Waitersfriend

a friend in waiting

Lee Middendorf

If you’ve eaten out in Australia there’s a good chance I’ve made you a coffee, cleared your table, shaken your cocktail, suggested a wine, or described a dish to you. Along the way I’ve learnt from the best, trained the worst and worked amongst some of the most passionate. I’ve made friends, created enemies, pleased and disappointed and I’ve loved every minute of it. I am Lee Middendorf and this is waitersfriend.com.au


Posts by Lee Middendorf

Cos Restaurant Adelaide

Jun 16

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Social Bites, Wine

Great longish lunch today at Adelaide’s Leigh Street Cos Restaurant.  Specializing in aged beef they have a nifty beverage list and a charming dining room. On arrival a Mac’s brewery “Black Mac” from NZ was a great starting point.  Torbreck Semillon from the Barossa and 42 Degrees South bubbles from Tassies Frogmore Creek winery made a great accompaniment to the Cos shared entrée tasting plate.  

A Coonawarra 05 Parker Estate Cab Sav was superb with aged Scotch Fillet accompanied by truffled mash and a Gorgonzola Brandy butter sauce.  Just know I’m going to end up in Hell via cardiac arrest from that [read more...]

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Serving Wine

Feb 21

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Blog - Life as a Waiter

I think it’s a fair comment that over the last ten years there has been quite a decline in the manner in which wine is being served, especially in the Australian café scene.  Here are a few examples - I’ve sat at a ‘table service’ eatery and ordered a bottle of wine.  When the ‘server’ returned with the wine it was merely plonked on the table in a wine bucket, quickly followed by the departure of said server.  Sure the wine had a screw cap closure so we didn’t need to be carrying any ‘fancy’ old school equipment like, lets say, ‘a [read more...]

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Arete Wine - Barossa Valley

Feb 16

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Wine

Do we really need another winemaker out there producing even more wine, giving us another label to look out for, filling our heads with even more contemplating to undertake as we search through region, style, price point and at the end of it all enjoyability?  The search for a response to this quandary could undoubtedly lead us to many a debated conversation.  But as we refine our analysis and focus on the Arete Wines of Richard Bate, we at Waitersfriend say, ‘..go ahead Richard - make your wines!’  Tantalise us with your style and interpretation of winemaking, seduce us with the [read more...]

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Tomato Day at Moorooduc Estate

Feb 10

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Industry Info, Wine

Not that one really needs an excuse to visit the Mornington Peninsula but if you’re heading that way in the latter part of the week, we recommend you make a stop at Moorooduc Estate. 

The McIntyre family are synonymous with great food and wine and Jill is set to focus on some enchanting food workshops, the first of which will be Tomato Day  - see below for details.  Although Jill’s Restaurant is now closed, the wood oven will be churning out fabulous wood fired pizzas at the weekend so over a glass or two and a slice or two we’ll still [read more...]

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Bar 9 - A Triumphant Coffee Destination

Jan 14

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Industry Info

If you were to accuse Ian Callahan - owner of Adelaide’s’ Bar 9 -  of being a coffee geek, he’d probably take a quick internal look at himself and reply with a grin, ‘fair enough!’ 

Neither geeky nor nerdy, Ian is an absolute genius when it comes to coffee.  Waitersfriend did however have to ask, “do you ever find yourself spending a little too much time surfing coffee websites?” - to which came a rather sheepish reply of, “yes, but my wife Sarah kicks me off when she thinks I’ve had my daily intake.”

Expert or technician is probably a better way to [read more...]

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Maxwell ‘Ellen Street’ Shiraz 2007

Dec 3

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Wine

This McLaren Vale Shiraz is just one of those South Australian beauties I love getting my lips around.  The foundation of this wine comes from vines that fall into the 50 year old plus category and with that kind of vine maturity the wine just tends to roar - “I am McLaren Vale”.

In the first approach it can start a little tight but it’s obvious from the fine tannin structure that it is about to bare some fine fruit.  This is where it comes into its own as a great restaurant wine.  It doesn’t need a whole lot of coursing [read more...]

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The Cooks Pantry

Nov 19

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Social Bites

The Cooks Pantry, at the corner of Jetty Street and Military Road in Adelaide’s metro beach suburb of Grange, is where you’ll find James Bodroghy purveying over his organic produce, fashioning it into an array of take home meals, and a selection of relishes, pickles, and preserves.  You can stop in for a coffee and a bite to eat, as James begins his day baking organic foccaccia which by lunch time is on display packed with mouth watering fillings.  There’s always a selection of fresh fruit and veg and it’s not long before you’re thinking to yourself, I wish my [read more...]

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Dinner with Geoff Merrill and a few million stars

Sep 30

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Social Bites, Wine

Food and Beverage Manager of Links Hope Island, Mark Wilson, has certainly raised the bar for wine dinners in South East Queensland.  Nay, this wasn’t merely a wine dinner but a grand event centred on fabulous food, superb wine and breathtaking entertainment.

Ok it’s no secret that we here at Waitersfriend  love to eat and drink so keeping us away from an event this much fun is kind of like trying to hold back the tide.  It began with a nice warm buzz around the practice green, French Fizz and conversation flowed abundantly.  Western Australia’s Little Creatures Brewery showed of its wares [read more...]

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2009 O’Leary Walker Watervale Riesling

Jul 26

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Wine

Last night I tried my first of the emerging 2009 wines.  The Watervale Riesling from the O’Leary Walker stables is deliciously balanced and is as crisp and fresh as a Clare Valley Spring morning.  Orange blossom and lime protrude through the citrus notes and I was delighted if not a little seduced by a hint of musky aromatics.  Those 40 something year old Riesling vines sucked up and spat out the best the Watervale terroir has to offer, while Nick and David continue to impress with their dedication to making quality wines.

Waitersfriend will continue to revisit this little Clare Valley cracker.  [read more...]

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Geoff Merrill Wine Dinner

Jul 24

Posted by Lee Middendorf in Social Bites, Wine

11th September 2009

Geoff Merrill is getting together with Chef Greg Pieper and they’re heading to Links Hope Island Golf Resort for an unforgettable night of food, wine and entertainment.  The world class facility at Hope Island is going to make for an impressive venue in which to host the event, while wine maker Geoff Merrill will not only delight guests with his candour, but his wines are sure to leave a lasting [read more...]

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