Openair shopping sprees are an inevitable weekend plan for Sydneysiders, so a monthly outdoor market is a permanent thing at the Central Park development off Broadway. The Brewery Yard Markets are set on sunny Chippendale Green on the first and third Sunday of every month, with stalls selling artisanal foodie-heaven fare beside stands of vintage and locally-produced wares. Though the markets are a radically different retail approach to the franchises currently populating Central Park's vertical 'living-mall', they're a boost for the densely-populated inner city complex. And why not make the most of the development's specially-landscaped outdoor areas? There's live music and art demonstrations in it for you. Image: Brewery Yard Markets.
The view from Mrs Macquaries Point is nothing short of stunning; however the view during Westpac Openair season is even better. When the outdoor cinema returns to the waterside spot for its 2020 run, Sydneysiders can soak up two gorgeous sights: the harbour, of course, and the impressive range of films that'll grace Openair's big screen. From Thursday, January 9 until Friday, February 21, plenty of movies will play under the stars — starting with opening night's already-announced preview of Bombshell, which stars Charlize Theron, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie. That's just the beginning of the lineup, with Openair finally revealing its full program. Get ready for blistering revisionist takes on Australian history, crowd-pleasing biopics, Robert Pattinson playing a lighthouse keeper and more. Yes, fresh from dropping its fiery first trailer, Justin Kurzel's exceptional True History of the Kelly Gang ranks high among Openair's standouts — and this must-see has much more in common with the Snowtown director's fantastic version of Macbeth than his forgettable video game adaptation Assassin's Creed. Other highlights include the Tom Hanks-starring A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood, which looks set to earn Oscar attention, plus psychological horror movie The Lighthouse. The latter not only features Pattinson and Willem Dafoe, but marks filmmaker Robert Eggers' first movie since he creeped everyone out with The Witch. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42_UHhpq530 Viewers looking for something amusing can opt for The Personal History of David Copperfield, the new film from Veep and The Death of Stalin's Armando Iannucci; Like A Boss, with Rose Byrne and Salma Hayek playing friends and business partners tested by a big new deal; and the latest adaptation of Jane Austen's Emma. Or, if you're fond of historical true tales, both Radioactive (with Rosamund Pike as Marie Curie) and The Current War (with Benedict Cumberbatch as Thomas Edison) should hit the spot. Filmgoers can also get a proper blast from the past thanks to a the 100th-anniversary screening of newly restored Aussie silent classic The Sentimental Bloke, complete with a brand new score performed live by Paul Mac. If you missed some of Openair's previous lineup sneak peeks, its previously unveiled titles should get you excited, too. Greta Gerwig's version of Little Women leads the charge alongside Guy Ritchie's new gangster flick The Gentlemen — and between them, they star Saoirse Ronan, Emma Watson, Timothée Chalamet, Laura Dern, Chris Cooper, Meryl Streep, Matthew McConaughey, Colin Farrell, Michelle Dockery, Henry Golding, Charlie Hunnam and Hugh Grant. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCPiBWrIaSI Plus, if you've missed a few recent highlights at your local picture palace, Openair is also screening everything from Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Hustlers, Rocketman and Official Secrets to Marriage Story, Blinded by the Light, Knives Out and Pain and Glory. After they release in December, it'll also play Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker and Portrait of a Lady on Fire. Throw in movie snacks by two top chefs — James Viles (Biota, Bertha's Meats) and Clayton Wells (Automata, A1 Canteen) — with the pair cooking up oysters, smoked beef tartare and sashimi kingfish belly, and your summer movie viewing just levelled up a few notches. Second image: Star Wars: Episode IX — The Rise of Skywalker, Copyright TM Lucasfilm Ltd.
There's something brewing in Geelong, quite literally. The sleepy port city has been inundated in recent years with a plethora of world-class breweries, restaurants and wine bars and has quietly become Victoria's alternative foodie capital. White Rabbit Brewery and Barrel Hall is one such new neighbour. While they're new in town (they opened their doors late last year), they've quickly settled in and become a must-see stop on the unofficial Geelong food and beer tour. We took a stroll through the brewery with head brewer Jeremy Halse — who better to dish all the secrets on Geelong's beloved brewery than the man who cranks the cogs? STEP INSIDE Like all good things, you'll start your White Rabbit journey at the start. A dramatic entryway, piled high barrels and modern fermentation equipment parts to give you a glimpse of the length of the brewery. Jeremy says the entrance gives a taste of what's to come. "The way we designed the whole building is to take you on a journey, it's educational," he says. "It shows off the different facets of brewing that we do here, from the modern to the old school with the barrels." LOOK FAR AND WIDE Keep heading into the brewery and you'll come to a platform that gives you a view of the whole brewery and its inner workings. "As you walk through the brewery, you're following the brewing process. We've got a viewing platform where you can step into the production area and into an upper level – you can interact with the brewers when they're working, see steam coming out of vessels when we're mashing or boiling," Jeremy says. "It really opens up the whole process, we want to de-mystify brewing". A tip for all you home-brewers out there keen to see the professionals at work: during the week is when you'll see the most action. GET A LOAD OF THE OPEN FERMENTERS One of the most interesting elements of the White Rabbit brewery are the open fermenters. If you're not familiar with the ins and outs of beer making, open fermentation is an old school method. It's actually the old school method. At one point all beer was brewed using an open fermentation process and nowadays the White Rabbit brewers use their two open fermenters to experiment. From the viewing platform you can check out their rig, literally and you should — no brewery has anything like it in Australia. BARREL THROUGH THE BARREL HALL The Barrel Hall is both a namesake and highlight of the White Rabbit brewery. The rows and rows of barrels are currently fermenting White Rabbit's new barrel-aged red ale, a beer Jeremy has spent some time perfecting. "We always aimed make one beer at a time and make it really, really well. And that's always been in my head. That's why we've been very slow to release new beers, because we want to make the best, most balanced beers that we can," he says. "Unless we're loving it, we won't release it." GET IT FRESH FROM THE DINING HALL TAP By the time you reach the dining hall, you'll probably be fiending for a beer. In winter, a roaring wood fire will entice you into the rustic dining space and you should prepare for a long stay, nestled in the cosy hall. The White Rabbit menu echoes the beer itself — simple but beautifully balanced. We recommend a ploughman's board, piled high with Serrano, pickled veggies and sourdough or the beef bourguignon (with White Rabbit Dark Ale on the side). Jeremy's beer recommendation? "Our White Rabbit Jackalope is my go-to at the moment. We call it a whiskey sour as it's our sour wheat beer and we aged it in some ex-whiskey barrels. It picked up some of that whiskey character and turned out really beautifully." Find White Rabbit Brewery at 221 Swanston Street, South Geelong. Open Sunday to Thursday 11am – 5pm, Friday to Saturday 11am – 9pm.
