Brunswick East has always been blessed with late-night joints and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth when institution Café Romantica closed last year after 30 years of serving pizzas basically 24/7. Big shoes to fill, perhaps. But the new owners — Oscar Hermann, Monty Mullooly-Hill, Ravi Thompson, Henry Crawford and Bill Howard — have redone the interior, produced an exceptional menu and drinks list. And, having been open for six months now, they're killing it. While the name Bar Romantica may conjure up images of a small, intimate, cosy bar set-up, that couldn't be further from the truth. It actually seems kind of cavernous on first approach with its high ceilings and mirrors on opposing walls, and the space goes way back past the bar to the open kitchen, booths and the pool table. But, despite that, it's actually a pretty romantic place. It might be the curves — there are some stylish lines going on in the sweeping crescent of an American oak bar, and the wooden arches spanning the ceiling from one side to the other. It might be the dim glow of the art deco milk glass pendant lights. Or it might be the lipstick-red vinyl booth seating. It's all very appealing. And if the way to anyone's heart is through their stomach, then the menu certainly will certainly raise the romance. It's got sophisticated snacks, excellent mains and, in a nod to the venue's history, the kitchen's kept the classic Pizza Romantica ($18) on there, zhuzhed a little with a Napoli crust and — if you want to pay an extra five bucks — a hint of 'nduja. The menu changes daily, reflecting seasonal nuances and goodness. Expect such delights as the veggies with smoked cashew butter ($14), an exceptionally creamy and slightly smoky dip that'll make you want to lick the plate just to get every last bit. Or the kangaroo tartare with fermented chilli, radish and egg yolk ($16). All of the pastas are made in-house and, on Wednesdays, you can get a bowl of the vegetarian pasta special with a glass of wine for a very reasonable $20. Drinks are mostly local with a range of local craft beer, Australian wines and a selection of classic cocktails. Apart from Monday and Tuesday, Bar Romantica is open late each night, and until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays. While it might not be the all-occasions drop-in spot it once was, whether you're a night owl, a party animal, looking for a good date night spot or just want to treat yourself to some delicious food, Bar Romantica is ready and waiting for you. Images: Kate Shanasy.
The humble icy poles is the star of childhood memories the world over, reminiscent of tuck shop visits, beachside jaunts, and those sticky days of summers past. Even when we're trying our hardest to adult, getting stuck into an icy treat is still up there with our favourite summer pastimes. And while Paddle Pops and Splices will always hold a place in our hearts and freezers, these days, you're just as likely to find us getting our kicks with some hand-crafted, locally-produced, artisan version. Yup, there's all sorts of fun things happening in the world of frozen treats right now — here's what we'll be ripping into this summer. [caption id="attachment_602909" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pure Pops.[/caption] PURE POPS When two besties share an extreme love of frozen treats-on-a-stick, there's only one logical thing to do: start your own mini icy pole empire! That's the story behind Sydney company, Pure Pops, which has blossomed from a couple of farmers market stalls to a well-known brand, found at grocers, cafés, stores, and events across NSW. And these gals sure know how to make crowdpleasing icy poles. They've kept the sugary stuff to a minimum, going heavy on the natural fruit goodness, with most of the pops clocking in at under 80 calories. Expect summer-worthy flavours like banana caramel, blood orange, and pine-lime coconut splice. Check the website for your nearest stockist. [caption id="attachment_602934" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Marissa Fleming (The Simple Things Studio) for Liana Raine.[/caption] LIANA RAINE Liana Raine creations are kind of like the 'It Girls' of the frozen treats world — they're sophisticated, pop up on countless glossy magazine pages, and have even made it onto the runway at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. That said, when it comes to the important stuff, this family-run biz likes to keep things simple. Their all-natural, all-Aussie, artisan icy poles are crafted with the best seasonal fruit on offer, with clever new flavours added as quickly as they can be dreamt up — peach, moscato, and raspberry, anyone? Liana Raine is keeping summer retail plans under wraps for now, but in the meantime, jump on the website to order yourself a box. [caption id="attachment_602942" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Delish Ice.[/caption] DELISH ICE Old-school icy poles, served out of gorgeous vintage caravans – just try and match that for a nostalgia-tinged summer experience. These palate-pleasers from Perth-based Delish Ice are sure to win over young and old, what with the cute-as-pie retro styling and the downright tasty artisan pops. Flavours change regularly, but are sure to impress – expect combos like basil and elderflower; raspberry lemonade; and lychee, pineapple and lime. Buy them online, or catch one of their caravans or carts around Perth, Mandurah, Dunsborough, and Margaret River. They can even customise something special for your next summer shindig. [caption id="attachment_602937" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Frozen Sunshine.[/caption] FROZEN SUNSHINE With all that sunshine and humidity, it's a safe bet Queenslanders know a thing or two about icy poles. So, your tastebuds are in excellent hands with Frozen Sunshine Iceblocks, which are handcrafted in Maroochydore, using top-notch local ingredients and zero nasty flavourings or preservatives. These cool little characters are all free of dairy and made with either a fruit or creamy coconut milk base. At any time, there are at least 12 varieties on offer, so you might find yourself blissing out on a coconut and candied ginger creation; or maybe a pineapple, mango and passionfruit number. Pick up a box from the factory, or find them at markets, cafés and food stores across the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane. [caption id="attachment_602945" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Pop Shop.[/caption] POP SHOP SYDNEY Pop Shop Sydney's icy treats might just be the prettiest popsicles you ever did see. These locally-made beauties have been tricked out with everything from juicy fruit chunks, to edible flowers, and even gummy bears. Although with flavours like choc banana, Pimms, and Japanese lemonade with kiwi and orange, you probably won't be spending too long admiring the aesthetics. While these guys supply to a tight selection of cafés and stores around Sydney, their main jam is custom orders for parties, weddings, and other events. Get in touch and let them whip you up something special. [caption id="attachment_602946" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Mountain Pops (Falls Festival).[/caption] MOUNTAIN POPS Turns out, wine isn't the only Yarra Valley creation we'll be cooling down with this summer. The folks at Mountain Pops handcraft their cracking small batch ice blocks out of a kitchen in the Yarra Valley, pulling together fresh, locally-grown fruit to star in their lineup of inventive flavour combos. They've even had a play with some boozy pop varieties, which we suspect would go down a treat at your next backyard party. These thirst-quenchers are fast becoming a favourite on the festival circuit, making their way into many a hot little hand at the likes of Strawberry Fields, Rainbow Serpent Festival, Falls Festival and Yemaya. You'll also spy them at markets and events across town, and can keep tabs on their whereabouts at Where the Truck At. [caption id="attachment_602908" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flyin' Fox.[/caption] FLYIN' FOX If you fancy keeping those food miles to a minimum, then Flyin' Fox ice blocks are sure to have you smiling. This NSW-based company handcrafts its fruit-packed icy poles in Murwillumbah, with mostly organic ingredients sourced carefully from local farms. These guys are pretty proud of our Aussie fruit, and they make it sing, in flavour combos like pomegranate and blueberry, lime and mint, and coconut and milk. You'll find them gracing the freezer section of stores and cafés across NSW and QLD, as well as in Melbourne, Adelaide, and Alice Springs. [caption id="attachment_602943" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Pop Co.[/caption] THE POP CO We guarantee this summer will see plenty of Melbourne ice block fans beating the heat with treats from The Pop Co. These guys sling handmade, gourmet popsicles out of a cheery little food cart, offering fruity flavours for all ages, alongside a range of signature, booze-infused creations. Kick it old-school with a strawberries and cream number, or embrace adulthood with a rum-laced Mojito pop. Customised flavour combinations are also on offer. The Pop Co. cart will be doing the rounds of Melbourne's markets, beaches, and outdoor events this summer, but you can always organise a special appearance, or bumper pop package for your own party. [caption id="attachment_602935" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Paleta.[/caption] PALETA This Melbourne brand pulls its name from the Spanish word for 'icy pole' and whips up its frosty treats based on authentic Mexican recipes. And indeed, these handmade sorbet icy poles, which feature an all-natural ingredient list, zero dairy or gluten, and stacks of fresh fruit, will prompt a mini fiesta in your mouth. Expect tropical flavours, like coconut, hibiscus, and your old mate watermelon, available in packs of 10 or 25, at stockists all across Melbourne. Try Aunt Maggie's in Fitzroy, The Prahran Grocer, and Market Espresso and Trolley Hire at the Queen Vic Markets. HONOURABLE EXPAT MENTION: POPS Icy poles and booze — they're the two staples of a long, hot Aussie summer. Back in October, we told you that the two had finally come together as one. Now, those Calippo-style Champagne icy poles we've all been hankering for since are finally on sale in Australia. The genius creation from POPS, a UK brand that has been keeping folks stylishly cool since 2014, have started popping up around Melbourne. Head to online alcohol delivery service tipple.com.au to order one of four flavours: the Champagne pop (called The Classic) contains half a glass of Champers (wahee!), while the Bellini blends hibiscus flowers, blood orange juice, peach Schnapps, and half a glass of Prosecco. Plus, there are a couple of all-ages products too, which see the alcohol swapped out for real fruit combinations (apple and elderflower, plus strawberry and mint). The timing couldn't be better, with the frozen delights arriving in our eskies just in time to be eaten in front of the fan (or, y'know, in the sun) this summer. As part of the Melbourne-first launch, they'll also be available at Arbory Bar and Eatery — and showering festival attendees with lickable icy alcohol goodness, including at The Pleasure Garden, Let Them Eat Cake and the Inverloch Sound of Summer. The POPS website also teases POPScycle bikes, so keep your eyes peeled.
No doubt you're pretty busy keeping up with Australia's gangbusters craft beer scene. Whether your go-to is Four Pines, Young Henrys or James Squire, our local brewers are always on-the-go with cracking new ideas — from beer that tastes like Anzac biscuits to a porter that lives up to any chocolate dessert you can throw at it to a drop that doubles-up as breakfast, made from banana bread and coffee beans. As it turns out, our international beer-worshipping brothers and sisters are far from dragging the chain. Here are ten of the best craft brews you'll find outside of Australia right now. FUBAR BY TINY REBEL (WALES) Introducing the 2014 Champion Beer of Wales. This unique brew, first released in February 2012, arrives on your tongue with a floral, hoppy blast and leaves with a satisfying, spicy aftertaste. FUBAR is the flagship for Tiny Rebel, a craft beer company started in 2008 in a Welsh garage, where founders Brad and Gazz would home brew for fun on the weekends. Last year, the duo opened Cardiff's first craft beer dedicated bar and, in August, followed up FUBAR's triumph when their red ale, Cwtch, was named 2015 Champion Beer of Britain. PELICAN NOIR BY PELICAN BREWING CO. (US) Pelican Noir's cinnamon-chocolate flavours and caramel-raisin aromas inspired a Gold Medal win in the Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale category at the 2015 North American Beer Awards. Three sources of hops go into its creation: Aramis, Goldings and Nugget, as does a trio of malts, giving it a delicious, well-rounded taste. Pelican Noir is made by Oregon's Pelican Brewing Company, which has won literally hundreds of national and international awards in its 14-year lifespan. BOURBON COUNTY BRAND STOUT BY GOOSE ISLAND BEER COMPANY (US) Bourbon County Brand Stout offers one of the densest, darkest, foamiest stout experiences on the planet. And you know it from the moment the bottle opens, releasing a heady mix of charred oak, chocolate, vanilla, caramel and smoky goodness. It's made by Chicago's Goose Island Beer Company, which a man by the name of John Hall started 25 years ago after a brew-focused journey through Europe. “America deserves some damn fine beer like this, too,” he thought to himself, and set about making it happen. Bourbon Country Brand Stout won gold at both the 2006 World Beer Cup Awards and the 1995 Great American Beer Festival. BEER GEEK BREAKFAST BY MIKKELLER (DENMARK) This beer single-handedly gave Mikkeller legendary status. Back in 2006, maths teacher-turned-brewer Mikkel Borg Bjergso came up with the ingenious idea of adding French press coffee to oatmeal stout. And Beer Geek Breakfast was born, shooting straight to first position on global beer popularity platform ratebeer.com. Since then, Mikkeller has used the recipe as a base for all manner of craft beer wonders, like Beer Geek Breakfast Brunch Big Blend and Beer Geek Vanilla Shake. THE VANDAL IPA BY PANHEAD (NEW ZEALAND) According to the Society of Beer Advocates, this was the best beer made in New Zealand in 2014. It's a potent 8% Indian Pale Ale (IPA) made with a serious dose of hops from Kohatu, Riwaka and Nelson Sauvin that tastes like tropical fruit. The Vandal is made at Panhead Custom Ales, a brewery housed in a former tyre factory in Upper Hutt, Wellington, established in 2013 when brewer Mike Neilson quit his full-time job at Tuatara Brewery to go solo. AMA BIONDA BY AMARCORD (ITALY) Italy might be traditionally known for wine, but microbreweries are on the up. One of the best is Amarcord, located in the medieval village of Apecchio, which is close to both the Adriatic Coast and the Appennini Mountains. Amarcord's AMA Bionda is a Belgian pale ale, made with Sicilian orange blossom honey, spring water and three types of hops. It's complex, floral and fruity. HOMMAGE BY DRIE FONTEINEN (BELGIUM) Made of 30% raspberries and 5% cherries, this sour beer is dark red in colour, big on flavour and heavily carbonated. It's definitely not for drinkers looking for something light. Drie Fonteinen, a brewery in Beersel, near Brussels, has made just two batches — the first in 2007 and the second in 2013 — and released only 5,000 bottles globally. So the only catch is that it's not easy to get your hands on. Image: 3 Fonteinen Hommage 2007 via photopin (license). YUZU WHITE ALE BY MINOH (JAPAN) Most wheat beers (like Hoegaarden, for example) are brewed with orange peel. But a couple of years ago, Minoh, a family-owned and operated microbrewery in Japan's Osaka prefecture, came up with a twist, instead using a local citrus fruit named yuzu and adding a dash of coriander. Their experimentation paid off — in 2012, Yuzu White Ale won gold in the fruit wheat beer category at the World Beer Cup. DOREE BY BOREALE (CANADA) This smooth, easy-to-drink beer is made with tasty Quebec honey and a decent dose of malt. In 2012, Doree topped the specialty honey beer section at the World Beer Cup and won silver in the special honey category at the Canadian Brewing Awards. Its home is Les Brasseurs du Nord, a microbrewery in the Lower Laurentians, where the brewing ethos is all about keeping things natural. OLD FREDDY WALKER BY MOOR BEER CO. (ENGLAND) This old ale has won no fewer than 20 prizes, a run that began back in 2004 when it took out CAMRA supreme champion winter beer of Britain. It's so rich and dense that you can drink it like a vintage wine. It is made at the Moor Beer Company in Bristol by an ex-soldier who hails from California.
