Lunch | date with a plate.

Shredded chicken with soba noodles in miso broth

March 10, 2016 by date with a plate.

I am slightly obsessed with noodles; dry or wet, I am immediately drawn to bowls of slippery, slurp-worthy goodness and last night I had a bad craving for soba noodles specifically. Soba noodles are a Japanese variety made of wheat and buckwheat flour and can be served hot or cold. Last night’s meal was served hot, in a delicate and slightly creamy broth featuring miso paste, soy sauce and mirin as the flavour base. It was quick, but incredibly comforting […]

Categories: Asian, Chicken, Dinner, Lunch, mid-week, One Pot Wonder • Tags: chicken, coriander, ginger, mirin, miso, miso paste, noodle, radish, sesame seeds, soba noodles, soy sauce, spring onion

Baked eggs with chickpeas, tomato and basil

January 18, 2016 by date with a plate.

The great thing about eggs is they don’t need to be confined to breakfast. Dinner, snack time or lunch, eggs are one versatile and affordable ingredient and it’s probably why I utilise them in my cooking so often. Although I made this meal for breakfast, it can just as easily be eaten for lunch or dinner. It’s quick, easy, cheap and most importantly; tasty and filling. It’s also very adaptable, for example, feel free to add some grilled chorizo/bacon or […]

Categories: Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, One Pot Wonder, Vegetarian • Tags: basil, Breakfast, chickpea, chili, dinner, eggs, garlic, onion, oregano, tomato

Spiced roast cauliflower, quinoa and chickpea salad

November 19, 2015 by date with a plate.

I find it weird (in an awesome kind of way) that we create these profiles on social media platforms, such as Instagram (@date.with.a.plate), and start building this community of like-minded people from all over the world around us. I have been fortunate enough to have made “Insty-friends” with some of the most creative and talented individuals. But social media can be a blessing and a curse…let me explain. Some people think social media disconnects us from the world around us, […]

Categories: Lunch, mid-week, Salad • Tags: cauliflower, chickpea, chili flakes, Greek yoghurt, Italian flat leaf parsley, maple syrup, Mint, Quinoa, tahini

Pasta with pipis

November 9, 2015 by date with a plate.

Despite living in a really great neighbourhood, I often find myself driving questionably long distances to source great produce, especially seafood. It feels like I live in a bit of a produce black-hole. There just wasn’t anything in my local area that really floated my boat with respect to good quality seafood. So when a new local small business opened its doors, I was grateful to have access to both fresh and frozen seafood. I have never thought of seafood […]

Categories: Dinner, Italian, Lunch, Pasta, seafood • Tags: chili, garlic, Italian, Italian flat leaf parsley, lemon, onion, Pasta, pipis, seafood, tomato, white wine

Marron with blood orange, fennel and apple

October 8, 2015 by date with a plate.

Ah marron, sweet sweet delicious juicy marron, how much I love you. But sadly, if you don’t live in Western Australia or on Kangaroo Island in South Australia you might struggle to find one of these tasty freshwater shellfish – so substitute with prawns, crayfish, lobster or even scallops for an indulgent and super fancy meal. Perfect with a glass (or bottle) of white, a good friend and a carefree Spring afternoon. I love this shellfish, in fact I have […]

Categories: Lunch, Salad, seafood, Special Occasion • Tags: apple, blood orange, fennel, honey, marron, orange zest, Oranges, seafood, watercress

Deep fried chicken with cheesy polenta waffles (permission to treat yo’self)

August 10, 2015 by date with a plate.

If you’ve never been fortunate enough to eat chicken and waffles….something needs to change in your life. Lucky for you, I have developed the perfect recipe to help you do just that. Breakfast, brunch, late afternoon post-hangover feast, dinner…there is no such thing as a bad time to eat chicken and waffles, they are the perfect anytime meal. I first experienced chicken and waffles when I was traveling through America. At first I was a little confused by the combination, […]

Categories: Breakfast, Chicken, Dinner, Lunch, Special Occasion • Tags: chicken, comfort food, coriander, deep fried chicken, deep frying, garlic powder, jalapenos, maple syrup, onion powder, paprika, polenta, waffles

America knows best: My USA food diary

October 20, 2014 by date with a plate.

