Moran enters the burger business

Celebrated chef and restaurateur Matt Moran - known for a four-decade career rooted in fine dining - is going into the burger business.

Moran has announced the launch of Proper Burgers, a brand he says is built on his philosophy of simple food, done well.

The brand is making its debut this summer, with the first outlet opening at Optus Stadium in Perth.

"I have been cooking my whole life, and one thing I have learnt is that simple food, done properly is hard to beat," Moran said. 

"That’s what Proper Burgers is all about. For me, that means starting with grass-fed beef, seasoned properly and cooked with care. It means soft milk buns, sharp cheese and sauces we make ourselves. 

"It’s the kind of burger you remember - simple, satisfying, and bloody delicious. Big flavour. Nothing fancy, just damn good burgers.”

Moran says he sees Proper Burgers as the foundation of a broader national vision, with plans to expand the brand beyond Optus Stadium. 

Further details on the brand’s next chapter will be announced in due course.

Proper Burgers will be open on all major event days at Optus Stadium on Aisle 128, 

How to enjoy a Grill'd burger experience in your own home

Do you prefer to eat your burgers at home, or when dining out?

Up-market Australian burger chain Grill'd is going where its rivals have not by releasing its patties for sale in supermarkets.

Grill’d today launched a retail range of their burger patties exclusively at Coles stores.

Available in-store and online at Coles stores nationally, the Grill’d range starts at $8 for a 2-pack and includes three options.

Coles says its research shows one in two Australians say they have an interest in recreating their restaurant or takeaway dinner in their own kitchen, and a "familiar taste" is the top driver of meal choice.

The popular burger restaurant has been flipping burgers for 21 years and has grown to 174 burger restaurants across the country.

Grill’d founder and managing director Simon Crowe said he was excited to expand the restaurant to the supermarket, giving more Australians the opportunity to enjoy Grill’d burgers.

“For over two decades, Aussies have loved coming into Grill’d restaurants for healthy burgers that taste good and do good," he said. "This next chapter in our story is very exciting as we take our products into peoples’ homes.

“Having our burgers available nationally at Coles, allows us to take the next big step in our mission: to make our healthy, delicious burgers accessible to all Australians.”

Coles Chief Commercial Officer Anna Croft said: “We’re excited to join forces with Grill’d to launch an exclusive, premium burger range customers can only find at Coles,” she said.

“Our customers are telling us they’re cooking more at home and looking for ways to create delicious and easy restaurant quality meals in their own kitchens - and that’s exactly what we hope to achieve by offering the new Grill’d burger range.

“This launch is the latest example of how we’re listening and responding to our customers, giving more Australians access to premium and convenient meal options at a price that offers real value.”

To celebrate the launch, each product will be offered at an introductory price of $1 off the regular price for the first four weeks. To shop the range visit: coles.com.au

The Grill’d range is: 

Grill’d Signature Beef Burgers (2-pack): $8.00 / $4 per serve
Grill’d Premium Wagyu Burgers with Caramelised Onion (2-pack): $10.00 / $5 per serve
Grill’d Signature Beef Burgers (4-pack): $12.50 / $3.15 per serve (available in selected stores).

Food coma? Marketing frenzy capped by a morbid prize

The fast food business is hugely competitive in Australia. Which leads to some great deals - and some weird ones as well.

Market leader McDonalds bombards customers with special offer emails several times a week. A $4 Big Mac one day; a $6 cheeseburger meal and an extra cheeseburger the next. 

Hungry Jack’s is giving away toys with kid’s meals. 

One of this week's offers from taco emporium Mad Mex is a bit grim. It has a competition offering the chance to own your own burial plot in a cemetery.

In bad taste? Maybe. Attention grabbing? Certainly.

Mad Mex is announcing the return of its infamous 1kg Big Burrito and has partnered with "cult" water brand, Liquid Death to bring customers a combo "that promises to kill their hunger and murder their thirst".

Here is the spiel: "The double-sized burrito come with a free Liquid Death and it also comes with a warning that will scare even the most daring burrito lovers.

"Anyone brave enough to take on the challenge will go in the running to win a grand prize to die for - a foot (and body) in the door of the Australian property market... a place to set up roots... prime real estate in the dead centre of town...

"Yep, your own personal plot of land. In a cemetery."

Mad Mex is also running a less gruesome Buy One Get One Free deal on DoorDash until June 23.

