MENU PEOPLE (Contributors

Menu people

I have once again found myself exploring the Perth Hills area. Roleystone is such a delightful spot to explore, and spending an afternoon at Seven Sins Perth Hills has been a highlight for me this edition. It really is a gorgeous place to go with friends and family, and enjoy the warm hospitality from Sebastian and his team. In addition to this I have absolutely loved reviewing Australia: The Cookbook for you. This is a cracker of a book, with a beautiful write-up of our culinary history. Sarah Schmitt

I never knew the Kakadu plum has the highest source of Vitamin C of any fruit, including oranges, until I started researching this indigenous super food. I had a life changing experience when I tasted the luxurious Cavatelli con Salsiccia with creamy truffle sauce at Impronta. It hit all the right notes of comfort meets decadence and I needed a siesta after visiting this restaurant – so it was just as well I was able to sample a few of Perth’s hotel beds for my piece on staycations. I enjoyed a trip down memory lane with a celebratory piece for Menu’s 30th edition. Huge congratulations to Scott and his current (and past) team in supporting WA’s dining and café culture – no small feat especially during these challenging times.

Carmen Jenner

It’s been an eventful year so far, with bushfires and cyclones, not to mention the pandemic and snap lockdowns, but we’ve survived and supported each other as a community, and WA is still one of the safest and best places in the world to live. We are spoilt for choice when it comes to dining out, with so many great restaurants to pick from. The quality of the food available would have to be among the best in the world. Even pub grub these days is far better than it used to be.

Georgina Goss

In April, I attended Froth Town – the beer festival at the Claremont Showgrounds that’s best described as a ‘Royal Show for grown ups’. It’s amazing how far the craft beer industry has come in the past decade – more than 80 breweries had stalls at the festival, as well as a handful of wineries, cideries, distillers and a meadery. There seems to be no bounds to the creativity of our local craft brewers. I also recently delved into the exciting world of hybrid beverages, which had me sampling blends of beer and mead, beer and cider, cider and wine, and cider and gin. In the past six months I’ve rejoiced in restaurants and events making a strong comeback. Some events such as the Perth Food and Wine Festival were cancelled and rescheduled for the following year. Luckily our farmers’ markets were mostly able to continue with fresh local produce. Many restaurants have also continued their takeaway service into 2021. I think we’ve realised how precious our lifestyle is and we want to support it going forward. I also discovered Pinot Gris and Tarte Tatin, but not necessarily together. As a photographer and food writer I’m immensely grateful to be part of the journey.

Liz Packwood

The past few months have been busy as I embarked on a Master’s degree, so my cooking and food enjoyment has focused on efficiency. I am loving the cooler weather and the rediscovering of meals prepared in my slow cooker, enjoyed with a glass of wine. The opportunity to experience the rooftop bar at the National Hotel in the sunshine with a view across Fremantle and surrounds was a welcome retreat from family/work/study commitments and I would absolutely recommend to anyone wanting to step back from their dayto-day life to enjoy an experience that is unique, special and quintessentially Freo.

Danica Scott

As a resident of Busselton who is passionate about food, wine and all things hospitality, I’m now the owner of South West Winos. I’ve worked in hospitality for over 29 years – doing everything from kitchen hand to supervisor in fine dining restaurants around Perth. With a drive to support local industries through COVID, these uncertain times have really highlighted the incredible resilience of our local South West businesses. Being a long time reader of Menu Magazine I have always admired the mission of a publication for Western Australians, about what is really relevant to us, and I relish the opportunity to explore all things food and wine, with a coeliac-safe twist.

Melanie Casey