Newtown Social Club is turning two and you're invited to help them celebrate 24 glorious months of live music, glorious pub grub and late night beer times. From 3pm, a huge lineup of local legends will be performing across two stages. Grab a local brew on tap and head on a journey through time and space with the likes of psychedelic Sydney favourites Richard In Your Mind and indie foursome Slumberhaze. There will also be a super-secret special headliner, but mum's the word on who it'll be. It's a birthday party, remember? So bring your best wishes for NSC. They're one of the prevailing live music spaces in Newtown, in the age of the lockout law. Monday Schmonday, this is one Sunday endeavour worth being a tad sleepy at your desk for.
From Nutie and Bourke Street Bakery to Paramount Coffee Project, Surry Hills is home to an overwhelming number of cafes. Running a cafe in Surry Hills would be a daunting task, but one of the area's hottest spots, SOUL Deli, is offering something different. It's a Korean cafe and deli, slinging fresh and packaged deli goods, cafe food to have-in and takeaway, and a range of products made by local Korean community members. From the deli, you can purchase a wide variety of kimchi, pickles, sauces and snacks. For those who want to dine in or pick up a morning meal, the menu stretches from cafe classics like the bacon and egg or Korean fried chicken rolls to exciting creations such as kimchi cheese pulled pork sandwiches, a Korean chicken porridge and buttermilk hot cakes with maple syrup and cultured butter. It also makes a great coffee for those looking for their caffeine fix, as well as bellflower and ginger tea, juices and Korean soft drinks. While you're picking up your locally sourced coffee or pulled pork sandwich, you can also shop the range of products that line the walls at SOUL Deli. Browse ceramics, pottery and clothing all from local small businesses and artists. Images: Leigh Griffiths Appears in: Where to Find the Best Breakfast in Sydney
Frankie's is kicking things into overdrive to make the most of its final year in its original digs. The CBD's beloved bar and live music venue will be demolished in 2022 to make way for the new Hunter Street Metro station. Alongside Frankie's regular weekly events, including TNT Trivia and Frankie's World Famous House Band, the team is promising "more bands and bigger bills", plus $1 pizza slices every night of the week. Head down to Hunter Street every day between 4pm and 6pm and treat yourself to a selection from Frankie's fan-favourite pizza menu. Each day there are a selection of pizza's available by the slice, with a couple chosen as the $1 slices each night. You can also splurge on a full-sized pie and take your pick from Frankie's abundance of toppings. The CBD institution's menu underwent a revamp in 2020, enlisting the help of Dan Pepperell (Restaurant Hubert, Alberto Lounge, Bistrot 916) to give new life to its food offering. Pepperell and Frankie's owner Anton Forte took an extensive research trip to New York, scouring the city for the best pizza by the slice before returning to Sydney with a swathe of ideas for Frankie's. Grab yourself a slice of zucchini pizza with lemon, chilli, garlic, stracciatella and mint; the Texas, which combines two different cheeses, roasted corn, red onion, jalapeños; or the Bismark with truffle salami and egg yolk. Top image: Katje Ford
It has been nearly a decade since Italian mainstay A Tavola first opened its doors in Darlinghurst and the team has become a regular Sydney local in the years since — first opening a second A Tavola location in Bondi, then Besser Italian eatery in Surry Hills and, most recently, opening Flour Eggs Water pasta bar in Tramsheds in September 2016. Now, owner Eugenio Maiale is tightening up the brand, saying goodbye to Besser and replacing it with a second location for Flour Eggs Water. "I was actually going to launch Flour Eggs Water two years ago but wasn't quite ready, so Besser happened instead, but Besser was slowly morphing into Flour Eggs Water anyway and I really want to concentrate on the one brand," says Maiale. As the name suggests, Flour Eggs Water is all about handmade pasta, and if you've been to Tramsheds you would have seen their epic pasta-making setup. The Crown Street fitout will be identical, but the menu will be tailored to the new digs. We're particularly keen to try the seafood strozzapreti with prawns, mussels and ling cod. Seasonality and fresh ingredients will continue to be the focus, and the signature pappardelle, cremino al cioccolato dessert and house salad will appear on all A Tavola and Flour Eggs Water menus. They're also serving up local and Italian wines on tap. Similar to the Tramsheds chapter, guests will be able to watch their pasta made right in front of their eyes. "A Tavola is more of a restaurant, while Flour Eggs Water is more of a pasta bar," says Maiale. "It's a place to come for fresh, handcrafted, hand-filled and extruded pastas using the best possible ingredients." The Crown Street location will have a particular emphasis on pasta education, with pasta-making and cooking classes with special courses for couples, kids and team building events. Flour Eggs Water by A Tavola location is now open at Shop 3, 355 Crown Street, Surry Hills.
