Middle Eastern Cooking Workshop in Byron Bay

Middle Eastern Cooking Workshop.

On Sunday Ronit of Open Table Catering Byron Bay took us on a journey through the Middle East using our taste buds. Guiding us through this exotic region, from Greece to Saudi Arabia, from Ethiopia to Turkey using enchanting spices and flavours. Sumac and Za'atar, Pomegranate and Rose Water.  Spices are instrumental to Middle Eastern cooking.  

Israeli born with Moroccan parents teaching the art form of incorporating spices in everyday cooking fusing the old with new is close to Ronit’s heart, this really shows in her character and passion for food. 

The day of cooking in the studio was extremely festive having Ronit’s daughter Jess, two Chefs, twin sisters, a lovely lady (who came along as a gift from her son) and two colourful Israelis full of enthusiasm and jokes.

Sipping fragrant tea from ornate Turkish tea glasses we all sat down to enjoy the Middle Eastern Banquet.

Delicious!! 

Catering for a Brunch in Byron Bay

Lavish Champagne Brunch.

Sunday’s Brunch was all about decadence in the thick of the bush at Wilsons Creek, what a paradox! For a moment I forgot where we were until I looked down and saw the Birthday Man Corey barefoot.

The After Party Brunch celebrated a ‘Take 2’ 40^th Birthday bash, the crowd of close friends were pretty mellow on our arrival besides the little boys jumping around in super hero costumes.

After we cracked open a few bottles of Champagne and severed Fruit Skewers to entice the appetite of the party goers’ brunch was served Omelettes (w/ Spinach and Spanish onion) or Poached Eggs Crispy Bacon, Vine Roasted Tomatoes, Mushrooms with Sourdough and a side of Rocket.  

Leaving no detail out the Kids had Gluten free Pancakes w/ Yoghurt Strawberries, Banana and Agave syrup.

The finishing sweet touch was a Marble White & Dark Chocolate Raspberry Raw Cake made by Ronit the night before carried out by the Corey’s gorgeous daughter.  

After much palaver with the Schmick espresso machine we resorted to old skool Italian Cafetiere style coffee, who ever said new was better?!

This event was truly unique to be a part of from the beautiful people to the artistic sleek feel of the property. 

Job well done with thanks to one of our new helpers Ariel!

Winter Catering service, the hills of Byron bay 29th June 13

Celebrating a Family Benchmark in a relaxed fashion ( Byron style.....)

Last week brought much rain and with that a sense of grounding.  As the rain eased on the morning of Saturday 29^th June Open Table were preparing for a day’s work catering for a combined 50^th Wedding Anniversary and 80^th Birthday Lunch celebration in the rolling hills behind Byron Bay.

The affair connected many family members from all over Tasmanian, Queensland and Aotearoa (New Zealand).  

 The Asian themed menu was delightfully vibrant and colourful mainly plant based with a variety of seafood and meat.  Everyone loved our food some were coming back for a third serving.

Thanking the skies above the clouds stayed parted only showering on the Circumferencing Mountains adding to the serene setting, the day was an overall hit!

The lovely staff of Opentable- our new chef Liron  manning the BBQ

and Mukti in her classic pose ( what is she drinking??? :)  )

Moroccan Banquet cooking workshop in Byron Bay

A journey for Food lovers.....

Moroccan Banquet cooking workshop around Byron Bay Area

Few years ago I travelled to Morocco on a ferryboat from the heat drenched orange scented hills of south of Spain on the blue water of the Mediterranean. As I arrived going down the ferry my feet touched the land, some young boys jumped and chase me down the path asking in Dareeja (native language) “ anti magrhabia? Are you from Morocco, I stopped for a second and looked around, knowing that I came back home to the land of my ancestors.

