While we try and stock all the essentials here at Essential Ingredient, there is one of life's essential that you simply cannot buy - LOVE. A gift from the heart can be a lifetime keepsake, such as beautiful hand crafted copper pots or an immediate indulgence like elderflower cordial, macarons or couverture chocolate. Whoever the loved one is in your life, Essential Ingredient carries a range of products that are certain to show how much you care.

	Fossier 'Macaron Framboise' are a delightful acompanyment to quality champagne. Price: $12.95		LSA Champagne flutes are hand pulled and an essential gift for lovers of all things luxury. Price: $149.00
	Called the elixer of the Angels, Elderflower has a strong floral aroma with a slightly tart finish. Price: $19.95		This much loved kitchen appliance now comes in a range of passionate colours. Price: $795.00
	Duck Creek Macadamia Hearts are the perfect gift for the chocolate lover in your life. Price: $11.95		Delicasey's unique chocolate flavour combinations are sure to impress the one you love. Price: $13.95

For the complete range of Valentine's Day gifts and treats please visit us in store to view our display from Friday 3rd of February.

New Year 2012 SALE

Save up to 50% or more on a great range of brands including Rolser, Sophie Conran, Graupera, DeBuyer, Shun, Wuhstoff, Emile Henry and Bamix. Conditions apply. Sale ends 19th of February 2012.

“Don’t eat the peanuts on the bar!” my Mother exclaimed, as my little hand reached for a dish piled high with the salted treats. Little known to me then was the fact that this is where one of the most loved Spanish cuisines had its humble origins. Each Tapas dish, with their unique flavours and composition reflect the personality of the individual Spanish hotel owners who have served these little dishes for more than 700 years. The word ‘Tapas’, derived from the Spanish word ‘tapar’ meaning “to cover” is believed by many to refer to an old practice of covering sherry with a slice of bread so as to keep out fruit flies. From there it became tradition to add small snacks atop the bread. The modern day experience of tapas in small terracotta dishes has been attributed to the obvious space constraints of crowded bars.

From it's emergence as a humble bar snack, tapas began to take on international influence and significance. The Roman occupation of the Iberian peninsula added olives amongst other ingredients, and the Moors in the 8th century introduced almonds, dates, citrus and spices. The discovery of the Americas also herald in the era of many tomato and maze based dishes which have come to represent the very essence of the tapas dish.

  Today you would be hard pressed to find a bar anywhere in the world that was not serving tapas in one form or another. From the salted peanuts that my mother warned me about, to sizzling salt and pepper squid and Spanish meatballs, there is a tapas dish to suit just about any taste or occasion.

Essential Ingredient Rozelle is one of Sydney's premier suppliers of Graupera tapas dishes and serving platters to restaurants and venues, and also offers these items to retail customers. We also stock a comprehensive range of ingredients from saffron threads to sweet smoked paprika.

Tapas dishes are available in a range of sizes starting from $3.95. You can also enjoy a 30% discount on the entire Graupera range.

A noticeable trend in food preparation is a return to pure materials. Clay, stone, cast iron and glass have all re-emerged as superior in composition and application to their modern manmade counterparts, such as Teflon and stainless steel. Continuing on this theme the culinary world has uncovered a both beautiful and practical kitchen tool in Himalayan salt bricks. Honed from 600 million year old deposits in Northern Pakistan, each slab is unique, exhibiting tones of peach, fuchsia and cerise. These beautiful pieces represent both a striking table piece and a unique way to prepare both hot and cold dishes and simply have to be seen to be appreciated.

Dishes perfect for your salt brick:

Buffalo mozarella, fresh basil and tomato

Scalops with caramelised eschallot and clarified butter

Slivered wagyu beef with fresh horseradish

Dark chocolate melting heart pudding with butterscotch creme anglaise

Due to the crystaline composition of the salt, the bricks are only semi-porous, giving a light salt and delicate mineral flavour to dishes.Salt blocks are easy to care for requiring only light rinsing and can be dried with a paper towel.

