Tablecloths & Talking with Grace Brennan

This month’s Tablecloths and Talking chat is with Grace Brennan. Grace is a dedicated and generous supporter of The Dill Tickle (usually stocking up at Ellerslie Lane). In 2019, shortly after I launched The Dill Tickle, Grace launched her own kitchen table idea, Buy From The Bush (BFTB). Our trajectory has not quite been one of equal proportion, but it’s fair to say that my little business has certainly benefitted from the growth of Grace’s incredible idea and her commitment to promoting small bush businesses. Last year, Grace posted an hilarious video of her husband Jack, deliriously talking about his midnight feast of Bread & Butter Cucumbers in the midst of the chaos of harvest. It was wonderfully fun and honest and I was thrilled to know that my cukes were helping keep Jack going through the long harvest! I am a huge admirer of Grace – her voice is informative and sincere, yet filled with humour. A perfect representation of the bush life she loves and promotes so earnestly.
Thankyou Grace for sharing your foodie answers with me – I love that chips and gravy is your comfort food, that sweet chilli sauce is your number one pantry staple and that your drink of choice is a chilled glass of coke. In fact, I think your answers mirror my husband’s exactly!

Q: Introduce yourself and what you do.
A: Grace Brennan, Mum of four and founder of Buy From The Bush.

Q: What is your favourite Dill Tickle product and how do you use it?
A: Bread and Butter Cucumbers (with jatz & cheese). Or added to a burger.

Yes or No…
Coriander? Yes… but I understand the no camp too.
Blue Cheese? No.
Pickles on a Burger? Only because you introduced me to it.*
Egg Sandwich? Most certainly not. And don’t go bringing one to a shared office space please.

Q: What would your Last Supper be? And who would your dream guest be to join you for this finale?
A feast of entrees. (Which would include but not be limited to lamb pancakes from Lane Cove Chinese Kitchen)
Entrée… See above.
Main… No need.
Dessert… Chocolate Fondant with vanilla ice cream. And maybe some apple crumble.
Drink… A glass of coke with ice or an ice cold glass of (French) champagne (depending how festive I felt on the eve of my death).
And who would your dream guest be to join you for this finale?! I’d want to spend every last minute with Jack, my parents and my siblings. (The kids would be in the tv room watching their 64th episode of Hey Jesse). If we needed a celeb to spice things up… Esther Perel? Chrissy Swan?

Q: What do you bring when you’re told not to bring a thing?!
A: Always champagne. Depends on the occasion, if I’m an overnight guest then I’ll pick up some local gifts (like Rosie’s Dressing) on the way. If it’s a dinner party I’m inclined not to add clutter. At this age people are intentional about their instructions. Don’t bring anything sometimes means ‘my fridge can’t handle another thing’ so I tend to listen.**

Q:What are your top 3 pantry must-haves/staples?
Sweet Chilli Sauce (is that very 90s??)
Soya sauce
Tinned tomatoes

Q: What is something that’s been sitting unused in your pantry for a while?
A: Every packet of Dukkah that I have ever owned.***

Q: What’s your comfort food or the one dish that always brings you joy?
A: Hot chips with gravy.

Q: What’s the best meal you’ve ever eaten?
A: A grilled piece of tuna with lemon, salt and pepper sitting by the ocean on la costa de la luz in Spain.

A quick 3…
Early Bird or Night Owl? Both. Depending on life’s demands.
Your kitchen tunes? Changes all the time. Julianna Calm Down by the Chicks was last night. Also partial to a good pod while cooking.
Fave Cookbook? Common Sense Cookbook. I inherited it after my Nanna died. The stained pages make me feel close to her still.

*I take great joy in converting people to loving pickles on a burger! You’ve made my day Grace!
**As an entertainer, I wholeheartedly agree! If you’re told not to bring a thing, the host usually means it! Although a bottle of something chilled to share with your host is never a bad idea. And maybe a jar of something from The Dill Tickle range, amiright…
*** ha ha!! I feel you!