Big 4 firms have traditionally aimed high. But now that they’re turning their attention to the middle market, just where does that leave mid-tier firms? Something’s in the air. First Big 4 firm Deloitte swooped on the Melbourne office of mid-tier firm BDO. Not long after it scooped up the Sydney business of Horwarths, also a mid-tier firm. And at the end of 2006 the remaining BDO and Horwarths networks in Australia announced a merger. What gives? The big end of […]
Recent posts
Cabbage turnip vs grapefruit
Stone cold sober, this vegetable does pass for Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite sent into the earth’s orbit. The only thing is that Sputnik was 23cm in diameter, this veggie is about a quarter of the size. Sputnik was metallic while the kohlrabi comes either in a light green or purple variety. According to Wikipedia (BTW I spotted the Sputnik thing before I looked it up) the name comes from the German words kohl (cabbage) and rabi (turnip). There […]
Tasty snacks at the “rest stop”
Deep fried and served out by the recycled condensed milk tin on the road-side, who can resist these tasy crickets and beetles? Well, about 30 people judging by our bus load of mainly locals. There was one chap though who tucked into a big bag of beetles, the secret being that you flick off the hard unedible wings before popping the bodies into your mouth. I’m afraid I was a wimp having poisoned myself two days earlier and was drawn […]
Eleven foolproof steps to Greek salad
Everything seems mundane. I miss the sights and the sounds of Asia – the smell of lemongrass, BBQs, leaded petrol and the honking of motor scooter horns. The strange, noisy cats in Laos. I can’t get my mind into gear despite lots of exciting writing projects and I can’t even decide where next to go on holiday let alone what I am going to eat. At least for the Australia Day weekend I can BBQ something. But somehow piles of […]
The boat to Battambang
You’ll want food for the eight hour trip to Battambang, the most beautiful boat trip in Cambodia. Plenty of locals will hassle you to buy French sticks bananas and water. The tiny bananas are delicious. But whatever you don’t don’t sit on the roof unless you want a very pink sore evening.
Tuned down green papaya salad for tourists
Jak prepares green papaya salad Usually my blog posts are from the opposite season from most other people. That’s because most of the time I live in the southern hemisphere. For this week’s Weekend Herb Blogging, hosted by Scott at Real Epicurean, Jak and I in the northern hemisphere at the Three Elephants Cooking School in Luang Prabang Laos. Unusually, we are cooperating with each other in the kitchen in what is the only food we have prepared for the […]
Deep fried seaweed
It’s happy hour. Instead of one tumbler of rice whisky I am served two. At least a snack of deep fried Meekong seaweed helps line my stomach.
Water rat season
I think it may be water rat season in Phonsvanh in Laos. There are also voles, flying squirrels and deer in the market. In five minutes though the whole lot is sold. Only a single haunch and head of deer is left. What really catch my eye are the beuatiful game birds. It’s a shame you just can’t get this stuff to eat in restaurants or at street BBQs.
The meaning of chilli hot salad
Now I really do know the meaning of green papaya salad at the Srassrang View Restaurant near Angkor Wat. You’ve been working in the fields all day – or as I have cycling 40km along hot dusty roads. Your mouth is dry, your mind weak and the body is tired. Green papaya has everything you need. First the finely chopped/ grated papaya refreshes then the chilli kicks in and releases the endorphins that will keep you going. Protein comes in […]