The Colins Butcher is an excellent place to visit for your culinary needs, with an extensive selection of gourmet meats on offer. This butchery in Zetland is great for fresh and ethically sourced meat — it boasts produce that is 'natural, hormone and chemical-free' to ensure you get the best quality. Colins also sells handmade sausages and smoked meats, and it has its own biltong machine for dehydrating. There's also a hot food deli counter, so you can try before you buy. The team at Colins is passionate about its stock, so ask them a couple of questions and see what they can recommend — your dinner guests will thank you later.
A beloved staple of the meeting point between Marrickville, Enmore and St Peters in Sydney's Inner West, West Juliett shut its doors earlier in 2023. Luckily for all of the fans of this corner cafe, the original founders have opened Agnes just a five-minute drive away. John and Kathryn Stavropoulos have remained in Marrickville, swinging open the doors to their latest venture on Meeks Road just off Marrickville Road. The duo has enlisted an all-star team for their new opening, with Agnes team members boasting experience from across Flour and Stone, Black Star Pastry and Cross Eatery. Housed in a classic graffiti-laden red-brick terrace that had been left dormant, the cafe offers White Horse coffee, plenty of baked treats, and a hefty breakfast and lunch menu which can be taken away, enjoyed inside or paired with some Vitamin D out on the pair of al fresco tables. Pastry chef Etta Napier's focaccia features heavily throughout the menu. For breakfast, you can order it with a simple spread, stacked with avocado and feta, or as the basis for a loaded breakfast sandwich. Come 11am, there are five sandwiches on offer, all piled high atop the focaccia. Veggie lovers can opt for charred miso eggplant with crunchy slaw and pickled red onion, or you can keep it classic with a classic crumbed chicken sambo partnered with nori and fermented chilli mayo. Following your savoury selection, it's only right to treat yourself to a little something sweet. Expect blueberry, lime and cheesecake tarts, plus West Juliett's famous pink salt chocolate-chip cookies. The Agnes team is also committed to keeping things local and in-house, with the honey, jams, pickles and milkshake syrups all made right there at the cafe, or at John and Kathryn's apiary. Even the bacon is smoked locally. "Agnes is more than just a cafe — it's a place where people can come together, enjoy delicious food, connect with friends and create lasting memories," says Kathryn Stavropoulos. Find Agnes at 69 Meeks Road, Marrickville. It's currently open 7am–3pm Monday–Friday and is considering expanding its opening hours to Saturdays.
Film fans, your spider-senses should be tingling: there's a new batch of Spider-Man-adjacent characters swinging onto the big screen. Get ready to meet Dakota Johnson (Cha Cha Real Smooth) as Madame Web, aka clairvoyant paramedic Cassandra Webb. Get ready, too, for Sydney Sweeney (Reality) as Julia Carpenter, who has a stint as Spider-Woman in her story in the comic books. Johnson and Sweeney lead Madame Web, the fourth film in Sony's Spider-Man Universe. That's the name for the studio's franchise of flicks that have been spun off from its Spider-Man movies — so from Spider-Man: Homecoming, Spider-Man: Far From Home and Spider-Man: No Way Home — but aren't part of the the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Hitting cinemas on Wednesday, February 14, 2024, it slings in alongside Venom, Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Morbius, plus the delayed Kraven the Hunter when it arrives later the same year, to spread another web of superhero-related pictures. Given its name, there's no chance of thinking that Madame Web would be subtle about its Spidey links. The just-dropped first trailer for the film makes that plain not just in multiple Spider-Woman sightings, but in an explanatory line from Johnson designed to drop some backstory: "he was in the Amazon with my mum when she was researching spiders right before she died". In the first SSU movie with a female lead, the man that Webb is talking about is Ezekiel Sims (Tahar Rahim, Extrapolations), a character who also hails from the page. He factors into a narrative that has Webb almost drowning, then discovering that she can see the future, with not just Sims but Carpenter linked to her fortunes. Also, would this be a Spider-Man-related movie, or a comic book movie in general, if a complicated past didn't also play a part? Also featuring on-screen in Madame Web: Celeste O'Connor (Ghostbusters: Afterlife), Isabela Merced (Rosaline), Mike Epps (I'm a Virgo), Emma Roberts (American Horror Story) and Adam Scott (Party Down). Veteran TV helmer SJ Clarkson (Succession, Vinyl, Jessica Jones) directs, and also co-wrote the script with producer Claire Parker (Life on Mars). Check out the trailer for Madame Web below: Madame Web opens in cinemas Down Under on Wednesday, February 14, 2024.
Mulalo is the bright, bold and energetic Aussie rapper from the western suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne) whose music exploded onto the scene in 2021 with the release of her track 'M31 (Racing Down the Hume)'. What followed was a packed year of making and performing music: warming crowds up for Cakes Da Killa and Triple One, hitting the stage at Bendigo's Groovin the Moo and the release of her instant-hit 'Tracy Grimshaw'. Ahead of her appearing at The Kraken Black Spiced Rum's one-night-only underground Sydney gig, Subterranean Summer, taking place at Marrickville's The Great Club, Concrete Playground's Ben Hansen caught up with the artist to chat everything from collaboration and community in the hip hop scene, to her music's quintessentially Australian references and how she's feeling about sharing the stage with hardcore favourites SPEED and Posseshot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjNDwcWqzWM If someone isn't a Mulalo fan, who is Mulalo? What's the vibe? If people don't know Mulalo, they're a bit late. Mulalo is me. I'm her. I'm just all about making music for the girls, making music to have fun to. That's who Mulalo is. There's been a lot of change in the local hip hop landscape in the last 10 years — how do you feel about hip hop in Australia right now? I feel like when people thought about rap music in Australia, they were thinking about a very specific type of genre of music, which is fine. But especially being a young immigrant who grew up in [Melbourne's] western suburbs, I see how diverse it is: that wasn't being represented in mainstream rap in Australia. Now it's like you're getting all these young people from all over that are just doing their thing. That's how I think it's changed. And now it's cool, 'cos the people that are actually doing it, I relate to. Do you feel like there's more community now that there's a lot more collaboration? Yes! Every time I go somewhere, I always post it on my Instagram. "People are like 'Oh my god, you're here! Let's meet up, let's hang out!' You get to meet all these people and make sick music." Who's your favourite collaborator to make music with? My two OGs: Nerve and Kuya Neil. Like, those are my boys. They're the best, 'cos they know me. Like, they're me, but in a man's body. Do you have any more songs coming out with them soon? Yes! I do! Like, literally my next few singles are produced by either or. Jumping to the lineup for next week's gig. There's Posseshot and SPEED — is there anyone else in the lineup that you're a fan of? Honestly, I've never seen Posseshot perform, but in my life — from my ex-boyfriend to my friends — they were always wearing the t-shirt. And I was like, who is this? So I'm so excited to see them perform. And I'm excited to see SPEED perform again — I'm gonna be in the mosh. We did a show once together and it was hectic. Were you in the mosh pit that time? I was very much sidestage. I couldn't do it. But you think you might jump in the mosh pit at The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Yeah, I'm gonna get into the crowd. Changing gears, hip hop and punk both came out of resistance and protest. Do you think there's a relationship between the two genres? One hundred percent. Just because people are delivering their message differently doesn't mean it's not an act of protest. I feel like SPEED's message, my message, Posseshot's message are kind of all the same. They're just all delivered differently. Do you see the fans of those genres are receptive to the different kinds of music in a really wide swathe of sounds? I often find that crowds are super receptive of more punk music, more hardcore music, 'cos you know, I turn it up every time. The boys from SPEED support me so much, like on a ground level, and even Posseshot, they've supported me on a ground level. So if the artists are like, 'We write for her', I know that the crowd is going to be open, and like, 'Let's give it a chance, open up our minds to something different'. Last time you played with SPEED, did it gel? Did their fans get around it? It was a very interesting show 'cos it was a hip hop versus rock kinda vibe. Nerve was on the lineup, Barkaa, me and SPEED. And honestly, it was lit. It went off. "The people that were in there were just so open to receiving. Which is what I love about fans of SPEED and Posseshot, they are just so open to receiving music and having a good time and turning it on." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q74Nz5RlG2Y You weave in a lot of local references in your music, whether it's 'Racing Down the Hume' or all the references in 'Tracy Grimshaw'. Is that something that, when you're writing a song, you're setting out to do because you want to make it relatable? Or does it just come naturally? I feel like people think that it's intentional, but anyone that knows me — and, like, talks to me for more than five minutes — knows that I love Australiana culture. I absolutely love it. You'll catch me at the RSL getting a chicken parma and a VB on a weekend. Like, that's my vibe. And then it's just like, why would I reference stuff that's not from where I'm from? Why would my song be called Katie Couric? Like, I watched Tracy Grimshaw and she's an icon. That track will be nice to perform at The Great Club cos it has an RSL, local-club energy. Are you excited to play here, at The Great Club, for The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Do you think your songs will translate well to this venue? I'm a bit nervous for The Kraken Subterranean Summer event at The Great Club cos I'm very different to everyone else that's on the lineup, and I don't know how the crowd will receive me. But I light it up every time. Like, I don't care, I'll light it up every time. When you're performing on a lineup with lots of different bands, are you chatting to other artists? Maybe hooking up collaborations? Or is it a bit nerve-wracking? I'm not going to lie to you, I'm shy. And I also have facial blindness. So when you know people through social media and you're like, 'Is that that person? Is that that person?' You should try this time! I always did say I wanted to do a song with SPEED. I feel like I would kill it. I think it needs to come together. We need to force them to do it. Are you excited when you're performing on a lineup like this that you might introduce someone to a type of music that they had kind of dismissed previously? Yes, definitely. It's good when you have opportunities, like this one with Kraken, where I know it's a challenge. Obviously my people are going to be there, the people that listen to my music are gonna be there, but they won't be most of the crowd. So it's going to be a good challenge. "And I'm doing it for the girls always. I'm gonna show the boys how the girls do it. You know what I mean? I turn it up." Do you ever consider just turning the bass or the 808s up a bit if you're at a heavier show to try and really get the crowd going? Oh, I am notorious for hitting the red. They say: 'Oh, it needs to be at this level'. Me when they walk away: 'Let's blow the speakers, what are we doing? Let's turn up.' Anything else you're really looking forward to at The Kraken Subterranean Summer? Drinking the Kraken! Seriously, for real. I was waiting for them to give me one to try, The Kraken Black Mojito: mint and lime, topped with soda water. I'm gonna get some ice, a nice glass — maybe I'll get one from behind the bar. Have it on stage. Honestly, I wanna reach final form [at The Kraken Subterranean Summer]. This is one of my last shows of the year before I go overseas to South Africa, and I wanna do this sick show. It's gonna be so cool and people are gonna be like, 'That was sick!' and I'm gonna be like, 'Yeah it was! Do you wanna go and get a Black Mojito?' And just turn it up, and see SPEED perform and see Posseshot perform. Hopefully they bring merch. Mulalo takes to the stage at The Kraken Subterranean Summer on Thursday, December 1, at Marrickville's The Great Club. To catch the interview in action, head to Instagram. Top image: Minori Ueda Interview: Ben Hansen
Show me someone who says they don't like road trips and I'll show you a liar (or someone you should be blocking ASAP). Road trips are the backbone of travelling around our giant island nation, and exploration is in our DNA — but what do you do when you yearn to take off into the great beyond but all your mates are busy? Well, why not take your dog? Chances are you have one (especially if you clicked on this story) — about half of Australian households do. So who needs friends when you can take your best furry mate down one of the most mesmerising road trips Australia has to offer? That's right. Pack your bags, grab your car 'cause we're ditching Perth and heading south along the great southern coast of WA, all the way to Esperance, with plenty of dog-friendly pit stops along the way. Don't have a car? Check out SIXT, which offers pet-friendly car rentals from Perth Airport, Perth City, Fremantle and Kewdale. Now, on with the show. PAW-FECT PERTH Hey, what's the rush? Before we scoot off, why not check out some of the best stuff to do with your pooch in the great capital — plus it gives you plenty to do at the end of your trip if you want to do this itinerary in reverse. Check out some of the West's best dog cafes in the form of Slate Cafe in Bennett Springs and The Dog's Breakfast Cafe in Swan Valley — the former features a fully enclosed dog playground with a large, grassed area, while the latter is home to an agility park and dog playground, as well as a doggie pool and spa. Kind of jealous. If you're looking to stretch your legs, the Swan River Foreshore Loop and the Sir James Mitchell Park to Charles Peterson Park walks are scenic, accessible, and most importantly, dog-friendly. DOG-FRIENDLY WINERIES IN MARGARET RIVER First stop: Margaret River, one of the best wine regions in the country. Take this golden opportunity to pretend to be a wine connoisseur with the peace of mind that comes with knowing your dog — who knows you actually don't know a thing about wine — can't talk to rat you out. Sip on fancy wines at dog-friendly wineries like Woody Nook Wines, Xanadu Wines, Passel Estate, Cape Mentelle, and Stonefish Wines. Just watch your little pal doesn't knock over a wine glass or two. If wineries aren't your thing, Drift Cafe, White Elephant Cafe, and The Hairy Marron are all lovely options for you and your pal to enjoy a nice coffee break together. Or if breweries are more your scene, you're in luck, with Margeret River being home to a bunch of dog-friendly options, including Cheeky Monkey Brewing Co, Margaret River Brewhouse, Beerfarm and Bootleg Brewery. If you feel like crashing for the night, check out RAC Busselton Holiday Park, a pet-friendly powered campsite nestled on the doorsteps of Busselton and Dunsborough — not too far from Margaret River. DOG-FRIENDLY CAFES IN ALBANY Need a pick-me-up? Stop by Albany's dog-friendly cafes, where you can indulge in a much-needed caffeine hit while your bestie scoffs down its third puppuccino (relax Rex). Dylans on the Terrace and Hybla Tavern are the paces to be when it comes to dog-friendly cafes and pubs, with both offering outdoor seating so you can both enjoy the fresh air. Albany also has plenty to offer in its many stunning beaches dotted along Frenchman Bay. Or if you'd fancy some lush green over sandy gold, head to Whalers Cove, which offers a nice five-kilometre loop bushwalk in the form of the Uredale Point Heritage Trail. [caption id="attachment_912573" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Albany Wind Farm. Image: Harry Cunningham (Unsplash)[/caption] CATCHING THE WIND AT ALBANY WIND FARM Next up, Albany Wind Farm, where you can witness wind turbines that make you feel as insignificant as raisin cookies at a potluck (no one's touching those). Enjoy the coastal breeze and panoramic views, while your little pal probably wonders why you dragged them to this windy wonderland. On a serious note, the wind farm offers some lovely walking tracks, including one leading up the coast and another to the lookout. Keep in mind that while the area is dog-friendly, off-leash is prohibited. [caption id="attachment_913228" align="alignnone" width="1920"] World of Travoluton 360, Flickr[/caption] CHECK OUT NATURE'S POOCH: ALBANY'S FAMED DOG ROCK That's right, it's a rock that looks like a dog — and on this road trip, you'd be a fool to miss it. There's nothing artificial about this rocky canine, the formation is completely natural. And besides being a testament to the endless wonder of mother nature, it's also the perfect spot to snap a cute pic of your lil pal in front of their giant rocky cousin — if that doesn't get you Insta engagement, nothing will. Once you're ready to hit the hay, you'll be spoilt for choice in Albany, as there's a cornucopia of pet-friendly accommodation options available. [caption id="attachment_784595" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Great Ocean Drive. Image: supplied[/caption] THE GREAT OCEAN DRIVE As you continue towards Esperance, take the scenic Great Ocean Drive. Brace yourself for stunning coastal views, turquoise waters meeting pristine white sands, and a reminder that nature's beauty is clearly showing off. The 40-kilometre loop of picturesque winding roads includes plenty of perfect spots to stop and take in the natural splendour of WA — a sight to behold for any species. [caption id="attachment_897522" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Weilim Zheng[/caption] EXPERIENCE ESPERANCE You've made it, now you both deserve to chill out — and what a perfect spot to do so. Running along Esperance's beaches must feel like winning the lottery to dogs — sandy, wet, and vast. Check out Eleven Mile Beach, Salmon Beach, Blue Haven, Fourth Beach, and Ten Mile Lagoon for endless sandy adventures for your favourite mutt. Saving the best for last, check out Lucky Bay to catch one of the only places in the world where kangaroos sunbathe on the beach (yes, you heard me) — so you might wanna bring a leash for this one. And once you're ready to rest those tired legs, head to RAC Esperance Holiday Park, where dogs are always welcome. Looking for a pet-friendly rental to take you and your best furry mate on the road trip of a lifetime (or looking for a bigger car to fit your furry mate)? Check out SIXT, which welcomes customers to bring their family and furmily along for the ride, so no one gets left behind. Auto club members including NRMA, RACV, RACQ, RAA, RACT, RAC and AANT will receive 15% off SIXT's daily rates. Click here to book now
The lower north shore has the best of both worlds. You can zip into the CBD easily and (traffic depending) quickly, and it's close to some of the country's finest beaches. Chuck in some sweet harbour views and you can see why Neutral Bay in particular is such a popular neighbourhood. We've teamed up with American Express to uncover seven of the suburb's top spots. Whether you're after a fresh hairstyle, doing your weekly shop or just craving a good cup of joe and some eggs for brekkie, Neutral Bay has you covered — no matter the occasion.
