Godiva are now doing biscuits!

Godiva Chocolates are wonderful and they're now offering these gorgeous heart-shaped dark chocolate biscuits. Superb on Valentine's Day or any other romantic occasion :-)

Lamb with peas and fetta

This is lovely with lamb cutlets or lamb fillets.

1/2 tspn chopped rosemary leaves

1/2 clove garlic, crushed

1 tbspn EVOO

sea salt and cracked black pepper

4 cutlets or 100 g lamb fillet

1/4 cup mint leaves

1/2 cup frozen peas

50 g fetta cheese

1 tbspn white wine vinegar

1/2 tbspn EVOO

Combine the rosemary, garlic, oild, salt and pepper in a non-metalic bowl. Add the lamb and toss to coat. Cook the lamb for 6 - 8 minutes. Place peas, fetta, vinegar and extra oil in a bowl and toss to combine. Arrange the pea and fetta salad on plates and top with the lamb.

Serves 2.

Restaurant Review: Safi (North Sydney)

Safi is a small restaurant tucked away in Ridge Street, North Sydney. The front dining room is white and minimalist and seats about 25 comfortably, with a view of St Mary's Church across the street. There is also a small 'cushion room' at the back of the restaurant for those who wish to eat a la Beirut.

The food is Middle Eastern and delicious. A group of 11 of us enjoyed hommos and baba ghanouj, tabouleh, potato kibbeh, spinach pockets, shish taouk (chicken skewers), and a crepe covered in minced lamb and herbs. The food was fresh and simple and served on white platters to lend all attention to the food. The service was attentive and informed, and our dishes arrived promptly from the kitchen. A friend bought one of the gorgeous water pitchers from the table (available for sale) - the owner imports them from Lebanon.

The coffee is Arabian and the tea is cinnamon. The restaurant is BYO, which adds to value (although $3 pp corkage is a bit steep). Our bill saw us each pay $19 which was quite good value for a meal without wine or packaged drinks (we stuck to the table water). There is a $35 pp banquet menu available for those after more dishes; however, any more might be unnecessary!

I'd walked past Safi many times on my way home from work; I'm glad I had the chance to eat there at last, and will certainly go back for another casual dinner with friends.

Salmon and Chervil Salad ... perfect for lunch.

Today I've brought with me to work a lunch of salmon and fresh herbs:

50 g smoked salmon
A large handful of chervil sprigs
A few mixed salad leaves, torn up
Some slices of cucumber
1 spring onion (or slices of red onion if you prefer)
1 tbspn capers

For the dressing: 1 tspn EVOO, 1 tspn grain mustard, healthy squeeze of lemon juice

I've bought some sourdough rolls from St Honore Bakery (close to my office); a grainy bread such as a German rye or pumpernickel is also nice to munch on.

Serve the salad chilled with a glass of San Pelligrino and lemon - lunch al desko has never been so good!

Breakfast eggs

My favourite scrambled eggs are light and tasty and wonderfully lower fat!

Take 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites.
Add a dash of skim milk and any herbs you like. Tarragon is nice.
Season with pepper and a little salt. Whip.

In a small saucepan or non-stick pan scramble the eggs, stirring constantly. If you don't add any butter/oil they will stick a little, but that's okay.

Serve with hot toast and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.

These eggs make a perfect start to a girl's day as the protein keeps you fuller for longer.

Hmmm ... chocolate and wine together.

What wine to serve when you're feasting on chocolate?

Chocolate loves a richer, more complex wine that will bring out the flavours and aromas of both. Pair a full-bodied cab sav or zinfandel with dark chocolate. A light merlot or sweet, complex, late-harvest riesling drinks beautifully with milk chocolate.

To add an element of pure decadence create a berry and dark chocolate fondue or poach pears and drizzle them with tempered dark Belgian couverture. In my view darker is always best. Luxuriate in the taste explosion on your palate - and wear your best nightie ;-)