Shortbread

We have gotten a lot of pleasure out of reading the comments in the visitors book. It seems that people have taken to us as much as they have the house. Jodie and I have both relished looking after people and making them feel at home. We've had so many terrific people though, it's one of the pleasures of the job thus far.

Of all the comments I had to post the one above, because it relates to my shortbread... and only a couple of batches in. I'm baking it about once a week, since it all seems to disappear too quickly. Not that I believed it was possible, but Jodie has been helping me to improve the recipe and the method, and today's batch was the best yet. I learn something about the theory and practise of the culinary arts [and sciences] every time we cook together.

I love the look of surprise on guests faces when they find out the shortbread is made by me... I always tell them that shortbread is my speciality, and Jodie's is everything else! Jodie has made a test cake in the ovens already [pictured below, below], and I've been conducting experiments to determine the settings for gas, and tray height to understand gas powered, non-fan-forced ovens...

My experiments below... what? too hot for shortbread already?

A picture of the shortbread has made it into our brochure, but I like the one we used for the website better.

We have a real production line of baked goods when we put our minds to it. Two ovens helps too... the best part is making the coffee, and doing some quality control testing.

Kilo Steak ... the follow up...

Two of my avid readers posted comments for the kilo steak blog... so I'll answer their questions here. Both are Andrews, who now kindly distinguish themselves when posting comments...

For Andrew Ellery - yes! Of course I finished the bastard! It was only one kilo! I did feel very sluggish afterwards though. To wash it down, we were very ably assisted by some of our favourite wine from the Barossa Valley - Kies Klauber Block.

For Andrew Williams. No, we don't have a restaurant open yet. Baby steps... We are hoping in the near future to start offering meals to guests, and depending on how we feel about that experience... possibly opening one room with a very limited number of seats to the public. So that's down the track. I'm not sure if kilo steak will make it to the menu. It might be a special... a Cameron's Choice perhaps. However... you know that Jodie and I will make you a kilo steak any time you like... you'll just have to come and get it!

Kilo Steak

... yeah that's right! Kilo Steak Nite(tm)!

I had always dreamed of going one further than having the biggest steak on the menu at Lonestar... I had seen on the menu at a couple of restaurants that had 1kg steaks... usually I was too busy eating something made of goat.

Meanwhile, Jodie and I have been having fun ordering from wholesalers. Some are excellent, others not so good... and one in particular is well... going to be the end of me. Some of the prices are really no better than a trip to the big supermarket [135km away though], and some have arrangements with freight that is scary expensive. Others are wonderful, reliable, and ring you just to make sure you had everything you needed... Anyway I'm getting side tracked.

I accidentally ordered 21kg of rump. I was after about 4-5kg but there was a misunderstanding about how many lots of 4-5kg I wanted. Although most of it is in the freezer, it was still time to celebrate red meat. Curries are good... I can use more than 2kg in big beef curry. Steak sandwiches for lunch is great too. But Kilo Steak Nite(tm) was the way to go. Below is the 1kg and 500g steak cooking, side by side.

Even though I like mine rare, it still need a little longer than the 'little' one...

Broccolini, and roast potatoes with sour cream and fresh chives... It's not just perspective in this photo that makes the small one look small.

Triumph! Mushroom gravy on top, and it's go for launch! Delicious.

Schouten House Website Update

Today, we have updated the Schouten House website with new images. Most of the interior shots were taken for our new brochure, which should arrive either today or tomorrow. The other photos were either taken by Jodie or I, and I've even got a cameo on the golf course. The photo above doesn't appear in any of our materials so far, but it does capture Jodie's favourite split door, which was most likely the rear door to the kitchen for the Inn.

Please check out the website here, and let us know what you think. If there are any suggestions for other photos, or enhancements, they are also more than welcome. I've got a list of priorities for the website already, but great ideas always make it to the top of the list.

We had a trip up to Launceston the day before yesterday to have a look at the brochure coming off the press, and we are very happy with the final product. Hopefully the brochure will serve us well until we are ready to create the Schouten House brand.

We had a wonderful lunch in Launceston at Mud, thanks to a great recommendation from our friends Helen and Subi. Not only was the food fantastic, they had Coopers Pale Ale on tap!

