Eat.Drink.Fad? Panel Discussion Series
Why is there a Burger Bar on almost every street corner? How important are small bars for Perth’s cultural development? Where will we go for coffee in the year 2020? Join us on Fridays in March to get the answers from the experts!
European Foods are hosting a series of panel discussions throughout March to generate dynamic discussion about trends in Perth’s culinary landscape. Panels of industry and media experts will identify which trends are here to stay, and which ones are passing fads. Members of the public are invited to attend.
So far in the series we have had a discussion on Burger Bars and why they are suddenly proliferating - that discussion included experts such as food writer and critic Marg Johnson, Abstract Gourmet blogger Matt O’Donohue, Flipside’s Hamish Fleming and Missy Moo’s Emily Mansbridge.
The was the session on small bars that included the Small Bar Association’s Paul Fowler, the Australian Hospitality Association’s Paul Brockechlager, local food editor, writer and critic Jane Cornes, Helvetica’s David Gillman and Gary Beadle of Bar 399 and Five Bar in a dynamic discussion about how small bars are redefining nights out in Perth.
Finally, this Friday will see Cafe 2020 where panellists such as West Coast Institute of Training Lecturer Wendy Roach, Cafe Grendel coffee blogger Michael Carroll, and Greens & Co and Oxford 130’s Stuart Lofthouse forecast what we’ll do for coffee in 2020. If the 1980s was the decade of the frothy, Monto Bianco style cappuccino, and the 1990s was about the domination of the latte, the twenty-first century turned to alternative brewing methods such as the siphon. What will 2020 bring?
When: This Friday, 25th March, 3-4pm.
Where: European Foods is located at 95 Aberdeen St, Northbridge. Phone 9227 2296.
Online: Stream the sessions live at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/eat-drink-fad
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
Koko Black Claremont
Today I was a guest of Shane Hills and the team at Koko Black. It was a revealing and extraordinarily delicious window into Koko Black's bold move across the Nullabour. The Claremont store is located in the New Claremont shopping centre, an upmarket venue but one in which the stylish design of the store will fit in nicely.
Although I had tried samples, I was not sure just how the experience at the new store would live up to what I hoped to find. Certainly I had an open mind, but I was very pleased to find that the product and the approach exceeded my expectations.
Actually, for the pre-opening visit today the decor was hard to imagine, the store was in its final fit-out stages with a horde of frantic tradies edging their way between us and the staff. Apparently though, it will all be completed tonight in time for the opening tomorrow. Between the tradies and their tools and the boxes of furnishings, the final look of the store was not even possible to imagine.
Most people though will go for the chocolate over the decor - and so they should. We were treated first to the two specialty truffles that will be made in the store using Western Australian ingredients. First the stout truffle using stout malt and then the Truffle (a capital T truffle!) using WA truffles as a subtle ingredient.
Both of these were stunning and followed by tastes of the milk and dark single origin chocolates.
The highlight however, and what is sure to be a great attraction, was the Queen of Hearts High Tea, a selection of sweet and savoury treats that was genuinely first class and served with a Belgian hot chocolate that was probably the best I have had in Australia.
It was a far cry from the chocolate experience that most of us have and I think Koko Black will be a fin addition to the WA food scene. It is good to find a company who respect the freshness of their ingredients and use the advantage of that in their products. These are not chocolates you can put away for a long periods of time, they are a fresh food and need to be used within a week or so of purchase, but they are delectable.
I predict that this winter, the experience of the high tea - especially with friends, will be something that many people will come to enjoy.
I enjoyed it so much that we are going back next week - and I think we need a Perth Food Blogger's meetup at Koko Black ASAP!
Koko Black Claremont opens 22 March. I'd head down in the afternoon to be sure they have had time to get the full display of treats into the cases
It is in the Lane, in Claremont Quarter on St Quentin Avenue
www.kokoblack.com
Hours of operation (seriously impressive! late not choc treat anyone?):
Monday – Thursday (8:00am – 10:00pm)
Friday (8:00am – 11:00pm)
Saturday (9:00am – 11:00pm)
Sunday (10:30am – 10:00pm)
I think we need a Perth Blogger's meetup at Koko Black ASAP
One Month? You can't be serious!
Prepare for chocolate posts! One month before easter and the inevitable consumption of the delectable results of roasted and conched beans from the Theobroma cacao plant.
Today I am off to Koko Black for a first pre-opening glimpse into a world, that for once, comes to Perth before Sydney. The slight frisson of parachial glee notwithstanding it will be interesting to see how Koko Black fare over the Easter season.
Perth's overly sweet tooth has been needing some exposure to the less-sweet side of chocolate and hopefully Koko Black will offer some of that.
