We're brewing up a storm!

“There is nothing more romantic than Italian food.” - Elisha Cuthbert

 

 ~ Home Make It proudly presents the 2015 Melbourne Salami Festa! ~

It's official! We are super excited to announce that Home Make It is the presenting partner of the Melbourne Salami Festa this year. Follow the link to check out the full program for 2015.Tickets go on sale on the 15th September, 2015, ensure to book your tickets so you don't miss out! And if you think you've made this year's winning salami then be sure to get your applications in! Applications close on the 4th October, 2015. Follow the link here for all the application details. This year there will be an Amateur Entry and Professional Entry. We can hardly wait to see who will win the prized "Homemade Salami" award this year!

So lock-in the Melbourne Salami Festa date in your diaries everyone! It's all happening on Sunday 18th October, 2015. 

 ~ Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook Melbourne ~

We are thrilled to have been part of the Rachel Khoo's Kitchen Notebook Melbourne series now showing on SBS, Thursdays at 8pm. Rachel visited with Frank Bovezza and family to join in on the fun at their annual passata making day. Nonna Rosa Bovezza also shares her spinach and ricotta ravioli with passata recipe and shows how to make it the "old fashion way."

Watch the show, season 1 episode 6 on SBS on Demand if you missed it and have a go at this simple and delicious spinach and ricotta ravioli recipe. Dust off your pasta machine and pasta cutters or pick some up online or in store. Enjoy!

~ Cade's Home Brew News ~ 

Hi Brewers,

We have been brewing up a storm in the last few weeks, with our Intro to All Grain courses being recently held at our Reservoir and Clayton stores. The interested students came along, had a hands on view of just how easy it is to take the jump over to all grain brewing. I’ve already spotted a few of these students in store, excitedly gearing up for their first mash. Great to see!

A while back we had a brew day with the Merri Masher Brew Club and I decided to test the version hopped with Amarillo hops. I give it a huge thumbs up, the smooth chocolate malts with the hoppy touch really warmed me up. Although the 8% ABV might have helped a touch.

We had the ever popular Wyeast nestle into our fridges at the end of last week, right next to our White labs range. So whether you’re a Wyeast or White Labs brewer, we have you covered. Also, note the White Labs have started filtering in, in it’s new "pure pitch" packaging.

With father’s day coming up, I have a few ideas for a gift that Dad will really love. For a short time we have dropped the prices off our range of Beer Recipe Kits a whole 30%, and with over 15 types of beer recipes to choose from it’s a steal at that price! And if that father in your life is an all grain brewing kind of Dad, how about you go all out and get him a bulk grain sack? We also have good stocks of the SS Brewtech range in store. I’m sure Dad would be forever grateful if he received one of these shiny fermenters or boil kettles.

Happy Brewing ! 

~ The SICO Vacuum Sealing Machines are back! ~

Due to popular demand, we are stocking the SICO Vacuum Sealing Machines again! Made in Italy and of the highest quality domestic machines. If you have made salami this winter, then no doubt you will have been religiously checking them to see if they're ready. Are they feeling firm? Have they lost 30% of their original weight? Are they smelling like salami? You've cut one open and it looks ready to go! What do you do next?

The best way to store your cured meats made this winter is to vacuum seal them. That's if you don't succumb to the temptation to eat them all at once of course. Vacuum sealing your salami in bags and placing them in the fridge will give salumi maximum shelf life. The process of vacuum sealing is even more important to do with your homemade sausages. This will keep them fresh and moist, even when stored in the freezer.  

Also in store is a massive range of vacuum sealing bags.  

Spoil dad this Father's Day with his very own Homebrew Equipment Kit and Recipe kit.  We have an extensive range of Recipe Kits to choose from.  

For more unique Father's Day Gift Ideas, check out our ONLINE store for inspiration. 

~ Food & Beverage Courses ~ 

We have now released new dates for our Sausage Making Courses at both our Reservoir and Clayton stores. James Mele will teach you everything you need to know to make fresh, tasty, healthy sausages all year round. Book ONLINE now to secure your place.   

Learn how to make Haloumi and Ricotta cheese at home at our fun, hands-on workshop with Gerard, a cheese maker from a Victorian artisan cheese company. Courses will be held at our Clayton store on the 18th August, 2015 or the Reservoir store on the 1st September, 2015. Book ONLINE

Camembert Cheese Making Course

Learn how to make Camembert cheese also at our hands on, informative and fun workshops with artisan cheese maker, Gerard. The workshops will be offered at both our Clayton store on the 22nd September from 6pm until 9pm and our Reservoir store on the 29th September, 2015 from 6pm until 9pm. Book ONLINE

~ Rose Creek Estate Open Garden this Sunday ~ 

Rose Creek Estate, is in the heart of suburban East Keilor. It's been described as "Tuscany in East Keilor"and really needs to be seen to be believed! 

The owners, Tony and Lina Siciliano are opening their garden to the public this Sunday. An olive grove, winery, and magnificent garden hidden away behind a suburban home. Rose Creek Estate has won many awards for it's fine olive oil and wines.  

Date: 30th of August 2015 

Where: 2 Craig Street, East Keilor

Time: 11am to 4:30pm

Entry: $5 - Proceeds go to the Stephanie Alexander's Kitchen Garden Foundation

There will be wine and olive oil and olives from the estate for tastings. There will be coffee, music, oven baked bread and pizza. Watch the baby chickens, guinea fouls and peacock. Accompany Tony and Lina on a tour around the beautiful gardens, olive grove and vineyard.  

Be sure to come along and say hello to the crew from Home Make It. We'll be there with a small pop up store with our specialty products include equipment to preserve olives, olive oil, make homemade vinegar, arancini, roast chestnuts and much more.  

Click link below to check out this week's Specials. You'll be sure to find more Father's Day gift ideas too.    

On behalf of all the team, I would like to wish all the dad's out there a very happy Father's Day!

Enjoy the weekend :)