We're only just now wrapping things up for this summer, but already the NGV has us anticipating the next one, today lifting the covers off plans for its most ambitious exhibition yet. Descending on the gallery this December, and then every three years after that, the NGV Triennial series will present a smorgasbord of art and design, plucked from all corners of the globe and representing established artists, emerging talent, and plenty else in between. Each blockbuster lineup will highlight the ever-blurring lines between art, fashion, architecture, design, and performance. Kicking off with a bang, plans for this year's inaugural event are nothing short of grand, with the NGV announcing the free exhibition will take over all four levels of the gallery and host exciting works by over 60 artists and designers. But where it's really upping the ante is in the audience experience, with visitors invited to present their own ideas through cross-platform content, and the exhibition's participatory works designed to engage like never before. Legendary Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, best known for her obsessive patterning and vibrant representations of the infinite, will invite glimpses into the artist's mind with a work titled Flower obsession. Created especially for the NGV Triennial, the interactive exhibition will have visitors unleashing some creativity of their own, as they help plaster a furnished space with an array of colourful flower stickers and three-dimensional blooms. Kusuma joins other international names like Germany's Timo Nasseri and Canada's Sascha Braunig, alongside an Aussie billing that includes the likes of Ben Quilty, Louisa Bufardeci, and Tom Crago. There'll be an installation from Chinese haute couture fashion guru Guo Pei, designer of Rihanna's canary-yellow Met Ball gown, and an epic display of 100 oversized human skulls created by Australian artist Ron Mueck. Chemist and odour theorist Sissel Tolaas will create the 'scent of Melbourne' exclusively for the Triennial. And Alexandra Kehayoglou will be creating one of her monumentally-sized, lushly illustrated carpets, spanning over eight-metres-long. The NGV Triennial lands at the NGV Melbourne in December 2017. Image: Yayoi Kusama.
Don't let the name fool you, for Dainty Sichuan Food on Toorak Road is anything but dainty. In fact, this Chinese restaurant in Melbourne packs a hell of a punch. Upon entering the restaurant, you're invited to zen out in the tranquil mood it's created. Water fountains and buddhas greet you at the entrance, while the aromas from the kitchen get your tastebuds on high alert. The service here is what you might expect from a bustling Chinese eatery, it's efficient and fast without being overly cordial. But rest assured, you will be seated with a smile. The order of the day here is Sichuan, and the Sichuan-style pork belly is succulent and full of flavour. It comes with a serving of chillies and boiled rice and is worth the price of admission alone. Another Sichuan special is the spicy beef noodles served in a perfectly spiced broth with bok choy and spring onions. Be sure to wash it all down with a bottle of wine, for this joint is BYO and you're going to need it. A not-too-oaky chardonnay or a soft and fruity pinot gris should do it. Otherwise, a cold beer at hand never hurts. If you want to turn the spice down a notch, then browse the dumpling menu, with pan-fried pork buns and chicken and mushroom dumplings the pick. If you're vegetarian or cutting back on meat, the dry stir-fred beans with boiled rice or the tomatoes with soft scrambled eggs make for a tasty alternative. Dainty Sichuan Food is home to some of the best (and spiciest) Chinese food in Melbourne. It's well worth a trip to South Yarra.
"Live for the day, and let tomorrow take care of itself" — words spoken by the bushranger Captain Melville himself. We love this, a perfect excuse to overindulge in good food and a beverage or two. Captain Melville, the venue named in honour of the great bushranger, is a place to do just this, where relaxed pub food is taken to the next level and a solid drinks menu makes you want to have that second tipple. Remember the live music venue Miss Libertine? A little dark, loud, and could make you lose time? Well, she is no longer. This is where Captain Melville has taken root. The same team from the Miss Libertine days has shaken things up with a light, open, and modern interior, fit for the grown-up food and drink they are dishing up. The food here is tasty, upfront, and honest. Start with a mini bratwurst dog with sauerkraut and German mustard ($6.50) or an oozy, rich taleggio croquette with tomato and fennel chutney ($4). If in the mood for sharing, don't go past the salt and pepper squid with black garlic aioli ($16). Generous pieces of squid pack a real hit of flavour. The quinoa salad with asparagus, broad beans, yellow beets, shanklish, and honey yoghurt ($16) is a beautiful accompaniment. If you're looking for a meal in itself or not up for sharing, go for the Bannockburn free range chicken parmigiana with coleslaw and hand-cut chips ($23) or perhaps one of the five steaks on offer. Captain Melville isn't shy when it comes to the drinks list. They are here to play. The focus here truly is 'drink local'. The wine and beer lists are almost all Australian, with a couple of international guests thrown in there. Even the spirits stay local where they can, with 666 Vodka, West Winds Gin, and Tromba Tequila all making an appearance. Speaking of spirits, Captain Melville is fond of a cocktail or two. Sore head? Try the Clunes Rose Gold ($17). Described as "the ultimate hangover cure", it is a mix of bourbon, Bartender rose syrup, fresh lemon juice, cream, white cacao, egg white, and fizzy pink grapefruit juice. Perhaps in the market for something with a little more kick? Try the "hard as coffin nails" Macedon Gang punch ($16) — Cruzan rum, lemon juice, bartender agave, egg white, port, and Booker's Fire Bitters. Cheers to living for today.
If dropping by your local car wash makes you want to unleash your inner kidult, then you'd better get yourself to the National Gallery of Victoria's Grollo Equiset Garden this spring. In October M@ STUDIO Architects will be setting up a pretend car wash, which you'll be welcome to treat as one giant playground. Their brilliant idea is the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission. You'll be able to find your fun easily — just look out for the old-school, glittering sign. Head inside to discover a true-to-size car wash replica, based on an actual existing one in Blackburn. But you can forget your run-of-the-mill cement and nasty fluoro lights. Instead, you'll be surrounded by walls of cricket netting, looking up at a pretty translucent ceiling, frolicking in bright pink AstroTurf and kicking back on rubber speed bumps. There'll be five 'bays' altogether, two hung with red plastic curtains and one equipped with a mist diffuser. So, though you probably won't be able to go for an all-out water fight, you won't escape totally dry (should that be your car wash wish). Plus, at night, the whole scene will light up, letting you have nocturnal adventures galore. To celebrate this epic creation, the NGV is organising a slew of events. In what seems similar to the Queen Victoria Gardens' MPavilion, this outdoor structure will host talks, live music and performances over both spring and summer. But, if you're not in the mood for shows, you can head along to hang out with friends anytime. "We are thrilled to be selected as the winner of the 2016 NGV Architecture Commission," said M@ STUDIO Architects. "Open competitions such as this provide a vital platform for architects to experiment and facilitate public discourse around the broader ideas that motivate the specific design explorations." The annual NGV Architecture Commission invites architects to come up with clever, clever installation ideas for the Grollo Equiset Garden. Entries are judged for their originality, their new ideas concerning architecture and design, and their innovation in material use, fabrication, sustainability and recyclability.
It's 3pm. All you want right now is another a coffee. Or maybe a cronut. Or a freakshake, dammit. Or maybe, like, ten Arnott’s biscuits. Nope, can’t do that. Already had five. Is that the post-3pm slump blues whispering – nay, bellowing – in your ear? Really, by now, you should be kicking back at some secret swimming spot or under a waterfall. Especially in this hectic summer weather. We know. We know! But capitalism dictates you’ve another two hours to go before your boss is going to lay down that whip. So, you have to find a way to keep going. All that sweet, sugary, deliciousness might be looking like your only job-quitting-preventative-measure right now, but it’s a bad, bad idea. So, we’re riding to your rescue with five jack-jumping, healthy, healthy snacks. And it’s not all gustatory doom and gloom. We’ve picked these babies for their tastiness, not just their nutrition information panels. BANANA AND TAHINI This God-sent duo has all the creaminess and sweetness of ice cream but none of the refined sugar or saturated fat. Spread it across a piece of toast, throw it in the blender to make a smoothie or just eat it straight, dipping the banana in the jar. Tahini's got more goodness than Mother Teresa (go with it) — from calcium, magnesium, lecithin, potassium, protein and iron to Vitamins E, Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5 and B15. If you've had a big night out, it'll help you liver to cope better, thanks to the detoxifying powers of methionine. And everyone knows bananas make you happy. PROTEIN BALLS Available in stacks of different flavours, the mighty protein ball can give any conventional, packeted treat a run for its money, taste-wise. And it also comes with a big ol' dose of protein, which does heaps of good stuff. Like building and repairing muscles, making enzymes, producing hormones and making sure your hair and nails grow (in fact, they're nearly all protein). YouFoodz makes an especially lip-smacking version, a salted caramel version that's actually good for you. It's packed with apricot, sultanas, dates and dark chocolate and coated in crispy bits of waffle wafer. FROZEN FRUIT Regular, room temperature fruit is an excellent substitute for lollies and biscuits. But, with a freezer, you can take things to a whole new, more satisfying, longer-lasting level. That said, you have to make sure you're freezing the right kinds. Grapes are a winner — they become firmer on the outside, yet stay relatively soft in the middle (depending on the temperature of your freezer). So, eating one's a bit like biting into a soft-centred jube or toffee. Bananas, oranges and mangoes are crackers, too. Apples and strawberries don't go so well, as they to get too hard, all the way through. Raspberries can work if left to thaw for a while. DIY TRAIL MIX Plenty of peanut-heavy, packeted trail mixes aren't too appetising — even if they are salutary. Others are peppered with sugary bits and bobs, like choc buds. So, go ahead and make your own. That way, you can tailor it to suit you and, at the same time, make sure there's nothing in there undoing your healthy intentions. Don't forget to add some seeds — sunflower ones give you Vitamin E, B1 and B6, copper, selenium and manganese, while in teeny-tiny sesame seeds, there's CoQ10, which helps keep your heart working and your energy levels booming. No time to DIY? Have a stash of pre-made bars ready to go — Youfoodz does a pretty top notch Supa Food Bar. KALE CHIPS Potato chips one of your go-to snacks? Break that salty, fatty habit with kale chips. You can even make them yourself, without too much hassle: toss a bunch of kale in a minimal amount of olive oil and pop it in the oven till it's crispy. Unless you've been under the Rock of Gibraltar, you'll know this superfood's many benefits by now. There's bucket loads of beta-carotene to help your eyesight, Vitamin C to fight bugs, Vitamin K to make sure your blood clots and Vitamin E, an antioxidant. Images: YouFoodz and Dollar Photo Club.
Co-dog owners Anuj Yadav and Charles Fernandez have been teasing Melburnians for months with Facebook posts of adorable pet videos and the promise of something big in Collingwood. Now, they've let the... uh... cat out of the bag. Melbourne's first dog cafe, Dog House is finally set to open, coming to Collingwood's Johnston Street this July. Inspired by Sydney's famous dog cafe, Cafe Bones, Dog House intends to take the animal cafe trend to the next level. Unlike Cat Cafe Melbourne and Sydney's Catmosphere and Cafe Purrfection, this shop isn't made for humans wanting snuggle time with live-in animals. It is literally a cafe, but for dogs. So what's on the menu? No more of this pet store crap that's barely even food grade, Dog House offers only the best meat for your pooches. The three main dishes include grass-fed beef, chicken and kangaroo, along with game meats like ostrich, camel and venison. Dog House's supplier also happens to distribute product to some of Melbourne's top restaurants, and all of the meat is fit for human consumption. But this cafe isn't for humans at all. "It's basically a doggie restaurant and we're really not catering for people," says Yadav. The front counter functions as a canine butcher shop and its adjoining kitchen prepares dine-in meals from the display. The back courtyard is prepped with ten gated dining booths, ready to host your peckish pup. If owners get hungry, they can go to the small kitchen designated for humans, with just coffee and prepacked sandwiches on offer — it's really just a way to appease the owners while your dog enjoys a tasty, tasty meal. Can't make it to the store? Dog House is also doing weekly deliveries — that's seven days worth of delicious and nutritious meals for your pup. But top quality food isn't all they have on offer. The left hand side of the store has every accessory imaginable, from herbal cologne and Queensland-made organic shampoo to sweet things like strawberry lollies, popcorn and doughnuts, all made by local Melbourne suppliers. They're really creating a one stop shop for dogs, or as Yadav put it, "It's a dog's home away from home." Dog House is essentially a dog swag heaven. They have dog wigs (!) and ware, handmade collars from Canada and some super fancy dog bowls, with sunglasses potentially on the way. "There's basically no limit to where we can go with it," says Yadav. Well, with talks of doggie birthday parties in the mix, it seems no limit is right. Dog House is set to open in July at 195 Johnston Street, Collingwood. Top image: Tran Mau Tri Tam.
A man walks into a bar. Ouch. When it comes to comedy, some people have it and others simply do not. The good news is you'll only (mostly) find the first kind on the jam-packed program at this year's Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Striding into its third decade with all the energy of a clown on their first day of college, MICF is one of the largest annual collections of jokesters, satirists and goofballs on the face of the earth. Running for three and a half weeks from March 23 to April 17, this year's program is once again packed with a plethora of talent from both home and abroad. You've got returning favourites like Rich Hall and Ross Noble, festival debutants such as Hal Cruttenden and Penny Arcade, and local legends like Hannah Gadsby and Celia Pacquola, all of whom will be trotting out their best material in an attempt to bring some laughter into our cold, miserable lives. Also, Dave Hughes will be there. If you don't want to get stuck seeing Hughesy, pop these then shows into your comedy calendar.
