Snap! FFF is eating .....

WHAT: Coffin Bay Oysters with watermelon and red onion salsa

WHERE: Gusto, Noosa, Queensland.

WHY WE’RE FFF-ING LOVE IT: As a rule, FFF adores her oysters freshly shucked, served on ice with a chilled glass of chardonnay and great company on the side. Sometimes though, a sneaky little slippery, dressed ever so chicly is just too delicious to resist. 

Need more than ice and chard with yours? Be inspired by our best dressed oyster list and, most importantly, find out how to shuck yours in an effortless, almost professional fashion.  Down it goes!

Grilled Oysters with lemongrass creme fraiche, fried garlic and lime

Oysters with ruby grapefruit

Baked Oysters with bacon and leeks - Highly FFF recommended!

Oysters with lime and chilli dressing

Oysters Rockefeller

Oysters with chilli, ginger and rice wine vinegar - Highly FFF recommended!

Happy Australia Day FFFs and Geoffrey Rush's Pavlova

This Australia Day, other than a good lamb chop, we can’t think of a better way to celebrate than with 2012 Australian of the Year Geoffrey Rush’s signature (and decidedly Australian) Pavlova.

Advance Australia Fare! Enjoy…

Geoffrey Rush’s Australian Pavlova

4 large egg whites, room temperature
Pinch of salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons castor sugar
1 teaspoon cornstarch
2 teaspoons white-wine vinegar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

To serve:
1 1/4 cups heavy cream, whipped

With:
10 passion fruits, for serving
4 bananas, for serving

Or:
Mixed berries, such as raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, boysenberries, or blackberries, for serving

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Using an 8-inch bowl as a guide, trace the perimeter of the bowl onto a sheet of parchment paper. Transfer parchment paper, pencil side down, to a baking sheet. Set aside.

In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat egg whites and salt together until glossy peaks form. With mixer running, add sugar in three additions, beating until meringue is stiff and glossy. Sprinkle in cornstarch, vinegar, and vanilla; gently fold to combine.

Mound the meringue in the center of the 8-inch circle. Using a spatula, evenly spread meringue out towards the edges. Transfer baking sheet to oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 250 degrees. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Turn off oven and let meringue cool completely in oven. When meringue is cool and completely dry, top with whipped cream and desired fruits.

Images via nextmovie and marthastewart / recipe via marthastewart

Wordless Wednesday: Diamond Life

Stone Vicious 18-karat white and black gold diamond ring, Harry Winston Sunset Padparadscha and Diamond necklace, Diane Kordas 18-karat rose gold diamond arabesque ring, vintage Belperron brooch of 18 carat gold, diamonds, emerald ca 1930, Canturi Cubism earrings, Harry Winston vintage Estate Diamond Cluster earrings, Repossi diamond pave ring, Delfina Delettrez DNA bracelet

Louis Vuitton Prefall 2012: Sweet Chic

Louis Vuitton have presented a delicious PreFall 2012 collection in Paris over the weekend.

Think fluid lines and soft curves in duchesse satin, fine wools and silk in the form of chic car coats, baby-doll dresses, cropped jackets and fur lined, knee length skirts. Pops of Stephen Sprouse’s leopard print perfectly juxtaposed with deliciously smooth shades of chocolate and caramel and offset with toffee-toned palettes.

Wear this collection eating the snap, crackle and pop of Salted Caramel Chocolate Pretzel Bark… just mind the crumbs! Grab the recipe here.

Images via style.com and livelovepasta.com

Quick Bites: Iconic portraits, kale krisps, 3D fashion, wearable art, Australia Day beach bag, the ultimate soft & chewy choc chip cookie

• Famed photographer Terry O’Neill reveals his list of the 10 most iconic portraits of all time, including his divine shot of a relaxed and cheeky Audrey Hepburn in the pool, St Tropez style (above). dailymail

• FFF is all about kale right now, so this Whole Foods Market recipe for kale chips with chilli and parmesan is going to be on high rotation. (On a side note — can someone please bring the Whole Foods Market to Australia!). wholefoodsmarket

• Want to turn your child’s kindy paintings into wearable art? How about a picture of your nearest and dearest? Then check out the bespoke scarf service at Hayden-Harnett.  haydenharnett

