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THE SCOFFER


The Fullerton, Sydney
Beautiful memories remain from the first time I stayed at the Fullerton in Singapore, on the marina at the ritzy end of town. It was...
Nov 29, 20212 min read


New restaurants opening across the country
Now that the P word seems to be less prevalent in the day to day, it's exciting to be out eating and drinking and loving the industry which gives us life. This means a number of things for us. Firstly it's hard to think that just 12 months ago, our industry was at the edge of disaster - and sadly for some, disaster hit. Recovery has been incredibly hard, challenges have been seismic in their magnitude, and far too many of our friends have succumbed. Borders are set to open
Nov 29, 20213 min read


Pool Wines 2021 GOLD
And so the obsession with skin contact wine continues. It seems I can't leave the house these days without finding myself back home with...
Nov 29, 20211 min read


Utzinger 2020 Chardonnay
Utzinger wines kind of happened by accident. One of the oldest stories going around... Swiss winemaker goes travelling the world to find...
Nov 28, 20212 min read


La Famiglia at La Madonna - Melbourne
There is something to be said for having your Sunday roast prepared for you by a couple of uber talented chefs who are going to take you on a culinary journey through their combined cultural heritage. We were invited to sample the launch of this idea at La Madonna at Melbourne's Next Hotel While it was a gifted lunch, so we are not reviewing, but we do want to share the idea that you can spend $65 a person on a generous 3 course lunch, with carafe's of Pinot Grigio or Pinot
Nov 23, 20212 min read


Its 'Heaps Normal'. Heaps Normal XPA
This weeks review is taking something of a turn. After having some serious discussions with the mirror and the bathroom scales, it was...
Nov 23, 20212 min read


The Nest - Two Birds Brewing, Spotswood
A cold, rainy Spring Friday evening is often non conducive to visiting a brewery and experiencing all that it has to offer. Unseasonal weather aside, a visit to The Nest is a must for craft beer lovers. We are glad we braved the conditions. There's something about the venue I couldn't put my finger on. The tasting space, come bar, come eating house is an interesting mix and exactly what I want to find in a brew house. We did wander out to check out the possibility of sitting
Nov 13, 20213 min read


Stefano's at 27 Deakin - Mildura
When you mention the name Stefano di Pieri, immediately you conjure an image of a jovial Italian man tossing things about in a pan on the banks of the Murray River, in Mildura. It's no longer the case - Stefano's is his only by name now. He is still a presence, known and loved by many, but the cafe that bears his name carries on a tradition of hospitality - for the most part. My two experiences could not have been more starkly different from a service point of view. The fir
Nov 13, 20213 min read


Sutton Grange 'Fairbank' 2021 Ancestrale sparkling
Australian sparklings have never really lifted my skirt. Too many bottles of French fizz, down the old screech, has spoiled me a bit and...
Nov 12, 20212 min read


Alkoomi 2020 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
Big red wines don't make the tasting bench as often as they should. Pinot Noir and Shiraz seems to be favoured, among the very many...
Oct 30, 20211 min read


Chez Dre South Melbourne
Ten years ago, Chez Dre was at the top of its game, and you couldn't get a table for love or money on a Saturday morning. Stephen Sam and Andrea Reiss transformed a South Melbourne laneway warehouse into a sweet and savoury heaven. With outdoor additions and constantly evolving their menu and style, it had been quite a few years since this cumbersome frame had darkened their door. So it was with joy we nabbed a table as walk ins on a Saturday and were promptly seated in the
Oct 30, 20212 min read


Amberches Elderflower infused Gin
It may be very possible that every second beverage we look at on these pages is a gin. It has nothing to do with the influence of the...
Oct 29, 20212 min read


Fleet Young Wines 2021 Pinot Gris
Like sand through the hourglass, the days of our lives continue, and our love for skin contact and minimal intervention wines is ever...
Oct 28, 20212 min read


Nomads Garden 2021 Field Blend
Not enough of us are talking Pinot Blanc. It makes creamy white wines, but it also makes crisp, delicious spring drinking wines and a few...
Oct 27, 20212 min read


A Bloody Mary at Bloody Mary's
Calling Potts Point home for the past six years, Bloody Mary's is known for that ubiquitous concoction of spiced tomato juice, celery salt, tabasco, worcestershire and enough vodka to cure any post lockdown hangover. The Bloody Mary's Gazebo is a likeable tribute to this legendary drink, a small bar with a a good mix of hangover-friendly food, something a little more fancy and a whole raft of variations on the classic cocktail, made with their thick and pulpy housemade tomat
Oct 27, 20212 min read


Masons of Bendigo
As people have flocked to live in regional Victoria, it stands to reason there is also a growth of good dining spots going to continue to pop up in these major regional towns. Masons of Bendigo was a good long step ahead. Sonia and Nick Anthony set up shop back in 2012 in the heart of Queen Street in the Bendigo CBD. Almost a decade on, they are still going strong, despite lockdowns and the challenges of COVID. The food at Masons is always stunning to look at and is not shor
Oct 27, 20212 min read


Fairy Bread 2020 Rose
I so wanted to love this wine. We had been back to the wine store to buy more and more of the Fairy Bread White, and took the plunge on...
Oct 27, 20212 min read


Farewell to the winter of our discontent.
Fair to say, there is a hell of a lot of excitement in the Scoffer team about the emergence from what has been a very long winter. Granted we are heading out of lockdowns across the Eastern seaboard fatter, somewhat pickled and in a slight fog of caution - especially with the idea that we may actually have to stop day drinking and start wearing pants. A quick canvas of the team at Scoffer HQ has provided some very interesting answers. Most involve going somewhere - anywhere
Oct 21, 20213 min read


See Saw Wines 2021 'Gee Gee'
Gee Gee indeed. I have this insatiable desire of late to be scoffing anything orange, biodynamic, skin contact and in the 'natural'...
Oct 13, 20212 min read


Noble Bootlegging - is there such a thing?
On a property just outside of Bendigo, a family are producing some pretty impeccable spirits. They are bootlegging whiskey, gin and a...
Oct 13, 20212 min read
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