We thought we were done with macarons, but the food universe says otherwise. Macaron masters Ladurée are on their way to Melbourne like it's 2009, with the world famous French patisserie set to open in Chadstone this October. One of a number of new high-end food offerings at the recently renovated shopping centre, the store will feature a nine-seat marble bar decorated with mosaic artwork, along with a Parisian-inspired tearoom capable of seating 21. It's the brand's third Australian location, and first outside of Sydney. The standout item on the menu will obviously be the macarons, sweet double-decker creations with which the name Ladurée has long been synonymous. Raspberry, salted caramel, rose petal, orange blossom — the question won't be which one, but how many of each. Customers will also be able to purchase various other Ladurée items, including teas, chocolates, confectionaries and perfumed candles, along with various other items perfect for personal pampering and/or stuffing down your gob. Ladurée will open at Chadstone in late October. For more information, keep an eye on the Ladurée Australia Facebook page.
Grab a cup of coffee and your best highlighter pen because the program for Melbourne Fringe has just been revealed — and boy is it a doozy. From circus and dance to mind-popping installations and everything in-between, this year's festival consists of more than 450 events, brought to life by literally thousands of passionate artists. For punters, it's both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, there's certainly no shortage of things to see. On the other, it's basically impossible to get to them all. Inspired by the theme 'step into the light', this year's program is bookended by a pair of significant works from acclaimed audio-visual artist Robin Fox. Lighting up the city from September 15 to 18, Sky Light is a city-scale artwork that will connect iconic Melbourne skyscrapers with powerful lasers, invisible from some angles and breathtaking from others. Similarly, from September 29 until October 2, White Beam will pierce the sky above Prahran's Grattan Gardens with a focused beam of shimmering white light. But that's just the tip of a very impressive iceberg. As one of the biggest and most eclectic events on the city's cultural calendar, the Fringe lineup caters to every conceivable taste. There'll be eye-popping cabaret shows from the likes of James Welsby and Yana Alana, alongside a music lineup that covers everything from jazz to orchestral to disco. Comedy is, as per usual, a major focus of the festival, with Sammy J, Bev Kilick and rising star Laura Davis among those slated to perform. The latter, in particular, comes highly recommended. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the Fringe Furniture exhibition. Showcasing the work of exceptional Melbourne designers, find it at the historic Abbotsford Convent throughout the duration of the fest. And, of course, you'll want to spend plenty of time at the Festival Club in North Melbourne, where you can mingle with like-minded patrons and catch a different show every night. The Melbourne Fringe Festival runs from September 15 until October 2. For the full program visit melbournefringe.com.au.
It seems Melbourne could be over its Asian food obsession and circling back to its European roots. In the last few months alone we've welcomed Italian joint Mr Ottorino to Fitzroy, seen A25 expand to the CBD and French bistro Ôter open up in Flinders Lane. Furthering that trend, chef Joseph Vargetto has launched his new classic Italian restaurant Massi on Little Collins Street. Opening last month, the venue is the little sibling of Kew favourite Mister Bianco, and offers a similar mix of coffee, cakes, cold meats and antipasti as well as pastas and Sicilian-style mains. Named after the acclaimed chef's youngest son, the restaurant is located at 445 Little Collins, between Williams Street and Queen. Open Tuesday to Friday for breakfast, lunch and dinner (on Mondays they'll be open until 6pm), the space can seat up to 50 people, and is described by Vargetto as "comfortable and welcoming". Diners looking for a quick bite can pay a visit to the "crudo antipasto corner", where they can watch chefs slice up a selection of salumi and terrines. Those after something heartier can opt for steak or pan-fried barramundi, or choose from a number of appetising pasta options such as black spaghettini with virgule, blue swimmer crab, garlic and chilli. Dessert is designed to be shared – because why would you choose between mascarpone panna cotta and orange cake with ricotta cream when you can just order both? Massi will also welcome the city's post-work drinks crowd, with Aperitivo Hour kicking off at 4.30pm each day. Behind the impressive marble bar you'll find a great selection of beer, wine and Prosecco. Alternatively, you can take your booze home with you from their fully licensed bottle shop. Find Massi at 445 Little Collins Street, Melbourne. For more information visit massi.com.au.
Prepare to wolf down some really fucking hot poultry, as Belle's Hot Chicken flies south. The beloved fried chicken and natural wine joint teased the opening of its new store last week via Instagram, sparking a flurry among finger-lickin' fanatics trying to pin down its exact location. Now it looks like the cat chicken is out of the bag, with bird watchers identifying the green timber façade as the old Spud Bar in Windsor to be the new home to Belle's Nashville-style cooked chooks. Coming soon to 147 Chapel Street — just a convenient few minutes' walk from Windsor Station — the southside restaurant will be Belle's fourth permanent location, after their original coop in Fitzroy inspired spinoffs in Richmond and Sydney. Other than the address, information is thin, although it appears they are currently in the process of hiring staff. As for the menu, we have to assume they'll be frying up the same mix of wings, tenders and dark meat on a sliding scale of spiciness, along with sides like mushrooms, fries, pickles and oysters. We have another #belleshotchicken in the pipeline.. Can anyone guess where? #thatwithchicken A photo posted by Belles Hot Chicken (@belleshotchicken) on Jun 7, 2016 at 8:11pm PDT Seriously though, are there any two words more frustrating for foodies than opening soon? Belle's Hot Chicken will open...eventually...at 147 Chapel Street, Windsor. Keep your eyes on their Instagram for further information.
Beer Wine & Calzone may sound like a list of life's greatest offerings, but it's actually the name of your new favourite CBD restaurant. They're setting up shop on William Street and bringing a little pizza to a pocket of the city usually characterised by corporates and grey office buildings. And best of all? They do takeaway for those lazy days you when want to curl up in bed (or under your desk) with the best pizza variation ever invented. Opened by Jerome Dadon, the guy behind nearby CBD cafe Brother Thomas, this ode to calzone is now open above brand new jazz club Bird's Basement. The kitchen is manned by Marino Maffi, a professional pizzaioli who's studied at the Accademia Italiana Della Pizza — because both those things exist, what a time to be alive! — and the food menu is split evenly between pizza, pasta and calzone. Calzone, just FYI, are those delicious food lumps stuffed with smaller (but equally as delicious) food lumps, beloved by people everywhere, including Ben Wyatt on Parks and Rec. You'll only find the classics here, so leave your contemporary pineapple on pizza ideas at the door and learn to love a well-made margherita. But even traditionalists aren't above the inclusion of some heinously good dessert creations, like a banana, Nutella and custard calzone or panna cotta pizza slathered in berry compote. You might want to wear your loosest muumuu for this restaurant adventure. Beer Wine & Calzone is now open at 350 William Street, CBD. It's open seven days a week, noon to midnight. Find out more at beerwineandcalzone.com. Images: Simon Shiff.
