Welcome to the very tasty world of Honey Child! Aka Toni Burnett-Rands, Toni hails from the southern part of the USA and counts some incredibly interesting characters in her family tree.
This is just a taster of Toni, a delicious family recipe with strawberries that she shares (rosewater? Wow!) and the rest is coming up on our new membership site, Cook and Cauldron – launching soon! We’re busy editing the full reel to share soon, and her story is riveting.
How Toni ended up in Tasmania is a story in itself, but briefly, she caught the eye of a Tasmanian man, whose friend just happened to be visiting Las Vegas. Toni had a big job in marketing at The Venetian, but threw it all in for love and now, Hobart is the lucky recipient of her food and generosity.
We filmed Toni in her kitchen, dishing up a simple but delicious take on strawberries, and then her secret to her fried chicken. And that starts with a salty brine that leeches out impurities and gives the meat that almost velvet mouth feel that contrasts with her crisp fried coating. And that secret she wasn’t giving away.
Watching Toni share her stories – and every dish has a story – and her background which is as exotic and multicultural as I’ve ever heard, was inspirational. Her knowledge of her food and its origins, and her family and its origins, is encyclopaedic.
Her forebears are originally from Senegal, with generations of marriages and liaisons all over the world filtered down to make this incredible human being who stood before us, casually telling her stories. She’s from a line of strong women.
I do apologise for the sharp break just at the end of the strawberry recipe, but it was filmed just out of interest for me, and I thought you readers might enjoy a small taste of the professional film that my crew and I are putting together.
Toni shifts from the sweet to salty, the two great taste sensations, and her stories never missed a beat. You can catch her food at the moment at the Mona Market on a Sunday, and often at the Red Shed, Hobart Brewing Company, on a Thursday night where loyal fans queue round the block.
Her food is that good. Toni lives by the local, organic, fresh and clean produce credo. And then she takes it up several notches with judicious use of spices, herbs and methods that let the ingredients shine, but with a little jab of gloss!
We are so lucky to have Toni in our midst, and I plan for us to see more of her, and what she’s doing. And some of it is really fun, and exciting!
And I need to say a big thank you as well, to Josh, my incredible, talented web developer who makes this site work. If you need someone you can trust to do the best job, every time, find him at www.championmedia.com.au.
Chrissie
Salt and pepper love
You’re kidding! The connections in my life at the moment are scary!
I really want to eat those strawberries now!! Toni is a great talent! P.S. we have those salt and pepper shakers too!
Haha! I’m sorry, I mean Melissa!
Oh much more to come, Mr. Stallie! Cook and Cauldron is nearing launch, and the real story will be on there! If you’d like to join our community, do so, and we’ll let you know when it’s coming.
Toni Makes the BEST Food! Thank you for sharing a little of her with us.