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Written by Pip Brett

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book, cookbook review, gelato, icecream, Just in, Messina

Review - Gelato Messina

Dec 13, 2013

Written by Pip Brett

When this book arrived in store recently, we literally melted into a salivating mess!

Messina first opened its doors in Darlinghurst, Sydney in 2002. It had a clear goal - to set a new benchmark for Gelato in Australia. They have certainly achieved this with people flocking to their store, which is now located at The Star, The Creative Department and in Surry Hills. They have been given honours in the Good Food Guide and have many fans, including some of the finest chefs in the country.

We are thrilled the Messina family have compiled their most beloved (and best selling) recipes and published them in this glorious book. Messina - the cookbook, includes lush photography and clear instructions on how to create their recipes in your very own domestic kitchen. Insert whooping sounds!

Our favourite is Mango Sorbet!

Mangoes are in season and we used Kensington Pride. So juicy and sweet, you would swear that it has dairy in it - but it doesn't. It would be PERFECT as an alternative Christmas Day dessert!

You can buy the book here ($39.95 + shipping) - and if this is a Christmas present, don't forget to request free gift wrapping!

Images from - Concrete Playground, The Kitchen Inc

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chocolate, cookbook review, Inspiration, recipe, Recipes

Book Review - A Bite of the Big Apple

Aug 08, 2013

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A Bite of the Big Apple is Monica Trapaga's food adventure in New York. She describes it all so eleganty: "It's Ella and Louis. It's Seinfeld and Woody Allen. It's the bright lights of Broadway, it's the hot dogs at 2a.m. It's a cultural cacophony quite unlike anywhere else in the world."

I have very stong memories of visiting our American relatives at a young age and having the mom bake chocolate brownies for us kids. It was such a treat. The fudge like consitency of the choloate and the intense flavour branded itself in my memory as one of the best things I have ever eaten.

As I am now a mother of 2 small humans, they are (like me) often in search of the next chocolate treat. We love to cook in our house and when I saw this American cookbook, I couldn't help but look for a traditional American brownie recipe. To my delight Monica has tried many brownie recipe's in her time and shortlisted only the best. This one is right up there and in her own words "heavenly".

I chose to try her suggestion and bake them in little cupcake cases to make for easy indivisual desserts and they worked out perfectly. Just be careful not to overcook them as they contain a lot of sugar and therefore can burn easily. The almond meal gives them a grainy consistency and also helps them sink in the middle - perfect for adding a little dollop of icecream or cream!

Enjoy!

Sally x