South Yarra's new healthy eatery has got us smäking our lips. Now open for just a few weeks on Daly Street near the Corner of Chapel Street and Toorak Road, Scandinavian-inspired SMÄK Food House is serving up simple, healthy food for breakfast, lunch and (in the very near future) dinner. Standouts on the breakfast menu include mixed nut granola with berries, apple, cashew yoghurt and manuka honey; silverbeet and leek fitters with poached egg, smoked miso salmon and chargrilled corn and quinoa salsa; and turkey chipolatas served with poached eggs, free range bacon, swiss brown mushrooms, truss tomato, kale and rye bread, and sweet potato rosti. The lunch and dinner options are similarly eclectic. You can opt for a salad, such as a spiced cauliflower, farro, celery, spinach, walnut and cranberry number, or one made with orange poached beetroot, thyme carrots, tomato, corn, lima beans and pepitas. Alternatively, your protein options include 12 hour juniper berry braised lamb with red cabbage and pickled beetroot, and poached tarragon chicken with an almond thyme crust and garlic. Rounding things out are a number of extravagant beverages, including spinach, celery, cucumber and parsley juice, and a banana and zucchini smoothie made with chia, spirulina, coconut milk, strawberries, granola and dates. SMÄK is located at 6C Daly Place, South Yarra. They are currently open 7am to 3.30pm seven days a week, but will extend their operating hours to 10pm starting in June. For more information visit smakfoodhouse.com.
When your nine-to-five plays out like a well-oiled machine, it can sometimes feel like each week is a little same-same. But Melbourne is brimming with a fine bounty of things to experience and explore each and every day. So aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing some adventure and spontaneity into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to celebrate the landmark 40th anniversary of their iconic small cars, and in turn, help you celebrate the little things that bring that sense of adventure to life. Shake things up, as we give you seven different detours to take each week in Melbourne. From Monday to Sunday, enrich your everyday with one completely achievable activity that inspires you to take the scenic route as you go about your daily routine. This week, glide along a pop-up ice skating rink, attend an international TV festival and smash stuff with a bat as a means to de-stress. Plus, we've got your future detours sorted for the next few weeks here. All require no more effort than a tiny break from the norm — what's your excuse for not trying them all?
Smokey. Bacon. Breakfast. Ramen. If those four words don't sell you on House of Lulu White, we just don't know what will. South Yarra's new brunch spot can be found at 4 Yarra Street, South Yarra, an address that has a bit of a storied history. Prior to this week's revamp, it was chic restaurant space Sth Central. But some Melburnians might know it better as the old home of Paradise Girls brothel — which is why the new eatery is named after an infamous former procuress. These days the site is operated by upscale hospitality company the Tommy Collins Group, who, it must be said, are laying on the innuendo a little bit thick. "Short time or long time, it's always a good time," reads a welcome message on their website. "Play with her coconuts as she quenches your thirst with bottomless cocktails and espresso martinis on tap… Lulu will have you screaming for more." Alright guys, we get it. Still, while you might roll your eyes at a menu split into sections marked 'naughty' and 'nice', there's no arguing with the actual food. In addition to the ramen, your all-day breakfast options include almond and fig loaf with whipped yuzu ricotta, umi plum syrup and matcha; buttermilk fried chicken and waffles with maple nahm prik and coriander; and sautéed 'green stuff' with hummus, pickled beetroot, seven seeds, avocado, lemon and a poached egg. As for lunch, Lulu's got a mean-looking chicken burger with double bacon, house made kimchi and sweet potato fries on the side. If that doesn't grab you, maybe try the steak baguette with roast onion, cavalo nero, beetroot pickle and whipped smoked cheddar, or the purple kale and roast cauliflower salad with sweet potato, pistachio dukkah, avocado and goats curd. Drinks-wise, you can grab tea or coffee, or split the difference with a tea latte: strawberry swoon, turmeric chai or apple matcha, take your pick. They've also got a small selection of beers and wines — although if you're really feeling boozy, your best option is their weekend bottomless brunch, featuring two hours of bottomless cocktails for just $30. Alternatively, you can just add a nip of whiskey to your porridge and call it a day. Find House of Lulu White at 4 Yarra St, South Yarra. For more information visit www.houseofluluwhite.com.au.
Gelato appreciation class. It's a thing. A real thing. It's not some fake class like 'Video Appreciation Class' at high school which is straight-up just watching Ten Things I Hate About You every Wednesday. It's legit. And of course, Gelato Messina are behind it. One of Messina's fastest-selling event every time, gelato class is an event worth jumping on right now. We mean now. Join the team at Messina HQ in Sydney or Fitzroy in Melbourne every Saturday and you'll find out what goes on behind the scenes of everyone's favourite gelato joint. What a bloody glorious way to spend your Saturday morning. Classes are now open for booking from January to April 2016. There are two types of classes: a Gelato Appreciation Class for $160 per person, a part gelato making class, part info session, part science lesson, and part gelato degustation with Messina's chefs; and a Hands On Gelato Class for $250 per person, where you'll learn the finer details of making gelato — and pasteurise and plate your own gelato or sorbet. Dear sweet mother of Benedict Cumberbatch, what a classroom. Book your delicious, delicious education at Gelato Messina's website.
Steel your livers, drinking buddies, because the booziest week (and a bit) of the year is upon us once again. Running from May 11–20, Good Beer Week celebrates everything you can pour into a pint glass, and this year's lineup looks as thirst-quenching as ever. From brewery tours to workshops to mouth-watering dinners – not to mention an alcohol-fuelled mini golf tournament – the Good Beer Week 2018 program is packed to the brim with highlights. Gastronomers will be licking their lips at the Foodie section, featuring events from some of the city's top eateries including Cookie, Yokocho and Arbory. Meanwhile, the Beer Geek and Beer School streams are perfect for anyone hoping to better understand their booze. You can even pick up some tips on how to brew your own. The Pint of Origin tap takeover also returns, with pubs around town showcasing some of the very best beverages this country has to offer. Only this time, they're going head to head with breweries from around the world, with beers from the US, Canada, New Zealand, Asia and Europe all getting in on the action. Need some help deciding what to get involved in? We've rounded out our seven picks for the festival.
Test out your putting skills over an ice cold bev courtesy of Brunswick Brewery, Good Beer Week and Howler. The Brunswick bar (the latter) is resurrecting its nighttime mini golf course, Howler Mini-Golf-O-Rama. Each of its nine holes corresponds to a classic mini golf theme (volcanoes, windmills, jungles). To use the course, all punters need to do is rock up and buy a glass of Brooklyn. And who knows, after a couple of drinks, maybe your aim will actually improve?
