Chinese New Year of the Rooster 2017

The Year of the Fire Rooster will start on January 28, 2017 and last until February 15, 2018.

According to the Chinese zodiac, the rooster is the 10th animal in the 12-year cycle of Chinese zodiac signs.

The Years of the Rooster are 1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029...
The Rooster is almost the epitome of fidelity and punctuality.

For our ancestors who had no alarm clocks, the crowing was significant because it awakened people to get up and start to work.

Cooking demonstrations at Williams-Sonoma, Chadstone shopping centre.

Ennis Le from Hanoi Mee.

The recent cooking demonstration by talented Vietnamese chef Ennis Le from Hanoi Mee in Port Melbourne was a great success.

Participants watched Ennis create tantalising modern Vietnamese delights and were thrilled to sample his dishes.

If you missed the demonstration, here are his recipes to try at home.

Keep your eye out for more cooking demonstrations at Williams-Sonoma, Chadstone shopping centre, soon!

Cooking demonstrations at Williams-Sonoma, Chadstone shopping centre.

Ennis Le from Hanoi Mee.

Looking for some culinary inspirations for your next dinner?

Come to Williams-Sonoma at Chadstone shopping centre on Thursday, 12 January at 5pm and watch talented chef Ennis Le from Hanoi Mee in Port Melbourne, while he whips up some exciting modern Vietnamese dishes.

Book a ringside seat at the demonstration kitchen of Williams-Sonoma, which is on the lower level, near David Jones.

Update

Cooking demonstration by Frank Kun Fu of Bowl Bowl Sichuan Street food and dumpling at Williams-Sonoma.

Frank Kun Fu's cooking demonstration at the popular homeware and gourmet food shop Williams-Sonoma at Chadstone shopping centre on Saturday, 7 January 2017, was very well received.

Cooking demonstrations at Williams-Sonoma, Chadstone shopping centre.

Take a break from the summer sales at Chadstone shopping centre and visit Williams-Sonoma for an exciting cooking demonstration on Saturday, 7 January from noon to 2pm.

Chef owner Frank Kun Fu from Bowl Bowl Sichuan Street Food and Dumpling in Collingwood will be cooking up a storm with his signature dishes.

Find out what they are by visiting the demonstration kitchen at Williams-Sonoma, which is on the lower level, near David Jones.

Christmas 2016

Christmas is a time of reflection, especially for my family this year.

In the midst of all the fun and feasting we will remember the ones we lost recently, through illness and old age.

My dearest brother in law Alan finally succumbed to the ravages of his illness after a long battle, courageously fought with every ounce of his strength and willpower, with the wonderful support of his family.

Through it all, he faced it as cheerfully as he could and never asked, "Why me?"

Father's Day 2016

This Sunday, September 4, is Father's Day in Australia.

Before you present Dad with his favourite after-shave, tie or barbecue apron and whisk him off to a celebratory meal, have you wondered about the origins of Father's Day?
Father's Day officially began in 1910 in Spokane, Washington, where 27-year-old Sonora Dodd proposed it as a way to honour the man who raised her when her mother died in childbirth.

June events

Winter has arrived in Melbourne, but don't hibernate at home!

Get out and about and enjoy all that Melbourne has to offer, both outdoors and in.

Indulge your palate and feed your soul.

Good food and wine show

The popular Good Food and Wine Show is on from June 3 to 5, 2016, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, aka Jeff's Shed.

Feast on a myriad food and wine samples and tastings and watch celebrity chefs perform at the Good Food Theatre.

Competition

Go bananas for Barnana

Over five million bananas are eaten every day in Australia, so it's no surprise that they are a top selling product in the fruit and vegetable section of supermarkets and greengrocers.

However, until now, there was the slight problem of what to do when bananas brown too quickly, get easily squashed in your shopping bag or can't be refrigerated to prolong their life.

Swimming Challenge photo exhibition

Another interesting exhibition is now on at Cafe Grumento in Port Melbourne.

Titled 1985:Swimming Challenge at Sydney Harbour, it is an exhibition of black and white photos taken by well known photographer Susan Windmiller.

These photos are from the Sydney Morning Herald Archives and showcase the one kilometre swim from the Opera House to Kirribilli in Sydney Harbour in1985, as part of the Australia Day celebrations.

Susan Windmiller is an experienced photographer of many years.