• Don’t think 3D only happens at the movies. Nouio has utilised innovative technology to create 3D imaged fabric in a range that combines notions of nature and technology. Turn up to your next cocktail party in this little number, hand out the 3D glasses and watch the freaky fun begin… notjustalabel

• Anya Hindmarch’s beach print canvas tote is just the thing for celebrating Australia Day in style. net-a-porter

• If you’re more of a soft and chewy chocolate chip cookie fiend than a crispy person, these babies are the ones for you. They include a ‘secret’ ingredient ensuring they stay that way for days (if they last that long). pastryaffair

A Stell(er) summer

Stella McCartney striped printed cotton top, cosmetics case, faux leather shoulder bag, orange slub blazer, deckchair-striped shorts, faux python & patent leather sandals, cork sandals, canvas shopper, straight leg twill pants, cotton-sateen top, skinny patent belt

If we could wear just one designer this season, it would be Stella McCartney. Like an icypole on a hot summer’s day, we crave her mad troppo prints, chic deckchair prints and flashes of fluro (faux) patent leather. 

Team with this fabulously happy capsule wardrobe, our new favourite salad (below). A clever FFF Aunt whipped this Maggie Beer’s special up on Christmas night and it has since become our tangy summer salad staple. Maggie calls it her Christmas Salad but we think its far too Steller just to eat on one day.

Chic-up and chow-down FFFs!

Summer Salad
(Maggie Beer - A Barossa Food Tradition)

Ingredients:

• 2 handfuls young rocket 
• 3 witlof bulbs 
• 2 mangoes 
• 1 1/2 ripe avocadoes 
• 1/4 papaya 
• 30 mint leaves 

Lime vinaigrette

• 2 limes 
• 125 mL extra-virgin olive oil 
• sea salt 
• freshly ground black pepper 

To make the vinaigrette: finely grate the zest of the limes and juice the fruit, then combine with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Set aside. 

Wash and dry the rocket well, and separate the leaves from the witlof. Cut the cheeks from the mangoes and remove the skin. Slice the flesh lengthwise into even strips. Peel the avocadoes and slice them a similar size to the mango strips. Repeat this with the papaya. Finely shred the mint leaves. Toss all the ingredients in a serving bowl with the vinaigrette, then check the seasoning and acidulate. Serve immediately. Serves 4.

Wordless Wednesday: Happy Shoe Year!

Miu Miu Watersnake-effect leather sandals, Bottega Veneta Two-tone leather sandals, Stella McCartney Perspex-heeled satin sandals, Giuseppe Zanotti canvas slingback pumps, Rupert Sanderson denim pumps, Charlotte Olympia straw and mirror pumps, Sergio Rossi fluro heels, Alexander Wang Chloe sandal, Charlotte Olympia Polly Leopard pump, Giuseppe Zanotti gold sandals, Roger Vivier Belle du Jour pumps, Pierre Hardy multi-coloured strap court shoes, Pierre Hardy neoprane court shoes, Pierre Hardy wedges

FBOMs of the Week: 2012 Golden Globes

OUR TOP THREE…

WHO: Angelina Jolie
WEARING: Atelier Versace gown, Lorraine Schwartz earrings
WHY WE ARE FFF’ING LOVING IT: AJ is FBOM 101 in this deceptively simple ivory gown with the turned detail in luscious berry at her throat — perfectly accenting those famous lips and clutch. Hollywood perfection.
FBOM RATING: 10/10

WHO: Emma Stone
WHAT: Lanvin with a Cartier clutch
WHY WE ARE FFF’ING LOVING IT: We know it’s a deadly sin, but we covet her style. The plum and cherry combination resonate perfectly with her alabaster complexion, and the  sweep of titian hair, cats eye and lace up heels nail it.
FBOM RATING: 10/10

WHO: Sofia Vergara
WHAT: Vera Wang and Harry Winston diamonds
WHY WE ARE FFF’ING LOVING IT: A Goddess. Full marks for the simple styling, sleek hair and clean make up. The petrol blue, fully boned corset and fish tail demanded it. Va-va-voom to infinity and beyond.
FBOM RATING: 10/10 (The $5,000,000 worth of Harry Winston diamonds will do it every time!).

