Paul's Corner

Would have been forty two today. I am off to the pub to have one or two for you/with you.

Happy birthday mate.

Miss you.

The Food Trail has shown in NSW 6 times now. It has won the rating for it's time slot 4 times and also helped the 6pm news to a win 4 times. It came second twice to specialist sports events so all in all you would consider that a win as you cannot win against the specialist sports events!

The Vic Food Trail is screening for the third time this year in Vic and I am proud and happy to say it has won it's time slot except for once - you guessed it, coming in second to a specialist sports event - hey Melbourne has just been announced as the sporting capital of the world so you would expect that!

I know the Food Trail is a great show, has proven ratings success and an audience that wants to see more.

I also know that Channel Seven have declined to support The Food Trail - a Xmas Feast, in my view and that of the statistics - a winner - I just dont know why.

We would have travelled around Victoria gathering the produce we need to cook up a rip roaring Xmas feast. I then would have gone to a great resturant in Melbourne and worked with a chef to cook up a Xmas lunch (to die for) and serve it up to some of Channel Seven's A list TV personalties. We could have all wished our audience a very merry Xmas. But no, Seven have declined to contribute to the making of it - which is their right of course. I know it would work and I know that it would rate really well. I know that it would be a great Xmas cheer for the network and the audience. I also know that there are some people in the Network that know that too (and I am grateful for their support)

Anyway I am disappointed. Disappointed because I have seen failing shows get much more support. Tv is a funny game!

Just in case you were wondering following is a basic outline of the menu I would have cooked for the lunch amd in fact it is pretty much what I will be cooking for my Xmas Lunch - I would have loved to cook it for you.

Mixed BBQ'd seafood salad -prawns, scallops and squid with a summer fruit salsa

Bbq half lobsters basted with butter, lemon, garlic and parsley

Mercs Own Australian BBQ'd slow cooked smoked Briskett

Turkey done on the webber with Mildura dried fruit, pine nut and rice
stuffing

Victoria's best Ham done Dads way - glazed with jam and honey, studded with cloves then basted and double cooked

Potato salad - bacon, Gipsland cream, eggs, mayo

seasonal garden salad

coleslaw - 3 types of cabbage, carrot, apple with a Texan dressing

Fruit pudding with Tasmanian Pepper Berry ice cream

A selection of Victorian Micro brewed beers from Matilda Bay, Mountain Goat, Holgate and Red Hill breweries

Tucks Ridge wines (Redhill)and of course some Victorian Yarra Burn Sparkling Wine from the Yarra Valley

Victorian and Tasmanian Cheese plater with Rutherglen Muscat and grapes

YUM!