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Sunday TimesShe's Got It
by Gail Williams 15/8
I'VE long been a fan of Telina Menzies food, having watched her career take off back in the past century when she was winning awards left, right and centre. Now, she’s a well-travelled old lady of 28, but it appears that her overseas jaunts have not mellowed her feisty approach to food, though she has maintained the sensitivity required to blend flavours and textures with care. It’s refreshing to share her energy and excitement in a serve of wild mushroom pappardelle ($27). For me this was a perfect winter dish, transporting me straight to a pine forest with all the earthy, musty smells of oyster, shiitake and porcini mushrooms. Throw in some slippery wide ribbons of pasta and meld the whole thing with creamy goat’s cheese and, man, you’ve got a dish with grunt. “Great for a vegetarian,” said my daughter. Forget vego – it hadn’t even crossed my mind. Daughter was busily working her way through an earthy dish of her own – beetroot risotto ($39), resplendently red and given a traffic light’s perspective with dots of salsa verde around the pastel pink wad of grilled salmon. Suggestions are offered, cracked pepper delivered with a flourish, and sparkling water poured competently. The only downside is we’re seated next to the loos so we get a constant passing parade of men doing up their zippers. Then, again, we didn’t have a booking, so the waitress did that quick, flustered thing and scampered around the near-empty room looking for a table for two. But the meal was over and done with in just over an hour – due to a theatre engagement – and the staff made sure that it happened smoothly. The other dishes tried were a generous compilation of cider-cured salmon with a casually assembled pile of an apple fennel salad thrown on the top ($21). Three prosciutto-wrapped scallops were also another earthy hit with occasional notes of truffle kicking in through the cauliflower puree. Welcome back, Telina – you’ve put new zest into the top end of the Terrace. The George
216 St Georges Tce, Perth
6161?6662
Licensed
Open: Monday to Friday, 7am until late; Saturday, 5pm until late FOOD: Four stars
AMBIENCE:Three and a half stars
SERVICE: Three stars
DRINKS: Three and a half stars HIT: Menu hits the spot
MISS: The seat near the loos RATING: 14/20
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Tipping the ScalesTipping the Scales
The Weekend West - July 31, 2010
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Tahbilk at The George Tahbilk at The George
Hayley Purbrick from Tahbilk Wines joins us on July 22nd as we begin our Australia’s First Families of Wine Series.
Established in 1860, Tahbilk is one of Australia’s most beautiful & historic wineries and is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. We will be matching 4 beautiful wines from Tahbilk with wonderful tapas from Head Chef Telina Menzies. Join us from 5-7pm on Thursday July 22 for the next installment of many exciting wine nights at The George. Tickets $45 | Bookings essential Contact Meg at meg@thegeorgeperth.com.au or 6161 6662 for more information.
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High Tea SocietyHigh Tea Society
This is no stuffy, nose in the air type of afternoon… it’s High Tea with a George twist… On arrival at our table the lovely host presented a selection of the raw tea leaves for our inspection. The table is set with white fine bone china and white linen. The room is filled well dressed ladies and a live jazz band is playing. Tea selection at The George Head Chef Telina Menzies works her magic as she delivers amazing finger sandwiches, succulent savouries, and of course homemade scones. But these are not ordinary scones, they are homemade lemonade scones, with raspberry chilli balsamic jam, orange vanilla cream. Is your mouth watering yet? Menu
Finger Sandwiches:
Home smoked salmon, cucumber, caper, sour cream
Earl grey smoked chicken, pancetta, roasted garlic mayo
Rare beef, spiced tomato and roquette
Triple brie, quince with swiss chard
Pastries:
Homemade lemonade scones, with raspberry chilli balsamic jam and orange vanilla cream
Mini blue cheese, marmalade and spinach tartlets
Mini french style pasties and cakes
It really was as tasty and as deliteful as it sounds. It’s not a classic high tea, but a modern interpretation on the tradition. The George delivers a stunning high tea, a lot of thought has been put into creating the menu and with the live music performing this is a special event. It is very good value for the quality of food and tea. High Tea at The George Perth High Tea at The George
Cost: $31 per person, with a glass of sparkling wine $38, with a glass of French champagne or specialty cocktail $45.