As a little extra, enjoy some of our favourite Golden Globe moments from the past…
Nicole and Madge (the lady and the tramp) 1997, Kate Hudson went beautifully Valentino boho in 2003, Cate Blanchett wearing ruby Donna Karan was magnificent and pregnant in 2004, in 2009 Eve Mendes was fresh and fabulous in Christian Dior and a breathtaking 1974 turquoise-and-diamond Van Cleef & Arpels necklace, and Charlize Theron dove into a deep blue mermaid gown by Christian Dior in 2005.

All images via instyle and popsugar

Snap! FFF is eating...

WHAT: Deconstructed Pavlova

WHERE: Jackies, Sydney

WHY WE’RE FFF-ING LOVE IT: Deconstructed. Such a lovely, descriptive, ‘fashiony’ term. Much more glammy than Eton’s “Mess”. The dessert equivalent of John Galliano’s Spring 2003 collection, this frivolous concoction of colour, texture, crackle and pop was devoured at 3.00pm in the afternoon, making it an indulgent and slightly sinful FFF experience.

Can’t get to Jackies?
Try Sophie Dahl’s delectable Rhubarb and Rosewater Eton Mess (below) from her equally sweet cookbook, Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights.

Grab the recipe here!

Merry Christmas to one & all

The end of another year is nigh, and the tinkle of Christmas cheer abounds. We want to wish all of our lovely FFFs a wonderful and safe Christmas with your family and friends. We thank you for your interest and support in 2011, and we look forward to spreading the fashion & food gospel with you in 2012.

We hope your Christmas stockings are filled with wondrous goodies, but just in case you still have a few ideas in mind, take a tip from the ultimate feline songstress Eartha Kitt, and get your last Christmas wish list into Santa before he closes his books!

Much love and best wishes to you all, see you in 2012!

Elizabeth & Jane xx

Decal via alphabettree.com.au

Christmas wish list

Jimmy Choo glitter iPad sleeve, Courreges by Valerie Guillaume, Marni sequinned pouch, The Impossible Project x colette poloraid camera, Visionaire 61 - Larger than Life, the largest magazine in the world!, MakeUpStone bracelet, Nina Ricci velvet wrap sandals, Alexandra Blak fluro cuff, Venini Fazzoletti small vase, Nason Moretti Burlesque glass set, Striking Diving Girl Diamond ring Poster 1975, Dog rain slicker, Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss, Ice cream gold bowl, Wesco biscuit tin

FFF hearts Herman Miller & Christmas ham

We are smitten with these fabulous prints from Print-a-Porter featuring bold and bright graphics with a pop art food focus. These eye-catching works were originally designed as commemorative posters for the Herman Miller furniture company’s annual summer company picnic, and have now become highly covetable and collectable.

With Christmas just around the corner, we are particularly partial to the Baked Ham print. If you are still undecided on how to bake your ham, why not try this fabulous Lime and Macadamia Glazed ham. This recipe is courtesy of the Montafia family — the same clan that shared their amazing pasta sauce with FFF, so we think this is going to be right on the money!

Lime and Macadamia Glazed Ham
(FFF note: Marie Montafia often doubles the glaze mix for a larger ham).

• 350G jar ginger, lemon & lime marmalade
• 2/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbspn Dijon mustard
• 2 tbspn sweet chilli sauce
• 1 cup macadamia nuts (chopped)

Preheat oven to 150 degrees C. Line roasting pan with baking paper.

Remove rind from ham. Use a sharp knife to score ham fat in a diamond pattern. Place ham in roasting tray. Combine above ingredients. Spoon half the mixture over surface of ham. Cook approx 45 min. Remove from oven and baste well with syrup from pan  — spoon remain glaze over ham. Cook a further 45 min or until golden. Serve hot, cold or at room temp.

FFF Guide to Life: Clare Press

FFF caught up with Clare Press — former features director Australian Vogue, columnist for InStyle and Harper’s Bazaar, owner of Sydney’s Mrs Press Dressing Room, and now author of her first fabulous book The Dressing Table — to find out what ticks her list for a FFF Life. A busy woman with a treasure trove of tips to boot — thank you Clare!

VISIT: Rome. I’ve only been there once but I was transfixed. I was also a spoiled brat! It was on a press trip for Bulgari when I worked at Vogue; we had a lavish dinner in a normally inaccessible palazzo and I had a driver at my beck and call. But you could go there without the perks and still fall in love – pretending to be Audrey Hepburn on the Spanish Steps, swooning over the Trevi Fountain, eating gelato, flirting with the waiters.