While on the Dockside, I came across a sign advertising hot stone massages. You'll have to forgive my naivety, but having only heard of them in euphemism or double entendre [yes, I get that to be a double entendre there has to be another meaning] I didn't know that such a thing actually existed. While we were exploring the city, Jodie picked up a mini-hot-stone-massage-kit and I got to experience the real thing. It's just like the name - hot stones... used to massage... and it's great!

Charity Golf Day

On Saturday morning, after breakfast service, I left Jodie cleaning to participate in a charity golf day at Swansea Golf Course. The golf day was part of an effort to raise money for the Cancer Council's relay for life, and was attended by more than 60 golfers from in and around Swansea. A fun day was had by all, and we even had a little break for sausages and beverages at the first tee, in between laps of the course.

Since the day started at 1000, Jodie was diligently working while I headed out for fun in the sun. The pictures of me here however, were taken by Jodie as she caught up with us and walked the first half of the second nine.

The first photo is of me, standing at the 7th tee. I first came to realise that we [as in Schouten House] sponsor a golf hole, when Steve K and his wife [from my days working with Department of Health, SA] came to visit, and told us of the 7th tee on the course. Below I am driving on that same hole.

The 7th is reportedly the most picturesque hole of the course, right above Waterloo Point. You can even see to Schouten Island in the distance.

My putting wasn't too bad on the day... mostly a little too strong.


Some statistics for the day. Swansea Golf Course has nine holes, with four par 4s and five par 3s [making it a short course]. In turn that makes par for 18 holes [you go around twice] 62 strokes and a total of 3824 meters. Below, a beautiful view from the 6th green.


In order to make the day fun for non-golfers [without a handicap [like me]] - Ambrose golf was played. Ambrose means that after everyone tees off, you decide which the best shot was, everyone else moves their balls to that spot and you go again. So it's very forgiving for the non-golfer, but with additional rule that everyone on a team must have at least two drives. We got around in 67 for five over... with a calculated [somehow] handicap of 10.12. I don't think we came close to the competition. We did manage to grab a couple of birdies.

My contribution to the team was a little thin on the ground... with a total of 4 putts, 2 drives, and 2 irons to approach the greens. Eight shots from 67 is almost 12%, while I made up 25% of the team. I did make my two drives though... One on the second hole we played - Schouten House's 7th. I was worried that I wouldn't produce another decent drive. Not that I was excused... but I not played a round in more than 5 years, and had borrowed clubs that went up as far as a tiny 3 wood [that attracted the comment would do nicely as a wedge [and I'm quoting]]. The same nice man took pity on me and leant me his giant driver on the 1st tee. With a very satisfying whack I pelted it down the fairway... maybe just a little to the right... but it was good enough.

They can't all be winners... I lost at least two balls, managed to find some that went across fairways, as I made back around to that side of the course. I even hit a drive, right in front of Schouten House - with Jodie watching, that was probably the highest drive... but went only 10 metres down the fairway.

Cameron vs. Garden

This week, we bought a line trimmer, named for some insect... either hornet or a scorpion [well, that's actually an arachnid]. It's a petrol [30cc 2 stroke] line trimmer which will do the job! I've learnt several lessons from my last one. 1) don't weed whack while in shorts. 2) electric line trimmers are next to useless! oh... 3) performing garden maintenance regularly is more efficient than leaving it way too long.

Anyway ... my feet and legs were COVERED in grass after a quick 45 minute session...


... and the weeds were well and truly whacked.

Andrew Ellery has already suggested that I get the lawn mowing attachment for it... for some reason Jodie didn't seem keen on it. It could be that instead of line ... the constant torque gear box delivers enough power to the 4 tool metal blade for all brush cutting applications

Rainbow

We had some wild weather today, including rain and howling winds. Swansea has definitely needed the rain, which might keep us in water until some time during peak season. I took the picture of the rainbow at about 1700 this afternoon, after chopping some fire wood inbetween spells of rain.

The photo below has been stitched together, and captures some of the view from Schouten Beach, a stones throw from our house. The most important feature besides the rainbow, is Schouten Island, which is the island on the right of the Hazards.

I could have called this post Cameron vs. Wood #3... I sharpened the axe that was left by the previous owner today. I seriously recommend this to anyone who needs to chop wood. Wood splits with a fraction of the effort, and using the wetstone is a theraputic exercise. I don't recommend sharpening an axe while watching something scary, because it's a little eerie. Due to the weather pictured above, we have had the open fire going on quite a few nights, which is one of the attractions for Schouten House when the weather turns bad.

