Winemaker Blackburn lands at Latitude 32

Former Brand's Laira, Australian Vintage and Kirrihill winemaker Amy Blackburn has a new post in the Hunter Valley.

Blackburn has joined Latitude 32 Wines as chief winemaker.

"With more than 20 years of experience across some of Australia's leading wineries, Amy brings a wealth of knowledge, fresh ideas and a passion for crafting exceptional wines," the winery said in an email.

"As she joins us to lead our winemaking operations, we're excited for what this next chapter will bring while continuing to honour the Hunter Valley's rich winemaking heritage."

The former Mistletoe property is among Latitude 32's properties, owned by Emma and David White.

Their cellar door is open seven days a week and offers a range of tasting choices including the Sweet & Sparkling Experience, a guided tasting bringing together indulgent sweet treats and vibrant bubbles.

There is also a new dumplings menu with five different dumpling flavours paired with Latitude 32 wines. Think flavours like Alaskan crab, lemongrass beef, Asian vegetable, chicken and mushroom, and sweet apple and cinnamon. 

See https://latitude32wines.com/
 

In the pink: Love takes flight with Emirates this Valentine’s Day

 

You don't even have to be a lovebird to enjoy some romance onboard Emirates flights this Valentine’s Day.

Flyers will be treated to Valentine’s-themed cakes and chocolates onboard, as well as a range of pink desserts in Emirates lounges, rosé Champagne, and mood-setting movies and music.

Every customer flying in economy and premium economy on Saturday will receive a mini gift box with a raspberry chocolate brownie, while soft red mood lighting will illuminate the aircraft.

First and business class customers will also be gifted chocolate brownies and mini raspberry ganache tarts adorned with hearts. The A380 onboard lounge will be serving a selection of sweet treats, from lemon and raspberry cupcakes to profiteroles and mini tarts.

Emirates first class customers will be welcomed onboard with a glass of Dom Pérignon Rosé 2009. Business class customers will be offered Moët & Chandon Rosé Impérial.

In the Emirates Lounges in Dubai from February 13-15, à la carte and buffet appetisers and main courses will be on offer while first class customers can indulge in crafted desserts, including raspberry vanilla cake, pistachio strawberry cake, and red velvet cake, alongside an array of mocktails and cocktails.

Across Emirates Lounges worldwide, customers will be greeted with Valentine’s-themed dishes and drinks, from heart-shaped ravioli in Rome to Valentine’s cupcakes in Cairo and chocolate-dipped strawberries in Sri Lanka.

Kiwi Bunny has chocolate treats for Easter

Are you a chocolate lover who will be in Sydney over the Easter Weekend?

You might fancy a high tea for sweet tooths at Armorica - a collaboration with New Zealand's iconic Whittaker's chocolates.

Over just three days, Armorica will serve ITS limited-time high tea experience with a special menu that is a blend of savoury and sweet treats.

Savoury delights like Wagyu pastrami with horseradish mayonnaise, Oscietra caviar with buttered leeks, and chicken liver parfait, will be followed by an all-Whittaker’s dessert selection, featuring Hazella scones, Creamy Caramel tarts, Dark Ghana and hazelnut cake, and more.

The menu can be paired with a Whittaker-inspired cocktail, a glass of sparkling, or a refreshing mocktail. Up to you.

The bad news: indulgence does not come cheap. High tea costs $99pp with a choice of one drink or $85pp without a drink.

Available from Good Friday to Easter Sunday from noon-3pm.

Marking 50 years of Hello Kitty

It is, I am reliably informed, the 50th birthday of Hello Kitty.

To mark this momentus occasion, Melbourne's Chadstone precinct will welcome a bespoke, pop-up Hello Kitty Café.

Apparently, Hello Kitty is a much loved character created by someone called Sanrio.

Fans, foodies, and pop culture enthusiasts young and old are being invited to join to the Melbourne centre for celebrations that will include an installation by prominent street artist Sofles, limited-edition merchandise, and a "dopamine-inducing" school holidays program.

I am clearly not the demographic.

The celebrations will be presented in collaboration with Sanrio and the Hello Kitty Café will welcome visitors from 10am on Friday, September.20 - that's next week.