If you've ever dreamed of one day owning a house full of gin where boutique and international bottles line the walls, this place might help tide you over until it becomes a reality. Barman Grant Collins has taken over one of the 18th century townhouses on Chippendale's Kensington Street and transformed it into a delightfully pokey gin bar. And, just like your hypthetical palace of booze, it's filled with gins — 75 types, to be precise. These can all be ordered on their own, or mixed into one of 25 on-menu cocktails. Of course, the staff can make you all the classics and, if you're not feeling gin, the back bar stocks vodka, rum, tequila, whisky, beer and wine.
Bondi Junction locals, your lunch game is about to level up. Pappa Flock (home of everyone's favourite juicy, crispy, crunchy chicken tenders and the cult-status Flock Box) will open its doors on Friday, May 16. Born in Parramatta and known across Sydney for its American-style fried chicken, signature sauces and lemonade freshly squeezed in-house daily, this proudly Australian chicken shop is now bringing the flavour to the eastern suburbs. To celebrate the new opening, Concrete Playground readers can score an exclusive offer: a full Pappa Flock Box for just $7.90 (normally $17.90) for two weeks only (Monday, May 19– Sunday, June 1). That's three juicy, crispy, crunchy chicken tenders (classic or spicy), seasoned chips, buttery toast, a regular drink and a side of Pappa Flock's signature sauce. Whether you're already a die-hard Flocker or just curious about the buzz, we've got expert tips to help you hack your next box like an absolute pro. From DIY sandwiches to secret sauce mixes, here's how to get the most out of your Pappa Flock Boxes. Build Your Own Chicken Sandwich If you want to crank up your Pappa Flock Box experience, get the O.G Box with slaw and an extra tendie. Take the buttery toast, add a couple of delicious chicken tenders, some hot chips, pile on the slaw and drizzle it with Pappa Flock's signature sauce. Boom. You've just built your own fried chicken sandwich. It's crunchy, creamy, tangy and rich all at once. Expert tip: Ask for a second slice of toast to make it a complete sandwich. Add Spicy Mango Habanero to Your Lemonade This one's a bit rogue, but very refreshing. Grab a cup of freshly squeezed, in-house lemonade and stir in a little mango habanero sauce. It's spicy-sweet, citrusy and addictive. Expert tip: Just add salt to the cup rim for a spicy mocktail margarita. Mix Your Own Signature Sauce Pappa Flock's signature sauce is a standalone treat, but mixing it with other sauces is where the real flavour customisation begins. For a super saucy experience, try a half-and-half blend with the Spicy Mango Habanero for something slightly sweet and hot, or throw it into your coleslaw for a creamy twist. Expert tip: go to the counter and ask for their secret Jumbo Sauce (aka the Cup of Sauce). Make It Into a Chip Butty If you know, you know. The humble chip butty is a carb-on-carb classic. Originating in England, it's essentially a sandwich filled with chips. For Pappa Flock's version, grab your toast and load it up with seasoned chips and a lashing of signature sauce. It's the kind of snack you didn't realise you needed until you take your first bite. Expert tip: for more of a flavour boost, add creamy Ranch — or for heat lovers, add Spicy Mango Habanero. You'll find the new Pappa Flock Bondi Junction store inside Westfield (opposite McDonald's, near the Bronte Rd entrance) from Friday, May 16 – just follow the scent of chicken tenders. To claim your $7.90 Pappa Flock Box, head to the Pappa Flock Bondi Junction store between Monday, May 19, and Sunday, June 1 and mention Concrete Playground when ordering. That's three juicy, crispy crunchy chicken tenders (classic or spicy), seasoned chips, buttery toast, a regular drink and Pappa Flock's signature sauce all for under a tenner. Pappa Flock is open at Westfield Bondi Junction from Friday, May 16, with other stores in Parramatta, Westfield Miranda, French's Forest, Casula, Westfield Eastgardens, Macquarie Centre Food Court and Rouse Hill. Follow along on Instagram or TikTok for more Sydney locations, menu tips, offers and updates. Pappa Flock Bondi Junction opens Friday, May 16 at 12pm. The Bondi exclusive $7.90 Flock Box offer (normally $17.90) is available in-store for a limited time from Monday, May 19 to Sunday, June 1, 2025. Delivery excluded. +$1.50 for Lemonade upgrade. Mention 'Concrete Playground' to redeem. Maximum of two boxes per customer. While stock lasts. By Jacque Kennedy
Sydney CBD's Clarence Street is set to add another much-hyped venue to its already stacked hospitality offerings. Nestled within the YCK Precinct, the bustling city street will welcome an expansive new venue from the team behind Ragazzi — a 120-seat trattoria called Palazzo Salato. The Love Tilly Group, which is also behind Fabbrica, Love Tilly Devine and Dear Saint Eloise, has previously operated in the world of intimate wine bars and small-scale eateries. That's all changing with Palazzo Salato, the acclaimed hospitality group's largest and most-ambitious offering yet. Set to open in April, this inner-city haven for all things pasta will pull inspiration from New York's Gramercy Tavern and the trattorias of Rome into the heritage-listed former Redoak Boutique Beer Cafe building. Expect a multi-space venue featuring a walk-in-only bar overlooking Clarence Street, a lavish dining room and a 20-seat space dedicated for private bookings. [caption id="attachment_891216" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Alex Major, Scott McComas-Williams, Adam Fogwell, Bora Biyiklioglu, Julie Barbero, Matt Swieboda, Gabriele Lackerer Villabruna and Jordan Grocock.[/caption] "I realised this was the site for our first proper restaurant the moment we walked into the space," Group Executive Chef Scott McComas-Williams. "For the first time, we have a kitchen with enough room to swing a cat, allowing us to produce some of my favourite hand-shaped pastas like agnolotti dal plin, scarpinocc and fagottini while still being able to grill, roast and braise cuts of meat, veg and fish from our long-time producers." An impressive 500-bottle wine list has been curated to compliment the classic Ragazzi-style pasta menu, pulling together drops from across the world. Expect a wide span of varieties and blends, ranging from the expected through to vintage 60s and 70s amari and rare Italian wines. "While we've previously focused on a single country's wines at each venue — for example Australian at Love, Tilly Devine and France at Dear Sainte Éloise — this one will, excitingly, be a lot more international," says Love Tilly Group's Matt Swieboda. [caption id="attachment_747368" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Ragazzi, Nikki To.[/caption] Inside, the heritage-listed space will be transformed with brass pendants, leather banquettes and luxe velvet backrests. Framed artwork and silk prints will add a burst of colour, while the branding featuring otherworldly characters will inject a playful touch to the restaurant. An all-star roster of hospitality mainstays heads up the venues. Alongside McComas-Williams, Executive Chef Alex Major (ex-Head Chef at Ragazzi) and new Head Chef Vincenzo Romeo (ex-Casoni) are behind the exciting new venture. Former Ragazzi Restaurant Manager Adam Fogwell and Bora Biyiklioglu (Hong Kong's Honky Tonks Tavern and Shady Acres) lead the front of house, and Bar Manager Jordan Grocock has moved over from The Baxter Inn to head up the drinks offerings with Love Tilly's Group Sommelier Jabe Febvre and the venue's Head Sommelier Julie Barbero (formerly London's Frenchie Covent Garden and France's Michelin-starred La Chassagnette). The Clarence Street bar and trattoria will be the first to open in April, followed by the large bar and dining room with access from Kent Street later this year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Palazzo Salato (@palazzosalato) Palazzo Salato is set to open at 201 Clarence Street, Sydney in April.
As the name suggests, this new bar from master mixologist Grant Collins is dedicated to celebrating the evolution of the dry martini, as well as its caffeinated crowd-pleasing cousin, the espresso martini. Through a carefully curated collection of experimental and classic cocktails, Grant Collins and Gin Lane invite patrons into an atmosphere of easy-going sophistication, bringing elements from London's modern martini bars and Spain's laidback cocktail and tapas scene to the heart of Chippendale. Think of Dry Martini's menu as an ode to the evolution of the cocktail classic, where guests can experience different flavour profiles and mixes ranging from original and well-loved Gatsby-coded recipes from the 20s and 30s, to contemporary creative takes such as the salted caramel espresso martini with a nitro frozen foam and Scottish espresso martini with a shortbread infused whiskey and shortbread foam. If you're overwhelmed by choice, simply surrender to the espresso martini tree — a bespoke tower of six curated drinks. Guests can expect cocktails mixed with the highest quality house-distilled gin, unique vodkas, and house-made bitters. A tapas-style food menu has been designed to complement the flavours of the martini selection. The oyster shell gin martini, for example, is ideally served alongside freshly shucked oysters — dished-up with dry ice smoke billowing beneath the platter for a little side serving of theatricality. The menu draws inspiration from San Sebastian's bite-size pintxos, offering both sweet and savoury options, from a martini wagyu slider with rich and silky caramelised onions, cheek-wrinkling sour house-made pickles and a generous amount of martini mayo to sweeter options like their piña colada dome with coconut crumble and caramelised pineapple. Alternatively, if the cocktail sidekick you seek is something simpler, the high-low delight of the truffle and jamon toastie topped with caviar perfectly pairs with the house negroni. Dry Martini's wallet-saving happy hours are banishing cost-of-living worries with $10 martinis and $15 daily cocktail specials available every day from 5.30pm–7.00pm Tuesday - Thursday and 5.30pm–6.30pm Friday and Saturday.
Transform your long weekend into a bucolic adventure in a pecan orchard on the Central Coast. The Pecan Lady is opening her idyllic property to the public, so you can spend Saturday, Sunday or Monday picking pecans from 9am to 4pm. You'll find her in Somersby, a pretty, rural locality between Brisbane Waters National Park and Strickland State Forest, about an 80-minute drive north of Sydney. Her pecans are particularly small and sweet because they're of the Witchita and Western Schley varieties. Plus, they're grown organically and fed by nutrient-rich spring water. Entry is free, while any pecans you pick will cost $8 per kilo or $30 a bucket. While you're there, you'll be treated to a tree-shaking demonstration, which, as the name suggests, involves shaking a tree's branches, so it allows any ripe nuts tumble to the ground.
