The Costco Connection

A lifestyle magazine for Costco members
Feasting
in style
TRADITIONAL TO MODERN
WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS
MAKE IT MAGICAL
GIVE YOUR GIFTS PIZZAZZ
HOLIDAY
COUNTDOWN
YOUR MUST READ GUIDE
TO A STRESS FREE SEASON
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 • VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 2
CAPSULE
VALUED AT $79.99 RRP
WHEN YOU BUY 2 CARTONS OF MAP ITALIAN COFFEE CAPSULES*
GREAT
S
CHRISTMAA
GIFT IDE
*Each carton Includes 8 boxes of 10 capsules.
Two cartons can be any combination of coffee on offer.
INTRODUCING THE CAFFITALY COFFEE CAPSULE SYSTEM NOW AVAILABLE IN COSTCO:
8 grams of coffee and double filtered – superior coffee extraction
delivers the closest thing to a barista-made café coffee at home
Premium Italian roasted ground coffee in every capsule
Capsule casing locked airtight for maximum freshness
PROMOTION EXCLUSIVE TO COSTCO. AVAILABLE FROM NOVEMBER 6 - NOVEMBER 22, 2015.
COFFEE & MACHINE AVAILABLE SEPARATELY BEYOND THIS PROMOTION DATE.
CONTENTS
16
34
20
WELCOME TO OUR BUMPER
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL.
We launched The Costco
Connection a year ago and,
judging by the speed with which
members clear out the copies in
our warehouses, it has hit the spot
with readers. And that is why we
are delighted to bring you a special
holiday edition!
We’ve included plenty of
seasonal info including a guide to
pulling off the perfect Christmas,
from buying gifts to troubleshooting family squabbles, and some
background on the history and green values of our gift wrap, as
used by the royal household of the British monarchy.
We’ve also test-kitchened two styles of feasting inspiration, one
for traditionalists who love hosting a big sit-down dinner with all the
trimmings and the other for modernists who prefer to play to our
climate and relaxed cultural attitudes by focusing on fresh seafood
accompanied by crisp salads and grazing plates.
Throwing a business shindig for your staff or clients? Read
what the catering experts have to say about ensuring it fosters
real goodwill and enjoyment. On a healthy note, find out what you
might not have known about the benefits of eating stone fruit – as if
you needed any encouragement.
Looking to the future, we hope to grow the magazine to bring
you informative updates on Costco items, interesting features,
delicious recipes and business and lifestyle tips. We’re also growing
Costco in Australia, with the opening of our eighth warehouse on
18 November, the third in Victoria and the first location with fuel in
the state.
See you in 2016!
Managing Director
Patrick Noone
24
45
38
4 MEMBER CONNECTION
What’s going on at Costco
8 SUPPLIER PROFILE
It’s a wrap
12 BUSINESS
CONNECTION
Make your business
function fun
16 TECH CONNECTION
The game is up
20 FOR YOUR HEALTH
Stony heart, tender taste
24 FOR YOUR TABLE
Traditional table or modern
Australian?
34 WINE CONNECTION
Independent label
38 FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
Christmas countdown
45 INSIDE COSTCO
Fill it up
50 BUYER’S PICKS
What’s new
Costco Wholesale Australia Pty Ltd (ABN 57 104 012 893). Head office: 17–21 Parramatta Road, Lidcombe NSW 2141. Postal address:
PO Box 7196, Silverwater NSW 2128. Phone (02) 9469 7999. Website: costco.com.au REGIONAL MARKETING MANAGER Kyla White
MARKETING ASSISTANT Jenna Barnes ADVERTISING ENQUIRIES connection@costco.com.au
The Costco Connection is produced for Costco Wholesale Australia Pty Ltd by Pacific+ Publishing (ABN 80 101 323 791), GPO Box
7825, Sydney NSW 2001. PACIFIC+ PUBLISHING DIRECTOR Helen Morassut PUBLISHER Nicole Macdonald EDITOR Georgina Haigh
SUB-EDITOR Gillian Samuel ART DIRECTOR Tom Lau PROOFREADER Carrie Kablean PRODUCTION MANAGER Rosie Dimopoulos
COVER: Kirkland Signature wrapping paper and Christmas decorations STYLIST Lisa Hilton
INSERT: STYLIST Andrew de Sousa FOOD PREPARATION Samantha Joel PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Lau
MEMBERCONNECTION
Top tyre service
We chat to one Costco member whose experience of his local
Tyre Centre is that they are always prepared to go the extra mile.
Melburnian Gerald Gourlie knows good
customer service. His career as a sales
manager means that he understands
exactly how important it is to a business.
“I’m a customer service person and I
can see that Costco is building its business
by doing exactly that,” he says.
Gourlie has been a Costco member
for four years and has been using the
Ringwood Tyre Centre for vehicle
maintenance since the warehouse opened.
“I go there to get my tyres checked every
10,000 kilometres, or five or six months,”
he explains.
He is particularly impressed by the
service he receives from the Tyre Centre
staff, especially Con Alateras.
Like what
we do?
“He is a nice man and dedicated to his
trade, and he treats all customers exactly
the same way. I pop in to see him from time
to time and he knows my name. That’s
important in customer relations.”
Gourlie is especially grateful to Alateras
for the service he received after there was
a misunderstanding over swapping out his
tyres. “Nothing is too difficult to do for me
and when you are customer facing that’s
important. If I still had my former job he
wouldn’t be working for Costco!”
His manager Charlie De Pasquale
agrees that Alateras sets a high standard
in member service. “Apart from being
an expert in tyres he prides himself on
ensuring all our members are given best
Con Alateras
quality service. He tries to maximise the
time he spends with customers to ensure
their vehicle is safe and roadworthy.”
Alateras isn’t the only Costco staffer
who has made a positive impression.
“If you ask anybody in the store for
information, it happens,” Gourlie says.
“They’re always prepared to go the extra
distance for you. Going the extra mile is
important. You can do the job but you can’t
do the extra mile without some effort.”
“In our Tyre Centre and the warehouses
in general we understand that people are
our members,” De Pasquale says. “To us
they are more than just customers and we
try to make their visit a positive experience
every time they come in.”
Then ‘Like’ us on Facebook for info on warehouse
openings, special offers, book signings and special
events. facebook.com/CostcoAustralia
Seafood
Roadshow
dates
4–5, 11–12, 17–24 December
4 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
MEMBERCONNECTION
Food for
thought
How one charitable organisation is harnessing our wasteful consumption for a good cause.
Every year Australians throw away over
$8 billion worth of food. When you add
supermarkets and restaurants into the mix
the real value would far exceed this – yet
there are still people in the community
who go hungry.
Luckily OzHarvest, the perishable food
rescue organisation, embodies the waste
not, want not adage by collecting excess
produce from commercial outlets and
delivering it, free of charge, to more than
500 charities across Australia. One of the
outlets they collect from is Costco.
“We donate a lot of baked goods:
muffins, croissants, bagels and Danishes,
and then sometimes a few canned goods
as well,” says VJ McMurray, Assistant
Warehouse Manager of Fresh and Ancillary
at Costco, North Lakes, Queensland.
Having worked at Costco for 27 years
McMurray knows a thing or two about the
short shelf life of fresh food and how much
often goes to waste if it’s not sold. When
OzHarvest approached him and the team
Get in
touch!
while he was working at Costco in New
South Wales it seemed like the perfect way
to cut down on food wastage while giving
something back to the community.
The OzHarvest van comes by most
mornings to collect the leftover produce
that is still fresh and edible.
“We have a five day shelf life on the
muffins, for example, and the night before
the shelf life is up I will pull the packet off
the shelves, deface it and then put it into
the OzHarvest collection cart,” explains
McMurray. But he is careful not to include
anything that could be deemed even
slightly unsafe to eat.
“We have cakes that have fresh cream
in them. Once they’re pulled we can’t
refrigerate them again so those items, the
ones that could turn out to be a health
hazard, we wouldn’t donate.”
Similarly OzHarvest has very strict
rules on food safety, only using refrigerated
vans and ensuring that the food collected is
delivered on the same day.
Once the Costco collection cart has
been loaded onto one of the iconic yellow
OzHarvest vans the food is taken to
charitable organisations in the local area.
These might include homeless shelters,
women’s and men’s refuges, youth groups,
indigenous centres and organisations
that service people with alcohol or drug
addictions, mental health issues, people
with disabilities and the elderly.
In a country where people are still
going hungry every day OzHarvest
contributes greatly to the goal of food
sustainability. Having started out with
one van in Sydney in 2004, the company
has grown substantially and now has
enough yellow vans to deliver half a million
meals to urban and regional areas across
Australia every month.
As McMurray succinctly puts it, “No
matter what happens there’s still someone
somewhere who’s going to bed hungry so
it’s great knowing that maybe they’ll be
enjoying our food the very next day.”
We’d love to know what you think of The Costco
Connection. Got an idea for a story or want to know more
about one of our products? Had a quintessentially Costco
experience or wondering what’s coming up? Write to us at
connection@costco.com.au and tell us all about it!