So, you've survived the 18-day movie marathon that is the Melbourne International Film Festival for another year. Well done. If you're anything like us, overdosing on films hasn't dampened your enthusiasm for all things cinema. In fact, you're probably itching to catch up on all the great flicks you just couldn't fit into your MIFF schedule. That's the thing about features screening at film fests: unlike Pokemon, you just can't catch them all. We've tried. If you're wondering what you should seek out between now and next year's event, our critics Sarah Ward and Tom Clift are here to help. They've honed down their huge viewing lists to these ten must-see picks — the best, weirdest and most surprising films of this year's MIFF. BEST: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WLx2bARU0k THE NEON DEMON Nicholas Winding Refn loves to push people's buttons. He did it with the flashes of gut-churning violence in Drive. He did it with the oedipal eroticism in Only God Forgives. And oh boy, does he do it in The Neon Demon, too. A slick, stylish, blood-spattered psychological thriller about a young LA fashion model on the rise, the latest film from the provocative Dane has divided audiences around the world, and understandably so. Aided by a pulsing synth score from regular collaborator Cliff Martinez, the nightmarish glow of Natasha Braier's cinematography, and four perfectly calibrated performances from Elle Fanning, Bella Heathcote, Abby Lee and Jena Malone (with special guest appearance from the one and only Keanu Reeves), Refn carves up society's soulless obsession with beauty, before pulling out all the stops for a horrifying, taboo-shattering, laugh-or-you'll-vomit finale. Make no mistakes: there will be walkouts. -TC TONI ERDMANN A 161-minute German comedy might sound like an unlikely prospect, but bear with us. Though the first half of Maren Ade's third film might make you yearn for a bit less time in the titular character's awkward company, that's by design; in contrast, the second half will make you hope that the movie doesn't end. That's also the path Bucharest-based consultant Ines (Sandra Hüller) traverses as she first attempts to avoid her goofy dad Winfried (Peter Simonischek), and then eventually warms to his wig and false teeth-wearing alter ago, as well as his attempts to brighten up her all-too-serious life with a little levity and fun. You'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll break into applause — and you'll marvel not only at Ade's astute direction, but at Hüller and Simonischek's pitch-perfect performances. - SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHVFP80Upxw UNDER THE SHADOW The debut film from Iranian-born, London-based writer-director Babak Anvari, Under the Shadow takes familiar horror tropes — the creepy kid, the mother at her wit's end, the shadowy figure lurking just outside the frame — and transports them to a wholly unusual setting. It's 1988, the tail end of the Iran-Iraq War, and Tehran is being bombed by Iraqi forces. But air raids soon prove the least of Shideh's troubles, after she and her young daughter Dorsa find themselves being stalked by a supernatural evil. A rare spooker that manages to be genuinely frightening while offering insight into life in post-revolution Iran, Under the Shadow should appeal to fans of horror films and foreign-language fare alike. We had a chat to Anvari over here. -TC GIRLFRIENDS Girlfriends is the best American indie film you haven't seen — and the one you should go out of your way to watch as soon as you can. One of the six films in MIFF's Gaining Ground: Take Notice retrospective focusing on trailblazing female directors working in New York in the '70s and '80s, Claudia Weill's debut narrative feature brings honesty, authenticity and humour to the tale of roommates Susan (Melanie Mayron) and Anne (Anita Skinner). When the latter decides to move out and get married, the former is forced to navigate her twenty-something life of finding work as a photographer and looking for love on her own. With supporting turns from Bob Balaban and Christopher Guest, the end result is one of the most perceptive and poignant of the ups and downs of female friendship committed to the screen. It's not by accident that Weill's most recent job involved directing an episode of Girls. - SW KEDI When is a cat video more than just a cat video? When it's a documentary about the feline population of Istanbul. Ceyda Torun's film scampers around the Turkish city following a selection of its furry, four-legged residents as they go about their daily lives, however, this isn't the kind of footage you've watched over and over again on YouTube. Don't get us wrong — Kedi (which means cat, of course) is as cute as you'd expect, and it's also wise, warm and insightful as well. Not only does the doco explore the personalities of its central creatures and the people whose lives they've changed just with their presence, but it examines the seaside locale at street level, investigates the importance of kitties in its history and unearths the developments threatening to transform entire communities. - SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJ6IPQ2lTeQ OPERATION AVALANCHE An antidote to all those crumby found-footage horror movies out there (thanks Paranormal Activity), the sophomore film from Canadian director Matt Johnson (The Dirties) is the most inventive, entertaining fake documentary we've seen in quite some time. Set in the late '60s, with a grainy 16mm look that suits the era, the film follows a group of low level CIA agents who accidentally discover that NASA can't land on the moon. Their solution? Fake it. What follows is an ingenious comedy that slowly shifts into a white-knuckle thriller – one that's fueled by a love of movies and weird conspiracy theories at every turn. -TC WEIRDEST: MEN & CHICKEN A who's who of Scandinavian film and television stars band together for a family drama that's not quite like any other, even if it initially seems to follow a familiar path. Two brothers (Mads Mikkelsen in a rare comedic turn, and We Are The Best!'s David Dencik) try to reconnect with their long-lost relatives in writer/director Anders Thomas Jensen's darkly hilarious effort; however given that the duo have a few peculiar traits — one can't stop masturbating, and the other has quite the gag reflex — they're in for quite the strange reunion. A search for their father leads them to their three siblings (The Killing's Nikolaj Lie Kaas, Søren Malling and Nicolas Bro), who live in an abandoned asylum on an isolated island with more than their fair share of animals. In a sci-fi-esque premise Kafka would be proud of, it only gets weirder from there — and more silly, slapstick, empathetic and amusing. - SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VFPIKSnBJGo OFFICE 3D Hong Kong director Johnnie To is best known for making gangster flicks. So needless to say, when we heard he'd shot a musical, we were more than a little intrigued. Filmed entirely on a sound stage, at the centre of which stands the elaborate skeleton of a gigantic office building, Office follows the various employees of trading company Jones & Sunn, as they climb the corporate ladder, plan outlandish embezzlement schemes, fall head-over-heels in love with one another and occasionally burst out into song. Mixing tongue-in-cheek social commentary with soap-style melodrama and elaborately choreographed song-and-dance numbers, the film was probably one of the strangest looking films of the festival. And it was definitely one of the strangest sounding. -TC MOST SURPRISING: TRAIN TO BUSAN Is there anywhere that zombies haven't tried to invade? Or any form of transport that hasn't been overrun with unwanted creatures? Yes, Train to Busan lets the undead loose in a locomotive hurtling across Korea, and yet, in the process, it becomes an action-packed, zombie-focused dissection of class clashes and today's me-first mindset that its formulaic concept won't quite prepare you for. Finding both fun and thoughtfulness in all the expected elements, writer/director Yeon Sang-ho does let his movie journey on a little longer than it perhaps needs to, but the film still elicits thrills, tension, emotion and entertainment for the bulk of its running time. Plus, it's also a rare live-action sequel to an animated effort (the much more bleak Seoul Station, which also screened at MIFF); however you don't have to have seen that to thoroughly enjoy this. - SW https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1rMTHBSwuI THE LOVE WITCH Writer-director Anna Biller both recreates and subverts the look, feel and maddening gender politics of '60s exploitation horror flicks. The Love Witch follows the adventures of a seductive sorceress named Elaine, who'll stop at nothing, be it murder or satanic invocation, to find herself a man. From the lighting to the production design to lead actor Samantha Robinson's (wonderfully) stilted performance, Biller absolutely nails the aesthetic that she's going for, while at the same time turning misogynist genre conventions on their head. Admittedly, the novelty wears off after a while — at two hours, the movie feels way too long, although we suppose you could argue that that's part of the homage. Regardless, when it works, this is a jaw-dropping piece of retro-inspired feminist filmmaking. -TC By Sarah Ward and Tom Clift.
Cat cafes around the country are in for some adorable competition, with a new animal-themed eatery set to open in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Rabbit-lovers David Johnson and Helen Hu are currently asking for donations for what they hope will becomes Australia's first ever bunny cafe. Frankly, if the words 'bunny' and 'cafe' aren't enough to make you donate on the spot, then we just don't know that there's anything we can do for you. The couple, who previously owned and operated a handmade accessories shop in Olinda, are currently looking for $20,000 to secure a location in or around Fitzroy. Anyone who wants to see this happen can donate via the cafe's website. Alternatively, you can check out their Facebook page, where they've been auctioning off rabbit-themed merchandise including rings and mugs, and posting many, many, painfully cute bunny videos such as this one. No news yet on what food the cafe will be serving, although they have unveiled a coffee menu with beverages named after the beloved pets of generous donors, including the 'Flopsy' Cappuccino, the 'Ruffles' Hot Chocolate and the 'Bunzor' Espresso. (Bunzor? Seriously?) As for their fluffy tenants, they'll come courtesy of Victoria's first and only no-kill rabbit shelter, the Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage – and unlike many cat cafes, the plan is to make all the animals in the cafe available for adoption. To make a donation to Bunny Cafe Melbourne, visit their website at www.bunnycafemelbourne.com.au Via The Northsider. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
Born back in 2008, when Melbourne was just discovering its burgeoning coffee scene, Padre Coffee now has four locations across Australia including two in Melbourne, one in Sydney and another in Noosa. It's the Brunswick store that started it all, though, and to this day it retains the excitement and heady atmosphere of those early days of coffee explorations. The interior is fresh, light and airy with plenty of indoor plants offering up a welcome splash of green here and there. The vibe is bustling in, as its reputation stretches far and wide, and sitting back watching the coffee roasters and baristas work their magic is a big part of the charm. In terms of the coffee, there is a lot to choose from at Padre, with blends including its Golden Rule Espresso Blend with beans from Guatemala and Papua New Guinea and flavours of plum, dark chocolate, peach, macadamia, apricot and maple syrup. Another blend worth discovering is its Daddy's Girl espresso blend from Columbia and Brazil with notes of mellow caramel and sweet milk chocolate. If filtered coffee is more our thing there is a wide range here including the Hey Buddy blend with origins in Brazil and Ethiopia and hints of berries, apricot, caramel and hazelnut in the cup, as well as Gachatha AB Single Origin from Kenya, with intricate acidity and flavours of lemon, blueberry, brown sugar and blackberry. Padre Coffee also has a weekly Espresso 101 course, which runs for three hours and teaches you an understanding of espresso recipes, as well as a working familiarity with the equipment involved in making the perfect espresso. By the end of the day, you'll have expanded your knowledge of coffee and gained the skills to make it at home. Its website is also a handy resource for all things coffee, with special attention given to the sustainability and ethical side of the industry. Appears in: Where to Find the Best Coffee in Melbourne
The minds behind the multi-layered delight that is the legendary Strawberry Watermelon Cake — which has lit up Instagram feeds across the world since its inception in Sydney over a decade ago — headed south last November, opening the doors to a Black Star Pastry pop-up in St Kilda. It closed, like many restaurants did, at the start of the pandemic, but now it's back — permanently. Making its home beneath Acland Street's Jackalope Pavilion — where the now-closed, hopefully-reopening-soon exhibition Rain Room is located — the team's first permanent Black Star Pastry outside of Sydney follows a successful 2017 pop-up in Carlton, as well as plenty of outings at Melbourne's Night Noodle Markets over the years. The new pop-up store is serving up a selection of Black Star smash hits, the bill headlined, of course, by that Strawberry Watermelon Cake. Sporting layers of almond dacquoise, rose-scented cream and watermelon, this little beauty sells around one million slices annually across the brand's four Sydney stores and was even dubbed the "world's most Instagrammed cake" by the New York Times. Other favourites making the journey south include the Pistachio Lemon Zen Cake — another layered sensation featuring pistachio ganache, white chocolate mousse, lemon curd and crunchy pistachio dacquoise — and the Raspberry Lychee Cake, which fuses chocolate biscuit, raspberry marshmallow and vanilla cream. Also on the lineup: custard flans, croissants, a vegan chocolate popcorn cake, a Dragon Cake (made with thinly sliced dragonfruit and jelly ripples) and a Japanese Forest Cake, which has matcha moss, dark chocolate bark and whole confit ume (plums). The sweet stuff is complemented by St Ali coffee and a contemporary, minimalist store space, featuring neon signage by UK artist Tracey Emin proclaiming "you loved me like a distant star". And, in a win for those who don't like waiting — or don't like heading out in the current climate — customers can also pre-order a range of cakes online and skip the queues with express pick-up. Those cakes are for all types of celebrations, too, ranging from four to 45 portions.
