This week it’s all about the food, including cooking classes by chef Donna. The Wilkins crew start to prepare the runway.

FOOD, FOOD, FOOD

It was my turn to write the station news this week and instead of telling you all about the important science, constant weather events, daily work life or terrific scenery here at Casey, I decided to mention the best part of being in Antarctica. The food!

Over the winter we occasionally get the opportunity to cook for the entire crew. My first job was as a taco cook at a Mexican restaurant in Melbourne and since then I have loved Mexican food. Over the years I have developed my own recipes and so it was with great excitement I prepared a dinner recently. Enchiladas, taquitos, quesadillas, chilli con carne and rice was served up with churros for dessert. It’s a lot of fun cooking for 27 people although it does stretch your maths ability working out the quantities!

Andy

30 uncooked Enchiladas having cheese added.
Mexican food showing Taquitos, Enchiladas, Chilli Con Carne, Rice and Quesadillas being served.
Andy standing in front of his Mexican food in the bain-marie wearing a brightly coloured sombrero

Calling all chefs

Donna our tireless chef has been running cooking classes on a Saturday afternoon covering topics such baking, pizza, meat curing and hors d'oeuvres. This week it was desserts. From puff pastry, to lemon curd, six of us spent the afternoon learning the secrets of delicious desserts.

I made croissants while AJ made some Portuguese tarts, Mick some yo-yo biscuits, Dean — lemon meringue pie, Adam — chocolate éclairs, there were also donuts and Kiwi made a baked cheese cake.

All I can say is Saturday night’s dinner was a very sweet affair.

Andy 

Donna smiles as Mick mixes flour.
Close up photo of an egg being separated into white and yoke using fingers as a strainer
AJ smiling as he beats son eggs. Dean in the background cutting pastry.
Rachel licking the mixing spoon between washing the dishes.
Dean using a gas torch to brulee the top of hid lemon meringue pie while AJ watches.
AJ smiling and holding up a tray of Portuguese tarts hot from the oven.
A big bowl of freshly mad donuts covered with sugar.
Adam drizzling chocolate over a tray of chocolate éclairs.
Group photo of AJ, Adam, Kiwi, Andy, Mick, Donna and Dean standing around some of the creations.
A desert tray showing the result of an afternoon cooking. Showing some Portuguese tarts, Yo-Yo biscuits, lemon meringue pies, chocolate éclairs, donuts and cheese cake.

News from up the hill

I am pleased to report that the Wilkins team have managed to commence clearing the runway this past week.

Working together as a team they have put in some big days and the mood is high seeing their progress, which is impressive as working in temperatures around the mid −30°C isn’t an easy feat.

Fingers crossed for some good weather in the coming weeks.

Matt

The large snow blowing machine in the distance in a cloud of snow.
Photo taken from the driver’s seat of the snow blower with the sun behind the exhaust pipe on a blue sky background.
A fire ball sunset with a faint outline of a snow blower in action.
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