Like A Bhat Out Of Hell

NATIONAL DISH OF NEPAL - Dal Bhat

Namaste GGJ Pilgrims! Today we are ascending some of the highest mountains in the world (metaphorically of course) as we sample some delicious Nepalese vegetarian cuisine. Now I know you are thinking "Leo, just because Nepal has the greatest proportion of Hindus than any other country, doesn't mean that they are all strict vegetarians." Well I say to you, good factoid! Way to go with the knowledge! However, I didn't choose Dal Bhat to be the Nepali national dish. But I did choose to cook the national dish of Nepal based on its' vegetarianism, due to it being my favourite vegetarian's birthday, Lady Cara!

Lady Cara is an interesting Moleface. She has a few paradoxes. Smart as a whip, Lady Cara is very intelligent. But place her in a conversation of more than 3 people (especially a conversation between Molefaces) and she'll be lost quicker than the passengers of Oceanic Flight 815! We always have to remind her of upcoming events, especially if we want to see her at them. But due to her vagueness, Lady Cara has developed her own ingenious philosophies. From "time is time, but we'll never have that time again" to "does anyone feel like it's five hours ago but now?", she is a venerable monk.

Unfortunately, Lady Cara does cop some flack from The Molefaces. As she is a vegetarian in a group of devout meateaters, she is generally catered for separately when we dine together. For instance, when we have BBQs, Molefaces feel there is no need to make salads for Lady Cara. She can always eat bread and sauce! Plus as everyone knows, you don't win friends with salad! And as avid GGJ pilgrims will remember, she is never gonna live down not putting peanut butter in the spiders! Despite all this, Lady Cara is still the Queen of the baked treats (if you exclude Hay Rae and myself)!

However, she is thoroughly genuine. What you see is blessedly what you get with Lady Cara. Compassion and tolerance in abundance, Lady Cara is always willing to extend a listening ear. And dismissive she is not, as without exception Lady Cara finds the positives in people and situations, and is willing to give people many chances at redemption. Even with these incredible traits, don't try to take advantage of her kindness, cause Lady Cara don't suffer no fools! So I thought we would find an extra special vegetarian national dish to cook for her birthday.

Dal bhat is a staple dish found across Nepal and consists of a lentil soup (Dal) and steamed rice (bhat). It is generally eaten twice a day, first in the mid-morning and then later in the early evening. At higher elevations, where rice is harder to grow, it may be substituted for other grains such as maize, millet or barley. Recipes for the dal vary from different ethnic groups, localities and even from different seasons. The lentils may be cooked with tomatoes, onion, chilli, ginger and garlic. But most recipes contain coriander, garam masala, cumin and tumeric. Dal bhat is often accompanied by a vegetable curry (tarkari), and a portion of pickle or chutney. Although a chicken, goat or fish curry and yoghurt may replace the tarkari.

 Enjoy, or as they say in Nepal, Masti garna!



A vegetarian national dish is rare, but look no further for the recipe: http://tbird86ghz.blogspot.com/2008/10/recipe-nepali-dal-baht.html

Difficulty:         4

Appearance:    4

Taste:               4

TOTAL:            12

Note: Difficulty is scaled in reverse to the other categories, where 1 =  was extremely difficult to make, and 5 = was easy to make. 

Not a very difficult dish to make, which one would expect from a dish that doesn't involve cooking meat. The dal has a few processes but that is nothing to baulk at. The only thing that made this meal slightly difficult to cook was having two Molefaces in my kitchen. My kitchen is basically the size of a matchbox, and it is hard enough for me to find space on my own. But with 2 lovely ladies "performing" what could only be described as a skit about bus travel between Broadie and Franger, cooking time is extending dramatically. Eventually we sat down to eat, so all's well that ends well.

Well the bhat looked like it should, it was white and fluffy. But since it is rice, I guess I cannot really expect more from it than it is. The dal on the other hand looked nothing like rice. The lentils smelled amazing with all the spices and herbs and the taste was something I had never experienced before. The texture of the lentils and the vegetables mixed with the mustard flavour of the turmeric and the earthy aroma of the jeera (cumin), produced a taste sensation. And as you would have heard in the video it was totes brothy! Perfect for any cold winters night. And with the side dishes of the chutney and tarkari it provided a venerable feast of colour.

And to top it off we of course had to have a birthday cake. Lady Cara has a weakness for chocolate, so she was an easy birthday diner to cook for. So for her I made a simple Chocolate Butter Cake. The cake devoured and the bus finally reaching its' destination the ladies left my kitchen. With full bellies and contented faces. Hope you enjoyed your specially vegetarian GGJ dinner Lady Cara, for it may be a while before we come across another non-meaty national dish!

We'll Take To The Yard Like A Coq [Au Vin] Fight

NATIONAL DISH OF FRANCE - Coq Au Vin

Bienvenue GGJ Pilgrims! We've finally reached the land of the venerable French cuisine! The French and all that comes with them are very close to my heart, and their food is particularly close to my stomach.

