Nici Wickes: Ways to get inspired to break out of the same old dinner repertoire

Here's my top 5 sources of inspiration:  

- The ingredients in my house 

- The ingredients in the stores

- Eating out - it doesn't have to be expensive; I had a $13 roti canai in Hamilton at a little Malaysian place last week and it's put me on the road to spiciness all week with soups, curries and stir fries all being whipped up in my kitchen

- Viewing - my top 5 places for getting inspired: Jamie One Pan Wonders Sat night TVNZ ONE - FREE, Toscana - Netflix, Chef's Table Pizza series Netflix, magazines are my next go-to FREE from any library, and finally cookbooks of course.

- Try Books for Cooks at Moore Wilson's or any other bookshops - I can get lost for hours browsing these. (Note: I'm not as big on online inspiration unless you can trust the source) 

- Food-related Festivals and classes - like WOAP, Choc Festival, Food Shows, cooking classes etc. These expose you to trends and who's doing what and can really uplift you and get you thinking about different ways to cook, serve and eat food. They don't have to be expensive either. The Bhakti Lounge in Wellington and The Yoga Loft in Ak run these marvelous vegetarian cooking classes and they're from $40.00.

- Or try a night class at a local secondary school - I still cook some recipes that I learnt decades ago at a class. A creme brulee and a feta and fennel whip.  

Keep the knowledge flowing in to keep new flavours flowing out I say! 

 

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