Halal food, and the certification around it, has popped up in the Australian news a lot lately — mostly in the form of straight-up racist commentary that has no basis in fact. Most recently, newly elected Australian senator Pauline Hanson, threw a childish fit on Saturday after senator Sam Dastyari offered to buy her a Halal Snack Pack (HSP) as jesting congratulations. For those that don't know, an HSP is a greasy concoction of hot chips, kebab meat (chicken and/or lamb) and cheese, covered in sauces, including the 'Holy Trinity' of garlic, chilli and barbecue sauce. This dish is so popular among uni students that the Halal Snack Pack Appreciation Society (HSPAS) is nearly 150,000 members strong. Hanson has repeatedly made fact-less allegations that funds made from halal certified food goes directly to fund terrorism. Her blatantly discriminatory remarks, which have been repetitively disproven and shown to have no factual research behind them, got us thinking — what is halal certification really all about? We're bringing you some plain old facts on the subject, because knowledge is power. [caption id="attachment_578771" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Flickr.[/caption] WHAT IS HALAL FOOD? Halal (حَلَال) is an Arabic word that means 'permissible' or 'allowed' and refers to the dietary restrictions of the Muslim law. Foods that are explicitly prohibited by the Qur'an, and are therefore not halal, include: Alcohol (including used in food) Meat from carnivorous animals, most notably pigs and dogs Any bi-product of carnivorous animals, including lard, gelatine, blood, broth and enzymes (which many non-halal cakes, biscuits and ice-creams contain) Meat of an animal that has died of natural causes or as a result of strangling or beating All foods that do not meet these above restrictions are considered halal (that includes fruits, nuts and vegetables, to name a few). WHAT IS HALAL CERTIFICATION? Halal certification denotes to the consumer that the food is certified to fit the dietary restrictions of halal, much the way organic and gluten-free products must be certified. In order for a food to be certified as halal, it must be: Free from any meat or bi-product from a carnivorous animal Slaughtered with a Muslim person present and in compliance with Islamic rites Processed, manufactured and stored by using equipment that has been cleaned according to Islamic law (e.g. not cleaned with alcohol or in proximity to carnivorous animal bi-product). [caption id="attachment_578769" align="alignnone" width="1280"] CEphoto, Uwe Aranas.[/caption] OTHER USEFUL HALAL FACTS Food that is already halal is not changed during the certification process; it is simply certified to show that it has not broken any of the dietary restrictions within halal eating methods. Hundreds of Australian food products exist as halal certified, including Vegemite, Nestle Crunch bars, Maggi Two Minute Noodles and Kellogg's Coco Pops. Essentially, the animal used for food needs to be slaughtered humanely and using clean instruments that are namely pork and alcohol free. If you're thinking logically about it, a halal certification is similar to a food being certified as organic or gluten free — it simply tells a person who has specific dietary restrictions that they are able to eat the food and is actually very inline with standard ethical eating practices. ABC News Fact Check recently assessed Hanson's claims that halal certification directly results in funding terrorism and could find "no evidence whatsoever ... that money from halal certification has ever flowed to terrorist groups." They also debunked her claims that halal certification is a $3-trillion dollar industry — in fact, most responsive manufacturers claimed that their certification cost was negligible, even as little as $1-$2K per year. What is true is that the halal food industry is estimated to be in excess of $1-trillion. This means that the world economy profits in the trillions off of manufacturing halal food. [caption id="attachment_578861" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Dan Nguyen.[/caption] When it comes down to it, all the fuss is really about nothing but and Hanson's comments are just an embarrassment. Halal food is embraced around the western world and is specifically prevalent in New York City, where halal carts are seen on every corner. The city's famous Halal Guys, which is the "longest running and best known street cart in New York City", serves the cart equivalent of the HSP and is an integral part of the food scene in the city. They're also donating $30,000 to LaGuardia Community College this year, which sure doesn't sound like global terrorist activity to us. Sources: Australian Food & Grocery Council, The New York Times, SMH, ABC Fact Check, Junkee, Merriam-Webster. Image: Toby Jay, Halal Snack Pack Appreciation Society (HSPAS).
Chances are you've encountered Akasha's beers in several high-profile craft beer establishments in Sydney. The generally hop-forward, light-bodied styles are easily accessible to drinkers despite the label's aggressive hop regime and high ABVs. Akasha began with owner Dave Padden gypsy brewing back in 2015; however, within a matter of months, he had acquired the warehouse that is now the brewery, fitted it out and begun brewing beers on site — quite a feat in the small business game. This is a hop-head's dream come true, featuring rustic wooden furniture set up among the sparkling stainless steel brewing equipment and pouring from twelve taps. Grab one of Akasha's many banging beers and have a game of pool at what was dubbed, at 2018's Sydney Beer Week Awards, "Best Brewery Cellar Door in Sydney". It has a rotating roster of food truck vendors on site to dish up some, tasty feeds. Think hamburgers, hotdogs or kebabs to pair with your favourite Akasaha brew. The space is also available for functions, so start planning your next get-together and head on down to Akasha. Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Peter Gilmore has ditched the fancy, fiddly techniques he's famous for (see: Snow Egg) and created an informal menu with approachable prices at the Sydney Opera House. Can you believe it? Bloody brilliant, thanks, Pete! Gilmore and co. redesigned the space over a period of 18 months and the end result is nothing short of jaw-dropping. Channelling Jorn Utzon, the interior is a mid-century Danish look with Hermes chairs, copper fixtures, orange carpet and a striking light installation of golden, melting orbs by Tom Dixon. The most beautiful feature is, of course, Sydney Harbour, which you can see in an epic panorama which spans the bridge, the promenade, the quay and even the tops of the CBD. No longer just a destination for rich Gallic-lovers (sorry Guillaume), Bennelong has more casual and relaxed optoins than it's ever had before. There are a few different ways to experience the venue. For drinks and nibbles, head to The Bar. Or else, you'll need to choose between The Restaurant and its three-course dining experience or The Counter for a more accessible two-course meal. [caption id="attachment_786057" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Brett Stevens[/caption] Start your night with yuzu, fig, honey and lemon. That's all packed into a cocktail by the way; it's called the Village Vanguard, and it combines these bold flavours with a pair of dry and fruity gins. Alternatively, start with something stiffer in the form of the Pillars of the Community, Bennelong's take on a negroni with Four Pillars navy strength gin, Full Circle Chinotto gin, Campari and rosso vermouth. At The Restaurant, the three-course menu will set you back $180 and is ever-changing. Possible highlights to start include mud crab congee and shaved squid with house noodles and koji butter. As for the mains, you may find an aged rack of Kurobuta pork or Sicilian-style milk curd ravioli on the menu. The dessert options are simply stated. There's cherry jam lamington, a luxury take on the nostalgic chocolate crackle and a brilliant replica of the Opera House in pavlova form, complete with meringue shard sails. The body has been piped in a gloss and matte pattern of Italian meringue and double cream, and the fruit — beautifully poached rhubarb, strawberries and raspberries — is hidden within. Images: Nikki To and Destination NSW. Updated Tuesday, March 21 2023. Appears in: The Best Restaurants in Sydney