Located within The Social Quarter at Chadstone, the kawaii café will present a menu inspired by Hello Kitty's favourite foods. Diners can expect strawberry sandwiches, themed bento boxes, strawberry iced matcha lattes, cakes, cookies, and coffees. 

Definitely not the demographic. Bookings are available only via Chadstone.com.au.

Hotel Chadstone Melbourne M Gallery By Sofitel is offering a limited accommodation package in celebration of the 50th anniversary.

From $387 per night, Hotel Chadstone's Hello Kitty package provides overnight accommodation for two adults and up to two children inclusive of breakfast and a merchandise pack comprising a Hello Kitty tote bag, cap, and mug.

Altus Rooftop Bar at Hotel Chadstone will run Hello Kitty High Tea from Thursday to Sunday weekly from September 20 to October 20. The menu offers Hello Kitty-themed savoury and sweet treats with packages starting at $85 per adult and $45 per child.

The Hello Kitty festivities at Chadstone will underpin a popular school holiday program with a dedicated kids precinct.

Meet a Melbourne sandwich shop with a spicy difference

 

Sometimes simple ideas are the best ideas.

Like pairing the humble sandwich with some tasty Indonesian flavours.

And creating a cool, café vibe that just about anyone can afford to enjoy.

That's what happened when owners Barry Susanto (a fine dining chef, top image) and Erwin Chandra (a barista) created Warkop during Covid.

The initial outlet in Richmond dates back to 2021 while 13 Little Collins Street in the CBD opened its doors in May.

Along with house-made sweet and savoury dishes and fresh salads, the CBD sandwich menu offers Susanto’s roast pork with sambal burrata, salted lettuce and black garlic on Shokupan bread; and tempeh, tofu, sprouts, lettuce with gado gado sauce on a toasted focaccia.

Both outlets quickly became popular pitstops for local workers, and for tasty takeaways.

Now there are more Warkop outlets likely to follow - as Melburnians growing to love slightly off-the-wall dishes like smoked duck sandwich and sambal bawang (fried shallots).

Or more recent sweet additions like a cruller with kaya (Indonesian coconut jam), or a pandan lamington (below).

 Warkop, which translates to coffee shack in Bahasa Indinesia, recently unveiled a new menu with lighter breakfast dishes and refreshing summer drinks like Matcha Lemonade and a Calamansi Fizz (below).

For breakfast think sausage and egg muffins with Barry's zingy bazzinga (spicy mayonnaise) sauce, or a smoked beef dabu dabu (chilli condiment) sandwich.

Chef Barry is very much hands-on. He was manning the kitchen, and the front counter, when I stopped by on a recent Sunday.

He told me everything is house-made and the menu constantly adjusted to match Australian palates with Indonesian heat.

A small but impressive team takes turns in everything from sandwich making to clearing plates with craft taken seriously. You'll hear frequent calls of "Yes Chef". 

Warkop was recently named in the Good Food Guide's Top 40 Cafes of 2023.

Prices are very reasonable and a visit is certainly worthwhile next time you want to add some sunshine to your sandwich.

Think possibilities like beef brisket rendang with house-made pickles and cheese in light rye, or Warkop fried chicken with kohlrabi, pickles, bazzinga sauce and cheese on a potato roll (super tasty).

To finish, perhaps a sambal matah cheese cruller, or maybe a coconut and jackfruit friand. There is a selection of coffees.

“We wanted to do our bit and contribute to the revival of the Melbourne CBD’s lively foodie scene," says Barry.

 I think they have succeeded. Such a fun spot - and nothing costs over $17. 

Trading hours are Monday-Friday 7am-3pm and weekends 8am-3pm. 

See https://www.warkop.com.au/

The writer was hosted by Warkop CBD

 

Calling all serious chocolate lovers

July 7 each year is World Chocolate Day - and it is no surprise that Mövenpick hotels across Australia and New Zealand plan to celebrate in style.

Mövenpick hotels celebrate the joys of chocolate 365 days a year with in-house guests treated to sweet treats at the daily chocolate hour.

Now Mövenpick hotels have launched a new World Chocolate Day accommodation package running throughout July.

The World Chocolate Day packages at each hotel include accommodation, a chocolate welcome gift, chocolate-themed welcome drink, breakfast, access to the hotel's free daily chocolate hour and unlimited free chocolate ice cream for kids 12 years and under.

