A fun-sounding Freo food and wine experience

A weekend in Fremantle? Sounds like fun.

A weekend in Fremantle with a wine tasting thrown in? Even better.

On Sunday, February 11, West Cape Howe and some of its wine partners will hold a Cellar Door In the City wine tasting along with "dim sum finger food" crafted by Emily Taylor for $70 per head at Sailing for Oranges in the heart of the West Australian port city,

The fun and frolics will run from 11am into the afternoon, and guests will have the chance to sample over 80 wines from West Cape Howe, Hay Shed Hill, Mount Trio, Kerrigan+Berry, Pitchfork and Risky Business.

To match with the wines think dumplings: lobster and truffle, scallop, oxtail and tofu, along with rendang-stuffed crispy bao, lemongrass and pepper squid and more.

Wine lovers can meet the winemakers and taste their way through both the Great Southern and Margaret River regions. All wines will also be available to purchase at exclusive one-day-only prices.

Details here: https://hayshedhill.com.au/collections/event/products/cellar-door-comes-to-perth-sunday-24th-november-tasting-lunch-11am-3pm.

And if you fancy making a weekend of it, the Warders Hotel is a small boutique hotel in the old limestone cottages that were once the Fremantle Warders’ homes.

The cottages offer a little sanctuary in the vibrant heart of Fremantle and tasting guests get a 15% discount on their stay. See www.wardershotel.com.au

European style in Hanoi's French Quarter

Mövenpick: a well-priced hotel brand that ticks a lot of boxes for me. And Hanoi: by far the most interesting city in Vietnam.

The Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre has announced its re-opening following a serious project.

Situated within the vibrant French Quarter - the best part of Hanoi for visitors - Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre is located just a few minutes away from iconic landmarks and is a precinct where traditional colonial buildings co-exist harmoniously with modern buildings.

Within a short drive are Hoan Kiem Lake (another district with good hotel choices), Ngoc Son Temple, The Huc Bridge, St Joseph's Cathedral, Hoa Lo Prison Museum, and Temple of Literature.

"We are delighted to embark on this new chapter for Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre," said Garth Simmons, CEO of Accor’s Premium, Midscale and Economy Division, Asia (helluva job title).

"Drawing from Mövenpick's rich heritage in gastronomic innovation and commitment to deliver extraordinary service, we will continue to prioritise culinary excellence and heartfelt hospitality.

"Our offerings have been thoughtfully evolved to cater to those seeking a balanced life, whether it be finding solace in tranquil spaces or energising social interactions while on the go for work."

All 155 rooms and suites have been revamped. Each room features king-sized, or twin beds, eco-friendly amenities, tea-and-coffee-making facilities, a smart TV, complimentary high-speed wifi, and a pillow menu.

Some room categories offer in-room espresso machines while guests staying in executive rooms and suites can also enjoy exclusive access to the executive lounge, along with a range of additional benefits.

On site are the Kinetic Gym & Wellness Studio, which offers a variety of cardio machines, weight training equipment, spa treatments and sauna facilities, while the new Cabana Club Pool is the spot for enjoying Latin tunes and a cocktail.

The hotel has four restaurants and bars and regulars will know not to miss Chocolate Hour.

There are also two equipped meeting rooms and a spacious ballroom, in the unlikely event you should need such an amenity.

"This remarkable hotel encompasses everything one desires," says seriously enthusiastic GM Nicolas Josi,

"There is a prime location in the heart of the city, refined décor, exceptional amenities, and, most importantly, a distinct character that sets it apart. It truly embodies the Mövenpick spirit."

To celebrate its re-opening, Mövenpick Hotel Hanoi Centre has a special offer starting at $260++ per night (VND 4,200,000++).

The deal includes breakfast for two, daily complimentary Chocolate Hour at Lounge 83, complimentary wifi access, complimentary parking (should you be crazy enough to drive), and a credit of $62 (VND 1,000,000) net per room per day to spend on hotel services like food and beverage, transportation, laundry and spa treatments.

But the offer is only available for stays until March 31.
Don’t think I’ll get there in time but have added it to my wish list. 

See: MÖVENPICK HOTEL HANOI CENTRE DEAL

Easter madness: Meet Iced VoVo hot cross buns

Consumers are constantly looking for the next big thing. A new product, a new flavour, a new marketing gimmick.

