Category: General

  • The Search Goes On – Egg Batter Dough for Chiko Roll & Corn Jacks

    I’ve previously approached this topic, reporting my trials into finding the secret to the ever elusive method of making the dough wrapper for that well known, loved and maligned, Australian deep fried snack, the Chiko Roll. Much of the history and preparation info is summarized at Cooks Info which is a little more sensible and tempered than some…

  • Fowlers Vacola Preservers End of Summer Discount on Pro Model

    Just in Fowlers Vacola are having a 30% Off Sale on their top of the range, Professional Preserving Unit (source) Now, this is part of their End of Summer Sale, that’s right, end of Summer in Australia. This is an all-Australian product from a company that has been around since before my Grandma, well, since…

  • New Digs

    It is sad to say that Villa Tempest will be relocating from Vietnam, but our time in Hanoi, is coming to a close. If you’re interested in taking up and developing the Villa Tempest Pie Concept in Hanoi, please feel free to contact us for some mutually beneficial offline discussions. We are happy to note though,…

  • What’s News: Dough Sheeter, Pastry Roller

    One: Recently, after a long term of searching, designing, and being told, “No! Can’t be done in Hanoi” we finally took ownership of a manual dough sheeter (Máy cán bột). Having first sighted such an item in the kitchen of Cafe CCCP, we managed to track down and eventually find not only a supplier who…

  • Phong Nha Pies

    Recently we paid a visit to Phong Nha Farmstay near Dong Hoi, to carry out a bit of in-house instruction in the finer art of pie making and I’m looking forward to the welcome news of tasty pies being available in central Vietnam to hungry trekkers, spelunkers and trail blazers. As a consequence of this,…

  • This Week We’re Not At The Market.

    Just a brief note to let people know that due to administrative issues, Villa Tempest will not be operating a BBQ at this Saturday’s Weekend Market. As negotiations continue, we may be back in the near future. Watch this space. …And that’s the latest news from the Kitchens of Villa Tempest.