STAY: In Australia, Lilianfels in the Blue Mountains. It’s where my husband and I hole up in the middle of winter – quiet luxury and a fabulous view. When we fancy sunshine, we rent a villa from Contemporary Hotels + Beach houses. Bedarra Island Villa is the best!

EAT/DRINK: I spend a lot of time at the small but perfectly formed Wine Library at 18 Oxford St, Paddington, just up the road from our Sydney boutique. Great name, no? Books & booze are two of my very favourite things. I am also a bread fiend, and this place has plenty of it. We always order the wooden board of prosciutto and cheese and a dry Italian rose. Not healthy perhaps, but lovely.

GALLERY: Australia’s best-kept secret, Bendigo Art Gallery, in country Victoria – they get shows from the V&A. In March it’s Grace Kelly Style.

SHOP: Liberty of London – I could lose myself for a week in there. In Sydney I love my store (Mrs Press Dressing Room, 436 Oxford St, Paddington), but then I’m biased, aren’t I?! Also, stylist Sibella Court’s fabulous emporium Society Inc (19 Stewart St, Paddington). In Perth, for fashion I go to Sana boutique in Claremont. In Brisbane, I am obsessed with Jean Brown (shop 62, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley) – the last time I was there, they had the most amazing leopard print shoes by Charlotte Olympia.

BOOK, FILM & MUSIC: Read my new book of writings on style, The Dressing Table (Lantern, $45) – it’s a collection of essays on style, clothes and their potential to be meaningfulness to us, and the idea that you don’t have to be a shallow, surface-driven bimbo to care about what you wear. The format is part memoir, part interview-based and part style scrapbook. And I hope it’s kind of funny too.

This month, I’m watching the BBC series The Hour, so well written, and the movie Tinker Sailor Soldier Spy (I love a bit of espionage). I listen to Cat Power, Patti Smith or Eartha Kitt depending on my mood. Right now, it’s Eartha purring ‘Santa Baby’.”

CHARITY: Camp Quality. The supper club events they run each year are a fantastic idea – last year they raised $460,000 to help support children with cancer and their families. This year, they’re aiming for $1million. Let’s help them do it - www.campquality.org.au

MUST HAVE WARDROBE ITEM: A ballgown. I love the concept of clothes having near-magical powers to alter your mood. Feeling glum? Dress up to the nines. I have a vintage obsession and a collection of frothy 1950s tulle, posh 40s moiré taffeta and slinky bias-cut 30s satins, which I’ve been known to wear to work with boots and a sweater.

MUST HAVE KITCHEN/PANTRY ITEM: Extra virgin olive oil. We buy giant cans of it then decant it into a funny old pourer we are very attached to.

MUST HAVE BEAUTY ITEM: My black liquid eyeliner. Never leave the house without it on. My swear-by brand for this is Revlon Colourstay – it’s cheap but the best.

AND FINALLY… WHAT IS YOUR MANTRA: You can never be overdressed.

To find out more about Clare Press visit mrspress.com

FBOMs of the Week: Lauren, Stella & Rooney

WHO: Lauren Santo Domingo
WHERE: New York City
WEARING: Valentino jumpsuit, Lanvin bag, Alexander Wang shoes
WHY WE ARE FFF’ING LOVING IT: Grown up and so FFF-ing sophisticated it hurts. Adore the low cross over back and fluidity of the pants. The non-existent accessories bar that little capsule bag is the cherry on this very chic cake. This is how to do festive-red without looking like Mrs Claus.
FBOM RATING: 10/10

WHO: Stella Tennant
WHERE: Celine
WEARING: London
WHY WE ARE FFF’ING LOVING IT: Stella does androgynous like no other. The perfect combination of rock chick, disco-style a la Studio 54 and YSL circa 1975. We adore her style almost as much as those fabulous gold shoes.
FBOM RATING: 10/10 

WHO: Rooney Mara
WHERE: New York City
WEARING: Prabal Gurung silk crepe LBD, Fred Leighton ring and Louboutins.
WHY WE ARE FFF’ING LOVING IT: It’s edgy and dark yet demure and lady-like all at once. Paired back styling with slick hair and a super red lip are all that’s needed here, and Rooney ticks these off with aplomb. We die for that super-sheer black back, tres sexy line of little jet buttons and the lines the edging on the dress create. Perfection-in-motion Ms Mara.
FBOM RATING: 10/10 

images via vogue

Snap! FFF is watching Thomas Keller's clock & cooking his chicken...

