Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: An excellent evening in Newtown

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  • Russell Brown, in reply to recordari,

    Yes, falafel was in attendance on Saturday, along with a meat-fest the likes of which I’ve seldom seen. One might say he made up for any lack in the south by heavily compensating in the north.

    The falafel fell apart a bit but turned out to be ideal snack food for the (vegan) philosopher later in the evening. The tandoori lamb (butterflied leg marinated 24 hours, barbecued, then rested in a warm oven) was freaking perfect. And cooking whole leatherjackets was a total punt that turned out really well. They're $8kg because they have bones, but marinated then grilled on the barbecue I thought they tasted lovely. Irritatingly, most guides name them as a sustainable fish (they're basically bycatch), but Forest & Bird begs to differ. I thought the little Italian things with mozzarella in them were the nicest of the Westmere Butchery sausages -- must remember them for brunches.

    But really, if it's fun with meat you want, Stephen Judd is your man.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Islander,

    Agree with your blog post (and plain salted Heartland chips are excellent. They just taste of…potato chips fried in canola & sunflower oils, & sea salt.)

    +1.

    And pleasingly thick. My favourite.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to JackElder,

    the lack of food seemed to encourage alcohol-based disinhibition from several of the participants

    I believe it's fair to say that some would have needed no such excuse..

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • recordari, in reply to Russell Brown,

    The tandoori lamb (butterflied leg marinated 24 hours, barbecued, then rested in a warm oven) was freaking perfect.

    This is decidedly so. You realise you're just digging a bigger hole with the Wellington crowd, who will now expect you to take the BBQ down with you for subsequent OGBs.

    Where's a good source of Heartland chips? Found some at Nosh, but they don't regularly have them. They go great with my homemade humus.

    AUCKLAND • Since Dec 2009 • 2607 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    Mind you, some brands of salt and vinegar chips manage to taste of something without having an unnervingly long list of ingredients like the more exotic sorts do (milk powder. ugh.).

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to recordari,

    Where’s a good source of Heartland chips? Found some at Nosh, but they don’t regularly have them. They go great with my homemade humus.

    Nosh is the only place I've seen them.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Russell Brown,

    Leatherjackets are a much under-esteemed food fish (and they're not endangered -suck it, F&B.) Not for nothing are they also known as creamfish - and on -the-bone, in parchment in the oven (with a leetle salted evo) or on the barbie(ditto), they are delicious...never tried them marinated Russell, but I'm always willing to try new ways of cooking fish*

    *I marinate raw fish in fruit juices only - to date!

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Islander,

    Because they are a southern potato chip (Timaru & Waimate &Oamaru). they’re on special at southern New World outlets (extending to Nelson & The Coast) at the moment ($1.99 a bag), and available there, and a lot of littler local outlets, almost anytime.

    Bring the PSA salon – or OGB- to CHCH, and I’ll bring a vanload-

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Islander,

    Leatherjackets are a much under-esteemed food fish (and they’re not endangered -suck it, F&B.)

    Lol.

    Not for nothing are they also known as creamfish – and on -the-bone, in parchment in the oven (with a leetle salted evo) or on the barbie(ditto), they are delicious…never tried them marinated Russell, but I’m always willing to try new ways of cooking fish*

    I used a fresh lime juice, light soy sauce, sugar, chilli, garlic marinade I thought seemed appropriate. Once I tasted the creaminess, I did think a little oven-baking would be nice too, yes.

    Or even panfried with flour or breadcrumbs. I had a panfried flounder at the The Green Parrot after we recorded our Webstock special (thanks Vincent Burke) and it was wonderful -- lovely moist flesh that eased off the bone.

    I talked to the young chef afterwards, and he said that people freak out about the bones, so fancy restaurants cook flounder by partially filleting it and dropping it in a deep fryer. I've had this. It looks spectacular -- the fillets curl up away from the bone -- but the method dries out the flesh and basically wrecks everything that its good about flounder. Dicks.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Islander,

    "fresh lime juice, light soy sauce, chilli, garlic marinade"

    - yes, yum!

    Member of whanau has just said "That's what you've used with whole baked kahawai with ginger juice and coconut cream."

    Pleads guilty.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso, in reply to Russell Brown,

    if it's fun with meat you want, Stephen Judd is your man.

    T-shirt. And permission to scribble this sentence in phone booths around the country, possibly.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    I'm back in the shaky city and almost recovered from Russell's concept of host responsibility ("there's just time to go to the bar before we start up again") and Megan's compulsion to keep the Cantabrian glasses brimming.

    Hey, I read somewhere that "people who don't have houses aren't allowed to pay for drinks". I know you _do_ have a house, but still, I was following the spirit of the rule.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to recordari,

    homemade humus

    Mmmm

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Megan Wegan,

    Hey, I read somewhere that “people who don’t have houses aren’t allowed to pay for drinks”. I know you _do_ have a house, but still, I was following the spirit of the rule.

    Actually, yes. Now you mention it, that was an actual rule.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Russell Brown, in reply to Islander,

    Bring the PSA salon – or OGB- to CHCH, and I’ll bring a vanload-

    How could I not?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Russell Brown,

    By WelfareWorkingGroup 'logic', that would incentivise a whole lot of folk to live in tents

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia, in reply to Megan Wegan,

    Hey, I read somewhere that “people who don’t have houses aren’t allowed to pay for drinks”.

    I picture millions of Japanese laying siege to the New Zealand embassy just before cocktail hour…

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Sacha,

    Tha best...

    And @Russell - unfilleted fish can taste so very very good. That's mainly how we deal to yellowbellied flounders here - gut (a very simple job): remove head (cook seperately for the afficionados): scale well, wipe with cloth, dip in lightly-salted flour, dip again in egg...cook in medium hot oil...

    is drooling.

    Runs away.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Isabel Hitchings,

    Proper Crisps are also amazing. Other chips taste funny to me now.

    Christchurch • Since Jul 2007 • 719 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Isabel Hitchings,

    Sound very like Heartland potato chips Isabel! Especially with the potato sources...great that there are least 2 really good kinds out & about-

    (recommences running towards the food I'm supposed to be cooking!)

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to Islander,

    Except I should have mentioned that we also trim off the tail & side fins...

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd,

    Really? I've always liked how they go crispy-crunch...

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Stephen Judd, in reply to Russell Brown,

    if it’s fun with meat you want, Stephen Judd is your man.

    I really... goodness.

    It would be churlish to dispute this ambiguous encomium.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 3122 posts Report

  • Russell Brown,

    And ... all the salads people brought were nice and my friend Mel's chocolate mousse was cosmological.

    Also, just tried one of the Scotch bonnet chillies my friend Richard brought from his garden.

    OMFG. And, ow.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 22850 posts Report

  • Megan Wegan,

    +1 on proper crisps.

    Welly • Since Jul 2008 • 1275 posts Report

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