When: Saturdays 1-5pm, Sundays on request for group bookings
Where: The George, 216 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA 6000, Australia
Tel: 08 6161 6662
Email: info@thegeorgeperth.com.au
www.thegeorgeperth.com.au
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Community News By George, she's got talent
May 26, 2010
TELINA Menzies became a chef after her father told her not to – and she has never looked back. The heavily tattooed and talented 28-year-old recently took the reins as head chef at the metro haunt, The George. “My dad and my uncles were chefs, they told me never to become one because of the long hours, but as usual you do what your parents tell you what not to do,” Menzies said. “Food is an art-form, it’s about being creative and taking the people who eat your food on a journey – that’s what I love about being a chef.” Menzies has just returned from a stint in London, where she worked for a leading catering company for 18 months. “I disappeared over there on the assumption the grass was greener on the other side,” she said. “The whole lifestyle and travel aspect was amazing, the food was great, and fresh produce was just so accessible but it’s not a place where I’d like to settle down. It’s very hard work over there.” Menzies has been touted as a chef with terrific prospects since she started her apprenticeship at the Hyatt Regency Perth in 1999, before moving to the Perth Convention Exhibition Centre. She won Chef of the Year Award at the Oceanafest International Chefs competition in 2007. These days, she enjoys taking a “funky” approach to cooking modern food, while not making her dishes “over the top”, for example, incorporating a cucumber jelly into a regular Greek salad. “I love putting a bit of a spin on food, while not complicating it.” As for her favourite foods, Menzies says she is easy to please. “You can’t beat a great piece of fresh bread and some really good cheese, I could eat that all day,” she said. Phil Hickey
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Fresh - Perth's Best 2009 Perth's Best - The West Australian, November 2009 Food to go with your drink. Turkish bread and straight-from-the-fridge dips do not make good bar snacks. Lucky then that there are plenty of venus which serve great food to go with your drink.
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WA Business News - October 2009WA Business News - October 2009
Lunch with Christian Porter
Hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce, the event presents Western Australia's attorney-general, Christian Porter, at a small private lunch. The event will provide an opportunity to meet a key minister in the state government in a non-party political environment. Places are strictly limited. As the attorney-general and minister for corrective services, Mr Porter aimes to develop sound public policy that will not only improve community safety but also meets community expectations. The event takes place at The George.
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The Wire - October 2009The Wire - October 2009
The One Movement for Music Festival is happening this month. An important component of the festival is the industry showcases where a whole heap of hot bands show their stuff at bards and laneways around the city to leaders in the music industry. The showcases kick off with the Dew Process Party in Wolf Lane with three awesome Aussie acts: Whitley, Sarah Blasko and Art vs Science. The nine showcases will be held throughout the three-day festival at The Belgium Beer Cafe, Wolf Lane and The George - the bar is open until the wee hours afterwards.
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One Movement Festival - October 2009
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Fresh - The West Australian August 2009New Menu Added to Chic Inner-City Bar
Chic terrace eatery The George has just launched a sparkling new lunch and dinner menu, designed by executive chef Brad Hatfield to showcase WA produce and meats.
Joining the Gold Plate Award-nominated restaurant and bar's meticulously crafted wine list, the new menu includes braised baby fennel and pear salad with beetroot and walnut, and parsley-crusted Tasmanian salmon with pea and mint puree, creme fraice and salmon pearls. There is also an impressive list of desserts such as strawberry and cream panna cotta.
You can also choose a two-course set-menu optionf fo $45.
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Fresh - May 2009Fresh - The West Australian, May 2009
For the big kids who would rather forego the sit-down lunch or dinner in fabour of a cocktail or a glass of bubbly, grab mum and head to The George, where you can enjoy a glass of champers or a cold beer and graze on a plate of tapas from 3pm onwards. You could even make it your pit stop after treating mum to a spot of shopping on trendy King Street.
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Cocktails - March 2009Fresh - The West Australian March 2009
City Slickers - Perth's mixologists share their top three cocktails
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Chandon Supper Club - May 2009
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STM - City Secrets, March 2009The STM Guide : City Secrets - March 2009
The George bar on St Georges Tce is a sophisticated watering hole that will soothe the shattered nerves and even get you pumped up and ready to kick on. The lively crowd that gets there on a Friday night makes the whole Terrace buzz. The cream and black interior, with its Italian verve, is home to one of the best cocktail menus in the business district. Try the buttered martini, a double strained mix of Smirnoff Vanilla, Mozart Black, Kahlua and butterscotch schnapps shaken with a shot of espresso and sugar syrup. If that doesn’t get you partying, its time to pick up your briefcase and go home.
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Valentines Day at The GeorgeXpress Magazine - February 2009
Punters stepped up to the main bar of The George last Saturday night, for an evening of entertainment and conversation, lubricated with delightful cocktails, premium spirits and 50 local and imported beers. While lasses sipped champagne in their cocktail dresses, DJs spun modern tunes, creating a perfect atmosphere in which to unwind while looking fabulous.