WHAT: The clock in Super-chef Thomas Keller’s NY kitchen.

WHERE: On our private tour with Mr Keller at Per Se, New York City.

WHY WE’RE FFF-ING LOVE IT: Punctuality is underrated. We worship the man, love his food and like the way he thinks. If food as a religion exists on earth, Keller might just be the Messiah.

Can’t get to Per Se or The French Laundry (Keller’s other famed restaurant)?
Try making Thomas Keller’s super simple, deliciously succulent roast chicken (below) for your next family dinner. Sublime!

The Supes do Duran

OMG! We are so FFF’ing excited we can barely sit still! The Duran Duran ‘Girl Panic’ mini-film slash music clip has been released and it is everything you would expect from the 80s Super Group and then some.

Featuring Simon Le Bon’s wife Yasmin and a quartet of her leggy friends — Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Eva Herzigova and Helena Christensen — the Supes all play alter-egos of the band members, and impart a sophisticated Josie and the Pussycats vibe to boot. It’s wall to wall fabu-glamour and models as far as the eye can see, all set to that quintessential DD sound and shot at London’s Savoy Hotel.

The ultimate Girl Band and Brit-cool brilliance to the MAX! 

Snap! FFF is eating...

WHAT: Eggnet

WHERE: Longrain, Sydney

WHY WE’RE FFF-ING LOVE IT: Longrain is one of our absolute fave eateries from its luxuriously relaxed basement bar (difficult to tear away from) to its vast communal tables packed with devoted diners who order up big from its fabulously exciting Thai and Southern Chinese-inspired menu. Amongst a myriad of other delectable delights, we always order the Eggnet. An intriguing parcel packed with prawns, pork, peanuts, spouts and sweet vinegar covered in a crispy web it comes served with a side dish of Nahm Pla Prik, a tangy concoction of chilli, fish sauce, shallots and lime juice. FFF-ing fantastic!

Saucy Nigella!

We love salted caramel nearly as much as we love Nigella. So this special issue of Stylist edited by Nigella Lawson and featuring her dripping in said obsession is almost more than we can handle!

Read the full interview here and download her fave salted caramel recipes. With Christmas just around the corner, FFF is on the search for a boozey, gooey butter sauce to dress our figgy pud (below). Looks like we just found it.

Happy weekend FFFs!

Nigella Lawson’s Salted Caramel Brandy Butter

Ingredients

Nigella’s salted caramel sauce (click on link for recipe)

150g soft unsalted butter

25ml brandy

Method

Beat 150g soft unsalted butter with an equal weight of cold salted caramel sauce and brandy to taste (I use about a shot, which is about 25ml) starting with a 15ml tablespoon. Chill in the fridge and serve with mince pies or Christmas pudding or both.

Snap! FFF is clutching....

WHAT: Porcelain print de-manta clutch by Alexander McQueen

WHERE: Cult Status, Perth

WHY WE’RE FFF-ING LOVE IT: From our absolute fave accessories store comes fashion’s equivalent to food’s Limoges tea cup and saucer. Want… it… NOW!

Wishing for a White Christmas

Steamy 30°C days in the lead up to Christmas has FFF wishing she was anywhere but here! The only solace to be found? Ocean dips and icy poles accompanied by Lady Gaga’s delicious rendition of White Christmas (seriously good, see her performance below) and Martha Stewart’s lovely groggy version of the traditional sweet.   Sip, sing and keep your cool FFFs!

White Cosmopolitan

(based on recipe by Martha Stewart)

• 1 cup white-cranberry juice
• 4 ounces vodka
• 2 ounces Cointreau  

Slip into a fabulously festive frock, 6 inch heels and Tom Ford Private Blend True Coral lipstick. Fill a cocktail shaker with a tonne of crushed ice. Add cranberry juice, vodka and Cointreau. Shake to combine well. Strain into two large martini glasses and sip and savour in seriously chic company. Cheers!

Serves 2