If ever there were proof of the benefits of giving rent-free spaces to artists, it's Newcastle. A decade ago, the city centre was haunted by more than 150 empty shops — largely thanks to the 1999 closure of BHP's steelworks, which pushed unemployment to 12 percent. Fast-forward ten or so years. You could be mistaken for thinking you were in an inner suburb of Melbourne. Café seating spills onto pavements, where Novocastrians chat over blends roasted just a few blocks away. A sprawling microbrewery buzzes near old Tower Cinema. Brunchers lazily make their way through brekkie bowls. Shoppers browse windows crowded with homemade sculptures and jewellery and millinery. Locals lead visitors through laneways plastered with street art. Luckily, most chain stores are hidden away in big, loud shopping malls. This creative explosion is the work of local Marcus Westbury. In 2008, he returned home to a city that "felt like it was not merely slipping, but accelerating into decay". So, he persuaded a bunch of landlords to lend their vacant buildings to artists, thereby launching a nonprofit called Renew Newcastle. By 2011, Sydney's underrated sister city was one of Lonely Planet's top ten destinations in the world. Not only is it home to a thriving arts scene, it's also surrounded by water. On the northern side, there's the still beauty of the Hunter River and, on the southern, surf beaches and ocean pools and coastal walks — with plenty of shaded picnic tables and beach cabanas to keep locals sun safe. EAT AND DRINK In 2009, a self-described "rogue collective" of Novocastrian caffeine-obsessives dropped their day jobs to pursue a common goal: Newcastle's best and most environmentally-friendly coffee. They nabbed a heritage-listed building, where mad scientist John Winter built a revolutionary, waste-powered roaster, while law grad Chelsea Daoust got busy sourcing Rainforest Alliance certified beans. And so, Sprocket Roasters was born (68 Hunter Street; (02) 4009 1237). Many other premium coffee joints have opened since then, but this idiosyncratic, couch-dotted cafe is still serving some of the finest in town, as well as running a coffee school. In the West End, Silverchair's bassist, Chris Joannou, and barista Chris Johnston, have turned the warehouse that was Joannou's parents' laundry business into The Edwards (148 Parry St; (02) 4965 3845) It's a fun, unpretentious cafe-bar, with beer taps made from steam presses, lights made from tumble dryers and loads of space for ping pong matches, art exhibitions, live music and night markets. Generous, creative dishes are served nearly all day. For breakfast, we tuck into wood-smoked ocean trout with poached egg, zucchini and asparagus salad, labna and toasted quinoa; and French toast with berry compote, ricotta, passionfruit curd and pistachio chocolate crumble. The most summery views in the area are at Merewether Surfhouse (Henderson Parade; (02) 4918 0000). Perched on absolute waterfront, with floor-to-ceiling-windows, this architect-designed masterpiece looks over panoramas of Merewether Beach and beyond. Executive chef Ryan Baird has made fresh seafood king in the top-floor restaurant - from oyster samplers to a posh version of surf and turf (chargrilled pork cutlet, apple and thyme butter, half-lobster mornay, steamed greens, lemon) to pan-fried Daintree barramundi with panzanella salad and chargrilled sourdough. This joint has stolen a bit of thunder from neighbour and longtime rowdy local The Beach Hotel, but for now, the two seem to be enjoying symbiotic success with post-ocean-thirsty locals. Come evening, the buzzing Darby Street Village Precinct gives you a diverse choice of small bars and offbeat restaurants. At The Bowery Boys, executive chef Steven Zielke (Buffalo Dining Club, Chester White, Table for 20) and bartenders Ryan Hawthorne and Ethan Ortlipp (The Ivy, Sticky Bar, Coal & Cedar) are bringing a dose of 19th century New York City to 21st century Newcastle. Named after the notorious 1840s gang who, when not feuding in the streets, worked as butchers, the eatery specialises in all things pickled, smoked and cured. Photographs of New York City line the walls. Sweeney Todd-style cleavers hang alongside meaty delicacies. Cloudy brown bottles hide their contents (hint: top-shelf liquor). Pickles, olives, charcuterie, cheeses, spanner crab with chilli green mango coconut, spiced dutch carrots and ricotta gnocchi arrive on abundant share plates, matched with small-batch cocktails and exotic wines, like rioja, malbec and zinfandel. Also worth visiting if you've got the time: Darby Street's One Two Seven Darby for a kickass brekkie, 5 Sawyers for a tipple, Parry Street Garage for a damn good dinner, MoneyPenny for cocktails, The Lass for a bloody good beer garden, The Happy Wombat for craft beer, The Grain Store for drinks and nibbles, One Penny Black for insane pourovers, Roladoor for vintage-clad brunch, Goldberg's for a tried and true local, and Foghorn Brewhouse for locally-brewed beer. Or just take a picnic to Nobby's or Bar Beach — remember to slip, slop, slap y'all. SEE AND DO Despite having inspired Lonely Planet's admiration, Newcastle is yet to be detected by the mass tourism radar. You won't see glazed-eyed groups straggling behind flag-waving guides and you needn't fear overwhelming crowds — even on weekends. But, if you do want an insider's perspective, there's a handful of quirky tours to choose from. We meet Neroli Foster for an Underground Epicurean adventure. "There are so many great places for foodies in Newcastle," she says. "But they're not always easy to find." Rather than following a box-ticking itinerary, she takes a casual approach - we feel more like we're with a local friend than a tour guide. We sample gourmet doughnuts at Doughheads (where flavours include citrus cheesecake, Turkish rose and caramel toast); work our way through a wine flight curated from hundreds of bottles cellared beneath Reserve Wine Bar; and dessert on gelato overlooking the water at Estabar, among numerous other delicious stops. My favourite is The Tea Project, where tea expert Becci Fowler pours me the finest cuppa I've ever tasted. More than 70 teas are on the menu and they're all premium quality and beautifully blended. Beer and comfort food more your thing? Let One For the Road be your guide. When I say beer and comfort food, I mean a four-hour stroll through town, taking in ten craft beers and ten moreish, moreish bites. At Chook and Broosky, we discover the many ways in which beer and fried chicken can dance together; at Foghorn, we watch Newcastle's only onsite brewery in action, while feasting on pizza; and, at The Hop Factory, we explore a few of the 20 beers on tap, paired with mini-burgers. Along the way, our easy-going, funny guide fills us in on Newcastle's history — from the convicts who dug out the Bogey Hole (New South Wales's first ocean pool) to current disputes over the railway, which, by the way, has been cut at Hamilton for the time-being. Once you're fuelled up (or, in my case, thoroughly stuffed), you'll be ready to work it off. Slip a hat, slop on some sunscreen and meet Simone Sheridan for a street art tour. Former director of This Is Not Art (TINA) and passionate place maker, Simone shows us painting and drawings in the most unexpected of spots, as well as telling us stories behind the city's best known pieces, such as Adnate's portrait of an indigenous boy in Wickham, which was horrifically graffitied with a racist slur just a month after being completed in November 2013. Simone's tours run by foot or bicycle. We save the Newcastle Memorial Walk (aka ANZAC Walk) for sunset. If you're keen to tackle it by day, don't forget some skin-saving protection — the sun can get mighty hot. $4.5 million and 64 tonnes of steel went into this 450-metre-long walkway, which opened in April 2015 and spans the cliff tops between Strzelecki Lookout and Bar Beach, affording 360-degree views. For a more epic journey, make it just one part of a six-kilometre trek, from Merewether Ocean Pools to Nobbys Beach. Speaking of beaches, a trip to Newy's not complete without diving into the ocean. Closer to the city, Newcastle Beach is where you'll find the annual Surfest and the stunningly preserved Ocean Baths, while Nobby's is the big postcard-perfect beach (and home to Horseshoe Beach, the dog-friendly beach). Bar, Dixon and Merewether Beach is one long ocean crawl worth doing to the historic Merewether Baths, and you can even follow this line along to Glenrock Lagoon if you're feeling energetic. Burwood Beach is unpatrolled but great for surfing. If you're keen to venture out of the city centre a little, Redhead Beach is worth the trek, and even further is Caves Beach (which has literal caves on the beach). Meanwhile, for indoor escapades, there's the lively Newcastle Museum. Should you visit before 28 February, you'll find yourself face-to-face with ten tyrannosaurs. And, between 2014 and 2018, the First World War effort is being explored in Shadows of Sacrifice, an exhibition that changes every six months, reflecting how life in Newcastle changed as the war wore on. To check out the latest creations from the city's vibrant arts community, take a wander through the former David Jones store in the CBD, which is now partitioned into independent pop-up shops, or along aforementioned Darby Street (by day, rather than night). STAY After six years hiding behind a facade, The Lucky Country Hotel reemerged in 2014 like a rock star making a glamorous come-back jazz album. The (albeit controversial, ask a Novocastrian) McCloy Group poured six million bucks into giving it a good gutting, but kept the bits that worked, like the raw iron beams and warm, red brick work, and dropped the middle name. These days, the hotel is referred to on a first name basis, as The Lucky. What you notice first will depend on which way you enter. Head into the Drum Bar and an enormous chandelier made of an actual drum kit will be dangling over you. Peer into the courtyard and you'll be mesmerised by vast, dreamy light projections across the back wall, filled with flying birds and dancing figures. Wherever you sit in the 428-capacity pub, you can get stuck into a hearty serving of American barbecue, cooked slow over hickory wood for up to 14 hours; craft beers; and cocktails based on seasonally available ingredients. Upstairs, forty en-suite rooms spread over two floors. We catch the lift to a deluxe suite with a sofa. Ironically, for a hotel where the menu's pretty meaty, the wall art reads: "A rabbit's foot may bring you good luck, but it brought none to the rabbit", a quotation from American satirist Ambrose Bierce's 'Epigrams'. Each room shares a different philosophy on luck and fortune. Large windows let in plenty of sun, making the most of the bright, white walls. They're softened by dark carpet and furnishings in muted tones: gentle greys, charcoals, mustards, beiges and browns. The straight-forward, white-tiled bathroom is sparkling clean and the l'Occitane toiletries are a luxurious touch. Despite the positioning, close to the main road, sound proofing keeps out traffic noise. All in all, The Lucky makes for a comfortable sleep, in a neatly composed, refreshing space — just what you need before another day of sun, surf, art and feasting in Newcastle. LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS By car: Newcastle is about 160 kilometres, or two hours' drive, along the Pacific Motorway north of Sydney, or about ten hours' drive from Melbourne. By plane: Rex flies to Newcastle from Sydney at least once a day, with the flight taking 45 minutes. Both Jetstar and Virgin fly from Melbourne, taking 90 minutes. By bus/train: Sydney Trains travel direct from Sydney to Broadmeadow, taking about 2 1/2 hours. From Broadmeadow, connecting buses take you to Newcastle central. From Melbourne, it's a 14 1/2 hour ride. Jasmine Crittenden travelled to Newcastle as a guest of Destination NSW. Top image: Flickr. All other images Peter Saw.
If your main quibble with dumplings is that they're gone in a brief slurpy chomp, this New York restaurant's giant xiao long bao is the big ass dump you've been waiting for. Obviously, xiao long bao dumplings (or 'XLB dump dumps') are the best kind of dumplings (wo)mankind has yet imagined. Pot stickers are great, gyoza are fantastic and steamed dump dumps are just fine but really there's no better feeling than sucking down a brothy pocket of XLB. East Village newcomer Drunken Dumpling recognises this and has supersized the XLB to monstrous proportions. The XL XLB (right on) is the size of a bamboo steamer (a god damn bamboo steamer) and served with a straw (a straw!) to suck up all the delicious broth. They've got mathematics-professor-turned-dumpling-expert Qihui Guan at the helm of the XL XLB project, to ensure the physics of the bulbous dumplings are all up to code, so don't try this one at home. Via Gothamist. Image: Josh Brusin.
There's a lot to learn about the gin and tonic. The classic combination of bitter and sweet has become a cocktail staple — mixed with a little lime and a lot of ice, it's endlessly refreshing and easy to make. We've all gone into a bar and had a bad G&T, but we've all gone into a bar and had a decent one too. How can the combination of two ingredients have such a different outcome? In partnership with Bombay Sapphire, we investigated. This is how you make the perfect G&T — from the tonic water, all the way to the garnish. OBVIOUSLY, YOUR CHOICE OF GIN IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT We've been treated to a gin resurgence of late. Hundreds of distilleries across the world are now creating their own gin — there are smaller, craft gin companies that have popped up and larger, more established brands that will hopefully stay around and bless us with gin forever. Gin is made with a base spirit, and botanicals (like coriander, orris root and juniper berries) are added during the distillation process in order to produce a certain, sweet flavour. Every gin company uses botanicals in its own way to produce its own unique flavour. "It's what you do with the botanicals that differentiates gin," says Sean Forsyth, Bombay Sapphire ambassador. "Bombay Sapphire is the only London dry gin to infuse the botanicals by steaming them instead of boiling them, which produces a brighter, more vibrant, kind of fresher, uplifting flavour." Gin is an incredibly varied drink, so it's important to figure out what brand (and flavour) suits your palette before you start using it in your G&Ts. Luckily, "never has the consumer had more choice available to them", says Forsyth. Try out a few brands and decide on one that you like. TONIC WATER MAKES UP THREE QUARTERS OF YOUR COCKTAIL Tonic water is not to be underestimated. Like gin, its flavour also varies drastically between brands. Smaller craft producers, according to Forsyth, focus on "natural cane sugars, using high quality, filtered waters, and of course using real botanicals, real quinine and real spices to flavour their mixers." The result is a tonic that isn't overly sweet, syrupy, and is generally more approachable than one you would find on a supermarket shelf. Many bartenders favour the brand Fever Tree in their drinks, because they focus on all of the above factors, as well as making sure their tonic has a decent level of carbonation. "A lot of bubbles is really important to a great gin and tonic," says Forsyth. The fizz tickles your nose and the smell of the gin becomes more apparent." But again, "it all comes down to preference and taste," he says. Don't be too hasty to chuck out the Schweppes if that's what you prefer. GET A LITTLE INVENTIVE WITH YOUR GARNISHES Arguments over the best garnish for the G&T are heated, but the answer arguably lies in the geography. Limes grow in India, and lemons usually don't, so it's most likely that "the original garnish for the gin and tonic was actually lime, not lemon", as Forsyth says. If you choose to garnish with lime, rub the rind around the rim of the glass before dropping it into your drink. Half of what you taste is what you smell first, and this tactic will take the lime flavour to the next, subtle level. But don't get bogged down in tradition — mix up your garnish with something that complements or contrasts with the botanicals. For example, Forsyth recommends you sling a little black pepper and strawberry, or some cassia bark in there to get a "really delicious, almost Christmas inspired gin and tonic". YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE THE CLASSIC G&T, AND THAT'S OKAY Maybe you don't like the combination of gin and tonic water, no matter how hard you try to get involved. That's completely okay. Maybe you prefer your drink a little sweeter. If so, add a touch of sugar syrup, or something like a melon syrup to your drink to jazz up your adventure a little further. Better yet, try out some cocktails that play with the G&T tradition, like a Lemon Collins, a Gin Rickey, or a Gin Basil Tonic, a drink that the guys at PS40 knocked up just for Forsyth that uses gin, lemon, fresh basil, a touch of sugar and a healthy dose of tonic. If you're just not that into tonic water, try mixing your gin with soda, or opting for a stronger Negroni or martini. If you like drinking gin, you have so many options of things to do with it — the cocktail world is your oyster. Images: Kimberley Low and Steven Woodburn (top image).
We love a bit of rivalry when it comes to our mates across the pond, just as much as we enjoy having a beer with them when our sporting clashes are all said and done. So it makes total sense that we should have a craft beer-off with New Zealand, and who better to host it then the aficionados at Foresters Beer Hall. On August 29, a total of 34 beers are stepping up to the plate to be sampled by willing participants (aka you guys), where they will be rated from 1-5 on taste alone. While you’re welcome to drop in any time of the afternoon, those looking to get involved in the tasting must complete their ‘duties’ by 4.30/5ish. Post-tasting, keg beer will be available at a discounted rate and as per usual, their kitchen will be going full force if you need some delicious pizza to accompany your bevs. Get down to Foresters and source some new brews to fill up your Esky/Chilly Bin for the summer ahead.
My yoga studio has a basketball court below it. During a calming session of yoga, it is not uncommon to hear the piercing screech of a whistle, frequent cheering and the intermittent shrieks of "Great shot Mike!". One time, I kid you not, there was a marching band procession going down, and the instructor had to calmly try and talk over the incessant drumming. Quite un-zen. Flow After Dark Silent Disco Yoga seeks to give yoga enthusiasts the exact opposite experience. How exactly does one silent disco yoga? Quite easily with the introduction of wireless headphones. These bad boys give participants a one-on-one with their instructor, while simultaneously pumping out beats from Sydney DJ James Mack. Also, they're neon. This one-off, 90-minute Vinyasa yoga session will be held at Melbourne Town Hall and is probably your best (possibly only) chance to show off your best warrior pose while simultaneously jiving to some seriously smooth music. Silently. Plus, IsoWhey Wholefoods and Pressed Juices will be providing smoothies and snacks post practice.
Running. Running away from responsibility. Running away from your stalker. Running to keep fit. I love running in all its forms. I love discovering new paths and leafy trails. I love seeing other runners toiling along and feeling like I'm in some kind of elite pack or club dedicated to pummelling the pavement and beating the hills. Best of all, running means exploring new suburbs and secret parks, of the kind collected below. ABBOTSFORD CONVENT The garden and grounds are accessible via pathways that are mostly bitumen, although some are dirt. You can run right past the Collingwood Children's Farm and see the resident donkey named Mickie before you've had breakfast. The paths wind along the river and there are no active nuns on site. It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of running route. PRINCES PARK Perfectly flat and phenomenally popular, Princes Park is ridiculously close to the city and Melbourne University. This is the place to run if you wan to check out sports teams playing in the park, as the 3.2km running circuit loops right around it. It's well lit at night, walker friendly, and you can even race the trams whiffling up Elizabeth Street. THE CAPITAL CITY TRAIL The Capital City Trail provides an uninterrupted linear link around Melbourne's existing parks and river corridors. The furthermost point on the Capital City Trail is only 5km from the city's centre, and it's a shared-use path for cyclists and pedestrians, so sprint with care — the path is mainly concrete. THE TAN TRACK This running trail had to make the cut, right? The Tan used to be a horse carriage drive for the well-off in Melbourne and sits just south of the Yarra River. It's shaded for its entire length by the most beautiful trees. You can follow it to Kings, the Old Melbourne Observatory, and the Shrine of Remembrance and tell everyone you've run it over your morning coffee. TREASURY GARDENS/FITZROY GARDENS This is one of Melbourne's prettiest (and easiest) running routes, with soft grass and gentle slopes. The 3km outer circuit is bitumen paved and the gardens themselves are crisscrossed by paths. It's across the road from the MCG, contains Captain Cook's Cottage and a fairy tree, and you can use the nearby stairs at Parliament to warm up. Princes Park and Capital City Trail image by Mat Connelly, Fitzroy Gardens image by edwin.11.
