Friday, December 30, 2011
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Saturday, December 10, 2011
Monday, December 5, 2011
Mildura Brewery tastings in December
Vintage Cellars Sandringham 4.30pm - 7pm
Highgate Cellars Glenhuntly Rd Glenhuntly 4-7pm
Friday 9 Dec
Vintage Cellars Yarraville 4-7pm
Richie's Balnarring 3.30-6.30pm
Saturday 10 Dec
Dan Murphy's Melbourne CBD 4-7pm
Richie's Bentleigh East 4-7pm
Thursday 15 Dec
1st Choice Werribee 4-7pm
Vintage Cellars Williamstown 3.30pm-6.30pm
Friday 16 Dec
Highgate Cellars Glenhuntly Rd Glenhuntly 3.30-6.30
Richie's Tower Hill 3.30pm - 6.30pm
Saturday 17 Dec
Vintage Cellars Melbourne CBD 5-8pm
Thursday 22 Dec
Dan Murphy's Melbourne CBD 5-8pm
Friday 23 Dec
Neapean Hwy Cellars Mornington 3-7pm
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Gallery 25 opening tonight at 6pm
“Mildura’s arts culture seems to have developed incredibly since my departure from the area and I am looking forward to seeing what ‘Mildura’ will make of my art work.” Paul Oswin
Relief (this title refers to the print method of the images and recent relief from drought)
This exhibition displays images created strictly in the relief printmaking method. Relief printing often creates strong contrasts of light and dark to enhance the drama and intensity of an image.
The aim of this exhibition is to show the beauty and intensity of everyday objects, animals and people in the form of relief prints that draw attention to natural forms through strong contrast of negative and positive space.
On show are many of my recent relief prints created over the last few years. A range of relief printing techniques have been used, such as; lino-cut prints, woodcut prints, vinyl prints and mono-prints. Much of my imagery comes from life in the Mallee country, however, a broad range of influences and styles are explored to produce a variety of work that makes each individual art work different from the next.
About Paul Oswin
Paul studied art at Latrobe Mildura from 1998 to 2000 and since then has become an art teacher and for a time worked at the Mildura K.O.D.E School. Paul now resides in Kerang with his partner Kerryn (who is also artist) and their two boys. It’s been over ten years since he has been involved in the arts in Mildura.
Education
Bachelor of Art (Fine Art), printmaking major, Latrobe University Mildura
Diploma of Education, Latrobe University Bendigo
Primary Occupation - Secondary school art teacher
Awards
Best Drawing, Rotary Club of Kerang 2010 Annual Easter Art Show.
Short Listed for the Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery 2010 National Print and Drawing Awards
Winner of the ‘Any other medium’ section of the Rotary Club of Kerang 2011 Annual Easter Art Show.
Exhibitions
Vitality- Nejakarto Gallery, Kerang 2010
On Paper- Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery 2010
Swan Hill Regional Art Gallery National Print and Drawing Awards 2010
‘Kerang’- Sir Gorton Library, Kerang 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Join Donata and I for a drink
Dear Friends,
Please join us this coming Thursday for the opening of Chris Fraser's latest body of work called young at heart.
You will be sure to be engaged by Chris's humorous, colourful and quirky characters that appear in hand-coloured lino cuts or works on canvas using mixed media.
We hope to see you there.
Donata and Stefano
Friday, October 28, 2011
Chances for Children was my immediate thought...
“I’m extremely happy to help this organisation continue to achieve its goals with this donation."
Photo courtesy of Mildura Weekly- Vinnie Rodi
Read more here
http://www.milduraweekly.com.au/2011/10/28/stefanos-100000-gift-to-chances/
Thursday, October 27, 2011
$100 000 to Charity
The Paul Newman Foundation asked me to nominate a charity of my choice. I choose Mildura Chances for Children which will now receive $100 000 to allocate to local students! I am one of 10 Australian Chefs who were asked the same question. This means that 1 Million dollars will now go to charity. Watch my recipe on The Kerry Anne show next Monday at 9.45am
Read the full story here. http://ow.ly/7bqzX
Friday, October 14, 2011
A question on Twitter from Naomi and Wendy about Carp
Carp is very tasty but also very bony.
When you catch a large carp, let it die, and slit its throat and hang it from a tree to drain the blood
It is best to use the meat around the rib cage, as here the bones are visible and can easily be removed. There's a nice bit of meat around the rib cage of a larger fish, so do not bother with anything small. The bones are concentrated from the end of the rib cage to the tail, so do not bother with that part either.