6 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
NEW ALL-ROUND
SPORT SOCKS AND BODYWEAR
SHORT BOXER
WOMENS BRA
SO MANY FEATURES, JUST ONE ITEM
MENS
WOMENS
KIDS
FOREVERFASTER
It's a WRAP!
When it comes to
producing high
quality, ethical
wrapping paper,
this company ticks
all the boxes.
WORDS Gillian Samuel
T
his wrapping paper is fit for
a queen. The Queen, in fact,
as Costco wrapping paper
supplier International Greetings
was granted a royal warrant to
supply Buckingham Palace back
in 1906.
International Greetings also
creates bespoke Christmas
crackers for the royal household,
but as you would imagine, the
design and contents are a closely
guarded secret!
Every year millions of metres of
gift wrap roll off the International
Greetings machines. In 2013 the
company printed 90 million metres
– enough to go around the world
two and a half times – for Costco
alone. The company also designs,
manufactures and distributes
ribbons and bows, bags, tags, cards,
albums, books, frames and creative
8 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
play products – everything you need
for a perfectly decorated Christmas.
From small beginnings in an
abandoned mine ablutions block
in Wales, in the United Kingdom,
International Greetings now owns
subsidiaries in China, the United
States, Poland, Hong Kong, the
Netherlands and Australia, and sells
its product all over the world.
Green values
For Costco, in addition to the quality
of the product, the company’s
environmental values are an
important factor. International
Greetings is Forestry Stewardship
Council and Programme for the
Endorsement of Forest certified,
which mean all the materials
transparently meet certain ethical
requirements. All International
Greetings raw material suppliers
follow sustainability policies,
using wood only from responsibly
managed sources.
The inks used in printing the
wrapping paper designs have low
environmental impact and the
company is committed to waste
management and recycling. In the
last four years it has reduced its
landfill use by 50 per cent through
manufacturing consolidation, cutting
energy consumption by 15 per cent.
What's more, this is all achieved
without sacrificing any quality of the
product. “International Greetings
products fit the Costco mission
statement perfectly: top quality
branded merchandise at the lowest
possible price,” says Costco UK Toys
and Seasonal Buyer Helen Hazell.
“They make beautiful high gloss,
high quality paper. The colours they
produce are second to none.”
SUPPLIER PROFILE
Gift wrapping tips
•B
uy a few rolls of wrapping paper and matching
ribbons and bows in complementary colour-ways
so you can mix and match to make everyone’s gift
look different.
•F
or awkwardly shaped items go for a cardboard
box and use colourful or printed tissue for packing,
or buy a gift bag. Don’t forget ribbons and a nice
bow to dress it up.
•S
et aside time for wrapping presents and
assemble your scissors, ruler, sticky or doublesided tape, paper, ribbon, tags and accessories
such as bows, miniature baubles, pine cones and
fir sprigs close at hand.
•P
ut the gift item down on the paper and loosely
wrap around to estimate where to cut it off. Using
the ruler, trim excess paper from the sides and
sharply fold down the overlapping edge using the
scissor handle or your nails to crease in place.
•P
ositioning the item in the centre of the paper,
wrap around and secure with sticky tape along the
fold edge.
•T
o make corners fold the paper inwards, ensuring
the crease is at right angles to the base of the
item. Pinch the creases to keep the edges sharp
and make a triangular flap at each end. Fold away
any raw edges.
•F
or a polished finish, secure edges with doublesided tape.
•T
ie and secure the ribbon around the parcel,
remembering to place and secure the tag. If you
are using reversible paper, consider making a
contrasting band with folded in edges. Tie the
ribbon around the middle of the band.
•A
dd finishing touches such as bows or
decorations.
Double sided!
From the factory floor up
This standard is deliberate. The
company’s founder Anders Hedlund
attributes his success to the quality of
the product and constant innovation.
“We never lower the specs on our
products,” he says. “We want Costco
members to know they get the same
quality they got last time.”
He gained his background
experience working in his family’s
gift wrap business in Sweden during
the school holidays. “After a few
months of sweeping the factory
floor I said, ‘Teach me how to use the
ribbon and bow-making machines or
I quit’. I learned everything about the
family business and I think once you
know something well enough you
can’t help becoming interested in it.”
In 1974 at just 18 he arrived
in Cardiff with a couple of his
father’s old ribbon and bow-making
machines and an ambitious plan.
He set up production in the Welsh
former mining town of Crosskeys,
manufacturing wrapping paper on a
roll – an industry innovation at that
time. Within a year the talented teen
was employing eight employees and
showing the business flair that would
bring him future success.
He applied for a government
incentive for starting new businesses
in Wales but the timing of building
a new factory presented problems.
“There was a delay. To catch that
first Christmas season I had to find
somewhere else fast.”
A broken office door became
his desk, with a chair found
behind the factory and a secondhand typewriter for business
communications. “I did everything,”
he says. “Sales, purchasing, packing,
fixing the machines, loading the
lorries, motivating the staff.”
When things went wrong he
would call his father in Sweden, who
told him to just walk around the
factory and deal with one thing at
a time. “That period was definitely
the best time of my life,” Hedlund
recalls. “It’s actually those tough
periods that make you stronger.”
With annual revenue of
more than $500 million today,
International Greetings
appears to have become very
strong indeed.
Item 945052
Item 945052
Item 945052
Item 945052
Item 945054
Item 945053
ANDERS HEDLUND
Hedlund founded
International Greetings
in 1979 and has been its
Non Executive Deputy
Chairman since
13 December, 2007.
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 The Costco Connection 9
your Christmas table
Coburg Smokehouse Ham on the Bone is
the perfect centrepiece for your festive table..
Simply carve and serve cold.
If you are little more adventurous and would like to add another
dimension to this delicious ham why not try our specially
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Manuka Honey and Cloves already present in this succulent ham.
Item Number 36793
Burnt Manuka Honey,
Orange and Clove Glaze
You’ll need
200 ml Manuka Honey
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3 oranges, julienne rind and juic
tard
2 tsp powdered mus
ding
1 tsp cloves, plus extra for stud
Bone half
the
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Ham
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Method
medium
1. Heat honey in a saucepan over
golden,
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and
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juic
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then add oran
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and
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and clov
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or until reduced by half. Cool to
temperature.
skin from
2. Preheat oven to 180C. Remove
crisscross
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ham and discard. Score fat
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If you are lucky enough to have
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Exclusive to Costco
BUSINESSCONNECTION
Make your
business function
Holding an event for your business is a
great opportunity to generate goodwill.
Be sure to make the most of it.
WORDS Gillian Samuel
12 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
I
f you are throwing a party for
your staff, suppliers or business
partners, then don’t try and cut
corners, warns Forte Catering &
Events Director of Operations Ross
Mitchell. “Invest in the success of
the event,” he urges.
Mitchell’s credentials include
catering Costco parties where “we
cook and serve large banquet buffets
of all the food items available at
Costco. Even the celebratory cakes
are Costco sized”, he laughs.
His formula for hospitality
success includes taking the number
of guests and the hours of the
function and then calculating food
and beverage consumption over that
time. For example, if the party is
after work you need three different
offerings of light canapés to act as
entrées, three courses of something
more substantial such as pastries as
a dinner substitute, then something
sweet for dessert.
Conveniently for those on a budget,
he says the latest trend in food service
is a buffet grazing table. “It should
be a feast for the eyes,” he stresses.
Think antipasto and cheese plates,
breads, dips and marinades, with fresh
produce and finger food desserts.
fun
Mitchell also recommends
setting up a photo booth with props
so people can create their own
memento of the party.
Outsource the catering
As for alcohol, he allows two
drinks per person for the first hour
and then one for every hour after,
along with one soft option an hour.
He suggests choosing a catering
feature, such as craft beer tasting
or cocktail making, that acts as a
talking point.
In choosing a venue he advises
keeping it local. “Keep it familiar
for your staff and make it easy
for transportation. As an added
thankyou for your team, offer to
cover their taxi fare home.”
Timing is a factor as well. “The
middle of the week is a great option,”
he says. “Start the event early to
create a buzz throughout the work
day. Having a day or two of work days
after the party allows the staff to
continue the positive feeling.”
For setting the mood he says
lighting is important. “You can
use soft lighting to create an
atmosphere: up-lights on the walls or
candles, for example.” Otherwise let
the space where you are entertaining
dictate the décor or theming. “With
colours, stick to a muted neutral
palette unless you want to make a
colour a feature, with red tablecloths
perhaps,” he advises.
The reason why people love Costco
party platters is that having someone
else do the heavy lifting when it
comes to the food frees you up to
spend time with your guests. And it
gives you more flexibility.
“You could set up in a car park
or a garage or a garden,” says
Simmone Logue, whose Simmone
Logue Fine Food Company much
loved by Sydney foodies is gold
licensed by the Restaurant &
Catering Industry Association.
