CHEF-EXPLORER

ANY MONKEY BUSINESS AND I WILL EAT MY HAT! Ok, lets start with Bali, below is a story I just sent to my local 'Swan Magazine' of whom I regularly write for: The Chef- Explorer has been concentrating on some major field work in 2010, by getting out there and exploring the world’s culture and cuisine. I need to keep my knowledge updated! So, in July I took the Murphy family to explore the villages and cuisine in Bali, and in August I travelled alone to check out a new country for me -Portugal. And in the process, joined forces with my old schoolmates who also travelled from around the world for a rather grand 50th birthday reunion! However, more on that next month, first let’s go to Bali, where I am aware that the majority of folk in Australia have ‘Well Done’ Bali like an overcooked steak on the Barbie! But have you really explored the wonderful cuisine? We kept well away from Kuta, preferring to stay up in the more spiritual village of Ubud. What a wonderful place, (although t...

The Return of the Chef-Explorer /strong> I’m Back! OK, ok I know I have not been a great Blogger or Blagger for that matter. I take on too much, and I have to admit that I have been working, partying and travelling too hard in the last 2 months! The reason being that I have just reached the milestone that is 50 years young! So, I have out and about Exploring the delights of Bali, Portugal and Spain, to update my cultural knowledge don’t ya know. Well somebody has to do it! So now a more realistic Murphy will deliver a monthly blog regarding the adventures of the ‘Chef Explorer’ which will be posted at random as the month unfolds. Watch out for Travel Tips & links, Life Musings, Recipes, Food and Nutritional Tips, Philosophical observations, Life Musings (have I said that already?), Culture, Music, Sport and whatever mad ideas come to mind! “Oh No!”says Mrs Murphy, “Do you really want to inflict them on the world..,? Yes, why not, the world is mad enough. I assure you, the...

The Chef-Explorer Brendan Murphy is teaming up with Maggie's Markets to show you how to make a few tasty Winter Warmers including a Tantalizing Moroccan Tagine using only local ingredients from WA. Free Tastings at Maggie's Tasting Shed next to Edgecombe Brothers Winery on Gnangara rd, Ellenbrook in The Swan Valley. Sunday May 23 2010, from 10am -1pm. Come along for a Taste of the World!!

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Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt and the domestication of animals for food Continuing from my last blog, we are around about 10-12ooo years ago when man had sttled in the Middle East. Bear in mind of course, that Homo Sapians were roaming all over including Australia over 40,000 years ago, but they had not settled in one place and harvested crops and raised animals. Once the harvest of crops started, the domestication of animals came next. Dogs had always been 'Mans Best Freind' since the Stone Age, but now they bred Goats, Sheep and cattle. Pigs were very common in ancient China (Think 'Sweet and Sour Pork!') In Ancient Mesopotamia the Sumerians flourished buiding the first city at Jericho. This region became known also as the 'Fertile Crescent' and ran from the Nile Delta through Palestine to Lebanon and the hills of modern Turkey and East to the highlands of Iran. Nowasdays, this region is very dry, but 10,000 years ago it had great rainfall and fertile soil. No...

A HISTORY OF FOOD Part 1 OK, Folks ready for some history? Reason I called this blog 'Seeds' will become apparent. Mankind had spent many a thousand of years evolving, and in doing so had survived a couple of very cold Ice ages,brrr! Man had to forage, roam and hunt and keep on moving with the seasons. And of course this is still true with many nomadic peoples around the world.Then about 12,000 years ago a Revolution started and it is rumoured that it was the womenfolk who started it! (The blokes started revolutions too, of course, but they were usually Wars!!). My fertile imagination reckons it went like this: While the guys returned from hunting, (or in much later years, from the Pub!) the ladies were waiting, hands on hips, saying with undisguised impatience 'hey, guys , isn't it about time we stayed in one place to live? I mean we (clever females as always) have worked out that if we plant the seeds of all those berries we have been gathering for years, they will gr...

I intend to get the hang of this Blogging business, and recite a regular weekly blog. Honest! Just too busy Cooking! ok, coming up for the next few months will be a Blog with 4 short parts. 1.The History of Food 2.Chef-Explorer Events or Book development 3.A Day in the Life ( Down Under Mate!) 4.The Thinker Until then, its nearly Easter so here is my recipe for Easter Biscuits just published in my loval community paper. PS. I have just melted some real Belgium chocolate for a sauce...Yum.....! Autumn is here and in the southern hemisphere brings the Easter Holidays with it. So here is a traditional biscuit to nibble on with a cuppa! Just remember when you are making any pastry or cake, the freshness of the flour and eggs will affect the final product. So, if a dough is a little too wet, add more flour, if too stiff, soften with a little milk, to required consistency. EASTER BISCUITS 350 g plain flour Pinch of salt Pinch ground mixed spice 175 g butter 175 g sugar 1 egg 60g currants 25g...

Excuse me if I am new to this blogging business, so I will learn as I go! Since I published my first book and presented myself at a few book events to read a story, I often get the big Q, like Who, What is Chef -Explorer? Hmmnn, good question. Well to cut a long story short (and that can be hard for me, once I get going, believe me! Ask my students!), it and I am a combination of being a Traveller and a Chef. Thats the simplist definition. But its more about Exploring the Culture as well as the Food and that can open all sorts of exciting possibilities from exotic ingredients, adventure, music and even some mind boggling philosophy! Over the last 30 years I have kept diaries, and even with my first book, I have not even touched the surface of them yet. So expect many an entertaining Tale to come. Ultimately the aim of Chef-Explorer is to get families and especailly kids sat around the table But also link to local suppliers and seasons, protecting the envirionment in the process. Lets a...

COME AND JOIN THE CHEF-EXPLORER IN A TASTE OF THE WORLD! This weeks ingredient and recipe is: AVOCADO This pear shaped .tropical fruit is famed for its soft luscious and creamy flesh and is highly nutritious. It is an ideal summer salad ingredient and marries well with Shellfish. Originating in Mexico & South America, it has been part of the ancient Aztec menu before the Spanish arrived, who then introduced it to Europe. Though there are only 3 basic categories of avocado; Mexican, Guatemalan and West Indian, they have been crossed to produce over 500 varieties worldwide! It’s best to buy firm and let ripen at room temperature. To prepare, cut lengthways and gently remove the stone with a large knife then scoop out the flesh with a large service spoon. Serve simply sliced with a Vinaigerette or Mayonnaise, or make my Mexican Guacamole Dip. GUACAMOLE 2 mashed avocados 2 cloves chopped garlic 100g diced onion 1 tablespoon lime juice 2 tablespoon s olive oil Salt & pepper ...

HAPPY NEW YEAR to all you potential CHEF-EXPLORERS out there! Have you kept to your resolutions so far?! Thought about making a really important positive resolution for your kids? What about getting them...SOMEHOW.. to eat healthy?! That's my resolution too. Not just my own kids, but anybody who will listen! You know, it is so, so imperative to get REAL food into your children as they are growing, and especially for Brain development. More so NOW because of all the rubbish food around. However, I know, I know...we have to make food apt and interesting!! Interested? Then check my Nutrition and Events page and E-mail your thoughts. For example, if you are not local in Western Australia, an online cooking course could be the way to go, all I need is a committed class of parents...and kids!