Rates start from $269 per night. 

To book visit movenpick.com and choose from Mövenpick Hotel Melbourne on Spencer, Mövenpick Hotel Hobart, Mövenpick Hotel Auckland and Mövenpick Hotel Wellington.

In addition to the World Chocolate Day package, there are also an assortment of chocolate-themed experiences for both visitors and hotel guests to try throughout July…

In Melbourne, try the 'Death by Chocolate' Ice Cream Parfait featuring a warm 70% dark chocolate fondant, layers of chocolate mousse and a scoop of chocolate ice cream. Available at Mövenpick Cafe for $20 per parfait (serves 1-2).

In Hobart, Chocology Afternoons (a sweet twist on a traditional high tea) will be available daily at Tesoro restaurant for $39 per person and will include a chef's daily selection of six house-baked treats including mini cakes, tarts and chocolates, one ice cream affogato and a glass of sparkling wine. Bookings essential.

Book Accor Hotels via All.com

How very fashionable: high tea is back in style

Back in the day, what is now the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth was the epitome of chic.

Since the 1960s, iconic brands have used the Wentworth as a backdrop for high-end photo shoots for what was then the cutting edge of fashion.

Today, the hotel has a new and glamorous offering in its High Tea, to be served in the hotel's Velvet Lounge.

To be launched on Saturday, the new High Tea will be very French in style with delicate macarons, a religieuse with a touch of rose and raspberry, Bordeaux-style mandarin-vanilla cannelés, a revisited Opera cake and lemon myrtle meringue petite tarte.

On the savoury side, guests can enjoy a signature mini baguette with slow-roasted truffled beef,  choux and caviar, quiche with smoked duck and porcini, traditional French chicken pithivier and Tasmanian smoked salmon blinis with crème fraiche.

All complemented by a glass of Moet Imperial bubbles or Sofitel's signature cocktail, plus an assortment of premium Silver Jubilee by Dilmah teas.

High Tea will be served every Saturday and Sunday from 1-3pm for a limited time only (from October 22 to November 30), priced at $89 per person.

For details see www.sofitelsydney.com.au/dining/the-couture-high-tea

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.” 

Fortify yourself with a wine and chocolate experience

Wine and chocolate can be a gourmet match made in heaven. 

Following in the footsteps of Hahndorf Hill in the Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale winery Woodstock has launched a collaboration with local icon Haigh’s Chocolates - a matched fortified wine and chocolate tasting experience. 

The two South Australian family-owned businesses have collaborated to create a new sweet treat - part of South Australia’s Great State Voucher campaign, one that marries four fortified wines from Woodstock Wine’s family cellar with four specially selected Haigh’s chocolates. 

The experience has been dubbed Sticky Fingers at Woodstock!

“Woodstock has a proud tradition of after-dinner wines which spans over 70 years, which all began with my grandfather, Doug Collett,” says third-generation winemaker at Woodstock, Peter Collett.

“Three generations on and we’re still making, blending and caretaking these delicious fortified wines - some of which are over 50 years old. They tell a historic tale.

“Before table wine, Australian winemakers were dedicated to the production of world-class fortifieds. We want to bring back the celebration of this craft and share some of our cellar treasures.

“Doug believed in using old whiskey and bourbon barrels for fortified maturation in order to let the wines age naturally without any oak flavour integration. Using old oak barrels lets the wine breathe and slowly oxidise, causing evaporation and concentration to occur. This develops the young fruity flavours such as raisins and sultanas into sticky caramel-like secondary flavours, creating an exceptional length and richness in our wines - something we strive for in our fortified production.

“We wanted to find a way to help people rediscover the enjoyment of fortified wine - to learn about the extensive winemaking and maturation process and of course the sensory experience.

“Haigh’s Chocolates were the perfect partner when we sought accompaniments to elevate the experience - their quality and variety is exceptional, augmenting the tasting experience and even highlighting complex sensory components in the fortified wines."

The tasting experience is available at Woodstock Wine’s cellar door and tickets are redeemable through the Great State Voucher round 8, with a standard $100 voucher covering a Sticky Fingers session for two people. 

Those who missed out on a Great State Voucher are still able to book in via woodstockwine.com.au or (08) 8383 0156. Tickets are $50 per person and include a bottle of fortified wine to take home.