This week, we grill the food director of Woman's Day, Jennene Plummer, on what foods tickle her tastebuds.
Q. Friends unexpectedly drop by and you ask them to stay for dinner. What do you cook?
A.I would prepare a casual barbecue, whip up a pasta of some sort with what I had on hand or make a soup or risotto if it was colder weather.
Q. What's your favourite Friday night meal and where will you eat it —
home or out?
A. We usually like to go out to a local restaurant with the children — either Italian, Chinese, Indian or Vietnamese.
Q. For a romantic night in or out, what's on the menu?
A.
Oh, that's easy — anything seafood. Or for winter months a classic casserole like coq au vin.
Q. What's your favourite indulgence food?
A. Hot chips.
Q. What's your favourite aisle at the supermarket?
A. The deli.
Q. What food couldn't you live without?
A. Probably eggs, although cheese would come close.
Q. What's your favourite health food?
A. I like oats, but in reality, I just use an abundance of fresh fruit and veggies.
Q. If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A. Probably caesar salad.
Q. What's your favourite restaurant?
A. Rockpool, Sydney.
Q. Have you ever eaten with anyone famous?
A. Hmmm ... Kieran Perkins and Grant Kenny.
Q. What dishes are in your repertoire?
A. Heaps, but some are spaghetti bolognaise (of course), roast, fish, risotto, casserole, stir-fry, schnitzel, etc.
Q. What sort of food do you eat when you're stressed with a deadline?
A. I generally go off food when I am stressed.
Q. What food would you quite happily never eat again?
A. Definitely tripe.
Q. Do you think food and wine matching is overrated?
A. In some ways, although I do think white is best with seafood.
Q. What's the most memorable meal you've eaten overseas?
A. I think it was probably a seafood meal I had on Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.
Q. What's one ingredient you always have in your pantry?
A. Canned tomatoes are always there.
Q. If you could invite three famous people to a dinner party, who would they be?
A. This is a hard one, probably Princess Diana, Paul McCartney, Brad Pitt — and because Diana is no longer with us, George Clooney.