The Big Burrito and Liquid Death combo will be available across Mad Mex stores nationally or via delivery from Uber Eats or the Mad Mex app until July 21. See madmex.com.au/bigburrito.



Less crazy is a new breakfast range (above) being launched by Soul Origin from tomorrow.

To mark the arrival of dishes like the Gourmet Brekkie Bun, a Schnitty Brekkie Bun and a Haloumi and Veggie Brekkie Wrap comes the offer of free coffees to all its loyalty members.

The free caffeine boost is available to all loyalty members from June 17-30 with any item from the new breakfast range.

A voucher will automatically be loaded into loyalty accounts. See https://www.soulorigin.com.au/

Gettin' Piggy Wit It

They do fast food just a little bit different in Bali. 

Depot Betty is a small chain that specialises in babi guling, also known as suckling pig. It is the only thing they serve. 

This particular Depot Betty is on the road between Denpasar and Singaraja. It’s pretty popular judging by the number of motorbikes and cars parked outside. 

You get a plate of different cuts of baby pig, some pickled veggies and chilli sauce. Along with a bowl of broth and some steamed rice. 

The verdict? Absolutely delicious. 

You order at the entrance and your food is delivered to you table steaming hot. 

The cost? Around $4 per person. 

Highly recommended. 

Celebrity chef recommends cooking with frozen chicken nuggets

Manu Feildel was one of Australia's most respected chefs.

Known as one of the judges of the cooking show My Kitchen Rules, he established himself as a culinary superstar as head chef at Sydney restaurant Bilson's before moving to open his own restaurant, Manu at L'Étoile, in 2009. The restaurant closed in March 2014, and a subsequent venture also shut its doors quickly.

Now the chef is spruiking for one of Australia's biggest chicken producer, Inghams, and suggesting that home cooks use frozen chicken nuggets to create Mexican-style tacos.

Here is the PR spiel - and no, it was not sent out on April 1.

"Celebrity chef, Manu Feildel, is getting back to basics with weeknight dinners cooking Mexican tacos with chicken nuggets."

Known for cooking fine French cuisine, Manu said: “We all have busy days, and after a long day - like everyone - I just want Dinner Done. As a father of two wonderful kids, I also face the challenges of getting dinner on the table quickly midweek.”

I think I might just leave this right there. 

Twisties unveils a very unlikely new flavour

There is one marketing trick that usually works to create plenty of publicity.

Creating a fake outrage by making an absurd announcement usually does the trick - particularly as plenty of folk who inhabit the internet have far too much time on their hands and will buy into any idiocy.

This time it is the people behind Twisties - a corn snack that is hugely popular in Australia - to bid for their five minutes of fame.

A new Twisties flavour is set to hit supermarket shelves - but for a short time only, so the publicity is probably worth more than the costs of creating a range of “Twisted Raspberry” Twisties in the coming months.

An online (of course) poll, gave people the choice between three new flavours: cheesy bacon, cheeseburger and twisted raspberry.


Mysteriously, or may predictably, the raspberry option came out on top.

“Set to add a plot twist to everyday moments, the Twisted Raspberry flavour is set to have tastebuds tingling with its juicy, sweet and sherbet flavour,” the snack brand’s publicists said in a press release.

“Fans will need to be quick as the new flavour will hit major grocers and selected P&C stores from this June for a limited time only.”

It will only be a matter of hours before some declares "the internet is broken" as fans respond to the unlikely flavour.

Why Italians gave Domino's the boot

It was a fast food gamble that failed: spectacularly and quite predictably.

Who could possibly have predicted that pizza loving Italians would not be captivated by American-accented offerings from global chain Domino's.

Quite a few people, I suspect.

Domino’s Italian franchisee, EPizza, filed for bankruptcy last month, effectively ending the company’s bid to expand its presence in the country.

Domino's is an American multinational chain founded in 1960 with stores in over 83 countries. It once had plans to open as many as 880 stores in Italy by 2030.

But just as many Australian coffee lovers rejected Starbucks - the chain closed 75% of its stores Down Under in 2008 - Italians shunned Domino's and creations like its cheeseburger pizza.

GlobalData noted that despite a sizeable investment to localise its menu, Domino’s failed to recognise its inability to compete with smaller Mom and Pop businesses, which accounted for 72.6% of the quick-service restaurants (QSR) channel in Italy in 2021 and boast low-priced, high-quality menu items.

