Entertainment : Kitchen Cabinet Rules

There’s a new show on television that I am obsessed with – Kitchen Cabinet, featuring the delightfully ballsy Annabel Crabb cooking for, and dining with, Australian politicians.

I say “ballsy” affectionately as she is someone who says what others are thinking, but are too afraid to ask. You just have to watch the episode with Deputy Leader of the Opposition Julie Bishop when she is discussing her dogged determination to win the cupcake badge at Brownies and Annabel quips: “So did you get the Behavioural Disorder Badge as well?”

It’s here I admit, while I am obsessed with breaking news and followed the recent leadership squabbles with keen interest, I have not been keeping up with the political happenings as much as I should. Question Time fills me with dread and often I find politicising boring and condescending. I am also not a particularly accomplished cook, despite luxuriating in way too many cooking shows and indulging in too many cookbooks. I do however eat a mean cheesecake. Eat being the operative word.

So, when I was alerted to Kitchen Cabinet by a mutual friend of both mine and Annabel’s (it’s here I must confess having worked with Annabel many years ago at The Advertiser newspaper in Adelaide and also drinking a few too many pints of Pale Ale at the now-bulldozed Criterion Hotel) I was more so interested in seeing what Annabel’s hair looked like, rather than spending my limited tv time watching politicians campaigning for votes.

From the opening credits, I was hooked. Annabel is a natural for tv. The styling of the show is super cool, the guests a perfect mix of intriguing, witty, cunning, charming and downright entertaining to sit down to dinner with. Annabel’s interview skills are masterful, she is a talented verbalist. Smart as a tack, funny and honest, she brings out the best and most interesting in her dinner hosts. For the moment, political spin is pushed aside. Annabel shows there is more to her hosts than the slick media machines we are so accustomed to seeing and so cynical of. For the first time, in a long time, we get a sneak peek into their lives. The simplicity of watching people enjoying a meal together, ruminating about life, free of the bullshit, is refreshing and timely.

Cooking for Federal Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek. Photo: ABC

And then there’s the cooking. So far, the food from all involved in the show has been sensational – Annabel’s desserts a stand-out. From the Mandarin Creme Brulee for Minister for Finance Penny Wong to the Persian Love Cake for Amanda Vanstone and Shadow Minister and Manager of Opposition Business Christopher Pyne – her cooking is delectable. If you click on the link here it will give you the recipe for the delicious looking Lemon Myrtle Mango Trifle Annabel whipped up for Senator Nigel Scullion.

Annabel visited Senator Scullion in the Top End. Photo: ABC

Here’s a clip from the 6-part show, which airs on ABC2 on Wednesdays at 9.30pm, with Annabel cooking the yummy treat.

The only bad thing about the show is that there’s only a couple of episodes left. Will there be a second series? I really hope so, while there’s some top cake recipes here I need a few more to look at it and imagine eating. I’ve even cleaned out my pantry to fit in more baking ingredients.

Have you seen Kitchen Cabinet yet? What do you think of the show? Do you like Annabel Crabb’s cooking style? 

If you could cook for someone, who would it be and what would you cook for them?

Have a fab day,

Bianca xx

Main Photo: ABC