Experts map a new direction for Printhie Dining

Printhie Wines, located at Nashdale, outside Orange in New South Wales, has just given its Printhie Dining restaurant a complete makeover.

The Printhie team has worked with leading chef Justin North and hospitality industry publicist Stephanie Airlie - who work together as AKIN Hospitality - to re-open the eatery "with an exciting change of direction".

"The team has worked closely with the renowned chef Justin North to redefine the restaurant's destination dining experience to reflect the distinct seasonal evolution of Orange and to highlight Printhie's proud connection to this region," the Swift family, owners of Printhie, said on LinkedIn.

"Over the past few months we have been privileged to work with Printhie Wines on a new concept for its on-site restaurant, Printhie Dining," North said.

"With a renewed direction and vision for the restaurant, the unveiling of its new menu is a celebration of contemporary regional dining that offers a connection to place and the distinct seasons of Orange.

"Drawing inspiration from the Swift family’s rich agricultural history spanning four generations in the region, the menu will showcase ingredients sourced directly from the property, regional producers, purveyors and gathered from the surrounding area.

"Together, we have created a new dining experience that features an abundance of high-quality, locally sourced produce."

Printhie Dining opened in 2022 and the wine producer is a member of Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia.

 

“I am honoured to be working alongside the Swift family and passionate Printhie team developing the next evolution of Printhie Dining," says North.

The four-course set menu features a selection of entrées including cured rainbow trout cone

with in-house ponzu and salted cucumber. Other menu highlights include poached Murray

cod and cured pork jowl with anise-myrtle sauce; dry aged duck breast with a pepperberry 

jus and confit leg pressé. 

Fig leaf ice cream and apples cooked in bottle brush syrup picked from the Printhie estate create a standout dessert to finish.

The drinks list has also been updated to feature a selection of cocktails and the wine list has

been extended to include back vintages no longer available to the general public as well as a

selection of European and Australian wines.

The Wine Bar at the cellar door welcomes guests from Wednesday to Sunday, offering

cheese and salumi platters, freshly shucked oysters, and a rotating selection of weekly

seasonal dishes.

Printhie Dining is open for lunch Thursday to Sunday. See https://printhiewines.com.au/dining/ 

Top image: Emily Swift and Justin North

Winter is party time in Margaret River

Cabin Fever, which is Western Australia's longest-running winter festival, returns to the Margaret River region from July 12-21 for its eighth instalment. 

Cabin Fever Festival celebrates winter in the south west with more than 40 events each July and festival organisers are promising "all the fireside good times that punters have come to expect from the 10-day event". Tickets are now on sale. 

Returning favourites include Street Eats at Chows Table, Wine's a Drag at Bungalow Neighbourhood Social, the Cheese Toastie Battle in The Cabin, Shelter the Storm at Shelter Brewing Co and Blazing Brews at Beerfarm. 

New events for 2024 include an Emily Taylor Yum Cha collab with The Goose in Busselton, Cabernet Society at Vasse Felix, a wine pairing with no-frills grocery items at Skigh Wines and a Munchies and Magnums party at the new Busselton Pavilion.

“The events put forward by venues become more imaginative and fun each year, and this year's program is no exception,” event co-director Erin Molloy said.

“Choosing between the Bushman's Ball at Lenton Brae and a cult cabernet event at Vasse Felix, or between a Cuban Rumba party at Rustico and fiery party at Swings creates a serious case of FOMO for consumers.

“It's so fun to see the region alive and thriving in the middle of winter with so many activations and events to choose from - it's a far cry from the winters of hibernation from a decade ago.”

Tickets will be on sale now at www.cabinfeverfest.com.au.

A bucket list helicopter tour experience in Japan

So you plan to visit Japan and want to go beyond standard visits to Tokyo, Osaka and Kyoto.

How about a bucket list helicopter and hiking experience exploring the Southern Alps region from Shizuoka?

Shizuoka Prefecture is a popular destination situated midway between Tokyo and Nagoya, but away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

A proposed helicopter tour includes views of Mount Fuji and surrounding peaks, as well as stops at a mountain onsen resort, the Travel Mole news portal reports. .

The itinerary also includes a stay in traditional ryokan inn and a visit to Japan’s most remote whisky distillery.

The four-day Japan Southern Alps National Park Adventure Tour from DMC Local Network Service Shizuoka will be the first of its kind in Japan’s Southern Alps National Park when it launches in September.

Starting from Shizuoka Station, the tour begins by private car to the Nihondaira Yume Terrace where guests check in to the spectacular nearby Nipppondaira Hotel (below) for dinner and an overnight stay.