Since 2020, fans of cowboy-themed ice cream have had two options: lick your way through a classic ol' Bubble O'Bill on a stick as you've always done, saving the bubblegum nose for last (of course), or tuck into a Bubble O'Bill tub. That's all well, good and tasty, but frozen desserts can't keep a lasso over the fictional, confectionery-based Old West figure — because Bubble O'Bill Easter eggs are now a sweet treat that truly exists. Set to hit the shelves at Woolworths on Wednesday, March 16, the 160-gram chocolate eggs aren't shaped like their namesake, however. They're regular old egg-shaped, but with swirls of strawberry marbling, pieces of caramel and chewy berry pieces mixed into the Chocolatier Australia chocolate. Love the gumball part of Bubble O'Bills? Of course you do. And they're still included in the Easter egg version, with five found inside once you crack open all that chocolate. Turning a beloved Streets ice cream into an Easter egg isn't just the domain of Bubble O'Bill, either. Returning to both Woolies and Coles this year is the Golden Gaytime Easter egg, which sports the same toffee flavour as the frosty dessert and comes coated in Golden Gaytime crumbs. And, it's available now. Yes, Easter is still more than a month away — hitting on Sunday, April 17 in 2022 — but that just means you've got plenty of time to stock up, or to mark the occasion for weeks in advance. Being an adult means eating Bubble O'Bill and Golden Gaytime Easter eggs whenever you like. Find Bubble O'Bill Easter eggs at Woolworths stores from Wednesday, March 16, costing $10 each. Golden Gaytime Easter eggs are available at both Woolies and Coles now.
If you don’t enjoy Lego and Ikea, there’s something wrong with you. Having ransacked a Scandinavian storeroom, Claire Healy and Sean Cordeiro are back to meditate on our materialist existence. Venereal Architecture at Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery is a collection of bright and beautiful sculptures. But while everything is glossy and geometrically precise, there’s also a twinge of something a little menacing. Healy and Cordeiro are sculptors of the readymade. They dig up found objects and mix them into new formations. You may recall some of their playful reinventions, such as the colourful wall of Ikea furniture propping up a dinosaur skeleton. This was featured at the MCA in 2012. Indeed, the Swedish mega-brand has been a long-held source of inspiration. There’s also an instinct to catalogue that runs throughout their practice. It’s as if they are attempting to archive the present, creating an orderly arrangement of excess. The sculptures featured in this exhibition are Lego-built animals combined with Ikea furniture. There’s a tortoise wedged under a glass coffee table, a lion guarding a baby’s changing table, and — my favourite — a speckled black octopus coiled around a yellow chair. It’s as if these rainbow-coloured creatures have been tamed and slotted into a showroom. In fact, some unions look to be a bit sinister. For example, there’s a deer violently pierced by an Ikea trestle. The animal is quite literally bolted down, forcibly domesticated. A big theme for these artists is the way in which we manipulate our surroundings. They shatter words like ‘custom’ and ‘unique,’ satirising society’s veneration of banal objects and trendy furnishings. In fact, the sculptures are decorated with perfectly manicured pot plants, some with little blankets of brown Lego soil. While this is super cute, it also highlights our preference to imitate nature, to aestheticise it and pair it with a matching decor. Although the connection Healy and Cordeiro draw between Ikea and sex may feel a little whimsical at first, it’s interesting to think about the link between carnal desire and consumerism. Their Lego portraits are vaguely discernable sex acts — physically pixelated and named after Ikea products. The fact that they are made of cheap, hard and mass produced plastic may parallel the sad state of sex industry, rife with exploitation. In sifting through the junk of everyday life, Healy and Cordeiro critique the ins and outs of first world living, from the oversupply of flat-packed dream homes to the porn industry. In many ways, Venereal Architecture pulls towards something a little more disturbing than is first expected. By scratching beneath the surface, these artists engage with globalisation in thought-provoking ways. Serious stuff aside, I love the simple parallel between crafting a fantasy home as a child with Lego and graduating to an adult level of assemblage through Ikea. Goes to show, this exhibition ain’t just bogged down in weighty issues; it’s good fun too.
Our favourite new Sydney bars of 2020 brought us inventive cocktails, natural wines and retrofuturistic interiors. The city's latest wine stop, however, is stripping things back with a sleek look, an extensive wine list and simple, Mediterranean-focused menu. Vini Divini, Italian for 'divine wines', is situated on Carrington Street, just behind Wynyard Station. Out front, you'll find a relaxed alfresco dining area, while inside you'll be greeted by a 1000-bottle strong wine wall, curated by Rockpool Dining Group's former head sommelier Raphael Mulligan. The inner city bar contains one of the city's largest by-the-glass wine lists, with selections from ten wine regions including France, Spain, Greece, Armenia and, of course, Italy. By the glass, the wine ranges from $12–45, while bottles can set you back anywhere from $47–480. Mulligan's continually updated wine list comes courtesy of his relationship with independent winemakers and distributors. Accompanying the wine is the bar's array of Mediterranean nibbles, share plates and heartier meals, from a kitchen overseen by Anason alum Seda Güç. You can ease into the night with the likes of whipped ricotta with black olives and lemon thyme ($9), Pioik rosemary focaccia with olive oil ($9), or Güç's signature baba ganoush ($9). More filling dishes include beef carpaccio ($25), kingfish crudo ($26) and beetroot-marinated artichokes with toasted almonds ($18). There's also a selection of salumi and cheese available to complement your wine, including wagyu bresaola ($13) and gorgonzola picante with fresh honeycomb ($13), while desserts like Ciccione & Sons lime sorbet served with Ketel One vodka ($13), are on offer to provide the perfect nightcap — although a glass of red would serve just as well.
Nothing makes a nice meal fall apart quite like pairing it with the wrong wine — and nothing reveals how little you know about wine like trying to defend your wine choices. Imagine if you knew how to sniff, swirl and speak eloquently to what makes a wine perfect for the delicious feast you have prepared. As MasterChef Australia's official wine of choice for the second year running, Jacob's Creek is here to help home kitchen chefs create an evening worthy of a master. It's bringing back last year's sell-out Kitchen Collective pop-up, where ticketholders can learn skills from previous MasterChef Australia guest judge (and the man behind Huxtaburger) Daniel Wilson and Rocker chef Stuart Toon, a former MasterChef UK contestant. From a pop-up on Bennelong Lawn, you'll take part in a cook-off against your mates and enjoy a three-course dining experience, as wine experts Kristy Farrell and Katherine Candy let you in on the secrets of food and wine pairing. Jacob's Creek has let us have a sneak peek at the menu, and we have the recipes for an entree and dessert to share with you. Test your skills before the big day, and sharpen your wine talk with tasting notes for the Jacob's Creek wines they pair with from Jacob Creek's chief winemaker Dan Swincer. ENTREE When you pop down to the market to gather fresh ingredients for this confit vanilla king salmon, make sure to pick up a bottle of Jacob's Creek Barossa signature chardonnay. The creaminess of the wine works with the fat deposits of the fish (often called the wagyu of the sea), while the drop's citrus notes and the finger lime in the dish refresh the palate. Obviously, the ultimate pairing is putting wine in your food, so a splash of that chardonnay makes the fennel puree even creamier. Be sure to comment on the nutty, cashew notes in the wine, and how they interplay with the macadamia pesto. CONFIT VANILLA KING SALMON Ingredients 5 portions (about 400gm) of New Zealand king salmon, boneless, skinless and bloodline removed Half a vanilla bean 1 bunch of watercress, picked 1 finger lime 70ml of extra virgin olive oil FENNEL PUREE Ingredients 1 large fennel, diced 1 tablespoon of butter 50ml of Jacob's Creek Barossa signature chardonnay 40ml of cream Sea salt and ground white pepper MACADAMIA, THAI BASIL AND FINGER LIME PESTO Ingredients Half a bunch of Thai basil, picked 100gm of roasted and salted macadamia nuts 5gm of freeze dried finger lime powder Pinch of citric acid 125ml of extra virgin olive oil Method Switch your oven on to 90 degrees celsius, then get started on the vanilla oil. Cut the vanilla bean in half, scrape the seeds out and into a small bowl with 20ml of the olive oil. Add a pinch of salt and mix. Place the salmon fillets, evenly spaced, onto a baking paper-lined tray and rub the salmon on all sides with the vanilla oil. Pop that to the side (keep at room temperature). For the fennel puree, heat a saucepan over medium heat and add butter. Once melted, add fennel and sweat for five minutes stirring often. Add the chardonnay, then cover with a lid and turn down to low. Give it a stir every four to five minutes and cook until soft with no colour. Once the wine has evaporated and the fennel is soft, add cream. Puree with a stick blender, season with sea salt and ground white pepper and pass mixture through a fine sieve. Put the puree to the side and cover. In a bowl, mix up 50ml of the olive oil and the flesh of finger lime, making sure to remove any seeds. Set this aside for later. Pop the tray of salmon into the oven and cook for about 10 minutes or until just cooked. While that's in the oven, toss the basil leaves, macadamia nuts, finger lime powder and citric acid into a food processor until finely chopped. Add olive oil and blitz until it is the consistency of pesto and season with salt and pepper. Hey, presto, you've got pesto. To plate up like a real masterchef, warm the fennel puree and put a nice circle slightly to the left of centre on the plate. Carefully place the salmon half on the puree. Top with a quenelle (fancy way of saying an oval-shaped scoop) of the pesto and four pieces of watercress. Finally, whimsically drizzle that bad boy with finger lime oil, and enjoy with a glass of Jacob's Creek Barossa signature chardonnay. DESSERT Decadent is the only way to describe this dark chocolate and plum mousse, served with chocolate, coconut and shiraz soil and raspberry coulis. It's best enjoyed with a glass of Jacob's Creek Barossa Signature shiraz tempranillo. Each flavour in the dish mirrors the flavours of the wine: plum from the tempranillo, chocolate from the shiraz and coconut from the American oak. Plus, the fruity sweetness of the tempranillo matches the tart and slightly sour coulis. So fancy. Just make sure you correctly pronounce "tem-pra-ni-yo", so you sound sophisticated. DARK CHOCOLATE AND DAVIDSON PLUM MOUSSE Ingredients 200 grams of coconut milk 200 grams of dark chocolate 3 grams of Davidson plum powder 2 egg whites, room temperature Pinch of salt 20 grams of castor sugar 5 dark chocolate cylinders Method In a small saucepan, bring coconut milk to the boil, making sure not to scorch the bottom. While that's heating up, place the chocolate and Davidson plum powder into a stainless steel bowl. When the coconut milk is lightly simmering, pour it over the chocolate. Stir once with a rubber spatula and let sit for two minutes to melt, then stir well until it is all combined. Next, whisk two egg whites on high. Once it starts to froth up, gently add the sugar bit by bit until it's all mixed together. Continue to whip until glossy, stiff peaks have formed, but do not over whip. Grab the rubber spatula again and quickly fold one-third of the meringue into the chocolate mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl. Fold in the rest of the meringue, mixing gently until it's all combined. Transfer the mousse into a piping bag and pipe into the chocolate cylinders, making sure not to leave any air gaps. Cover with baking paper and pop in the fridge to set. CHOCOLATE AND SHIRAZ SOIL Ingredients 40ml of cold water 100 grams of caster sugar 75 grams of dark chocolate 10 grams of shiraz powder 30 grams of desiccated coconut, lightly toasted 10 grams of raw cacao powder Method Place the water in a small saucepan and gently pour the sugar into the middle of the water, careful not to get any sugar crystals on the side of the pan. Do not stir or mix. Prepare a pastry brush in a small bowl of cold water to brush down the sides if the syrup starts to crystalise around the edge of the pan. Put the chocolate in a medium-sized stainless steel bowl and set aside until the syrup is ready. Pop the saucepan on a high heat and wait until it dissolves and starts to bubble. Don't stir the sugar. Continue to cook until you start to see golden brown edges. Immediately remove the saucepan from the heat and whisk into the chocolate; don't forget to whisk around the edges. Keep whisking until all the chocolate has crumbled and looks like soil, which should only take a couple of minutes. Mix in the shiraz powder, toasted coconut and raw cacao, and transfer onto a baking paper-lined tray to cool. RASPBERRY AND ROSELLA COULIS Ingredients 150 grams of frozen raspberries 20 grams of caster sugar Juice of half a lemon 2 grams of dried rosella powder Method Over medium heat, mix up raspberries, sugar and lemon juice in a small saucepan, using a wooden spoon to break up the berries as they start to soften. Turn the heat down to low and simmer for two minutes. Pour the raspberry mix into a sieve over a bowl, pushing through with a spatula. Add the rosella powder and mix well. If you have one handy, transfer the sauce to a small squeeze bottle for next-level presentation. Pop this in the fridge until you are ready to plate up. On the plate, place a few puddles of the raspberry coulis and a couple of spoons of chocolate soil. Top with a chocolate cylinder of mousse and use a sieve to dust with plum powder. Pop open a bottle of Jacob's Creek Barossa Signature tempranillo shiraz and pour yourself a glass to enjoy with your indulgent dessert. Jacob's Creek Kitchen Collective will take place between Tuesday, July 16 and Sunday, August 4. Daytime sessions will run from 12pm–4pm every Thursday to Sunday, and the nighttime experience will run from 6pm–10pm every Tuesday to Sunday. Only 16 seats are available for each session, so move quickly and get tickets here.
