The Essential Ingredient recently held a VIP launch party to celebrate the relocation of their store to Rozelle.
The Essential Ingredient, and stores like it, are something of a candy store for food enthusiasts such as myself. As with a child’s first experience in a candy store, there are a wonderous array of colours, textures and aromas to dazzle the mind and tempt ones appetite. A mental list of things to purchase is compiled with giddy delight, oblivious to the thought that your weekly allowance would likely not cover even a fraction of your heart’s desire.
However, there’s more to the Essential Ingredient store, and the VIP launch party for that matter, than just candy.
Shelves and shelves of a few of my favourite things run along the expansive space of the store. A vast array from pantry goods, kitchenware, cake decoration, & party/catering supplies. A great place to spend some time building up than mental wish list that you’re likely never going to fulfill, at least in its entirety. It’s a place that can also offer some solace, a moment’s respite from the social rumble of the launch party.
A small, impromptu bar is setup by the front register, providing refreshments and social lubricant to the VIP attendees, of which there are quite a number. The movers and shakers of the Essential Ingredient group, chefs, food media types, the Mayor of the local council, a neighbour, a couple of reality TV celebrities, and a number of food bloggers just for the heck of it.
With regards to catering, an in-house kitchen is utilised to provide warm, tasty canapes. This same kitchen is used for cooking demonstrations that are held in the store from time to time.
Some of the noteworthy canapes for me includes:
Spinach & parmesan pastries. These were so good that I kept picking at them as they would float past my view. The salty bite & aroma of the parmesan made these delightful canapes so moreish.
Tuna, cooking to a wonderfully tender medium, incorporated with aromatic Asian flavours. Skewers were provided as utensils to spear these juicy morsels. If I were in more relaxed environs, I would have racked up a full skewer of these babies. Perhaps even two.
Scallops, served in the half shell, were cooked to perfection. The herb dressing served to complement the natural sweetness of the scallops without overpowering them.
There were many other canapes served that night. However, for those images you’ll need to check out the Facebook fan page for the heart of food.
As I was about to take my leave from the VIP launch party, a candy coloured corner display of KitchenAid stand mixers had caught my attention. My eyes lit up, dazzled by the rainbow of happiness that arced before me. A mental note was taken; not just to add one of these to the wish list, but to also check the piggy bank at home to see how much more allowance I’d need to save up to get my hands on one.
The Essential Ingredient
731-735 Darling Street, Rozelle.
Ph: 9555 8300
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February 18th, 2010 - 1:48 pm
awww the tuna looks so good!
February 18th, 2010 - 2:04 pm
Ohhh man the kitchenaid mixers! One day, one day….
February 18th, 2010 - 2:30 pm
Damn, the orange kitchenaid looks hot!! Did u say relocation? Wot happen to the branch in crows nest then? I hope is still there.
February 18th, 2010 - 3:44 pm
Ooh I want Kitchenaid! In Tangerine! Or lime green… something citrus-y :)
February 18th, 2010 - 5:47 pm
so is that the one that used to be in crows nest? love that place although kitchenware seems pretty pricey compared to say Victoria Basement, and perhaps even Myer and David Jones. looks like a nice dressing for the scallop.
February 18th, 2010 - 7:33 pm
The canapes look so tasty! Especially the tuna.
February 18th, 2010 - 9:23 pm
Hmmm, something tells me this opened up where that Barn place used to be?
February 18th, 2010 - 11:39 pm
Unfortunately for those of us on the north side of the bridge, relocation means the Crows Nest store is no more but hey, what a great excuse to visit Rozelle!
February 19th, 2010 - 8:51 am
Hi Simon – so glad you enjoyed the opening night celebrations. Your photos are quite mouthwatering!
@john – yes, we have moved into the ol’ Barn, a great space for all our wares, and a demonstration kitchen!
February 19th, 2010 - 5:06 pm
I would be that happy kid in the candy store as well. And those kitchen aids are just smiling at me now… drool!
February 21st, 2010 - 1:53 pm
I want candy.
Nice shooting and as usual thoroughly entertaining. You really hit the bullseye on this one.
*sunglasses* yeahhhhhhh
February 26th, 2010 - 11:34 am
Oh I love that final shot of the Kitchen Aid mixers… I want one too!
Food looks wonderful.
February 26th, 2010 - 3:27 pm
I’ve visited the new store every weekend since they opened. Very dangerous to the hip pocket. Love the pic of the Kitchenaids lined up like efficient robots…
February 26th, 2010 - 7:01 pm
How lucky for you! I live in Far North Queensland so little chance to get there regularly. I wonder if they do mail order? Great rundown of the event!
March 4th, 2010 - 10:56 pm
Oh how I would love my very own kitchenaid. They are so pretty. I still need to get down to essential ingredient. The food looks great. Your photos are always so sharp.
March 5th, 2010 - 1:16 pm
Hi shelvia! It was indeed. Cooked just right :)
Hi Rose! LOL! That’s the same mantra I use :)
Hi billy! The Crows Nest one has closed in favour of this one. Sucks for the people on the North Shore but I know a number of people happy to see it back on this side of the bridge.
Not too sure what colour I’d go for if I ever ended up purchasing one.
Hi Karen! Why am I not surprised… :) hehe
Hi Simon Food Favourites! You’re not one for accentuating the positive, huh? :)
Yes, it was indeed the store in Crows Nest that moved to its new location in Rozelle.
Hi Karen! The tuna was certainly one I came back for from time to time.
Hi John! Whatever that something was, it was right :)
Hi Moya! Rozelle’s a great place to visit for food, with a number of decent vendors within a few minutes from the new store.
Hi Melissa! Thank you, and thanks for having me!
Hi penny! I know what you mean. I felt the same about the candy display, bar humbugs.
Sorry. Been meaning to find a way to work that pun into this post :P
Hi Ninja! Thanks dude :)
Hi Phuoc! The more I look at the KitchenAids, the more I want one!
Hi Belle! I know what you mean! Thankfully, it’s far enough away that I can’t just casually drop into the store.
Hi marcellina! I’ve been told they do have a division that takes orders but I don’t know if it’s just for the food industry. Maybe contact the people at The Essential Ingredient to see if they will?
Hi Katherine! Thanks! I would love a KitchenAid myself :)
March 8th, 2010 - 4:26 pm
The KA mixers distracted me from talking about the yummy food!! Too funny how the mixers get me excited even though I have two. I wish I could have each and every one of them. I think even if that were the case, I would still get excited just at the mere site of one. haha *sigh*
Anyway, the food you made looks amazing!! Great photos!!
March 11th, 2010 - 9:13 am
oh wow cool its moved to rozelle thats awesome! a tiny bit closer for me, ive been to the one in canberra (while i was there for the floriade) but only had maybe half an hour to browse around
love the line up of kitchenaids..!
March 13th, 2010 - 10:01 am
Hi Memoria! You have two KitchenAids? Please tell me they’re at work and not at home… Breaks my heart to think that there are people in this world that have two when others go without. :)
Thanks for leaving such a nice comment :)
Hi betty! Guess you’ll have as much time as you want to browse around. I could easily get lost in there for an hour, even after having gone there a few times.
March 13th, 2010 - 1:01 pm
Oh my Lord I wish I went!!!