Chow Down to Eurovision 2015 - Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan,the land of fire is our host country for today's Chow Down to Eurovision contestant. 

Following on from Azerbaijan's last entry of those char grilled beauties lulu kebabs we again have a dish that would be at home on a barbecue.

I'm hungry so let's head straight into today's plate of tender marinated chunks of chicken with a smoky hint of char goodness....

Azerbaijani Marinated Chicken
Ingredients

• 500g chicken (breast or thigh)
• 50g cream
• Juice of 1 lemon
• Handful of mint chopped
• 1 small brown onion grated
• 1 spring onion sliced
• 1 clove garlic chopped
• Big pinch of salt
• Cayenne pepper and extra mint to garnish 
• 1 onion sliced

Method

• Cut chicken into chunks
• Combine chicken, cream, lemon juice, mint, onion, spring onion and garlic in a bowl
• Let marinate for about 4 hours
• Remove excess marinade from chicken
• Cook in a really hot griddle pan for few minutes each side till cooked through
• Serve with sliced onion, mint and a sprinkle of cayenne pepper or sumac
• Can be barbecued on a skewer for that extra level taste sensation

The cheap cast iron grill pan has come in handy over the years

Mint can sometimes be forgotten about or kept with desserts but a I really love have it makes the chicken come alive. an added bonus with all the raw onion it's means you are probably still quite kissable....you know you are!

In 2015 Elnur Huseynov was back to try his luck for Azerbaijan this time a little less angel and little more twilight.

Azerbaijan has always place top ten in Eurovision finals apart from 2014 (22nd) and 2015 where Hour of the wolf finished 12th. 

 

Day and Day Azerbaijan 2008 debut performance placing 8th in the final.

Past Azerbaijan Chow Down to Eurovision:

 2014 Lulu Kebabs

2013 Zebra Cake

Dining in the sky with China Southern

This is not a sponsored post though I'd be more than happy to chat with China Southern about a deal from Melbourne to Amsterdam anytime!

The new year brings Eurovision 2016 ever closer, 130 days till the final but who is counting?

This starts the joy of planing a holiday all over again......tickets, money, passport! (renewal..someone remind me please)

While hotels are still being confirmed the flights have been locked in and paid so it's practically job done.

Working with the principle "if a meal isn't shared on social media it hasn't really been eaten" I thought I'd better share the meals from our China Southern flights between Melbourne and Amsterdam in May 2015.

AB and I flew China Southern Business for the second time and have booked again with them for this upcoming trip. I find the service to be excellent, attentive without being fussy and the price is a major attraction compared to other carriers.

Please take a menu I'll be back to take your order....

A selection of nuts and what I'll call a soy cocopop type item that was umamitastic! 

I assume accompanied by a G&T though it may be a water...

Cream of Mushroom soup

American Ginseng and Chicken Soup

Cajun Lamb Sliced With Prawn and Mango Salsa

Soya Chicken Breast with Grilled Prawn and Sesame Mushroom Salad

That mushroom salad was perfect with the chicken and prawns bringing an earthy flavour to the sky.

Char Grilled Lamb Cutlets with Mint Sauce, Broccolinni, Red Pepper and Roasted Herbed Chat Potatoes

Spring Pork Sliced with Worcestershire Pork Sauce, Braised Black Mushrooms and Carrot Stir Fried Ramen
I recommend an extra shirt in your hand luggage if you happen to have noodles on a plane....or anywhere for that matter! 

Vanilla Ice Cream and Fresh Fruit in Season.
Fruit and ice cream when simple done well is the best

Muffin of flavour I can not recall??

Blueberry Muffin

Fruit Plate

Croissant with Jam.

Supersized Coco Pops
30,000ft is exactly the place to eat things you wouldn't normally have at home

Cantonese Dim Sum with Plain Congee

I am always partial to dim sum and was happy that the congee wasn't very nice as it just confirmed that the times I'd made congee it had done it correctly. I just don't like congee. 

French Toast with Bacon, Tomato and Potato

Beef ball soup with romantic mood lighting

Salmon carparccio, clean, zesty and again with mood lighting. 

You can imagine how I was trying to position the reading lights to get a better shot, though sadly most from that potion of the flight have a touch of the Martha Stewart food photo about them.

Duo of Chocolate Mousse with Raspberries
AB and I have been trying to remember if the fruit came arranged like this, we are sure it did but then it's also something I would do as who wouldn't want a fruit face for dessert?

Would you like Smacks Sir?

Lights out snack of tuna sandwich which was a mystery selection as neither the flight attendant nor I spoke Dutch!

Onion Soup of Four Types of Onions

Cheese plate out of Amsterdam with the cumin flavoured Leyden and soft blue, there is not much I wouldn't do for a good cheese.