“Do as much preparation as
possible in the kitchen proper and
then add the final touches before
serving. There’s less mess, less fuss
and less staff on the job.”
She has a couple of tips for
creating a menu that appeals to
all comers: “Men like cocktail pies
and sausage rolls, women prefer
canapés, such as croutes with
salmon. Gluten free is a huge trend
now and we always include these
items. I also think the superfood
push is really big. People are a lot
more aware of what they’re putting
in their systems.”
Logue has used a number of her
signature dishes to create the Costco
Party in a Box, which includes
Simmone Logue quiches and chicken
and meat pies.
“These recipes were developed
many years ago and we are famous
for them. We put a lot of love into
what we do,” she says.
The Party in a Box selection
also features gluten-free corn
fritters, hokkien noodle and chicken
meatballs with chilli jam dipping
sauce, and dim sums.
“There are 60 pieces in the box
and we’ve done the hard work. If
you’ve got 30 people for a party and
you buy a couple of boxes and put
them in the oven, then make the
pieces look pretty on a platter, you’re
done,” Logue says.
“You can get formulas for
presentation and arranging the pieces
from the Simmone Logue website.
People eat with their eyes.”
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 The Costco Connection 13
ADVERTORIAL
Mobile
connection
Visit Mobile Centre, your new one-stop
shop for best value deals on plans
and devices.
W
hen you visit your local Costco warehouse in
November you will notice something different:
a new Mobile Centre kiosk.
These kiosks, operated by AMT Group, are supplying
best in market solutions to your telco needs. AMT Group
is perfectly positioned to provide Costco members with a
great deal.
AMT Group have been in the telco category
in Australia since 1989, operating here and in the
Philippines under the Allphones brand and managing
telco retail stores on behalf of premium global brands
Samsung and Vodafone.
At the global level, AMT Group is wholly owned by
GLENTEL Inc. in Canada, which for more than 10 years
has run the Wireless Etc kiosks delivering great deals to
Costco members.
Costco Mobile Centre gives you access to competitive
multicarrier offerings including a full suite of products
from our major partner Vodafone and smart phone
brands like Samsung.
Costco members will have exclusive access to prepaid and post-paid special offers and outright handsets
including the latest smart phone devices. Mobile Centre
is also poised to deliver on ‘the internet of things’: remote
capability to control numerous items of electronic
equipment in your home via your device.
Mobile Centre’s expert staff can show you how to get
the maximum value out of your device in your day to day
life, at work, at home, in the office or while you’re out
and about. AMT Group prides itself on offering great
customer service, after-sales service, product knowledge
and the ability to provide our members with great deals
so be sure to pop into a Mobile Centre kiosk for a chat.
*Kiosk and product may vary
T E C H C O N N E C T I O N
The
game
is up
WORDS Alex Kidman
Whether it’s your Facebook
account, music videos or
that television series you’ve
been meaning to watch, with
today’s gaming consoles what
you engage with is up to you.
16 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
“P
urchasing a gaming console
is no longer just to play
games. It’s more an addition
to the home like a connectivity hub for
the family,” says Costco’s Consumer
Electronics and Gaming Assistant Buyer
Silvana Arena.
“It has evolved. Where people might
have the perception that you just play a
game, it’s much more now. You can hook
it up to your home theatre for Blu-Ray
playback, social media is integrated and
streaming entertainment via services
such as Netflix is easy and fun.”
T E C H C O N N E C T I O N
THE
COSTCO
CONNECTION
Buyer’s picks: Games consoles
You might not be a gamer yourself but the chances are
very good you know somebody who is, which means
that you’re in an ideal position to buy someone you
know the ideal gift.
But which console should you buy? Costco makes
it easy with a selection of great console bundles that
get you playing great games from the moment they
are installed.
Microsoft Xbox One 500GB with FIFA 16
Microsoft’s approach to gaming sits “in the middle ground, with a little
something for everybody. It offers the higher end gamers the experience they
crave, as well as family titles”, Arena says. Its Xbox Live online service offers
both online matchmaking and free monthly games, and the Xbox One also
allows you to play a variety of Xbox 360 titles if you’ve got an older gaming
library with an upcoming software update. If you have a Microsoft Windows 10
PC you can even stream Xbox One games directly to it for when the family TV
is busy, so gaming fans can still get their fix.
In the sports gaming world there’s no bigger title than FIFA 16, the authentic
and engaging soccer sim beloved by millions worldwide and now bundled
with the Xbox One sold by Costco. Item 31808
We’ve come a long way from gathering around the
cathode-ray tube to play Pong. Today’s games consoles
offer a degree of immersion never before seen,
bolstered by fluid and astonishingly lifelike graphics,
and game concepts that put Space Invaders to shame.
One of the key aspects of today’s gaming consoles
is their ability to go online. This covers online
multiplayer gaming, so even if you’re at home alone
you’re never wanting for some competition, as well
as digital delivery of updates and new content to the
games you love to play.
The nature of the gaming community has
changed as well, shifting permanently away from the
image of gamers as solely young adult males.
“The gaming industry as a whole is attracting a
broader spectrum of age groups and gender. It’s not
just the 18 to 33-year-old males that it used to be,”
Arena says.
As the gaming market has changed, so have
the games people play, with traditional gaming
genres joined by a variety of offerings to appeal
to the whole family, including titles with interactive
elements that can teach younger players, such
as Lego Dimensions or Disney Infinity 3.0, or
engage older ones, like Journey or Heavy Rain,
where decision making is more important than
hand-eye coordination.
The Playstation 4 and Xbox One are also fully
capable Blu-Ray players for those nights at home
with the latest hot movie. The Wii U, PS4 and Xbox
One can all handle streaming media too, so if you’ve
caught the Netflix bug they’re an easy-to-use way to
binge-watch the latest series or classic movie hits.
“Netflix is such a hot topic for the end consumer,”
Arena says, “but so are services like Foxtel and
Spotify. You can have all those entertainment
experiences through your gaming console.”
18 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
*Available in warehouses from
6 November
Playstation 4 1TB with Call of Duty:
Black Ops 3
Sony’s Playstation consoles “have always
appealed to the hardcore traditional gamers”,
according to Arena. The 1TB of storage available
in Costco’s Playstation 4 bundle gives you ample
space to store game files, as well as other types
of media content. Costco bundles the Playstation
4 with the latest instalment in the world’s biggest
first-person shooter franchise, Call of Duty: Black
Ops 3. It’s the ideal choice for the mature action
gamer, whether playing the gripping singleplayer campaign or jumping online for some
frantic multiplayer action. Item 37291
Wii U Premium 32GB
with Mario Maker
Nintendo is “typically the choice of younger
families,” says Arena. Nintendo is the classic
games maker of choice, with the innovative
Wii U and its full screen gamepad offering
an entirely different way to play games.
Nintendo’s titles tend towards the family
friendly, with a focus on lots of competitive
and cooperative lounge room play.
Costco’s Wii U Bundle comes with the
latest in the long-running Super Mario Bros
series, Mario Maker. This time, though, the
impetus is down to the player, with a unique
creation mode that uses the Wii U gamepad
to quite literally draw new Super Mario Bros
levels as your taste and creativity demand,
or download the thousands of levels being
created by gamers across the globe. Item 36429
F O R YO U R H E A LT H
Stony heart,
tender taste
WORDS Georgina Haigh
Darkly gleaming cherries, blushing
peaches and nectarines, golden
greengage plums – the seductive
appeal of fresh stone fruit is
combined with a powerhouse of
nutritional benefits.
20 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
S
ummer is here and with the warmer weather comes a special
seasonal treasure in the form of pallets upon pallets of fresh,
succulent stone fruit in gloriously jewel-like hues.
Peaches, nectarines, plums, apricots and cherries are all in season
right now and that is fantastic news for both your health and your
fruit bowl. Whether you love eating yours messily over the sink or in
the garden, baking them to incorporate in a tasty dessert or popping
them in the blender to make a morning smoothie, the health benefits
of these tender-fleshed beauties are surprising and plentiful.
“Stone fruit are great to eat at this time of year because they
are readily available, better value and at their peak when it comes
to taste,” says accredited practising dietitian and the Dietitians
Association of Australia spokesperson Maria Packard. “They offer a
very wide variety of antioxidants and nutrients too.”
It’s important for us to meet our recommended intake of fruit
and vegies all year round but it’s safe to say that during summer,
with stores practically bursting at the seams with fresh fruit, there’s
really no excuse not to hit your five-a-day quota and enjoy the
ultimate taste of summer while you’re at it.
We hand pick the
fruit from
the outer edges of
the tree where it is
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Your guide to seasonal stonefruit:
Selection & Handling
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is the sweetest
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Fruit skin becomes dull as fruit ripens
3. Look for apricots that have a orange/red blush.
Storage
1. Store Stonefruit in the fruit bowl
2. Do not put fruit in the refrigerator as the fruit can turn brown internally and loose its
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www.montague.com.au
F O R YO U R H E A LT H
Packing a nutritional punch
“We tend to eat a stone fruit with the
skin on, which is beneficial because
the skin is a great source of fibre,”
says Packard, “It can help keep
our digestive system healthy and
prevent constipation.”
