Commissioned for an advertising report on The Australian that didn’t go ahead. Already companies investing is Asia have had to be savvy recognising whether they are working with the aggressively entrepreneurial Chinese or supposedly laid back Buddhist cultures. Asian is a cultural melting pot in terms of race and religion. About 88 per cent of Indonesians are Muslim. In Malaysia the figure is 56 percent, Singapore 14.9 per cent and Thailand 4.6 per cent. Thailand is dominated by Buddhists (88 […]
Recent posts
Super insurance: Do you need it
Commissioned by The Australian for an advertising report that was spiked. Insurance and superannuation are two of those necessities that most of us choose to ignore. We are baffled by the concepts let alone the detail in the small print. In short, these products are not friendly to the average consumer. Yet it is the average consumer that needs to know most about both of these topics. Since the introduction of super choice on July 1 this year it has […]
Keep it stupid simple
New camera. Fifth shot. No touch-ups. Fast Company recently noted that what makes Google so great is that it is simple. Just one box on a page without the pretensions of being a portal. Simple is what I like. Simple food. Simple gadgets like the Apple Macintosh and the Ipod. A camera should be simple too. That’s the beauty of those cardboard disposable ones. Just point and shoot. My original Canon Ixus was relatively simple to use. Alas my first […]
Steak sandwich
A stroll up the road. Yum. One steak sandwich and an Asahi. AUD16. Inkr7 7 Inkerman St, St Kilda, Vic (03 9534 6011). Oh, did I mention the whizz bang digital camera? More on choosing one later.
Caesar Salad with the old camera
Shot with the old camera. I’m a bit of a purest when it comes to certain recipes. I do sometimes, however, break the rules and surprise myself. So it was with surpise that I found myself ordering a Caesar Salad with chicken at Langtons (annoying music) 61 Flinders Lane, Melbourne (03 9663 0222). I like the fact it’s hidden in a basement down a laneway. It’s something that reminds me of the clubs such as the Somali and the Silver […]
Shepherds pie for a cold night
This is a favourite, perhaps because I’m crazy on both Worcester Sauce (Lea & Perrins, of course) and creamy mashed potato made with loads of butter. You can make this with lamb mince or beef. The latter is really a cottage pie and reminds me of some pretty nasty examples at school ( as well as having crumpets toasted between my buttocks). The point of this dish is leftovers from a roast. They should be ground up. I usually have […]
Entertain MeMe: My entertaining must have
Image pinched from Williams-Sonoma I’m not sure about the kind of people Jennifer has coming round to her Entertain MeMe meme. Whenever I get wind of a band of firneds/strangers coming round I lie awake at night dreaming of the sound of smashing glass. There again I tend to mix with journalists and Australians, so anything can happen. Long stemmed crystal, or just plain, wine glasses tip, crash and smash. White carpets are spreckled red and I’m forced to waste […]
The Australian: Snobbery goes with the terroir
Snobbery goes with territory when it comes to wine price – AGRIBUSINESS – SPECIAL REPORT By Ed Charles
Snobbery comes with the terroir
Stephen Shelmerdine: prices influenced by the tangible and the intangible I’d link to this story I wrote for The Australian but can’t find one. So here is the unedited version: Take two wines from the same region, a few kilometres apart. Both are top-notch drops. One costs $30; the other nearer $50. Stephen Shelmerdine, managing director, Shelmerdine wines, with vineyards in Heathcote and the Yarra Valley, says it’s a marketing decision. “But it’s informed by a range of factors some […]