Jodie and I have continued to be flat out. We are closing in on getting our new brochure printed, there are new photos to put up on the website, and we are hunting down all our suppliers, so we can get in everything we need to keep feeding our guests.

If anyone would like to guess how many credit applications we've filled out for wholesalers so far... please leave a comment on the blog with your guess [or deduction [and witty rationale]]. This is not a contest... but someone will win.

The weather can quickly in Swansea... After the first downpour and the rainbow... this was headed in... luckily I'd finished with the wood chopping.

Full House

Recently, we've had a couple of nights when we've had a full house, and got to put up the No Vacancy sign! We've also started our full cooked breakfast service, which meant that there was a lot of work in the morning, and lots of bacon, eggs, mushrooms [huge ones], sausage, tomato consumed... not to mention our generous continental breakfast too.

It was great to fill the house a couple of times before peak season really hits. For one, we are refining our processes for producing lots of cooked breakfasts at once, and it was a great benchmark for how long it takes to clean all six suites.

On the subject of cleaning... the novelty has worn off. I'm surprised it lasted this long. As you can see from the photos, I have been enjoying the back pack vacuum cleaner, and below, I'm utilising horse riding stance from my previous training in Tae Kwon Do.


I won't get into the exact time line for the morning after, but here's a brief summary:

0730	prepare for cooked breakfasts and put out the continental breakfast
0800	take orders for cooked breakfast, coffee, tea, and cook like crazy [freak out when someone asks for poached eggs [but Jodie steps in to save the day]]
0845	Every one has their breakfast, and it's time to start cleaning up the mess in the kitchen
0900	Guests start to check out
1000	Everyone is checked out, it's time to start the cleaning
1230	The rooms are mostly done, but there's still several loads of dishes to go on, and washing to do
1300	The breakfast tables are relayed, everything on the critical path to new guests arriving is done. Time for some lunch!

By this stage we have the cleaning down to a fine art, so it's comforting to know that we are able to get it all done and have time for a break before we can start expecting guests again. I usually have time to sneak up to the computer and check emails and incoming bookings while all this is going on.

The division of labour between Jodie and I has been such a seamless process that it didn't even occur to me that that there was a division until now. We've both fallen into the things we prefer, or have assumed the other wouldn't like to do, which has worked very well. I'm on bathroom cleaning duty while Jodie strips and makes the beds. Jodie hates ironing, but spares me from it. Vacuuming is mine, while I leave cutting fresh flowers to Jodie. We both share the cooking, even within a cooking session [like when someone wants poached eggs [I'll practice]]. I probably hog the computer a little, but Jodie does get to dictate emails to me if I won't budge. It has been wonderful for me to not have to think about the washing getting done, and surprisingly the garbage getting taken out [I thought that was mine for sure].

Although a lot of things are now second nature, we've still got lots of work ahead of us. Our to do list for the business, sidelines, personal projects, and other interests is growing much faster than we could ever keep up with. I seem to have some of my best ideas while vaccuming, and best of all Jodie is just a few steps away when we get a chance to discuss them.

We still feel like we are on holidays, but on reflection, have been working very long days... which can leave us both a little tired...

We are also getting good at providing each other with a chance to relax. Jodie is pictured above sleeping with George. While I'm typing this, Jodie is cooking a wonderful stir-fry. Woo Hoo...

Today, for the first time in about six months, I even broke out some computer games... Doom 3 and Half Life 2: Episode 1. I just downloaded some benchmarking software - and I was very pleased with the beasts performance even at the ripe old age of 18 months [that's right, I'm counting down the days until replacement]. I wasn't even tempted to break out any of my real time strategy games [RTS], because having our own business is like a RTS on crack.

Jacqui's Visit

Click on the picture to view the web album...

20061023_Jacqui_Visit

... after the wedding we flew back to Adelaide in the wee hours of Sunday morning [mostly due to the 1.5 hour difference in time zones, since Tasmania jumps the gun with daylight savings]. We were greeted at the airport by my niece Jacqui and her friend Sally, who had come to visit [after spending the weekend in Hobart].