Everywhere I looked seemed like my extended family coming to greet me, the smells, the colors, the shouting, the friendliness, smiling faces, streets laden with stalls filled with goods, and FOOD every where you turn your head FOOD, the never ending journey into the heart of what sustain us, memories of my mother sitting on the kitchen floor with baskets filled with Broad beans, rose petals, artichokes, pumpkins, almonds, oranges scattered around the kitchen with clove pinned down to the top part of the orange for good luck and sweet smell….she was making couscous from scratch every Friday morning , semolina oil/butter , water- rubbing her moisten hands with the semolina crafting gems and pearls of couscous into a large bowl which later would fit onto a tall stock pots filled with veggies and lamb…turmeric blended with cumin, coriander, cinnamon and a dash of chili powder for the spirits ,she was a  medicinal woman & a kitchen maverick .

In her honor I have been teaching for years the art of Moroccan cooking @opentable weaving stories and love for food with traditions from far away land.

We gathered 2 weeks ago @ Opentable kitchen for A Moroccan Banquet.

Some ladies from Brisbane, Mother and teen age daughter, some young foodies- to celebrate this rich cuisine which is gained its uniqueness through Arabic, Persian and Andalusia influences while the indigenous Berbers cuisine has always been a constant basis.

The smell of the aroma stimulated our hungry bellies, I could feel everyone so anxious to get in there and try the Date & lamb tagine cooked with preserved lemon, slow cooked vegetable tagine (the girls learned to utilize a clay tagine in the oven or the stove) colorful semi cooked salads which are prominent in the Moroccan cuisine, different marinade, Harissa, Chermoula and many more

And we also had time to prepare a dessert, Almond filo fingers served with Orange clove syrup served with Pomegranate.

As we sat for a banquet, I could hear the ladies/girls getting excited to try from the exotic banquet, plates moving up in the air, the clinks of the servers+ tongs, “pass me the plate” – I hear a lady telling to her friend, “ no no …I want some more”, we held hands for a moment to express gratitude for the abundance and our heritage, few minutes into eating a "noble Silence" which always makes me think how good is the food, and its not me or them, it’s the stories continuing over generations passing through our genetic imprint….bon appetite lovelies!! 

On the 20th of April Open Table held a whole food cooking workshop, 7 women attended and one young boy. 
The day started off with a demonstration of a raw vegan dessert and then continued on with two teams making separate dishes, a very hands on experience full of learning and sharing. 
This workshop focused on super foods and the nutrients within those foods, it was all about cooking delicious food without using wheat, gluten, sugar and dairy. 
A perfect class for people with those dietary needs who are struggling to create food they enjoy. The Cooking Workshop was held in the fully equipped Open Table kitchen in Myocum a 15 minute drive from Byron Bay and only 5 minutes from Mullumbimby. The Classes are also suitable for children, one of the ladies attending brought her 9 year old son, who enjoyed the class just as much as all the adults... The Class concluded with a feast of all the food the students had created seated under the trees and the lovely afternoon sun... 

Beautiful Byron Bay Wedding

On the 16^th of March OpenTable catered for a wonderful wedding in Byron Bay at Koreelah, beautiful place, beautiful people and a beautiful atmosphere. The Bride and Groom were so blessed after weeks of torrential rain the skies cleared and they enjoyed their wedding day under blue sky and sunshine, perfect Byron Bay weather.

For a Party of 70 people Open Table catered a gourmet roving canape’ +fork/bowl food style, which worked perfectly for the amount of people there, everyone seemed happy and well fed. The party continued well into the night after the Open Table team had finished, the whole team left happy and pleased to have worked for such a lovely couple, Thank you Melanie and Clint and congratulations!

Venue- http://www.koreelahbyronbay.com.au/Koreelah_Byron_Bay/Welcome.html

Photographer- http://bluetulipimaging.com.au/

Caterer- http://www.opentable.net.au/

SARITA AND JOSH’S WEDDING!

Open Table catered for the most beautiful wedding on the 27^th of January. Although we were in the midst of a cyclone, that did not dampen the festive vibes and smiles on the bride and grooms face's. The Open Table team outside ankle deep in water and drenched had a great time too, the atmosphere was contagious and the wedding party continued on into the night oblivious to the crazy weather surrounding them. Great food was shared and drinks were enjoyed overall the entire evening was a great success.