The skin can also reveal a lot
about the nutrients packed into
stone fruit, Packard explains. When
fruit looks in good condition and
the skin is firm and the colour
vibrant, this gives you an indication
of readiness and nutritional value.
Particularly when shopping for
peaches, nectarines and apricots,
look for the ones that have a deep
warm-orange colour because this
indicates the presence of betacarotene, a powerful antioxidant.
“Beta-carotene can help
strengthen your eyesight, improve
your immune function and, as it
can be converted into vitamin A,
even promotes growth in children,”
explains Packard, who adds that stone
fruit are also a rich but relatively
unknown source of potassium.
“Most people think that bananas
are the go-to for potassium but stone
fruit have high levels of this nutrient
too. Two small apricots have about
the same amount of potassium as a
banana and will serve as one of your
five-a-day fruit intake.”
Rich in vitamins A, C and E,
stone fruit can, among other things,
aid the production of white blood
cells that help you fight infections
and collagen which promotes firm,
youthful skin.
They have an incredibly low
glycemic index, which helps stabilise
blood glucose levels so when the
3pm slump comes around indulge
yourself in the naturally sweet
flavour of stone fruit instead of
reaching for the cookie jar – you’ll
thank yourself for it later.
Finally, if you’re susceptible to
restless, broken sleep or travel a
lot and regularly suffer jet-lag you
might want to try eating a bowl of
cherries. High levels of melatonin
which help regulate your body’s
sleep and waking cycle means that
stone fruit can work its magic even
when you’re at rest.
A tasty and tantalising
ingredient
In addition to their numerous
health benefits let’s not forget
that, first and foremost, stone fruit
are utterly delicious to eat. Their
distinctive flavours lend themselves
perfectly to desserts, smoothies
and sliced up as a topping but they
also work wonderfully in a variety
of savoury recipes too. With tastes
ranging from gratifyingly sweet to
mouth-puckeringly tart – stone
fruit add a nice twist to proteins,
salads and garnishes.
“Stone fruits are such a unique
ingredient,” says Packard, “You can
roast, poach, sauté and bake them
and their healthy pigments are still
available to the body.
“Peaches work nicely with
chicken, pork and fish, plums
with meats, nectarines are a great
addition to salads and the acidity
in apricots perfectly complements
chicken and salsa-type dips.”
With stone fruit season running
from October through to May
make sure you reap the remarkable
health and culinary benefits of these
seasonal gems while you can.
22 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
Caramelised nectarine
and goat’s cheese tart
INGREDIENTS
2 leeks
2 tbs olive oil
1 x 25cm pre-baked pastry shell
6 medium eggs
1 cup cream
Salt
Freshly ground black pepper
100g goat’s cheese
4 nectarines
½ small bunch rosemary, leaves picked
METHOD
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2.Prepare leeks by removing the tops and outer
leaves, then cut in half lengthwise and rinse.
Thinly slice.
3.Heat oil in a heavy-based pan over medium heat,
then add leeks and cook for 7–8 minutes or until
soft. Set aside.
4.Place pastry shell into a greased and lined 25cm
quiche tin.
5.Beat eggs with cream, salt and pepper. Spoon
cooled leeks into the pastry shell and pour egg
mix over. Crumble goat’s cheese on top.
6.Bake in oven for 25 minutes or until just set.
Meanwhile, halve nectarines, remove seeds and
slice into 1cm slices.
7.Remove tart from oven and top with nectarines.
Place under a medium grill for 5–7 minutes or
until nectarines are just golden.
8.Scatter tart with rosemary leaves to serve.
Brandy glazed ham
Ingredients
Coburg Smokehouse
½ leg ham
20 to 30 whole cloves
2 tsp Dijon mustard
Green beans with Prosciutto di Parma
& toasted almonds
Ingredients
500g green beans, ends
trimmed
300g Prosciutto di Parma
3
tbs extra-virgin olive oil
2
tbs lemon juice
2
tbs flaked almonds, toasted
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil. Blanch green beans
for 1–2 minutes until tender. Drain immediately and pat dry.
3. D
ivide beans into 12 bundles and wrap with prosciutto.
4. A
rrange bean bundles on a lined baking dish and drizzle with
1 tbs olive oil and 1 tbs lemon juice. Bake for 5 minutes each
side until prosciutto is crispy.
5. R
emove from oven, drizzle with remaining oil and lemon juice,
then sprinkle with toasted flaked almonds.
Serrano wrapped peaches
Ingredients
300g Manolete Serrano Jamon
6
large peaches
1 bunch basil, leaves picked
1 tbs olive oil
Balsamic glaze
2
cups Kirkland Signature balsamic vinegar
½ cup brown sugar
Method
1. C
ombine balsamic vinegar with brown sugar in a saucepan
over medium heat, stirring constantly until sugar has dissolved. Bring
to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer for about 20 minutes until
glaze is reduced by half. The glaze should coat the back of a spoon.
Let cool and pour into a jar with a lid then store in the refrigerator.
2. C
ut each peach into halves and remove the seed, then slice each
half into 3 pieces. Take 1 peach segment and place a basil leaf on
one side. Wrap the peach and basil with a slice of jamon. Place loose
end down on board while you work. Repeat until all peach segments
are wrapped.
3. B
rush lightly with olive oil and cook in a pan or on the barbecue until
the jamon is cooked. Transfer to a serving plate and drizzle with
balsamic glaze.
50g fine-cut
2
marmalade
60ml brandy
1 tsp arrowroot
Method
1. Preheat oven to 180°C.
2. R
emove the skin only from the ham, trying not
to remove any fat. Using a sharp knife, score the
fat into a criss-cross pattern. Place a whole clove
into the centre of each diamond, pushing in well.
3. P
lace the mustard, marmalade and brandy into
a saucepan over low heat, whisking gently until
the marmalade dissolves. Continue to cook
for a further 5–6 minutes or until mixture is
slightly reduced.
4. M
ix the arrowroot with a little cold water, add
to the glaze and cook for another 1–2 minutes,
stirring until thick. Set aside for 15 minutes
to cool.
5. U
sing a large pastry brush, brush glaze all over
the ham, making sure the fat is covered.
6. L
ine a baking dish with baking paper, place the
ham in the dish and bake for 20–25 minutes or
until the edges are tinged golden. Remove and
slice to serve warm or cold.
Crunchy golden
roast potatoes
Ingredients
5
00g small roasting potatoes
Salt
1 tbs Luv-a-Duck duck fat
Freshly ground black pepper
Method
1. P
reheat oven to 200°C.
2. P
eel the potatoes and place in a
saucepan with plenty of cold salted
water. Bring to the boil and simmer for
about 20 minutes or until tender. Do not
overcook.
3. D
rain the potatoes, removing as much
water as possible.
4. R
eturn potatoes to the pan with the duck
fat and salt and pepper.
5. C
over with a lid and give potatoes a
vigorous shake to rough up the edges
and coat them with the duck fat.
6. P
lace potatoes on a lined roasting tray in
a single layer. Roast for approximately 40
minutes or until golden and crunchy.
It’s your annual opportunity to break out your
best linen, flatware, the good cutlery and crystal
glassware, and gather the clan round the table to
enjoy a proper spread that includes roast vegies,
pudding with brandy butter and all the trimmings.
What’s good about it?
This kind of Christmas meal has a single
central focus, either a ham or a turkey is
ideal. Get an early start to get the roast
on, then prep all the vegies. While your
meat is in the oven, sending delicious
foodie aromas throughout your home,
sit down to open pressies with the kids
and relax with a glass of bubbly until it’s
time to put the vegies on.
Cook your root vegetables towards
the end of the roast cooking time, and
don’t forget those crunchy golden
potatoes! Simply serve in preheated
dishes when the meat is ready. Once the
roast comes out of the oven all you have evergreen centrepiece and hanging
to do is deputise someone to carve.
a bunch of mistletoe in a doorway
are guaranteed to bring the spirit of
Tip: Lay the table, including glassware,
Christmas to your home. A classical
napery, china and serving implements,
recording of beautifully sung carols
the night before. Prepare and dish the
playing quietly in the background helps
condiments well ahead of time.
to set the mood.
Ask the guests to bring: fruit and
nuts, mince pies, shortbread, cream
for the pudding, wine and spirits, and
Christmas cake.
All the trimmings: crackers – party hats
and reading jokes are mandatory – an
Do it if: you enjoy tradition, have
beautiful things that you love having the
opportunity to use and have guests who
will appreciate the formality of an oldfashioned Christmas.
This style of celebratory meal suits a casual approach
and buffet or garden setting. Plenty of cold plates and
salads take the pressure off the host and suit summery
weather, freeing you up to choose what, if anything,
you want to serve hot.
What’s good about it?
