These delicious baked mussels evolved from my time in Spain. The wine-poached mussels are kept on the half shell, nestled in sherry vinegar-spiked fresh tomato and topped with a crunchy almond crumb.
This is a very Greek way to serve capsicums. The best way to eat them is to mash them together with the feta using a fork, and then slap it all on some grilled pita bread. A little Greek music in the background is recommended for the full experience.
This recipe is the one to turn to when you have leftover risotto in the fridge. My Risotto Balls are a simpler version of traditional Arancini and delicious served with a dollop of pesto mayonnaise for passarounds.
The combination of Swiss brown and porcini mushrooms with the scent of thyme, served atop toasted grainy bread, is what makes these magic. It's perfect brunch food for any time of the year.
Making small fritters means you can top them and serve them as pop-in-the-mouth savouries. A wedge of brie and a dollop of chutney turns them into pretty pass-arounds, but you can also top them with goat's cheese and an olive or smoked salmon and make an assortment for a platter.
The fish markets of Venice inspired this dish for me. Crisp saffron-battered bites of seafood and vegetables with a punchy capsicum aioli make an impressive share platter. My crunchy tempura-style batter is a little more Japanese in texture, so the food is just lightly coated to show off its shape.
Underrated and underused, beetroot becomes less troublesome when it's roasted and sparked up with a vinegary dressing. Matched here with the grown up taste of radicchio and rare purple carrots, it's a salad that will turn heads at the table.