After a little over a month of exploring the United States with my best friend and main man, I’ve come to the realisation that Americans know their food, they know their service and they know nothing about healthy portion sizes… I was so overwhelmed at the beginning of our trip, my breakfast omelet was larger than a practical sized dinner plate and it came with an entourage of sides – for $15, including unlimited coffee. I felt like I was […]

Categories: BBQ, Beef, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Special Occasion • Tags: America, Austin, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco

Gnocchi with braised beef sauce

August 20, 2014 by date with a plate.

Just a short post today, it has been a rough couple of weeks battling the ever complicated onslaught of flu, work, personal life and trip planning – my upcoming trip to the United States is possibly the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. Counting down the days until we jet off for a month long adventure keeps me working hard through everything that’s been thrown at me lately. Sick at home, bored out of my mind (yes, there’s […]

Categories: Beef, Dinner, Lunch, Pasta • Tags: beef, braised beef, carrot, celery, garlic, gnocchi, Jamie Oliver, onion, Pasta, pearl barley, poached eggs, potato, slow cooking, tomato

Marron with celeriac puree, truffles and asparagus

August 4, 2014 by date with a plate.

I don’t often cook with such glamorous ingredients, but since my Dad brought me two ginormous marron from his friend’s farm I felt I should splash out on the other ingredients – well really just the truffle I bought which cost me $30…but you get the gist. Marron are the largest freshwater crayfish in Western Australia – and the third largest in the world. They are endemic to south-west WA and they are one of my all-time favourite proteins. In […]

Categories: Dinner, Lunch, seafood, Special Occasion • Tags: asparagus, celeriac, dill, marron, truffle

Homemade Italian sausages

July 10, 2014 by date with a plate.

You know you’ve got a keeper when your boyfriend buys you a meat grinder with sausage making attachments for your birthday – I mean really, doesn’t every girl want her own sausage maker? But seriously, I was pretty freaking excited to be handed this beast of a Kenwood attachment! The boy knew I had just bought myself Charcuterie and French Pork Cookery by Jane Grigson, knowing all too well that I was eager to flex my meat skills and delve […]

Categories: BBQ, Charcuterie, Dinner, Lunch, Pork • Tags: fennel, Italian sausages, pork

Gnocchi with pancetta, tomato & basil sauce

June 16, 2014 by date with a plate.

Lazily wandering through our local grocer yesterday, the boy asked me if I could make gnocchi for dinner – considering he bought me a potato ricer months ago and I haven’t used it yet, I figured it was a decent request. Two potatoes, a small block of pancetta and a handful of basil later we were pretty much set for dinner. Gnocchi is deceptively easy to make and requires few ingredients – perfect. I think the key to a good […]

Categories: Dinner, Lunch, Pasta • Tags: basil, gnocchi, Italian, onion, pancetta, Pasta, potato, potato gnocchi, potato ricer, tomato

Ragù alla napoletana (…I really love Italians)

May 12, 2014 by date with a plate.

So it was Mother’s Day in Australia on Sunday, and rather than take our Mothers out for an average meal at a local pub, where the quality never quite matches the cost and the waiter forgets your drinks because everyone else decided to take their Mum out for a pub lunch as well – we decided to have the families over and cook for them. Not only cheaper, but more relaxed and far more enjoyable. This was our gift to […]

Categories: Beef, Dinner, Lunch, One Pot Wonder, Pasta, Pork • Tags: basil, beef, Gennaro Contaldo, Italian, Italian sausages, onion, pork ribs, red wine, slow cooking, tomato

date with a plate.

food for everyday.

Category Archives: Lunch