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Venue MagazineVenue Magazine - February 2009
POS Special
The George implemented POS and busines management systems from hospitality specialists Macro Solutions, which included fixed touch screen, portable ordering devices and management software for revenue, inventory, loyalty and account management.
Putting the touch screens on polemounts ensured that bench space was not compromised in bar areas and that the terminals aren't exposed to spillage. Wristband proximity readers were installed to proivde super-quick staff identification, security and the ability for staff to start orders at one terminal and float to another terminal in use.
All six venues owned and operated by my partner John Ahern and I in Melbourne run on the same POS system and software, which in Perth has proved to be extremely valuable in our absence; as the system also allows us to recieve daily or weekly reports, or we are able to view live transaction or construct a personalised report at any time.
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QANTAS In-flight Magazine
This is the brightest new venue in the CBD; a stylish, lavishly decorated space with polished wooden floors, a startingly large metal chandelier, high tables and comfortable banquetters around the bar area. it primarily serves as a classy bar for the business world, but it has an impressive restaurant with a conservative menu featuring superb produce, beautifully cooked.
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Fresh - The West AustralianFresh - The West Australian
By George
Perth's west end has a styIish new restaurant and bar with the opening of The George on St Georges Terrace last weekend.
A sleek interior with high bar tables, cosy booth seating, a plush lounge area and an extensive marble-top bar, are all sure to attract the up-market suits, along with gourmet food and a dedicated champagne and cocktail bar, including a list of more than 27 Imported beers. And with a new-style bar licence you can have a drink without having to order a meal. Hoping to bring a bit of sophistication to Perth's culinary scene, Melbournites John Ahern and Steve Garcia are behind The George. Head chef Brad Hatfield, whose background includes six years as executive chef at the Rydges Hotel and Sheraton in Singapore, has created a menu that focuses on contemporary, innovative dishes along with an all-day tapas menu. The George will be open for breakfast, lunch and dinner from 7amtill late Monday to Friday, and from 4pm-lOpm on Saturday
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Fresh - Perth's Best 2009Fresh - Perth's Best 2009
Terrace landmark London House is home to this restaurant-café-lounge-bar, part of the revitalisation of the city’s west end. An all-day tapas menu, dedicated champagne and cocktail bar and a sophisticatd fit-out. A 1.5m French chandelier, an impressive marble-tip bar and a 2.5-tonne stone mural are highlights.
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GraziaGrazia, April 2009
It’s been likened to Sydey’s iconic Establishment and talked up as “very Melbourne”, but we think the restrained decadence of The George needs no comparisons. Finishes are high end gorgeous, with luxurious wallpapers, an Italian mural, and a giant Frecnh chandelier at the entrance. Choose the Fireplace Lounge for red leather ottomans screened by tassles, or perch at the marble Cocktail Bar in fron of the champagne wall.
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Shout - NovemberShout, November 2009
The AHA(WA) Aon Hotel Awards for Excellence were presented at the Lion Nathan Gala Ball on Monday (Nov 9) recognising the state’s finest.
More than 1100 hotel and hospitality members stepped out to celebrate the evening, which was held at the Grand Ballroom at Burswood Entertainment Complex, Perth.
The night showcased finalists and winners across 45 categories, including standards of excellence in service, presentation, responsible service of alcohol, innovation, redevelopment, tourism and accommodation.
The AHA De Bortoli/6PR Perth Pub of the Year award was presented to The Gate Bar & Bistro in Success, for the second year in a row.
Other major winners include Margaret River’s Settlers Tavern, which took out the Regional Hotel/Tavern of the Year Award, while the Sheraton Perth Hotel won the Deluxe Accommodation Award.
Industry icon Murray McHenry received the Hospitality Industry Lifetime Achievement Award.
AHA(WA) chief executive, Bradley Woods, said the AHA Aon Hotel Awards for Excellence reflect the high standards prevalent across the industry.
“The hospitality sector is continually upgrading and improving services and standards, which is one of the reasons our industry is among the best in the world,” he said.
“The AHA Aon Hotel Awards for Excellence continue to be the most prestigious awards night for the industry and I would like to congratulate all our finalists and winners.”
http://www.theshout.com.au/2009/11/11/article/AHA-Crowns-WAs-Finest/SKZACIERYJ.html
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WA Today - December 2009WA Today, November 2009
Perth's best new bars revealed By now, most of us realise the Perth bar scene has undergone a bit of a makeover in recent times. That the perks of living in Perth are not just about (usually) fine weather, an easy commute and keeping a steady job. We have a happening nightlife too. There has been a small bar revolution in a city that used to be dead at night, with plenty of new places popping up as Perth's taste for the good life and more sophisticated venues increases. But which venues have proved their point – providing good quality beverages and food, attracting an amazing crowd and guaranteeing a good atmosphere on each visit? Best pick-up joint - The George, 216 St Georges Terrace.
