Food & Drink

There are as many pathways to perfection in the world of chocolate production as there are types of chocolate.

Enigmatic winemaker Janice McDonald, of Suckfizzle and Stella Bella fame, expects the 2005 vintage to be a “really, really good vintage for Margaret River”.

The world's second most-traded commodity after oil isn't guns or gold. It's coffee.

“It's flat out mate” was the response Picardy winemaker Dan Pannell gave Gusto when asked how vintage 2005 was going.

When Gusto asked chief winemaker at Barwick Estate Nigel Ludlow how vintage was going, he admitted: “It's all about timing”.

The Karaoke World Idol Competition is being held at the Moon and Sixpence Woodvale British Pub for 10 weeks, starting Tuesday March 8.

The business lunch has changed. Gone are the days of the three-martini lunch or even the ‘power' lunch. Perth's professionals are demanding a new style of dining when they're doing business, and local restaurants are rising to meet the challenge.

Blue Jacs, Mandurah's new microbrewery cum tapas bar, will soon open a second outlet on the coast, this one on Perth's northern beaches.

Howard Park is offering a vertical tasting featuring a decade of riesling.

Fresh from his admission to the Restaurant and Catering Industry Association's hall of fame, Alain Fabrègues says he wants to give new talent a helpful “nudge” in 2005.

The Australian and New Zealand Gourmet Traveller Wine Magazine has installed the 2004 Hay Shed Hill Sauvignon Blanc Semillon as the best wine for the variety in its autumn edition with a score of 95/100.

Regular visitors to King Street will have noticed that the old Bien Fine Food cafe (formerly Mezzonine) has been transformed into the lighter and brighter Etro Café Bistro.

Rather than waiting an indefinite amount of time to open its cellar door due to construction near its site, Drakesbrook Wines founder Bernie Worthington decided he would open the

Dairy farmers for the past 80 years and operators of the Great Southern Milk Company, the Ravenhill family is about to undertake a small but significant step in a new direction.

Bar One has recruited Tony Garita to provide a strong food direction for the QV1 bar as it enters its second year of trade.

Killerby Vineyards' 2003 sauvignon blanc has been rated ‘one of the best of 2004' in the latest Winestate Annual magazine.

Mark Zoccoli is no stranger to the hospitality industry, having spent about 25 years in the game, primarily managing restaurants including A Room with a View, Observation City and, most recently, six years with popular Mt Lawley cafe Mille.

Those who like to enjoy a country drive followed by some of the Great Southern's best wines and gourmet food are in luck.

Frankland River pioneers Merv and Judy Lange have received plenty of offers for their 110-hectare vineyard but they aren't interested in selling Alkoomi Wines just yet.

Malcolm McCusker will launch a new label in February, McCusker's Wines, based in the Chittering Valley.

The hospitality scene in Northbridge is experiencing a slow revival thanks to a couple of new operators who have upped the ante in both food and service.

The owners of popular Waterman cafe, The Wild Fig Cafe, are looking to open another business in the northern suburbs this year.

A DECADE in the hospitality business is good going by any measure, so former hotel broker Renzo Deleo must be doing something right.

THE old Mamma Maria's restaurant on the corner of Lake and Aberdeen streets in Northbridge will reopen as Hunter's Piano Bar in the coming months.

THE Ullinger family will continue to operate Redgate Wines while founder Bill Ullinger recovers from a serious stroke he suffered about eight weeks ag

MARGARET River's newest boutique brewery, Colonial Brewing Co, has travelled a steep learning curve in recent months.

THAT there's no shortage of things to do in the Margaret River region is news to no-one. What seems to be in short supply, however, is parking spots for the punters, and staff for the businesses they are visiting.

IAN Mayo has joined Plantagenet Wines as general manager.

WARREN Mead is going ahead with plans for his latest restaurant, this one to be located at the ground floor of Exchange Plaza on St Georges Terrace.

VIRGINIA Willcock's first overseas posting as a wine consultant was a true test of her passion, tenacity and commitment to the job.

BASKERVILLE Wines has been sold and the new owners are looking at expanding the Swan Valley property to include accommodation.

SO it's out with the chef and in with the critic for the next series of Channel Seven's reality TV series My Restaurant Rules.