We hooned up the coast but my driving [in the WRX] wasn't appreciated. Jodie usually tells me to slow down, and this was only supported by the girls reaction to the windy roads... [Note: that the speed limit wasn't broken... but what's the point of having a WRX if you aren't going to enjoy it's handling???]

The first night we had dinner at the Bark Mill Tavern, which is a place in Swansea we recommend if people are in the mood for modern pub food, or good wood fired pizza. Jodie reluctantly [but in the end happily] shared a pizza with me, that was based on venison sausage.

On Monday, Jodie and I had a regional meeting for BBBAT [Bed and Breakfast and Boutique Accommodation of Tasmania] near Coles Bay at Sheoaks. It was great to get out and meet some other people in the industry. Lunch was great too.

So... before the meeting, we dropped the girls off at Freycinet National Park, to trek up the Hazards for a view to Wineglass bay.

After getting home, we experimented on the girls with mushroom and chicken risotto, and tried out some local wine and beer. Jacqui and Sally where very brave, and ventured into our house for a DVD amongst all the boxes that are still unpacked. We've since made a little more headway, and the living area almost looks respectable.

We thought we'd have a quiet period while the girls were with us, but on Monday we were inundated. We narrowly missed out of having a full house, after holding a room, turning someone away, only to have the other party [who actually wanted two rooms, not just one] cancel on us. It was our largest number of guests at that stage, so while we cleaned the house on Tuesday morning, Jacqui and Sally entertained themselves with a canoe in Great Oyster Bay!

After lunch on the beach [with great fish and chips from the Ugly Duck Out] we headed up to Kate's Berry Farm for some ice cream and all the jams you could poke a stick at. For some reason Jacqui decided on chocolate ice cream [at a berry farm] but it was freakin' awesome! The blueberry was excellent... the raspberry outstanding.

On Wednesday, we took the girls back to the airport, and took a little detour into Hobart on the way to pick up a couple of things and have more fish and chips at Mures.

Jacqui and Sally were wonderful guests, who are welcome any time! They also got us a parting gift, which was a voucher for canoe hire from Swansea Canoe and Kayak Hire! We had a guest free day on Saturday [the calm before the storm] and decided it would be a good idea to get out on the water. The weather changed quite a lot before we managed to get away, so we battled waves, wind and a little bit of rain to get out in the middle of Great Oyster Bay. Some pictures of our exploits are below.

Here is the view of the Hazards from the canoe:


Jodie is paddling hard!


That is Waterloo Point that we are paddling towards. Schouten House is just on the other side.

Andrew and Cheryl's Wedding

20061020 Andrew and Cheryl's Wedding

Make sure you click on the photo to see the web album [just for those that don't know the way it works.]

Andrew and Cheryl were married on Saturday 21st October 2006 in a lovely ceremony at Seppelts Winery in the Barossa.

Jodie and I flew across to Adelaide on the Friday, and left the boys to their own devices and we closed the B&B for a couple of nights. On Friday afternoon, we had just enough time to catch up with Jodie's brother Jon before we checked into the Tree Tops B&B, right near Seppelts...

We weren't surprised that Andrew Williams was ready and waiting, in the master suite - which Jodie and I quickly invaded. It took us a little while to figure out... but we deduced which were the complimentary bottles of wine and port, and devised a plan for the evening. We had a great dinner at 1918 - a restaurant in Tanunda. As usual, Andrew provided much entertainment for the wait staff as we debated what to eat, drink and nibble.

After dinner, it was more wine, port and some serious Tenacious D on the stereo!!!!

On Saturday morning, the three merry Tree Toppers went out wine tasting, including Bethany Wines and Kies family wines. Since Kies is our very favourite winery in the Barossa, we made sure to order four cases of wine, which is now pride of place on our winelist, along side some Tasmanian cooler climate counterparts.

On to the wedding! Cheryl was stunning, and Andrew was relieved [not that she was stunning, but he had a long wait at the end of the aisle]. It was a beautiful intimate ceremony and a great chance to catch up with friends [including coopers pale ale] while the wedding party had photos.

Jodie and I had a wonderful table at the reception: Andrew and Melissa Ellery, Andrew Williams, Lisa and Hannah. The food was great, the speeches were entertaining and heart felt and the party thumpin'.

We had an early start on Sunday morning, and dragged Andrew out of bed for breakfast before we left... It was then a quick [direct] flight back to Hobart, where Jacqui and Sally were waiting for us! But that's another post...