Essential Ingredient is currently stocking Himalayan salt bricks in three sizes:

Small: $11.95
Medium: $21.95
Large: $45.95

Outback Pride

The Outback Pride Project is promoting the Australian native food industry by developing a network of production sites within traditional Aboriginal communities.

Essential Ingredient is currently stocking the following items for you to enjoy:

Finger Lime: Spectacular garnish for fish and desserts.

Magenta Lilly Pilly: A tart, lemony fruit, Lilly pilly is great for cordials, jams and desserts. COMING SOON

Quandongs: Also known as the native peach, Quandongs are used in desserts, sauces and cakes etc.

Muntries: The mini native apple, Muntries, have a juniper aftertaste and make a great dessert or ingredient in muffins and cakes. COMING SOON

Smoking Rush: Adds a delicate smoked flavour to grilled meat and vegetables. COMING SOON

Lemon Aspen: Delightful lemon with a pine aftertaste - great for desserts, ice cream and sauces.

A Taste of the Bush

A Taste of the Bush produce a wide range of dried bush spices, flavoured macadamia oils and balsamics that can be used to introduce a uniquely Australian flavour to any number of foods.

"Most people have heard of Lemon Myrtle and many know that Wattleseed is an interesting addition to ice-cream and cheesecakes. However there are so many more lovely flavours that are indigenous to Australia and most of them are very easily used to enhance the taste of our daily meals."

- Jill Richardson, co-founder 'A Taste of the Bush'

Essential Ingredient currently stocks:

Bush Tomato Dukkah with Native Basil and Chilli

Ground Lemon Myrtle

Whole Roasted Wattleseed

Ground Bush Tomato

Lemon Myrtle Infused Macadamia Oil

Bush Tomato, Garlic and Chilli Infused Macadamia Oil

Caramelised Balsamic Vinegar with Lemon Myrtle

Essential Ingredient is pleased to offer customers the new KitchenAid Platinum collection. Available only through quality kitchenware stores, the KitchenAid Platinum Collection represents an evolution of the Artisan series into stylish, yet functional statement pieces for the kitchen. The series includes stand mixer and blender.

The Platinum Collection stand mixer now features a glass bowl and scraper blade as standard inclusions, along with the regular attachments, and now comes in a range of bold metallic colours. For further information please visit us in store or call 02 9555 8300.

The fashion trend of colour blocking has made its way into the kitchen, and onto the table this month at Essential. Vista Alegre’s fine porcelain range of unashamedly bold tableware, adds instant colour to your dining setting. Featuring asymmetrical plates and bowls, in sapphire blue and titanium white, and a veritable spectrum of tea and espresso cups and saucers, Vista Alegre is available exclusively through Essential Ingredient stores.

For too long gluten-free cooking has had a reputation for being about as appetising as hospital food - it was crying out for a style and taste makeover.

Enter Rowie Dillon, media creative, coeliac and cake-baker extraordinaire - a woman on a mission to save the world from tasteless, unattractive food and change gluten-free cooking forever. Her successful business has restored the joy in eating to allergy sufferers, making yummy food accessible to all. Indulge is the outcome of years of experimenting to achieve the best results. With 100 delicious recipes that everyone will enjoy, this gorgeous cookbook will change your perception of gluten-free food.

 Rowie will be at Essential Ingredient Rozelle, Saturday November 19 from 11am to 1pm, siging copies of her new title.

With no technical training Heston Blumenthal has made a career out of experimenting with food and challenging conventions that have underpinned the culinary world since day one. The latest recipe book to bare his name takes a more relaxed look into the home life of the adventurous chef, creating an approachable reference for those who want to know the secrets of better tasting dishes, but aren’t afraid to get technical.

A title for the true at-home gourmet, Mark Best’s new release reflects the precision and passion that has made him one of Australia’s top chefs.

“Mark approaches his cuisine with an open mind, dedication to detail and perseverance that he describes as ‘an eternal dissatisfaction’ – this defines his relentless search for creativity with a surprising and disarming intellect. His artistic rigour is demonstrated in the beautiful plating. There is an appreciation of modern techniques and sensibilities, and having conquered the French method, he has more importantly embarked on a journey to define Australian culinary style.” – Rene Redzepi