The data and analytics company noted that the company’s growth was slower than expected since it entered the Italian market in 2015 and peaked at over 100 branches, but by 2022 was left with only 29, partially due to the pandemic, but its long-term localisation strategy was the ultimate flaw.

Ramsey Baghdadi, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, said: “The company’s strategy lacked affordable pricing to match the local businesses, and the ability to adapt quickly to changing consumer behaviour.

"This clearly shows a flaw in its plan to localise its menu to meet demands from Italian consumers.”

According to GlobalData’s latest survey, almost half (45%) of Italian consumers prefer local cuisine.

Therefore, consumers in Italy are more likely to try menu items that have locally sourced ingredients and local flavours, instead of American-inspired creations such as the Hawaiian.

This proves further that authenticity and connoisseurship play a big part in where Italian consumers decide to eat, GlobalData says.

Affordability was also a driving factor in consumer decision making, not just product quality. GlobalData’s survey also revealed that over half (55%) of Italian consumers are extremely or somewhat concerned about their financial situation due to Covid-19.

“Fellow international businesses originating in the US such as McDonald’s took a long time to make an impression in Italy," says Baghdadi.

"Foodservice providers that specialise in regional favourites such as Starbucks coffee have yet to make a demanding presence. It is clear that this falls down to the failure to develop a value proposition that beats local independent businesses in both quality and value.”

Basically, I think Italians probably prefer to enjoy their pizza in a friendly ambience with a glass of wine. And they've made that preference known.   

A uniquely Australian coffee, or complete bunkum?

Fast food people McDonald's are the masters of self-promotion.

And now the people from Maccas are seeking to grab headlines by launching "a uniquely Australian coffee" at their McCafe outlets.

Launched this week, the new drink is called an Australiano and blends coffee with chai and “native wattleseed” in a product advertised as “coffee fit for an Aussie”.

I call nonsense.

No Australians I know add wattleseed to their coffee. And no real coffee lover would go to McDonald's for their caffeine.

Sounds and smells like a publicity stunt to me.

Here's the blurb: "The ‘Australiano’ is Australia’s answer to the Americano, featuring flavours of Australian wattleseed, chai and McCafe coffee".

An Americano, for those not in the know, is what freedom-loving, gun-toting folk call a coffee "made with hot water and espresso". A long black, in other words.

The Australiano is billed as being for a "limited time" (probably to see if it tanks or not) .

An ad campaign will reportedly run across TV, radio, digital and social mediums.

McDonald’s group brand manager Lancy Huynh said: “Despite being a nation of coffee connoisseurs, we haven’t had a coffee to call our own. As a champion for Aussie coffee culture, McCafé wanted to right this wrong and craft a blend that Aussies can proudly put their name to.”

OK Lancy. Whatever you say.

A little bit of mango in your life

Who knew mango was a such a fashionable food? 

Yenly Yours is a chain of casual cafés which has grown organically from humble roots become to become one of south-east Asia’s fastest-growing brands. 

Having originated 10 years ago at a family fruit farm in northern Thailand, the brand uses only the finest nam dok mai mangoes (also known as “Thai golden honey mangoes”) to create smoothies and desserts.

Each outlet serves a selection desserts and drinks, ranging from cool mango smoothies and ice creams to Asian classics such as mango sticky rice and bualoy, as well as mango crêpes and macarons. 

Preserved products such as mango sweet fish sauce and mango sweet shrimp paste are also on sale. 

Exquisine Global, the successful franchisor of Mango Tree and COCA restaurants around the world, has added the Yenly Yours stores to its portfolio - and plans major expansion. 

The company currently operates a network of 16 cafés and kiosk-style outlets in Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore, with at least seven new cafés due to launch in 2022 including its first location in Cambodia, which is currently under construction and scheduled to open soon. 

Exquisine Global will now introduce Yenly Yours to Hong Kong, where its citywide portfolio is expected to reach at least 15 locations in the coming years.

"As a business that started with an owner’s passion for high-quality produce and authentic cuisine, Yenly Yours fits perfectly into our brand portfolio," says Exquisine Global chief Trevor McKenzie. .

"Having grown from humble beginnings, this innovative company is now showcasing its exquisite nam dok mai mangoes on a multinational level. We want to help them grow further." 

Tawatchai Watsirisaree, founder and CEO of Yenly Yours, said: "This is an important step for us and we look forward to working with our new franchise partners and talented investors around the world.” 

