Salt, Meats & Cheese Alexandria NSW

The Fisher Board:  Zucchini fritter hair  with marinated baby squid, baby prawns and baby calamari on a salad.

I must confess that we already had lunch before we checked out 21 Fountain Street.   Looking at Salts, Meats & Cheese, we decided to have a sampler - and did not regret this initial exorbitant choice.   The SMC is one of five outlets in this renovated warehouse, sited at the very right if you stand in front of this building.   We are immediately greeted by a pleasant young man in black T-short and pants, informal but still professional, and most important of all, friendly to the customers, even if it was a busy Saturday afternoon.

What captivated me was some dishes done in Sardinian and Sicilian style, apart from the mainland Italian choices.   Friends tell me they come for the pizza, made in a special contraption that came all the way from Napoli.    SMC did  not project itself as overly serious, but more like authentic, in a hipster setting.  The outlet in Alexandria was not big for seating but had a welcome space walking in.    The ceilings are high, the interiors still evoke the industrial nature of the building and yet you can view the street outside and not feel hemped in.   Young families, twenty somethings and couples predominate.

I am so glad this SMC outlet in Alexandria has moved away from the Bourke Street space next to the Grounds of Alexandria  - for me, going to this site has been a vehicle parking nightmare which defeats the purpose of a leisurely weekend brunch moment.

One may want to compare with the crab meat Tagliolini with the Linguini version at the nearby Devon on Danks,  but to me the SMC version was a different cuisine and dish.   The pasta had a different texture and the gravy made with  from a dissimilar recipe - to each their own! 

I am not a fan of Ragu in Itallian cooking, but I noticed the clever addition of burnt orange to enhance the flavours at the SMC.   The braised lamb is still served with Papperdelle as in the classic recipe, but garnished with thyme, Gremolada and Roman styled Pecorino cheese shaves.

Heart felt touches in ingredients are noticed, like the chargrilled pumpkin on the Antipasto platter.   Best of all, from 1 August 2016, this Alexandria outlet will become a patisserie, run by  Pastry Chef Laurence Pagano, formerly from Adriano Zumbo and Mercato e Cucina in Gladesville NSW.

The breakfast menu and the drinks list are both simple though, with the choices in Paninis, egg variations and wholegrain bowls.

Directors Stefano De Blasi and Edoardo Perlo have got something right at the SMC.  It is not just dining on tasty Italian or gulping good pizzas, but there are also cheese  making classes.    SMC also offers a unique Farinata list, served with Proscuitto San Daniele, goat cheese, Buffalo Mozzarella and shaved Parmesan options.

Tagliolini with crab meat, cherry tomatoes, garlic and Zucchini.

It was a cold day outside, so my group of four persons did not feel the overheated effect as some have claimed visiting in summer.   To me, the SMC at Alexandria allows you to have more wholesome meals, but if you just want to snack you are also accommodated.

When leaving this SMC for Affagato at the adjoining Campos Coffee in the same building, I must say each of us did not regret having checked out the SMC here.   I cannot wait to return.......



Salt, Meats & Cheese visited is located at  21 Fountain Street Alexandria NSW, opposite the Dan Murphy store and not far from the junction with McEvoy Street.   Cooking class and delivery options are available on enquiry.

The current opening hours are from 11am to 10pm from Wednesdays to Fridays and from 8am to 10pm on the weekends.  It is closed every Monday and Tuesday.  

Please note that from 1 August 2016, this SMC outlet will become a full range patissserie, open from 5am to 3pm every week day and a base for an expanded cooking school.

Contact +61 2 9690 1065.


There are in addition other dining restaurants of Salt, Meats & Cheese in Surfers Paradise, Queensland and in  the greater Sydney region NSW at the Broadway Shopping Centre in Glebe, Mosman on the lower North Shore and in Drummoyne across the ANZAC Bridge from the city centre.



