Zoccoli takes the cafe route at Avenue 9

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.

But after years of working for others Mr Zoccoli has decided to establish his own hospitality business.

Called Avenue 9, the cafe opened just this week at 882 Beaufort Street, Inglewood, not far from his former haunt at Mille.

Mr Zoccoli says the modern, brand new cafe is a place where people are encouraged to relax with a coffee or something from the Mediterranean-inspired menu.

“It was an old building that’s been knocked down and had quite a bit of work done to it,” he says.

Mr Zoccoli has gone into business with a former boss, whose son is also the head chef.

“It’s quite a funny story actually,” Mr Zoccoli says.

“I started out as my business partner’s [Vassi Loutiedes] apprentice. Now he is my partner and his son Paul was once my apprentice and I’ve now employed him as our head chef.”

Avenue 9 is open Tuesday to Sunday from breakfast to dinner.

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Restaurateurs in the Swan Valley are putting on a special foodie weekend that will no doubt convince crowds that the valley puts on just as good a food festival as it does a wine festival.

Called the Swan Valley Mid Summer Feast, the event will take place from Friday February 25 to Sunday February 27.

Essentially food producers in the region are offering special packages and entertainment to encourage food and wine connoisseurs to a make that short trip out to the Valley.

Riverbank Estate Winery is offering a four-course meal plus canapés and champagne on arrival for $75 per person on Friday February 25. Sittella has a special lunch on Saturday 26 at $55 a head, and Feral Brewery has chef’s specials and local Swan Valley cheese tastings on all weekend.

Kate Lamont will host a Wine and Food Conversations cooking class on the Sunday afternoon, a class where you don’t actually cook but instead enjoy the food while getting the instructions, for $66 per person. And Craig Park B&B and Art Gallery and Grandis Cottages are offering complimentary transport to and from participating Swan Valley venues for those staying a night (or nights) during the festival.

There are plenty of other events on offer with information available through the Swan Valley and Eastern Region Visitor Centre or via swanvalley.com.au