A very big Merry Christmas from Team RecipeTin!!
We really did try for a respectable photo. Think – iPhone set up precariously on a DIY tripod involving a ladder, upturned bucket and jam jar to hold it upright. She sets the timer, yells “SMILE EVERYONE!”, dashes into the shot.
Multiple takes later, with feedback such as “STEPHEN WHY DO YOU LOOK STRESSED” and “HERRON, STOP HIDING!!!”, this was the best of the bunch:
Which, truthfully, looks entirely awkward and is not us at all.
THIS is us:
One take was all it took!
The RecipeTin Crew
So there I am with my motley crew on the last day of work at our new RecipeTin Meals food bank kitchen. Starting from the front left:
RecipeTin’s head Chef JB who has become very much a part of the face of RecipeTin over the past year, touring Australia with me for food demo events and working alongside me every single day to create, test, photograph and film the recipes on our website and other publications;
Mama RecipeTin aka the Queen, the voice, cook and photographer behind RecipeTin Japan and the one person who will tell me off without hesitation, in front of anyone, at any time;
Me!
Dan-the-Man, our Kitchenhand at RecipeTin Meals!
Herron my video editor, hiding on the very left, our shy, innocent one – until she unleashes her wicked sense of humour….
Elke, the most recent addition to our team, my new assistant. Only with us for 2 months, but it feels like 2 years!
Chef Hannah, part of our RTM team, trying to hide. Do not let her size fool you, she is a pocket rocket in the kitchen!
My brother Goh, IT guru and a walking food encyclopaedia. His knowledge about foods and cooking from all around the world is mind-blowing.
Inggrid our human calculator who makes sure our books are squeaky clean and that I’ll never go to jail for tax fraud; and
Stephen, hiding at the very back, our boss Chef at RTM. One of the funniest people I have ever met in my life – and also the man at the helm of the RecipeTin Meals kitchen where we have never, ever missed a meal delivery to those in need since we started.
I call us a “motley crew” because any outsider looking at us would see a mish-mash of people from all walks of life, representing 8 different countries, yet all Australian at heart. Together, with Mr Dozer, we make up Team RecipeTin, and we want to wish you all a very, very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!
Ah, yes, speaking of Dozer! He wasn’t in the team photo because it was at RTM which is a proper commercial kitchen subject to health and safety regulations. Which includes – no dogs. Which we do not complain about because these rules are in place for a reason.
But, as you would know, Christmas related photos of Dozer are in no way lacking. In fact, my camera roll is filled with them:
Ahh look, here he is, claiming ownership of a present that isn’t his (but it does contain food – so we must all commend him for his superior sense of smell):
Then there he is a mere 5 minutes later – given up. Dozer! I’m surprised, you know perseverance is rewarded!
Merry Christmas!
Thank you for cooking along with us, your kind messages of support as we’ve moved through (another!) year of many firsts, from searching for and finding a new kitchen for RecipeTin Meals, touring Australian with the Good Food and Wine Show, TV slots, magazine shoots, hosting reader dinners, selling my forever home, living in the RT office (yes I’m still living at work!!😭). We visited Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, MUDGEE, Newcastle, Hunter Valley and next year we’ve got Adelaide & Tasmania in our sights!!
Through it all there’s been so much laughter, and SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. And you, our readers, you are the reason we are here doing what we do and the reason we love what we do. The feedback you give us, the emails you send, the messages you leave on recipes, the interactions on social media – you are our community, our world, the reason we get so much joy in what we do.
So THANK YOU!! Sending you all a giant virtual hug!
I’ll be offline for a few days from today until the 28th of December. I’ve been answering some emergency cries for help on top-hitting Christmas recipes here on my website and no doubt if I happen to spot some during my “break”, I won’t be able to resist. So leave your questions on the recipe!
Merry Christmas everyone! – Nagi & Dozer x ❤️
Been following you for years now. Printed out so many of your recipes I have my own Nagi cookbook. Congratulations on your well earned success. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Have a wonderful Christmas to the whole team including Dozer. Thankyou for your help in 2023 and I’ll keep looking your website up in ’24. The best of luck to you all in 2024
Dear Nagi, Dozer and the whole team, wishing you all a very Merry Christmas. Many thanks Nagi for your fabulous recipes and the sunshine you spread with your beautiful smile and joyful approach to life.
I am so pleased with your success. You have returned joy to cooking and I love it!
I had tried many of your recipes before your book arrived and now I am obsessed with them.
I hope you have the New England area of the United States on your ‘to visit’ list.
Warm wishes for good health, happiness, continued success, and peace for you and everyone you hold dear, in the New Year.
Sincerely, Martin Herman
Have a very Happy Christmas and a wonderful New Year !
Hi Nagi and Team: I wish I could show you my cookbook shelf, which used to be so crowded I’d have to get rid of one when I got a new cookbook. It is now empty, apart from “Dinner”. Honestly. Your book and website is all I need now. Have a great Christmas break. You’ve earned it.
A very happy Christmas to the Amazing motley crew at RTE.
You deserve the best of holidays!
Merry Christmas to you Nagi your amazing team and the adorable Dozer. Many thanks for your fantastic recipes. Have a happy festive season and best wishes for a healthy and peaceful 2024. 🎅🌞
Wishing you Dozer and all your amazing team a very Merry Christmas. And a massive THANKYOU for all that you do and for being you 😍 you’re the best!
Merry Christmas Nagi, Dozer and team! Enjoy your well deserved break.
Merry Christmas to everyone in the Recipe Tin Empire😀. Have a safe Holiday. Oh and Dozer needs a treat!
A huge thank you to all for all of the effort and passion that is evident in every recipe and post, I made your Rocky Road this arvo for gifts and it is wicked!! For my old Dad tomoz arvo, it will be Prawns in garlic cream sauce, Happy Xmas from the farm here, keep well and rock on 🙂
Merry Christmas Nagi and crew and Dozer! You are amazing. I am not a great cook but since finding you, you are my guide! Everyone of your recipes is gold. Trying the Pomegranate salad, Italian Cheese Loaf and Maple Glazed Ham for Christmas lunch tomorrow. Hope you have a relaxing break xx
Have a truly amazing festive season Nagi with your beautiful Dozer and your “motley crew” of awesome co-workers. You are all so real, and I am so glad I get to read about your antics, and learn from your recipes … hope you continue to do exactly what you do … don’t ever change! xo
Dozer – How do you put up with that mad mob? Now – will you please, please, please go and give them each a big lick of appreciation from me and huge thanks and best wishes . . . especially Mom’s mom and Goh!!! Love yah all . . . !!!
Have a wondiferous Christmas and a joyous New Year’24 to you, Dozer and the team. Take care and keep well. The new year awaits. xxx
Merry Christmas
Nagi and Dozer💕
Merry Christmas Nagi, Dozer and RTM team. Thank you for all your hard work and delicious recipes throughout the year. Your such a blessing to those in need and your RT community
Wonderful to see the others behind the scenes. Merry Christmas to all.
Merry Christmas to you too! N xx
Have a happy happy Christmas . You deserve a break Nagi. You work unbelievably hard.
Big hugs for Dozer 🧡🐾🧡
Thanks soooo much to you and your team 🙏 for helping to inspire and guide me in my cooking journey.
Hugs passed on!! Merry Christmas to you too Lesley! – N x