I first met Amelia Crook, owner & founder of gorgeous food blog Simple Provisions, in October 2013 while attending a local seminar organised by The Brainery Store. I must say it was blog-love at first sight! Simple Provisions is all about beautiful (self-taught) food photography and creating and sharing seasonal, versatile recipes for homely, healthy food.
So far, Amelia’s love of food, cooking, photography and styling has taken her from Melbourne to New York, where she worked on the Martha Stewart website, back to Melbourne and then finally to the small country town of Kyneton, where she has settled with her partner Lee and their beautiful bub Nell; a move Amelia describes as ‘an experiment in slower living’.
When I stopped-by Amelia’s for a cuppa and chat, I was privy to some behind-the-scenes insight into the technical aspects of how Amelia creates her wonderful blog posts. From Kale and Pomegranate Salad to tips on How to Roast Vegetables for the Week, Amelia creates, cooks, captures + shares according to her wonderfully inclusive catch-cry ‘Food does not need to be fancy to be celebrated':
“A fresh, crisp radish smeared in butter and dipped in salt can make a dreary day brighter.
A stock made from kitchen scraps can transform into a fragrant soup to warm a chill.
And a couple of pieces of bread, some cheese and a grill can become the most delicious late night snack ever.
That’s what this blog is about. Simple food that makes everyday moments special.
I started this blog to remind myself to prepare and eat food that makes me happy.”
What a talented and inspiring young woman! We at The Countryphiles feel sure there are great things ahead for Amelia/Simple Provisions. Watch this space!
Enjoy! {d} x
Your background is urban living that includes London and 18 months in an apartment in Brooklyn in the city of cities New York. Tell us a little bit about the path that led you to where you are now?
Living in NYC had always been a dream of mine, and I loved every minute of it. But living in a big city is like being in the ocean; you can either surf the swell or get dumped and struggle for air. By the end of my time in New York I felt like I’d been in the surf too long and was heading for a dumping, exhausted by the pace of the city. I longed for a simpler life back home in Australia, closer to nature and more connected to the community around me. So NYC life got packed up. All our belongings were on a slow boat home, and without much tying us to Melbourne, it felt like the right time to try a tree change.
While in New York you worked at Martha Stewart! What role did you have and what was it like?
I work on websites for a living and was lucky enough to get a job working on www.marthastewart.com. The Martha offices are in a beautiful converted art deco warehouse on the Hudson River in Manhattan with views down to the Statue of Liberty and a rooftop terrace that boasts the best sunset views in New York. It was truly an inspiring office with props rooms to die for, a craft room that had bits and pieces for every type of craft you could imagine and test kitchens churning out delicious food. The creativity in the office was palpable.
Tell us about your gorgeous blog ‘Simple Provisions ’. How did this creative project come about?
Working on the Martha website meant that I was looking at beautiful photography and coming across new recipes to try every day. I saw the creative process behind the Martha magazines and TV show and was intrigued by it. I’ve always dabbled in something creative on the side, and being surrounded by food, styling and photography got me excited to try it for myself. I had a few months off between finishing up at Martha and coming home to Australia so I started Simple Provisions to try my hand at some of the skills I’d seen in action at work.
What philosophies/ethics guide you in creating Simple Provisions?
I think seasonal produce, prepared simply, is the most nourishing, flavourful food and when prepared with a bit of love and thought, it is a chance to celebrate life in a little way every day. Food doesn’t need to be fancy to be appreciated. The blog keeps me connected to that, and hopefully inspires others too.
Have you always been interested in food/cooking/food photography?
My mum told me the other day that my favourite book as a kid was a recipe book, and she used to get sick of reading out the ingredients and methods, but I wouldn’t let her skip them! I cooked a lot of pikelets and cakes as a kid, but didn’t really start to prepare meals until I moved to London in my early 20s. Working at Martha Stewart was what got me interested in food photography and styling.
Many of us dream of living in the country and finding work-life balance. What have you learnt from pursuing this dream? What advice might you give?
For me, the key was identifying what it would take to make the move successful, and then pursuing that. I knew that commuting to Melbourne five days a week would send me crazy, so I needed a job that allowed me to work from home as well as the city. I became very picky about the roles I applied for and found a company that allowed me the flexibility I needed. When I had that focus and priority, it made the decision making easy.
What does a typical day in the life of the ‘Amelia Crook of Simple Provisions’ look like; from when you wake to when you go to sleep?
I had my first baby at the start of the year, so my days are currently very basic, revolving around sleeping, feeding and cleaning up.
