choice is yours.

There is something about a take away meal, and I have many happy memories of consuming plenty of them in some very interesting places, (that's another story!). One of my favourite's is sitting up on Jemmey's Point Look Out overlooking Lakes Entrance itself on a summers evening with a good old fish and chips. I am sure you have your own favourite, but try some of these, I am sure you will enjoy. I have purposely left pizzas out as these will feature in there own category later.

Again then and in no particular order as usual:-

Do you have any Wartime memorabilia – and do you know how to preserve it?

As I am in the process of writing my father’s wartime history, this caught my eye and may be of interest to others.

Do you have wartime arte-facts at home? Do you know their significance or how to care for them?  Learn from Australia's top preservation experts about how to keep your family's wartime heritage items safe in your home for future generations to enjoy, and bring your objects along for personalised advice. The Department of Premier and Cabinet - Veterans Branch and the Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation are delivering a series of free workshops for the public across Victoria. The workshops will bring Australia's leading experts in preservation for a two-day line-up of free workshops and information sessions and in Morwell and Bairnsdale THIS WEEKEND

Gippsland Cafes - my top 5 so far.

Cafes serving Light Meals, and Coffee  – here are my top five as reviewed

 

Back on my favourite subject, here we have venues specialising in providing that quick snack, a light lunch, coffee and cake (they have to go together!), or just darned good coffee. All are owner operated with a passion for their craft, providing varied tastes from in the main, local producers.  Their creative menu items are interspersed with old favourites and cater for all tastes. They are worthy of your patronage, all these are foodie haunts of mine which I really do enjoy, I hope you do too.         As always in no particular order:-

Hospital Humour – from personal experience

Some of you may be wondering why I have not been out and about recently continuing my food reviews. Unfortunately I had to undergo major spinal surgery to relieve pressure on my spinal cord. Thankfully I am recovering although slowly and with very limited mobility for a while. In the meantime, I am re-visiting my reviews and grouping them into top 5 choices taken from my secret marking system!  So while mentioning hospitals and just for fun, here are a few humorous aspects of my time there.

Having spent a little over nine weeks in hospital, I am now enjoying some aspects of simple life previously taken for granted. To say I enjoyed my stay would be an over-statement, but it’s the little things that make the difference making it easier to accept, especially from hospital staff for whom I have the highest regard.

Aussie Pub Grub - my top five reviewed so far

The ‘Great Aussie Pub’ meal is an institution, the bar meal, the counter meal, the lounge, the bistro, call it what you will, and eat it where you like, meals in pubs have changed, and in the most part for the better.

There is some truly great food served in pubs these days.  So, you don’t have full service, and mostly have to order at a counter or at the bar. The décor might not be fancy, and the seating maybe basic, but if you want some good honest food at reasonable prices, and in most cases a good sized serve, then here are my top five so far reviewed and in no particular order:-

My top five choices.....for a meal out

Having been unable to continue with my eating quest around Gippsland for a number of months, and still being somewhat restricted with mobility, I thought I would choose my favourite places to eat, and drink, from those I have reviewed over the last couple of years. 

While attempting to provide a positive outlook in all reviews published, and little does anyone know that I have a secret scorecard, (which will remain secret I might add). When I eat out only those who score over 50% make it to a published review. I will let slip that there are nine scoring categories, importance weighted and making up a top score of 100. It is difficult to fairly score a coffee lounge against a full on restaurant, but that system seems to work well so far. So here goes, to start with the first instalment…. 

The Alpine Rally - the motor-sport tradition continues in East Gippsland.

A long rallying tradition is set to continue on 1^st to 3^rd December 2017 when Australia’s largest and most spectacular gravel rally for two wheel drive cars is based in picturesque Lakes Entrance,  East Gippsland. The rally is sure to be even more exciting and challenging with a number of new innovations that have made it an outstanding success.

I have to admit being a bit of a “petrol head”  to put it mildly, and having been somewhat involved in this rally in past years, it is one of my favourite regional events, a great spectacle and now a great photo/video opportunity and the simple enjoyment of mingling with the crews and admiring the cars.  At the spectator points there is nothing better than the sights sounds and smells of the Alpine Rally.  This is for petrol heads, car lovers, (yes there is a difference) even for families who want to enjoy a good day out with spectacular entertainment. Put it in your calendar now.

The TSHD Tommy Norton - but why is she called "Tommy Norton?"

Gippsland Ports and the Gippsland Lakes at large have long awaited the new dredge, but why the “Tommy Norton”?  

Over the last couple of years we have all kept an eye on the progress of a new dredge for Lakes Entrance. Some thought it would never happen, others certain in the knowledge that finally, after many temporary fixes, an effective dredge for the iconic Entrance, the only link from the Gippsland Lakes catchment to Bass Strait, would happen.

But why is it called “Tommy Norton?”

COFFEE - a flippant guide to coffee and those who drink it.

Most of us have an ongoing love affair with coffee, but does your choice of coffee say anything about you ? Read on... do you know anyone who fits the bill?

Lets start with an old faithful, the CAPPUCCINO…                         A kind warm hearted person, but sometimes totally oblivious to the world around you.  Once in a while friends have to remind you to wipe the froth from your lips !                                                                                                                    

OK, now for all you LATTE lovers…You are often indecisive but reflective and a real thinker.     You prefer the safe option in a world of variable and unknown quantities. You follow the crowd.

The Green Thing

Is this something new, something that us older folk have to learn?, perhaps just a new name for old habits? What do you think?

Checking out at the supermarket, the young cashier suggested to the much older lady that she should bring her own grocery bags, because plastic bags are not good for the environment. The woman apologized to the young girl and explained, "We didn't have this 'green thing' back in my day."     The young cashier responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation didn’t care enough to save our environment for future generations."  The older lady said that she was right – adding “our generation didn't have the "green thing" in its day”. The older lady went on to explain:

Back then, we returned milk bottles, soft drink bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed, sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.  But we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.