Terrine of Trout with Watercress and Gravellach (Gravlax) with Wasabi Mayonnaise

Six months on I can still taste this dish and it's silky smooth texture, a highlight! 

Grilled Chicken Fillet with Green Pepper Sauce, Haricot Verts, Capsicum and Potato

Oriental Style Fried Seafood with Tomato Chili Sauce, Rice and Chinese Seasonal Vegetables

One of my favourites of all the meals chicken noodle soup, deliciously comforting and I would have loved if a jar of that XO sauce had magical fallen into my carry on.

If I remember rightly this was called the China Southern signature beef soup or something similar and was equally as good as the chicken noodle soup. 

All the extra condiments were a bonus that created different taste adventures with each spoonful.

Prawns, pork, vegetable and rice no bells or whistles just good simple honest flavours which can be a relief in 24 hours of 3 course dining experiences.

Plate from the buffet in business lounge Guangzhou.

Snacks in China Southern Business Lounge Guangzhou

Individually wrapped sandwich triangles are very cute but I'm not sure it rates high in the sustainability stakes. 

Snacks in China Southern Business Lounge Guangzhou

While delayed for about 6 hours those beef jerky bullets got a workout, so addictive they should come with a warning!

Peanut butter on a cracker, what's not to love?

Time will fly (pun intended) till we being called to board again and I can't wait!

What's your most memorable airline meal?

Chow Down to Eurovision 2015 - Latvia

Labvakar Latvia,winner of Chow Down to Eurovision 2014!
This is Melbourne calling, Hello, it's me, I was wondering oh never mind...

If you follow the Chow Down to Eurovision (and really who wouldn't) you will know I have wanted to make Latvia liverwurst for the past three years.

This year the plan was going to happen but unfortunately I couldn't get the pork livers for the farmer so it was onto plan B.  

Latvia is dare I say the most inspirational country in the Chow Down to Eurovision. While it's true Belarus provided us with Cheesecake, Latvia gave us Cake to Bake and now Love Injected.  

How is Love Injected food related? It indicates a filling....natch.

So what would be the natural receptacle for a liverwurst filling? Doughnuts of course, I can't believe there was even a second of doubt.

A liverwurst filled doughnut is the delicious realisation of the term Love Injected!

Latvian Liverwurst Doughnuts (30 doughnuts)

• 500g strong flour
• 14g yeast
• 40g caster sugar
• 10g salt
• 2 eggs
• 50g softened unsalted butter
• 250ml milk
• 25 ml water
• Icing sugar to roll
• 100g Latvian liverwurst
• 80ml cream
• 2 pork belly rashers
• 1 tbsp. honey

Method

• Heat 100 ml of milk in the microwave for 1 minute
• Add it to the remaining milk and water
• Add to a stand mixer flour, yeast, caster sugar, salt, eggs and butter
• Knead adding most of the liquid but retaining about 25ml
• While kneading add the remaining liquid if it is required, the dough should be soft and moist
• When dough is elastic (about 5-7 minutes) place in a oiled bowl
• Let rise for about an hour covered in plastic wrap
• Divide the dough into 30 pieces
• Roll each piece into a ball and place on floured bake paper to rise again
• Let prove covered in plastic warp for about 30 minutes till they spring back when touched
• Heat a pot of canola or sunflower oil (or deep fryer) to about 180°C
• I adjust the heat throughout the cooking as you see if they brown too quicker or are taking too long.
• Gently place the donuts in the oil about 5 at a time
• Flip them over when you can see the bottom is golden about 1-1.5 minutes
• When golden all over, drain on kitchen paper
• Roll in icing sugar
• When cool fill with liverwurst cream and top with pork crumb

Liverwurst cream

• Lightly whip the cream before mixing through the liverwurst 

Pork Crumb

• Roast the pork rashers in 180°C oven for about 30 minutes till crisp
• Allow to cool and then blitz in a food processor with the honey

I had the pleasure of meeting Aminata in Vienna while assisting her and Molly from Ireland and their backing singers take selfies. 

Aminata was very polite as I told her how her song had inspired the liverwurst doughnut, though I'm sure she was thinking what on earth is this bloke raving on about! 

A liverwurst doughnut is best tasted rather than describe the sweet, salty, meaty experience....pass me some beer icecream.

...And I was amazed how some people fan for the Eurovision here, in Vienna😍!

A photo posted by Aminata (@aminata_savadogo) on May 13, 2015 at 4:44pm PDT

One should always get selfies from multiple angles

After not qualifying for the Eurovision finals since 2009 Aminata's powerful voice and song secured them 6th place in the final.

The quality of an artist is evident when they can deliver an amazing performance sitting on a sofa with just a guitar and a great ensemble of singers.

Past Latvia Chow Down to Eurovision:

2014 Latvian Honey and Walnut Cake Winner Chow Down to Eurovision 2014

2013 Latvian Cucumber Salad