The first sip of an oat flat white from your local cafe tells you everything you need to know. On a good day, it's smooth, balanced and creamy — on a bad day, it's flat, split or watery. So what makes the difference between a great (or not so great) dairy-free coffee? According to Anthony Douglas, World Barista Champion, long-time team member at Melbourne's Axil Coffee Roasters, and MILKLAB Global Brand Ambassador, it all comes down to the milk. Anthony knows a thing or two about making great coffee. And he's spent more hours than most perfecting the relationship between espresso and milk. "When I first touched a coffee machine I had no idea there were even competitions let alone that I would be up there myself on stage," he tells Concrete Playground, when asked how he became one of the world's best baristas. "About five years into my career, that was my first exposure to competition. I decided to give it a go, and realised how much I could learn and grow through competition. That's what kept me going until I finally won." Now, his approach is all about the fundamentals. In fact, he believes a great cup of coffee should be simple. "I've always found the best results by keeping the process simple, focusing on the basics and executing them well," he says. For Anthony, a good coffee using plant-based MILKLAB comes down to three things: temperature, texture and integration. "[It's about] being really present as you're steaming the milk and breaking down those bubbles. [Also] being conscious of how you're integrating the milk with the espresso so you preserve the flavour, while still ensuring it's integrated properly from top to bottom," he says. It's something most people have tried at home, but it seems easier said than done. That is, until you've got a few of Anthony's go-to techniques up your sleeve to help achieve the perfect jug of silky milk. "I think it's important to achieve an even whirlpool and really maximise the power of the steam wand," he recommends. "Tilting the wand to the side enough so it spins, but not too close to the side, and ensuring it's angled low enough to really break down any bubbles on top." If you really want to level up your milk game, he suggests introducing the air quickly so you have more time to texturise the bubbles into that delicious, creamy microfoam. And his final tip is temperature. "Too hot and the quality of the milk degrades, is more dilute (due to the extra time spent introducing steam). Too cool and the milk can overpower the flavour of the coffee due to the lack of dilution." "Drinking temperature also has a massive impact on the types of flavours we experience and is one of the first things most customers notice when drinking a milk-based coffee." [caption id="attachment_1014856" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Anthony Douglas, World Barista Champion[/caption] When it comes to plant-based options, Anthony has a clear favourite — but rates them all. "Each milk does have its own unique flavour and texture based on the ingredient it's centred around," he says. "I think my favourite would be MILKLAB Oat as it is the most versatile and works well to showcase any coffee it's paired with. MILKLAB Almond has a beautiful natural sweetness from the almond and is quite easy drinking. MILKLAB Soy I find has a great rich sweetness and body. MILKLAB Macadamia has this beautiful lush texture. And MILKLAB coconut once again has an amazing texture and tropical flavour that really works well with coffee." It turns out, not every milk behaves the same way with every coffee and there's quite a bit of science behind making sure things go smoothly. "The key is understanding how they interact with different coffee. Coffee that is highly acidic, very fresh, or roasted darker often doesn't integrate as smoothly and can cause separation or curdling," he says. If you're running into this issue, Anthony has one simple trick. "[You can] add a small splash of cold plant-based milk to the espresso before steaming and pouring. Cold milk has a higher tolerance for acidity and heat, and this step can help neutralise the compounds in the coffee that might otherwise cause a negative reaction." So, there you have it. To get a plant-based coffee worthy of a world champion, go back to basics, perfect your steam wand technique and don't forget the power of temperature. With a little intention and the right milk, you can get cafe-level results at home. Discover the full barista-approved MILKLAB range on the website.
Our fair city is home to some cracking pubs, restaurants, cafes and stores — we'd even go as far to say they are some of the best in the country. But, as we saw much too pointedly last year, many of our faves are only as strong as our support. With many hospitality joints and retailers shut for some time last year, we saw a rise in amazing merch as an alternative way for small businesses to make ends meet. Thankfully, the trend continues, so we can hit up our favourite local spots to wine, dine and shop and go on reppin' them. Yep, we want you to wear your love of food, coffee, drinks and more on your sleeve. Not only will you look fresh as can be, but you'll be supporting local loud 'n' proud — just the way it should be. Together with American Express, we've rounded up some of the top branded wares around town, from cosy hoodies and easy breezy tees to kitchen equipment and sleek calico totes.
Were you aware that as well as hopping on Pop and putting the Cat in the Hat, Theodor Seuss Geisel made over 400 political cartoons about World War II and Nazis? There’s a lot to know about Dr Seuss. As a sideline to the Graphic Festival, the Opera House is putting on the retrospective Art of Dr Seuss exhibition in its western foyers. Check out Seuss’ Secret Art, Unorthodox Taxidermy and more grown-up art for children.
The former location of the urban myth-famous Murder Mall has undergone quite a transformation over the past four years. The mammoth Surry Hills Village development has added hundreds of stylish apartments, a retail and dining hub — Wunderlich Lane — and a luxury boutique hotel to the site, located on the border of Waterloo, Surry Hills and Redfern on Cleveland Street. Operated by TFE, the same hotel group who operate the multi-award-winning The Calile in Brisbane, The Eve will be tropical resort-style stay with 102 guestrooms and suites, and a sun-dappled rooftop swimming pool framed by palms and cabanas. The team behind popular Sydney restaurants The Gidley, Bistecca and The Rover has been tapped to deliver the hotel's hospitality offering, which will eventually include a rooftop bar and diner. The first of The Eve's venues to be revealed by Liquid & Larder, however, is an all-day diner and cocktail lounge, Bar Julius, located in the hotel's lobby. While Liquid & Larder's other ventures have typically leaned on a more traditional aesthetic, Bar Julius will be a departure, sporting a vibrant, airy look — including a mural-covered ceiling by Dinosaur Designs co-founder Louise Olsen — that chimes with the rest of the hotel's bright and breezy design language. Bar Julius will be a versatile space where hotel guests can start their day with a spot of breakfast or end their evening with a nightcap. The menu will stick to crowd-pleasing classics — think filled bagels and omelettes to order in the morning, and hearty dressed salads and gourmet burgers later in the day — and given that the burger at Liquid & Larder's CBD steakhouse The Gidley was recently ranked as Australia's best (and the 9th best in the world), it's likely to be a highlight of Bar Julius' food offering. The drinks offering is also broadly appealing yet underpinned by some creative flare. Notable riffs include the All Day Mary — a mingle of horseradish vodka, Melbourne Sake Co. sake, a house-made gazpacho blend combining tomato, cucumber and parsley oil and a blend of spices for a fiery reviver that can be enjoyed morning, noon or night. There's also the Crystal Mimosa – a clarified cocktail with all the flavours of the popular brunch tipple, poured tableside from a champagne bottle. "Bar Julius is inspired by European-style bistros of New York city where all day dining is prominent amongst a melting pot of guests from local residents, nearby workers and travellers," Liquid & Larder co-founder and director, James Bradey says. We are creating a space for people to gather, an atmosphere that is lively and warm, that channels European nostalgia with modern sophistication." The Eve and Bar Julius will welcome their first guests in January 2025. For more details visit The Eve's website.
There are few Sydney bars with the same cult status — or, indeed, square meterage — as Cantina OK!. Tucked down a nondescript, blink-and-you'll-miss-it CBD laneway, the six-seater sliver of a bar is famous for its world-class mezcal program, hand-shaved ice and one of the most celebrated margaritas on the planet. It's also just unveiled a brand-new menu, which, in keeping with the rest of the cocktail list, is as conceptual as it is delicious. Themed around rituals, the menu taps into familiar everyday and universal acts, from the ancient — like ceremonial wood burning or cooking with hyperlocal ingredients — to the more contemporary — like logging off and touching grass. The menu reimagines these small, grounding acts as sensory experiences delivered in cocktail form, with ingredients like wood-washed tequila, burnt chilli sorbet and grass jelly. The new menu — named Ritual — consists of three headline cocktails, each drawing on an element of symbolic or cultural significance. Opening proceedings is the the Nevada OK!, a bright, fragrant yet earthy mix of tequila, vetiver soda and lemongrass over pandan ice and grass jelly. Inspired by the modern ritual of reconnecting with the ground after a day online, this drink is described by group Creative Director Jeremy Blackmore as "a silly, serious and very delicious combination". Next up, the Sour OK! is inspired by the cross-cultural practice of wood burning, from Day of the Dead offerings to tea ceremony incense. This silky, aromatic sipper stars a cherry wood- and palo santo-infused tequila, with solid support roles from coconut, egg white, tapioca pearls and nata de coco for a delicate hit of texture and depth. [caption id="attachment_1005251" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] Rounding out the set is the Whip OK!, a smoky, spicy and sweet riff on recado — the rich spice paste made from blackened chillies that anchors much Yucatecan cuisine. Here, tequila and mezcal are layered with burnt chilli, lime and an intriguingly bright blackberry sorbet. It's finished with a shimmering spray of silver-coloured olive oil, itself a nod to the ancient superstition of blessing liquids with silver and moonlight. "We are celebrating some of life's little rituals," says Blackmore about the new menu. "Cantina OK! is built on them — from the way we greet every guest to the hand-drawing of each weekly special. It's about celebrating the 'right now', and being part of the bigger ritual of a night out in a garage down a dimly lit alley." [caption id="attachment_1005287" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1005288" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1005290" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dexter Kim[/caption] Cantina OK!'s new Ritual menu is available now. Find it at the end of Council Place, Sydney CBD. F0r more information, head to the Cantina OK! website. Top image: Dexter Kim.
If you've committed yourself to extending the holiday indulgence and enjoying a January stuffed with good food, the legends at Nomad are here to help you reach your goals. This weekend, Executive Chef Jacqui Challinor is bringing back a much-loved lockdown project — her next-level bomboloni, aka Italian doughnuts. After achieving cult status as a lockdown special served up by the Surry Hills restaurant last year, the bomboloni are back for a one-weekend-only appearance. On offer from 10am this Saturday, January 15, and Sunday, January 16, you'll find two dreamy varieties of the treat: a savoury version comes loaded with sujuk, haloumi and a fried egg, and a fairy bread-inspired creation, starring burnt butter cream, strawberry glaze and a coating of 100's & 1000's, that sweet-toothed bombolone fans will be all about. Both are available for takeaway only, with the sweet bombolone going for $10 a pop and the savoury one priced at $16. If last year's are anything to go by, however, they won't be hanging around for long — you'd better get in as early as you can.
Dress in your best 60s get-up and step back in time at the only permanent drive-in left in Sydney. With a Happy Days-esque diner offering classic snacks like hot chips, choc tops and burgers, you better not do anything more than hold hands with your sweetheart otherwise you'll ruin the schmaltz of the experience. There are two opposing screens which show double features nightly. As well as all the latest hits, the drive-in cinema screens retro favourites and seasonal specials. So, expect lots of slasher flicks around October, The Grinch in December and The Notebook on February 14. Like most drive-in cinemas, you'll pay by the car load here, which includes up to six people for $35 a pop. Some special events may set you back a little more.
Plenty of movies have hit cinemas and streaming in 2022, including ace and terrible flicks alike, but few films have sparked as much chatter as Don't Worry Darling. First up, it earned attention thanks to its director and cast, with the twisty thriller marking actor-turned-filmmaker Olivia Wilde's second stint behind the lens after Booksmart, and starring Florence Pugh (The Wonder) and Harry Styles (My Policeman). Then, the picture started causing talk due to a whole heap of off-screen chaos, such as awkward press conferences, possible spit and other rumoured scandals among its main figures. So, by now, everyone has heard about Don't Worry Darling. If you haven't yet seen it since it released in Australian cinemas at the beginning of October — and it is worth seeing — you can now do that at home, too. Like everything from Dune, The Matrix Resurrections, Spencer and West Side Story through to Everything Everywhere All At Once, The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Elvis and Nope this year, the film has joined the list of fast-tracked flicks making their way to digital while still brightening up the big screen. Here, Pugh plays Alice, who gets stranded in the worst kind of 1950s-style ordeal despite all initial appearances to the contrary. Victory, the community where she lives with her husband Jack (Styles), appears picture-perfect; however, we all know how that can be deceiving. Indeed, the dreamy facade unravels quickly. The town is home to the men who work for the top-secret Victory Project — such as Jack — and their families, and it's where Don't Worry Darling's central duo are meant to enjoy nothing but bliss. They're given two rules to abide to, though: exercising the utmost discretion and committing 100-percent to Victory's vision, even if the town's wives don't actually know what their husbands get up to all day. That's all well and good — and terrific, in fact for most of Victory's residents — but it stops being the case for Alice. Despite a pervasive mood of optimism around the place, as well as overt reassurances by company CEO Frank (Chris Pine, All the Old Knives) and his wife Shelley (Gemma Chan, Eternals), Alice is certain that all isn't quite what it seems — or that she can or should trust what the company is so determined to impress upon the town's inhabitants. Yes, as immaculate as Don't Worry Darling looks, it's 100-percent a psychological thriller. It gives off huge The Truman Show vibes, too, as Alice refuses to acquiesce. The film also co-stars Wilde herself, playing another Victory employee's spouse, as well as Nick Kroll (Our Flag Means Death), KiKi Layne (The Old Guard), Sydney Chandler (The Golden Rut), Kate Berlant (A League of Their Own), Asif Ali (WandaVision), Douglas Smith (Big Little Lies), Timothy Simons (Station Eleven) and Ari'el Stachel (Zola). Check out the trailer for Don't Worry Darling below: Don't Worry Darling is currently screening in Australian cinemas, and is also available to stream online via video on demand from Monday, November 7 — including via Google Play, YouTube Movies and Prime Video in Australia. The film is also still showing in NZ theatres as well, and can be streamed in Aotearoa via Neon, Google Play and iTunes. Read our full review.