Depart the next morning from the hotel’s heliport to the summit of Mount Ogochidake, which has an elevation of around 2,000 metres.

After descending by helicopter to an elevation of around 1,000 metres, a private car will transport guests to the photo gallery at Sawarajima Lodge.

The gallery showcases the Japanese Southern Alps in images across all four seasons.

Guests will also visit and taste at the local Ikawa Distillery, where whisky is made at a high altitude using mountain water.

The distillery remote and not usually open to the public.

After an overnight stay at the lodge, the tour moves on by private car to the Senmai-goya Hut at an elevation of 2,500 metres, where guests will ascend by foot to the summit of Mount Senmaidake.

Guests then visit the Sumatakyo Onsen - which is nestled in the mountains - to soak in the hot springs.

They will then enjoy a traditional Japanese dinner and an overnight stay at a local ryokan.

On the helicopter tour’s final day, guests will stroll through the Sumatakyo Valley, where they will visit the spectacular Yume no Tsuribashi Suspension Bridge - known as the ‘Bridge of Dreams’ (top image).

The experience does not come cheap, however. 

Helicopter tour prices start from ¥920,000 (around $9,000 Aus) per adult including taxes, based on two adults sharing a room. The price is inclusive of the helicopter experience, private car/taxi transfers and three nights’ accommodation.

Qantas issues apology after app security failure

Qantas has issued an e-mail apology to frequent flyers after this week's security issue with its Qantas app.

Thousands of flyers reported accessing info and tickets of other travellers when signing on to the app. Some could even print boarding passes for travellers other than themselves.

"On Wednesday we experienced an issue with the homepage of the Qantas App," the Australian airline said in the message.

"We want to apologise to all our impacted customers and assure you that the App is stable and operating normally.

"We have now identified the root cause and can confirm that this was a technology issue, and there is no evidence of a cyber incident.

"Qantas takes the security and privacy of our customers' data seriously and we want you to know that we have done everything we can to fully understand what went wrong so we can prevent it happening again.

"If you have upcoming travel, there is nothing you need to do. You can check your flight details at anytime on the Qantas App or website as usual.

"We will contact you directly if we determine that your sensitive travel information has been incorrectly displayed to another person.

"Please accept our sincere apologies."

New release a tribute to winemaker's Mum

Experienced winemaker Ben Riggs usually makes wines for his Mr Riggs label that suit his own palate.

For one recent release he's made an exception, however, eschewing his beloved McLaren Vale to make an impressive Adelaide Hills pinot noir for one special person: his mother.

The $35 Mr Riggs Valerie Pinot Noir honours his mother Valerie, the Matriarch of the Riggs family, pictured above.

The name Valerie is of French origin meaning ‘strong, brave, valiant’.

"My mother is over 90 years old and still going strong," says Riggs. "She sees the positive in most things in life, has perhaps kept her youthful."

With over four decades of winemaking experience, the former Wirra Wirra chief winemaker started his own label in 2001 and has a reputation for bold, flavoursome reds.  

 

The 2023 Pinot Noir (above) is part of the Mr Riggs Regional Series and is made from fruit grown on a Woodside vineyard: a cool-climate site planted on heavy clay.

Due to the cooler vintage, the fruit was picked in late April, in the early hours of the morning to help maintain natural acidity. The grapes were crushed directly into open fermenters, with 15% kept as whole bunch to add texture and complexity as well as a little bit of tannin weight.

Pair it with roast chicken or a ripe, soft French cheese, where something a little magical happens.

It is bright, aromatic and very food friendly. I liked it a lot. 

$35. https://mrriggs.com.au/ 

Nando's forgets it is in the hospitality business

 

I love a Nando's peri-peri chicken meal. Extra hot. Preferably with a side of fries and some coleslaw. 

Unfortunately, the South African fast food company has forgotten that the food business is also the hospitality business. 

Nando's refuses to accept cash for any purchases in Australia.

It is firm about its policy: 

"No order will be processed without payment and no cash payments will be accepted," it says.

So Nando's just lost me and - I suspect - a whole lot of other customers. I have credit cards up the wazoo. A debit card, too. 

But sometimes I have cash and want to spend it. 

And I am not keen on being told that legal tender is not acceptable. And there are old folk, poor folk, who maybe want to spend some small change.

So Nando's, you're cancelled.

It's so simple. There are a lot of businesses selling chicken in many guises.

If Nando's doesn't want your cash then you can just walk straight back out and find another local business open to all forms of payment. One that caters for its customers.