If you've lived in Melbourne long enough, you'll no doubt be familiar with the rivalry between north and south. But there comes a time when petty differences must be forgotten — particularly when there's free live music and cheap pizza on the line. For the seventh straight year, sister venues Bimbo Deluxe in Fitzroy and Lucky Coq in Windsor are teaming up for the Best of Both Sides Festival, featuring four days and nights of epic tunes, food and booze on both sides of the river. This year's festival includes more than 40 live music acts — although, to be honest, we're just as excited about what's going on in the kitchen. We're talking green prawns, popcorn chicken, pulled beef sliders and their insanely good value $4 pizzas.
Forty years ago, a filmmaker wanted to journey to a galaxy far, far away, and he needed a republic cruiser's worth of epic tunes to go with it. Enter John Williams and the theme everyone now knows. When the first notes of Star Wars: Episode VI — A New Hope's score started playing over the film's opening crawl, movie and music history was made. Neither Williams nor George Lucas could've known just what they'd unleashed, nor that Luke and Leia, Han and Chewie, and the next generation of wannabe jedis and empire lackeys would still be gracing cinema screens decades later. To celebrate not only the space opera saga's longevity, but the upcoming release of Star Wars: Episode VIII — The Last Jedi in December, St Kilda's Palais Theatre is hosting the Star Wars event to end all Star Wars events: Star Wars: The Force Awakens in concert. We've got a good feeling about what promises to be a force-filled evening of sound and vision, with the last film in the franchise screened in all its Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac and Adam Driver-starring glory, and Melbourne Symphony Orchestra picking up their instruments to perform the corresponding score. Conducted by Nicholas Buc, who'll be living out one of his dreams, they'll play Williams' Oscar-nominated music from the saga's seventh flick live across three concerts on December 8, 9 and 10. Following in the footsteps of the similar Harry Potter shows enchanting audiences this year, also featuring a score by Williams, this is not a trap — but BYO lightsaber, droid and wookie. And if you're a Sydney jedi master or Brisbane rebel who can't make it south, try taking Yoda's advice and trusting the force. The Melbourne gigs have been badged as the series' Australian premiere, so this mightn't be your only hope. Fingers crossed the show will jump on the Millennium Falcon and tour the rest of the country. Star Wars: Episode VII — The Force Awakens will screen at the Palais Theatre on December 8, 9 and 10, 2017. Grab tickets here.
After a year full of lockdowns and restrictions, travelling around Australia is finally possible again. Now, the bumper-to-bumper summer season of the country's top galleries is within reach to out-of-town art lovers too. We've pulled together a taster of major exhibitions that span both new and recognisable art and will encourage reflection on this crazy year. Each state is offering something unique, from an expansive all-women artist exhibition in Canberra to shows revealing the diversity of contemporary Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art from across the country. Join us in celebrating culture and open borders with an Australian summer full of art, performance, community talks and tours.
As much as we like to pretend we are all digital natives who will soon have our consciousness transferred into a gel-like neural network and live forever on the I N T E R N E T, the truth is that underneath it allwe're just tactile creatures who can't help but cry at sunsets. There’s nothing we like more than having something we can hold in our hands – and the people behind the droPrinter know exactly how we feel. Developed in Melbourne(!) by Zhenxun Yu, the droPrinter is one of the first portable, wireless smartphone printers available on the market – and despite being new to the scene, it isn’t as prohibitively expensive as you’d imagine. Like all cool things these days, the production of the droPrinter is being funded via Kickstarter and has already raised $43,967 – nearly three times its initial target – since launching on July 7 (see, people really love tangible old-school paper). The device clocks in at a tiny 10cm wide by 2.5cm deep and is operated via an Android or iOS app. With a 120 hour battery life you can print out literal reams of information: anonymous love notes, shopping lists, lists of baby names, wanted posters or maybe just miles and miles of emoticons – the world is now your oyster. It can even be used as a mobile power pack to charge your phone. Best of all, the droPrinter is affordable. The printer is expected to retail for $99, but for a pledge of $80 or more you can reserve yourself a printer (with an expected shipping date of March 2016) and one roll of paper. Further proof that the droPrinter folk aren’t trying to steal your hard-won Simoleans is that the device takes standard thermal paper, which can be purchased cheaply in office supply stores or online. For more information, check out the droPrinter Kickstarter.
Chef Matt Stone wants to you to make a bar out of your own backyard. Really. Melbourne's young gun head chef of Victoria's Oakridge winery, Stone made his industry name as head chef of Joost Bakker's Greenhouse, Silo and Brothl, then as the culinary brains behind IconPark's Sydney pop-up Stanley Street Merchants and a MasterChef regular. At his core, Stone's a stickler for ethical and sustainable cooking, so he's just released his first cookbook The Natural Cook to help fuel some of that philosophy in everyday Aussie kitchens. The (extremely well photographed) cookbook's brimming with recipes meant to make you rethink food, bring you back to basics, try traditional techniques, adopt new sustainable cooking habits and make the best of the bounty of native ingredients Australia's got going on (one of the most sustainable ways Australians can cook). Of course, the book champions Stone's infamous 'zero-waste' philosophy, whether you're making yoghurt, pickling things or making a Bloody Mary. We've taken a couple of recipes out of of Stone's book, to show you how easy it is to incorporate native Australian ingredients into your everyday — well, into your cocktails in particular. Here's a little humdinger of a recipe for an Aussie South Side, topped with, y'know, a small serving of ants. Once you've crafted this gem, try making Stone's Native Spiced Bloody Mary (recipe's over here). MATT STONE'S AUSSIE SOUTH SIDE "A refreshing taste of Australia for a spring afternoon." INGREDIENTS Serves one ice 60 ml (2 fl oz/¼ cup) white spirit (gin, vodka or white rum) 30 ml (1 fl oz) freshly squeezed lime juice 10 ml (2 teaspoons) basic sugar syrup (see page 209) 7 Australian river mint (or regular mint) leaves small plate of ants and 1 lime wedge (optional) Fill a serving glass with ice and let it stand. Put the spirit, lime juice and sugar syrup, and all but one of the mint leaves, into a shaker, giving the mint a clap between your hands to excite its flavour before throwing it in. Fill the shaker to the top with ice, seal and shake vigorously for around 15 seconds. Discard the ice from the serving glass. If using ants, rub a wedge of lime around the rim of the glass. Gently press the rim onto your ants, twisting the glass so they stick all the way around the circumference. Put three to four cubes of fresh ice in the glass. Double-strain the liquid from the shaker into the glass using your Hawthorne and fine strainers. Stick the reserved mint leaf on top and serve. Note: There are specialist online shops where you can buy ants and other edible insects. Recipe and image from The Natural Cook by Matt Stone (Murdoch Books). Photography by Mark Roper RRP $39.99 available now in all good bookstores and online.
Victoria is truly a cornucopia of earthly delights. Just a few hours from the centre of Melbourne lie some of Australia's lushest landmarks – the Grampians, the Great Ocean Road and Wilsons Prom, to name a few. And yet something often stops us from getting out of the city. Whether it's a lack of time, a private vehicle, like-minded friends or camping equipment, it's easy to not take full advantage of our location and get out into nature. Enter Hike and Seek, a boutique tour company that take small groups on day adventures from Melbourne. After launching in September last year, co-founders James McCleery and Mette Kortelainen quickly realised they were onto something amazing. "We started with two tours and now we're doing six tours on a weekly basis," says James. "Generally we book every tour out…it's been an absolute dream for us." McCleery and Kortelainen live and breathe an outdoorsy lifestyle. They imagined Hike and Seek several years ago while hiking in Wilsons Prom and now spend six days a week leading hiking tours. Unlike big tour companies, Hike and Seek is a little more personal. With just eight people on a tour, you'll be picked up by a Kombi van named Olivia from either St Kilda or the CBD. From there on out, Hike and Seek provide everything, from equipment and ethically-sourced coffee from Supreme to fresh vegan food and snacks throughout the day. So where do they take you? McCleery and Kortelainen run full and half-day tours to some of the best hiking spots around Melbourne — Wilsons Promontory, the Otways, Cape Woolamai on Phillip Island, Mt Buller, the Grampians and the Mornington Peninsula all make the list. As the tour groups are so small, they're perfect for solo travellers and anyone looking to make new friends. But this isn't some tourist activity full of visiting families and rowdy groups of backpackers. "We thought our target marketing was the travellers and the backpacker, but we realised quickly that 70 percent of our market is Melbourne-based," says James. "We actually get a lot of corporate people. We get Airbnb customers and Melbourne-based people, who've just always wanted to do it — they've heard of Wilsons Prom or the Grampians, but they've never been. Or their friends bail last minute, or they don't have a car or they wanna do it with a group." Hike and Seek also offer something else you won't find with most big tour companies: delicious vegan food. Before becoming a full-time hiker, Mette studied nutrition in Helsinki, so all the food you'll chow down on is super healthy and animal product-free, and bound to give you plenty of energy to tear through your hike. "We're not preachers at all but so many people are so intrigued by it [the vegan food]," James says "They're there to get active and healthy as well, so there's a like minded group of people there who're embarking on a journey together". Come summer, they'll even be expanding to two- and three-day camping tours for those who CBFed buying a tent but crave time out from the city. All you have to worry about now is finding a comfy pair of shoes. Hike and Seek run tours from Melbourne most days of the week. Tours book out fast so you'll need to book in advance at hikeandseek.com.au. Love a good hike? Here's eight one-day hikes that you can do on your own from Melbourne.
Imagine a rolling vineyard with free-flowing wine, entertainers and famous faces in attendance. No, this isn't a plot for a mystery novel or the latest escapades of a cinematic detective. This adventure is Comedy in the Vines. It's a huge three-day celebration in Nagambie (only an 80-minute drive from Melbourne) from Friday, November 8 and Sunday, November 10. How huge can it be? How about the largest comedy festival in Regional Australian history? And this year, the event is heading to Michelton Wines in the picturesque Nagambie wine region, which will play host to some serious (and hilarious) talent. [caption id="attachment_972455" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Mitchelton Wines[/caption] The talent? Jen Brister, Lloyd Langford, Melanie Bracewell, Joel Creasey, Mel Buttle, Alex Ward, Gillian Cosgriff, Rove McManus, Dave Thorton and stacks more comedians will take to the main stage. Beyond that already very impressive lineup, you can watch live podcast recordings hosted by Claire Hooper, Luke Heggie and Nick Cody, sip and snack at the Oyster and Reisling Shot Bar, wander through the Mitchelton Gallery of Aboriginal Art, eat from a huge array of food stalls, and visit the R&R (rosé and relaxation) Station for massages, nail sculpting and rosé.
Despite having barbecued its first rib just eight months ago, Bluebonnet is a solid hit with Melbourne carnivores. And, with two venues already on-the-go, it's now arrived Geelong — specifically, The Workers Club. The Bluebonnet crew has teamed up with the Workers with two ideas in mind. The first is serving up the best American-style barbecue possible. To that end, a brand new, signature Bluebonnet smoker has been built for the new venue. Like its predecessors, the smoker’s been constructed by hand every step of the way, and boasts serious dimensions: 3.5 metres long with a 2000 litre capacity. The second idea is to bring live music to the meat. A genuinely solid lineup of local artists are already booked in, including British India, Northeast Party House and Jeff Martin. The space itself, which once served as an auction house, is an ideal live music space, featuring a bandroom, bar, dining area and outdoor seating. Governed by seasonality, the menu will be a little different every time you visit. If you’ve been festivalising this summer, there’s every chance you’re familiar with the Bluebonnet buns which, you’ll be pleased to know, are a regular fixture. Other staple hunger-busters include smoked Riverina Angus brisket, smoked porter braised beef cheek and Berkshire pulled pork. They're paired with some left-of-field sides, from guindilla, cheddar and confit garlic cornbread to apple and kohlrabi slaw. Both pre-gig snackers and platter-sharers are welcome. You’ll find The Worker’s Club at 90-92 Little Malop Street, Geelong. It’s open Monday to Thursday, 5pm till late, and Friday and Saturday from 12pm. We've picked Bluebonnet Barbecue as one of the Ten Best Barbecue Joints in Melbourne. Check out the list here.
Here, in a buzzy pocket of the Mornington Peninsula, Hotel Sorrento has sat for nearly 150 years boasting enviable bay vistas. Now, the historic sandstone building is welcoming an overhauled food and drink offering helmed by George Calombaris as part of the first stage of its redevelopment, including modern Cantonese diner Shihuishi. Shihuishi is the newest addition to the Hotel Sorrento family, nestled in the original, grand Hotel Sorrento ballroom. Head chef Junlin (Jerry) Yi (ex-Red Spice Road) is unafraid to stray from tradition, from prawn crackers paired with crème fraîche; to spanakopita dumplings that marry whipped feta and dill. Deeper into the menu, patrons will discover Australian-Canto cuisine that nods to the Chinese restaurant that stood onsite back in the 1980s. A prawn, lap cheong and onion stir-fry is a crowd-pleaser, along with duck pancakes and black pepper beef, served on a sizzling plate. Other classics run to the likes of steamed barra with soy, ginger and spring onion, or the ever-popular pork and prawn shumai. A generous list of cocktails, wine as well as beer and mocktails completes the offering. Don't miss the Dynasty Margarita, a playful mixture of tequila, green tea, honey, lime, jalapeños, Szechuan and rosemary salt. Images: supplied.
Meredith is a festival where you're guaranteed to have a good time, no matter what. But whatever your reasons for heading to the three-day December festival in central Victoria, you won't be disappointed with the acts Aunty Meredith has announced for this year's lineup. If you've seen their Letterman set (and who hasn't by now), you'll be chest-beatingly happy to know that Future Islands will be headlining the bill, bringing their empassioned live show to The Sup. Todd Terje will be bringing his space disco all the way from Norway to head up vibes on Saturday night, as Chicago's Noname — both are coming to Australia for the first time. Warpaint, Total Control, ESG and !!! are among acts to join NZ's already-announced Aldous Harding. And that's not even a half of it. Aunty has really covered all bases here. You're wondering how you can get tickets to this aren't you? Meredith tickets are only available by entering the ballot. You can still do so at here up until 10.27pm on Tuesday, August 15. Fingers crossed that we can all hang out in The Sup on December 8, 9 and 10. But we know what you're really here for. We'll cut to the chase. Here's the lineup — and we're promised a few more are still to be announced. MEREDITH MUSIC FESTIVAL 2017 LINEUP Todd Terje & The Olsens Noname ESG Total Control !!! Future Islands Warpaint Downtown Boys Mark Seymour and The Undertow Aldous Harding Harvey Sutherland & Bermuda Amyl and The Sniffers Big Thief Pissed Jeans Various Asses Japanese Breakfast RVG The Teskey Brothers DJ Jnett The Senegambian Jazz Band Rings Around Saturn Kikagaku Moyo
Pâtissier extraordinaire Adriano Zumbo has swung open the doors to his latest sugary venture, Fancy Nance. The renowned pastry chef, Tim Tam guest designer and MasterChef final boss cut the metaphorical ribbon on the South Yarra high tea salon and bakery cafe earlier in the week. In a related story, Melbourne’s most sadistic dentists have been seen cackling maniacally while rubbing their hands with glee. Located on Daly Street on the former site of ill-fated Le Grand Cirque, Fancy Nance will cement Zumbo’s dessert dominion over South Yarra, complementing his patisserie on nearby Claremont Street. The kitchens will be the stomping ground of head chef Daniel Texter, whose resume includes stints at Noma in Copenhagen and Le Amis in Singapore. The menu is an expectedly extravagant affair with a mix of sweet and savoury. The $45 high tea degustation includes a choux bun filled with tarragon ice cream, apple pie with cinnamon marshmallow, caramelised olives with smoked ricotta and pork rillettes on a pretzel bun. If that’s not quite decadent enough for you, they’ve also got a $65 version that features all of the above as well as a passionfruit curd and lemongrass panna cotta, grapefruit with white chocolate ganache and osso bucco with pea shoots. Beverage options include a wide variety of teas, from the relatively conventional Darjeeling and chamomile to more elaborate combinations such as ginger and liquorice, and Dragon Pearl jasmine. They also offer coffee, hot chocolate, beer, wine and cocktails. Sweetening the deal even further, Fancy Nance have struck up a partnership with chef Pierre Roelofs, who’ll use the salon to host his famous four-course dessert nights on select Thursday evenings throughout winter. If you’re interested in booking, head on over here. It's not all dessert onsite though. The converted warehouse space will also be home to the soon-to-open Little Frankie’s, which will serve simple Italian fare such as bread, pastries and gelato (to sweeten the deal further). Fancy Nance is located at 21 Daly Street, South Yarra, and operates Wednesday to Sunday from 11am to 6pm. For more information, visit them on Facebook. Via Good Food. View all Melbourne Cafes.