UPDATE, April 24, 2021: Parasite is available to stream via Stan, Google Play, YouTube Movies, iTunes and Amazon Video. When writer-director Bong Joon-ho lets two families roam around and unleash their best and worst in an opulent South Korean mansion, he couldn't have placed them in a better spot. The kind of house that anyone would dream of living in, Parasite's main setting is a multi-storey playground filled with wide-open spaces, gleaming surfaces and modernist decor, all opening out onto a grassy, leafy backyard. A real estate agent's fantasy as well, this not-so-humble abode is the bricks-and-mortar pinnacle of success and wealth. As created by production designer Lee Ha-jun to meet Bong's specific vision (a real house that matched the filmmaker's needs simply didn't exist), the labyrinthine structure is a puzzle box, too. Within its walls, mysteries linger. Here, anything and everything could happen. Parasite proves exceptional in every single frame and detail that it flicks onto the screen — but the way that this sprawling central home encapsulates the movie's very essence is a towering feat. Already lauded and applauded, not to mention awarded the top prizes at both the Cannes and Sydney film festivals, Parasite isn't short on achievements. Internationally renowned and beloved as the auteur behind The Host, Snowpiercer and Okja, Bong has crafted a bleak, twisty blend of black tragi-comedy, pulsating thrills and socially relevant horror — a movie that's such a phenomenal example of all that cinema can and should be that you'll want to high-five the filmmaker after watching it. Parasite possesses a pitch-perfect cast of both veteran and up-and-coming actors, all playing their parts with devastating precision. It's scripted, with Okja assistant director turned first-time co-writer Han Jin-won, to tease, mesmerise, infuriate, satirise and amuse in equal measures. And its look and pace, courtesy of the finessed work of cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo (Bong's Mother) and editor Yang Jin-mo (Bong's Okja), is as polished and probing as its all-important setting. When viewers first meet Ki-taek (Song Kang-ho), his wife Chung-sook (Chang Hyae-jin), and their young but grown-up children Ki-woo (Choi Woo-shik) and Ki-jung (Park So-dam), they're dwelling in a damp, cockroach-infested basement apartment. They're also all out of work. Piggybacking whichever unlocked wi-fi network they can find keeps them going — and, when the streets outside are being fumigated, the family isn't opposed to keeping the windows open to take advantage of the free pest control (health consequences be damned). Combined, their only regular source of income comes from folding pizza boxes, with zero other prospects on the horizon. Then Ki-woo's former classmate Min (Park Seo-joon) asks if he'll fill in at a lucrative private tutoring gig. While Ki-woo doesn't have the requisite university degree such a position usually needs, it's easy to manufacture thanks to Ki-jung's impressive photoshop skills. Taking plenty of cues from this early bit of subterfuge, Parasite could be dubbed the ultimate 'fake it till you make it' movie. Stepping foot inside the film's main setting, Ki-Woo wows not only his new, quickly love-struck teenage pupil Da-hye (Jung Ziso), but her flighty mother Yeon-kyo (Cho Yeo-jeong) too. He's soon part of the household, which also includes tech entrepreneur patriarch Park (Lee Sun-kyun), pre-adolescent son Da-song (Jung Hyeon-jun) and their housekeeper (Lee Jeong-eun). With Ki-woo eager to bring his own family into this rich, luxurious orbit, an underhanded plan emerges. Without spoiling any specifics from this narrative juncture onwards, Bong was inspired to write Parasite after spotting a smudge on his pants. This intriguing tidbit gives very little away, although corrupting an otherwise pristine environment — and pondering whether a splatter of disarray makes supposed perfection and privilege better or worse — is the film's thematic stomping ground. The movie's lush locale draws viewers in, all so that it can shatter the allure. Slippery performances, with seemingly clear-cut characters becoming anything but, do the same. So too does Bong and his crew's exacting craftsmanship, which keeps audiences both immersed and guessing. Add shifting tones and changing genres to the fold as well, because evolution and elusiveness are among the movie's most crucial tools. Indeed, from sets and actors to framing and mood, every element of Parasite is weaponised. More than that, it's all calibrated and wielded for maximum impact. This isn't just a killer picture on all of the standard levels, however. Contemplating society's growing class collisions and inequities, Parasite also makes a killer statement. It shouldn't escape attention that three of the past year's absolute best and most astute works, all from South Korean or Japanese filmmakers, have taken aim at the increasing gap between the haves and the have nots. Or, looking to America as well, that one of 2019's great horror releases plays in the same terrain while also bringing race into the equation. Parasite shares its grifting, struggling family with Hirokazu Kore-eda's Shoplifters, its tonal flips and wiliness with Lee Chang-dong's Burning, and its malevolent tone with Jordan Peele's Us, adding to a blossoming field of urgent, intense and diverse cinema that interrogates the societal status quo with a rightfully scathing eye. That said, there's no mistaking Bong's dark, devious and delightful thriller for any other film — or for anything but a hands-down masterpiece. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_0KJAzyUJc
It's the page-to-streaming YA series that turned into a smash hit, made Lola Tung a star in her first-ever screen role and gave a second Jenny Han franchise a successful leap to the screen. It's also the show that's earned such passion and obsession that free tickets to a live book club event featuring Tung, fellow actor Rain Spencer (Test Screening) and Han in Sydney were snapped up instantly. The series in question is The Summer I Turned Pretty, of course, aka Prime Video's adaptation of Han's 2009 novel of the same name, as well as 2010's It's Not Summer Without You and 2011's We'll Always Have Summer. The show's third season is streaming now — and with it, the flower crown-loving, often Taylor Swift-soundtracked small-screen sensation is coming to an end. 2025 marks a mere three years since the world was first introduced to Tung as Isabel 'Belly' Conklin, then an about-to-turn-16 teen living her summer dream. Whenever the weather turns warm, the coastal Massachusetts town of Cousins Beach has always beckoned her family, who vacation at the luxe house owned by her mother Laurel's (Jackie Chung, Coming Home Again) best friend Susannah Fisher (Rachel Blanchard, Uno). Belly is the youngest among the next generation, thanks to her elder brother Steven (Sean Kaufman, Walker), plus Susannah's two children Conrad (Christopher Briney, Mean Girls) and Jeremiah (Gavin Casalegno, Queen of the Ring). She's also been in love with Conrad since she can remember. In the initial sunny season charted in The Summer I Turned Pretty, neither of the Fisher siblings see Belly as a kid anymore. Enter the Team Conrad-versus-Team Jeremiah clash — and a hard choice for the show's protagonist between her lifelong dream and her forever best friend. Which of the duo that Belly's heart is swooning for at any given moment has changed more than once as season two and now season three have arrived, but can you ever truly get over your first love, or move past the person that's always known you better than anyone else? Audiences will soon find out for the character that turns 21 in the series' final run, and is so established in a long-term relationship with Jeremiah that the pair are making big plunges. Although Conrad is at Stanford chasing a medical career, he's clearly still deeply affected by how his time by Belly's side faded in the previous season. A coming-of-age story and a summer-romance tale all in one — several summer romances, in fact, thanks to Belly's love triangles, catching up with its characters summer after summer, and other relationships surrounding Belly, Conrad and Jeremiah — The Summer I Turned Pretty was always destined to follow Han's To All The Boys I've Loved Before trilogy to the screen. It was published first, but made its way to streaming after 2018's To All the Boys I've Loved Before, 2020's To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and 2021's To All the Boys: Always and Forever films, all on Netflix, where that saga's spinoff series XO, Kitty debuted in 2023 and dropped its second season in early 2025. One of the key reasons that Han's work keeps finding a home on the small screen, as well as in the hearts and minds of fans — both those familiar with the source material and others brand-new through the adaptations — is an approach that's pivotal to the author. Han also created both The Summer I Turned Pretty and XO, Kitty in their streaming guises, and is a showrunner on both. That crucial factor: allowing the teenage girls and young women that are her protagonists to experience the entire and full spectrum of their feelings, and genuinely appreciating that with all sincerity and earnestness, which can't always be said about the depiction of characters in that demographic. Such an approach is essential to Han — and also to Tung and Spencer, who've grown up with their starring roles on The Summer I Turned Pretty. As Taylor Jewel, Belly's ride-or-die best friend, who has her own complicated romantic situation with Steven, Spencer has also been navigating a storyline that expands well beyond the novels, charting new territory even for avid readers. That said, whether book diehards actually know who Belly will end up with when the show says goodbye after its 11-episode third season isn't assured. Han, Tung and Spencer are all feeling good about where The Summer I Turned Pretty wraps up, though, they tell Concrete Playground. "I feel great," says Han, accompanied by smiles and nods from Tung and Spencer. "I feel excited for people to see it. The last episode is one of my favourites of the whole series," she continues. "I think — I hope — people feel satisfied, but I think I feel satisfied as a storyteller with the work that we did." What's in store will keep being revealed weekly until Wednesday, September 17, 2025; however, we also chatted with Tung, Spencer and Han about the viewer response to the series and what it means to them; the importance of the show valuing young women's emotions; the fact that The Summer I Turned Pretty has always been Team Belly first and foremost, regardless of what's happening amorously between her and Conrad or Jeremiah or anyone else; Tung and Spencer's experience with Belly and Taylor's journeys; and more. On What the Viewer Response to The Summer I Turned Pretty, Including Events Like Prime Book Club LIVE and Fans Obsessing Over the Show's Love Triangles, Means to Tung, Spencer and Han Lola: "It makes me so excited. I feel cool." Rain: "It's so cool." Jenny: "It's an honour. I think as an author of books, it makes me excited anytime I see people reading or being passionate about stories. So it's really cool for us." Lola: "We were walking around Sydney the other day, and it was just cool to see how many people watched the show." Jenny: "I was like 'whoa'. I was very surprised. Because I think you often just think about who's watching it in the US. We live in the US and people come up to us. So it's very exciting to leave the country and be like 'you've heard of us?'. It's so cool." On the Importance of The Summer I Turned Pretty Allowing Its Teenage Girls and Young Women to Experience the Entire Range of Their Emotions — and Appreciating That with Sincerity Jenny: "To me, it's essential. As somebody who writes stories about young people, I've always approached it in that way — with, I hope, respect — where every experience is meaningful and valid. And I think a lot of times adults can minimise a young person's point of view, because they're like 'oh, puppy love' or 'oh, they're just kids'. But I think It's all relative. It's kind of what you were saying earlier, Rain — that's always been my ethos, is that your experience is your experience, and it's relative to what you've already experienced." Rain: "Yeah." Jenny: "So as a teenager, if I have a really bad fight with my mum, that can be really destabilising and really horrible, right? And so I think people look back on it and laugh, but you forget how big that was in the moment — to not have someone to eat lunch with at school or to be dumped publicly." Rain: "Yes, it's the heightened emotion, the different definitions of love as you get older. But the first love that you experience, it might not be your experience when you get older, but it is absolutely real and true in that moment. That is what love means." Jenny: "And in some ways, that's more real than anything, because that's the first time and everything is magnified." Lola: "It's so special, yeah." On the Series Always Being Team Belly First, No Matter Her Romantic Status with Conrad or Jeremiah Lola: "I think that's more credit to Jenny, because that's always been a huge conversation, and that's always been a priority as a writer and as the creator — to protect Belly and to make sure that her story is fulfilling to her as a person on her own. And I love getting to explore all of that. The relationship with the boys, absolutely — and the relationship with Taylor, the relationship with her mum and her dad, and with Susannah. It's been so cool to get to feel like she has a proper story, and that Jenny is really fighting for that always." On How Tung and Spencer Feel About the Journey They've Taken with Belly and Taylor Over the Show's Three Seasons — Not Just What the Characters Have Gone Through, But Going on That Ride with Them Lola: "It's been so special. I mean, we really did grow up with them. And this was one of — this was one of our first, like my first project, her second project. So we've learned so much about this world and what it's like to be on a TV set. And also had a lot of time to really form this relationship, this friendship, that Taylor and Belly have together, and what it looks like as time goes on. And they're not kids anymore — and they spend a lot of time together even when their lives take them in different directions. And how they continue to be best friends. I think it's been really lovely." Rain: "It has been really lovely. Like Lola said, we grew up with these characters. I think something that's so beautiful about acting is there is a part of Taylor that will always be with me, because she taught me so many things. I've spoken before about the level of confidence that she had, I didn't have when I started playing her. And so she sort of taught me what confidence feels like in my body. And so I'll have that forever." On Taylor's Storyling Expanding Well Beyond the Books, Charting New Territory Even for Readers Rain: "I think I just feel so grateful to Jenny for the ability to explore the character and go deeper with her. It's been just one of the joys of my life thus far, is getting to know this character and having the opportunity to do so." Jenny: "But you also bring so much of yourself into it, which I think suits the character so much. So it's really, I think, special. I've loved being able to expand the character out and see more of her as a character. I think now, Rain, the way that you've brought Taylor to life, it's to me in some ways it's its own thing, which is really fun." The Summer I Turned Pretty streams via Prime Video. The Summer I Turned Pretty images: Erika Doss © AMAZON CONTENT SERVICES LLC.
Imagine if you could get a sneak peek of your next holiday destination before you arrived. No, looking at photos online and scrolling through Instagram doesn't count. Taking the concept of trying before you buy to the travel industry, a company called Navitaire has unveiled what they're calling "the world's first virtual reality travel search and booking experience". Their VR system places would-be jetsetters in a room with a globe, lets them spin away, pick a place somewhere on the planet and then dive right in. After wandering through their chosen location in a virtual sense — spying tourist attractions and seeing the general sights — users can then search for flights, walk through the plane to pick their seat, give a few rental cars a try and purchase their trip, all within the virtual reality realm. Down the track, Navitaire, which is owned by travel technology company Amadeus, hopes that touring and booking hotels, and sharing searching experiences via social media, will also be able to be incorporated into their VR platform. At the moment the project is still in development, with a patent pending. Plenty of other places have combined virtual reality with scoping out ace spots — Qantas has an app that lets you take a virtual tour of Australia, and the Sydney Opera House has their own that peers behind the scenes at the iconic venue — but doing all of that and then locking in a trip straight away might be the future.
