Palate Pleasures January 2012
SUMMERTIME HAZE…
And here we are once again – endless summer days, beaches, pools, barbecues, sunburn and mozzies. Lots of socialising, afternoon snoozes, sore heads in the morning …
Gourmet Escape weekend
This month’s column comes to you from the beautiful Margaret River region in Western Australia.
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blink and you’ll miss it
It’s hard to be hip. Well, I suppose it has always taken some sort of effort to be fashionable and current. Knowing which bands to listen to, books to read, haircut to get, clothes to buy (before anyone else has them) and places to be seen.
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Eating is one of life’s pleasures
Many of us agree that eating is one of life’s pleasures. Sitting down to a delicious meal with cherished friends or family is as about as life-affirming as it gets but when it comes to the crunch, food means many things in life apart from mere sustenance.
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Miriam Margolyes at the Stunned Mullet
Last week we were honoured to host a famous and extremely talented guest at the Mullet. That guest was Miriam Margolyes, an incredible character actress and charismatic personality who was in town to perform her one woman show – Dickens’ Women.
Our strong dollar certainly isn’t helping matters
Wandering down a supermarket aisle and contemplating an enormous selection of air fresheners the other day, I was struck by the sheer volume of selection available to me, the consumer. How is it possible to make the best choice…
Things can and do go wrong
As the days get longer and warmer, we folk in the hospitality game get ourselves ready for the party season.
A few of our favourite things
There is no such thing as a formula for success. All we can do is to strive to get things right by putting in as much effort as we can, choosing the right people to help us – and not spend way too much money in the process.
Good things come to those who wait
Plenty of things in life take time. Some are worth the wait, some … well – aren’t. Fine wine cellared lovingly is usually worth it, although there is always the possibility that a much-anticipated bottle could be tainted or oxidised, or just plain disappointing …
Everyone is a Critic
Back in the olden days, silence was golden.
Smoke and Mirrors
A drizzle here, a smear there, perhaps a squiggle of foam or a shiny bead of something caviar like …
The Care Factor
Even before Cyclone Yasi hit the coast of Far North Queensland, banana prices had been hiked up to $7.00 a kilo amongst large supermarket chains.
In Australia’s restaurant world today, you may come across a strange scene. A seemingly innocuous plate of pasta might be served to you, devoid of garnish – plain, simple and somewhat austere looking.
Some of us have the gift of the gab, and the rest of us do not (except maybe after a few alcoholic beverages).
The success of any business depends on a basic mathematical calculation – how much does a good or service cost to produce – and based on this, how much does it need (and can) be sold for in order to provide the seller with a viable profit margin.
We humans are a divided bunch of creatures. It would not be a broad generalisation, or a remote stretch of the truth to split us into two distinct camps.
The ‘have it all’ and ‘have it now’ nature of today’s society pretty much allows us to fulfil our every whim at a moment’s notice.
Double shot soy decaf latte – very hot, not too much froth please … oh, and by the way – I’m in a hurry”.
Watched a long-anticipated movie last night – called ‘Bottleshock’. It’s hailed as the new ‘Sideways’, with much to appeal to the senses of a wine and quirky comedy lover.
Fashion shapes our lives … Even if you’re not one to purchase every copy of Vogue and religiously adorn yourself with this season’s key pieces, and ‘must have’ accessories, there’s no doubt that trends and fads do dictate how you’ll be looking in 2009.
A trip to the supermarket used to be merely an innocuous excursion for essentials, but now on offer down at your local chain of choice you will encounter a literal treasure trove of produce and ingredients.
Along with weekend footy, taking the dog for a walk or a night out at the movies, dining out (for the most part), is what we commonly refer to as a leisure activity.
One thing for certain is that we live in uncertain times.
Emerging out of that vortex commonly known as the holiday season (relatively unscathed), my thoughts naturally wandered over to the next significant day on the hospitality industry calendar – that day of cards, flowers and undying declarations of true love.
Once we hit adulthood, most of us don’t care for it to occur any more than this!
Having just returned from a very relaxing and enjoyable trip to the USA, I am still in holiday mode.
