Page 39 - Tropic Magazine Issue 29

TROPIC • FOOD

Truffle mushroom risotto

Risotto
300gm carnaroli risotto rice
1 french shallot, finely diced
1 thyme stick
250ml white wine or prosecco
1L mushroom or vegetable stock, warm
3tbs butter, chilled and diced
1tbs truffle tapenade, or truffle oil to taste
75gm parmesan cheese
½ lemon, juiced
Sauté mushrooms
200gm wild mushrooms of your choice,
sliced 1cm thick
50ml vegetable oil
Splash of white wine
2tbs butter
1tsp thyme
2tbs chives, finely chopped

Garnishes
Truffle oil
Truffle pecorino
Sunflower shoots (available from Rusty’s)
Heat oil in heavy base pot. On a medium heat,
What are your earliest memories of food? sweat off the shallots.
I first fell in love with food when completing work experience at Once transparent add the risotto rice and sauté
Cin Cin on Quay in Auckland. The Executive Chef gave me a ten- for one minute.
spiced confit duck leg for dinner. I had never tasted anything Deglaze with white wine and add the thyme.
like it. I had to find out how to make it. Stirring the rice regularly, add the stock 1/3 at
a time. Wait until the stock has been absorbed
What are five interesting things in your home pantry/fridge? before adding the next part.
Homemade chili sauce made with homegrown chillies – we like Once the rice has taken all the stock (this takes
it spicy at our place. about 12 minutes), check the texture of the rice.
It should be cooked through but “al dente”, still
Davidson plum paste – which goes perfectly with any cheese. with a bite and not mushy. Add more stock if
Chinese black crackling vinegar – we use it for braising meats, required.
finishing soups and making dipping sauces. Once the rice is ready remove from the heat.
There’s always homemade banana bread for the kids and all Then add the butter, parmesan cheese, truffle
types of pesto from the herbs we grow at home. tapenade, parsley, and lemon juice. Season with
salt and cracked pepper.
What does Cairns do really well in terms of food and Check seasoning and adjust to your liking.
hospitality?
There are so many local small restaurants that are just fantastic In a heavy based saucepan, heat oil and then add
and you can find a good quality meals everywhere – Two Blocks the mushrooms.
Cafe at Holloways Beach, Thai Coin, Piccolo Cucina, Wharf One, Once they have some colour, give them a toss
Pho Viet, and with young children we also spend a bit of time at and allow to caramelise on the other side.
Muddy’s Cafe. Add the thyme and crushed garlic.
Deglaze with white wine.
What’s your favourite dish (and drink) at Flynn’s Italian? Season with sea salt and pepper.
It is really hard to choose, it depends on my mood. The local Add butter, chives, and check seasoning.
catch tuna crudo with blood orange is a great light way to
start the meal, and the Vannella buffalo with Tablelands To serve, place risotto on the bottom of the plate
tomatoes is a classic, one of my favourite appetizers. You can’t and top with sauté mushrooms.
Finish the dish with a drizzle of truffle oil,
beat a homemade pasta with locally caught seafood, lightly microplaned truffle pecorino and sunflower
complimented with garlic, chili and parsley. As for my favourite shoots.
drink: the homemade sugarcane-infused limoncello. Just wait
until you try it!
MORE: crystalbrookcollection.com

39 • tropicnow.com.au