WHEN food reviewer Douglas Sutherland-Bruce arrived in Perth in 1974 haute cuisine consisted of prawns in pink sauce and steak Diane.
Exotic meant Chinese.
The Gold Plate judge said Perth had come a long way since then.
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READ NOW“It was 1987 when I was writing book reviews for a local Midland paper when the restaurant reviewer left and I was asked if I could review that week’s restaurant, the Chalet Rigi,” he said.
“The food was great, the review well-received and I never looked back, completing 30 years continuously as a professional food writer in April this year.”
Mr Sutherland said dining out in WA had never been so exciting or varied.
“I love living in Upper Swan, with the whole of the Swan Valley and Perth Hills restaurants and wineries available,” he said.
“We are so lucky to live here amongst all this great food and wine.”
Mr Sutherland-Bruce said he was often asked why he only writes favourable reviews.
“The real answer is that I don’t, of course, and I’ve got letters to prove it – but bad restaurants simply don’t last long,” he said.
“The hospitality industry is so competitive that even good restaurants can find it hard to thrive, and those with bad service or wretched food seldom survive.
“Just look at the truly great restaurants that have closed – The Loose Box, Copperwood, Chalet Rigi, The Vigneron, Alexander House – time moves on, fashion changes, even chefs grow old.
“But there is a tremendously talented group of new chefs coming up with new ideas, new menus, new approaches to food.
“Taylor’s Art House, Bistro 10481, Caversham House all thriving and doing well – especially one of my favourites, Little Guildford.
“If you haven’t tried their Sunday brunch, you absolutely should.”
Thanks to our national partners Canon Australia and Harvey Norman and our state partner REIWA.
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