You can share out responsibility and cost if you ask your
guests to each bring a dish. You don’t need matching
china or to buy large bowls especially for the group
gathering. Presentation can be informal and you won’t be
confined to the kitchen.
Best of all, there’s no mad scramble to serve everything
hot – but there might be a mad scramble to beat the
crowds to the freshest seafood!
Tip: Do as much as you can the night before, chopping
up vegies and assembling salads without dressing or
elements that spoil, such as avocadoes or tomatoes. If
you are barbecuing, ensure the gas bottle is full.
In the morning assemble your salads and arrange
seafood and cold food on platters, cover and put in the
fridge. Set out your condiments and make sure the drinks
are chilled.
Ask the guests to bring: cheeses, fruit paste and
crackers or lavosh bread and dips, olives, fresh
sourdough, grapes, cherries, bubbles and white wine, a
fruit and Prosecco jelly, gourmet ice-cream, rocky road
broken into chunks.
All the trimmings: one word: fairy lights! Scatter some
tinsel around if you fancy. If you’re having a late afternoon
or evening celebration consider tea light candles or
Japanese lanterns for mood lighting. Select a playlist of
low-key dance or chill-out music for a relaxed vibe.
Do it if: you’re on a budget, getting together with friends
or simply want to enjoy the day and the company without
sweating it.
Oysters with a kick
Ingredients
12 freshly shucked oysters
1 large lemon, juiced
1 tbs Tabasco sauce
1 tbs finely chopped fresh dill
Fattoush
Ingredients
3 pieces Lebanese bread
2 tbs olive oil for baking
½ tsp ground sumac
1kg medley tomatoes, diced
3
large Lebanese cucumbers,
diced
1 red onion, peeled and finely
diced
1 ½ cups roughly chopped
parsley
1 ½ cups roughly chopped
mint
1 cup crumbled Brancourts
Farm Cheese
Dressing
4 tbs olive oil
2 tbs lemon juice
1 garlic clove, peeled and
crushed
Coarse sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Method
1. P
reheat oven to 200°C. Brush both sides of Lebanese
bread with oil and sprinkle with sumac, then place
on an oven tray. Bake in oven, turning once during
cooking, for 5–7 minutes or until golden and crisp.
Remove from heat and set aside to cool. Tear up into
medium size pieces.
2. T
oss together tomatoes, cucumber, red onion,
parsley and mint.
3. C
ombine dressing ingredients in a jar and shake well
to mix thoroughly. Pour over salad ingredients and
toss through.
4. R
ight before serving, carefully mix through torn
Lebanese bread and sprinkle with crumbled cheese.
Method
1. A
rrange oysters on a serving
platter on a bed of rock salt or
crushed ice.
2. S
prinkle a few drops of lemon
juice on each oyster, then
dot with a couple of drops of
Tabasco sauce.
3. S
prinkle with dill and serve
immediately.
Grilled chilli lime prawns
Ingredients
4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
3 Birds eye chillies, diced
2 tbs olive oil
3 tsp freshly squeezed lime juice
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1kg raw prawns, peeled and deveined, tails intact
Method
1. C
ombine the garlic, chilli, oil, lime juice, salt and pepper
in a large bowl and stir well. Add the prawns and coat
with the marinade. Cover with clingwrap and refrigerate
for 15–20 minutes.
2. H
eat a barbecue or grill to high. Grill prawns for 2
minutes each side or until they are golden.
3. S
erving suggestion: whip up a tasty lemon mayonnaise
in a flash by combining ½ cup good quality egg
mayonnaise with 1 tsp each of freshly squeezed lemon
juice and white wine vinegar.
Mussels with lemon, capers & parsley
Ingredients
1.2kg mussels, rinsed and scrubbed
2 lemons
125g butter
1 tbs capers, lightly crushed
4 tbs chopped fresh parsley
Coarse sea salt
Freshly ground black pepper
Method
1. H
eat a barbecue or grill to medium and lightly oil. Halve lemons and lightly oil the
cut side.
2. M
elt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Remove pan from heat and
stir capers and parsley through then set aside.
3. P
lace mussels on barbecue in a single layer; add lemons, cut side down.
4. G
rill for 4–5 minutes or until mussels open and lemons are lightly browned.
5. T
ransfer mussels as they open to a serving platter or bowl. Pour butter over
mussels and add salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve lemons on the side.
A festive feast
starts with a
delicious salad.
Try serving barbequed Honey &
Lemon Zest Chicken with our
Pumpkin & Cous Cous Salad for an
easy and tasty brunch!
Ingredients (Serves 4)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
7 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
5 large garlic cloves, crushed & chopped
1 & 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon dried oregano
3 teaspoons honey
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
4 teaspoons lemon zest
Instructions
1 Place chicken breasts between 2 pieces of wax
paper and, using a meat mallet, flatten to an even
1/2 inch thickness.
2 Mix all ingredients except chicken together in
a large bowl. Add chicken breasts and massage
marinade into meat. Cover the bowl with cling
wrap and place in the refrigerator. Allow to
marinate for 5 hours.
3 Preheat BBQ grill to high. Lightly dip a wad of
paper towels in vegetable oil and, using tongs,
carefully rub over grates several times until
glossy and coated. Place the chicken breasts
on the grill, covered, for 2−3 minutes per side.
Brush more marinade over the chicken breasts
before turning.
4 Allow chicken to rest, then slice and
serve over a bed of Salad Servers
Pumpkin & Cous Cous Salad.
ge of 1kg sala d tubs ostco us
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www.saladservers.com.au
FOR YOUR TABLE
ENTERTAINING
SHORTCUTS
It’s the time of year when we socialise the most
but that doesn’t mean you have to miss out on
any of the fun by being stuck in the kitchen.
These gourmet-quality finger foods and
snacks streamline catering for groups of guests,
freeing you up to enjoy the occasion while
everybody has something tasty to nibble on.
Say cheese and smile
From Australia’s dairy capital Tasmania’s
premium cheese maker South Cape, the
Delicious Share Platter takes all the effort
out of collating a cheeseboard.
Popular choices of gouda and cheddar
are complemented by fruit and herb
cheeses, along with fine wafer crackers and
quince paste. All you have to do is arrange
them on a platter, garnish with a bunch of
grapes or some salty olives and stand back
as people sample and graze to their hearts’
– and stomachs’ – content. The South Cape
Delicious Share Platter is unique to Costco
and available now in the deli.
Price $28.99, Item 35549
Party in a Box
Treat your guests to this selection of delicious finger food from gourmet
caterer Simmone Logue. The Party in a Box pack includes Chicken and
Leek Cocktail Pies, Bacon and Cheddar Cocktail Quiches, Pork and
Water Chestnut Dim Sims, Chicken and Hokkien Noodle Bites, gluten
free Corn Fritters and Capsicum Jam.
These tasty and satisfying hors d’oeuvres are made from Simmone
Logue’s tried and true ‘greatest hits’ recipes, with everything you need
for your next party. Party in a Box caters for 12 people, is unique to
Costco and available now in the freezer.
Price $49.98, Item 36533
Nuggets of gold
Who doesn’t love a tender bite or three of crumbed chicken? These
Eastern Kitchen Kara-Age Chicken chunks have been tenderised in a
traditional Japanese flavoured marinade to give them extra zing. Just
heat in the oven until they turn golden and serve. The generous 1 kilo
bag allows for seconds for all but the greediest guests!
Unique to Costco, available now in the freezer.
Price $15.99, Item 36975
Easy as pie
Party pies are an Australian entertaining tradition and these little
beauties from I Love Pies are made using special sour cream pastry
and really good ingredients. The 48-piece pack offers four yummy
flavour options: Angus Beef Mince and Onion, Angus Beef Steak
and Rosemary, Moroccan Lamb and Spinach, and Creamy
Vegetable Korma. Just heat and serve to get the party started – and
don’t forget to serve with some good old Aussie tomato sauce!
These authentic New Zealand-made pies contain no MSG, no palm oil,
no preservatives and no artificial flavours or colours.
Unique to Costco and available now in the freezer.
Price $34.99, Item 36216
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 The Costco Connection 33
WINECONNECTION
Australian boutique winemaker Lisa
McGuigan has made what everybody
else isn’t doing her mantra for creating
modern wines with popular appeal.
WORDS GILLIAN SAMUEL
L
isa McGuigan is doing it her
way. Her wine blends are
outside of the mainstream,
the packaging postmodern. Her
operation, although international
in its scope and distribution, is
intentionally lean and run using
contractors. When McGuigan thinks
of her consumer, she uses herself and
her friends as the model.
Named one of the 21 Most
Influential Liquor Identities of the
Past 21 Years in 2011, she started her
own label, Lisa McGuigan Wines,
in 2010 after enjoying enormous
success with Tempus Two, her first
independent venture. Now she sells a
small range of specialised wines, two
of which attracted the attention of
Costco’s wine buyers.
“I exhibited my Grüner Blanc
and Silver Moscato at a trade show
in August,” McGuigan explains. “The
Costco ladies tried them and came to
talk to me because they really liked
the wines and the packaging.”
