Food Bytes with Sarah Patterson

MARK EUSTICE, FORMER AFL PLAYER AND KEYNOTE SPEAKER ON ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH

By Star Weekly

FB: How would you rate yourself as a cook?

ME: Oh, pretty ordinary. I’m OK just for a few things. I sort of went through I stage where I didn’t cook for years and years. Obviously Mum cooked for me all my life, basically.

FB: What is your signature dish?

ME: It’s probably not a signature meal, but for dinner – last minute – it’d just be a chicken stir fry. Easy. Bang. I’m pretty good at those at the moment. I (also) like to throw a bit of fish on and veggies. That sort of thing. Sweet potato. Some brown rice.

FB: What did you grow up eating?

ME: Pretty much rubbish, really, when you think about it. I mean, I thought I was eating alright. Before footy and that, you’d have your big bowl of pasta and all that, which was standard. I used to have plenty of cola and Twisties, that sort of thing … fish and chips.

FB: Do you have a sweet tooth?

ME: I love lollies. I’m a chocoholic. Lindt Balls. Kit Kats. Violet Crumble. Blocks of chocolate. You’ve got to love your Easter eggs too. Just anything, really.

FB: Which five people would you most like to invite to dinner?

ME: I’ve thought long and hard about this. I’ve got to have Michael Jordan. Robin Williams (there’s got to be a laugh), Jennifer Aniston, Keith Richards and my late dad. I’ve got Albert Einstein as an interchange. He’s on the bench. Simon Madden can serve the drinks.

FB: What is your favourite drink?

ME: Water, green tea and protein shakes. One of my favourite drinks of all time – which I never have – is an icy cold can of Coke.

 

A GLORIOUS MESS

Keto diet guru Scott Gooding was our first guest of 2019 on the Food Bytes podcast and what an interesting discussion we had. The low-carb, keto of way of life has taken Australia by storm, and Scott’s latest book – The Keto Diet Cookbook – is packed full of fresh, beautiful and (importantly) simple low-carb recipes, one of which I just have to share here.

You may have heard of the dessert called Eton Mess (layers of cream, crushed meringue fruit). But I’ll bet you haven’t heard of Scott Gooding’s Mess! As Scott himself says: “We eat with our eyes, I know, and presentation is everything, BUT throw that out the window for now. This is my version of a little treat after dinner. It’s not that easy on the eye, but it hits the spot taste-wise!”

Personally, I think it looks pretty darn good! And it could not be simpler to throw together. Just combine the following in a bowl: ¼ cup frozen blueberries, 1 tablespoon of peanut butter or a nut butter of your choice, 1 tablespoon of shredded coconut, 1-2 tablespoons of coconut cream, 1 tablespoon of pepitas, 1 tablespoon of sunflower seeds and 1 tablespoon of MCT oil (optional). Let me know what you think.

‘Scott Gooding’s Mess’. (Photo supplied)