The Amalfi Coast might seem a world away from Pyrmont, but a new neighbourhood pasta bar with an affordable concept is bringing the region's cuisine to you. Founded by brother-sister duo Ben and Emily Calabro, Rosa offers handmade pasta and laid-back dining with a stellar price to match – no dish on the menu is over $30. When you consider some of the prices in tourist hotspots like Positano and Sorrento, Rosa starts to look better and better. With the Calabros also behind the beloved Pyrmont cafe Quick Brown Fox, lending their hand to simple and authentic Italian cuisine doesn't seem like much of a stretch. In the Rosa kitchen, chefs Daniel Grey and Kira Sherry serve guests handmade takes on classic pasta dishes like linguine prawn alla busara; penne pesto with basil, pork sausage, fried garlic and pine nuts; and pan-fried gnocchi with roast pumpkin, sage, burnt butter and hazelnut. Launching with a Euro-summer vibe in mind, Rosa is also set to become a go-to spot for sunset apéritivo snacks. Choose from freshly baked focaccia from neighbours Pioik Bakery, paired with burrata and heirloom tomato salad, tarragon and black cherry vinaigrette. Another stellar option is artichokes with lemon rind, garlic, chilli flakes, fennel seeds and oregano. Meanwhile, if you feel like an Italian feast at home, every dish is available for takeaway too. The drinks menu is similarly summery, with apéritifs like limoncello, Campari and Aperol spritzes presented alongside the complex sweet-bitter taste of a negroni sbagliato. There's also a selection of local Australian and Italian wines, along with a host of classic martinis and sours to complement your pasta dish. "We wanted to capture the spirit of the Amalfi Coast – fresh, warm, and welcoming – and bring that to Pyrmont," said Ben Calabro. "Rosa is all about creating a sense of home with our delicious pasta, our hospitality, and surroundings. We grew up eating pasta with our family around the table, and we wanted to create a space that feels like home, from our family to yours." Local interior designer Nicola Stillone was brought on board to give this laid-back eatery a sun-drenched makeover befitting the Amalfi's luxurious scenery. Throughout the restaurant, several spaces deliver the ideal ambience for your next gathering, with intimate indoor seating, a private upstairs dining area primed for celebrations, cosy romantic date-night spots on the balcony, and a leafy street-side al fresco spot. Rosa is open Tuesday–Sunday from 11.30am–9.30pm at 182 Harris St, Pyrmont. Head to the website for more information.
Sunsets are at their finest in the summertime. They come later in the day, the air is warmer, and the vibes are nothing short of divine. Pair that with a bit of music, and you're set. That's the basis of Sydney Observatory's Sunset Variations — the annual outdoor concert series that sets up local artists for intimate three-hour sets in golden hour. Every Friday evening from January 30 to February 27, 2026, guests are invited to arrive at sunset and settle onto a spot on the Observatory lawn, where you can enjoy Mediterranean-inspired food from Aplenty and drinks by Lo-Fi Wines while that week's performance soundtracks the change from day to night. The music series, organised by Powerhouse Museum, returns for its second year with an opening performance of Afrofuturist jazz and R&B by Ethiopian Australian artist Nū. The following week, visitors can return to the lawn for layered percussive and synth works from e fishpool, then in week three come the cinematic compositions of electronics and vocals from the Aarti Jadu Ensemble. On February 20, Luritja singer-songwriter and artist Keanu Nelson will perform an ode to his home of Papunya – a remote community northwest of Alice Springs. Then, closing the series is underground Sydney DJ Josh Panakera-Molony with Setwun: Celestial Bodies, a soulful showcase that blends jazz, dance and groove with the help of collaborators GLO, POOKIE, INQ., Meklit, Yasmina Sadiki and Hugh B. Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah says "At the highest natural point in the city, Sydney Observatory opens onto an unmatched view of golden hour over Sydney Harbour. The dynamic lineup of bold, experimental artists performing each week will transform the site for a month unmissable sunsets." Sunset Variations will run weekly on Friday's from January 30 to February 27. Tickets are $10. For more information or to book tickets, visit the website.
UPDATE: NOVEMBER 13, 2019 — If you haven't been to see The Art of Banksy yet, it's now too late. The unauthorised exhibition has closed prematurely due to the current high temperatures, which could potentially cause damage to the artworks. The exhibition was scheduled to run until December 1 — if you have a ticket from today onwards, a full refund will be made into your account. When it comes to street art exhibitions, it really doesn't get any bigger than this. A retrospective of Banksy's has made its way back to Australia, featuring 80 of the artist's off-street masterpieces. Opening on Friday, September 13 at Moore Park's Entertainment Quarter, The Art of Banksy is a massive collection of pieces by the art world's chief enigma — including the darkly satirical, overtly political work that has turned the stencil-loving artist into such an infamous icon. Endeavouring to take audiences on a journey through Banksy's output and mindset, the exhibition includes the well-known Flower Thrower, Rude Copper and Girl with Balloon (a version of which was shredded after sale in a highly publicised prank late last year). If it sounds epic, that's because it is. The art featured has been sourced from over 40 different private collectors around the world, and comprises the world's largest showcase of Banksy pieces. As curated by the artist's former manager Steve Lazarides, the exhibition is also a little controversial. While every piece is original, unique and authentic, The Art of Banksy proudly boasts that the entire show is 100 percent unauthorised. No, Banksy hasn't signed off on the event. This isn't the first time the huge exhibition has head Down Under, either. It was on show in Melbourne back in 2016, too — and you can check out our full gallery from that exhibition here. Images: The Art of Banksy, Melbourne, 2016 by Olga Rozenbajgier
If you're anything like us, you buy a lot of coffee, and odds are that means you burn through a lot of takeaway cups. But what you might not realise is that those cups contain a plastic liner that means they cannot be recycled. It's for this reason that the City of Sydney is throwing its weight behind a BYO coffee cup campaign – and a ton of local cafes are already on board. The aim of Responsible Cafes is to get cafes and customers to ditch takeaway coffee for good. "There are now over 2,500 cafes across Australia offering a discount to people with a BYO coffee cup," said founder Justin Bonsey. "It's great for our pocketbooks, great for cafes to bring in new customers and great for the planet." Cafes keen to get on board can sign up via the Responsible Cafes website. In return, they'll be added to a searchable map that, according to Bonesey, is visited by over 1 million people every year. Among the cafes that have already signed up include About Life Bondi Junction and Surry Hills, Darlinghurst's Infinity Bakery and The Royal, Surry Hill's BangBang Espresso and Soul Origin locations across the CBD and suburbs. The campaign will receive an injection of government funding via the City of Sydney's latest round of knowledge exchange sponsorships. "In our area alone, 100 million takeaway coffee cups end up in landfill every year – and each one takes around 50 years to decompose," said Lord Mayor Clover Moore. "Responsible Cafes connects and promotes cafes that encourage customers to refuse takeaway cups for good, and they're aiming to recruit another 100 new city cafes." It's not the first step that the City of Sydney has taken to address the issue. Last year they gave a $17,500 grant to Closed Loop, who installed standalone bins for coffee cups in office buildings in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. And it's also not the only bit of good environmental news we've gotten recently. Just last week, supermarket chains Coles, Woolworths and Harris Farms all pledged to stop using single use plastic bags as of 2018. Keep it up, Australia.
Virtual reality is no longer just something found in science fiction films, as anyone who has experienced a VR concert or tour, attended a festival of VR flicks or bought their own VR headset is more than aware. That's just the beginning. The next step in this brave new world — well, maybe that's where everything the likes of The Matrix, TRON, eXistenZ and Strange Days told us starts to come into play. In Vienna, a world-first bar lets patrons combine the real and virtual worlds in a new fashion: by heading out for a few beverages, donning the requisite gear and hanging out in an intangible space rather than just soaking in the bricks and mortar surroundings. Who needs to chat to the people around you when you can plug in, play and interact in the VR space, right? Equipped with an array of VR gear, Vrei Lounge encourages both, with Playstation VR, HTC Vive, Samsung GearVR and more all on the menu alongside the usual selection of booze, coffee, pizzas and muffins. While you're sipping and snacking, you can play mini-golf, train to be a space pirate, repair robots, plunge into the underwater deep or race cars — virtually, of course. It might be the first of its kind, but with arcade and pinball bars popping up with frequency these days, expect more alcohol-fuelled VR haunts to follow around the world. It does indulge humanity's now-engrained love for always being glued to a screen, after all. Whether putting on a headset and having a tipple is better than lounging around and chatting to your mates — that's up to you. Via AWOL. Image: Vrei.
Oh we love cities. Make no mistake. But venture beyond the borders and go further out and you'll discover a haul of destinations rich with unique events and adventures worth road tripping for. Whether your interests are culinary, cultural or the creative arts, we've teamed up with Destination NSW to curate a guide to the biggest regional events and festivals to keep you entertained during the cooler months. From floral displays to food-packed fiestas, fruit picking and free live music performances, it's time to fuel up the car, fire up your Spotify playlist and settle in to discover the best that New South Wales has to offer. Explore the best of NSW's Regional Events and Festivals at the Destination NSW website.
Hopping on a boat is no longer the only thing to do at White Bay Cruise Terminal, all thanks to Sydney's newest electronic music venue. At Terminal 4, you'll be able to dance the night away to local and international acts while peering out over the water. And if you do want to combine a visit with a cruise, heading by either pre- or post-voyage, you'll be kicking off or ending your trip in quite the style. Forget the dark and sweaty rooms that often come to mind when anyone mentions dance parties and raves. Forget the term 'underground', too. While this site sports a strong industrial aesthetic, it's all about soaring ceilings and views out over Glebe Island and Port Jackson. While you're making shapes, you'll also score a vantage across Darling Harbour's waterways, over to the Harbour Bridge. While exactly when the venue will launch and what it'll open with hasn't yet been revealed, Terminal 4 will start welcoming in dance music fans sometime this summer — but it'll host events year-round. When the beats start dropping, the focus will be on top-notch acts, and on providing Sydney with an inclusive, progressive and multi-sensory space that's all about electronic music first and foremost. Terminal 4 is the latest venture from Untitled Group, who are also behind the Beyond the Valley, Pitch Music & Arts, Grapevine Gathering and Wildlands music festivals, plus Melbourne electronic music hub XE54. Here, Untitled has teamed up with Niche Productions, who've previously toured Jon Hopkins, Bonobo and Odesza to our shores. Find Terminal 4 at the White Bay Cruise Terminal, 2041 James Craig Road, Rozelle. To keep an eye out for events at the venue, head to its Facebook and Instagram pages. Images: Jordan Mumms.
Locals will soon score their first taste of Sydney Tower's multimillion-dollar food and drink makeover, with the first of three impressive new venues set to open its doors in a matter of weeks. First announced back in February, the Trippas White Group's $12-million redevelopment will see the creation of a new three-level bar and restaurant precinct for the famous CBD building. And we now know what's in store, with the company today revealing more about its plans for the three new offerings. Launching first, on Friday, September 25, is Infinity at Sydney Tower: an upscale restaurant replacing the former 360 Bar and Dining on Level 1. Under new Head Chef Mike Dierlinger (The Bridge Room), it's set to plate up a modern Australian menu fusing local produce with international flavours and technique. Dierlinger will draw on his experience working at Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe, to deliver a menu of elegant fare "crafted with an international twist". And you can expect a pretty flash setting to match, as the venue serves up those stunning revolving views across the city and its surrounds. [caption id="attachment_782344" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Infinity[/caption] Dierlinger is also helping to guide the culinary offering of fellow Sydney Tower newcomer, Bar 83, which is also opening on September 25. Housed up on Level 3, a soaring 83 floors above street level, this one is set to be the city's highest drinking destination. It'll take the form of a luxury cocktail lounge and bar, also rocking some pretty spectacular views — till 2am on Friday and Saturday. The lounge will have a retro vibe with white and red circular seats, gold banquettes, metallic lights and art deco mirrors. Plus, it'll have some big-name talent on the floor (and behind the bar) with award-winning bartender Jenna Hemsworth (Restaurant Hubert, The Baxter Inn) stepping in as venue manager. [caption id="attachment_782937" align="alignnone" width="1920"] An artist's impression of Bar 83[/caption] Rounding out the trio will be Level 2's casual dining offering, known as SkyFeast at Sydney Tower. This one's gearing up to be a modern update on the touristy buffet of old, featuring unlimited dining options celebrating cuisines from around the world. Infinity at Sydney Tower and Bar 83 are set to open on Friday, September 25. SkyFeast will launch later this year. All three can be found at Sydney Tower, between Pitt and Castlereagh streets, Sydney CBD. Top image: Sander Dalhuisen Updated September 10, 2020.
You may not think a good gym session should be followed up with a delicious frozen dessert. Maybe an afternoon of lifting weights followed by indulging in a double-choc or salted caramel and peanut frozen treat doesn't seem like the smartest idea if you're working for those gains. Well, if you see the YoPRO Frozen Dessert Van outside your gym this month, you don't have to run the other way. It will be roaming around Sydney to give away free frozen dessert sticks or scoops of your choice for ten days only. We can't give too much away but you might want to keep a look out at Manly Wharf on Sunday, March 6 and North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Club on Saturday, March 12. It'll also be parked outside gyms around town during the week — follow YoPRO on Instagram to get the scoop on where you need to be to score a free and delicious protein-packed frozen dessert. The namesake healthy snack expert's new line of high-protein frozen desserts are perfect for when you're after some guilt-free indulgence. There's a range of delicious flavours on offer, with each tub packed with ten grams of protein, no added sugar and less than 165 calories per serve. For more information, head to YoPRO's Instagram.
Arriving just in time for the 2026 edition of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, the iconic event's official app now offers a suite of innovative safety and connection features. Bringing an improved sense of community wellbeing, access to help and social moments, the update goes live on day one of Mardi Gras — Friday, February 13. There are three main upgrades to note, starting with Safety Circles. Here, users can save up to five trusted contacts and send an instant SMS update with a single tap. Using a selection of pre-configured messages like "Heading there now," or "I'm here," this feature offers a simple way to keep friends, parents and guardians in the know about your whereabouts. Also in the realm of safety, the Mardi Gras app now includes a Strobe feature that lets users quickly enhance visibility or capture attention in low-light or busy areas. For instance, you can turn your phone into a flashing beacon, complete with customisable colours, torch light and scrolling text. This way, users can locate friends, signal for help or stay visible in a crowd. Meanwhile, for those keen to get extra social during this year's festivities, the new app update also includes the Mardi Moments Fan Wall. Here, users are invited to share photos and moments from all the rainbow-soaked events they attend. At the same time, people can like and comment, helping to paint an interactive, visual story of the festival experience. "Safety and inclusion sit at the core of Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras," says Mardi Gras Festival CEO Jesse Matheson. "The Festival app builds on this commitment, now enhanced with new features to deliver a safe and positive Festival experience, including Safety Circles, Mardi Moments Fan Wall and Strobe designed for large-scale events." Ready to get involved? This year's festival is as jam-packed as you'd expect, with a host of new and returning events, like the femme-charged Ultra Violet at City Recital Hall and Laugh Out Proud at the Enmore Theatre. There's also the chance to catch the latest LGBTQI+ flicks or close out the whole event with a free party at the Kinselas Hotel, headlined by Keli Holiday. The Mardi Gras App is now available from the App Store or Google Play. Head to the website for more information.