Deaf dance works, feminist hip-hop, an ecosexual labyrinth and a 24-hour performance piece are among the most eye-opening works on the lineup for this year's Next Wave Festival. Melbourne's biennial celebration of young and emerging artists, Next Wave 2016 is set to kick-off in venues around town on Thursday, May 5, with 36 world premieres across a wide array of disciplines. Let's get stuck in. Diversity is clearly a major theme on this year's program, with a whopping 75 percent of projects led by women. Queensland artist Hannah Bronte will deliver a politically-charged musical vision of an alternate Australia led by an entirely female parliament, while Nat Randall will spend a whole day and night on a performance inspired by the cult John Cassavetes film Opening Night. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists will likewise be well represented. Katie West from WA will examine the impact of colonialism through a work that incorporates native plantlife, while writer and performer Maurial Spearim has created a darkly-comic one-woman show told partly in the Gamilaraay language. The festival has also partnered with the Victorian Aboriginal Council for Languages on a series on Indigenous language workshops. Further standouts include a dance work featuring both deaf and hearing performers, an audiovisual concerto from artist Dylan Sheridan, and a immersive, ecosexual (yes, eco) labyrinth in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
When it comes to being male, middle-class, and white, there are few names bigger than pop icon Ben Folds. Since going on hiatus from his not-so-aptly named trio, Ben Folds Five, the eponymous figure is venturing beyond his traditional classic-pop fusion. He still sings and plays piano, but he's upgrading slightly from his three-man ensemble (bass, drums), to a legitimate New York-style instrumental group in the form yMusic (string trio, flute, clarinet, trumpet). This new ensemble has naturally influenced Fold's sound, one only needs to listen to his solo project released last year So There, heavily featuring the chamber ensemble to hear this. Folds himself testifies to his fraternal connection with the ensemble, and it will be on display all through Australia in the month to come. Starting at QPAC in Brisbane on August 18, Folds and his new band will be playing the Opera House on August 20 and 21, the Perth Concert Hall on August 23, the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on August 25, the Palais Theatre in Melbourne on August 26 and 27, and finally the Canberra Theatre on August 28. If you want to see truly canonical pop, bridging the last few decades, you might want to catch these shows.
Friday, July 1 will see Melbourne's Roxanne Parlour overtaken by a squad of Australia's most talented electronic musicians. The night, presented by local record label Good Manners, aims to showcase some of the solid gold coming out of the Australian electronic music scene. The showcase will be curated by Good Manners artist Banoffee, who'll be celebrating the release of her latest video for single 'I'm Not Sorry' alongside the excellently named experimental dance music producer Dro Carey. Loseless — the Oscar Key Sung and HTML Flowers collaboration — will also be supporting, fresh off the boat from performances at Dark MOFO with Melbourne duo Habits. Kicking off from 9pm, the evening will run late with DJ sets from The Harpoons, Jennifer Loveless and Brooke Powers. Tickets are on sale now for $23.50. Image: Freya Esders.
When we take that first sip of our barista-brewed coffee on a workday morning, a lot of us can't actually imagine living without coffee. But what about living without a roof over your head or a guaranteed meal? Unfortunately, this is what many homeless people around Australia face each day, but on Friday, August 5, you can help your fellow Aussies out simply by buying a coffee as part of CafeSmart. CafeSmart is an annual event from StreetSmart that raises money and awareness for the homeless and is back for its fourth year running. So how does it work? From every coffee purchased on August 5 at a participating cafe around Australia, $1 will be donated towards local projects. So if your go-to local isn't participating, shake things up for a day and head to one that is. Prefer a hot chocolate? You can also donate at the counter. Simply by aiming for a bighearted cafe, you'll be helping some of our country's most in-need humans, so treat yourself to a third or fourth coffee guilt-free. CafeSmart is happening around the country on Friday, August 5. Check the website for participating cafes near you.
It's been just a couple of months since the State Library of Victoria first showed off its wild side, hosting a huge week of gigs and dance parties as Melbourne Music Week's 2016 hub. Now, punters again have the chance to party in the usually grave-silent library after hours, with 3RRR transforming part of the space into a lively pop-up bar for two Friday nights this month. Set to rock the book stacks on January 13 and 20, the event ties in with the library's latest exhibition, ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR, celebrating the history and evolution of one of Melbourne's best-loved radio stations. Each night of the pop-up will see RRR favourites like Chris Gill (Get Down), Steve Cross (Beat Orgy), and Sarah Smith (Breakfasters) spinning the tunes in the library foyer, as you knock back RRR cocktails on the Mr Tulk terrace and browse vinyl in the onsite bookstore, Readings. Even the library's galleries will be throwing open their doors, allowing a rare after-hours sneak peak at the current exhibition program. 3RRR's ON AIR pop-up bar is happening on January 13 and January 20, open 7-10pm. ON AIR: 40 years of 3RRR will run until January 29. Image: Pascal/Flickr.
Peel yourself away from Netflix and go digging for some cult classics at Fitzroy's first quarterly Film Fair. Frolic amongst Melbourne’s finest film buffs and collectors, where you can either buy, sell, swap or barter films and their associated paraphernalia. Discounted Blu-ray and DVDs will be available to purchase, alongside film posters, collectables, clothing, 16mm projections and plenty more. Plus, there'll be a VHS swap meet (yes, VCRs still exist, people). The fair will be held at Fitzroy’s super fun tiki bar, The LuWow, so you can be assured there’ll be live music brought to you by Mick Dog’s Boneyard and mai tais for everyone. Even if you have nothing to swap or sell, there are also door prizes on the day that dish out prizes every hour, so you’re likely to come home with something. Whether you’re a B-grade bandit or an arthouse fanatic, you’re sure to stumble across some gold that your media streaming provider of choice couldn’t offer you in a million years. Happy trading. Want more old school films? Check out our feature on Melbourne's best retro film programs over here. Image: Ludo.