Coles supermarkets came up with an absolute doozy today - a range of Easter buns in limited-edition Iced VoVo and Pizza Shapes flavours.

That's right: one sweet, one savoury.

It turns out that Coles has partnered with biscuit experts Arnott’s to "spice up" its hot cross buns this Easter.

The result is limited-edition Coles Arnott’s Iced VoVo Inspired Hot Cross Buns and Coles Arnott’s Pizza Shapes Inspired Hot Cross Buns,

The new flavours will be available in stores nationwide from Monday.

Coles general manager of bakery, Kate Roff, said the supermarket was thrilled to partner with Arnott’s to create "the perfect Aussie pairing".

“Our limited-edition hot cross bun range is a wonderful example of when innovation meets quality, and we take great pride in offering our customers new and exciting products that also bring about a sense of nostalgia, which is synonymous with the Arnott’s brand.”

The limited-edition buns are the latest to roll out following the success of flavour mash-ups including fellow Aussie icon Vegemite Hot Cross Buns.

Should you be tempted (I won't be) the buns are $5 for a four-pack.

Global wine focus will be on Paris

Wine events do not get much bigger than Wine Paris and Vinexpo Paris, to be held this month in the French capital.

The event will be held at Porte de Versailles from February 12-14 and will comprise over 4,000 exhibitors from around the world and welcome an expected 40,000 trade visitors for a program that includes 122 conferences, debates, panel discussions and masterclasses.

There will be masterclasses featuring regions such as Alsace, Bourgogne, Champagne, Languedoc, Beaujolais, Cognac, Auvergne, Bordeaux, the Loire, and the Rhone Valley, alongside Friuli, Tuscany and Vinho Verde.

There will also be a focus on Italian wines - Prosecco, Chianti and Pinot Grigio - as well the Napa Valley, and wines from Türkiye.

Among the key topics will be sustainability, the future of the wine industry, marketing and no- and low-alcohol wines.

Australian exhibitors include Hewitson Barossa, Shaw + Smith and Calabria Family Wines, while New Zealand representatives include Greywacke and Clos Henri.

For the first time, Wine Australia will be taking a stand with wineries including Blue Pyrenees Estate, Brown Family Wine Group, Byrne Vineyards, Glenlofty Wines, Mitolo Wines, Overstory/Small Wonder, Rathbone Wine Group and Torbreck Vintners.

For details see wineparis-vinexpo.com

Calls for cash to remain king in Australia

Australia should follow in Ireland's footsteps to ensure consumers can access and use cash, a lobbying group says.

Ireland is mandating cash acceptance by supermarkets and pharmacies.

There is only one way to ensure cash is widely available to everyone who needs it - by forcing large and important retailers to accept cash, says Jason Bryce, spokesperson for the Cash Welcome campaign..

This cost-free initiative sends a signal that Australia is not going cashless and the banking and retail industries must act to support the distribution of cash, the organisation says.

"Australia must follow Ireland, France, [countries in] Europe and many states and cities in the USA and mandate cash acceptance," says Bryce. "Already too many people are having trouble accessing and using cash.

"The cash industry is in crisis because of the uncertainty around the future of cash in Australia.

"There is only one way to guarantee a strong cash distribution system - and that is to ensure that cash is widely available and used in the community.

"Retailers selling food and essential groceries must accept cash to ensure that everyone is included in our economy and all communities have cash available when required."

See https://www.change.org/BankingAndCashGuarantee

How the drinks business is getting Nasty

At a time when the liquor industry is under fire from a variety of lobby groups, moderation is a seriously important message.

Not, however, if you are the Monster Energy Group, which revels in slogans like “Brewed hard to…party harder” and “Are you ready to get Nasty?"

Red Bull rival Monster Energy this week revealed plans for a new alcoholic drinks brand, entering the hard iced tea category with a brand named Nasty Beast.

Not exactly subtle, guys. But I guess subtle guys are not their target market.

The energy drinks company’s other alcohol line is a carbonated “malt alcohol” variant named The Beast Unleashed, which launched last year.

Speaking to investors this week, Monster Energy co-CEO Rodney Sacks revealed that its new 6% ABV hard tea drinks line Nasty Beast will be available in cans in Original, Tea and Lemonade, and Peach and Green Tea flavours, influential website The Drinks Business reported.

I can already see anti-alcohol groups rubbing their hands in glee.