Welcome to the second version of a brand new sequence referred to as The Issues We Do, the place I share tales of what my staff and I stand up to outdoors the kitchen! Crew offsites, debut stay cooking present, a brand new starter at RecipeTin Meals, a particular reader dinner….and MOVING.
Life has been full!
We don’t simply cook dinner anymore!
9 years in the past, I began this little web site with simply Dozer as my right-hand man, sharing recipes I created in my single-bench Ikea kitchen.
At present, RecipeTin is a staff of 10, together with an precise skilled actual Chef who works alongside me on daily basis (JB!). I’ve a foodbank, RecipeTin Meals, the place we make over 100,000 selfmade meals yearly which we donate to the much less lucky. I made a cookbook. And it appears today, I’m a weekly columnist for a meals publication and we additionally do meals present occasions. 😳
So I assumed it could be good to share some behind the scenes of what my staff and I stand up to outdoors the kitchen. Right here’s some issues we’ve carried out since the final version of The Issues We Do!
We had a staff off-site
With the quick tempo of the enterprise and number of new issues we’ve been doing over the previous 12 months (guide excursions! occasions! charity!), I felt it was vital to deliver my complete staff collectively and do a presentation on objectives and imaginative and prescient for RecipeTin, and the vital half they might play in it.
It was a uncommon event to deliver each the RTE and RTM aspect of my enterprise collectively for greater than only a staff lunch. So to take advantage of it, I held the convention within the Hunter Valley, a wine area 2 hours drive from Sydney.
This was a convention, the RecipeTin Approach! We tried the official group picture. Simply….awkward….
That is extra prefer it!
As a lot enjoyable because the staff bonding / play half was, the presentation half was critical. It took me many hours to place it collectively and it was price each minute. We left the convention a stronger staff than ever.
However on the subject of the enjoyable – right here’s somewhat dwelling film of the RecipeTin Convention 2023!
We did a photoshoot at RTM
I employed a skilled photographer to do a photoshoot at RTM to seize “official” images for the RTM web site that we’re constructing. We acquired some nice photographs – even half first rate ones of me!
However then Barl, our Fijian care-bear, resigned to pursue one other profession, so now we have to do it once more. The boys are going to be thrilled once they learn that! 😂
There was one other picture shoot
Oh sure, and in the course of the RTM shoot, I needed to duck out to get a photograph taken for a information article saying that I’m touring Australia with the Good Meals & Wine Present! It was an odd day. Extra on the present beneath….
Then the Higher Houses & Gardens TV crew took over my home!
The Higher Houses & Gardens TV present got here to my home! They spent a day filming a “day within the lifetime of” in my dwelling then visited RTM the subsequent day to do filming there as properly. It was surreal!! You possibly can watch the episode right here. I’m in the beginning, center and finish.
Additionally – everybody in my staff is now formally in love with Johanna Griggs, the host. She’s as good as she comes throughout on TV and ten instances extra hilarious!!
There was extra TV…..
Then…2 days after that, we (Chef JB and I) have been again in a TV studio doing a stay phase to announce our new weekly recipe column in Good Meals Australia. Right here we’re on the Channel 9 At present Present. I can’t even keep in mind what we made that day!!!
Simply on that weekly column….
So, on the subject of my weekly Good Meals column! It’s referred to as “SOS” and can characteristic a recipe that may feed 4 folks for lower than $20, or may be made in lower than half-hour with fewer than 12 components.
These recipes are unique to Good Meals and within the Good Meals elevate out in Tuesday’s Sydney Morning Herald and Melbourne’s The Age newspapers. So that they received’t be on my web site – ever (sadly).
My hope is that it’s going to encourage extra folks to ditch overpriced heat-and-eat fashion dinners, lower your expenses, and eat extra scrumptious meals! Right here’s a preview of a number of the recipes I’ve shared:
Oh and look! They even put me on the duvet of the Sydney Morning Herald on the day they made the announcement. It was a BIG DEAL!!! (Please Dozer, may you present some assist).
Then there was that fancy dinner!
When you informed me 12 months in the past {that a} hatted restaurant in Sydney would create a one-night-only menu impressed by recipes from my cookbook, I most likely would’ve snorted then choked on my espresso (being the elegant lass that I’m).
However it did occur, and we even made somewhat dwelling film about it so you may see that I really wore a frock. This was for an unique Good Meals subscriber dinner to have a good time the launch of the new-look Good Meals!
And right here’s JB and I with the extremely gifted government Chef at The Gantry, Rhys Connell – the posed shot and the collaborating shot!
Oh, there was additionally the little matter that I used to be sitting subsequent to a number of the strongest and influential media and meals journalists in Australia. Rattling, I want I knew the big-big boss was going to be there, I’d’ve brushed up on my present affairs. 😭
Cookbook launch within the UK and US!
My cookbook was launched abroad within the US, UK, Canada and Eire!! By no means imagined in 1,000,000 years that such a factor would occur. Any individual pinch me!!
Launching the guide within the US was enjoyable, with a 1 hour stay stream hosted by Premiere Collectibles who promote autographed books. It was speculated to be a stay stream for me to signal books – so folks may see they have been genuine signatures – however I acquired quite sidetracked answering questions and taking viewers on a tour of my home and forgot to signal them on digicam. Oops!
The stay stream was recorded so you may watch it right here.
Thanks once more to all of the readers abroad who despatched by way of images of my guide abroad!! Liked seeing them in bookstores on the opposite aspect of the world.
Oh, there was additionally that little matter of my cookbook making the New York Occasions finest vendor record. Spoiler: there have been tears.