Anyone old enough to remember the mid-'90s will likely recall that something happened on the world’s tallest mountain back in May 1996. Something bad. But how bad? Well, the specifics are probably a bit hazy. That’s why there’s always the great temptation with movies based on real events to look up what happened before you see them. Sometimes it’s to make sure you’re across the facts or so that you don’t get confused, but usually, if we’re honest, it’s so that we don’t spend the whole film wondering who lives and who dies. Everest is one such film, and whatever you do, avoid turning to the internet until the credits have rolled. Genuine, compelling tension is such a rarity in modern cinema that to rob yourself of the experience when it finally presents itself would be madness. And boy does it present in Everest. To behold the ordeal at the centre of this tale is to almost endure it on a miniature scale. The film is relentless and punishing, leaving you exhausted, shaking and breathless. "Human beings,” explains the expedition’s leader Rob Hall (played by Jason Clarke), “simply are not built to function at the cruising altitude of a 747. Our bodies will be literally dying.” Thanks to the extraordinary team behind Everest, you believe it. Heck, you feel it. This is an ensemble movie done the right way, where nobody engages in scene stealing despite some big names scattered throughout. Sam Worthington, Jake Gyllenhaal, Keira Knightley, Josh Brolin, Robin Wright, John Hawkes and Emily Watson all join Clarke with committed but reserved performances that ensure the focus remains on the film’s true star: the mountain. Granted that sounds incredibly trite, but the scale of this film and its sumptuous cinematography all serve to reinforce both the grandeur and the peril of such an extraordinary place; “another beast altogether”, as Hall described it. To date, more than 250 people have died climbing the mountain, and the means of their demise are more varied than you might expect. The difference between this film and so many other recent offerings, however, it that instead of sensationalising nature, Everest simply shows humility towards it. In light of its wretched and treacherous conditions, one well might question why anybody would ever even consider summiting Everest, but the film has an answer for that, too. Several, in fact. Some try for the thrill, others for the challenge, and one extraordinary mailman attempted it purely for the symbol and inspiration it might provide others back home. More importantly, though, for those who actually make it — those few exceptional climbers who literally reach out and touch earth’s upper limit — the moment of exhilaration and accomplishment is so powerful and affecting that you’re moved to tears. It is, in short, an exceptional and experiential film with a story steeped in both tragedy and indomitability. Worthy of its name, Everest is a staggering and spectacular piece of cinema that deserves to be seen.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Melburnians love Nutella. Like, love Nutella. In fact we love it so much that we may have accidentally caused a nation-wide shortage earlier in the month. Oops. Sorry everyone in the rest of the country. That one was on us. Now you might have hoped that we'd have learnt something from that experience — that perhaps Melbourne should be enjoying Nutella in moderation, to ensure that we're never confronted with such a scarcity again. But that just wouldn't be our style. Instead, we're doubling down, with a full blown Nutella pop-up. We're talking s'mores, truffles and tarts by the hundreds. Because if anyone is going to wipe those heavenly nuts off the face of the earth, then you better believe it is going to be us. Organised by City Lane, the pop-up pops up at The Alehouse Project in Brunswick East on Saturday, September 12. The service window opens at 9am sharp, at which point you'll be able to grab yourself a $10 'bento box' containing a Nutella and peanut butter s'more, a Nutella and salted caramel chocolate truffle, and a Nutella and maple syrup tart with smoked hickory Italian meringue. If 9am sounds too early to be scoffing all that sugar then move to Adelaide, you traitor. Besides, they've only made 500 boxes — and we have a sneaking suspicion they're not going to last. Hell, we're planning on grabbing at least a dozen boxes for ourselves. The pop-up will also be serving Japanese style V60 pour over coffee at $3 a cup. Their set-up is cash only, so make sure you bring the Benjamins. You'll also be able to grab a glass of beer or wine once The Alehouse opens at midday — although again, that's only if you're willing to run the risk of missing out on the sweet stuff. Your call. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
One of Australia's most beloved historic cinemas, for more than 75 years the Astor Theatre has been home to some of the finest movies ever made. Silent classics and masterpieces of foreign cinema regularly light up the art deco auditorium, transporting audiences to worlds beyond their imagination. But all that pales in comparison to what they've got in store this Friday night. Forget about Casablanca, Metropolis and Apocalypse Now. Things are about to get... magic. Led by Channing Tatum's abs, The Kings of Tampa will strut their stuff across the screen for both Magic Mike films from 7.30pm sharp. No word on whether The Astor will be providing any live entertainment during intermission, although it'd seem like a pretty big missed opportunity if they don't (maybe the staff will show off a few dance moves?) Either way, pre-film cocktails on Chapel Street are highly recommended.
Friday Nights at the NGV are back. Coinciding with the last few weeks of the current Melbourne Winter Masterpieces exhibition, Masterpieces from the Hermitage: The Legacy of Catherine the Great, the gallery is inviting visitors to enjoy a jam-packed late-night program complete with food, booze, talks and live performances. The six-week program begins Friday, October 2, with a night headlined by contemporary jazz group The Paul Grabowsky Trio. Other musical guests on the program include Glenn Richards, Gareth Liddiard, Laura Jean, Underground Lovers and Jaako Eino Kalevi, as well as DJ sets from Darcy Baylis, Banoffee, Airwolf and Edd Fisher. In addition to the music lineup, other Friday night activities include drawing classes and short academic talks. Food-wise, the gallery kitchen will be serving casual dining fare and share plates in the Great Hall. All in all, top notch Friday adventuring in the gallery. Image: Banoffee, Sarah Chav.
The Preatures are back for their final national tour for the year. Not content with two critically-acclaimed EPs, the Sydney fivesome released their debut album Blue Planet Eyes late last year to many a raised plastic cup. The Sydneysiders have really been kicking goals as of late. After gaining serious momentum overseas, The Preatures are returning home for one more tour supporting Blue Planet Eyes before holing up and creating their much-anticipated second album. With applauded performances at this years Vivid LIVE and Dark MOFO festivals, The Preatures are taking their last Australian tour of 2015 with no holds barred.
Slow food? What's slow food? Nope, it's not the eating of snails. The philosophy of slow food (for those who may need a cheeky reminder) essentially boils down to produce that is good, clean and fair. If those principles resonate with you and your preferred eating habits, this farmers market is for you. Going strong since 2006, and in partnership with Melbourne Farmers Market, this smorgasbord of delectable produce calls the Abbotsford Convent home on the fourth Saturday of each month. The market features 60 of Melbourne's most hardworking local growers and food producers. These farmers' unwavering dedication to the quality of their produce and the integrity of their production methods ensures buyers that their dollars are going directly towards maintaining this high standard. It’s a $2 donation on entry, and we should also let you know that it is a plastic bag-free zone, so please BYO calico. If you have a well behaved pooch (or kitty) they are also welcome to attend, just keep them on a lead and you're golden.
Five seasons in, and you’d think Game of Thrones fans would have resigned themselves to the fact that most of their favourite characters are probably going to die. And yet, as the recent season five finale showed, audiences are still holding on to a faint glimmer of hope — and are then venting their agony on the internet when HBO stabs them through the heart. To help you cope with George R. R. Martin’s latest batch of executions, ACMI have assembled a team of four diehard Thrones fans for their latest edition of Talking TV. This Tuesday, June 30, film critic Luke Buckmaster, freelance culture journo Mel Campbell, broadcaster/writer Clementine Ford and writer/comedian Luke Ryan will examine the public reaction to the show and pitch their answers to some of the biggest questions in Westeros. Is you know who really dead? Is Daenerys ever going to fly to King’s Landing? Will anyone who swore to boycott the show next year actually stick to their guns? Just try not to like any of the panelists too much. Because you’d basically be signing their death warrant.
As with every long weekend in Melbourne, the list of parties thrown over the three days is positively endless. If we have to pick a winner for bonafide boogie times, it's undoubtedly Around The Way. Brought to you by party-starter extraordinaires Funf, and stylish as all heck crew YSTRDAYBONE, the pair are are creating a music and lifestyle event like none other in Melbourne. Headlining the event is Scottish techno producer Sei A in his Melbourne debut. In terms of local DJ fun, Cutting Shapes DJs (specifically Jesse Young and Jean Pierre) will get that dance floor going. Speaking of Melbourne lads, legendary Cut Copy DJs will bring an infectious blend of disco and house, and Andras Fox will be doing his thing live — certainly worth keeping an eye and an ear out for. Also joining the list is Lovebirds, Tin Man, Myles Mac, Turkish Prison, Michael Ozone and Sleep D DJs. If you want in on this party, get your tickets now — last minute-ing is a fool's errand.
A big happy birthday is in order for one of Australia's greatest electronic music promoters. Over the past 11 years, The Operatives have showcased world-class electronic music figures, as well as sending Australia’s finest into the world to make a name for themselves with international audiences. The Operatives are sure as heck going to party like it’s, well, their bday, with some very special international guests dropping in to help blow out the candles. Leading the charge is LA’s rabbit-lovin' producer Jennifer Lee aka TOKiMONSTA, the darling of Flying Lotus’s label Brainfeeder. There'll also be first-time Australian performances by BBC Radio 1 regular Toddla T, and Belgium-based collective Losco. Joining this already-epic lineup is Beat Spacek, Sunit, A13, Amin Payne, Headstone, Jade Zoe and Mimi, JPS vs NAM, Kano and Lady Banton. Throw on some Camo and head down to Revolt Artspace to get amongst the birthday festivities.
