Porchlight started the way most good things do in Australia — around a table, with good food and better company. Those long summer evenings when the heat finally breaks, the cicadas start up, and you find yourself lingering on the verandah long after the sun's gone down. That's the feeling we're after here.
This collection of recipes is all about simple, honest cooking. The kind of food that brings people together without making you spend all day in the kitchen. We're talking about dishes you can start in the afternoon and let slowly work their magic, quick weeknight meals that still feel special, and those showstoppers that look fancy but are actually pretty straightforward once you know the tricks.
We believe in cooking with the seasons, using what's fresh and local when you can, and not getting too precious about it. If you don't have lemon myrtle, use regular lemon. No Aleppo pepper? Chilli flakes work just fine. The best recipe is one you'll actually make, not one that sits in your bookmarks because you can't find some obscure ingredient.
Most of all, we believe food tastes better when it's shared. Whether that's a Sunday roast with the whole family, a quick pasta for one after a long night out, or a backyard BBQ with mates, these recipes are meant to be part of your story, not just instructions on a page.
These recipes celebrate Australian ingredients, flavours, and that relaxed approach to cooking and entertaining that's uniquely ours. We're not trying to be fancy French bistros or trendy fusion joints — we're just cooking the way Aussies do at home, with a mix of influences from all over but always grounded in our own landscape and lifestyle.
So grab a cold drink, put your feet up, and have a browse. We hope you find something that makes your next meal a little more special, and maybe inspires you to leave the porch light on a bit longer tonight.