HERE’S a non-typical example of a conversation at Spectrum Towers.

FOR people of a certain age, familiarity with wine and the delightfully quirky Oddbins chain went hand in hand.

WAGYU beef is renowned worldwide as one of the most expensive beefs you can buy.

HEAVY, ripe and alcoholic expressions of shiraz (or syrah) have given it an unfair reputation for brashness. While this generalisation was never completely true, the current popularity of cooler-climate versions has brought freshness, subtlety and balance more to the fore.

THERE are many things I like in restaurants, but the acronym BYOB is my second favourite – pipped only by the same letters on the door of a restaurant within 100 yards of a decent off-licence.

LEARNING to cook, no matter what level you’re at, is all about a few essential things. Whether you enjoy trying new recipes or ingredients, just love cooking for your family and friends or you’re training to be a chef, there are a few key things you need.

I AM not one of those people who gets obsessed about their diet, but when I was feeling mildly under the weather the other day a restaurateur friend told me that it was down to a conflict between my blood group and my eating habits.

ALTHOUGH marketing may have made us regard Oz wines as a kind of single entity, any such notion is obviously daft. Some 2,500 miles separate Margaret River from Hunter Valley, for instance. But that said, premium wine spots do tend to be grouped together – and South Australia is one of the best illustrations.

SPRING is a wonderful time to make the most of the many colours the season brings to the plate. Lighter, brighter dishes are called for, and desserts are no exception.

For those who follow this column, you will have read all about my passion for this glorious season.

HOW many times have you looked at the ingredients on a can of juice and given up, realising you should have paid more attention during double science?

A FRIEND recently announced that there are two things all couples argue about: money and sex.