Since 1998, Maggio's Cafe in Sydney's Cammeray has been pumping out traditional Italian pastries and cakes to devout customers who keep coming back for more. But while foodies know this as a destination to get some of the city's best cannoli, ricotta cheesecakes and chocolate tortes, few are keyed into Maggio's breakfast and lunch offerings. And that's a travesty. Its signature dish, Maggio's Eggs, is the perfect combination of Italian cooking's simplicity and Australia's particular style of brunch. You get a couple of poached eggs served in a fresh tomato and basil sauce for just $15. Think of it like a shakshuka made by Nonna. You can also go for a bacon and egg roll ($12.50), chilli scrambled eggs ($16.50) served with grilled broccolini and feta or the corn and halloumi fritters ($18.50). As this is known as a haven for sweet-toothed foodies, you also have got to check out the pancakes ($15.50) topped with fluffy mascarpone cream, seasonal fruit, crushed granola and orange maple syrup. Come lunch, these guys also smash out rustic pizzas ($19–22) and a revolving menu of pasta dishes — with homemade lasagne hitting the specials board every now and then. Alternatively, you can simply grab a panini ($19 — made from its bakery's own bread) or some fresh salads ($15.50–18.50) to have a light bite in the arvo. Either dine inside the Sydney café — getting served by the ever-friendly family members who run the show — or get any of the food options to take away. Maggio's is one of the best cafes in Sydney thanks to its phenomenal pastry and cake options as well as brunch and lunch menus that champion traditional Italian cooking. Do Nonna proud and give this one a go. Appears in: The Best Cafes in Sydney
Not content with creating four of Sydney's favourite venues in Bar Planet, Cantina OK!, Tio's and The Cliff Dive — plus the beloved OK! sparkling margarita seltzer — Mucho hospitality group kicked off 2024 by serving up an absolute home run with its new hidden underground cocktail lair Centro 86. Described as an "old, fancy Mexican cantina on shrooms", the tequila-focused bar in the Sydney CBD opening takes the magic of Bar Planet, as well as Cantina OK!'s love of margaritas, and applies it to an expansive 110-seat space. But before you settle in for a few fanciful cocktails, you've got to find the bar first. Wander down Pitt Street until you find the Centro 86 sign. At this point, you'll have to take a right-hand turn and venture around to the unassuming Hoskings Place, where you'll find a fire escape and luminous Centro 86 sign. Follow the sign which will lead you down two flights of stairs to the moody subterranean watering hole. Mucho has kept things local, working with a collection of Australian artists to transform the space. David Humphries, the mind behind Bar Planet's psychedelic countertops, is back to inject big splashes of colour into the one-of-a-kind bar top, while local stained-glass artists, ceramicists, furniture makers and visual artists were enlisted to bring the venue's vibe and aesthetic to life. Margaritas are the name of the game at Centro 86, with five varieties on the menu, including the sensational and ultra-unique parsley-topped Verde — a must-try. Adding to that something special is a set of three old-school ice shavers, bringing a dose of theatrics and a melt-in-your-mouth touch to the drinks. The inventive cocktails don't stop with the margs, with sherry-forward mixes and a fresh take on Bar Planet's Scorpino gracing the menu, alongside a refined wine and beer list featuring a few minimal-intervention drops and Wildflower Brewing's beloved table beer. There's also an expansive tequila collection featuring spirits available from $13–180. You'll find varieties that the Mucho team has aged themselves, ultra-rare options, plus Australia's first agave spirit that's distilled up in Bowen in Queensland. And it wouldn't be a Mucho venue without a bag of popcorn on your table — this time with a new secret spice mix that's promised to rival the fan-favourites of the group's other venues. Images: Dexter Kim
In 2010, director Matthew Vaughn gave us his tongue-in-cheek take on the superhero genre with the hyperactive action-comedy, Kick-Ass. Five years later, he turns his attention to the spy movie, with similarly electrifying results. Adapted, as was Kick-Ass, from a graphic novel by Mark Millar, Kingsman: The Secret Service is popcorn entertainment at its finest: funny, exciting and immaculately paced, never once bogged down by grit or self-importance. Colin Firth crackles as Agent Harry Hart, a gentleman spy for a privately run espionage agency operating “at the highest levels of discretion”. After the death of a colleague, Hart finds himself on the trail of nefarious billionaire Richmond Valentine (a lisping Samuel L. Jackson), whose plan to save the planet may come at the expense of the people living on it. At the same time, Hart also finds himself mentoring teenaged hoodlum Eggsy (Taron Egerton), in whose defiant eyes he sees a glimmer of Kingsman potential. Vaughn shoots the film with the giddiness of a 12-year-old, one who just stepped out of his very first spy movie with dreams of saving the world. The antithesis of the Craig-era Bond flicks, Kingsman never tries to justify its own absurdity, but rather rockets along with such irreverent energy that you can’t help but get caught up in all the fun. Explosions of over-the-top violence dominate the second half, although it’s all far too cartoonish to cause any serious offence. The action is propelled by a rousing orchestral score, courtesy of regular Vaughn collaborators Matthew Margeson and Henry Jackman. The movie’s cast is excellent across the board. Firth could play a suit-clad toff in his sleep, but he also makes for a surprisingly convincing action hero — and listening to him drop F-bombs while dispatching thugs with his umbrella is a singular pleasure no other film can provide. Jackson is a job as the villain of the piece, while young Egerton has the makings of a star. Mark Strong and Michael Caine round out the ranks of the secret service, although it’s a shame that the latter isn’t given a little bit more to do. After a January packed with high-minded Oscar films, Kingsman: The Secret Service is a much needed blast of fresh air. If you’re looking for a fun night out at the movies, don’t hesitate to pick up a ticket.