If Black Swan didn't make the ballet world look tough enough, the boys from The Dream are sure to fix that. The Australian Ballet has been putting its dancers through their paces ahead of the company's latest production. A fascinating rendition of Shakespeare's iconic A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Dream is part of a triple bill of works by leading 20th-century choreographer Frederick Ashton at his spectacular best. Expect magic and musicality, and did we mention men en pointe? That's right, to play the role of Bottom the donkey, the male dancers will have to make like the ladies and dance on their toe-tips (a technique they've learnt in just 12 weeks, as dancer Christopher Rodgers-Wilson described to us for our feature). Bringing Shakespeare's most magical work to contemporary audiences, think of this as the perfect first-taste of ballet for anyone who's never dared step foot inside the State Theatre.
After years of gigging and tireless campaigning from the likes of FBi Radio, Sydney-based foursome Gang of Youths are nationally-appreciated hot stuff right now. They’ve played sold-out shows alongside Vampire Weekend, Frightened Rabbit and Foster the People, done the Aussie festival circuit, toured the States, and been compared to Arcade Fire and Bruce Springsteen — and that was all before their debut album The Position was released last month. Now they’re setting off on a national tour, and the GOY-hungry public can’t seem to get enough of them; lapping up tickets faster than the band can announce new shows. GOY play rock that’s big on catharsis. Frontman David Leaupepe’s inspiration for the band’s raw, guitar-heavy debut was the emotional rollercoaster of his four-year long-distance relationship with a girl who had been diagnosed with stage four cancer. It makes for a sound that seems bound to fill stadiums one day — so consider yourself lucky if you manage to bag a ticket to one of these more intimate gigs.
Actual post-gender human and girl your mum definitely warned you about Peaches has been uncharacteristically quiet recently. It’s been a good six years since her last album I Feel Cream, which featured the super danceable ‘Talk to Me’, so seeing Peaches on the Groovin’ the Moo lineup was a pleasant surprise — if pleasant could ever be used to describe the woman behind lyrics such as “hair in a mullet, you know you gotta love it, so sexual and so conceptual” and, of course, “fuck the pain away” — and the announcement of a Hi-Fi (now Max Watt's) sideshow on May 1 even better. Peaches, of course, hasn’t been twiddling her thumbs this whole time. She’s done a film, put together a book (out in June, pre-order it here, you’re welcome) and just completed her sixth studio album Rub, which features Kim Gordon and Feist, and is due out later this year (fingers crossed we get a teaser). That title though. Oh, to be able transform a fairly innocuous one-syllable word into a blush-worthy imperative. No wonder we all wanna be her. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcKMg7eEjj8[/embed]
Lay down your smartphone. Send your laptop to sleep. Shift yourself off the couch. Forget about work. General Assembly wants you to ditch the news feed and social media rants for a second — they're throwing a huge ‘Unplug and Play’ warehouse party. It’s your chance to champion summer’s arrival and get back to real-life eye contact. To make the transition as smooth as possible, the organisers are inviting some good friends along. There'll be a two-hour DJ set from Melbourne producer Andras, who's just arrived home from an epic Japan tour. And there’ll crisp bevs aplenty, courtesy of Vale Ale. This way, you can mix up your screen-heavy week with your peers, co-workers and General Assembly compatriots. The action will be happening at 524 Flinders Street, Melbourne on Thursday, December 17, from 6pm. Tickets are gloriously free. But they’re not unlimited. So make sure you book yourself a spot online asap. Image: Dollar Photo Club.
A Purity Ring gig is not just a concert, but an experience. This is due to three factors. One: their unrestrained dedication to deep, deep bass. Two: their hypnotising light show, which they've created themselves. And three: Megan James's extraordinary, soaring vocals. And their sci-fi costumes are pretty damn impressive, too. Hailing from Canada, the duo — who is made up of James and producer Corin Roddick — have been mesmerising crowds at festivals and clubs all over the planet. Following their breakthrough album, Shrines, they've since collaborated with the likes of Danny Brown and Jon Hopkins. Coming our way to play St Jerome's Laneway Festival in Melbourne and Perth, Purity Ring will make two headline appearances while they're here — one at the Sydney Opera House on February 9 and at Melbourne's Forum Theatre on February 11. Then they're off to the States to play a bunch of festivals, including Coachella.
Legendary underground LA hip hop group Jurassic 5 will take you back to the concrete streets at Festival Hall this April Fool's Day, playing a huge sideshow for this year's Bluesfest. This charismatic six-piece formed in the '90s, comprising the remnants of Unity Committee and Rebels of Rhythm. Since breaking up in 2007 due to creative differences, the crew's notoriety has grown rather than dissipated. Having recently reunited, these old-school revivalists are back to flaunt their soulful beats and social commentary. Punching into the mainstream was never a priority for the J5 crew. In saying that, 2014's sold-out world tour thrust the group into the limelight, revamping their global profile and earning legions of new fans. There is an enduring quality to their music; eloquent and intelligent hip hop with real heart. With one of the most energetic live shows around, J5 ought to pull on your nostalgic heartstrings with Bluesfest sideshow.
David Lynch has dabbled in as much music as he has weird, weird television, film and art — the 68-year-old's quite the multitasker. Having delved into versions of Roy Orbison, David Bowie and Chris Isaak's work, Lynch has continued to gleefully haunt and hypnotise audiences over an epic career. Paying tribute to the Twin Peaks mastermind, 'In Dreams: David Lynch Revisited' will see Australia’s Mick Harvey (ex-Bad Seeds) and Sophia Brous (Brous), New York City-based Cibo Matto and Irish-chanteuse Camille O’Sullivan venture through Lynch's covers, original music, as well as his work with Angelo Baladamenti. Polaris Prize-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist and dreamboat vocalist Owen Pallett has joined the 'In Dreams' lineup, as will Sydney's tale-weaving, ARIA-winning Sarah Blasko, ever-eclectic Sydneysider Kirin J Callinan and celebrated harpist Marshall McGuire.
