Simon Webber from Cork and Glass describes himself as a booze cowboy. Photo: Supplied, Simon Webber.
Who are you?
Simon Webber – I don’t really have an official job title at Cork and Glass, but it says booze cowboy on my business card which is tongue in cheek. We all just manage and run the bar and I do more of the hospo side.
Tell me about Cork and Glass.
It’s a bottle shop and bar in Yarralumla associated with Jim Murphy’s and focused on premium wines.
How did you get involved in the hospitality industry?
My first job was at Mee’s Sushi when I was 16, and then I worked for the Chairman Group for many years; my cousin Jeffrey Shim was the head chef at Lanterne Rooms. When AK and Kent started XO I was actually their first employee and my cousin came over with me.
I was more food oriented when I started, but one of my first rugby coaches was into wine and once I got into hospo he started having a wine with me after games instead of a beer and was really influential in getting me interested in wine.
Cork & Glass specialises in premium wines and also serves up charcuterie boards and the occasional pasta night. Photo: Lucy Ridge.
Did you have a dream job as a kid?
My dream job as a kid was to be a WWE wrestling champion, but that didn’t work out for a number of reasons. I’m pretty happy I landed in hospo.
What is your food philosophy?
It’s ever evolving, but I think that food is universal and it brings all races and demographics together in a common love which is really cool. Bringing people together is the most important thing and food is just a pursuit of happiness for me.
What is your must-use ingredient when cooking?
I’m really lazy and I don’t cook at home as much as I should, which I think is pretty common in hospitality. But I always have fresh fruit at home because it’s my favourite thing to snack on. And of course, Lao Gan Ma (a brand of Chinese chilli oil); I always have a jar of that in the fridge.
What’s an underrated Canberra venue that you love?
I love Lamsheds – it’s my local and Jeff has become a really close friend and we catch up for a beer or coffee and chat food philosophy all the time. Cafe Blanco in Kambah, their food is amazing but it’s a bit out of the way. And Miss Saigon Foodies in Kingston; the banh mi from there is so good and you never feel too heavy after eating their food.
Kent Nahn – former owner of XO – is someone Simon admires. Photo: Supplied, Simon Webber.
Who do you admire in the Canberra food scene?
Can’t go past AK Ramakrishna and Kent Nahn. They’re two of my best friends and I love everything that they do.
Also Owen Kenyon – he ran Rubicon and recently sold it to run a private catering business called The Big O. And the Minima boys, Jeff from Lamsheds and Noora Heska from Pilot.
Where’s the best place for a coffee in Canberra?
I really like Recess at the moment. And I like to go to 3Degrees in the city. What they are able to do in a small space is really cool.
Who is your dream dinner party guest, and what would you make them?
Jim Murphy – I’ve heard a lot about him but I never got to meet him. He sounds like he would have been great to chat to at a dinner party.
I wouldn’t cook, but I’d ask my cousin Jeffrey to do it because anything he cooks is always amazing.
I know Jim liked a Barossa red, and he loved chardonnay as well so we’d have some of that with some big cuts of meat cooked with a touch of Asian influence.
What is your current food obsession?
I’ve really gotten into eating fried chicken with champagne as a pairing. We like to think of ourselves as degenerates here sometimes, but this is really good.
Yep, fried chicken and champagne is apparently a top-notch pairing! Photo: Supplied, Simon Webber.
What’s the best thing you ate this week?
I went to Soom Soom, a food truck at Dairy Road, for one last meal before they close. I grabbed a chicken sandwich which has lots of fresh veggies and Chef Chun marinates the chicken in lemongrass.
What’s a food that reminds you of your childhood?
Noodles and dumplings. My mum is from Malaysia and she taught me from a young age that no matter how bad a day you’ve had, noodles and dumplings can make it better.
What’s a normal breakfast for you?
Yoghurt and a coffee; I’m pretty lazy for breakfast. And I like to get a brekky wrap when I go out.
When you can’t be bothered to cook for yourself, where do you go and what do you eat?
It’s generally Asian food for me. I like Abell’s Kopi Tiam; I usually get beef rendang and roti. Or I often grab some sushi from Sushi Ten on the way home; they’re next door to us and the owners are super hardworking and really lovely.
Where are you travelling next?
I went to the Rugby World Cup a few years ago which dented the budget a bit! A good mate of mine just moved to NZ so I’ll go visit them. He’s keen to show me all the foodie stuff over there.
Tell me something you love about living in Canberra?
The ACT Brumbies!
I also love the hospo scene here – we all know each other so it’s not cutthroat as it can be in big cities. We welcome new people in and we’re excited for when they go to do other things and especially when they come back to do pop-ups or open something new.
What TV show are you watching right now?
I watch a lot of sport and this is a good time of year for it! I’m a big pro wrestling and a comic book fan so there’s always something to watch.
An easy one to finish – what’s your go-to coffee order?
Long black, but if I’ve got a bit more time then I’ll have a batch brew or a pour over.
Cork and Glass is located at 25 Bentham Street, Yarralumla.