For everyone who'll always love Dolly Parton, the icon herself has unveiled excellent news: she's turning her life story and unrivalled career into a musical, which will debut on Broadway in 2026. Parton is writing the new stage show's music and lyrics. She's also co-penning the book for the musical. Will she pop up during a performance? You'll have to head along to Hello, I'm Dolly to find out. If the production's name sounds familiar, then you truly are a Parton fan: it shares its moniker with her very first studio album, which was released in 1967. In the almost six decades since — a year short of it when Hello, I'm Dolly premieres, in fact — Parton has done everything from dominate country music and star on the big screen to read bedtime stories and donate money to COVID-19 research. Her music is also no stranger to Broadway thanks to 9 to 5: The Musical, as based on the 1980 film of the same name, which made its leap to theatre's most-famous district in 2009. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Dolly Parton (@dollyparton) "Hello, I'm Dolly, and I lived my whole life to see this show on stage," said Parton in a statement about the musical. Dolly diehards, you now have this in common with the legend. "I've written many original songs for the show and included all your favourites in it as well. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll clap, you'll stomp, it truly is a Grand Ol' Opera. Pun and fun intended. Don't miss it!" Parton continued. As well as composing the score and new songs for the show, and co-writing the book with Maria S Schlatter, Dolly is producing Hello, I'm Dolly with Adam Speers for ATG Productions and Danny Nozell for CTK Enterprises. There's no word on an exact opening date as yet, or any casting details or touring plans after its Broadway run, but Parton just keeps pouring cups of ambition. And if you're now begging for the musical to please head Down Under, we understand. There's obviously no clips or imagery from Hello, I'm Dolly available yet, but check out the trailer for 9 to 5 — the film — below: Hello, I'm Dolly will premiere on Broadway in 2026. We'll update you with any details of a season Down Under if and when they're announced. Head to the musical's website for further details in the interim.
Renovations to Australia's oldest pool are finally complete, with the Dawn Fraser Baths set to reopen to the public as soon as the NSW Government's public health orders allow. Constructed in the 1880s and renamed after local Olympian Dawn Fraser in the 60s, the baths were closed to the public for upgrades in 2019. The $8 million heritage restoration sees the much-loved swimming hole receive a host of cosmetic improvements, as well as addressing the structural issues that were flagged by engineers and the inner west council back in 2018. "I promised to save Dawn Fraser Baths and, while its been a long hard fight, together we have now secured the future of Australia's oldest and most beautiful harbourside pool for generations to come," Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne said. "I spent half my childhood there and it's where I learnt to swim, so I know just how special this place is and how vital Dawny's is to the social fabric of our community." The restored pools were originally flagged to be completed by summer of last year, however a series of issues arose throughout the restoration process. The southern pavilion and boardwalk, for example, were found to have no structural foundations, forcing builders to construct new foundations eight to ten metres underwater. The southern pavilion, kiosk and amenities of the baths were all in need of restoration as well due to flooding worsened by rising sea levels. While the baths remain closed due to Great Sydney's lockdown, the inner west council has plans to celebrate the reopening with an extended winter swimming season and two weeks of free admission once public health orders roll back to allow residents to visit. As part of the winter season, daily health and wellbeing classes will be run at the baths including yoga, pilates and tai chi. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jAuN1xpXnY You can read more about the restoration of the Dawn Fraser Baths here.
With the latest round of Darling Square openings came the second outpost of Hello Auntie — Marrickville's much-loved modern Vietnamese eatery by Chef Cuong Nguyen. At the brand new Haymarket digs, Nguyen is serving up Vietnamese street food favourites, some less-traditional dishes, a long list of Asian-inspired cocktails and a secret menu that can only be read with a UV light. Expect a more succinct menu than in Marrickville, with a range of signature and new dishes on the docket, too. Some menu items making the trip over include the fried rice with XO sauce, cured egg yolk and flying fish roe and the fan-favourite crispy banh xeo — or Vietnamese-style pancake — stuffed with prawn and pork. Some of the new dishes are not strictly Vietnamese, but instead feature ingredients and techniques from across Europe, such as the sesame-topped beef tartare with capers and cornichons and the egg noodles with stracciatella and truffle. For drinks, the cocktail list focuses on Asian ingredients and flavours and includes the likes of the Umeshu Sour (vodka and Cointreau with toasted marshmallows) and the Koh Samui (white rum, pandan, thai basil and lime). The bar is also offering a sake pairing, hand-picked by Nguyen to match the flavours of the dishes you've ordered. Don't forget to ask for the 'secret' food and cocktail menu at dinner, either, which is only available by request — and can only be read using a UV light. The fit-out also sets Darling Square apart from the Marrickville original, though the two certainly have some similarities. In the city, expect polished finishes with an earthy colour scheme, dim lighting and dark timber tables.
2023 already marks Australia's last chance to be in the room where it happens. Until winter, it's now every Aussie muggle's final opportunity to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child pick up its wands as well. Currently running as a condensed single-night play rather than the original two-part version, this onstage follow-up to the page and screen Harry Potter franchise has announced that it'll wrap up its Melbourne season on Sunday, July 9 — and then leave our shores. Unlike other big shows such as Hamilton, Moulin Rouge! The Musical and The Book of Mormon in recent years, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child isn't jumping elsewhere around the nation after its stint in the Victorian capital. So, when the curtain falls on its lengthy stay at Melbourne's Princess Theatre after four years, that'll be the end of its magic Down Under. That gives theatregoers five months to book in a date with the hit wizarding production, which picks up 19 years after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and its abominably cheery epilogue on Platform 9 3/4. Here, Harry is now an overworked Ministry of Magic employee, with the play focusing on both him and his youngest son Albus Severus Potter as they grapple with the past and future. Since debuting in London in July 2016, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has won a swathe of awards (including nine Olivier Awards and six Tonys) and proven a repeated sellout — in the West End, on Broadway and in San Francisco, too. In its Melbourne run, it has become the most successful play in Australian history, including attracting 326,500 people in its first year. Four years on from first opening in Australia in February 2019, and after navigating the pandemic during that time, the local season has sold more than a million tickets and hosted over 1300 performances. "We are extremely proud of our Melbourne production and to be the longest-running play in the history of Australia is an extraordinary achievement," said producer Sonia Friedman CBE, announcing Harry Potter and the Cursed Child's Aussie end date. "Opening our production here has been one of the highlights in the life of our groundbreaking, astonishing show and we look forward to an amazing final five months in this glorious city." Muggles, if you want to see The Cursed Child, you'll need to accio yourself along before July — with more tickets released on Monday, February 6. Harry Potter and the Cursed Child plays Melbourne's Princess Theatre until Sunday, July 9. For more information and to buy tickets, head to the play's website. Images: Michelle Grace Hunder.
After the year that's been, we've all got our sights set on making this summer one to remember. So, no doubt, you'll want to shake things up a little — and, if you're hosting the crew around for some backyard drinks, you'll want to make sure those sips are darn memorable, too. Because balmy days call for cocktails, we've teamed up with tequila distiller 1800 Tequila to help you unleash your inner bartender. Recently, the brand launched a limited-edition merch range in collaboration with Aussie accessories queen Poppy Lissiman and Sydney-based artist Manu Crooks. So, if you were looking for some bold new accessories for summer, it's got you sorted in that department — but you better get in quickly, before they sell out. Now, the two aforementioned creative legends, plus 1800's Hayley Dixon (Proximo Spirits Tequila Specialist), have come up with three tequila cocktail recipes that are guaranteed to spice up your next at-home session. POPPY LISSIMAN'S TASTE OF TULUM Serves one Sleek, chic and a little bit fun, this little libation created by Poppy Lissiman is the perfect drink for summer nights spent on the dance floor. The concoction uses 1800 coconut-infused tequila, which lends a taste of the tropics, while prosecco keeps things sophisticated. So, break out the champagne flutes and get shaking. Ingredients 30ml 1800 Coconut 15ml peach syrup 10ml Fino sherry 20ml fresh lemon juice 5ml simple syrup 90ml prosecco Method Minus the prosecco, shake all ingredients together, then double strain into a champagne flute. Top the glass with prosecco and garnish with lemon zest. MANU CROOK'S CHERRY CHILL Serves one The classic cherry-cola combo gets served a grown-up twist in this moody drink designed by hip hop artist Manu Crooks. Expect smoke and spice from the 1800's barrel-aged Reposado, which is perfectly balanced with a fun, fruity hit from the rest of the ingredients. It's safe to say that this is one smooth sip that'll see you from day to night. Ingredients 30ml 1800 Reposado 15ml cherry liqueur 2ml vanilla extract 15ml simple syrup 25ml fresh lemon juice Dash Angostura orange bitters 60ml cola Method Minus the cola, shake all ingredients together, then double strain the mix into a double rocks glass over ice. Top with the cola and garnish with a lemon twist. 1800 TEQUILA'S SUMMER STAPLE Serves one When sunny skies and post-swim sessions call for a tipple that's fresh and fruity, keep your cool with this fizzy, pink-hued number. Made with the extra-smooth, double-distilled 1800 Silver, it's a crafty riff on the classic G&T that's sure to become your new summer go-to. Ingredients 40ml 1800 Silver 15ml watermelon syrup 15ml honey syrup (three parts honey, one part warm water) 20ml fresh lemon juice 15ml fresh grapefruit juice 60ml dry tonic Method Minus the tonic, shake all ingredients together, then double strain the mix into a highball glass over ice. Top up with tonic and garnish with a watermelon wedge. Spice up your summer with these three easy-to-make 1800 Tequila cocktails, then get yourself some fresh new accessories from the 1800 Essential Artists merch range. 1800 Tequila promotes responsible drinking practices, for 18 years and over only.
Every suburb needs a bistro. Not just the Australian bistro found inside pubs, but a neighbourhood restaurant, serving simple French-inspired food. The kind of place where people can rest their arms on white tablecloths, drink French wine and sink their spoons into souffles. The 'go-to' restaurant to suit any occasion and welcome you with open arms. And most importantly, it should be as comfortable as your own home. Macleay St Bistro in Potts Point is the essence of the neighbourhood restaurant. It's been open for nearly 30 years and is still going strong thanks to new owners (and Potts Point locals) Mark Campbell and Phillip Fikkers. Walking inside from the bustling Macleay Street, it feels as though you're entering someone's home. The lighting has a warming glow with the mood casual. Diners sit fairly close to each other and there's a calming hum coming from the kitchen while waiters are darting around tending to guests. The menu is short and straight to the point. The rock oysters with eschallot and champagne vinaigrette ($4 each) and the half-shell scallops with saffron chive and caper butter ($5 each) are a promising start. The accompaniments don't steal the thunder from the headline acts of oysters and scallops, which are incredibly fresh. The special of fried lamb's brains with celeriac pepperade ($18) is excellent. The crispy batter acts as the perfect coat for the soft brains, which had a similar consistency to the inside of a croquette. Combined with the celeriac sauce, it is magic. The organic grass-fed eye fillet with wilted silverbeet and sauce soubise ($38) was enjoyable but promised so much more. The steak lacked a touch of seasoning but this was saved by the beautifully rich sauce. To finish, the hazelnut mille feuille with coffee anglais ($15) reminded me of a dessert sandwich. Delicate cream was sandwiched by crunchy sheets of rich pastry and rested on a sauce with a hint of coffee. Instead of tasting an intense espresso, the mille feuille harmonised flavours of hazelnut and coffee with the rich cream and pastry. Although none of the dishes we tasted had the three-hat knockout punch, Macleay St Bistro consistently exceeds expectations in every department. The food, the service and the ambience make for an enjoyable evening.
If you're a soccer fan, you've probably nabbed tickets to the upcoming Western Sydney Wanderers versus Sydney FC Derby Match by now — it's taking over Parramatta's Bankwest Stadium on Saturday, May 1. The two rival teams are going head-to-head in what promises to be the biggest event in the Wanderers' season. But the party doesn't have to stop once the game wraps up. Parramatta has heaps of late-night bars that are perfect for celebratory kick-ons. Here are six spots that'll keep the good times rolling — and the good news is they're all less than a 20-minute walk from the stadium.
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney has officially been lit up for Vivid 2019 — and from Friday, May 24, you can explore the garden's 15 glowing light installations after dark. Of course, you're going to want a beverage which you do so, which is where this pop-up nautical-themed bar comes in. With a fit-out to delight your inner wharfie, the bar will be treating chilly Vivid travellers to cosy serves of mulled wine, vino by the glass and the bottle, and a tidy line of Archie Rose gin cocktails. Make sure you try the glowing blue HMAS Royal Archie, with its blend of dry gin, macadamia and pineapple. There'll be plenty of warm food to round out your visit, including a hearty fish chowder served in a crusty bread bowl, mac 'n' cheese spiked with fresh lobster, and classic fish and chips. Throw in a cinnamon sugar-dusted pineapple fritter with ice cream and you'll be well fuelled and ready to set sail on the rest of your night's Vivid adventures. The bar will pop up in the Royal Botanic Garden from this Friday and will be open from 6–11pm each night of Vivid. You'll find it among the glowing trails of the Light Walk which, this year, includes everything from giant bees and a field of fireflies to exotic birds. Food images: Cole Bennetts.