The result: Costco is going to
carry Lisa McGuigan Wines. “I’ve
been hoping for someone like
Costco,” she says. “It’s a great break
for me because I sell to small bottle
shops and restaurants” – a core
Costco demographic, in fact.
She says her experience of
distributing Tempus Two through
Tesco supermarkets in the United
Kingdom “taught me that people
pick out something that stands
out to them”.
Here’s where McGuigan’s
maverick streak and efforts to
break loose from three previous
generations of winemakers’ DNA
comes into play. Although she
learned to make wine in the family
business she originally trained as
a chef, then in hotel management
and spent 10 years in five-star
hotels, “where things had to be
shiny and polished, and that
rubbed off on me in terms of
innovative packaging”.
label
Noticing that her
friends were starting to
choose vodka drinks “because
they looked cool”, she wanted to
create something “that looks cool
on the table and when you open it,
it’s even better”.
Her elegantly streamlined bottles
with their minimalist metallic
labels, cross motifs and reversed
lettering in the brand name echo
McGuigan’s own sharply gothic
personal style but are also the result
of careful analysis.
“My philosophy is that if females
buy the wine, if the product looks
good to women, if it has clean lines
and the masculinity of a metallic,
it speaks to both men and women
when it’s brought to the table. And
it should suit both palettes.”
She says that while research
shows that 70 per cent of wine
was bought by women in 2014 –
“women do most of the shopping,
whether it’s for home or their jobs”
– male and female tastes are often
quite different.
“Generally guys buy wine based
on what their father used to drink.
It’s a quietly confident approach –
but women will buy the opposite
to what their parents would drink:
something new.
"Having been around
wines for so long, mainstream
varieties are boring to me so I looked
for some new and unusual varietals.
I was looking for products that I
would want to drink and that my
friends want to drink. I’m a Gen X
trying to get Gen Y off the ready to
drinks and alcopops!”
She is always eager to trial new
flavours and takes a fresh approach
to established varieties, which
is where the small scale of Lisa
McGuigan Wines is an advantage.
“I have to be able to be flexible and
reactive,” she says.
McGuigan sources different
pressings from all over Australia:
Pinot Gris from Orange, Pinot Grigio
from the warmer King Valley in
Victoria, Shiraz from the Barossa
and Muscat from South Australia.
“It allows me not to be stuck with
certain varieties. I look for things
that are a bit special.”
McGuigan’s global business
approach means that she also
looks beyond the local offerings.
“I’m using varietals such as
Grüner Veltliner, which is grown
in small lots in Hungary. I’ve done
something completely different
with winemakers overseas, such
as Henckel in Germany which has
agreed to sell me some of their very
dry, very fresh minerally Grüner
Veltliner in bulk. It gives you
something great to work with. It’s
imported in large bladders and we
finish it off here. It’s such a unique
variety that’s ideal for our climate
in terms of consumption.”
Right now she’s excited about
partnering with an Italian
Prosecco producer. “I’ll bring
in a couple of pallets as part
of the international collection.
It’s so exciting and fun, and I get
to learn new things,” she says
enthusiastically. “Great things
happen when you work with
other producers.”
THE
COSTCO
CONNECTION
Lisa McGuigan Silver Moscato
Item 36701
Lisa McGuigan Grüner Blanc
Item 36702
Lisa McGuigan Pinot Grigio
Item 36704
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 The Costco Connection 35
Discover
THE BEST KEPT savory
FROM THE SEA.
secret
ROASTED SEASONED SEAWEED SNACK
Free of Artificial Preservatives
Winter Harvest
For Optimal Quality and Flavour
Munch Away to Happiness
Item #793385
MADE IN KOREA
ADVERTORIAL
World
culture in
a packet
Beef jerky has a cosmopolitan history
and, it turns out, universal appeal in
the modern world too.
*New flavours and packaging, shown, available in warehouses
from the end of November.
T
here’s a yarn in Australian folklore that beef jerky began
in Australia, when the country was wild, and men in the
outback single-handedly built their huts and rounded up
horses and cattle. They were the original Australian bushmen.
Tastes were simple and times were hard and often a piece
of dried meat and a warm fire was all they had for survival.
One such man was James McGregor, who would boast to
others that if it weren’t for his wife Mary-Anne’s dried beef
he’d never have lasted the long outback rides.
McGregor and Mary-Anne gained notoriety in northern
New South Wales as great horse and cattle handlers, and
jerky became the convenience food of Aussie frontiersmen
and women, especially when they needed to travel great
distances. Small wonder beef jerky is such a popular snack in
Australia, passed around outback campfires and the stands
in sporting stadiums, as well as along the lounge at home in
front of the TV.
It should come as no surprise, either, that the best
Australian jerky comes from the northern New South Wales
capital for beef cattle, Casino. That’s where New World
Foods set up business in 1977 and began producing tasty softtextured jerky, quietly conquering the Australian market.
“We only use Australian export grade quality beef,”
explains managing director Don Nisbet, “and the
processing is unique to our manufacturing
facility, developed and fine-tuned over
30 years.”
Then in 2003 the company expanded its
horizons. “We had a vision to grow the business
from its humble beginnings,” Nisbet says.
“We started our relationship with Costco in
Japan so when Costco came to Australia we were
well versed in how Costco operates and we knew
how to think like a Costco member.”
That means, he says, New World Foods understood
and was open to “rolling out products that would
have value for members” in terms of flavours, packing
and sizes.
“We have a range of flavours tailor-made to suit the
markets we operate in, including Japanese teriyaki and
Korean bulgogi,” Nisbet adds.
The partnership has resulted in New World Foods selling
beef jerky snacks in Australia, Japan, Korea, the United
Kingdom and Europe, encouraging the company to develop
new products and distribution relationships in the push to
take its quality local product to the rest of the world.
“Costco has been pivotal to our growth and an ideal
business partner for us to align ourselves with,” Nisbet says.
It just goes to show, if you are setting out on an adventure
it pays to have some jerky in your pack.
FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
Christmas
countdown
W
e’ve gathered together
advice on everything from
getting organised to the
onslaught of houseguests, shopping
for gifts and food, and creating
decorations and menus your guests
will be talking about long after the
last piece of pudding has gone.
The first step is to start planning
now. Staying on top everything in
November and December can be
a full-time job. Hang a large white
board in the kitchen and write down
all social and school engagements, so
everyone has a clear picture of who
needs to be where, and when.
Also schedule in shopping trips
and appointments, such as haircuts
or beauty treatments, before the
last-minute rush when everywhere
is booked out and you’ll have to use
the pudding basin for the kids’ trims
– which we really don’t advise.
Top tip: Keep a notebook with
lists for gifts, decorations, food and
household jobs.
Make a gift list
Make a list of everyone you need
to buy for and set a budget based
on how close you are to that person.
Your spouse and children usually
command the biggest spend,
followed by grandparents, siblings,
nieces and nephews, and friends.
Start shopping this weekend.
Buying a few gifts here and there
up until Christmas saves that lastminute panic when everything
ends up on the already groaning
credit card.
That said, leaving some things
until the last minute can save you
a small fortune. In the day or two
before Christmas, stores go into
panic mode to get rid of overstock
and usually offer big discounts and
flash sales. A combination of both
approaches could save you a lot of
stress and money. The earlier you
can get more expensive gifts, such as
cameras, phones and computers, out
of the way, the better.
According to life coach Lynne
Trevail from Unstuff professional
organisers, “When it comes to gifts,
consider giving an experience,
rather than more stuff. Movie tickets,
gift vouchers, a facial, manicure…
All of these will be appreciated and
mean you also don’t have to store
large items.”
For children’s teachers, coaches
and caregivers, foodstuffs are always
a great idea, along with a handmade
card from the kids.
You can also suggest each parent
from the class or team contributes
a set amount (anywhere from $5 to
$20 each) and buy a voucher so the
recipient can purchase something
38 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
WORDS Yvette Chegwidden
Follow our experts’ useful tips
to help you plan for success –
not stress – and make sure this
year’s Christmas celebrations
are the stuff great memories
are made of.
they really want. Hampers are also a
great idea.
Getting the kids to make presents
doesn’t have to be macaroni glued
to cardboard. A lovely tea or coffee
cup lined with pretty tissue paper
and filled with chocolates or
homemade biscuits will always be
gratefully received. Or purchase
plain calico tote bags and get the kids
to decorate them with coloured pens
appropriate for the fabric, or iron-on
patterns. Calendars for the following
year filled with photos, are also easy
to make and useful too.
If things are a little tight, suggest
a Kris Kringle arrangement where
Holiday
TRIMMINGS...
...and
SOUPS
...and
DIPS
...and
BREADS
...and
BATTERS
...and
DESSERTS
...and
BEVERAGES
...and
DRESSINGS
...and
SPREADS
...and
SMOOTHIES
...and
SAUCES
#31990
For delicious holiday creations
visit blendtec.com/recipes.
FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
each person buys one significant gift
for a nominated family member. Set
a budget of anywhere between $20
to $100 and buy something you know
the recipient will truly love. This is
much better than spending money
on lots of cheaper gifts for loads of
people, that – let’s be honest – will
either be regifted or end up in landfill.
Fresh take on decorations
Nathan Evans from design
Aficionado says this year’s colour
trends revolve around Australia’s
love affair with the beach. “For
everything from wreaths to trees and
table decorations, the colours are
turquoise, yellow and white in place
of traditional reds and greens.”
When choosing a wreath, pair
driftwood with turquoise and yellow
ribbon and possibly seashells as
a creative alternative to holly
and mistletoe.
For table centrepieces Evans
recommends “filling three clear glass
cylindrical vases of varying heights
with driftwood and lemons and
limes. Then people can actually make
use of the fresh citrus fruit on their
seafood”.
If you have little ones, buying one
special decoration each with them
every year adds a special touch and
helps create a lovely sense of tradition.
For something different, get the
kids to tie short lengths of gift ribbon
around foil-wrapped chocolates
and hang them on the tree. Friends
and family can spoil themselves by
picking them off the tree throughout
the day.
A festive family feast
Start planning your menu now and
decide if you’re going with traditional
roasts, a grand Aussie seafood
banquet, cold meats and salads or a
special international theme such as
Asian or Mediterranean. Celebrity
chef and author of Eat In Anna Gare
says the latter is a great way to share
the load. “Last year we had a Middle
Eastern theme,” she recalls. “Each
family brought a dish and we had an
amazing variety of smoked meats,
chargrilled seafood and delicious
salads. Everyone got engaged and
had a great time swapping recipes.”
Regardless of the menu style,
pre-ordering seafood and/or meat is a
great way to skip the queues. Arrange
pick-up on Christmas Eve or early on
Christmas morning. Bread, dairy, ice,
dips and deli products should ideally
be bought a day or two before.
“I always buy my fruit and
vegetables the weekend before
Christmas,” Gare says, “and I always
do all my prep the day before.
“My husband and I have a
tradition of starting the day with a
champagne in the bath so if all my
work is done I can enjoy a relaxing
day and roll with the festive flow.”
If you love a baked ham, she says,
“prepare the ham and glaze a day or
two before, then whack it under the
grill on the day so it’s slightly warm
and juicy to the bone, with a lovely
glossy, sticky glaze.”
In our hot climate, seafood is
great because it doesn’t take long to
cook and is suited to a barbecue. “I’m
a huge fan of barramundi, prawns,
fresh oysters, crayfish and divercaught scallops,” Gare says, “but
poached whole ocean trout always
looks beautiful on the table and can
be done the day before, and I always
make my upside-down potato salad.”
Gare’s favourite quick and easy
recipes include:
• scallops on the barbecue, which
take less than two minutes
• snapper ceviche: Sprinkle 1cm
cubed pieces with salt and sugar,
marinate in citrus for half an hour
and toss through a chilli, tomato,
onion and coriander salsa
• king prawn salad: peel and cook
prawns the day before and jazz
them up with some pre-blanched
asparagus and snow peas. Toss with
leafy greens, shaved red radishes
and fennel. Dress it up on the day
with herb and dill dressing.
Remember,
your home
doesn’t have
to look like
a magazine
spread.
“Stylists
take hours
to create
the perfect
Christmas etiquette
bedroom for
This can be the hardest part of
a photo shoot,” Christmas. Whose family do you
spend the day with? How do you
she says.
avoid the annual family tension
convention or a ding-dong on the
nature strip?
Unless you want to skip the whole
thing by going on holiday, the logical
way is to alternate years between
FOR YOUR ENJOYMENT
families. You can also split the day
in half and do lunch with one family
and dinner with the other. However,
this can make Christmas more of
an exercise in exhaustion rather
than enjoyment.
On the other hand, if you have
family descending on your place,
Trevail says a huge cull is essential
beforehand. “Before any storage
devices are bought, get rid of things
you don’t need to create space for
your guests. Declutter in short bursts
of 15 minutes and start in a nonemotional area such as the bathroom
or kitchen. It’s easier to get rid of
old medications and half empty
shampoo bottles than removing
family belongings.”
Remember, your home doesn’t
have to look like a magazine spread.
“Stylists take hours to create the
perfect bedroom for a photo shoot,”
she says. “In reality, kids jump on
beds and leave stuff on the floor,
that’s life. Don’t aim for perfection.
Friends and family are coming to
see you. Don’t sweat the small stuff,
this is meant to be a relaxing time
of year.”
As for dealing with the chaos and
mess houseguests inevitably bring,
manage everyone’s expectations
from the start. “Consider telling
them your habits upfront,” Trevail
advises. “For example, please leave
your shoes at the front door, or
when you finish breakfast could you
please wash your plate? Everyone
has different household rules and
you cannot expect people to secondguess yours. A good guest is one
who pulls their weight and doesn't
freeload,” she adds.
If family politics are rife, she
suggests, “Always talk about others
in the positive. Look for what is
great about that person, not what
isn’t. Speaking negatively about
others creates a bad atmosphere
and infects other family members.
Don't buy into nasty gossip,” she
adds. “Leave the room or go for a
walk. If you don't add fuel to their
fire, the comments won't continue.
If your family likes drama, rent a
movie rather than create action in
the home. Drama is exhausting and
wastes time.”
Her final tip is to get out and be
active. “When people are bored they
get up to mischief. Go for a swim or a
walk. Keeping active promotes good
endorphins to keep everyone in a
good mood. Most importantly, just
enjoy the time you get to spend with
the people you love!”
Social media
You’re probably swimming against
the tide if you try and ban devices
altogether on Christmas day but a
no-phones policy during the actual
meal is a good idea and will definitely
assist the flow of conversation.
You can also limit posing for
photos to one or two sessions,
however, the flipside is that posting
those snapshots on social media is
a great way to share this special
day with loved ones in other cities,
states or countries, and also allows
you to see their day, even if you
can’t be together.
42 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
BUY BEFORE 15 DECEMBER
1.Wrapping paper and cards
2. Advent calendars, crackers
3.Decorations including lights
4.Snacks such as nuts, chips, crackers and
frozen appetisers
5.Baking supplies if you’re planning on making
homemade cakes and biscuits
6.Sweet treats including lollies, fudge, chocolates,
French truffles, shortbread and Christmas cookies,
pudding and Christmas cake
7. Soft drinks and alcohol
8.Napkins, paper towel, paper plates if needed
9.Extra cleaning and bathroom products if you’re
having houseguests.
10. And for heaven’s sake – don’t forget to fill the gas
bottle for the barbie!
Strong
& Tough
Vienna - 2 piece
hardside luggage set
EXCLUSIVE TO COSTCO
Set contains:
Large 4 Wheel Rollercase
Weight: 4.9kg
Size: 78 x 53 x 33cm
Cabin 4 Wheel Rollercase
Weight: 2.9kg
Size: 57 x 37 x 25cm
Available in black or red
The most powerful cordless stick vacuums.
Dyson V6 Absolute
Carpet and hard
floor specialist.
Two Dyson-engineered
cleaner heads.
HEPA filtration
to capture allergens.
Powered by the Dyson
digital motor V6.
Latest cleaner heads
The only vacuum with
No filters to wash or replace
No bags to buy and
No loss of suction.
54 Dyson Cinetic™ cyclones have rubber tips that vibrate
at a high frequency. This dislodges dust, preventing
the aperture from clogging. They are so efficient at
dust separation that no filter washing or replacement
is required – meaning no loss of suction.
Tools in the box
Mini tangle-free
turbine tool.
Swivel hard
floor tool.
Stair tool.
Combination
accessory tool.
Stubborn dirt
brush. Valued
at $29RRP.
Soft dusting brush.
Valued at $49RRP.
ST
HM
A COUNC
IL
ST
N AT I ONA
L
®
RALIA
T
M
(N
Z)
AS
H
For more information visit dyson.com.au
AU
A
Latest carbon fibre
turbine head.
Costco Exclusive tools
worth $78 RRP.
A
F O U N D AT I O
SENSITIVE
CHOICE
SUPP OR T IN G
A S T H M A CA RE
N
Proudly supporting
INSIDE COSTCO
Fill
it up!
You may pull in to one of our
Fuel Stations for the price but
you’ll come back for the way it
makes your vehicle run.
WORDS Sarah Marinos
O
ur Costco Fuel Stations offer the same
quality and value as our warehouses.
What comes out of the pump meets
industry standards in every respect – but with a
little magic added.
The fuel begins its journey at Mobil terminals
where Costco tankers collect supplies to deliver
across the country. All fuel sold in Australia must
meet stringent quality standards that are set by
the federal Department of the Environment and
once it reaches Costco’s Fuel Stations its quality
and efficiency get a boost in the form of an additive
exclusive to Costco in Australia and the United
States that improves engine performance, reduces
emissions and helps people to get more out of
their tank.
