Julie-anne Sprague tries to separate fact from fiction over rumours surrounding one of Perth’s more fashionable eateries and its high-profile owner.
Gusto visited LiNQ this week to see for ourselves that the doors were open, the shelves stocked, and business running as per usual. Linda Mead says she has been a target for unsavoury gossip, which variously includes the appointment of receivers, tighter trading terms from suppliers, and partners selling out of the business.
While sitting in the fashionable establishment Linda told Gusto the rumours currently circulating are simply not true.
“The worst thing about rumours is it affects my daughter, my friends, my staff,” she says.
As the sole operator and owner of the South Perth restaurant, which opened in September last year, Linda says business is strong. She has recently opened for breakfast seven days a week and is confident heading into the winter months.
“The majority of our market is corporate, so they come out regardless,” she says.
“We have redesigned the menu and we have the Cointreau Ball coming up in a couple of months.”
Mother’s Day breakfast has sold out and Linda says the $25 lunch offer, which includes two courses and a glass of wine, is also extremely popular.
* * *
Some things are just so simple you can’t believe they didn’t exist before. An ingenious product to hit the outdoor wine drinking market is Steady Sticks. They look like oversized tent pegs with a curly end and are designed to keep that glass of wine firmly upright when picnicking, camping, or at any outdoor spot. You simply push the stick into the ground, place your wine glass in the loop and presto ... no more spillage. Steady Sticks are available at most kitchenware and homeware stores and at selected wineries. The idea came from Tracey Swensen after a bit of spillage one New Year’s Eve when having to manage a glass of wine on a hill slope. The Sydneysider thought it would be great to have something to stick in the ground and hold the drink for her.
“I went out looking for something to hold my glassware and there was absolutely nothing out there. So I decided to go out and do it,” she says.
Since they hit the market roughly 12 months ago she’s sold about 40,000 of them nationally and is launching a product line extension in the next two to three months.
Steady Sticks come in pairs and retail at $24.95. To get this product in your store phone (02) 9969 2831.
* * *
Colombera and Moore is gearing up for its annual culinary adventure to Italy.
The cultural trips are renowned for indulgence in food and wine, and also offer training.
Organiser and chef of the two-week trip, Ann Moore, says the focus on food complements the cultural surrounds of what has to be the best place in Italy to learn about food, wine and culture.
“On one of the first couple of tours I did to Chianti I spent a day in Lucca and decided that if you want to learn anything Italian you had to go to Lucca,” she says.
The town does not promote tourism and Ann says that’s part of its beauty, along with producing the best Italian olive oil you can get.
“The trip is based on Italian food but also meeting the small producers. We’ve hired an Italian artist who will stay near us and will conduct fairly intensive classes,” Ann says.
The 12 people who choose to take this trip will stay at the 16th Century Italian villa Buonvisi that sits on acres of land with olive groves. Ann says that, on a clear day, you can see the beach.
And, being a holiday, three meals a day will be prepared for you, along with cooking demonstrations from renowned Italian chefs, tours, wine tastings, cheese tastings and a whole host of other cultural activities.
It is through Ann’s close association and appreciation of the local culture that she is able to take a group of tourists to Lucca year in year out.
“In Italy you can’t be loud. They hate it. You have to go back to the same place so that they trust you. Once they trust you they open their doors to you,” she says.
The food expedition accommodates 12 people and departure is on October 12 2002. Further details can be found on fliers available from Focus on Food Colombera and Moore at 357 Murray Street Perth.
* * *
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group has secured four of the nine available kegs of the draught version of Cascade First Harvest Ale. This limited release of the single first brew of 20,000 litres will be available to ALH punters from tomorrow. For free tastings head to the Brass Monkey at 5pm tomorrow, The Queens from 5pm on Saturday and The Sail and Anchor from 5pm on Sunday.
ALH’s Brass Monkey is also promoting its range of beer with a clever use of words implicating a competitor’s brand. A sign posted outside the pub clearly states that the original “little creatures” can indeed be found at the Brass Monkey, including a little redback spider for Redback beer.
“It’s a touch of fun and poking out our tongues and being irreverent about it,” Brass Monkey manager Colin Gourdis says. “But we are good friends.”
Frienship aside, Little Creatures Brewery has launched a new beer and is soon to launch a not-so-little beer dispensing devise. The new brew, fondly named Roger, is an amber style ale with a touch of Little Creatures’ hop character. And the name? There is some importance to it. The crew at Little Creatures named the beer Roger after two West Aussie brewing legends that lent a hand to the team in its start-up days.
The crew will also launch The Drum next month. A 12.5 litre reusable unit to deliver fresh tap beer for any occasion- parties, home, or even the office. Gusto will keep you posted.
* * *
Congratulations go to the healthy folk at Qizza Quality Foods, who have won three awards at the recent WA Nutrition Awards. They won a Catering Food Service Award along with Ilonka Foods and Pasta Kitchen, a School Canteen Food Service Award, which was also won by Mrs Mac’s Traditional Pastries (Morley) and De Paolis Pasta Products, and the veg advantage award. Fresh Western, Pasta Kitchen and the Loaded Zucchini also won the Veg Advantage Award. Qizza Quality Foods were recognised for its achievement for developing a healthy alternative to the meat pie.