The Koko Black publicity team sent me some teaser photos of their Easter goodies, I have reproduced a bunny below for your salivating pleasure:
As always, I am interested in the origin and the provenance of specialty products. This fascination started with coffee and has continued with chocolate. I asked Koko Black about the origins of their beans and they acknowledge that as a small, and relatively new company they are still at several steps removed from the cocoa buying process. They have certainly built relationships with suppliers that have a reputation for ethical practices in cocoa buying. They also have a plan to move more closely into the production chain and shorten the links between their company and the producers. This is encouraging news and certainly reflects the ideal of ensuring both quality and ethical standards.
As for the product itself - that will have to wait for this afternoon!
Today I am off to Koko Black for a first pre-opening glimpse into a world, that for once, comes to Perth before Sydney. The slight frisson of parachial glee notwithstanding it will be interesting to see how Koko Black fare over the Easter season.
Perth's overly sweet tooth has been needing some exposure to the less-sweet side of chocolate and hopefully Koko Black will offer some of that.
The Koko Black publicity team sent me some teaser photos of their Easter goodies, I have reproduced a bunny below for your salivating pleasure:
As always, I am interested in the origin and the provenance of specialty products. This fascination started with coffee and has continued with chocolate. I asked Koko Black about the origins of their beans and they acknowledge that as a small, and relatively new company they are still at several steps removed from the cocoa buying process. They have certainly built relationships with suppliers that have a reputation for ethical practices in cocoa buying. They also have a plan to move more closely into the production chain and shorten the links between their company and the producers. This is encouraging news and certainly reflects the ideal of ensuring both quality and ethical standards.
As for the product itself - that will have to wait for this afternoon!
Monday, March 14, 2011
Japan
My condolences to the Japanese people and to all those who have lost family and friends. The magnitude of the disaster is terrible. They few people I know in Japan are not in the North East and are safe.
Japan is renowned for its ability to respond to disasters, but the sheer enormity of what has occurred and is occuring is making it difficult for them to respond in proportion to the events.
Japan is also home to many coffee enthusiasts and many Australian coffee lovers will be familiar with Hario glass products - based in North West Tokyo where the quake would have been felt strongly.
Like the quake in Christchurch, Twitter has been a valuable tool and google have once again created a people finder.
Hashtags to follow quake related events are #japan, #japanquake and #tsunami
Google's emergency response page is located at: http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html
Japan is renowned for its ability to respond to disasters, but the sheer enormity of what has occurred and is occuring is making it difficult for them to respond in proportion to the events.
Japan is also home to many coffee enthusiasts and many Australian coffee lovers will be familiar with Hario glass products - based in North West Tokyo where the quake would have been felt strongly.
Like the quake in Christchurch, Twitter has been a valuable tool and google have once again created a people finder.
Hashtags to follow quake related events are #japan, #japanquake and #tsunami
Google's emergency response page is located at: http://www.google.com/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Future of Specialty Coffee
What is the future of specialty coffee?
And what will cafes be like in 9 years time in 2020? How about in 19 years from now in 2030?
Will espresso reign supreme or will we have some other way to extract coffee from the coffee bean?
Questions! I need ideas, answers if you have the gift of future sight!
More to follow on the 'why' during next week!
And what will cafes be like in 9 years time in 2020? How about in 19 years from now in 2030?
Will espresso reign supreme or will we have some other way to extract coffee from the coffee bean?
Questions! I need ideas, answers if you have the gift of future sight!
More to follow on the 'why' during next week!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Off-the-shelf ciders
With still a dozen ciders still to taste, here is a cider map I have been working on from a tasting sessions I have had over the last few weeks. I have some local ciders to try, but the ones on the map are the ciders most commonly available in Perth:
Click to embiggen!
Click to embiggen!
Sunday, March 06, 2011
EatDrinkLowdown
Coffee education is important.
Education generally is right up there on my list of priorities and science educations probably highest of all, but coffee follows pretty high on my personal list.
People teaching me about coffee is something I enjoy, and I like to pass on the information - via this blog or other forums.
Last night at Lowdown was enjoyment and education rolled into one. Mark and Adam Lowes hosted the event presented by Kamran and Louise of Fiori Coffee. It was a great opportunity to learn more, and in one of Perth's best small cafes.
Lowdown have been innovative since their beginning and continue to bring a passion to coffee that is welcome in the CBD.
Lowdown, and Fiori Coffee are exemplars of why events like EatDrinkPerth will grow from year to year, quality, commitment and the willingness to share their love of all good things.
Education generally is right up there on my list of priorities and science educations probably highest of all, but coffee follows pretty high on my personal list.
People teaching me about coffee is something I enjoy, and I like to pass on the information - via this blog or other forums.