My impressions of Salt, Meats & Cheese at Alexandria NSW:

Ambiance:  3.5 out of 5

Customer Engagement: 4  out of 5
Culinary Delight: 3.5 out of 5
X Factor:   3  out out of 5
Overall:     14 / 4  out of 5

My recommended dishes from the menu are:

Antipasto Plate: laden with herbed buffalo Mozzarella, Prosciutto San Daniele, handmade Italian styled Hummus, house chargrilled pumpkin topped with Feta cheese, marinated mushrooms served with a toasted sourdough.

Ravioli bursting with Ricotta cheese and spinach, flavoured by burnt butter and sage, graced with Parmesan shaves, walnuts and pumpkin and drizzled by Truffle oil.

Black Lobster, served with squid ink pizza with Fior Di latte, Fontina, lobster tail, thyme and garlic oil.   Also available with a white base pizza option.

Going Nuts - a heady mixture of raw almonds, low fat natural yoghurt, banana, almond milk and Cacao.

The Salts, Meat & Cheese outlet in Glebe is reviewed by Zomato on the following web link:

 

Cuisine Hawaii

The Hawaiian Isles are at the crossroads of culture, trade, sailing winds and cuisine.   The rich volcanic soil produces quality vegetables, fruits and ranching of cattle on the isles has been a success.

I have heard of Poi, made from the cooked and pounded root of the Taro. Yes, there is the dominating influence of Spam (or Spiced Ham) as brought in by US Marines in the Second World War. Japanese Sushi and Sashimi thrive in their Mid- Pacific locale.   The stereotype I have of food in Hawaii are images of banana, pineapples, sweet potatoes, coconuts, sugar cane and breadfruit, perhaps accentuated by watching too many Hollywood movies when I was growing up, or of thoroughly enjoying reading James A. Michener's huge classic novel simply called Hawaii.

Being born in and surrounded the ocean,  the significance of sea salt to Hawaiians cannot be under emphasised.   Red Hawaiian sea salt or the Alaea as a necessary icon to value started with the historical populating of the islands  and continues to play its seasoning and preserving role today.

The spirit of Aloha welcomed several ethnic groups from East and south-east Asia to join the original Polynesian settlers.   The latter sailed efficiently in their traditional canoes and other sea going craft across much of the South Pacific and native peoples from Tahiti and the Marquesa Isles, amongst others, did reach the Hawaiian isles.

So what is a culinary day like in contemporary Hawaii?  Fusion, imagination and fun are emphasised in making the unique dishes and food creations of the islands, apart from the traditions of immigrant cooking styles.   It can be a heady mix, more adventurous than perhaps California and New Orleans, definitely more than New England and Alaska.

For brunch, try the Loco Moco - what looks like a hamburger patty with fried egg and gravy also has a white rice component.   Its origins started with hungry surfers after a day out on the waves.  The Loco Moco can be viewed in the broader term as a hotch-potch of a complete meal with a little bit of sampling from various cooked dishes, akin to what I find on a banana leaf in southern India with steamed rice and bits of different curries and pickles.


Or realise that the Chinese pork bun now comes with a dizzying filling of Azores Islands Portuguese sausage, Chinese black sugar and chicken curry - the Manapua.


Many Asian visitors can readily associate with the Saimin.   These look like Ramen noodles but are actually made thinner, but you do find the familiar spring onions, fresh or dried shrimps, slices of Char Siew or southern Chinese roast pork with the red borders and fish cakes called the Kamaboko.


Americans like their Tacos and in Hawaii, they can have a fish version.   These are served with Mexican styled Salsas, garnished by fresh slices of mango or pineapple and toppings that may be cabbage slaw with a creamy sauce.

Pupus or snacks are ideal whilst touring, with bites like Lomi Lomi Salmon - with green onions, salads, diced salted salmon and tomatoes in crushed ice.   (Lomi is the native term for massage.)  


Or a snack can be the local fish Ahi or yellowfin tuna, to be sampled with a dressing of sesame oil, seaweed , soy and chopped onions in the Poki.   Ahi is best eaten when it has a deep red colour, glistens in the flesh and has a firm texture to the touch.


If you are yearning for Teriyaki chicken, you will be delighted by its Hawaiian recipe called the Huli Huli.   The outside of the grilled bird are caramelised, the insides have been marinated and basted lovingly to give your palate a juicy tender experience.