While sitting in the fashionable establishment Linda told Gusto the rumours currently circulating are simply not true.
“The worst thing about rumours is it affects my daughter, my friends, my staff,” she says.
As the sole operator and owner of the South Perth restaurant, which opened in September last year, Linda says business is strong. She has recently opened for breakfast seven days a week and is confident heading into the winter months.
“The majority of our market is corporate, so they come out regardless,” she says.
“We have redesigned the menu and we have the Cointreau Ball coming up in a couple of months.”
Mother’s Day breakfast has sold out and Linda says the $25 lunch offer, which includes two courses and a glass of wine, is also extremely popular.
* * *
Some things are just so simple you can’t believe they didn’t exist before. An ingenious product to hit the outdoor wine drinking market is Steady Sticks. They look like oversized tent pegs with a curly end and are designed to keep that glass of wine firmly upright when picnicking, camping, or at any outdoor spot. You simply push the stick into the ground, place your wine glass in the loop and presto ... no more spillage. Steady Sticks are available at most kitchenware and homeware stores and at selected wineries. The idea came from Tracey Swensen after a bit of spillage one New Year’s Eve when having to manage a glass of wine on a hill slope. The Sydneysider thought it would be great to have something to stick in the ground and hold the drink for her.
“I went out looking for something to hold my glassware and there was absolutely nothing out there. So I decided to go out and do it,” she says.
Since they hit the market roughly 12 months ago she’s sold about 40,000 of them nationally and is launching a product line extension in the next two to three months.
Steady Sticks come in pairs and retail at $24.95. To get this product in your store phone (02) 9969 2831.
* * *
Colombera and Moore is gearing up for its annual culinary adventure to Italy.
The cultural trips are renowned for indulgence in food and wine, and also offer training.
Organiser and chef of the two-week trip, Ann Moore, says the focus on food complements the cultural surrounds of what has to be the best place in Italy to learn about food, wine and culture.
“On one of the first couple of tours I did to Chianti I spent a day in Lucca and decided that if you want to learn anything Italian you had to go to Lucca,” she says.
The town does not promote tourism and Ann says that’s part of its beauty, along with producing the best Italian olive oil you can get.
“The trip is based on Italian food but also meeting the small producers. We’ve hired an Italian artist who will stay near us and will conduct fairly intensive classes,” Ann says.
The 12 people who choose to take this trip will stay at the 16th Century Italian villa Buonvisi that sits on acres of land with olive groves. Ann says that, on a clear day, you can see the beach.
And, being a holiday, three meals a day will be prepared for you, along with cooking demonstrations from renowned Italian chefs, tours, wine tastings, cheese tastings and a whole host of other cultural activities.
It is through Ann’s close association and appreciation of the local culture that she is able to take a group of tourists to Lucca year in year out.
“In Italy you can’t be loud. They hate it. You have to go back to the same place so that they trust you. Once they trust you they open their doors to you,” she says.
The food expedition accommodates 12 people and departure is on October 12 2002. Further details can be found on fliers available from Focus on Food Colombera and Moore at 357 Murray Street Perth.
* * *
Australian Leisure and Hospitality Group has secured four of the nine available kegs of the draught version of Cascade First Harvest Ale. This limited release of the single first brew of 20,000 litres will be available to ALH punters from tomorrow. For free tastings head to the Brass Monkey at 5pm tomorrow, The Queens from 5pm on Saturday and The Sail and Anchor from 5pm on Sunday.
ALH’s Brass Monkey is also promoting its range of beer with a clever use of words implicating a competitor’s brand. A sign posted outside the pub clearly states that the original “little creatures” can indeed be found at the Brass Monkey, including a little redback spider for Redback beer.
“It’s a touch of fun and poking out our tongues and being irreverent about it,” Brass Monkey manager Colin Gourdis says. “But we are good friends.”
Frienship aside, Little Creatures Brewery has launched a new beer and is soon to launch a not-so-little beer dispensing devise. The new brew, fondly named Roger, is an amber style ale with a touch of Little Creatures’ hop character. And the name? There is some importance to it. The crew at Little Creatures named the beer Roger after two West Aussie brewing legends that lent a hand to the team in its start-up days.
The crew will also launch The Drum next month. A 12.5 litre reusable unit to deliver fresh tap beer for any occasion- parties, home, or even the office. Gusto will keep you posted.
* * *
Congratulations go to the healthy folk at Qizza Quality Foods, who have won three awards at the recent WA Nutrition Awards. They won a Catering Food Service Award along with Ilonka Foods and Pasta Kitchen, a School Canteen Food Service Award, which was also won by Mrs Mac’s Traditional Pastries (Morley) and De Paolis Pasta Products, and the veg advantage award. Fresh Western, Pasta Kitchen and the Loaded Zucchini also won the Veg Advantage Award. Qizza Quality Foods were recognised for its achievement for developing a healthy alternative to the meat pie.