It's no secret that few things get us excited as food and booze. But one place in particular is getting us really, really excited. When it opens later this year, Brix will not only serve booze — it will make it on-site. It's set to be the first craft distillery to make rum in Sydney in over 200 years. Rum? Yes, rum. We're all pretty up to speed and pumped about locally distilled gin, thanks to the likes of (the game-changing and continually impressive) Archie Rose Distillery, but rum, generally speaking, is yet to infiltrate our collective craft spirit radar. Brix will be a working distillery, shop, barrelling room and bar. It won't open for another few months, but we got a sneak peek into the construction site on Bourke Street in Surry Hills. The three passionate guys behind the whole thing are James Christopher, Damien Barrow and Siddarth Soin, and they're justifiably enthused about seeing their vision — which has been over three years in the making — come to life. The co-founders are old friends (and are also partners in Cammeray's popular local restaurant Public) and together they want to change the people's attitude to rum. Like a lot of spirits that we potentially had a bad experience with and wrote off for eternity, rum could do with a bit of a lift in reputation — and these might be the guys to do it. "People can come in and learn about the versatility of the product of rum, how it's made and the nuances of the different styles and flavour profiles," Barrow says. Part of their job will be to educate the public about the diversity of the spirit, which runs from a clear rum in a mojito to a syrupy spiced rum. "Or an aged rum, similar to whiskey — you can have it on the rocks and it has all the complexity to match — but it's not really widely appreciated in that way," adds Soin. Grounded in transparency, the Brix experience is about changing the perception of rum in our culture and, according to Barrow, "celebrating its rich history via re-education, all the way through to appreciation". The venue will feature a fully working distillery with a 1200-litre still and will be overseen by a master distiller. They will start by distilling a white rum, turn one into a spiced rum and one into an aged. All will be available to buy as they will be bottling their own new-to-market craft rum product. It'll also be put into drinks as well as learning about the process in tours, tastings and private barrelling sessions with the head distiller, where guests can even buy their own 20-litre barrel of rum to take home. Words like "craft" and "local" are bandied about, but the team behind Brix are doing things authentically, from the copper of the still being Australian-sourced, to the menu that features predominately local and craft spirits, beer and wine. The barrels used in ageing are sourced from the Hunter Valley and the base product of sugar cane or molasses is sourced nationally. The spiced rum will also use native Australian spices and botanicals. As well as its own haul, Brix will have a 'rum wall' with over 100 varieties from around the world. The grand space, which has been designed by interior design firm Amber Road, will integrate the open production of the distillery into the aesthetic, as well as showcasing the raw ingredients as they arrive. There'll be a more intimate mezzanine barrelling room overlooking the still upstairs, and an open kitchen with counter dining, banquette seating and bar tops fitting around 80 people on the ground level. Brix won't be a restaurant, but "food will still be important" — the team is still nutting out the menu. It'll open from midday to midnight six days a week, and are hoping to swing the doors open in the middle of the year. As for the name, 'brix' is a measurement of sugar in a liquid and is actually part of the rum making process. "At some point the distiller has to measure the brix of the liquid he's about to throw yeast into," Christopher explains. So what is the rum making process, in short? "Rum is made from sugar cane juice or molasses that is fermented, then yeast is added to produce alcohol. "It's then boiled at a temperature below boiling water, which makes the alcohol evaporate, leaving water behind, the alcohol goes into the column of the still as a gas, which is re-condensed, turning back into the clear liquid," he says. It can then be aged, spiced, mixed and blended at the hand of a distiller, and as Barrow says, "it's science up to a certain point, when it comes out of the still, and then it's an art — that's when the craft element comes in". And if you skimmed over all the sciencey part of that explanation, fear not — things will make a lot more sense at the distillery. Perhaps one of the most promising aspects of this pending opening is the fact that this is the first producer wholesale license to be granted in Sydney since the relaxation of the free zone laws. The approval of this venue shows real hope for the reinvigoration of our beloved and embattled hospitality scene. Damien says, the City of Sydney was "incredibly responsive and cooperative, in fact we'd like to tip our hat to them and say thanks". As we said, a fair bit to be excited about. Brix Distillers will open around mid-year at 352 Bourke Street, Surry Hills. We'll keep you updated on an opening date and you can check brixdistillers.com. Images: Ming D.