Spring is in the air and that means festival season is upon us. We've just wrapped up Fringe and already we're on to the next one. Spanning two and a half weeks, this year's Melbourne Festival lineup includes 70 events, including 17 Australian premieres, featuring artists, musicians and theatre makers from all around the world. Here are just ten of the festival events you should go out of your way to make time for.
Sydney-based singer-songwriter Elizabeth Rose is taking a stand on marriage equality, with a brand new single out today. Titled ‘Division,’ the pulsating electronic pop track tackles the issue of same-sex unions head on, with lyrics like ‘I got friends who need the satisfaction of equality,’ leaving little doubt on where the singer stands. Even better, the musician is putting her money where her mouth is, with sale proceeds being used to help fight discrimination. “Australia is tipped as the ‘lucky’ country, but reflecting upon what we stand for, I'm not sure that we are all that we’re cracked up to be,” says Rose. “Our peers fall victim to acts of discrimination and are denied the right to equality.” ‘Division’ is currently available to download from the singer’s website on a pay-what-you-want basis. The proceeds will be donated to Australian Marriage Equality. The single comes at a significant point in the national marriage debate. After Ireland passed marriage reform via popular referendum last month, Australia remains one of the few holdouts in the developed world. Polling suggests the Australian public is overwhelmingly in favour of marriage equality, but politicians continue to lag behind. Opposition leader Bill Shorten introduced a private members bill to a depressingly empty Parliament on Monday, with only five Liberal MPs bothering to attend. “We are moving towards this significant moment in Australian history,” affirmed Rose. “I urge people to accept and embrace this need for equality in our country.” To download ‘Division,’ visit Elizabeth Rose’s website. To learn more about the goals of Australian Marriage Equality, go here.
Hollywood's glitziest and most self-congratulatory night has wrapped up for another year. While the rest of us have been at work on a Monday, the who's who of moviemaking took their seats at the Dolby Theatre for the 89th Academy Awards. Leading the pack this year with a record-equaling 14 nominations was Damien Chazelle's musical throwback La La Land, which is either the greatest film ever made or completely overrated, depending on which person on the internet you ask. Warren Beatty read out La La Land for Best Picture (even though Moonlight won), lolly bags were parachuted into Hollywood hands, several stars wore blue ribbons in a subtle protest against President Trump, John Legend performed La La Land's 'City of Stars' better than Ryan Gosling, and Suicide Squad won an actual Oscar. Really. "Academy Award-winner Suicide Squad." Not easy to say. Anyway, here's the list of this year's winners, may you long debate the results at the pub. Watching the ceremony later? Pair it with Concrete Playground's Oscars drinking game, and check if we were right. Here's the full list of winners: Best Supporting Actor Mahershala Ali (Moonlight) — WINNER Jeff Bridges (Hell or High Water) Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea) Dev Patel (Lion) Michael Shannon (Nocturnal Animals) Achievement in Costume Design Allied Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them — WINNER Florence Foster Jenkins Jackie La La Land Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling A Man Called Ove Star Trek Beyond Suicide Squad — WINNER Best Foreign Language Film Land of Mine A Man Called Ove The Salesman — WINNER Tanna Toni Erdmann Best Live Action Short Ennemis Entreniers La Femme et le TGV Silent Nights Sing — WINNER Timecode Best Documentary Short Subject Extremis 4.1 Miles Joe's Violin Watani: My Homeland The White Helmets — WINNER Achievement in Sound Mixing Arrival Hacksaw Ridge — WINNER La La Land Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Achievement in Sound Editing Arrival — WINNER Deepwater Horizon Hacksaw Ridge La La Land Sully Best Supporting Actress Viola Davis (Fences) — WINNER Naomie Harris (Moonlight) Nicole Kidman (Lion) Octavia Spencer (Hidden Figures) Michelle Williams (Manchester by the Sea) Achievement in Visual Effects Deepwater Horizon Doctor Strange The Jungle Book — WINNER Kubo and the Two Strings Rogue One: A Star Wars Story Best Animated Short Blind Vaysha Borrowed Time Pear Cider and Cigarettes Pearl Piper — WINNER Best Animated Feature Kubo and the Two Strings Moana My Life as a Zucchini The Red Turtle Zootopia — WINNER Best Production Design Arrival Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them Hail, Caesar! La La Land — WINNER Passengers Cinematography Arrival La La Land — WINNER Lion Moonlight Silence Best Film Editing Arrival Hacksaw Ridge — WINNER Hell or High Water La La Land Moonlight Best Documentary Feature Fire at Sea I Am Not Your Negro Life Animated O.J.: Made in America — WINNER 13th Best Original Song Audition (La La Land) Can't Stop the Feeling (Trolls) City of Stars (La La Land) — WINNER The Empty Chair (Jim: The James Foley Story) How Far I'll Go (Moana) Best Original Score Jackie La La Land — WINNER Lion Moonlight Passengers Best Original Screenplay Hell or High Water La La Land The Lobster Manchester by the Sea — WINNER 20th Century Women Best Adapted Screenplay Arrival Fences Hidden Figures Lion Moonlight — WINNER Best Director Denis Villeneuve (Arrival) Mel Gibson (Hacksaw Ridge) Damien Chazelle (La La Land) — WINNER Kenneth Lonergan (Manchester by the Sea) Barry Jenkins (Moonlight) Best Actor Casey Affleck (Manchester by the Sea) — WINNER Andrew Garfield (Hacksaw Ridge) Ryan Gosling (La La Land) Viggo Mortensen (Captain Fantastic) Denzel Washington (Fences) Best Actress Isabelle Huppert (Elle) Ruth Negga (Loving) Natalie Portman (Jackie) Emma Stone (La La Land) — WINNER Meryl Streep (Florence Foster Jenkins) Best Picture Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures La La Land Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight — WINNER By Shannon Connellan and Tom Clift.
South Yarra's Lambs on Malvern is your classic souvlaki joint with a fun range of pizzas to complement it. With street-side dining, it's the perfect place to catch up with a mate over an easy halal snack pack and a can of coke and watch the world stroll by. It's open until 3am on Friday or Saturday to enjoy a late-night stumble with a falafel souvlaki — however, expect big lines as this place has built up a reputation over the years. The combos include a souvlaki combo with fries and a drink, as well as a halal snack pack, Hawaiian pizza or falafel souvlaki option. The souvlaki themselves are served with lettuce, tomato, onion and garlic sauce wrapped in pita bread. As well as Hawaiian pizzas, it offers classics such as margaritas, garlic, and barbecue chicken. The staff's special pizza has been expertly curated, featuring salami, capsicum, onion, olives, bacon cheese and marina sauce. For vegetarians, there is an option with mushrooms, onions, capsicum, olives, marina sauce and cheese. Rock up for lunch or a little tipsy at midnight and enjoy some of the best souvlaki in Melbourne. Images: Tran Nguyen
Break out the cheese, Wallace & Gromit fans, then put on the right trousers and prepare for what's bound to be a very grand day out indeed. As part of the Victorian Government's Melbourne Winter Masterpieces series, the Australian Centre for the Moving Image has announced a massive exhibition dedicated to everyone's favourite stop-motion-animated, dairy-loving inventor and his kindly claymation canine pal, as well as the broader Aardman world they hail from. Taking over ACMI from June 29 to October 29, 2017, Wallace & Gromit and friends: The magic of Aardman will showcase more than 350 items, spanning original artworks, sketches, storyboards, hand-made sets and set pieces, character studies, puppets and more. Specific items such as the flying machine from Chicken Run and the five-metre tall ship from The Pirates! Band of Misfits will also feature. In short, if it's related to the Oscar, BAFTA and all-round award-winning animation studio's beloved were-rabbit chasers, escaping chooks and swashbucklers — and their other flicks such as Flushed Away, Arthur Christmas and Shaun the Sheep — you'll find it here. Of course, ACMI being ACMI, you can expect to see bits and pieces of Aardman's shorts, television work, advertisements, music videos and movies too, though an accompanying big screen lineup hasn't yet been announced. And the timing really couldn't be better. While their highly anticipated next effort Early Man won't release in cinemas until 2018, the exhibition will include concept drawings from the Stone Age versus Bronze Age caper, which will feature the voices of Eddie Redmayne and Tom Hiddleston. Curated by Art Ludique-Le Musée, Paris, where the exhibition premiered in 2015, Wallace & Gromit and friends also marks more than four decades of Aardman goodness — and its Melbourne run will coincide with the 40th anniversary of the first Aardman short, 1977's Animated Conversations: Down and Out, in fact. With Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art opening its doors to a Marvel showcase in 2017, next year sure is shaping up to be a mighty fine time for pop culture-filled galleries — and for travelling around the country to peek behind the scenes of your favourite screen content, perhaps? Wallace & Gromit and friends: The magic of Aardman exhibits at ACMI from June 29 to October 29, 2017. Tickets go on sale from Monday, November 21, 2016. Visit the ACMI website for further details. Images: Aardman.
Debauched banquets from Bompas and Parr, giant industrial fire organs and all the demon purging and ceremonial death dances you could want in a festival. Now in its third year, Dark Mofo continues to evolve to be darker, weirder and wilder than before. Aligned with the winter solstice and run from June 12-22, MONA’s annual June festival celebrated the Neolithic tradition over ten hedonistic days of eclectic and unpredictable art, performance, music and happenings around Hobart, concluding with the annual nude solstice swim at dawn after the longest night in Australia— yep, people actually swim nude in the bloody freezing Derwent River. Programming for Dark Mofo seems to be a deliberate descent from free-spirited, easily digestible art to uncontrolled, freakish insanity — from loveable Sydney fivesome The Preatures to Japanese eight-laptop conductor EYE. This year's citywide festival had thousands huddled ritualistically around fire bins in the waterfront arts precinct Dark Park, roasting giant marshmallows, chowing down on Pacha Mama wallaby burritos, Quiet Deeds Lamington Ale and Bruny Island oyster-garnished Bloody Marys at the Winter Feast and absorbing all the doom sludge metal, splintered electronic feedback ambience and Marina Abramovic performance art they could guzzle. We put our hands into mystery boxes at Hendrick's Gin's pop-up Parlour of Curiosities (which was wonderfully Sleep No More meets The Blair Witch Project), we made forcefields out of Anthony McCall's stunning Solid Light Works, avoided bodily injury by skipping Byron J Scullin and Supple Fox's Bass Bath and inhaled Aesop's olfactory soap-mist room — all while artist Rafael Lozano-Hemmer's beam of light towered over the city, pulsing with punter heartbeats. And then there's the event with a safe word (it was 'bananas'). Creative team Supple Fox created the mysterious, epic Blacklist party, a heaving, nightly end-of-the-world art rave taking over Hobart Town Hall until the wee hours. While most might want to abide by the rule 'what happens at Blacklist stays at Blacklist', we can divulge that there was more revolving pink Christmas trees made out of plastic bodies, silent drag shows, star sign-based floor huddles, melancholy poetry readings, Retrosweat-style dance demonstrations, silver balloon drops and car engine bonfires than we've seen at other, less apocalyptic parties. But the best bit about Dark Mofo? For an incredibly niche, dark and avant-garde festival that should be overwhelmingly pretentious, it's probably the most accessible and widely-attended (demographically) festival we've seen in many a day. Toddlers, nannas, teenagers, twenty-somethings, older humans; they all show up and have a grand ol' time. Maybe it's a Hobartian thing. Or maybe there's something about the end of the world that makes us lose our inhibitions and just run with it. Images: Andy Fraser. Words: Shannon Connellan.