Some think summer arrives when the mercury finally soars past 30 degrees, others are convinced it's the day you muster the courage to throw yourself in the ocean but, if you ask us, summer starts the moment you know Rooftop Cinema is cranking back into gear. Gather your sunnies and start dreaming of twilight Pimms — it's finally here. As always, there's plenty to look forward to. The cinema programmers have perfectly nailed the balance between big new releases, old classics and super relevant tie-ins with other events. They'll even be screening Nas' new music doco to coincide with his totally unprecedented appearance at Sugar Mountain in January. The first instalment of the program will kick off on Saturday, December 6 with David Fincher's controversial conversation starter Gone Girl. Continuing along with the theme of much-hyped blockbusters they'll also be screening Guardians of the Galaxy, Interstellar and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay. If big action flicks just ain't your thing, feel free to regress into your childhood instead. Not only are Rooftop offering the usual Christmas fare of Home Alone and Elf, they're also giving you the rare chance to see Labyrinth, Hook and the late great Rik Mayal's gross-out cult legacy Drop Dead Fred. Indie fare will get its usual run too with co-presented sessions run with Speakeasy and Deja View Cinema — the latter are even hosting a Christopher Walken Appreciation Night (probably the highlight of the whole thing). In what may be a program first, there doesn't seem to be any Bill Murray lined up! But don't fret just yet — we're sure they'll be throwing the iconic Ghostbuster's new film St Vincent in for the program's second instalment. For more information about Rooftop Cinema including the full December-January program, see here. The February-April program will be announced at the end of January. Grab your tickets here.
Not everyone likes to give presents on their own birthday, but KereKere Coffee are straight-up selfless legends. Celebrating their eighth birthday on March 11, KereKere Green and KereKere South will be giving away free coffee all day. All day. None of this 'first hundred people through the door' business. You could head there right now and nab a freeppucino. Started as a coffee cart in 2007 at the University of Melbourne, KereKere was founded by entrepreneurial social worker James Murphy (not of LCD Soundsystem fame, but a total boss all the same). KereKere (named for the Fijian custom in which a relative or neighbour can request something that is needed and it must be willingly given with no expectation of repayment) quickly expanded into one of Melbourne's favourite coffee spots — from purpose-built kiosks in 2011 to its current locations in Southbank's Boyd Community Hub and Fitzroy Gardens Visitors Centre. Murphy just wants to give a little back to the community, often giving out freebies like this on a daily basis. So, HB KK. Here's to another eight years of love in cups. Find KereKere Green, on the corner of Clarendon Street and Wellington Parade in East Melbourne. Or find KereKere South at 207 City Road, Southbank.
Once is never enough. For fans of ARIA-winning musician Megan Washington, this is certainly the case. Back by popular demand after a huge 2014 national tour, Washington's marching her There There album tour into the New Year — with a string of 2015 dates to satisfy bigtime Washo fans. Backed by rave reviews, Washington's #5 ARIA album There There will be amplified through venues nationwide by the beloved singer/songwriter. And the Melburnian's newest offering doesn't disappoint; There There teams with tracks so personal and raw you'll feel like you've snuck a glimpse at Washington's post break-up journal. But these aren't any old love-lost ballads. Washington's buttery vocals share some of her most candid experiences, paired with haunting harmonies that are hard to forget. And she doesn’t hold back, throwing in high energy, bare-all pop hits like 'Limitless' and 'My Heart is a Wheel' alongside stripped-back piano melodies. If you missed Washo last year, you're in serious luck. But get in quick, tickets to these shows are set to be tough to get your hands on.
The circus has always been a safe place for the freaks and superhumans of the world. They get to do freaky and superhuman things like squeeze themselves into boxes so tiny they would barely hold our gym gear while the rest of us ooh and ahh and think how much easier crow pose would be if we were superhuman too. Le Noir — The Dark Side of Cirque, promises to take the spectacle to an even higher level. Bringing together the most super of all the superhumans (seriously, the cast is 22 of the most celebrated cirque performers ever, including a long list of former Cirque de Soleil stars) Le Noir promises to shock, move and entertain in unimaginable ways. Luckily, hectic acts like the 'Colombian Wheel of Death' (Google that for some midweek entertainment) and the 'Aerial Cradle' are interspersed with bouts of comedy and music to give you a chance to pick up your jaw from the floor. We've come along way from the juggling clown and the super strong man. Get yourself a front row seat and prepare to have plenty to talk about at interval.
Kingpins of Brooklyn hype Parquet Courts are the kind of ramshackle, indie genre benders that strip back production-heavy 'garage' and deliver punk-as-blazes music every time. Blending lo-fi, geek-chic, your beyond stock-standard garage rock, and a healthy dose of punk, Parquet Courts are impossible to pin down. Think Pavement meets The Strokes, but with more tongue-in-cheek. Now, after playing sold-out shows in the States and making their mark at Splendour in the Grass last year, they're heading back to Australia for three intimate shows. Their 2014 album, Sunbathing Animal has been praised by Pitchfork as a musical testament to the band's unique grasp of simple, rough rock that places the band, "in their own distinct weight class." The foursome just released a new album Content Nausea under the name Parkay Quarts last December, recorded on a four-track tape over two weeks and predictably brimming with bristly feedback. Making appearances after their headlining spot at Secret Garden Festival, Parquet Courts are popping into Manning Bar in Sydney, The Zoo in Brisbane and Melbourne's Hi-Fi in early March. Supported by UV Race + The Stevens.
Chin Chin's Executive Chef Ben Cooper is hosting a series of intimate cooking classes throughout August and September. Dubbed Cooking with Cooper, this new run of vibrant, Thai-inspired cooking classes is designed to give aspiring chefs the tips, tricks and recipes needed to recreate a taste of Chin Chin at home. Learn the secrets of the classic Sunday roast as Cooper demonstrates how to bone, stuff, roll and truss an entire chicken across August classes. Roll up your sleeves across this interactive workshop which will take you through the process of making accompaniments including a fennel and roast garlic sweet fish sauce glaze. Each class across Sunday, August 13 or Monday, August 14 will run over a three-hour session and is followed by a sit-down, Feed Me lunch featuring Chin Chin's menu classics. Alternatively, a three-hour BBQ session will run across Sunday, September 24 or Monday, September 25. Prep and perfect the ultimate beef brisket, supercharged with Thai-inspired twists including smashed cucumber pickles, before sitting down to a post-class feast featuring red curry mussels, slow-cooked brisket and more. Tickets come in at $145 per person which includes the three-hour cooking class followed by lunch. Images: supplied.
Collingwood's Le Bon Ton is bringing back their iconic, slow-cooked Independence Day BBQ, and it's looking even stickier than last year. Due to the way calendars work, Le Bon Ton is actually celebrating Independence Day on Sunday, July 2 – not July 4 – because it's hard to get Melbourne excited about chicken-eating competitions on a Tuesday. This way, you can celebrate Independence Day two days early, the way the founding fathers intended: by watching grown adults eat a basket of hot wings. The challenge is the same as last year: eat six wings, smothered in Le Bon Ton's spiciest signature sauce, then sit in front of a glass of milk and an ice-cream for five minutes without touching them. Anyone can enter for $25, and that includes your wings. For people who value their digestive system, there's also a slew of regular New Orleans-style BBQ specials to enjoy, including pit-smoked chicken, hotdogs, jackfruit tacos and brisket by the truckload. You can check out the sneak peek menu here. Independence Day celebrations run all day. Quoting from the iconic Will Smith movie is encouraged. Images: supplied.