Across the Seine to La Tour Eiffel

One of the highlights of my life was travelling to France in 2008. And although I only got to set foot in Paris, it was a dream come true. My Contiki tour ended in Paris, and while most left to go back to London, I decided to remain in La Ville-Lumière for an extra week. This was during a bitter winter, where it rained nearly everyday. Added to that, I was alone and had basically no money left, so spent most of the days just walking around the arrondissements. In spite of this I have never felt so enamored with a city!

stunning Parisian sunset from the top of the Eiffel Tower

Entering the city, our tour guide showed off the architectural highlights. I was so fixated on each individual building that I wasn't taking in the whole landscape. We pulled out the front of l'École Militaire, which has been a Military College since 1750, and were told to see if we could find the soldiers training with lasers. This was to distract from what was around us, and when we were eventually told to turn right I was gobsmacked. That was the first time I saw La Tour Eiffel. Hopping off the bus and standing at the base of the Eiffel Tour is an indelible memory, and I was so awestruck (not to mention craning my neck sky high) that I didn't notice the hip height stone columns surrounding it. My shins were in pain, but nothing was gonna stop me from climbing that majestic structure right to the top! Except the wind, which was so blustery they closed off the 3rd level. Although I did go back a few days later and finally made it to the top!


I could write a novel about my times in Paris, but this post is long as it is. But the rest of my time was filled with great sights, sounds, drinks and of course food! From the Moulin Rouge to Musée du Louvre, Notre Dame de Paris to Jardin du Luxembourg, Paris has it all and more! And although Melbourne is still my favourite place in the world, Paris does come a close second!


With SO many delicious meals originating in this wonderful country it is quite hard to choose one that is most distinguishable as the national dish. Boeuf à la bourguignonne, bouillabaisse, cassoulet are just some of the dishes that spring to mind when you mention French gastronomy. I choose Coq au vin as the dish to cook, which is chicken braised in red wine, lardons and mushrooms. To me it symbolises the rich, hearty and rustic style of French cooking and it one of the best meals for sharing communally for a celebration and even just a Sunday meal. And of course there has to be plenty of vin to be consumed alongside it.


If you're an avid GGJ reader, and genuine GGJ pilgrim, you know that my love for amateur cooking began with a gift of Julia Child's Mastering the Art of French Cooking. It was one of the best gifts I have received and I am in deep gratitude to my best friend Emma for starting me on my culinary path. So as an homage to Julia, I've decided to use her recipe for Coq au vin. Now you might be thinking "Sacrilège! Julia est américainne, pas le française!", and I say to you WOAH! lovely French speaking person. Whilst it is true that Julia is American, she developed the cookbook with two authentically genuine Frenchy McFrench madames from traditional French recipes. So by the transitive property I am essentially cooking with Julia Child! Tick that off the list of things to do in life!

This installment of The GGJ was constructed to celebrate La Fête Nationale, or as we say en anglais, Bastille Day. This day is generally thought, and rightfully so, to be the celebration of the storming of the Bastille in 1789, and the French people seizing power from the oppressive monarchy. However, I have found with research that it is to commemorate the anniversary of a GIANT feast that was held in 1790, which in turn was held to commemorate the anniversary of storming the Bastille. And I thought... celebrating past Fat Diabetic Whore feasts with another Fat Diabetic Whore feast... that is right up the alley of The Molefaces. So over they came for some French gastronomic good times!


Enjoy, or as they say in France, Bon appétit!



For Julia's classic Coq Au Vin recipe: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/saras-secrets/chicken-in-red-wine-with-onions-mushrooms-and-bacon-coq-au-vin-recipe/index.html

Difficulty:         3

Appearance:    5

Taste:               4

TOTAL:            12

Note: Difficulty is scaled in reverse to the other categories, where 1 =  was extremely difficult to make, and 5 = was easy to make. 

For this splendiferous french delight, I used the famous Julia Child recipe. As detailed and process-filled as Julia recipes generally can be, and this certainly is one of those, I have cooked it several times. So I am pretty down with the Coq au vin, Julia style. But the chicken still simmers for about 2 hours, so that gives you time for the other components.

Now as I've said I have cooked this a few times, and have used different vin rouge. This has produced various hues to the chicken, from rustic brown to funky purple! This time however, it did look as it was supposed to. Taking just the chicken, it was a pleasant looking dish, but when served with a helping of gravy alongside some shallots and mushrooms it brings the salivating to a whole new level. Finally, when accompanied with some sides like butter beans and egg noodles, it paints a picture that could be found on any table throughout the French countryside.

And the taste was magnifique! A perfect meal to be had on a cold winters night (as July 14th is during winter in Australia). The meat was so tender it was falling off the bone. And the thickened gravy with bacon was divine! Washed down with some Burgundy and Côtes du Rhône, it was a typical meal that The Molefaces love to enjoy. All I need now is to find some way to get back to France

Roses Really Smell Like Pou-Pou[tine]

NATIONAL DISH OF CANADA - Poutine

O Canada! Our home and native land. Well it would be if I was Canadian. It is Canada Day today and I decided to celebrate our cousins of the Commonwealth by cooking up some Canadian culinary delights for my chums!