Once the meat has been freed from the ribs, dust it with flour and fry in a combo of butter and extra virgin olive oil. The flour and the fat will form a creamy sauce - much as veal scaloppine - by de-glazing with a little white wine or stock. Add a few desalinated capers, adjust with salt and pepper, dust with chopped herbs - chives, tarragon or parsley - and serve with minted peas, straight out of the freezer pack - nothing wrong with those baby ones.
Hope you enjoy it. Please post a comment or post a photo if you try this out.
Ciao
Stefano
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Thank you for all your support!
We wish to thank all those friends who have sent us messages and good wishes. It feels nice to be supported by so many people!
The result coincides with the departure of Peter Webley who has been with us for the last 12 years. Peter started at The Grand at the tender age of 17 on Boxing Day (what a day to start an apprenticeship!) and was thrown into the deep end from the word go. For many years he has been the main support pillar in the kitchen at Stefano's seeing the restaurant through many awards and accolades. During that time he has sustained a terrifying car accident and has experienced severe health problems, but throughout his ordeals he has remained dedicated to his job with an unusual level of care and commitment.
Peter has now got into the local TAFE system with a significant job in the hospitality department. We wish him well and we pity those students that will come into his sight for not pulling their weight!!!
Peter has been succeeded by Jim McDougall who also started at The Grand some years back. Jim went on to cook at Vue De Monde and for their café, which he set up, for the last five years. It is a bit of a home coming for him and we know he will bring his own take to Stefano's with his creativity and care. Stefano's is not about to change direction all of a sudden, but it will be interesting to see how the food will evolve under Jim's influence. He has a great tradition behind him and the support of the entire team at Stefano's.
Early in 2012 Stefano's will enter its 20th year. That's a long time for any restaurant. There are not many that have survived under the same leadership for that long. That is something else to look forward to with some excitement and considerable pride.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Mildura Palimpsest is in full swing!
Mildura Palimpsest in full swing now. Many artists are in town setting up their shows all over the place.
Do not miss anything if you live here, but there are some you must see! I have just visited the Arts Centre and was blown away by Filomena Coppola's work in the basement and the Yonetani's cornucopia of salt in the Rio Vista dining room! What a place to exhibit this work that makes us think about the impact of salinity on the oasis. There is more, of course, but you have this weekend to get around. With almost 100 artists involved, some from OS, Mildura is buzzing with contemporary, relevant and amazing art! The organisers have worked hard and the sponsors deserve a huge thank you.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Mildura Palimpsest. Here is the full program
Thank you
Mildura Palimpsest Lunch with Stefano at Old Mildura Station Homestead Sunday 11th Sept
Stefano's Cafe & Bakery -Dinner on Sat 10 Sept
Mildura Palimpsest Lunch
Hope to see you there.
Stefano's Cafe & Bakery -Dinner on Sat 10 Sept
Sunday, September 4, 2011
The 2012 Age Good Food Guide is out!
Here are the reviews from the latest Age Good Food Guide. My restaurant retained it's 2 hats, getting 17 out of 20 points. A wonderful achievement by all.
Stefano’s Restaurant
If Stefano de Pieri didn’t exist, Mildura would have to invent him. His storied, elegant basement dining space, a wing of which stretches deep into the old hotel cellars, pays homage to the region’s history and rich immigrant heritage while showcasing wonderful local produce. Five nights a week, locals and pilgrims mass for five courses set ‘at the whim of the chef’. Over a languid evening they enjoy professional, country-friendly service, an extensive wine list – which can be matched by the glass with the menu – and seasonal food with its heart in the north of Italy but infused with global flavours. An autumn menu might offer rich baccala quenelles on polenta, battered zucchini flowers, gloriously robust local quail ravioli with sage butter sauce and braised beef cheeks served with vegetables chosen from the Sunraysia Farmers’ Market by the very real Stefano himself.
Stefano’s Cafe Bakery
There’s always an exotic egg dish at Stefano’s casual breakfast and lunch diner, provedore, gallery and sometimes bar; maybe Calabrese – with Italian pork sausages and Peperonata – or Middle Eastern. There may be gooey Belgian waffles, wonderful house muesli, plus local fruits and preserves. The lunch board changes daily, offering pastas, frittata and Panini to enjoy with Stefano-label wines.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Great news tonight!