The middle floor of beachside hotspot Coogee Pavilion is home to three distinct venues. While each venue has its own personality and design DNA, the whole level is an homage to the idyllic coastal location and is guided by the same Australian-accented take on modern Mediterranean cuisine. Executive Chef Jordan Toft (Bert's, Bar Topa) has taken the reins, just as he's helmed the rest of the building's food offerings over the years, including the multi-faceted ground-floor offering and much-loved Coogee Pavilion Rooftop. Boasting sweeping ocean views through its large arched windows, Mimi's pairs drops off a 600-strong wine list heroing the French wine growing region of Chablis with fresh seafood, top-quality meats and market-fresh vegetables grilled on the kitchen's josper. Don't expect any foams, gels or smokes here — Mimi's is all about letting the produce shine. Abrolhos scallops are steamed and served with summer fennel, black abalone is barbecued and skewered, and grilled broccoli is served with fried harissa. Larger dishes include a barbecued koji quail with nettle cream and house cured bacon; a decadent caviar pie with scallop mousse line and citrus butter; and a handpicked mud crab with preserved lemon mayonnaise and salted brioche. And for even fancier occasions, the Mimi's Selects menu offers bumps of caviar, frozen vodka and freshly shucked oysters. Luxe. If you're coming with a larger group be sure to book the private dining room. With space for up to eighteen and a bespoke shared menu, it's the perfect spot for an intimate gathering by the sea. The bar exudes European charm with a lineup of Italian coastline-inspired cocktails created by their wonderful bartenders. Make your way through the likes of the Afterglow (baked strawberry, vodka and sauvignon blanc), the Boab Tree (banana water, rum blend and fennel) and Cliffbrook (kiwi, pisco, fino and green apple) or go classic with a classic martini. Snacks from the Mimi's kitchen are available from your perch up at the bar. Images: Steven Woodburn
If you hadn't noticed, fermentation is a bit of a thing. One of the driving forces behind the movement is the fact that fermented food and drinks can help promote good bacteria in your gut. So it's not surprising that one of the more popular workshops at Cornersmith — who dish out hearty breakfasts and hold workshops in cheesemaking, pickling and fermenting among others — is the wild soda class, where you learn to make a fermented, fizzy fruit beverage that's both delicious and good for your digestion. That's the domain of Cornersmith's head fermenter Jaimee Edwards, a veteran in teaching lucky folks how to make wild soda, and then supervising as they make their own. For those who haven't attended one of her sessions — which have fittingly taken over nature-filled houses — go DIY and follow the instructions below. WHAT ACTUALLY IS WILD SODA? A wild soda is a fizzy fruit drink with a slightly sour, yeasty taste that's derived from the fermentation process involved in making it. The flavour is richer and more complex than any fizzy fruit drink you could pick up from a store because — like sour beer or wild fermentation wines — they're a product of nature. There are no artificial ingredients added. The fermentation process is unpredictable and gives each batch a unique flavour — even if you use the same ingredients and follow the same method each time. The process of making wild soda is similar to that of making wild fermentation wine. In winemaking, the yeast overpowers the lactic acid and turns the drink into alcohol, but in wild soda the lactic acid overpowers the yeast and creates carbonated water. Winemaking is best left to the professionals, but you can easily create wild soda on your own. Here's how. GET OUT THERE AND FORAGE To make wild soda, pick some of your favourite native plants, flowers and fruit. Edwards encourages you to get out there and forage. Supermarket fruit has likely gone through numerous cleaning processes, which means the natural microflora living on it (essential to the fermentation process) has likely been washed away. The more microflora, the easier the fermentation process — and the tastier the drink. "Foraging is pretty key," says Edwards. "That way you're not dealing with stuff that's gone through excessive washing." She recommends foraging for clean leaves and bark for bacteria, and wild flowers and fruit (strawberries, lemons and blueberries) for flavour. Once you've foraged, break up your flowers, leaves and bark, pulp your fruit and place it all into a plastic bottle. "Experiment with almost anything — that's part of the fun," says Edwards. "You're going to have some failures, and you're going to have successes. The ingredients you've added are obviously going to add a strong flavour, so you have to like them." GET THE FERMENTATION GOING When starting out, Edwards says it's a good idea to use plastic bottles. The natural carbonation that results from the fermentation process could cause glass jars to crack, and the last thing you want is a kitchen filled with half-finished strawberry and lemon verbena soda. Making a carbonated soda relies on the natural yeasts and bacteria that are available on the surface of plants. These microorganisms turn sugars into lactic acid and produce CO2 to make your soda bubbly. Because there is very little sugar in the foraged material in this recipe sugar is added. Mix all ingredients in a clean jar of filtered water and cover with a clean tea towel. Stir three times a day while the soda is fermenting. This will take between two and three days. Then strain the soda from the plants and bottle. Carbonation will occur as the CO2 builds up in the bottle over a few days. Refrigerate, and when it's nice and cold, take it out of the fridge and enjoy. HOW DOES ALL THIS RELATE TO WINE? Stoneleigh use a similar process of natural fermentation to make the wild fermentation wines in their Wild Valley range. Rather than adding a yeast known to produce a certain flavour, the yeasts and bacteria that naturally present on the grapes (aka microflora), are tasked with the fermentation. By letting nature do its thing (and because of the many different types of yeast getting involved), the wine ends up with a more complicated flavour profile. That means that just like wild soda, each vintage has its own unique flavour. Follow Jamiee Edwards' adventures at @fermentingprojects. Images: Steven Woodburn.
A weekend away exploring the Kangaroo Valley and the surrounding areas is a feast for all your senses. And while the beauty of the green rolling hills speaks for itself, there's also some knockout foodie experiences to be had. From some not-so traditional hybrid pies to a restaurant run by an award-winning, ex-Tetsuya's chef, every taste (and budget) is covered. Here's five foodie experiences that are getting in the car and heading down to NSW's Kangaroo Valley. LOCAL PRODUCE AT THE GENERAL CAFE When visiting the Kangaroo Valley, The General Cafe is where you want to start your day. They serve great coffee and even make their own almond milk. Easily identified by its tin roof and wrap-around balcony, the place is reminiscent of an old country home, complete with a kitchen table adorned with baked goods. This place is nothing short of wholesome. The menu is built on locally-sourced produce and the shelves lining the front windows are stocked with homemade, award-winning jams and honey. If you're planning to go on a walk or canoe down the river, this is the place to pick up picnic supplies — The General has you covered for cheese, spreads and even house-made bread and butter pickles, and you can grab a loaf of bread from the shop next door. 151 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley. CHEESEBURGER PIE AT SOUTHERN PIES If someone asks if you want to pimp up your pie, you don't waste time waiting to find out what that means — you just say yes. At Southern Pies in the Kangaroo Valley, the decision to pimp will get you your choice of pie piled high with mushy peas, creamy mash and gravy. And with another shop up the road boasting the best pies in the world, pie makers in this town can't afford to sit on their laurels. To keep the competition interesting, on top of classics like lamb and rosemary, Southern Pies have combined two all-time food favourites to create the epic cheeseburger pie. And if that wasn't enough of a feat, inside their epic brekkie pie you'll find bacon, a whole cracked egg, a hash brown and smoky onion relish. Beat that. 146 Moss Vale Road, Kangaroo Valley. [caption id="attachment_575085" align="alignnone" width="1280"] ange__85 via Instagram[/caption] ALPACA BURGER AT THE BERRY HOTEL The Berry Hotel may look unassuming from the outside, but don't be fooled — this is the home of burger royalty. Short of travelling to South America you'd think you would be hard-pressed to find a place that has alpaca on the menu. Pause for dramatic effect, and cue the alpaca burger at the Berry Hotel. If you're wondering what alpaca tastes like, it actually has quite a mild flavour — but this burger does not. The mix of spices in the patty, paired with slow-roasted tomato, rocket, cheese and caramelised onion make this rare find a real winner. 120 Queen Street, Berry. [caption id="attachment_575094" align="alignnone" width="3264"] Processed with VSCO with hb2 preset[/caption] CINNAMON DOUGHNUTS AT THE FAMOUS BERRY DONUT VAN If you've heard of Berry, you'll no doubt know about The Famous Berry Donut Van. While the likes of Doughnut Time and Grumpy Donuts have created doughnut hysteria with outrageous flavour combos like maple bacon, hibiscus and nerds, The Famous Berry Donut Van reminds us of the art of simplicity. It's the kind of place where you can unashamedly order bulk cinnamon donuts (to share with your friends, of course) and nobody will blink an eye. There's absolutely no judgement when something so simple tastes this good. Made fresh to order, you'll want to scoff these while they're still hot. 73 Queen Street, Berry. ESPRESSO MARTINIS AT SILOS RESTAURANT Hidden in a converted hay shed in Berry is a contender for the best espresso martini in NSW. At Silos Restaurant they've set themselves the challenge of using each of the native Australian ingredients once only on their seasonal menu. So in their martini it's the cinnamon and nutmeg-infused syrup that plays the starring role. From the complimentary parsley and whey cake appetiser to the dark cherry and olive palette cleanser, Silos Restaurant is out to spark your sense of adventure. Taking the chef's suggestion, we ordered scampi sautéed in wasabi butter, miso-pressed eggplant, asparagus, crisp chicken skin and yuzu curd and the blue eyed cod with sweetbreads, jerusalem artichoke cream, wild fungi and garlic in a red wine sauce. And even though sweetbreads have never been our thing, we put our blind faith in this award-winning chef — and so should you. B640 Princes Highway, Berry. Top image: Thomas Kelley.