Cool down with desserts like shave ice, or the creamy Haupia, a coconut milk based jelly or have the Mochi inspired ice cream balls.   It is important that the former dessert is not gelatinous.

Dinner time and enjoy barbecues with the Kalua pig, chicken or Lau Lau. The latter refers to salted butterfish and pig cooked Imu or Hangi  style with Ti or Taro leaves. Kalua is the wrapping of Taro leaves with the pig before the roast.   This is best enjoyed when invited to or attending a Luau or traditional feast. 

Sweeten the palate with Malasadas or yeast doughnuts ala Portugal before one hits the bar.    The Filipino butter topped pastry or Ensaymadas are another idea for the sweet tooth.   

For the adventurous, ask for the Ake. This has roasted Kukui nut, Limu seaweed and rinsed liver, all seasoned with salt and chilli.

The USA celebrated 240 years of independence on 4 July  this year and Hawaii became its 50th state in May 1959.

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Brexit, the European Union and what is next?

In 2015, the largest number of non-citizen immigrants arriving in Britain come from Poland, Ireland and Germany.

Anyone born in Northern Ireland qualifies to apply for a passport issued by its neighbouring country, the Republic of Ireland.

The UK is facing a critical moment in its union, after being an island nation which once wielded power in an Empire across the world in the age of colonialism, industrialisation and shipping. Its location off the north-west coast of mainland Europe was destined for it to deal with the continent, whether in military campaigns, economic exchanges, cultural influences and social-religious developments. 

The ruling House of Windsor has German roots and once had close relatives in all the royal houses of present and past European states. The Saxons invaded England from France. The English and Portuguese have had close political alliances for the past 700 years. Brit tourists are a significant presence in Spain and in any football match held on the continent. British pensioners contribute to the viability of many countryside French villages. The British presence in Romania, despite Dracula and all, is under mentioned. 

Denmark has a Crown Princess with a Scottish-Australian background. The links between the UK and Europe are undeniable, not just in trade, banking, Western thought and shared history. 

Britain voting to leave the EU spotlights on issues underpinning how contemporary Europe is trying its best to be united. Perhaps the EU should take a more serious review of how a union can be formed with countries big and small, each with a rather strong sense of cultural identity, varying levels of ability in financing and economic development and with disadvantages in currently adopting a common currency. 

Maybe it is not so much of the UK voters in the Brexit referendum being unhappy with decisions made in Brussels, or with EU membership benefits only pleasing the banking fraternity in London city. It is the nature and conditions of EU membership that causes discontent, amongst the right wing, the dispossessed and the unemployed residing on the continent. 

Add to this heady mix the several or so ethnic groups who are unhappy and dissatisfied for a variety of reasons living in European countries, being part of a larger political entity with whom they do not share cultural and political values.   For example, Catalonians have been displaying strong signals to break away from Spain; the Scots have been pursuing autonomy from London and the referendum majority vote for the UK to leave the EU has deepened the split in this perspective between Scotland and England; and the sizeable Muslim minority in the Republic of France have complained of alienation and economic disparity from the mainstream.

The dream of a united Europe stems from the bitter, savage and regretful experiences of two major wars in the 20th century. Yet it is not a smooth and uneventful path to form a union of so many states.   Unlike historical China, where union was often violently and painfully enacted upon what were disparate kingdoms, thousands of years ago,  to result in today's Han Chinese consciousness and sense of collective cultural belonging,   Europe faces contemporary challenges in forming a meaningful federated entity.    What are the effective European values that can be utilised to keep alive the Euro dream?

It is surely that any referendum that David Cameron wrought has unleashed what may be truly a Pandora's Box impacting on economics, politics and social matters for many years to come.   Did Cameron really not consider an outcome of the majority of British voters deciding to quit the EU?     Would there not have been any contingency plans to deal with such an outcome in the expected processes of business continuity planning and action for a nation like Britain? 

It can be ironic that the EU referendum held in Britain in June 2016 may also lead to the break up not just between the European continent and Britain, but for the UK itself and perhaps for the European Union - who knows?