My Restaurant has retained it's two chefs hat status and was scored 17 out 20 in The Age Good Food Guide.
More to come......
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Monday, August 22, 2011
Mister Mildura: The Public and Secret Life of Reg Etherington
Friday, August 19, 2011
Another time in politics
This photo was taken around 1983, give or take, during my time at the Brunswick Council. Sitting on the chair is the late Cr Greg Incantalupo. It seems like he had just been elected mayor. Standing next to Greg is Cr Joe Caputo who has been active in local government ever since. At the time there were 12 ALP councillors out of 12. We were running the Council, but not without some serious disagreements. We divided into Left and Right, ethnics and not, each group and subgroup plotting for control of something or standing against something. Greg was on the right, but we, on the left, supported him on Juventus matters. That was a popular soccer team at the time, which was looking for a base in Brunswick. Greg (and the Right) supported Juventus, but so did Joe and I on the grounds (excuse the pun) that it was all about equity and fairness. The mainstream had all the footy grounds, bowling greens and even some park where they played a funny game that involves hitting a ball backwards between your legs - I have never seen it, but I know it existed. Of course, the Brunswick "trendies" were opposed to the granting of a soccer ground to Juventus as they saw it as a missed opportunity to establish a park and a waste of taxpayers' money for an irrelevant sport. Large town hall meetings were held and consultations went on for months. Greg got what he wanted in the end. What I remember are his ruminations during the public consultations. He'd mutter away the whole time, running a hilarious commentary alongside each speaker. Greg was a natural comedian on account of his wry humour and equally wry facial expressions. Whilst I often disagreed politically with him, I could not help liking him.
I was a lazy councillor in that I found going around door knocking the electorate on Sunday arvo very tedious. I also found the interminable debates on rates, building codes etc. also extremely boring. I was not born a natural servant of the people. That is not to say that the Council did not do a number of very good things: Liz Anderson, for example, went along to all the Merri Creek meetings. Look at how well looked after the creek's riparian assets are now, where much work has been carried out ensuring lovely amenities in place of ugly factories and the like. We buried power lines. We looked after the baths and libraries and established one of the first really progressive welfare services in an area that was pretty devastated by relative poverty and unemployment. We supported CERES and the idea of looking at alternative sources of energy. I even created the Brunswick CC Cultural Development Officer position, which was assigned to Shane Maloney! In short, we made sure that Brunswick would have the foundations to become an active, energetic Council. Property there is now worth a mint and that is both good and bad.
Joe Caputo was also to become Mayor at some stage, although I think that happened when Brunswick was merged with Coburg to become Moreland Council. He and I could not stomach the politics of the Brunswick Electricity Supply Dept., especially when those in charge approved the purchase of a 4-wheel drive vehicle ostensibly to carry out electricity lines inspections! Joe and I went ballistic in the chamber during the debate but lost big time! I was involved in a car accident in 1993 that put me out for some months. I never had much interest in the Council after that, shifting my politics to another purpose. In all, a funny time, but not brilliant, as my contribution was limited. I can say, though, that I was not among those who stayed behind all night after Council meetings for supper and spirits, bottles of which were frequently known to disappear...........
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Monday, July 25, 2011
Please support our citrus farmers
Where are the foodies now? All too busy watching Masterchef?? The citrus industry is facing the most serious crisis in years. Growers are paid 10c per kg whilst supermarkets chains charge about $3 per kg on average. We now have rain and no markets. We have had the devastation of the drought, the floods and now the high dollar. This makes the import on concentrate from overseas cheaper but it ruins our community.
Refuse to drink cheap OJ. It comes from Brazil, it ruins our community and it has carbon miles attached to it. If you live in the riverland go and buy oranges from your local farmers. Help them to get over this mess.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Literary lovers have a ball at the Mildura Writers Festival
Sunraysia Daily journalist Allyson Fonseca delves into their literary passion:
http://www.sunraysiadaily.com.au/news/local/news/general/slow-lunch-great-end...
Monday, July 18, 2011
Celebration of creative culture in Mildura
Celebrity cook Stefano di Pieri and Channel Seven newsreader Jennifer Keyte relish literary ideas at the Mildura Writers' festival finale slow lunch.
What a wonderful celebration of creativity in Mildura. The Writers Festival was a great success and my thanks to all involved.
Thanks to Allyson Fonseca for the photos.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)