It's a good time of year - food, drink and people. One of my small efforts for a Christmas lunch was this labneh from a recipe by Dennis Mifsud's of Wino's Margaret River below - it's from issue 12. If you just hang around for a bit, you can read the recipe below the fold.

But first, thanks for all your support in 2008. Whether you're a subscriber, a reader, an advertiser, someone who gave up their time so we could do a story on you, a writer, a photographer, a chef, you did proofreading, dropped off mags, did the accounts, told a friend about us or bought a subscription as a gift, gave us a subscription prize, told us about someone doing something interesting, sent us stuff, invited us somewhere or just generally made 2008 a great year of putting out a local food magazine. All the best to you and the ones you love.

Continue reading "Season's Greeting" »

Posted by anthony at 8:11 PM | Permalink

SPICE 13 is out. On the cover, beautifully shot by Craig Kinder is Blakes Cafe's Riki Kaspi. Riki is the chef and part-owner of the Mt Lawley cafe and presents a stunning Middle-Eastern and French-North African seasonal menu for us.
The issue is packed full of Summer reading and goodness. We follow Western Australian produce to Mauritius and visit a barramundi farm in the North-West. Jude makes jam. Vince deep fries a whole turkey in 10 minutes. Sarah has Summer picnic spots sorted; Marg has the recipes to go with; Jason tastes the appropriate wines; and Anthony the beers. Jon shoots them both. Hugh surveys the year's grain harvest. Rob looks at the introduction of GMO in the state. Charlotte talks to a thespian caterer. Megan goes to market in Albany. Kate discusses industrial eco-design and tables. Verity praises the season's produce. Ben steams milk. Sabrina sorts out growing your cucurbits. Rebecca follows pizza ovens. And Nena's crafted an ace cryptic crossword.

Subscriptions are here. Back issues are here. Advertising is here. Available in all good newsagencies across Australia and overseas and also at the following stockists after the link:

Continue reading "SPICE Issue 13 Summer 08" »

Posted by anthony at 1:17 PM | Permalink

To be in the running to win the subscription prize of a holiday in Mauritius for two, flying Air Mauritius and spending five nights in luxury at the Constance Le Prince Maurice 5-star resort, simply take out a subscription to SPICE before February 28th 2009.

An island in the sky, Air Mauritius flies to 24 destinations on four continents and will delight you with a unique travel experience in genuine Mauritian style. Constance Le Prince Maurice is a luxurious five-star hotel set on an isolated peninsula surrounded by white sand beaches and a calm lagoon.

The Winner of the Calphalon Chef Skillet and Karahi wok was J Copeland.

[post continues with conditions]

Continue reading "Subscribe to be in the draw to win a holiday in Mauritius" »

Posted by kate at 11:27 AM | Permalink

Biodynamic continues to mainstream and you can join it at the WA Biodynamic Festival at High Vale Orchard in gorgeous PIckering Brook.
On show will be biodynamic food, growers and a produce market; Cullens Wines and Core Cider tasting; SPICE contributor and butcher supreme Vince Garreffa; explanations and talks; and kid's entertainment.

Entrance (including tastings): $8 adults and kids free.

Sunday 23rd November
High Vale Biodynamic Orchard, 35 Merrivale Rd Pickering Brook.
Directions here

Posted by anthony at 12:50 PM | Permalink

Just a heads up that there are still some tickets available at the door for the 2008 Qantas Wine Show of Western Australia.
It's a fantastic opportunity to taste all 50 of the top rated Western Australian wines from this years show, have a chat with various winemakers and enjoy some stylish canapes - all for $39.
You can find a list of the gold medal winners here and event details here.

4.30-7.30pm Wed 29th Octoberin the Hyatt Terrace Ballroom, 99 Adelaide Tce.

Posted by anthony at 7:59 PM | Permalink

is on this Saturday the 18th from 9am - 5pm at The Mezz Mt Lawley

Free live entertainment, cooking demonstrations, kid’s activities, Ben 0' Donoghue book signing (2-3), giveaways, food samplings, and us at a stall. See you there and if we're not there, we've just popped over to the Paddo for a quick one.

Posted by anthony at 1:59 PM | Permalink

The Organic Grower's Association (OGAWA) are having an evening of fine organic wine and food with cocktails at the Kailis Fish Market to launch thei Member's Discount Scheme. The Minister for Agriculture, the Honorable Terry Redman, will be there and it's all part of National Organic Week.

Wednesday 15th October from 7pm
Tickets $45 each (discount offer avail for OGAWA members)
contact Tracey organicaperth [at] iinet.net.au

JUST IN!
Perth City Farm Organic Growers’ Market will hold an Organic Food Fest next Saturday, October 18, between 8am and 1pm, to mark the end of National Organic Week in WA.
It's the only farmers’ market in WA where all edible produce is certified organic or biodynamic, and it will host the event in conjunction with its regular market, which is held every Saturday from 8am to midday at City Farm near Claisebrook train station in East Perth.
"Entry is free and everyone is welcome to join in the celebrations and enjoy the fresh, farmer direct, healthy, clean, green and ethical produce that our stallholders are so proud of or buy a delicious organic lunch.”

Posted by anthony at 10:39 AM | Permalink

Local victory at the branded lamb competition at the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW Fine Foods show last week.

Hillside Abattoirs took out a Gold (Q Lamb), 2 Silver (both Dorper Lamb) and a Bronze (Hillside Tender Meats) medals in the Branded Lamb competition for their cap-on french lamb racks [and if you don't know what they are you need to listen to Vince].
In the medal count, Dorper Lamb got silver in two categories of Grass fed and Grain fed. The judging was based on "the texture and visual appearance of a raw rack of lamb and then on the aroma, tenderness, juiciness and overall eatability of the cooked rack."

Hillside and Q Lamb and their founder Peter "Polly" Trefort are featured in this Spring's issue of Spice

Posted by anthony at 9:15 AM | Permalink

I know, I know e-commerce* is about as novel as letting you know we've got an iPod (we have you know - it's a beauty 3000 songs!!!) but you can now subscribe to SPICE for yourself or a loved one at iSUBSCRiBE.
The regular options are still available -via the mag, printing out the subs form here or you can call us on 08 9433 1190 - operators are standing by etc.

*you wouldn't belieeeeeeeve what a drama it is to set up your own e-commerce site as a small business

Posted by anthony at 8:56 AM | Permalink

It's a hands-on spring. How to turn around a moribund meat industry, what to do with artichokes, how to use a knife well without losing bits of your fingers, how to build a raised vege garden, what to do with milk-fed lamb, when to stop pouring an espresso, how to look after worms, how to not drink wine (for a few years at least), how to keep a family sausage making tradition going, how to make labneh, how to work in a food community - to cover just a few.

And of course all the usual, fantastic recipes. Fronting this issue is Dennis Mifsud of Wino's Margaret River who's done a seasonal menu with our feature ingredients of lamb, yoghurt, mushrooms and artichokes.

Subscriptions are here. Back issues are here. Advertising is here. Available in all good newsagencies across Australia and overseas and also at the following stockists after the link:

Continue reading "Spice 12 Spring 08" »

Posted by anthony at 11:56 AM | Permalink