It's a big world out there

I'm discovering how small this world is, or perhaps it's not so small, rather it is just that many of the people I have met in Cygnet hail from the same areas of Sydney that I used to frequent. Take Giselle & Alex from the Lotus Eaters, they used to live in Marrickville, next suburb to us in St Peters. I often liken Mary Street, Cygnet to Marrickville Road, Sydney. Full of great food experiences, excellent delis, multi-national grocers and fruit & veg shops, with people happily looking at their destination across the road but forgetting to look for cars on the way.
Simon the Baker, at Yo-Yos Bakery next door to us, used to play in a band called 'Cult 45'. "'Cult 45', you say. That rings a bell. Hang on, did you rehearse at Troy Horse studios in Redfern?". "Yeeeaaahhh???" was Simon's curious & suspicious reply. "I used to work there, I thought the name was familiar, I reckon we've met before, about 15 years ago". Well I'll be.
And speaking of Sydney's inner west music scene, Nikki, who has worked with me for the past couple of years, is married to local Cygnet poet & playwright, Gary Hemmings, who also hails from Sydney. Gary & David (husband, father of two gorgeous sprogs, altogether cool-guy) as it turns out frequented the same Sydney pubs, gigs and nights-on-the-town for about 20 years prior to moving to Cygnet, unbeknownst to either of them One night in our lounge room they start piecing it all together and reminisce over their favourite nights out, "yeah, I went to see them, and them and them..I was there too....Landsdowne, Hopetoun, Sando, Annandale.... "

Silk Swan by G G Hemmings

I loved living in Sydney and now I love living in Cygnet. There is something about this little place on the bottom edge of the map. It's full of possibilities.

Excitement's Building

Oooohhhh! The excitement is building in my little world. We bought a couch on the weekend, we are awaiting the display counter and the kitchen is in, after a few hiccups along the way.

Let that not stop me!

We have two new additions to our shop this week with "The Silk Swan", by G. G. Hemmings, local poet and playwright, with illustrations by E. M. Lawrence. This is a numbered, limited edition book of poetry, signed by both author and illustrator and includes some very witty, warm and loving poems from the heart. I have always had a soft spot for poetry and am delighted and privileged to have the books in my shop.

I met with a local designer and creator today, Nicole, at mahlimae and previewed her original pieces of playful art for the young and the young at heart. I was thrown back 30 years at the same time as almost wishing I had another little baby to share them with!...almost...

They received the tick of approval from 3 and almost-7, followed by 3's sorrow at not being allowed to play with them and put them in her doll house and take them to bed, but she did get to cuddle them, just a little.

www.mahlimae.blogspot.com

Now for shop times this week:
Thursday 24th & Friday 25th: Shop 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday: Salamanca only 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Sunday: Focus on Franklin only 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

We have a limited set up in the shop at this stage, but the kitchen is there and so are the chocolates, so come on by.

Heading to Salamanca

Yahoo! I have been accepted in to Salamanca Market and am hoping to start there on Saturday, August 7th. I will be able to confirm this on the Monday of each week and will advise of my location.

Back to the commercial kitchen this week to prepare. Very excited and looking forward to getting back up to Hobart markets.

Weekend on Bruny

Bruny Island Cruises with Pennicott Wilderness Adventures

Mother and calf (photo doesn't do them justice)

We had been promising to do the cruise for the last few years and luckily for us we chose to go on Saturday. Within twenty minutes of setting out we came across a humpback whale and her new calf. The staff couldn't have been more welcoming and informative and I have never had so much fun in the wind and rain in my life.

Next stop was obligatory visit to Bruny Island Cheese to buy some 1792 and Saint that was so runny and yummy it was like spreading a thick gooey creamy sensation over my bread. The bread is baked on site in the wood fired oven outside that was still warm when I walked by and smelled so good I could have eaten the bricks.

Then on to Hiba for some fudge. People ask me why I don't make fudge and my answer is always the same, "Why would I try when they do it so well?".

Cloudy Bay

After hanging about Lunawanna in the morning, we were off for a run on Cloudy Bay where the surf was up and the surfers were heading down by the car load.

BISH: Bruny Island Smoke House

We had planned to have lunch at BISH, which was delicious and were going to go for a bit of a wander after that, but then we noticed an increasing number of cars boot scooting down to the ferry. It quickly became evident that I mixed up the ferry timetable again.

Take note that if you haven't joined the Bruny Island Cheese Club, the BISH hot smoked trout is as optional extra on offer this time round: www.brunyislandcheese.com.au/cheeseclub.php

Warming the kitchen

Smokin'

Getting the kitchen fire going last week wasn't a such a good idea. The kitchen was cold, so was I and of course my ever-sensitive chocolate doesn't enjoy a chill in the air either. Well, start up the fire of course, that'll warm things up... within half an hour I had every door and window open to allow the smoke to billow out, along with every smidgen of heat that was in the house before I started.

So how do I warm the cockles of my heart after that? I sent out an SOS to find a Tasmanian Rum to make an Eggnog chocolate, Lark Island Rum was the answer and I am pretty happy with the result.

Eggnog Islands

I experimented with Seven Sheds Melomel. David and I couldn't decide on whether it was a success or not, so off I went to look for objective opinions. The results of my mini-survey were 50-50, but while I was at the Cygnet Market today I had an idea... I went to Salamanca yesterday and picked up some Ashbolt Elderberry Concentrate, which comes with the recommendation, "With gin or vodka", ("red flag to a bull" should be written in brackets). Thoroughly enjoyable.... So, next choc of the bench will be a pepperberry ganache with elderberry gel.

Experimenting

And so I enter the world of marshmallows. This is all part of the preparation and experimenting for the Hobart Fine Food Awards. They turned out well and I will experiment with flavourings and coulours over the next few weeks.

Melting Tank with marshmallow squares

Packaged marshmallows

At Cygnet Growers' and Makers' Market this week I've hit winter mode and discovered I'm very much a fruity-gel type. This week, however, is my Grace & Nikki week. They love fruit & nut and caramels so at the market we have:

Fruit & Nut Clusters

Hazelnut Praline

Applemead Truffles

Lymington Triple (triple chocolate ganache and blueberries)

Caramel Crunch

Rhubarb & Bluegum

I've made a full batch of honeycomb, so no chance of me running out this time and of course the launch of the marshmallow.

Why we love making chocolate

Cygneture has been up and running since November last year. We live in a beautiful part of Tasmania and wanted to start a little business to use the amazing range of produce from the Huon and Channel Regions. Of course our chocolate is not from Tassie but where ever possible we source everything else from here and across Tasmania.

Chestnuts from our beautiful tree

The name: My mum came up with the business name: Thanks Kitty

The logo: Richard Mitchell, from Jumpshots, designed our logo with the four swans being my husband and I and our children. Thanks for the website too!

Our location: We have been living in Cygnet since 2006 and have no intention of moving.

Where you can buy our chocolates: We sell at local markets, Cygnet Growers and Makers on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month and at Franklin Market (which is closed for winter).