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Talking Coffee on the Today Show
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Talking Coffee on the Today Show
Ingredients, Me On Radio & TV, News, Writer

Talking Coffee on the Today Show

While the quality of Australia’s coffee has skyrocketed in the past 20 years, what we pay for it hasn’t. Our $4 lattes are leaving producers struggling – and prices may have to soar. I wrote a feature article on the coffee industry for Good Weekend magazine's Food Issue, and spoke about the story on Nine's Today show.

danivalent

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Mar 29

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Every Sunday for 13 years, I've had a restaurant r

Every Sunday for 13 years, I've had a restaurant review column in the Sunday Age. Today, there isn't one. You always know as a freelancer that any phone call could be the one that informs you a gig has gone. I got that call on Monday. Fair enough. But of all the reasons that might have called time on my column - budget cuts, fresh voice, editor doesn't like the way you use adjectives - it never, never, ever occurred to me that the reason might be, "Melbourne has no restaurants". I'm sad about my column. The missing income will hurt. But I'm mostly stricken about the reason behind it: the closure of restaurants and cafes, the standing down of thousands of employees, the loss of that way of gathering, expressing ourselves, sharing culture and community, and finding meaning and connection. For me, writing about restaurants was always a way to write about people - the way they grow food, cook it and serve it, and in so doing, share of themselves, give from their hearts and hands, honour the bond between host and guest. I always loved hearing the stories behind food businesses: it was a privilege to get nosy and then to work those tales and my own impressions into words for my readers. I learnt so much. The biggest compliment I could ever get from a restaurant was, "You really understand what we're trying to do". And the biggest compliment from readers was, "I never would have tried that / got that / known that, if not for your review." Anyway, if you served me food and wine and coffee, thank you. And if you read my reviews, thank you, I hope they steered you well. To @theageaustralia, thanks for trusting me. If you're wondering what you might do next, I give you two ideas. 1. Support your local restaurant or cafe if they are still doing takeaway, selling groceries, vouchers, toilet paper, whatever. 2. Support media organisations: it is more important than ever that we have strong, independent, well-funded media keeping eyes and ears on the world right now. I don't care who you support (though The Age / SMH would be great) but if you can afford to buy a subscription to whichever news outlets you rely on, I would appreciate it as a citizen, not just as a journalist. ...

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danivalent

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Mar 27

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Cake break. One of my kids turned 15 today. Her or

Cake break. One of my kids turned 15 today. Her original plan for her birthday was a night in a hotel with her friends. That idea got a Hard No from 'worst mum ever' over here. But as it happens, I could have pretended that I was fine with it and let a global pandemic swoop in to play helicopter parent. Live and learn? Anyway, the best thing I could think of to make the day spesh was a cake from @sweetbakes_ - and what a cake! Thanks, Alisha for supplying sweet sunshine and buttery goodness for my girl. A birthday to remember, if not the best birthday ever. Apparently the cake feeds 40 but probably fewer if you have it 3 meals a day, am I right? #cakeforbreakfast #coronabirthday #covid19birthday ...

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danivalent

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Mar 26

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I have had 1000 responses to my callout to oversea

I have had 1000 responses to my callout to overseas hospo workers who are in need of assistance. There are more coming in each minute. These vulnerable taxpayers are not eligible for government benefits. They are in immediate strife. Swipe across to see a small selection of their comments. I'm no expert but I have created a resource list to try to help and I'm in touch with migration agents to answer questions. If you or someone you know wants to be on my email list, sign up via my form. The web resource is available to all. #savehospo Links in bio or head to danivalent.com ❣️ ...

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danivalent

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Mar 25

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Overseas workers are especially vulnerable at this

Overseas workers are especially
vulnerable at this time. Many of
them have visas tied to the job
that they have now lost. They are
not entitled to benefits. They often
have few resources or connections.
So we built a form for overseas hospo
workers to register their needs and
we will try to help. Not sure who 'we'
is but it might be you...We are in this
together. Link in bio and bit.ly/OSworkers. #savehospo Thanks @meandu for
assistance with this 🙏 ...

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