Plus a terrific non-alcoholic beverage for Dry July (or any time, really).
Could you imagine Perth without the Siamese hedonism of Long Chim? The buzz and morning ritual of Telegram Coffee? The assured polish of Wildflower? The triple-threat of Petition? Dare we even try?
In short, it’s hard to imagine Perth without State Buildings standing tall on the Terrace, just as it’s hard to imagine that, for almost 40 years, these historic buildings remained derelict until Adrian Fini and co resurrected them in 2015 as Perth’s finest food and culture precinct (while simultaneously bringing Australia’s first COMO hotel to Perth).
To celebrate its 10th birthday, State Buildings is hosting a month-long celebration throughout October that, as you’d expect, features a big food focus.
Collaborations with COMO’s Singaporean venues are a key part of the program, from the team at Cedric Grolet Singapore staging a week-long afternoon tea residency at Cape Arid tea rooms – Grolet’s reputation, and strong social media presence, is the result of artful, trompe l’oeil pastries – to Post hosting a pop-up starring Torno Subito, COMO Dempsey’s retro-Italian restaurant opened by Massimo Bottura of Osteria Francescana and Netflix Chef’s Table fame.
Not that October will be all about the internationals. Homegrown talent will also be highlighted via a conversation series, a Vasse Felix paired wine dinner, plus an exclusive one-night performance from the Australian Chamber Orchestra in the building’s Postal Hall. Head to the State Buildings website for further details of the program.
Still Young (George) at heart
Young George, the East Fremantle neighbourhood bar and kitchen run by Melissa Palinkas and Susan Whelan, is also celebrating its 10th birthday this year.
To mark their milestone, the Young George crew is inviting young guns Blaze Young and Stephen Chen from Nieuw Ruin to take part in its Epic Pig, Truffle and Winter Produce Dinner on Thursday (July 17).
Together with Chicho Gelato, Jacob D’Vauz of Special Delivery is celebrating his Singaporean heritage and reconfiguring the island-nation’s famous kaya toast and soft-boiled egg breakfast as an ice cream.
The result – a deep-fried, coconut-crumbed sphere of butter toast gelato, filled with kaya jam, served on a white pepper soy caramel and crowned with a salted egg yolk mousse – is only available at Chicho Mount Lawley on Sunday, July 20 and Sunday, July 27 July from 2pm until sold out.
Rethinking tea
Since bursting onto the drinks scene in 2021, Melbourne’s TINA has consistently brought fresh ideas to the non-alcoholic market. (The name TINA, as you might know, is an acronym for This Is Not Alcohol.)
TINA Table Tea, the newest release from founders Chrissie Trabucco and Imogen Hayes, continues this trend and combines Central Taiwanese high-mountain “amber” tea with marigold flowers to create a bright, fizzy beverage singing with flavour. Look for it at cafes and grocers as well as wherever you buy your favourite non-alcs.
A wagyu sando pop-up comes to Bulwer Street
The next chapter of Preston’s Deli’s After Dark Series takes place this Friday (July 18) with Eddie Bulato – formerly of Lawson’s Flats, now of native food business Gather Foods – taking over the Bulwer Street deli and leading a wagyu takeover. Expect plenty of beef, truffles and smoke. Reservations and pre-orders are essential and can be made online.
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Max Veenhuyzen is a journalist and photographer who has been writing about food, drink and travel for national and international publications for more than 20 years. He reviews restaurants for the Good Food Guide.