The pessimistic doomsayers chatter about the financial capital of Europe moving to Germany,  the opportunity for Dublin to enhance its role for the EU (it is already the back room processing centre for many businesses in that region) and for paris to steal the limelight further from London.    Londoners will not give up their strategic and profitable status that easily - and will find ways of continuing to prosper in an ever changing world.

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Uber and Change

Delivering meals, ice cream and other business deliveries have been added by Uber, which started by transporting passengers in two vehicles in San Francisco.

The business now has around 5000 full time staffers - in addition to the drivers who have increasingly asked to be categorised as employees instead of being contractors. 

Currently corporate culture does not encourage the payment of tips. Its next interests are in the development of driverless cars and in introducing car pooling services.Investing in driverless vehicles do seem the anti-thesis of its very first successful business niche.   However this does underline the modus operandi of new fangled businesses of the near future - innovate, deconstruct, let go and embrace the new.

Guangzhou has so far been the top city in number of passenger hire trips for Uber. Worldwide, Uber is operating in more than 360 cities in 66 countries - and has around three quarters of all counties covered in the USA. Uber provided three million rides daily by last year and there are already more than a million active Uber drivers.

The journey for Uber has met challenges and opposition at various levels. However its growth echoes the basic premise that individuals can choose to make money in their spare time with what they already own - their private car. 

Uber is typical of the recent disruptive and transformative businesses that are successful despite not owning the physical things used to bring in the money - by just offering a connective platform between customers and those who actually deliver the service or product.

  

Uber founder Travis Kalanick also believes in the value of providing independence, dignity and control of personal time to drivers under his business model. His drivers become self entrepreneurs in a way - and perhaps also drive down the costs of hire car trips.

Critics are not so sure about the position Uber drivers find themselves in - and suggest feudal like conditions such drivers face, the absence of pension and other benefits, plus asserting that Uber has more advantages in such a relationship.   

Continued disruption by such digital age business models will intensify and is part of changes in how future businesses engage with customers in the pursuit of profits. 

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A Worldly View

Apart from a geographical categorisation, one can view the contemporary world in distinct cultural groups.    Increasing forces supersede national boundaries.  Particular nations are no longer held by common shared values as much as is ideal, but were shaped by historical decisions, political power plays and parameters that may no longer apply.   Nations have formed alliances and groups like airlines - and the viability and tenacity of such groups may no longer hold, without a prospect for effective change.


There have been countries that were first colonised by an European power one or two centuries ago but still find themselves in a  loose or actual association with the so called Mother Country.   There are independent states gripped by the negativity of personal corruption and excessive military control after successfully winning the war with colonialism.   There are nations bound by a common religion, culture or outlook.  Yet sizeable ethnic groups like the Kurds and Armenians find themselves displaced under the contemporary national structure.


Some states are so small they could obviously join a larger neighbouring territory.  Some have large territories but have been sidelined by giant neighbours.  Some political entities have so much natural resources that belie their geographical size.   Others control strategic routes, people movements and significant traffic.    Some countries are remnants of former powerful empires in the past.  Some nations are small isles whilst others are located so remote from the main focus of the world.  Yet others have seen constantly changing borders, especially in the 19th and 20th centuries.


A nation like the USA claim as their own territory places like Alaska and Hawaii which are significantly distant form the mainland States.    Greenland is under Denmark but many times larger than its European mainland sovereign.


The Antarctica is carved up amongst several nations with designated areas of stake and control, much like in the spirit of colonial days.


The Antarctica may not have held indigenous populations, but many modern day nations are ruled by peoples who have displaced the original long time occupants in such countries. The Incas, Australian Aboriginal nations, native North Americans, Eskimos, various African peoples, the Mayas, the Malayan Peninsular Sakais and the tribal peoples of Vietnam and Thailand, for example, have had more glorious days in past history.

Argentina and Chile in the southern hemisphere form a Latin American hub that extends all the way north past Brazil and the Equator to Central American nations like Mexico, Guatemala and El Salvador. Latino populations in the USA continue this influence north of the Mexican border.    They are strongly Catholic but many are descendants of both native, Spanish and Portuguese inter-marriages in the past.