With the cost of living crisis hammering people's restaurant budgets, we're starting to see more venues dabbling in hot deals for dedicated locals. St Kilda's new-look Saint Hotel, which opened its doors in March of this year, has decided to join the postcode bandwagon this month. They're running a cheeky Locals Night every Wednesday where you can score 20% off your bill at either Saint Bar or Saint Dining… if you live or work in St Kilda. Not too shabby for a midweek feed. Just a heads up: this deal doesn't apply to Stellas or Bar 54. If you work nearby, Saint Bar is also running an express lunch special on Fridays, 12pm to 4pm. You can get two courses for $45 or three courses for $55, and that includes a complimentary wine or beer. In this economy? A bargain! Personally, we recommend starting with Saint's Josper-grilled flatbread with confit garlic oil. Throw on some whipped flathead roe and salmon caviar for good measure. Images: Supplied
If you're looking to level-up your afternoon tea game beyond basic bikkies and finger sandwiches, pop The Westin Melbourne's latest luxe offering on your radar. Taking the high tea concept to soaring new heights, the hotel's High SocieTea menu is dishing up a daily dose of glamour from Friday, August 25–Sunday, November 19. Sashay into the Lobby Lounge between 4pm and 8pm each day for a taste of the high life, tucking into a three-tiered feast dedicated to the high tea holy trinity — cheese, chocolate and caviar. You're in for decadent treats like charcoal tarts with wild scampi caviar and juniper-cured salmon, served theatrically in a glass box; the fanciest Croque Monsieur paired with aged prosciutto, caramelised onions, L'artisan Organic Mepunga gruyere and topped with bacon dust; milk buns crowned with 12-hour braised lamb shoulder and chevre; and gooey pear and cocoa tarts. Coming in at $135 per person, the High SocieTea feast includes a glass of champagne, with more premium vino and cocktails available to add on.
If you're looking to branch out and try something new this winter, we've found a great place to start. Throughout June, July and August, social enterprise Free to Feed is dishing up a multicultural bounty of goodness as part of its Winter Feasts series. The not-for-profit hosts food experiences aimed at helping refugees and people seeking asylum overcome social and economic barriers. And, working with talented cooks from all corners of the globe, it's delivered some pretty special dining events — and delicious cultural exchanges — during its time. This year's series of Winter Feasts will take over Free to Feed's North Fitzroy events space for a program of intimate multi-course dinners clocking in at $85 per person. Each event will see some of the organisation's culinarily gifted participants share the flavours and stories of their culture via a generous shared feast. Take your tastebuds on an international adventure via Orlin, Nada, Halima's North and East African dinners (Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14), Oksana's Ukrainian long lunch (Saturday, June 29), Mirvat and Rana's meat-free Iraqi feast (Thursday, July 11 and Friday, July 12), and Tayebeh and Shanaz's Persian spread (Wednesday, July 17 and Friday, July 19). Free to Feed will also be hosting two storytelling dinners as a part of Refugee Week — called Ghorbeh — on Tuesday, June 18 and Friday, June 21. During these nights, guests will dine at communal tables and hear stories from people with asylum-seeking and refugee backgrounds that will explore the themes of home and community. The previous Summer Feasts sold out well ahead of time, so make sure you book your tickets to these lunches and dinners as soon as possible.
Meatstock Festival is setting up its smoky self in the Melbourne Showgrounds on the weekend of April 22 and 23, and if you're the sort of person who likes to eat meat until you start shaking with the meat sweats and can (m)eat no more, then we have an opportunity very relevant to your interests. Enter your details into the box below and you'll not only go into the draw to win two VIP passes to the festival, you'll also win the chance to become a fully-certified barbecue judge. Over the Meatstock weekend, you'll participate in a barbecue-tasting training course and sit at a judging table to taste test 30 courses of the finest barbecue Melbourne has to offer. If you're going to go to one barbecue festival this year, make it Meatstock. Not just your regular food festival, Meatstock has a music lineup that includes The Delta Riggs, The Davidson Brothers, The Tomahawks and Bullhorn. Sure, there'll be less music than there is at Woodstock, but there will be 200% more tasty meat-related foods. The food stars of the show are Jack The Ribber (smoky, slow-cooked goodness), and The Real Jerk (Caribbean street food). Try both, or all of the 13 food stalls and then fall into a sweaty, cholesterol-heavy heap — don't say we didn't warn you. There's more to see once you walk that off, like a live demonstration from The Sausage Queen or representatives from your favourite chilli sauces (Melbourne Hot Sauce) and knife brands. Finally, for a little old-fashioned rivalry, the festival will be running both Barber Wars and Butcher Wars, which will basically be a bunch of hopefully unbloodied people running around competing and wielding various knives. What a weekend. To win the barbecue-tasting prize, you must be available from 8am to 4pm on Sunday April 23 — there are 30 courses of barbecue to taste, it's going to take a while. If you don't win, tickets are $35 per day or $55 for the whole weekend. [competition]617370[/competition]
LCD Soundsystem is finally headed back to Australia in their first visit since playing a national tour and Big Day Out in 2011. The beloved New Yorkers reunited last year, going on to headline some of the world's biggest festivals, including Coachella, Lollapalooza, Glastonbury, Bonnaroo and Primavera. Now, the day after James Murphy, Nancy Whang and co. headline Splendour in the Grass, they're headed to Melbourne to bring down the house at the Margaret Court Arena on Wednesday, July 26. Formed back in 2002 by Murphy, LCD Soundsystem's cathartic dance-punk defined the noughties for many. Presented by Frontier Touring and triple j, this highly anticipated show is sure to be one hell of a reunion party. Fingers crossed that the band's new album will be out by then — Murphy has promised a newbie. Tickets go on sale Thursday, April 20 at 11am, with presale happening for Frontier Touring members at 2pm on Tuesday, April 18 through 2pm on Wednesday, April 19. They're sure to sell out insanely quickly, so dawdlers will be sorry. LC Soundsystem will play at Sydney's Hordern Pavilion earlier in the week on Monday, July 24, and the Melbourne show will cap off one of the most hectic weeks of live music Australia will see this year. Image: Matt Biddulph via Wikimedia Commons.