For a city with such a warm climate, Sydney doesn't exactly have an over-supply of rooftop bars. But budding entrepreneur Lyndon Gannon wants to change that. And he has his sights set on the rooftop of the Dymocks Building, which, as you probably know, is smack-bang in the centre of the city on George Street. According to Gannon, the space (pictured) would have capacity for 200 people. He believes that a bar area, small kitchen, greenery as per The Grounds of Alexandria and pergolas — to keep out the rain, when those famous Sydney downpours do hit — could all be part of the picture. Which all sounds great, but, given that the rooftop's not been developed for public use before, it would need to jump through quite a few compliance hoops before gaining council approval. Gannon also cites "heritage and acquiring a DA for use, and construction difficulties" as issues standing in his way. While no concrete plans are in motion yet, Gannon — who was the Liberal candidate for Balmain in 2015 and, having left politics, recently founded his own company, Pie in the Sky Partnerships — says he is in conversation with the building's manager and owners. Which is promising. At the same time, he's investigating a bunch of other unusual, underutilised spaces for their hospitality potential. "Sydney has a lot of basement bars, but not many rooftop bars," Gannon says. "There's a gap in the market...There are so many dormant spaces that could be turned into exciting new places." While the Dymocks dream could turn out to be merely a pie in the sky, activating unused spaces for the public is something we'll always chuck our support behind. Watch this space.
After almost a decade in Paddington, Tequila Mockingbird has come to an end. But that doesn't mean the story is over. Housed in a heritage-listed, 19th-century terrace, the venue won countless fans throughout the years with its Latin American share plates and innovative cocktails. Plus, it offered one of the city's most comprehensive tequila and mezcal lists. Yet Michael Fegent, owner and Director of Atticus Hospitality, isn't one to rest on his laurels, delivering a dream concept that's been years in the making — tqm. Opening on Thursday, May 8, the old restaurant has undergone a full-scale refurbishment. Leading the culinary revolution is newly appointed Atticus Hospitality Executive Chef Jose Garcia — a Michelin-rated chef who last served as Executive Chef of Fogón Asado in Buenos Aires, which was ranked the 36th best steak restaurant in the world, according to the respected World's 101 Best Steak Restaurants list. With Fogón Asado also renowned for its theatrical flourishes, tqm guests can expect a similar playfulness on the menu. Garcia has placed several of his signature dishes on tqm's menu, including XO prawns rice, fried green plantain with smoked fish, and blood sausage croquette. Meanwhile, smaller dishes, like grilled haloumi and tomato salad, and sweet potato puree with nut dukkah, are long-standing recipes of the renowned chef. With each dish inspired by an aspect of Garcia's life — from road trips across Venezuela with his dad to his mum's love of seafood — an upbeat personality will ripple through tqm's food. "My inspiration comes from multiple past experiences, from my favourite chefs, and from my Latin and family roots. Every time I have the chance to highlight something my mum or grandmother taught me, I try to do it," says Garcia. "Since I was a kid, I've loved cooking, eating, and being in the kitchen. From the age of 13, I knew I wanted to be a chef. And when I started studying, one of my goals was to be part of the group of chefs who have worked to showcase and elevate Venezuelan cuisine and flavours around the world." With Tequila Mockingbird renowned for its cocktails, a host of new creations will carry on this legacy at tqm. For instance, the Grande Chartreuse Colada features green Chartreuse, Bacardi, pineapple and coconut, while the Caribbean Queen combines Plantation pineapple rum, Rhubi and Averna with fresh strawberry and pineapple. The new venue will also debut its first-ever collection of house wines, with red, white and rosé varieties made in collaboration with two distinct winemakers in the Hunter Valley and McLaren Vale. As for the refurbed decor, things are looking a little brighter. The facade now dazzles in bright yellow, speaking to the restaurant's Venezuelan connection. This golden hue is also used extensively across the bar, dining room and lush courtyard. For Fegent, it's all about bringing home the culinary passion he encountered in South America a decade ago. "Over the course of many trips, where I visited 30-plus local restaurants, Jose's restaurant Fogón Asado was the absolute standout… I can't wait to showcase his extraordinary, world-class cooking from our little part of Sydney and give our customers something truly unique and special." tqm will open Tuesday–Thursday from 4.30pm–late and Friday–Saturday from 12pm–late at 6 Heeley St, Paddington. Head to the website for more information.
Everyone has heard about — or tried to eat their way through — KitKat's famed range of weird and wonderful Japanese flavours. A cough drop version once existed, and it really wasn't great. The sake version, a perennial favourite, is absolutely delicious. But if you're vegan, none of these varieties will have tempted your tastebuds. KitKats in general won't have either, actually. That changed back in 2021 for Aussies who follow a plant-based, dairy-free and cruelty free diet, and were also keen to sink their teeth into a KitKat. The brand launched a vegan-certified KitKat, as made with a rice-based milk alternative. The result: a KitKat covered in a smooth plant-based milk chocolate — not dark chocolate — which is then layered over the usual crisp wafers. The original run of plant-based KitKats was a limited-time deal; however, they're now back in Australian supermarkets again. This time, they've hit Coles stores — and only for a short period. That means that everyone can now have a break — and a KitKat — with KitKat Plant Based joining other plant-based alternatives among Nestle's products. So, if you'd like to crack open a few fingers while tucking into a glass of plant-based Milo, you'll be able to. The 41.5-gram bars cost $3 and, if you're super keen, they can also be ordered from the KitKat Chocolatory website. When your next sugar craving hits, add them to your list alongside vegan Natural Confectionery Co fruit lollies, vegan choc tops, and vegan Magnums, Cornettos and Weis Bars. KitKat Plant Based is available now at Coles stores around Australia — or you can them from the KitKat Chocolatory website.
If you want to awaken all of your senses at once, you need to pay a visit to Sydney's Masala Theory. Expect to be treated to a plethora of neo-Indian snacks and dishes, putting a fun spin on authentic Indian food while embracing the best Indian cuisine has to offer. The concept of the joint was conceived by Owner Yashpal Erda after he was inspired to make his mark on the representation of Indian cuisine in Australia. Ever since, Masala Theory's semi-traditional offerings have aimed to challenge those preconceptions. You'll find this inventive eatery tucked away into a crevice of Crown Street, just past Giuls and Kürtosh. Seating 60, the eclectic venue is adorned with bright interiors, sprays of colour, hand-painted imagery artworks and our personal favourite, a motorbike with neon lights mounted along one of the walls. Start your meal with a bang and dig straight into the renowned curry bombs — thin crispy balls of pastry with the filling of your choice, to which you'll add the curry sauce. These bit-esized morsels are the restaurant's signature dish and a must-try. You can also kick off your night with the theca paneer tikka for a delicious textural journey, the chicken lukhmi for a flavour hit or the Three Sisters chaat for a challenge — and a snap for IG. For something different, try the cheesy masala pavs — masala-buttered sliders with curried chickpea and cheddar cheese. But if snacking on miniature burgers at an Indian restaurant goes against your rules (fair), then opt for the dhungar chicken tikka masala — smoked chicken coated in a creamy masala sauce. The gol hatti chole and tikki — a potato patty accompanied by green curried chickpeas, chiffonade poppadum and pickled mango — is a must-try and completely meat-free. Plus, the dessert selection does not disappoint. Opt for the deconstructed motichoor ladoo for a semi-traditional dessert, or try the gulabi panna cotta for an inventive treat. This experimental menu item boasts Indian rose cream, vanilla pollen and strawberry jelly. Strawberry milk fans, this one is for you in particular. Want to make your meal extra special? Try out Masala Theory's Ride & Dine taxi offering. Here you'll experience a one-hour ride around the city in a decorated Delhi-style taxi before enjoying the restaurant's culinary offerings. It's a real joy for tourists and Sydneysiders alike. Images: Cassandra Hannagan
The past 18 months really emphasised just how important our local cafes are. As many of us worked from home, the neighbourhood coffee shop and its familiar faces became focal points for our communities — after all, the majority of the IRL interactions we had over winter were with the baristas and waitstaff who show up every day to bring a little joy to the monotony. To that end, Concrete Playground teamed up with Milklab to shine a spotlight on a few beloved Sydney cafes that have been keeping our writers and editors fuelled with caffeine and wholesome community vibes. [caption id="attachment_835946" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] ADA'S AFFAIR, DARLINGHURST WHAT IT IS: This charming cafe has all the hallmarks of a neighbourhood favourite — solid food options, excellent coffee, and friendly, warm service. Tucked away on an unassuming Darlinghurst corner behind St Vincent's Hospital, Ada's Affair might just be the neighbourhood's best-kept secret. WHY WE LOVE IT: Expertly brewed coffee by Sample always makes a cup here a cut above. It's an ideal foil for the tight menu of thoughtfully elevated brunch classics and fresh pastries. WHAT TO ORDER: Start your day right with a cup of the batch brew and a BAE, Ada's perfectly constructed brekkie burger featuring house-made bacon jam, spinach frittata, cheese and smoky tomato relish on a brioche bun. WEST JULIETT, MARRICKVILLE WHAT IT IS: A bucket-list inner west cafe, West Juliett has been delivering the goods for nearly a decade. Set in a large, light-flooded corner space with whitewashed brick walls, polished concrete floors and a decent amount of comfortable outdoor seating, this Llewellyn Street spot is a favourite for both two- and four-legged patrons. WHY WE LOVE IT: There's a big focus on keeping things homemade here, with everything from the pastries to the sodas made in-house. There's also a range of house-made preserves — and an excellent hazelnut dukkah — available to take home to help you level up your DIY breakfast game. WHAT TO ORDER: The picture-perfect Buckwheat Benny — featuring buckwheat pancakes, beetroot hummus, broccolini, spring peas, poached eggs and hollandaise — is as good as it looks. Save room for one of the enormous homemade cookies and pair it with a Milklab Oat cap for an unimpeachable treat. TWO DOORS DOWN, GLADESVILLE WHAT IT IS: This bright and airy cafe on Gladesville's main thoroughfare offers a relaxing getaway from busy Victoria Road. Grab a seat in the cosy courtyard to soak up the rays as you tuck into Middle Eastern-inspired brunch fare. WHY WE LOVE IT: Excellent service and a wide-ranging brunch menu make Two Doors Down one of the suburb's most popular spots. The coffee here, by Campos, is as consistent as you'll find, too, and is complemented by the full suite of Milklab milks. WHAT TO ORDER: Try the sambousek — a classic Lebanese snack of a fried pastry parcel bursting with aromatic minced meat, pine nuts and spices, and served with a fresh green salad and homemade hummus. For dessert, opt for a velvety hot chocolate with coconut milk — Two Doors Down owner Elie Youssef swears that it tastes like a liquid Bounty bar. SHOWBOX COFFEE, MANLY WHAT IT IS: Showbox is a Manly go-to for excellent coffee and baked goods in a warm setup on buzzy Whistler Street with a pared-back interior of exposed brick and pale wood. WHY WE LOVE IT: A constantly evolving food and coffee menu showcasing local producers and roasters means that you can have something different on just about every visit. There's also a solid selection of homemade cakes and pastries, with a rotating selection that became a must-try for north shore dwellers during lockdown. WHAT TO ORDER: While much of the menu changes regularly (recent dishes have included a hot dog with LP's chorizo, shaved garlic brussels sprouts, bourbon onion jam and dijon mustard, and potato rosti with a herbed yoghurt base, roasted radicchio, broccolini and dill), it's hard to go past the epic ham and cheese toastie. It's a two-handed affair with shaved doubled smoked ham, swiss, cheddar and garlic salt sandwiched in perfectly toasted sourdough and topped with lashings of parmesan. Add a Milklab flattie to the mix for a luxurious mid-morning combo. [caption id="attachment_835959" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Arvin Prem Kumar[/caption] PLUNGE NO. 46, SUMMER HILL WHAT IT IS: Set in the heart of Summer Hill village, Plunge has been a go-to for Hillians on both sides of the train tracks for nearly 20 years. The space itself features minimalist decor and plenty of outside seating — including kerbside, for all your weekend people-watching needs. WHY WE LOVE IT: Coffee by Alchemy, a Mediterranean-accented menu and a friendly atmosphere make Plunge one of Summer Hill's most popular spots. If you can't snag a table, grab your order to go and find a spot in one of the many nearby parks just outside the village. WHAT TO ORDER: The Summer Cous Cous Porridge is a true delight. It's a colourful plate, topped with tropical fruit, pistachio and mascarpone. If you're after something more straightforward, there's a great range of wraps and toasties — the three cheese and truffled mushroom option makes for a truly luxurious cafe experience. MADAME & YVES, CLOVELLY WHAT IT IS: Yves Scherrer might just be one of the most credentialed pastry chefs working in Australia. The classically trained pâtissier began training at age 16 in his native France before working in venues around Europe, the US and Canada. He moved to Australia just over a decade ago, where he worked at restaurants including Est and Kisumé before opening his eponymous Clovelly venue. WHY WE LOVE IT: World-class pastries with views of one of Sydney's most picturesque beaches has seen Madame & Yves build a loyal following since opening in 2019. The cosy spot is bathed in white and features clever pastel accents, making it a perfect accompaniment to Clovelly's chilled beachside vibes. WHAT TO ORDER: Madame & Yves' homemade baked goods take temptation and inject it with high voltage. A classic croissant is always a good place to start but if you want to branch out there's a range of tricked up croissants, beautiful eclairs and a tight selection of homemade gelato to tempt you further. Whichever you choose, be sure to pair it with a bowl of coffee, French style. We challenged one of our writers to switch to oat milk for a week. Find out what they discovered here. Ask your barista for Milklab oat or head to the website for more information. Top image: West Juliett
