Tablecloths & Talking with Clare Lee

Clare Lee is a woman of many talents. She and her husband Dave manage Windy Station on the Liverpool Plains. She also runs her own business “Fare”, making and selling delicious granola. She’s also a mum of three, an excellent gardener and cook and makes a mean G&T. She is also a Coldplay fan. So really, if there was nothing else, I would like her simply for that! I first met Clare via a phone call. We were connected by a mutual friend who thought we would be able to share some business insights with each other, seeing as we were both running home-based food businesses, supporting farming husbands and raising kids. We finally met in person on a girl’s weekend at Goonoo Goonoo and now I’m lucky enough to call her my friend. It felt only natural to ask Clare to be the first person to join me for Tablecloths and Talking.
Thank you for sharing your foodie secrets with me Clare! And can you please make the Polpette for me one day?!

Q: What is your favourite Dill Tickle product and how do you use it?
A: Hardest question first Lizzie!!!! Probably Spicy Green Sauce as it is soooooo versatile. But followed very closely by Burger Beetroot. My go-to breakfast is a couple of eggs cracked into a mug, grab whatever greens are in the fridge (kale, rocket, herbs) and microwave for about a minute. Top with avo and green saucey goodness. 

Yes or No…
Coriander? Blue Cheese? Pickles on a Burger? Egg Sandwich?
In true foodie style I said yes to everything!!

Q: What would your Last Supper be?
My kids always ask me this!!!
Entrée… Fresh Oysters
Main… Homemade baked tomato sauce and pasta made by Dave (my Dave ha ha ha)
Dessert… Cheese platter
Drink… Gin and Soda, squeezed lime, lots of ice

Q: What do you bring when you’re told not to bring a thing?!
A: Usually a bag of my granola and a snippet of whatever is growing in the garden!

Q:What are your top 3 pantry must-haves/staples?
Anchovies
Olive oil
Tinned tomatoes

Q: What is something that’s been sitting unused in your pantry for a while?
A: Chutney! We aren’t big chutney eaters. 

Q:What’s your comfort food or the one dish that always brings you joy?
A: Probably Rosa Mitchells (see below) Polpette recipe. The entire process of making this is my favourite thing to do. Picking the parsley from the garden, smooshing it all up with my hands, shaping the meatballs, the smell, the kids coming and pinching the crunchy bits straight from the pan and then serving it up to my family or visitors. I love it. It isn’t a quick dish either, so I love that it forces me to slow down.

A quick 3…
Early Bird or Night Owl? Early bird
Your kitchen tunes? Anything Folk, Indie or Country. I love Birdtalker and Lady A.
Fave Cookbook? High rotation is My Cousin Rosa (Rosa Mitchell) anything from Sophie Hansen or Yotam Ottolenghi