I travelled to Canada in 2009 for my good friend Tim's wedding. And although I only got to see one city (shout out to all the Edmontonians!) I thoroughly understand why Tim chooses to live there (another reason would be of course his wonderful wife Florence). Edmonton is a very scenic city. Situated in the lush North Saskatchewan River valley, the North Saskatchewan River bisects the city from it's origin in the close by Jasper National Park. Surrounded by prairies and forests, Edmonton is a nirvana for adventurous types. Or those looking to strike it rich in the oil fields around Edmonton.

But for me it is Edmonton's commercial attractions and the general way of life that sells the city. Edmonton has an IKEA (although I didn't get to go to it), a Costco (my first foray into the phenomenon), Tim Hortons (genius for inventing Maple doughnuts and Timbits), and of course a myriad of Poutine stockists. I had my first native Poutine experience at the Mecca of shopping centres, West Edmonton Mall. The largest shopping mall in North America, it contains an amusement park, a waterpark, a seal show, an ice skating rink, a mini-golf course, an indoor shooting range, a hotel, a petting zoo, an indoor skate park, a few nightclubs, a chapel, and 4 radio stations. It even has themed areas like Bourbon St, Europa Blvd and Chinatown. It seriously was like Disneyland for shopping addicts! However, what I became addicted to whilst in Canada was A&W Root Beer! Could not get enough of it.

It was my birthday whilst I was in Canada and Tim took me to Outback Steakhouse to make me feel more at home. A very loose Australian themed restaurant, it was comical to see how Americans perceive the Australian way of life. Items on the menu include Walkabout Soup, Alice Springs Chicken, Sydney's Sinful Sundae, and Chocolate Thunder from Down Under. One thing that wasn't comical was that I found a new love...the Bloomin' Onion. I won't even describe it to you, but if you've never experienced one, you need to go find one and devour it NOW!

Since I've been home I have scoured for the products which I loved during my Canadian times, and I have found a few. Thankfully I have found A&W Root Beer and a Bloomin' Onion, but have resigned the hope that I will ever find Molson Canadian or a Tim Horton equivalent in Australia. So if there is any generous Canadians out there that would be willing to send me some, I promise I will construct a place of worship in your honour!

Some countries have dishes that they don't perceive to be their national dish, but the rest of the world may. Poutine is one of those dishes. Largely affiliated with Quebec, however can be found across Canada, from fast-food chains and street stalls to diners and pubs. Poutine is a dish of fresh cheese curds placed atop some French fries and then smothered with brown sauce or beef gravy! Sounds delicious? Of course it does! If you answered no, you need to be evaluated and receive 500cc's of Poutine STAT! Any aversion people have to the notion of Poutine will melt away after the first forkful (which leads to the first bucketful!)

Enjoy, or as they say in Canada,  Enjoy! (ou bon appétit, si vous venez du Québec)



Need some delicious comfort food?: http://www.montrealpoutine.com/recipes.html
Recipe to make your own homemade cheese curds: http://www.ehow.com/how_5106352_make-cheese-curds-poutine.html

Difficulty:         4

Appearance:    4

Taste:               5

TOTAL:            13

Note: Difficulty is scaled in reverse to the other categories, where 1 =  was extremely difficult to make, and 5 = was easy to make.

There was not a great deal of difficulty in making the chips. Chopping the potatoes with a chipper makes it a lot easier. The interesting process was making the curds from scratch. It didn't take that long and it was cool to see the milk transform before your eyes. You need to make it the night before though and the use of cheesecloth to rid all the whey out of the curds. And the gravy can be as simple or as difficult as you want. A regular instant gravy is fine, but a tasty gravy made from stock is brilliant!

There may not be a lot of colour to Poutine (white, brown and gold), and it may look greasy to some, but to me it symbolises the epitome of comfort food. The method of double frying creates a crunchier chip, which is juxtaposed to the softness of the cheese curds. You can tell if the curds are fresh if they "squeak" when chewed. But it is the beef gravy which gives of an irresistible aroma, that can be smelled rooms away and directs people to the culinary divination. Warm, crunchy and cheesy all rolled up into one. Comforting success!

The day of celebration for our Commonwealth cousins was a roaring and fun filled success! The poutine was delicious of course, and it was easily washed down with some Canadian Club, which for Chad and I it is the boisson de choix! But the surprise of the night was the revelation of the Nanaimo Bars. I asked my friend Tim why they had not introduced me to Nanaimo Bars whilst I was in Canada, but he had never heard of them, so I can forgive that. I highly recommend those that like chocolate and custard in slice form to find the recipe and make them quickly! The only thing missing was some awes Canadian entertainment [read: any of the Degrassi series], and of course some A&W Root Beer and Molson Canadian! O Canada, we stand of guard for thee!