in this issue...
J O H N
MANGILA
This stylist and f lorist visited
NSW’s Hunter Valley for Armando
Percuoco’s home story on page 42.SARAH
NEIL
Our food features editor asked country
chefs to share their local knowledge for
her Journey story on page 106.CONTRIBUTORS
PHOTOGRAPHYBRIGID ARNOTT, DAMIAN BENNETT, LISA COHENPulling busy chefs away from the
kitchen to give us their recipes is kitchen to give us their recipes is
a challenge Sarah thrives on, so we a challenge Sarah thrives on, so we
asked her to do a very special story asked her to do a very special story
for this issue —for this issue — our Country Chef our Country Chef
hot list. Sarah spoke to five culinary hot list. Sarah spoke to five culinary
geniuses around Australia to get the geniuses around Australia to get the
lowdown on the best places to eat, lowdown on the best places to eat,
drink and shop in their region, as well drink and shop in their region, as well
as things to do and see. “Somas things to do and see. “Sometimetimes it es it
can be hard to get these guys to finalise can be hard to get these guys to finalise
a ma menu or provide menu or provide more informore information ation
about how to cook a particular dish, about how to cook a particular dish,
but ask thembut ask them for their top travel tips? for their top travel tips?
I think I have enough for a couple mI think I have enough for a couple more ore
stories!” It was a hard task to whittle stories!” It was a hard task to whittle
the list down to just over 100, but the list down to just over 100, but
we think their suggestions mwe think their suggestions make ake
essential holiday reading.
The NSW Hunter Valley region holds
a special place in Sydney-based stylist, a special place in Sydney-based stylist,
visual mvisual merchandiser and f lorist John’s erchandiser and f lorist John’s
heart. Born in the Philippines, he and heart. Born in the Philippines, he and
his famhis family mily migrated to Australia in igrated to Australia in
1989 and would, “holiday annually in 1989 and would, “holiday annually in
the Hthe Hunter Valley and stay at the samunter Valley and stay at the same e
vineyard,” he says. “I remvineyard,” he says. “I rememember the ber the
excitemexcitement the first timent the first time I saw a group e I saw a group
of kangaroos hopping amof kangaroos hopping among the grape ong the grape
vines!” Journeying back to the region vines!” Journeying back to the region
and watching chef Armand watching chef Armando Percuoco ando Percuoco
cook up a feast at his Laguna property cook up a feast at his Laguna property
was a joyful experience for John, as was was a joyful experience for John, as was
being surrounded by the natural beauty being surrounded by the natural beauty
of the area. “It’s always a joy to see of the area. “It’s always a joy to see
flowers and foliage that I normflowers and foliage that I normally see ally see
in f lorists growing in the wild,” he says.in f lorists growing in the wild,” he says.