Novocastrians must love their chicken. The world's first "drive thru only" KFC opened in Broadmeadow in October and in 2010 Australia's then-largest KFC opened at the old Palais Royale site on Hunter Street.

Mayfield's Reece Hignell, who was a fan favourite and finalist on series 10 of MasterChef Australia, is branching out with his very own business - Cakeboi.

"This time last year I baked and decorated a cake which I then posted onto my Instagram," he told Food & Wine.

"The cake got a lot of traction, followed by friends and family asking for special event cakes. As I was posting these photos online I was receiving random inquiries from friends of friends and then strangers to create cakes for their events. Over time I got busier and busier. My partner Dene and I decided that this was a perfect opportunity to create a business and developed Cakeboi.

"The business is still in its early stages and just catering for event cakes, cupcakes and decorated cookies. We are working on a cooking space at the moment which will meet the needs of the business. It is so exciting because I love decorating cakes."

Murray's Brewery is celebrating summer with the Go Loco Summer Festival and line-up including seven fruit beers, a new cider, free concerts, tacos and, for the first time, hermit crab racing.

There will be live music every weekend plus three free summer concert events: Boxing Day Rocks; New Year's Day Recovery Party; and Australia Day Weekend.

Murray's annual Melon Rouge watermelon beer will return, alongside a new range of fruit beers which will be released progressively throughout December: passionfruit, lime, blood orange, blueberry, white peach and pineapple. Murray's new Pear Cider will also be launched.

"If you think mixing beer and fruit is for wimps, then think again," brewer Murray Howe said. "Properly balanced fruit beer can be the perfect, refreshing beverage on a hot summer day."

A summer menu will be introduced, with the addition of new in-demand specials including taco trios and vegan options. Murray's Brewery will be opening later on Saturday nights, too, and serve pizzas and fries until sunset. Children can enjoy running around the brewery's grounds and participating in games like hermit crab races and apple bobbing, plus an interactive scavenger hunt.

Brewery Tours occur daily at 2.15pm and a $5 return bus shuttle operates from Nelson Bay on weekends. Murray's Brewery and Port Stephens Winery is at 3443 Nelson Bay Road, Bobs Farm.

It's tempting to sneak your pet a treat under the table but it could cause more harm than good.

PETstock vet Dr Teresa Priddle has compiled a Christmas food "naughty" and "safe" list.

THE SAFE LIST (foods which can be enjoyed in moderation)

Leftover beef or chicken: As long as it's de-boned, this leftover meat can be a delicious treat. Fruit and vegetables: Small amounts of apples, oranges, bananas, blueberries and watermelon are all healthy treats for our dogs at Christmas (especially when kept in the fridge and given on a hot day). Just ensure all seeds are removed first and avoid stone fruits. Carrot sticks, sweet potato, green beans, cucumber, pumpkin and zucchini are also wonderful snack options. Christmas dinner tip: Limit the chances of your buddy being fed from the table by removing them from the area whenever you're eating. Pop your pet outside or in another room while enjoying your meal to avoid the temptation of you (or someone else) sneaking them a morsel. Doing this will also reduce the chance of your pet picking up bad habits, like begging at your feet any time you eat.

THE NAUGHTY LIST

Chocolate: The cacao seeds that give chocolate its delicious qualities also contain a compound called theobromine, which is toxic to cats and dogs and can cause serious illness or death. Symptoms of toxicity can take six to 12 hours so if you suspect your buddy has been scavenging, call your vet immediately. Raisins and grapes: Raisins and grapes can be fatally toxic to dogs, even in small quantities, so no Christmas pudding or cake for our four-legged friends. Macadamia nuts: They are poisonous to dogs and can cause vomiting, weakness, fever, muscle tremors and depression. Onions: Ingestion of onions can contribute to stomach upsets and even cause anaemia. Under-cooked meat: Just like humans, your pets can suffer the effects of eating under-cooked meat, which can contain e-coli and other bacterial dangers. Under-cooked chicken can be especially risky. Pork, bacon and ham: Some pork products contain a high amount of fat, which can lead to illnesses like pancreatitis. Alcohol: While it may seem obvious, allowing our pets to consume any alcohol is dangerous. It can cause alcohol toxicity and even seizures. Milk and dairy products: It may surprise many to learn that dogs' bodies weren't designed to process dairy. Consuming dairy can cause stomach upsets, vomiting and diarrhea. Lollies: Loaded with sugar and even worse for our pets than they can be for us, lollies can disrupt your pet's metabolism and, when consumed in high amounts, can even cause diabetes.

For nineteen consecutive years the Hunter has been home to world-recognised wine intensive, the Len Evans Tutorial. Started by the late Len Evans OAM, his legacy lives on in the safe hands of its trustees today.

"Quite simply, the idea is to further develop the wine-judging skills of the scholars, and by showing them the greatest wines in the world, encourage them to aspire to the development and support of such greatness in Australia," Len Evans said in 2006.

This year, the Hunter's own Adam Walls, a wine buyer at Wine Selectors, has been named "Dux".

Each year in November, over a five-day period, 12 scholars are exposed to the great wines of the world through varietal focused judging sessions, masterclasses and dinners. The scholars - who undergo a gruelling selection process and are recognised as the people at the forefront of grape growing, winemaking and selling premium wine in Australia - have the opportunity to taste many of the rarest, oldest and greatest wines of the world.

According to Walls, it was "an absolute career highlight" and he was keen to point out that having the opportunity to taste wines such as the 1954 Mount Pleasant Robert Hermitage "absolutely blew my mind".

Walls, who has worked at Wine Selectors since 2010, is a buyer, a member of the Wine Selectors Tasting Panel and runs the wine education program. He holds Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma and is a regular wine show judge at some of Australia's leading shows. Now, being named the Basil Sellers Dux of the 2019 Len Evans Tutorial, Walls will be on his way to Europe with invitations to some of the world's greatest wine houses, in recognition of his achievement.