Last night at Lowdown was enjoyment and education rolled into one. Mark and Adam Lowes hosted the event presented by Kamran and Louise of Fiori Coffee. It was a great opportunity to learn more, and in one of Perth's best small cafes.
Lowdown have been innovative since their beginning and continue to bring a passion to coffee that is welcome in the CBD.
Lowdown, and Fiori Coffee are exemplars of why events like EatDrinkPerth will grow from year to year, quality, commitment and the willingness to share their love of all good things.
Friday, March 04, 2011
EatDrinkBlogPerth
I need to prepare for the caffeine of tonight's coffee tasting. Best not to try in on an empty stomach I think.
Yarraloch Viognier (2007)
Green olives
Spiced cashews and almonds
In an alley.
In Perth.
Three years ago this was almost unthinkable - except that Clare of TigerTiger was thinking it and advocating it. Because of her, and others of similar gumption we can celebrate EatDrinkPerth in proper style.
Yarraloch Viognier (2007)
Green olives
Spiced cashews and almonds
In an alley.
In Perth.
Three years ago this was almost unthinkable - except that Clare of TigerTiger was thinking it and advocating it. Because of her, and others of similar gumption we can celebrate EatDrinkPerth in proper style.
Location:TigerTiger
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
EatDrinkPerthCoffee
Perth’s evolution as a food and coffee haven has been rapid and supported by an existing network of lovers and creators of great food.
Recent changes permitting more activities on the street and in laneways have been timely and effective and Perth’s small but thriving café and small bar scene is showcasing the best regional offerings.
Coffee, locally roasted and prepared by skilled baristas is at artisan levels in Perth and we hold our own with the rest of the country in that regard.
The key to both the coffee and the food is innovation and the last decade has seen the daytime lunch shift from the staple ham and cheese toasted sandwich to innumerable options for those seeking something more creative than that venerable lunchtime standby.
For me, the one daily essential is coffee, and West Perth has some favourites that rival the great venues in the CDB and surrounds and I recommend a short CAT ride up the hill to try these cafes and enjoy the different experience you will have in each.
In fact I think this calls for a coffee crawl, starting at Pranzo on Colin Street for a coffee with an early morning muffin hot from their oven. They use Fiori Coffee – a special blend developed for the café.
Moving then to The Food Store on Hay Street to try their Rubra blend and whatever small sweet treat they have dreamed up for the day before heading over to Epic on Outram Street for a ristretto, or if it is a hot day, perhaps a cold filter iced coffee or a fabulous affogato using the 5 Senses single origin of the day.
You can complete the circle at Pony Expresso in Mayfair lane, feasting your eyes of the gleaming coffee god that is the Slayer espresso machine and enjoy the custom Crema blend that Garrett uses.
Each of these cafés has their own specialty and their own charms and I recommend trying all of them to help you decide where your own preferences lie. The coffee that the cafes serve is locally roasted to a different style that highlights the enjoyable aspects of the diversity within the coffee industry.
Given that this month is dedicated to a celebration of all things locally comestible – get out there and sample your way to caffeinated bliss!
Recent changes permitting more activities on the street and in laneways have been timely and effective and Perth’s small but thriving café and small bar scene is showcasing the best regional offerings.
Coffee, locally roasted and prepared by skilled baristas is at artisan levels in Perth and we hold our own with the rest of the country in that regard.
The key to both the coffee and the food is innovation and the last decade has seen the daytime lunch shift from the staple ham and cheese toasted sandwich to innumerable options for those seeking something more creative than that venerable lunchtime standby.
For me, the one daily essential is coffee, and West Perth has some favourites that rival the great venues in the CDB and surrounds and I recommend a short CAT ride up the hill to try these cafes and enjoy the different experience you will have in each.
In fact I think this calls for a coffee crawl, starting at Pranzo on Colin Street for a coffee with an early morning muffin hot from their oven. They use Fiori Coffee – a special blend developed for the café.
Moving then to The Food Store on Hay Street to try their Rubra blend and whatever small sweet treat they have dreamed up for the day before heading over to Epic on Outram Street for a ristretto, or if it is a hot day, perhaps a cold filter iced coffee or a fabulous affogato using the 5 Senses single origin of the day.
You can complete the circle at Pony Expresso in Mayfair lane, feasting your eyes of the gleaming coffee god that is the Slayer espresso machine and enjoy the custom Crema blend that Garrett uses.
Each of these cafés has their own specialty and their own charms and I recommend trying all of them to help you decide where your own preferences lie. The coffee that the cafes serve is locally roasted to a different style that highlights the enjoyable aspects of the diversity within the coffee industry.
Given that this month is dedicated to a celebration of all things locally comestible – get out there and sample your way to caffeinated bliss!
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