Tasty questions with Bri DiMattina

I first met Bri DiMattina at my first #brunchclub event. At that stage, she hadn’t started her blog but was already immersed in blogging networks and knew her way very well around the Auckland foodscape due to her work in the food industry. Her blog can be found at: www.the-market.nz and below are her answers to the tasty questions I cooked up for your enjoyment.

Describe your blog:

My blog initially started as a way to document my Nonna’s recipe book, and a few Food Adventures along the way – so my phrases would now be…“A Diary of my Nonna’s Recipe book” on one side of the blog and “rambling food adventures” although the rambling food adventures has become ‘rampant’ food adventures and are rapidly taking over the blog! This bothered me a little before – but now I am just ‘rolling with it’.

What is the most popular post on your blog?

Actually the Foodtour stories have been the most popular – lots of hits from random overseas places – obviously people researching ‘what to do in Auckland’ that is food related!

Name your favourite comfort food:

Cheese! So much happiness in cheese.

What did you have for breakfast?

Breakfast – this morning was toasted crumpets with lots of butter – and espresso coffee – Although now that I have tasted a Chinese Breakfast Pancake (last night) – I am having one tomorrow!!!!

What is the most delicious thing you’ve eaten this week?

Thats a tough one – I had a French ‘Tour du France’ menu at Vinnies on Thursday evening – which was just perfect, but also did the Auckland Food Tours Dominion Road Chinese tour – which was amazing and will appear ‘on the blog’ but there were some stunning flavours and dishes I had never heard of before – so difficult to compare….

What is an underrated ingredient?

I think fresh herbs. They add life to a dish you don’t realise is missing.

What are 3 sources of inspiration to you?

Chefs and Artisan Producers – What they can do – I am perpetually amazed at how they create the way that they do – the ideas, colours, flavours, textures and presentation. Amazing.
Travel – who doesn’t find travel inspiring? It gives you a fresh perspective.
Food – pictures of food, recipes, you name it. Always drives me back to the kitchen to do something!

Favourite Auckland restaurant?

Nope – can’t call it!!! – I went over and over this question and changed my answer daily. Even tried to word the question differently to see if I could ‘call it’ – “If there was only one restaurant you could go to for the rest of your life?”…Couldn’t do it. “If you had to choose your final meal where would it be?”…Still couldn’t call it! Hopeless, sorry!

…and your favourite dish there?

Well, there was a dish that is served at Baduzzi – that sent me insane – it was like that scene from Ratatouille where the food critic melts upon eating the ratatouille – but for me it was the Eggplant Parmigiana – the tomato sauce in that dish was EXACTLY how I remember growing up – I explained this to Ben Bayly – how perfect it was – and he hand-wrote the recipe for me… apparently it is the particular tomatoes – San Miguel… it hadn’t crossed my mind to specifically hunt out Italian tomatoes, but makes sense now. The recipe below is now a treasured heirloom!

There’s a potluck dinner tomorrow night, what are you bringing?

Dessert – maybe a Strawberry and Goatcheese Gelato or…

What is your most memorable meal?

Now that I think of it this recipe should be on my blog.

Fish Piccata –

Flour the fish – Blue Cod (monkfish works too – actually most fish does, but these are best) then dip in beaten eggs with lots of grated parmesan mixed in – then pan fry in butter.
Top with a lightly cooked tomato ‘salsa’.
Score the tomatoes and plunge into boiling water – peel, then ‘squish’ them
Add some pepper, basil (any fresh herbs really) and lightly cooked garlic and place on the top of the fish.

I can’t believe I don’t have a photo of this! As I am completing one to-do list I am creating another!