Inside the lab that doubles as a meeting room, I am heady with the aroma of coffee beans. I close my eyes for a moment and take it all in. Sitting beside me, is the coffee man himself, Toby Smith. And we’re sharing a pot of filtered Kenyan Kithira. I resist the urge to tell [...]

From where I’m sitting, with the panoramic view of Middle Harbour as backdrop, I am holding the attention of five men – the Wild Bunch of the Northern Beaches. And I’m struggling with which way to look. Wild Bunch Food & Wine is an exciting café-wine bar concept about to launch in Seaforth, a joint [...]

“Did you know Ruinart is the oldest champagne house?” Champagne Jayne leans over and asks me as we’re about to place our order. Independent champagne advocate, speaker, educator, entertainer and now published author, I had met the bon vivant woman at a champagne tasting event last year, and have since had the pleasure of the [...]

Chef Stéphane Jegat It’s not every day I have the opportunity to interview a Chef Pâtissier with a history dating back to 1790. I first met Chef Stéphane Jegat at the Monbana Chocolate masterclass at Kobe Jones restaurant. Over a couple of glasses of wine and bilingual conversations, I learned that his pâtissier ancestry was [...]

John Campbell, Laphroaig Distiller Manager was recently in Sydney for Laphroaig Live 2011, the annual whisky program that Gourmantic attended and was broadcast live for the first time from the Southern Hemisphere. I had the opportunity to interview John, who is the first Ileach (native of Islay) to run Laphroaig in its 190 year history [...]

On October 1st, I had the privilege of attending an intimate chef’s table event with Shin Takagi at Quarter Twenty One Cookery School. Shinichiro Takagi is one of Japan’s top young chefs and owner and head chef of Zeniya restaurant in Kanasawa, a highly acclaimed kaiseki, or Japanese haute cuisine restaurant. Shin travels abroad frequently [...]

Brian Nation, Jameson Whiskey Distiller and Ambassador, led a Jameson whiskey tasting event during BarShow Week which Gourmantic attended. Five whiskeys paired with food were on taste, including the coveted Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve. I had the opportunity to interview Brian, who holds a Worshipful Company of Distillers Award for achieving the highest results in [...]