Orthodox Christian countries surround Russia like Serbia, Romania, Macedonia, Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus and Bulgaria. 

Catholic Europe evoke of nations like Spain, Italy, France, Malta,  Ireland, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovenia, Belgium, Luxembourg and Croatia.

Germany, Switzerland, Iceland and the Scandinavian countries are Protestant Europe.
They are perhaps on the forefront of new thinking, socialist innovation and human equity implementation.

The Islamic nations are not just south of Europe and in the Middle East but include Indonesia and Malaysia in south-east Asia, whilst Buddhist Thailand and Catholic Philippines have sizeable Muslim minority populations.

Central Africa has had a rich civilisation centring on Lake Chad with important native kingdoms like the Congo, Lurnda, Bornu, Wadai, Baguirmi, Sao, Shilluk and Kanem.  Then came the European colonists - Belgians, Brits, Portuguese, Germans, Italians and more.


Southern Africa in this modern age is defined only by five countries - Lesotho, Naimbia, Botswana, Republic of South Africa and Swaziland.  The rich natural resources, not just in minerals and ores, but also in wildlife, have helped shaped the native culture.  And then came the European settlers -   French Huguenots, Dutch, Brits and more.   Some came to escape religious persecution and others fro trade, adventure and exploitation.


The Indian sub continent has Muslim traditions in Bangladesh and Pakistan , whilst India and Nepal are primarily Hindu and Sri Lanka has a majority of Buddhists.    The past British colonial policy of "divide and rule" had created divisions and anarchy for the various different peoples of this sub-continent.

East Asia can be viewed as Confucian.  China can be said to be the historical source of civilisation in this region, greatly influencing the Japanese, Korean and Mongolian tenets of culture.  This area of the world had witnessed tumultuous events especially in the 20th century, the effects of which still colour relationships amongst neighbours in this century.

Confucian values have even shaped the island nation of Singapore in a south-east Asia that once was the centre of several important Hindu kingdoms and now an important Muslim region from Acheh in Sumatra to Mindanao Island in the Phillipines.

Six countries from the British Commonwealth -  Jamaica, New Zealand, Canada, Australia, Ireland and the UK - plus the USA see themselves as primarily English speaking.   Governments and citizens in Canada, New Zealand and Australia still pay allegiance to the British Queen.   Not counting the UK, only Australia and New Zealand still bear the British flag emblem. 

Britain still controls the tiny hamlet of Gilbratar, south of Spain, like those isles in the English Channel -  under the administrations of Isle of Man, Guernsey and Jersey.     Anguilla, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, the Turks and Caicos islands and Bermuda are all British Overseas Territories in the Caribbean.   There is also a British Indian Ocean Territory, small it may be but sufficiently strategic to UK interests.

In the Atlantic, Britain controls the Falklands, South Georgia and South Sandwich islands, Cristan da Cunha, Ascension and St. Helena.   There are also British territories but essentially military bases on the island of Cyprus in the eastern Mediterranean  - Akrotiri and Dhekelia.

The South Pacific has a unique culture but several islands are still controlled by France

 ( Austral, Marquesas, Leeward, Windward and Tuamotu-Gambier) and Britain ( Pitcairn Island).

Only six countries in the world still profess to be Communist - Albania, Cuba, Vietnam, Laos, North Korea and China.  The people of Vietnam and China can be said to think more in capitalistic terms and emphasise material accumulation more than perhaps in Australia and the UK, which have extensive and entrenched social security support systems better than in the Communist states.

Perhaps it is not so simplistic.   More nations increasingly host migrants from diverse religions, cultures and backgrounds in a rather mobile world. What is perceived as a unique national culture can be diminished or diluted or diversified - it depends on what spectrum of political views you hold - by people on the so-called fringe of the main stream.   The many ethnic groups can confuse or blur a national identity.  Perhaps national identity has to be in the future measured by a strong set of common values, like human dignity, human equity and other parameters, rather than be constrained by Old World factors like religion, heritage culture, history and political leanings.

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