Debut stay cook dinner present in Melbourne!
I arrived dwelling at midnight final night time after 5 days in Melbourne doing my debut stay cooking present on the Good Meals & Wine Present with RecipeTin’s very personal Chef JB Alexandre!! We did a forty five minute present cooking 3 dishes as an illustration of how one can make a big-impact unfold with pace!
WOW what an expertise. Greater than 25,000 folks got here to the Good Meals & Wine Present over 3 days and we have been doing our present on the principle stage, adopted by a guide signing / meet & greet.
I can actually say I’ve by no means been so nervous earlier than in my life! I actually couldn’t speak within the minutes main as much as occurring stage and I believe I went to the bathroom 5 instances in 20 minutes. 😂
However the minute we went on stage the nerves fully disappeared. It was like chatting to associates whereas I cooked – I used to be simply lacking a glass of wine. (Or, was I….?? 😈).
JB – what a champ. Not one for public talking and having not carried out something like this earlier than, but he completely nailed it. So proud to have carried out my first stay cooking present with him by my aspect!
And in reality, JB was doing guide signings with me all through the entire present. By the top of the third day, we needed to get him his personal desk as a result of his queue was banked up!!
And for those who’re questioning about my OTHER sidekick – he was there in spirit. In 2D type!
Right here’s somewhat dwelling film we made:
What we made for our present – “Cooking up a storm, the RecipeTin Approach”: Vietnamese Shaking Beef (cookbook unique), Singapore Chilli Prawns/Shrimp (created particularly for the present!), Coconut Rice and Smashed Cucumber Salad.
Click on right here for present dates in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth!
And at last…why I moved.
In amongst the entire above, I bought my dream dwelling and moved!
Till 3 weeks in the past, I lived in Sydney’s stunning Northern Seashores and have now moved again to the Ryde space of Sydney the place I lived for 10 years. I’m now a lot nearer to town (50 minutes vs quarter-hour), a lot nearer to plentiful (good!) Asian meals, however a lot farther from the seaside.
My former dwelling was goal constructed for my enterprise. It had 3 kitchens: 2 for work and 1 in my non-public dwelling quarters, my dream kitchen purpose-built to my bizarre specs I by no means imagined I’d ever have.
Promoting it and leaving the Northern Seashores space was a tragic and difficult resolution. So why did I do it?
Right here’s why I left my dream dwelling
I bought my dream dwelling as a result of:
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I must separate work from life.
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I want and wish to be nearer to my meals financial institution.
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I plan to maneuver my meals financial institution to a (a lot) bigger kitchen within the Ryde space.
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I must launch capital to construct my meals financial institution and my workplace.
I can’t be trusted with my workplace beneath my front room….
If I reduce to the chase, the transfer is pushed by my want to maneuver RTM from the present small kitchen now we have on the perimeter of Sydney CBD to a bigger kitchen, and I need that kitchen to be within the Ryde space. It’s a superb location to service the entire of Sydney and for actual property price causes.
It’s additionally a “rip the bandaid off” method to attempt to enhance my work-life steadiness. I’ve been very open about how I’ve been combating dealing with my workload as my enterprise has grown. And the way the cookbook, whereas I have a good time in all its successes, was the toughest factor I’ve ever labored on in my life. It didn’t break me, however I rattling properly labored myself into the bottom to the purpose of being unhealthy.
It’s only a plain proven fact that I’m not the kind of one who may be trusted with my workplace beneath my front room. Too straightforward to entry and work an excessive amount of!
However, I’ve been faffing round. I didn’t wish to depart the northern seashores or my dwelling. I used to be half-heartedly in search of someplace to hire close to Ryde – however not likely.
It took an enormous kick up my bum by my enterprise coach to get cracking! So I took the “rip the bandaid-off” method and bought my home with out realizing the place I used to be transferring.
That definitely acquired me going to discover a new home!!!
So right here we’re on transfer day – feeding folks proper as much as the final minute.
And right here have been are, unpacking within the new place. And – feeding folks, earlier than we’ve unpacked!
Removalist suggestion (Sydney) – Double J Removals 1800 830 506. Quick. Skilled. Entertaining. Pleasant. Useful.
So what now?
I drastically downsized. I’m at present in a rental within the Ryde space with 1 quite than 3 kitchens (#FirstWorldProblems!). There shall be an adjustment interval. I want to determine my new workflow. I really feel greater than ever like I’m dwelling at work as a result of there isn’t any separation between my private house and work.
Issues will get somewhat tougher earlier than they get higher, I do know that.
However I’m within the space I have to be. Boots on the bottom, as I say, to pound the pavement to discover a new kitchen for RTM. To discover a location for my work-kitchen which shall be completely for work, and just for work.
And to discover a dwelling that’s work-free. No pictures or video studio!
I’m so excited concerning the 12 months to come back. Constructing a brand new kitchen for RTM – larger house! Higher tools! Donating extra meals!! 🙌🏻
Constructing a purpose-built “house-office” for this distinctive no-other-business-like-it factor we name RecipeTin! A inventive hub the place I can create and experiment with new recipes, the place I can {photograph}, write and movie recipe movies. A spot massive sufficient to host lunches and dinners, a spot I can invite readers to dine with us – hopefully!
And, discovering a house I can escape to on evenings and weekends. Work free.
2023 is THE 12 months! – Nagi x
Lifetime of Dozer
Closing sundown stroll at Bayview canine park the night earlier than we moved out.
However actually, there was zero adjustment interval for Mr Dozer. So long as he will get treats and is with me, he’s as pleased as may be. Canine are the BEST! ❤️