If there's one place in New South Wales — well, besides Sydney — that's embraced the state's newly liberated small bar culture, it's Wollongong. Like that of the harbour city, The Gong's night life used to be all about rowdy pubs and dance clubs. Now, we're not saying there's anything wrong with that — sometimes, there's no better way to end a working week than sinking a few and tutting like you're Taylor Swift in utter anonymity — but, like the great Latin writer Publilius Syrus quipped: "The most delightful pleasures cloy without variety". And during the past decade Wollongong, which you'll find just a 90-minute drive south of Sydney, has diversified. In the city's easily walkable centre, you'll stumble across a bluesy whiskey den, a laneway warehouse plastered with street art, a pocket-sized wine bar with a giant-sized wine list, a hatted hideaway serving French degustations and a waterfront pub championing microbrews. And that's just the start of it. Beyond the streetscape, there are beaches, mountains and woodlands galore. In one weekend, you can ride a horse through rainforest, picnic by a waterfall, cruise clifftops on the back of a Harley, loop de loop in a WW2 biplane and, needless to say, take your pick of beaches to swim at. Speaking of which, Wollongong's sandy coastline gives you two options, north and south of Flagstaff Point. On one side, there's the calm, swimmer-friendly North Beach, while on the other is the wild, 3.1-kilometre long City Beach. For more, skip town to visit the string of seaside villages that make up the outer northern suburbs, watched over by the spectacular, 400-metre high, sandstone Illawarra Escarpment. Here's your guide to eating, drinking and adventuring your way through a Wollongong sleepover. [caption id="attachment_569010" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Sage Hotel via Wotif[/caption] STAY To wake up just a stumble away from a swim, check into the Sage. Once known as the Chifley and taken over by Silver Needle Hotels in 2015, this four star, 11-storey, 168 room hotel is across the road from City Beach. For fantasy novel-inspiring panoramas of a morning mist-enshrouded Mount Keira, ask for a north facing balcony room or suite. Wherever you are, you'll get invigorating ocean breezes, a super comfy bed, a 40-inch tele and cosy armchairs. When the surf's too rough for a dip, plunge into the spacious lap pool. Buffet brekkie — served on the hotel's Five Islands Terrace — comes with dazzling ocean views, while downstairs at Cold Water Creek Restaurant and Bar, you can slip into a red-cushioned booth anytime and build your own burger. [caption id="attachment_569278" align="alignnone" width="1280"] South Coast Bike Hire[/caption] DO To make zipping around town a cinch, rent a bicycle from South Coast Bike Hire, who'll deliver the bike to your doorstep. Stick to scooting from one bar to another or, if you're keen to counter your excesses with a workout, conquer the waterfront cycleway, which runs between Port Kembla and Thirroul, where you can cool off in a 1930s ocean pool, grab a coffee at Gidget's, browse local art or take a surfing lesson with Illawarra Surf Academy. All in all, Wollongong has 42 kilometres of shared paths. For more scenery (at a much faster speed) take a High Adrenaline Ride and Fly Tour. Just Cruisin' Tours' Steve Melchior will roll up at your hotel, pop you on the back of his Harley and lead you on a twisting, turning, coast-hugging journey along Grand Pacific Drive, which runs as far north as the Royal National Park. Hold on when you hit Sea Cliff Bridge, a dizzying series of curves suspended 665 metres above the ocean, backdropped by sheer cliffs. If you're travelling with a mate, book the Boom Trike. [caption id="attachment_569088" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Southern Biplanes[/caption] Afterwards — or perhaps before — Steve will transport you to Southern Biplane Adventures, where you'll jump aboard a fire truck-red biplane known as Lilly Warra. She's a bonafide World War Two veteran, built in 1943 to perform military aerobatics. Your pilot will strap you into the open-air cockpit and take you soaring hundreds of metres above the Illawarra coastline. Just how gnarly things get is up to you; settle in for a straightforward right-way-up joy flight or order as many tricks as you can handle, from a wingover (a steep climb followed by a sideways fall) to a loop de loop (a 360-degree, upside down turn). To see the Lilly Warra — and hundreds of other stunt planes — in action, head to Wollongong on the weekend of April 30 for the annual Wings Over Illawarra Air Show. And, for a journey through Australia's aviation history, swing by the nearby Historical Aircraft Restoration Society Museum, where you can sit in the cockpit of a Vietnam War fighter jet. [caption id="attachment_569102" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Otford Farm[/caption] Done with the adrenaline pumping? Make tracks to Otford Farm to explore at a gentler pace. This Lords of the Rings-esque property is home to 40 or so horses, who spend most of their time roaming freely across its 300 acres, but will cheerfully take you for a ride if you ask nicely. The three-hour Bald Hill Adventure trail ride is a magical journey through dense rainforest, alongside babbling creeks and across open woodlands. You'll stop at the hang gliding mecca of Bald Hill Lookout and the pretty Kellys Falls Picnic Area on the way. Short on time or not ready to commit to 180 minutes on horseback? Book a one- or two-hour stroll instead. [caption id="attachment_569091" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Caveau[/caption] EAT UK-born Peter Sheppard was just a kid when he decided to become a chef. Some years later, after training at Sydney's Banc, he moved to Wollongong, where he opened Caveau in 2004. In 2005, his French-inspired creations earned a Good Food and Travel Guide Chef Hat — and they've won one every single year since then. Any day of the week, plonk down on a turquoise polka dot chair in one of the hushed, dark dining rooms and work your way through a seven-course degustation. Like the furniture, the plates are splashed with bright colours, from brilliant purple baby beets to bright red heirloom tomatoes to vibrant warrigal greens. Sheppard sources local, organic produce and pursues a nose-to-tail philosophy, ensuring nothing is wasted. Vegetarians can expect to be treated with equal respect as carnivores; the meat-free degustation is not just an afterthought, but a masterpiece in itself. For a more casual chow down in an epic setting, there's Three Chimneys. Hidden down an alleyway and covered in street art, it's a former warehouse turned hospitality kingdom, incorporating not only a restaurant and bar, but also a coffee roastery, bakery and live music venue. Flop onto a corner couch and keep to yourself, get loud at a communal table or hit the dancefloor. The share plate menu is made up of tasty, tasty morsels in generous portions, from 12-hour braised lamb sliders to crumbed camembert with cranberry sauce. [caption id="attachment_569139" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Diggies[/caption] Several cafes serve up high quality breakfasts and lunches. To start your morning right — that is, overlooking North Beach — reserve a spot at Diggies. Local brothers Stan and Aaron Crinis have been feeding ravenous surfers in this airy, heritage-listed, former cottage for more than a decade. Dig into brioche toast with strawberry compote and mascarpone cheese or sweet corn fritters with a poached egg, sour cream, smoked salmon and a rocket and zucchini salad, and you'll be ready for anything the day throws at you. [caption id="attachment_569133" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Humber[/caption] At Humber, a three-level, triangular cafe-bar in an 80-year-old building, slide onto a jade banquette and tuck into a plate of slow-baked ocean trout with eggs, or a dish called Mushroom Thyme, which features five types of local mushies. At least 50 percent of all produce comes from within a 100-kilometre radius. On the third floor, there's a lovely, laidback rooftop bar serving cocktails and tapas by evening. Throughout April, the eatery will hold Humberfest, which will see a slew of special events, from yoga lessons to mixology classes to movie nights, come to life. [caption id="attachment_569143" align="alignnone" width="1280"] lee and me[/caption] Just down the road in an 1890s terrace house, you'll find lee and me, recognisable from the bicycle in the window. There's a cafe downstairs and a retail space called THE STORE upstairs. So, you can contemplate buying fresh flowers and cool furniture, in between nibbling away on a shredded chicken sub with pickled carrot, or a roast lamb toastie with baba ghanoush, onion jam and Gruyère. Owners Benny and Naomi Hudson have a second outpost in the form of laneway burger joint His Boy Elroy, which turns classics into fun new inventions. The Heisenburg-er, for example, is packed with southern fried chicken, iceberg lettuce, hot sauce and a secret blue sauce. Take the Grand Pacific Drive back to Sydney to stop in at Thirroul (we recommend Postmans Quarter in an old 19th century building that used to house a bank) and/or one of the most spectacularly-located pubs in Australia, The Scarborough Hotel. Passing by on a clear day? Bags a table on the top floor terrace, order a seafood plate and a bottle of sparkling, and don't make any plans to go anywhere else until sundown. Should you miss out on the terrace, a table in the vast, grassy beer garden is a happy second prize — and there are Pacific Island-style thatched huts for groups. [caption id="attachment_569136" align="alignnone" width="1280"] The Throsby[/caption] DRINK For a pre-dinner wine or a quiet chat, slip into The Throsby, a 50-seater bar that's been keeping locals hydrated since December 2014. Owners Erick Zevallos and Maddie Sullivan have taken care of every detail, from the Scandi-style high stools to the hanging plants to the 53 variety-strong wine list showcasing small winemakers from all over the world. Later on, venture to dimly-lit Howlin' Wolf to sample the ever-changing 100+ whisky collection — and if you visit on Thursday, Friday or Saturday night, you'll be able to kick back to live music. [caption id="attachment_569137" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Illawarra Brewing Co.[/caption] Meanwhile, you'll get a view with your brew with a view at The Illawarra Brewery, just opposite City Beach (and not far from the Sage Hotel). Claim an outdoor seat and work your way through a tasting paddle, which covers a handful of offerings from the Illawarra Brewing Company brewhouse. In-house bistro Smoking Barrels dishes up a stack of exceptionally moreish American-style creations, including a salt and chilli-fried soft shell crab burger and sticky barbecue hot wings with smoked mayo. If you're wondering why the meat's so full of flavour, it's all slow-cooked in their custom made, Texan-style smoker. To find out more about the brewhouse, drop by its headquarters in North Wollongong, where you'll meet brewer Dave McGrath, watch the brewing process in motion and taste to your heart's content. Walking in, you'll notice a basketball hoop — manage three slam dunks and you'll be taking home a free growler, filled with your beer of choice. The Chuck Norris is very, very hard to go past. [caption id="attachment_569280" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Jonathan Mueller via Flickr[/caption] LET'S DO THIS; GIVE ME THE DETAILS Wollongong is about 90 minutes south of Sydney. You can drive or take the South Coast Line train from Sydney's Central Station to Wollongong Station. Jasmine travelled as a guest of Destination NSW. Top image: Maksym Kozlenko via Wikimedia Commons.
Trippy Taco is quaint little Mexican eatery serving up mouth-watering tacos, burritos and quesadillas with vegan soy cheese. If you need a go-to for quick, filling, tasty vegan Mexican street food, this is it. If you'd like to sit and enjoy your feast with a Corona or two — just make sure you rock up at Trippy Taco before the crowds rush in. The no-frills cantina on Gertrude Street can only seat 45 amigos, and it can get a bit squishy. Its menu includes the Trippy's Original burrito with black beans, salad, salsa and mozzarella, the tofu asada burrito stacked with chargrilled tofu, goat's cheese and guac, and a range of tasty quesadillas including the special packed full of black beans, guac and salsa. For something more filling, give the nachos a go, while the breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs has all meals covered. Appears in: The Best Vegan Restaurants in Melbourne for 2023
With its festive yellow and blue interiors, and lively, region-hopping menu, The Happy Mexican is a restaurant that really lives up to its name. Pulling inspiration from his years spent in both Mexico and LA, owner and Colombian native Julian Romero has transformed an unlikely Hoddle Street site into a colourful eatery with a distinct Mexican flavour. The 55-seat space is low on fuss but high in energy, complete with hanging piñatas and mural-adorned side courtyard. Helmed by Mexican Head Chef Jesus Rios, the kitchen's celebrating traditional flavours without honing in on any one region. Rather, the menu is like a quick round-trip of Mexico that you can enjoy in the space of a couple of margaritas. Tacos ($6 each) might feature slow-cooked beef made to a classic Jalisco-style recipe or roast chicken in a guajillo and achiote chilli sauce with origins in the central state of Zacatecas. Burritos ($16) come loaded with a herb-flecked 'green rice' that's popular in northern Mexico while a signature dish of ceviche-style prawn tostada ($10.50) is a nod to the Sinaloa region. [caption id="attachment_760852" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Tracey Ah-kee[/caption] A solid lineup of tacos features tortillas from Kensington's La Tortilleria, with fillings ranging from beer-battered flathead teamed with fresh slaw, pico de gallo and chipotle mayo to the tender ox tongue cooked in pasilla chilli sauce and finished with cubes of roast potato. Elsewhere, you'll find snacks like nachos ($13), quesadillas ($8) and the chicharron de queso ($8), slow-cooked pork rolled up in a layer of toasted cheese and served with guacamole. Burritos feature the likes of Sinaloa-style chilli-fried pork, matched with corn, black beans, chipotle mayo and that 'green rice', and you'll find a handful of tortas (a Mexican-style baguette) starring fillings like fried chicken ($14) or crumbed steak ($15). The lineup of weekly specials is just as cheery, with tacos going for $3 a pop each Tuesday and $10 margaritas on offer every Friday. And yes, the bar is worth a visit in its own right, pouring a range of imported beers, classic tequila cocktails and an ever-growing list of agave spirits. Try the signature mezcal margarita crafted on agave, fresh lime and fair-trade Oaxaca creation Mezcal Eterno Joven No 1. Images: Tracey Ah-kee
James Murphy is by no means losing his edge. The former LCD Soundsystem frontman is delving into Sophisticated Grown-Up territory, opening his own wine bar in the Brooklyn suburb of Williamsburg (where else?). To be dubbed Four Horsemen (although The New York Times reports Murphy was going to call it 'the Worst Idea Ever'), Murphy's new 40-seat bar will open at 296 Grand Street, Williamsburg. Teaming up his wife Christina Topsoe to create the bar, Murphy told the Times the bar is a deliberate challenge to his regular music escapades. "I need something with really low margins, high risk, brutal hours and which I have no experience at," he said. Design-wise, Murphy is predictably focused on the sound of the bar; bringing in his acoustics expertise to creat the perfect atmosphere. Think "mounting noise-soaking burlap on the walls and cedar slats, and sound absorption panels along the ceiling so that conversations can proceed at a civilized cadence." Civilised cadence. Murphy, you grown-up. Set to stock 160 wine selections (eventually growing to 350), there's going to be a strong focus on natural wines. Murphy has enlisted the help of wine consultant and buddy Justin Chearno (from Williamsburg's UVA Wine Shop and former guitarist for Pitchblende/Turing Machine) to help stock the bar with goodies, and Australian natural wine advocate Katrina Birchmeier as general manager. There'll be food too, with Murphy bringing in head chef Nick Curtola (from Franny’s in Brooklyn). "We keep calling it a wine bar because we want to underpromise and overdeliver," says Murphy. The former frontman's seen quite the smorgasbord of gastronomy and fine dining in his LCD touring times, from Copenhagen to Paris, Tokyo to Sydney, so he's working with Curtola to conjure up an apocalyptic menu of snacks and meals for the bar. Four Horsemen is set to open in early June. Via NY Times and Grub Street. Images: NY Times and Grub Street.