"Beer and pies are a match made in heaven," says Goat Pie Guy owner and chef Mick Hobson. "The bite and flavour of hops or wheat or barley is perfect to cut through the buttery pastry and rich fillings that I make for my winter pie range." Brisbane-based bakery maestro Hobson is no stranger to mixing beer and baked goods. Rather than enjoying the two separately, Mick uses beer in his pies — there are no less than five pies on the Goat Pie Guy menu made with beer (and they're all Great Aussie Pie Competition gold medal winners). If he's using a brew in a pie recipe, Mick always matches his drinking beer too. "If it's a curry pie, I like to drink a pale ale or if it's one of my seafood pies, I always pair it with an amber ale." Mick actually uses beer in a lot of his recipes, not just pies. "Beer's an awesome base to build lively broths for seafood, rich sauces for grilled meat and lovely sweet and savoury layers in a slow braise." Certain beers with a more crisp edge, like a Little Creatures Original Pilsner, can cut through heavier, more buttery dishes, refreshing and reviving the palate, while more hoppy beers, like a Kosciuszko Pale Ale, can help you soldier on through spicy food. Let's get back to those award-winning beery pies. We're keen to test this secret ingredient for ourselves, so we asked Mick for a cheeky recipe. So what's Mick cooked up for Concrete Playground? One heck of a hearty wagyu beef and porter pie. "This one came about when I was experimenting for a meeting of brewers and meat merchants. It was important that both parties had their produce showcased in the best possible way so I decided to highlight the chocolatey flavours in the porter by caramelising it with the onions and adding the figs for extra sweetness. The beef flavour was intensified with allspice, black pepper and rosemary. Then I tossed them in a pot together, filled it with porter and crossed my fingers for six hours! And man, was it worth the wait." Let's do this. MICK HOBSON'S WAGYU BEEF AND PORTER PIE Ingredients: 2 medium brown onions sliced 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 50g raw sugar 1kg diced wagyu brisket 3 litres beef stock 60ml olive oil 4 sprigs rosemary chopped 2 bay leaves 10g cracked black pepper 15g allspice 150g dried figs 3.5 bottles James Squire Jack of Spades Porter 150g corn flour 1 egg whisked for brushing 4 sheets of shop bought shortcrust pastry (Borgs is a good brand) 2 sheets of shop bought puff pastry (Borgs is good for puff too) *(If you want to make your own shortcrust my recipe is below) Heat half olive oil in a heavy base pot. Brown onions in oil, add half a 330ml bottle of James Squire Jack of Spades Porter, balsamic vinegar, diced figs and sugar and reduce until sticky, then remove from pot and set aside. Heat remaining oil in the same pot and brown beef in small batches adding more oil as needed. Add all beef back into pot along with black pepper, allspice and chopped rosemary. Stir on low heat to completely coat beef. Add caramelised onion mixture, bay leaves, stock and porter. Bring to the boil then let simmer on low for three to four hours until beef can be cut with a fork. Combine corn flour with enough water to dissolve, and pour in slowly as you stir to thicken. You might like to add more or less corn flour depending on how thick you like your gravy. Grease pie tins with butter and line with shortcrust pastry, leaving a little overhang. Fill with thickened pie mixture and brush pastry edge with egg mixture. Cut puff pastry lids to suit base size and place on top, crimp base and top together with fingertips or a fork. Bake at 200 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool for 15 minutes before serving. Enjoy with a cold James Squire Jack of Spades Porter. *Shortcrust Pastry 1 250g plain flour 125g unsalted butter, chilled, finely chopped 1 egg, chilled Process flour, butter and a pinch of salt in a food processor until mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Whisk egg and one tablespoon chilled water in a bowl until combined, then with food processor motor running, add to flour mixture. Process until mixture begins to form large clumps, stopping machine before mixture forms a ball. Turn pastry out on to a work surface and knead gently to bring together. Form into a disc for a round tart or into a log shape for a rectangular tart. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours. Roll out to 3-4mm thickness and cut out required size. If you love discovering more things you can do with beer (and some surprising facts, like beer being 99.9 percent sugar free), visit www.beerthebeautifultruth.com. You'll find information on fusing beer and food, matching different styles of beer with your meals, and how particular foods can enhance the distinct flavours of a well-brewed beer. You can even learn a few nutritional myths around beer, and bust 'em while you're at it.
