Redlands Performing Arts Centre Tapas Friday

I saw a post on Redland Performings Art Centre Facebook page that Tapas Friday was back on March 27th and I told my husband that I would like to go. We arrived at 6pm and went into the RPAC building to order our tapas meals, with the music of Orsino's Safari outside. 

[  Redlands Performing Arts Centre - Tapas Friday No.1 March 27th, 2015 ]

[ Orsino's Safari performing ]

[ Tapas $13 per plate including Satay chicken skewer; Tuna avocado sushi; Beef meat ball with Okonomiyaki sauce topped with Bonito flakes; Vegetable spring roll; Garlic Naan bread. ]

Tapas Plate #1 is  a mixture of cuisines including sushi rolls. Not what you would normally think of when you think of tapas but tasty nonetheless. It wasn't Spanish food but Asian food including Japanese (Sushi, Meat balls with Okonomiyaki sauce), Indian (Garlic Naan), Malaysian (Satay sticks). Chinese (Spring roll). 

[ Flat Bread Pizzas $6  - Ham and Pineapple, Meatlovers ]

All of the tables had been taken as we had arrived an hour after it had started - oops! Oh well. I found a table with two spare seats and asked if I could sit with the group of ladies who quickly said that yes we could join them. I then got up and took some photos of the band and some of the audience. 

[ Orsino's Safari ]

[ Audience ]

About twenty minutes later our Tapas plates arrived. They had run out of spring rolls so only one of the plates had a spring roll and the other had extra sushi and satay sticks.

[ Meat balls with Okonomiyaki sauce; Tuna and avocado sushi; satay chicken stick, spring roll, garlic naan ]

[ Tuna and avocado sushi roll; satay chicken sticks; meat balls with Okomiyaki sauce, garlic naan, flat bread ]

The sushi was nice, as was the satay sticks and meat balls. The garlic naan was ok but the flatbread was hard to eat. All in all it was a nice meal that fulfilled. With a drink (cider for me, beer for hubby) it came to $40. Next time I will make sure we get there at 5pm and find a table nearer to the band.  It was an enjoyable night. We will be back!

[ Redland Performing Arts Centre ]

[ Redland Performing Arts Centre sign ]

Redlands Performing Arts Centre
2-16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163
Phone: (07) 3829 8131
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedlandPerformingArtsCentre
Website: http://www.rpac.com.au

Pizza Capers - Seafood Barcelona pizza

It's Pizza Capers time! @pizzacapers seafood barcelona pizza with mussels, scallops, barramundi and butterflied prawns topped with mozzarella. Cajun spice and plump cherry tomatoes. Finished with zesty lemon and shallots. I asked for some hollandaise sauce on top. 

Pizza Capers

http://www.pizzacapers.com.au

Suspended Coffee at Cafe42, Cleveland, Brisbane

What a great idea - I had to share it

"Suspended Coffee at Cafe42 in Cleveland, QLD is a payitforward idea where you pre-purchase a coffee for a stranger. Until it is redeemed it is a suspended coffee. Although it is usually known to be just for the homeless, anyone in need can claim a suspended coffee. If you are down on your luck, homeless or a volunteer in the community, we will warm your heart with a suspended coffee. To receive a suspended coffee just ask one of our friendly staff, you can choose not to share your situation - it is your choice, there are no strings attached."

Baked Ricotta with capers, thyme and Dorsogna triple smoked ham

The first time I tasted baked ricotta cakes was when I was living near the Gourmet Platter store in Corrimal, NSW. Once a week they had tastings of new products and I fell in love with the texture and flavour of their ricotta cakes with ham and capers.

Tonight I decided to make some for Philip and I since he treated me to a round of fresh ricotta. I felt like making something special to say thank you for all the nice things he does for me. I would not be as productive and successful without his support. He does the lion's share of the cooking and cleaning whilst I work on my photography and web design business which I am forever thankful for.

The recipe isn't difficult and you'll be surprised how good it tastes. If you spend the time whipping the egg whites you'll find the texture similar to a souffle - llght and fluffy. As Philip said, "Just close your eyes and enjoy."

Combine one cup of fresh ricotta cheese with the yolks of two eggs, diced capers, fresh thyme leaves, chopped dorsogna triple smoked ham, 1/3 cup of pizza cheese (mozzarella, parmesan and cheddar), salt and pepper. Whisk up the two egg whites and fold into the mixture a nthird at a time until gently combined.

Spoon into buttered ramekins and bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 350oF

Serve with a salad such as the mediterranean salad pictured which includes mixed salad greens, marinated kalamata olive, olive oil, garlic, diced tomato, lemon juice, lemon zest and chopped parsley. Delicious!

Twilight Makers Markets at Raby Bay

One of the features of my calendar is the Twilight Makers Market in Raby Bay Marina, Cleveland.

It runs once a month on the fourth Saturday of the month. In March an extra Saturday was added (March 14th), to make up for the poor weather in February. 

I arrived at 4pm and the weather was lovely. There were quite a few people milling around and lots to see. I was on a mission to find something for my younger sister's baby shower and was lucky enough to find three stalls that catered to clothing for newborns. I ended up buying two lovely rompers with the same design - one in 0000 and another in 000. Each was $20. 

The Very Hungry Caterpillar romper by Lana Berry. 

I also picked up a cute dinosaur bib by Top Knots & Piggy Tails

There was live music by the sculpture which filtered through the market and made it a lovely environment. It was a lovely Autumn afternoon and many people threw money into the guitar case, thanking the duo as they enjoyed the music. 

My favourite stall at the market is Woodrock Turning - a husband and wife team that make cute little (and big!) wooden mushrooms perfect for a fairy garden or in a corner of your house.

New to the range is the mushroom fairy houses. I bought one for me (purple) and one for my aunt (red).

Aren't they cute? I feel like a little kid every time I visit their store. Such friendly people, too!
You can buy some of their products at their etsy store
https://www.etsy.com/au/shop/WoodrockTurning

I then bought some earrings for a birthday girl.

And some bag charms

I was feeling hungry after visiting all the stalls and found a new stall called Culantro Street Food. The vermicelli salad caught my eye. "Delicious Vermicelli salad, topped with BBQ Marinated Pork served hot with Coriander, Chilli, Cucumber, Carrot, Parmesan Cheese, Mayo, Shallots, Finished with Asian sauce. Yumm!

It was  very tasty and filling! I shared some with my husband who loved the BBQ Pork.

Another great visit to the Twilight Makers Market located in Raby Bay Marina, Cleveland QLD.

Twilight Makers Market, Raby Bay Cleveland

Raby Bay Harbour Park, Shore Street West
Cleveland, Queensland
0450 258 700
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/twilightmakersmarket