Let's just say it straight out. The George is more than just a Friday night suit fest full of city workers looking to hook-up for the weekend. Though it certainly is that. A gorgeous room decked out decadently with chandeliers, fireplaces and pretty wallpaper, The George is similar to Establishment in Sydney. It’s sleek, sophisticated and popular. Serving modern Australian food in the restaurant section, and a fantastic selection of wines, The George management tapped into exactly what Perth was craving. It's a bar with some attitude that has already won plenty of prizes. With a unique champagne bar dedicated to pouring beautiful bubbles, The George is a winner.
http://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/perths-best-new-bars-revealed-20091124-jezd.html
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WA Today - December 2009Party like it's 2010 - WA Today, December 2009
Everyone has New Year's horror stories. Whether you're the organiser of the group and have been trying to get your mates together and agree on an event since July, or if you're a last-minute person and still don't have plans, we've got a list of the hottest 10 events to help you out. NYE at The George
If these New Year's Eve options are a little too full on for you, head to The George on St Georges Terrace, where they are holding a roman-themed soiree. With best dressed prizes on the night, tickets include bubbles, wine, beer and canapes. http://www.watoday.com.au/lifestyle/people/party-like-its-2010-20091222-lbml.html?autostart=1
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The Sunday TimesThe Sunday Times
George Of The Concrete Jungle
In a place called London House, this Australian bar, restaurant with an English name, Italian murals and a French chandelier has quickly become Perth's most talked about bar. This is big-event dining and drinking, well at home in the trendy end of the Terrace and eagerly welcomed by the salivating after-work crowd.
Gorgeous George
The George is captivating; achingly beautiful in away few places, let alone bars, are. Beneath the heavy metal chandelier, a simply-textured lounge area is lined with stone murals, high tables and low booths. Moving past softly veiled banquettes and a wrought iron centrepiece, sumptuous wallpaper and oversized mirrors adorn a secluded restaurant area. A huge marble bar is indicative of the high-end bespoke features that have created an evocative and unique venue.
Early Days
No doubt the staff are still finding their feet with the technical and demanding drinks list, but there is a lot to like here. Cocktails with absinthe, Patron tequila and a multitude of flavoured liqueurs show imagination and flair. They are, for the most part, well executed by the friendly staff who all seem as excited to be there as the punters. In the coming weeks it is expected further refinement of the extensive cocktail list will elevate it above the already comprehensive beer and wine menus.
Dotting the I's
Those who have described The George as "very Melbourne" are underselling it because it could rival bars from much further afield. What does let The George down are, the simplest things to fix. It's brilliant and expansive menu is littered with spelling mistakes and grammatical errors. The stunning interior is flawless, save for the three plasma screens casting a distracting iridescent glow throughout the bar. Picky? Maybe, but when so much effort has gone into every other facet, it's just plain odd that the simple things are overlooked.
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Best Restaurants Of AustraliaBest Restaurants Of Australia
It’s been a long time between drinks when it comes to new dining venues on St Georges Terrace, but when a restaurant of this calibre opens its doors, it makes the wait so worthwhile. With seamless elegance and pure sophistication, The George sticks out like a sore thumb, wedged between high-rise office buildings. The interior is nothing short of breathtaking and has understandably created quite a spot of excitement for those seeking an innovative new venue. Catering for the local corporate clientele, there is The London Room for meetings, functions and intimate dining occasions, the Cocktail and Champagne Bars for those compulsory Friday drinks, and The Dining Room for hand-picked wines and upmarket dining.
Of course, you’d expect nothing but perfection when it comes to food at a place like this and the chefs have certainly done their homework. The a la carte menu starts with a range of impressive entrees utilising the freshest produce like free-range hens’ eggs, sturgeon caviar, warm asparagus salad and pecorino, or the intriguing shiitake mushroom custard with toasted almonds. Moving on to mains, the decisions become a little harder with a range of super-cool creations guaranteed to raise the brows of even the most knowledgeable foodie. Sauteed marron, pork rillette tian and caramelised baby shallots make the most of this much-loved freshwater crustacean, while the grain-fed lamb wrapped in prosciutto, smoked eggplant jam and potato galette is already proving to be a strong favourite with diners. There’s also a “feasting on your feet” range of tapas dishes and a great little lunch menu with nice-priced options. If you’re thinking of checking out The George, make it snappy. My hunch is this place will have a queue at the door before you know it.
Karen Bilsby, November 2008
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