While we were pushing through our first autumn Monday — fittingly caffeinated to the nines — the best actors, directors, cinematographers and costume-makers were walking the red carpet leading to Hollywood's Dolby Theatre. And they were collecting a slew of well-deserved gold statues on stage, too. At the 90th Academy Awards, host Jimmy Kimmel didn't shy away from discussing #MeToo, Weinstein and last year's Best Picture fiasco, Jodie Foster took the stage on crutches (and blamed Meryl Streep) and Frances McDormand made a rousing speech, encouraging the telling (and funding) of more women's stories in Hollywood. On the awards front, some hot favourites battled it out for the 2018 titles. There were big winners — The Shape of Water, going in with a massive 13 nominations, took home four — and others you may believe were cheated (Timothée Chalamet is a winner in our hearts), but, regardless, this year's Oscar winners make for a stellar must-watch list. Here's who took home the gongs, and who you should be watching on the big (or little) screen. Some are still in cinemas, so hop to it tout de suite. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFYWazblaUA THE SHAPE OF WATER Won: Best Picture, Directing (Guillermo del Toro), Original Score (Alexandre Desplat), Production Design (Paul Denham Austerberry, Shane Vieau and Jeff Melvin) What our critic said: "Equally vivid and violent as it jumps between matters of the heart and moments of espionage, the film entrances with its sweet, soulful, delicate approach while never shying away from weighty themes of persecution or oppression." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: In cinemas. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3aZ3r-84EQc THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI Won: Actress in a Leading Role (Frances McDormand), Actor in a Supporting Role (Sam Rockwell) What our critic said: "Packed with dark, hilarious, nigh-unprintable dialogue, McDonagh's script mightn't be subtle, but it is teeming with complexity... Taking his cues from gunslinging revenge tales gone by, the filmmaker crafts a complicated rumination on humanity's contradictions." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: In cinemas. Read the full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpKvpSr7p1g DARKEST HOUR Won: Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Oldman), Makeup and Hairstyling (Kazuhiro Tsuji, David Mlinowski and Lucy Sibbick) What our critic said: "While both Churchill and Dunkirk are clearly no strangers to cinemas of late, Darkest Hour has one particular weapon all of its own: recent Golden Globe winner Oldman. The veteran actor gives a captivating performance, even coming hot on the heels of Brian Cox's excellent work in Churchill just months ago."— Sarah Ward Where to watch it: In cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJ9J1FgA0A8 DUNKIRK Won: Film Editing (Lee Smith), Sound Editing (Richard King and Alex Gibson), Sound Mixing (Mark Weingarten, Gregg Landarker, and Gary A. Rizzo) What our critic said: "Unrelenting from start to finish, there's never a moment that's easy to watch, but there's never one devoid of hope either. This is an astonishing feat of storytelling, aesthetics and emotion, one from which you will not be able to look away."— Sarah Ward Where to watch it: Rent or buy on iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DIm1PyBSwc COCO Won: Animated Feature Film, Original Song ('Remember Me') What our critic said: "Coco enchants with warmth and authenticity from start to finish. In fact, as bright as its images shine, as high as its heartfelt emotions soar, and as perfectly as its voice cast fill their roles — including Gael García Bernal stealing scenes as a dead prankster — it's the film's embrace of its setting and culture that truly makes it sing." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: In cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCYB28iknIM PHANTOM THREAD Won: Costume Design (Mark Bridges) What our critic said: "Every textile metaphor you can think of applies to Phantom Thread. It's a film that's carefully woven from the fabric of human urges, teeming with hidden layers and positively bursting at the seams with emotional detail. It's also one made by the finest possible craftspeople, with Anderson and his three stars fashioning the cinematic equivalent of haute couture." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: In cinemas (but the run is almost over). Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJHex4ZitgA A FANTASTIC WOMAN Won: Foreign Language Film What our critic said: "It can't be overstated how wonderful it is to see transgender representation on the big screen (no offence Eddie Redmayne, but this is how it should be). Vega's performance as Marina feels authentic, in no small part because it is authentic. Every movement, every delivery is subtle, considered and real." — Imogen Baker Where to watch it: In selected cinemas. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGa3M0hfTCo BLADE RUNNER 2049 Won: Visual Effects, Cinematography (Roger A. Deakins) What our critic said: "For a film that overwhelms with its extraordinary sights and echoing sounds, Blade Runner 2049 revels in the little things, and in the potent cumulative toll that they can have...Villeneuve achieves the cinematic equivalent, making each moment resound with meaning while honouring the legacy of the original." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: Rent or buy on iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=AHEl7Pji0f8 GET OUT Won: Original Screenplay (Jordan Peele) What our critic said: "One of the most assured, astute, entertaining and intelligent horror movies to creep out cinemas in years." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: Rent or buy on iTunes. Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0UgXrhCPHo CALL ME BY YOUR NAME Won: Adapted Screenplay (James Ivory) What our critic said: "Weaved from quiet, tender, everyday encounters that pepper every love story, it swells and surges, taking both its characters and its viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride. Think of it as perhaps the greatest example of cinematic show and tell there is: to watch it is to experience the same heady, heated feelings as its central couple." — Sarah Ward Where to watch it: In selected cinemas (but the run is almost over). Read our full review. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXZQ5DfSAAc I, TONYA Won: Actress in a Supporting Role (Allison Janney) What our critic said: "I, Tonya seems intent on reversing the popular consensus around its title character. The real Harding appeared at premieres of the film in the US, standing alongside Margot Robbie on the red carpet. But while she might finally have gotten the chance to prove she's not just the butt of a joke, you can't help but feel that the filmmakers – intentionally or not – treat her abuse as exactly that." — Kat Hayes Where to watch it: In cinemas. Read our full review.
Walking into Howler feels like stumbling into the urban backwoods or a giant industrial bird coop. Huge sculpted steel trees loom over lush ferns spilling out of floating planters. The open-roofed beer garden is fitted out with custom-hewn furniture, and padded booths glow with softly lit candles. The food here punches above its weight, with great snack options as well as mains, and plenty of thought given to vegans. If you're feeling a little peckish then try the fried calamari, the karaage chicken, the southern fried cauliflower or the vegan arancini with chimichurri sauce. If you fancy something larger, then spoil yourself with a chicken parma with Napoli sauce, mozzarella, a baby cos salad and plenty of fries. Elsewhere there's an eye-fillet steak, a range of burgers and a vegan parma. Beer takes centre stage here, as you might expect, with plenty of local and international drops on tap. There's a happy hour from Tuesday to Thursday, as well as cheap jugs for Friday knock-offs. There are weekly events like house music Saturday nights and classic hits on Fridays, as well as loads of gigs booked throughout the year. Howler is alive with plenty of character and flare, and makes for an awesome spot to rock out on the dance floor.
French filmmakers are a busy bunch. Every year, the country's cinematic talent pumps out nearly 300 new movies — enough to rank among the top five film-producing nations in 2016, behind only India, the US, China and Japan. It's no wonder, then, that Australia's annual Alliance Francaise French Film Festival is always jam-packed with flicks, spoiling viewers for choice when it comes to Gallic cinema's latest and greatest. The fest's team clearly has plenty of picks to choose from, with their 2018 event touring 47 features, two documentaries and one television series around local screens until mid-April. This year's fest kicks off with the laughs of C'est la vie! thanks to The Intouchables duo Éric Toledano and Olivier Nakache, ends with rom-com 50 Is the New 30, and features everything from multiple Isabelle Huppert appearances to multiple César Award winners among its lineup. In short: there's more than enough on offer to make you think you're on the other side of the world, and not just in your nearest cinema. And if you need some help deciding what to see, that's where we come in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ietLhsUOuQ BPM (BEATS PER MINUTE) When last year's Cannes favourite (and award-winner) BPM (Beats Per Minute) didn't make this year's Oscars shortlist for the best foreign-language film category, it was considered quite the shock. Come French cinema's own night of nights, the Césars, and the AIDS activism drama fared much, much better, taking out best film, editing, screenplay, score, male newcomer and supporting actor. It's easy to see why, the latest from Eastern Boys' filmmaker Robin Campillo is both intimate and wide-ranging as it explores the efforts of a passionate group to fight for acceptance and affordable HIV treatment in the early '90s. The writer-director himself was a member of ACT UP, the organisation at the movie's centre, adding an extra layer of authenticity — something the film already oozes courtesy of its naturalistic style, personal approach and exceptional performances. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-haop2Ini0 LET THE SUNSHINE IN In Let the Sunshine In, Juliette Binoche plays a just-divorced 50-something artist attempting to find love again — and causing audiences to fall for the great French actress's many charms in the process. Take our word for it: if you weren't already a fan before seeing this thoughtful romantic comedy (and if not, why not?), then you will be afterwards. Headlining a distinctive change of pace from acclaimed filmmaker Claire Denis, Binoche glows even as her character struggles with re-entering the dating scene, navigating the ups and downs that go with it, and working out what she actually wants as she flits through a series of varying dates. When we saw and loved the feature at last year's Melbourne International Film Festival, we said it was "a smart, spirited and soulful exploration of affection and intimacy — as driven by Binoche's enigmatic candour — that cuts deep". We still think so. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1KzHPDN1JI MRS. HYDE Another year, another Isabelle Huppert film in the AFFFF program. Anything else really is virtually unthinkable. The adored French star actually features in two of this year's festival flicks, but if the prospect of seeing the inimitable actress in a version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde doesn't get you excited, then nothing will. Lighter in tone than Robert Louis Stevenson's literary classic, and filled with commentary about class clashes in contemporary French society as well as laughter, Serge Bozon's effort is set within a Parisian high school. It also features a pivotal lightening strike and sees Huppert's stressed teacher undergo quite the transformation. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXSnlxctWLY BARBARA French singer Barbara gets the biopic treatment in the film that shares her name, but it's also much, much more than that. The third feature directed by actor-turned-filmmaker Mathieu Amalric, it's a tale about an actress (Jeanne Balibar) preparing to play Barbara in a biopic, and a director (played by Amalric) who's obsessed with his subject. Yes, there's a film within a film, as well as archival footage of the real figure herself, just to keep things even more ambitious. Adding further layers to the flick, Balibar — who just won the Cesar for best actress for her excellent efforts — was once married to Amalric. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihiS-A8yT2c REDOUBTABLE What's the French Film Festival without a dose of French film history? This year, they're delivering it in biopic form, focusing on one of the country's great directors and pioneers of the French New Wave. In Redoubtable, Louis Garrel steps into Jean-Luc Godard's shoes, following his relationship with his Weekend and La Chinoise muse Anne Wiazemsky (Stacy Martin), his career in the late '60s, and the surrounding French political and social unrest. Plus, for director Michel Hazanavicius, it's a return to making movies about movies after his Oscar-winning The Artist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6iIkM6OvK78 CUSTODY The heartbreaking drama, anxiety and tension of a hard-fought custody battle sits at the centre of this aptly titled effort, which first premiered at last year's Venice Film Festival and has been garnering praise ever since. Actor-turned-writer/director Xavier Legrand plunges viewers into a social realist look at a divorcing couple and the 12-year-old son stuck in the middle, which might sound like a familiar situation. It is; however the first-timer favours naturalism and observation over heavy sentiment, and has earned many a comparison to the Dardenne brothers (Lorna's Silence; Two Days, One Night) as a result. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KK-uzPspoA DOUBLE LOVER Another AFFFF favourite — but behind the lens — François Ozon (Frantz) is back in psychological sexual thriller territory with Double Lover. Yes, as the name gives away, there's duplicity involved. It's rarely a good idea to fall in love with a psychoanalyst in these kinds of films, so when former model Chloé (Marine Vacth) does just that with Paul (Jérémie Renier), there's unexpected consequences. Fans of Swimming Pool, In the House, Young & Beautiful and The New Girlfriend will know just the mood, tone and simmering unease they're in for, as well as the all-round provocative air. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgHtE9OzrhU ISMAËL'S GHOSTS Films about filmmakers are a definite trend at this year's AFFFF. And not just that — films starring Mathieu Amalric as a filmmaker, too. The aforementioned Barbara director and star plays the titular Ismaël in Ismaël's Ghosts, who's just about to get immersed in his latest project when the past comes calling. Also featuring Marion Cotillard, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Redoubtable's Louis Garrel, the movie is the latest from My Golden Days' Arnaud Desplechin, and opened the Cannes Film Festival last year. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbsuPXa9KJA THE WORKSHOP Another effort with a connection to Cannes, The Workshop not only premiered there last year, but was directed by 2008 Palme d'Or winner Laurent Cantet (The Class) and co-written with BPM's Robin Campillo. The drama unfolds at a creative writing workshop, where participants clash over more than just writing, and their novelist teacher (Marina Foïs) doesn't quite know how to react. With Cantent known for his naturalism, like Campillo, a portrait of modern-day France emerges as the feature plays out, delving into fears, fractures and friction. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w7nw6RhYwgI IF YOU SAW HIS HEART It mightn't be a French Film Festival without Isabelle Huppert, but it's often not a film festival at all without Gael Garcia Bernal. This time, the Mexican favourite stars in this French-language effort from first-time writer/director Joan Chemla. Taking inspiration from the work of Cuban author Guillermo Rosales, If You Saw His Heart follows a man holed up in a hotel and at a loss after the death of his best friend. The result promises a hefty dose of existential malaise, plus South of France scenery, all served up with Bernal's usual charm. The Alliance Française French Film Festival tours Australia from February 27, screening at Sydney's Chauvel Cinema, Palace Norton Street, Palace Verona, Palace Central and Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace from February 27 to March 27; Melbourne's Palace Balwyn, Palace Brighton Bay, Palace Cinema Como, Palace Westgarth, Kino Cinemas and The Astor Theatre from February 28 to March 27; and Brisbane's Palace Barracks and Palace Centro from March 8 to April 4. For more information, visit the festival website.
Operator 25's stunning dishes first started flooding Instagram feeds and inspiring weekend CBD brunch trips back in 2013. Now, almost three years later, owners Randy Dhamanhuri and Valerie Fong are again wowing Melbourne café crowds with beautiful eats, opening the doors to their latest venture in Prahran, last Thursday. Located on High Street, Middletown packs a serious visual punch, from the chic, blue-and-white interiors, through to the artfully plated fare landing on the tables. The team have created a downright beautiful space in which to enjoy luxe food — all royal blue wall panelling, charming curves and Art Deco fixtures. This is brunching at its most sophisticated, Fong's menu marrying classic flavours and seasonal produce with her signature flair for technique. Each dish here is dressed to impress, and about as close as food can get to being too darn pretty to eat. The likes of a pork pastrami eggs Benedict, drizzled with aerated blood orange hollandaise, or coffee-laced waffles, scattered with strawberries and truffle honey, are as much a treat for the eyes as they are for the tastebuds. Of course, there's caffeine aplenty. A dedicated Brew Bar is serving up beautifully executed Code Black coffee and picture-perfect matcha lattes. Find Middletown at 229 High Street, Prahran. Open Mon to Fri 7am–4pm and Sat and Sun 8am–4pm. Images: Peter Clarke.
It's that time of year again. Art works are literally spilling out of our city's theatres and galleries into the surrounding streets, laneways and bars. This year, Melbourne Fringe is densely packed with 400 events across 174 venues. From September 16 to October 4, don't expect a call back from any of your creative friends. They are deep in the land of Fringe. Unlike the upcoming Melbourne Festival, Fringe isn't the place to head out for a single show and make your way home again — it's a world unto itself. Catch a few works at a time, have a drink at the Fringe Club, or just drift through the night at the various satellite hubs. Whether it's mesmerisingly body-painted acrobats, Campbell Newman in Ancient Rome, the quietest poetry slam or truly out-of-the-ordinary parties, anything you stumble upon is sure to lead to some interesting stories to tell the next day. Want more Fringe? Check out a list of our ten best things to see.
Supplying drinks to an army of thirsty followers for a solid 11 years, it's easy to see why this Chinese communist themed bar is as popular as ever. Red and gold ornaments are lavishly strewn amongst propaganda posters and a few framed Chinese pinup girls. There is even a small shrine to Chairman Mao proudly displayed above a working fireplace for those cosy winter nights. The drinks list is solid with a strong Asian twist to their cocktails, many of which feature underlying flavours of chilli, coriander, ginger or lychee. Try their take on a margarita with the Communist Manifesto: tequila, tamarind, mandarin, lime and Szechuan salt ($17). The ever-popular bubble cup tea cocktails are a well-deserved novelty, complete with popping boba pearls. Though there are a few flavour options to choose from, it's the Bubble Cup #1 — tequila, black currant, passion fruit popping balls, lime and ginger beer ($15) — that really hits the spot. For those warm nights when only a beer will do there is a small but solid collection of Asian beers such as Bia Ha Noi ($9). Double Happiness is not a large bar and once it starts filling up you may feel the need to escape the crowds. If this is the case then head along to sibling bar New Gold Mountain, conveniently hidden away just upstairs. Double Happiness is the perfect bar for those nights when one dose of happiness is just not enough.