It is so often the case in life that the greatest things in life are often the simplest. The daiquiri we know and love today came from humble beginnings in the mining town of Daiquiri in 1898. Back then it was little more than lime juice, Bacardi rum, a little water, sugar and ice. From there it ventured to Santiago, then travelled to Washington DC, then happily dispersed across America and eventually, the world. Over the years, the daiquiri been bastardised by slushy machines and TGI Fridays into pink, icy mush, but there are some noble bartenders taking this misunderstood cocktail classic back to its traditional form. In honour of this delicious, prevailing cocktail, we celebrate World Daiquiri Day on Sunday, July 19, as part of Bacardi Rum Month. Here are Melbourne’s best bars to drop into if you’re simply dying for a daiquiri, darling. EAU DE VIE What cocktail round-up of Melbourne is complete without a nod to the classic connoisseurs at Eau De Vie? Melburnian bartender royalty Greg Sanderson is at the helm here (previous posts include the Black Pearl and Murmur), and his daiquiri has a little added texture and a delicious foamy head. That’s right, the secret ingredient is a small dash of egg white, as well as Bacardi Carta Blanca, powdered refined sugar and fresh lime juice. It even comes with a Bacardi bat stencil for garnish, just to remind you who the real king of rum is. 1 Malthouse Lane, Melbourne GOLDILOCKS If it’s some rooftop sipping you’re after, Goldilocks is one of Melbourne’s finest. If you think outdoor drinking was only a summer time activity, think again; they’ve got the heaters a-blazing so you can continue to enjoy your beverage while leisurely taking in the view. Their Rosemary Daiquiri has both an intriguing flavour, and a little extra kick. Bacardi Carta Blanca is combined with lime juice, sugar syrup and a dash of green Chartreuse. It’s the old shake and strain technique for this one, and garnished with a dash of Peychaurds bitters and a sprig of rosemary. Level 4, 264 Swanston Street, Melbourne NEW GOLD MOUNTAIN If you want a tucked-away hidden Melbourne gem, New Gold Mountain is the way to go. There’s no signage to direct you, but just climb the stairs to two levels of Chinese-décor themed cocktail heaven. If it’s a daiquiri you’re after, order yourself up an El Barbudo, but be warned, this is not exactly close to the classic. Bacardi Carta Blanca meets housemade beetroot grenadine, fresh lemon juice and what is described as ‘Sugar Sizzurp’. We’re going assume this is not the cough-medicine variety of Sizzurp, although there’s no doubt this concoction may have some addictive qualities. Garnished with cracked pepper for good measure, enjoy this daiquiri with a difference. 21 Liverpool Street, Melbourne JANE DOE Chapel Street is about to get a new bar, and the mystery surrounding the place is close to killing us. What we can reveal to you, dear reader, is that they have a splendid daiquiri on offer; a burnt lime and basil flavoured concoction, to be exact. A healthy dose of Bacardi Carta Blanca meets burnt lime juice, seven basil leaves, and two heaped bar spoons vanilla sugar. Hard shake over lots of ice, double strain and serve in vintage coupe glass. We love the vibrant green colour of the end product; looks like a potion but tastes like a dream. 219 Chapel Street, Prahran THE TOFF IN TOWN Slide into a cosy booth at the Toff with your posse and proceed to eat, drink and make merry. The Gardenside Sour, a twist on the daiquiri, is a delightful stroll down the garden path with all the freshness in flavour you could hope for. Bacardi Carta Blanca, St. Germain elderflower liquor, lemon juice, ginger syrup, two dashes of lavender bitters and two slices of cucumber diced and muddled are shaken, double-strained and served in a martini glass. Resting on top is the cucumber ribbon and rosemary sprig garnish, looking as pretty as a picture and beckoning you to dive right in. 2/252 Swanston Street, Melbourne
The crowd has spoken, and Maha has listened. Their signature Beer & Burger Special is back by popular demand. The Maha team have been rolling this out once or twice a year since 2018, and we've seen a few different variations. This time it's a juicy, decadent cheeseburger with grilled beef, cheese, tomato sauce and pickles on a brioche bun. Throw in a tinny of Brick Lane draught beer for $30 flat. And if you've ever dined at Maha before, you'll know this isn't an ordinary cheeseburger. Maha's Beer & Burger special is running Monday to Friday throughout winter. You can get it between 12pm and 3pm. No bookings required for this one. Just turn up and enjoy. [caption id="attachment_907765" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Image: Maha, Brook James.[/caption] Images: Supplied
There's something about summer in Australia that brings out the icy cold, brain-freezing Slurpee-lover in almost all of us. This is Melbourne though and as such, we don't just want a 7/11 quick fix — we expect our cafes and bars to create cold concoctions to cool us and quench our thirst. And the good news is, they have. Below, we've scoped out some of our favourite cool summer drinks — both spiked and non-alcoholic — that you simply have to try. Spiked Milkshakes at the Grand Trailer Park Taverna Fitted out with renovated caravans, as the name would suggest, The Grand Trailer Park Taverna is dishing up a huge range of burgers, ridiculously extravagant desserts, cocktails and spiked milkshakes. Available in four thirst-quenching flavours these milky concoctions won't have you in any doubt this was a good idea once you try them. Choose from Makers Mark bourbon with salted caramel and maple bacon, Kinder Surprise with frangelico and baileys or the peanut butter and jelly with Captain Morgan's rum. These boozy shakes are sure to help wash down that mac and cheese burger you're eyeing off. 87 Bourke Street, Melbourne, (03) 9972 3699, grandtrailerpark.com.au Young Coconut, Pineapple and Lemon Ice Crush at Mighty Boy South-East Asian eatery Mighty Boy is a well received addition to the upper Gertrude Street side of Fitzroy. Boasting flavours from Thailand to Vietnam — but with a distinctly Melbourne twist, no less — Mighty Boy knows what food and drink your body is craving over summer. If you tuck into any number of their delicious street style food, such as spicy pad thai, fried chicken roti or some duck rice paper rolls, make sure to pick up a thirst-quenching slushie to wash it all down. Our favourite? The young coconut, pineapple and lemon ice crush. 59-61 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, (03) 9419 3686, mightyboyeatery.com.au Peanut Butter Cup at Five Plus Smoothie Sure, we are guilty of getting into the green smoothie craze — but there's no denying they are good for you. Luckily, Five Plus Smoothie believe taste is just as important as health and have whipped up a number of healthy green smoothie options to get you beach body ready. They don't contain any unnatural sweeteners and are packed with fresh fruits and vegetables delivered daily from local farms. While a large smoothie will set you back $9, this drink is definitely better for you than that double espresso you're probably drinking right now. If your body is crying out for some vitamins and a liver detox then try the Green Light smoothie: fresh spinach, coconut water, pear, celery, banana and a little tang of lemon. But if you're like us and you would rather have dessert than a cup of vegetables, give the Peanut Butter Cup a go: it's made up of oats, almond milk, banana, homemade peanut butter and dates. Five Plus have somehow made dessert drinks healthy. 265 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, fiveplussmoothie.com.au Cold Filtered Milk Coffee at St. Ali On some sweltering hot summer days all you want to do is lock your bedroom door and sit right in front of the air conditioning. On others, you're ready to embrace the heat, often with a cold brew in hand. But what happens if it's too early for a beer or you just want a little perk up? Cold filtered coffee is the answer. St Ali, the masters of spin, have started pre-bottling it up for your (and most likely their) convenience. Served in a brown beer bottle with a snazzy label, it's the perfect grab-and-go iced coffee. St. Ali isn't the only place to get a cold brew on the go either — Little Big Sugar Salt have been bottling their own almond milk cold coffee for a while, and Everyday Coffee now sells Coolers Coffee in-store too. 12-18 Yarra Place, South Melbourne, (03) 9686 2990, stali.com.au Awakened Smoothie at Heal.Thy Self Co No matter how hard you went the night before, this place has got you covered. It's no surprise that what started off as a blog aimed at health and wellness translated so easily into a organic, fresh cafe filled to the brim with superfoods. Nestled in amongst the tropical decorations and health junkie patrons you can feel the goodness start to seep in even before you take your first sip. Perk up with the Awakened smoothie — it's got a double shot of espresso with banana, a touch of vanilla and topped up with nourishing almond milk. Healthy summer here we come! 26 Ballarat Street, Yarraville, (03) 9687 3330, healthyselfco.com.au