Right on target: Meet the Messi Burger

Hard Rock Café has announced the global launch of its new menu item: the Messi Burger.

The burger is, allegedly crafted by the Argentine soccer superstar himself, and is available for fans to order at Hard Rock Café locations worldwide.

Messi is too busy playing for Paris St Germain to man the pans, but the burger pays tribute to his ideal burger components.

The new burger features "a juicy double stack of the finest ground beef patties" along with provolone cheese, sliced chorizo, caramelized red onion, and Hard Rock's signature, spicy, smoky sauce served on a toasted brioche bun with shredded romaine lettuce and vine-ripened tomato.

And If you want to get really Messi, the burger can be topped with a fried egg for a small fee.

"It is an honour to take our partnership with world-renowned soccer star, Lionel Messi, and the LIVE GREATNESS campaign to the next level with his very own take on Hard Rock Cafe's Legendary Steak Burger," said a very excitable Jon Lucas, COO of Hard Rock International.

"We are excited to welcome Hard Rock and Messi fans to our turf to try the burger inspired by Messi's very own favourites for a unique and unforgettable experience."

Hard Rock Café operates cafes around the world, including cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Paris and Sydney.

For additional information visit https://www.hardrockcafe.com

Stop laughing at the back: Meet the Batman burger

 

There is no bandwagon too silly to jump on, no marketing tie-in too absurd. 

Take the release of the new Batman movie The Batman in Australian cinemas nationally from March 3.

The Grill’d burger food chain is unleashing the "limited-edition" Bruce Wayne Burger at most of its outlets from tomorrow as homage to Batman's alter ego. 

Grill'd boasts that Bruce Wayne Burger means you can "dine like a billionaire". and says: "The Bruce Wayne Burger’ is rich and sophisticated  - just like Bruce himself  - and is built with a grass-fed Australian beef pattie, brie cheese, spanish onion, Hawthorn hot sauce and double truffle mayo." 

Apparently, cue uproarious laughter, it is "perfect when you’ve got a superhero-sized appetite".

Ben Goss, Chief Marketing Officer for Grill’d says: ‘We cater to all types of tastes - billionaires included. 

"Crafting the Bruce Wayne Burger in partnership with Warner Bros. Pictures was an incredible honour, both celebrating an iconic character and the biggest cinema release of 2022, The Batman. 

"The Bruce Wayne Burger is the most decadent burger on the menu so swoop into our restaurants before it disappears." 

Ben is really into this marketing patter. 

Should you be temped, the Bruce Wayne Burger is $15.90 but is not available at Collingwood or Darlinghurst restaurants. See www.grilld.com.au.

A cheesy pizza complete nonsense

It's one of those rare ads that encourages you not to try a product. 

I don't think I've seen or heard so much nonsense about a food product as the hype surrounding the launch of Domino’s Cheese Toastie Crust Pizza in Australia. 

Check out the really annoying TV ad featuring an Australian version of Renee and Renato (you might well have forgotten them) warbling away insensibly about a fast food product. 

No, Domino's, I am not questioning why Australia’s greatest loves haven’t been brought together sooner.

And I seriously doubt a cheese toastie is a really an Australian "gourmet" favourite. 

I also question whether you use real Brie cheese (you do claim the foodstuff is un-brie-lievable). Far too expensive. 

In fact you admit "your favourite pizza is now finished with a generous sprinkle of Australian Cheddar Cheese right to the edge of the crust". 

Domino’s ANZ Chief Marketing Officer Adam Ballesty has said that: "Never before had everyone’s favourite childhood, indulgent snack been combined with pizza, but it’s a match made in (cheese) heaven. 

“I’m sure everyone can attest to fond memories of enjoying a cheese toastie, and in fact, it’s something many of us still love, and very much miss, to this day.

“With Domino’s Cheese Toastie Crust, we wanted to offer everyone the comfort of a cheese toastie but elevate the experience by transforming it into a pizza crust."

The awful dirge is apparently a song called Cheese Toastie Love.

It is sung by David Novak of Sydney band Polish Club and Natalie Conway. 

"A song dedicated to the joining of the world’s greatest loves; pizza and cheese toastie." 

You'd feel sorry for them if it wasn't so awful. 

But wait. It gets worse. "Domino’s is helping to share the love by giving one lucky couple the chance to win their wedding catered by Domino’s!"