Brookfarm has become synonymous with deliciously nourishing macadamia breakfast cereals, snacks, oils and more. We took a macadamia moment with founders Pam and Martin Brook as they celebrate 20 years of Brookfarm.
What’s the one ingredient you can’t live without?
Martin: Macadamias. We eat them seven days a week. Some people give up eating their own product after a while, but not us!
Pam: Macadamia oil for all my cooking
Do you remember when you first tried a macadamia nut?
Pam: I would have been quite young, when they were first commercially available in Australia.
Martin: I didn’t grow up in Australia, so I really only started my love affair with macadamias when I moved up here. Then I got seriously addicted very swiftly.
What’s your favourite way to enjoy macadamias?
Pam: There are so many! I put them in my breakfast because the fats help keep you full. I love them in salads and in baking. If we’ve got friends coming over, the Brookfarm ‘posh nuts’ come out – that’s what we affectionately call our Premium Oven Roasted Whole Macadamias with Saltbush.
Martin: For me it’s the saltbush macadamias too. I’ll have them with Brookie’s ‘Slow’ Davidson Plum Gin. Macadamias go so well with our gins and macadamia liqueur.
What do you like to cook at home?
Pam: Vietnamese chicken salad – easy, fresh, healthy – with a sprinkle of lemon myrtle infused macadamias.
Martin: My cooking skills are limited, but I do love to cook Indian food using macadamia oil. There’s something about using that rather than the traditional ghee that is like the icing on the cake.
What’s your favourite non-work thing to do right now?
Martin: Spending time in our rainforest.
Pam: Normally I’d say skiing, but I can’t do that right now. I love to cook with family. And I just joined the Rural Fire Service and I’m loving that. It’s such a great community endeavour.
If you were an ice cream what flavour would you be?
Martin: Salted caramel and macadamia. I love it!
Pam: I’d be a “Brookie’s Mac” & Affogato flavour – it hasn’t been invented yet, but I think I might start working on it!