While it is not a requirement in Australia, in
the States an Environmental Protection Agency
mandate states that there must be a minimum
amount of additive in fuel. Because of this
regulation Costco in the US has spent a number of
years working to develop and refine a bespoke fuel
additive process which has been extensively tested
by independent laboratories.
“We are not reinventing the wheel in Australia,
as the testing of our additive has been done in
great depth in the US,” says Costco Australia’s Tim
Hill, Director of Real Estate & Construction.
“We use the same additive, mixing rate and
unique process that Costco USA implemented to
achieve their Top Tier Gas certification. This is
a completely voluntary standard developed by a
collaboration of the major US auto manufacturers.
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 The Costco Connection 45
INSIDE COSTCO
It set the additive rate higher than
the mandatory EPA standard in
order to ensure optimal engine
performance is achieved in today’s
more advanced engines.”
The additive can be found
in Costco’s three grades of fuel:
unleaded Regular 91, unleaded
Premium 98 and diesel.
But what exactly is a fuel additive?
Michael Farrugia, Fuel and Tyre
Regional Supervisor, describes it
as a specialised detergent. “It’s
nothing like a washing detergent,”
he explains.
“It’s a complex blend of organic
molecules and in combination with
the fuel the additive cleans the
internal workings of the engine. It
cleans intake valves and injectors
that help keep a new car running
like new. If you have an older car
the additive can also clean up older
intake valves and injectors, and
improve your vehicle’s performance.”
Fuel without an additive can leave
dirty deposits as it passes through
an engine, which means the vehicle
runs less efficiently. “You end up
with deposits on the injectors as the
fuel mixture comes through into the
engine and those deposits can block
the injectors,” Farrugia says. “You
can get deposits from the exhaust
on your car’s intake valves as well
and that disturbs the flow of air into
your engine. The fuel and air mixture
doesn’t combine as well and anything
that interrupts that flow affects the
engine’s performance.”
The additive in Costco fuel
helps remove these deposits. The
end result is that your engine
performs better.
“This means less stress on
internal components of the engine,
fewer trips to the mechanic, better
mileage, fewer emissions and less
costs,” Farrugia says.
Costco takes a different approach
to many fuel retailers in terms of
when the additive is mixed with the
fuel. In most cases, as fuel is loaded
into a tanker at a terminal the fuel
supplier mixes in the additive.
“Costco takes ownership of that
process ourselves,” Farrugia says.
“We are currently buying our fuel
from Mobil and our tankers collect
that fuel from their terminal. When
our tanker arrives at a Fuel Station,
the on-site attendant operates the
unique on-site additive system. The
pride our attendents take in Costco’s
reputation and its fuel business
convinced us that we could reliably
execute such a cutting-edge plan to
deliver even greater value to our loyal
members. The additives are blended
at the station at the time of delivery.
“The reason we do it this way
is that it allows us to get the best
value for members. We can buy good
quality fuel from a supplier offering
us the best deal and we’re not stuck
with their additive process – we
prefer to control that process to
make it the highest quality possible.”
THE
COSTCO
CONNECTION
WHERE TO FIND
A COSTCO FUEL
STATION
• Adelaide, SA
404–406 Churchill
Road, Kilburn,
SA 5084
• North Lakes, Qld
17–39 Cook Court,
North Lakes Qld 4509
• Crossroads, NSW
20 Parkers Farm
Place, Casula,
NSW 2170
• Canberra, ACT
39–41 Mustang
Ave, Majura Park,
Canberra Airport,
ACT 2609
• Moorabbin, Vic
8 Chifley Drive,
Moorabbin Airport,
Vic 3194
Costco Fuel is available only to
members, and pumps or dispensers
are activated by a membership
card. Fuel must also be paid for at
the pump, using a credit or debit
card. Fuel Stations are specifically
designed with traffic flows in mind to
incorporate a passing lane between
lanes to avoid unnecessary delays
and all dispensers are fitted with
extra-long hoses so that fuelling is
easy, regardless of which side your
tank is located.
Advanced vapour recovery
systems help prevent fugitive
vapours from escaping into the
surrounding atmosphere.
“We take our environmental and
legal obligations seriously and so we
have state-of-the art fuel monitoring
systems and sensors at our stations,”
says Farrugia.
“Our attendants conduct fuel
sampling once a week to check fuel
quality and we also have high-quality
filters on our pumps to ensure fuel
flow rates are maintained. We time
fuel pumping once a week and if that
drops below a certain level we change
the filter on a pump straightaway so
members can pump their fuel and be
on their way.”
Getting the most from your tank
RACV Manager Vehicle Engineering Michael Case says additives vary between fuel
brands but fuels marketed as containing additives are the higher octane products
available at fuel stations.
“Motorists should consider what the minimum octane requirement is for their
vehicle and purchase at least that grade of fuel,” he advises.
“This information is contained in the vehicle owner’s handbook or is available from
the manufacturer. If motorists wish to purchase a higher grade fuel they
must establish whether the benefits they receive from that fuel outweigh the
additional cost.”
46 The Costco Connection CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015
Still Australia’s
most trusted hands
Just one handprint of tread connects
each of your tyres to the road.
Which is why more Australians put
their safety in Bridgestone’s hands.
View the full Bridgestone range in store now.
Potenza performance tyres
deliver ultimate handling
and response, allowing you
to take sharp turns with
maximum precision.
bridgestone.com.au
Developed with luxury touring
in mind Turanza tyres are
engineered to provide a smooth,
comfortable and reliable ride in
any condition.
Whether you’re tackling the
harshest 4WD terrain or hitting
the highway in a luxury SUV,
there’s a hard working Dueler
tyre for you.
Ecopia is the ideal tyre for city
and highway driving. It offers
superior ride comfort, handling
and wear life, with the benefits
of fuel saving technology.
THE PERFECT GIFT!
TBP7000
Ultimate Versatility
Vitamix® created the high-performance blender with
unmatched power to break down whole foods,
delivering nutrients and vitality, quickly and easily.
A Vitamix blender has the versatility to quickly
transform the way you prepare fresh ingredients for
a variety of healthy meals like hot soups, sauces, dips,
frozen desserts, smoothies, nut butters and more.
ENGINEERED TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
Available in black and white.
Exclusive to Costco.
Dr Joanna McMillan
PhD Qualified
Nutritionist
What’s
NEW
We’ve made a commitment to our
members to turn your shopping
experience into a treasure hunt.
You never know what gems you
might find at your local warehouse…
Bedtime delight
Traditional design meets modern-day
functionality in this magnificent Broadmoore
queen-size bed in multi-step chestnut finish
timber. The tall headboard is complemented
by two deep blanket drawers at the foot
and a high-sided base. With these generous
dimensions there’s plenty of space to stretch
out or even accommodate a morning visit
from a kid or two. Item 997670
Home theatre
comfort
Recline in style with one of these sleek
armchairs, perfect for your man cave or
home entertainment area. With a swivel
side table for your device and a handy cup
holder, once you’re ensconced in
your Churchill Leather Home Theatre
Recliner you won’t want to leave the
lounge room again. Item 783321
Exotic
beauty
With a constant array of
beautiful butterfly blooms,
these gorgeous, extraordinarily
realistic artificial phalaenopsis
orchids add instant beauty
and elegance to your home,
with the minimum of upkeep,
and come in a choice of
three colours, in a decorative
ceramic pot. Item 905710
Mantel of greatness
Combining a hearth and mantelpiece with a solid wood
home entertainment credenza, the Twin Star Media
Mantel Fireplace with Infrared Quartz Heater has been
designed for your every need. There’s an open space
for your entertainment hardware, a drawer to store your
remotes and cupboards for extra storage. The infrared
flame insert can be activated to warm a room of up to
92 square metres, or you can keep the flame feature
without heat as a focal feature. Item 186735
50 The Costco Connection SUMMER 2015
Have
wheels,
will travel
With 100 years of expertise
in making luggage, Antler is
one of the best respected
names in travel cases. Our
Antler two-piece luggage set,
available in either black or red,
will certainly stand out on the
carousel. Item 35694
Go for tote
Whether you’re on a grocery run or headed for the beach, our Condura beach totes are perfect for just about any
purpose. They even get positive mentions in blogs! Made of sturdy canvas with soft rope handles, these versatile, large
size canvas totes are available in a range of cool colour-ways to suit your individual taste. Item 36005
Rest easy
What could be more handy than a generously sized storage ottoman
to go with your superbly comfortable MStar lounge? When you’re not
using it to rest your feet it can conceal clutter, plus the comfy three
seater includes a stretch-out extension and flat-topped arms, perfect
for positioning your cup of coffee or current magazine. Item 905674
Smart conversion
This amply sized and luxuriously padded lounger
leads a double life. It’s a handsome modular sofa
with head and feet rests that can be inclined to
allow you to recline in comfort. With the Madison
Double Size Pullout Lounger’s advanced design
technology you can lay back and relax at your ease
for the ultimate in lounging. Item 1005696
CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2015 The Costco Connection 51