We get up at 7am for a feed for both of us, and then I usually get 2 hours to myself during Nell’s morning nap. I’ll hopefully be planning, testing or preparing a recipe, which I shoot on Fridays when my partner is home to mind Nell, but I’m often doing whatever needs to be done to keep the household running.
During the day we might go for a walk down the street to meet other mums for a coffee or go to the library, visit the local grocers to say hello and pick up ingredients for the evening meal, or just wander around Kyneton to get some exercise.
Our night time routine kicks in at 6pm and Nell is down by 7pm. I’ll prepare dinner and eat, always with the plan to then do something creative, like knit or weave, but more often than not I crash out on the couch, exhausted from seemingly doing nothing but play with my baby all day.
Do you consider yourself to be a ‘Countryphile’? Do you love country life? Why?
My partner is originally from the country, and I never pictured us moving out of the city. But now that we have, I couldn’t be happier. I like the pace of the country, there’s room to notice the details of life and appreciate them more.
How does life in Kyneton compare to life in New York?
It’s a lot simpler! But also remarkably similar. New York is divided into neighbourhoods, and the majority of life is lived within a 10-block radius of your apartment. I lived in Williamsburg in Brooklyn and everything I needed or wanted day-to-day was in walking distance. Living in the township of Kyneton is the same. I walk everywhere, I have several coffee shops and restaurants to choose from, I shop locally and attend the local market just like I did in Brooklyn.
What aspect of country life are you loving MOST at the moment?
The sense of community. My partner is a teacher at the local yoga school which first opened up the community to us, and having a baby has connected us even further. We’ve met a bunch of new friends who have also moved here in the last few years and now have a little one. Bumping in to friends at the coffee shop or waving to people passing by in their car is a lovely feeling.
What is the most CHALLENGING aspect of country life?
The lack of stimulation that comes from the vibrancy and variety a big city offers.
Do you prefer Coffee or Tea? Your favourite country café and why?
Coffee, though I’ve had a lot less of it since I got pregnant and had a baby. Duck, Duck, Goose and Larder has the best coffee in Kyneton in my opinion, and I also like it because it’s pram-friendly and I inevitably end up buying gorgeous local produce to take home with me.
What and where was the last great meal you enjoyed/shared in the country?
Annie Smithers’ Du Fermier in Trentham is my favourite local restaurant because I love putting my trust in Annie’s hands to deliver a gorgeous three-course meal, no ordering or choosing required. She doesn’t disappoint! I have had several meals there in the last year with friends from the city and they’ve all been great.
Where would we find you on a typical Saturday morning?
At one of the farmer’s markets in the area.
Would you ENCOURAGE others to live a country life? Why/why not?
Yes! But only if a slower pace of life, connecting with the community and long car trips are things that sound good.
What ADVICE would you give those dreaming of making a TREE CHANGE?
Living a city-based life in the country is possible, but it’s exhausting. If you’re going to make the change, then I recommend doing all you can to bring your life with you, whether that’s changing up your work hours/location or simply finding a local dentist and hairdresser instead of schlepping back to the city all the time.
What can we expect NEXT from you/Simple Provisions in the future?
I’m collaborating with The Sage Garden, a beautiful business that aims to educate and encourage children and their families to grow organic fruit, herbs and vegetables.
What are you looking FORWARD to and why?
Is it too early to say Spring?! Probably. So I’ll say winter woollens, hearty soups and slow-cooked meat on lazy Sunday afternoons.
What would be your dream project?
There are so many creative people in Kyneton, I’d love to get-together with them to produce some sort of project that uses all our skills and shows off the area.
Can you list for us 5 specific things you turn to/do when you need of a ‘dose’ of city life?
At the moment, with a baby, I’m not getting many doses of the city. But, if I could just run off and do what I wanted I would:
1. Do a restaurant crawl that would include a bowl of ramen from Shop Ramen for lunch, Gelato Messina for afternoon tea and an Andrew McConnell restaurant for dinner
2. Browse books at Readings on Lygon St, cross the road to see a movie at Nova and follow it with a big bowl of pasta and a tumbler of wine from Tiamo
3. Stock up at speciality food shops like the Mediterranean Wholesalers on Sydney Rd, Casa Iberica on Johnston St or get a freezer full of fish from the Vic Market
4. Do something cultural, like a visit to the NGV or Heide Museum of Modern Art
5. This isn’t city-based, but it’s full of city people: go to Golden Plains Music Festival
Amelia Crook
Simple Provisions
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