They say that every cloud has a silver lining. While that mightn't seem the case when it comes to Sydney's lockout laws and the corresponding liquor licensing, the change in legislation has made way for smaller, neighbourhood focused wine bars You know the type: great spaces tended to by passionate sommeliers, who create exciting and engaging wine lists. For drinkers wanting to learn about natural or minimal intervention wines, take a crash course in vermouth or eagerly drink the length and breadth of Australian plonk, there's something for everyone in this great city of ours. Here's Sydney's top ten wine bars with a specific vinous vision.
The world is a very strange place. While you might think your love of fried chicken reigns supreme or that you can scoff M&Ms like no one else, there are people out there who take this food obsession to the next level and erect shrines to honour the One True Foodstuff. Recently, New York opened the sensory-focused Museum of Food and Drink, where you can taste the exhibits. But there are more specific foodie shrines for you to sample. Whether you worship at the altar of the noodle or at the temple of ice cream, there is a motherland somewhere for you to pilgrimage. Come with us now on a bizarre journey to the best and strangest food museums from around the world. IDAHO POTATO MUSEUM The potato may be the subject of much internet derision and meme-ification, but it is a staple in some of the tastiest foods of all time, including — but certainly not limited to — fries, potato chips, mash, rosti, wedges, potato skins, potato gratin, poutine and baked spuds. All hail the mighty potato. And where better to celebrate the potato than the potato state? Idaho is home to a very Napoleon Dynamite-esque potato museum, which features a potato hall of fame and a giant potato statue that would even leave Australia, the land of big things, suitably impressed. The gift shop sells potato sack dresses among some of the dorkiest merchandise we've ever seen, which actually seems befitting of the potato aesthetic. Idaho Potato Museum, 130 Northwest Main Street, Blackfoot, Idaho, USA. RAMEN MUSEUM Ramen is a universal divider, no matter where you're from. In Japan, people pledge allegiance to their regional ramen the way we pledge allegiance to our sports teams. While history thinks that ramen may have originated in China, Japan has adopted the dish so completely, it doesn't even know it's adopted. So it makes sense that Tokyo hosts the Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum, which they describe as the world's first food-themed amusement park. The park is made to look like a '50s Japanese street straight out of a Studio Ghibli film, and goes into the extensive history of ramen — that is, the breakdown of ingredients, toppings and broths, and the regional variations. And you'll be pleased to know that once you've nailed the theory of ramen, you can try steamy taster bowls from eight different regional stalls. Shin-Yokohama Raumen Museum, 2-14-21 Shinyokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama-City, Japan. INSTANT RAMEN MUSEUM And of course, because Japan has a ramen museum, it must also have an instant ramen museum. Instant ramen is, after all, the lifeblood behind historically important struggling artists and students. Momofuku Ando is the genius behind our favourite just-add-water lunch option, which he invented in 1958 after spending a solitary year spent working on just four hours sleep a night. While the ramen museum is traditional in every way, the instant ramen museum is contemporary and clean. It features a CUPNOODLES park for children, a chicken ramen factory where you can invent and make your own instant noodles by hand, and an Instant Noodles History Cube (we could not say exactly what a history cube is, but that's all part of the fun). Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum, 2-3-4 Shinko, Naka-ku, Yokohama, Japan. ICE CREAM CITY After you've checked out all the ramen museums, head to Ice Cream City, also in Japan. Ice Cream City and its Cup Ice Museum can be found in 'Namja Town', a theme park housed inside the Sunshine City shopping complex in Tokyo's Toshima area. Yes, it's all very confusing, but a 500 yen ticket will grant you access to all the bizarre food areas of Namja Town. Ice Cream Town has a smorgasbord of bizarre ice cream flavours to sample — some you would never have imagined in your wildest dreams. Think corn, chicken wing, powered pearl, squid, cheese risotto, sake, silk, charcoal, salt and soybean. You know it's worth a visit. Namja Town, Sunshine City World Import Mart, Toshima, Ikebukuro, Japan. Image: istolethetv via Flickr. CURRYWURST MUSEUM It should shock no-one that Germany has a currywurst museum in Berlin — or that the mascot is a terrifying, anthropomorphic sausage man with a maniacal smile. This kind of lunacy is completely expected of the sausage-lovin' European country, along with sausage-shaped couches and currywurst-themed dress up competitions. The currywurst is a delicious fast food treat that's not easy to get your hands on outside of Germany, unless you head to speciality restaurant. Simply, it's a fried pork sausage served with curry ketchup and topped with curry powder. And obviously, it's delicious. Plus, it pairs well with German beer and is totally worthy of having an entire museum (with merchandising) dedicated to it. Currywurst Museum, Schützenstraße 70, 10117, Berlin, Germany. MCDONALD'S #1 STORE MUSEUM Unfortunately, the first McDonald's restaurant was demolished because short-sighted Americans didn't appreciate the longevity of the Big Mac. But if your love for the golden arches goes beyond McLovin' a greasy wad of 'food' after a bender, there are many famous installations in America for worshipping Ronald the terrifying clown. There's the oldest operating McDonald's in Downey, California (it's been running since 1953), the rock and roll McDonald's in Chicago, or the McDonald's #1 Store Museum in Des Plaines, Illinois. The latter chronicles the history of Mickey Dee's through its early days — and yes, don't worry, there is a fully operational McDonald's across the road to complete the experience. McDonald's #1 Store Museum, 400 N. Lee Street, Des Plaines, Illinois, USA. JELL-O MUSEUM Jell-O is so much more than the worst dessert served on an airplane, or an erotic lubricant for wrestling. You might not know or care, but Jello-O has a long history as America's most famous dessert. The Jell-O Gallery in New York (the state, not the city) has chronicled this rich history in their museum. They also share some questionable Jell-O based wartime recipes such as olive relish: a lime Jell-O, olives, pickles, celery and vinegar concoction to fortify gallant American infantrymen against the Axis Powers. The Jell-O Gallery is quaint and also offers some of the most legitimately post-ironic cool Jell-O themed merchandise we've ever seen. Jell-O Gallery, 23 E Main St, Le Roy, New York, USA. KIMCHI FIELD MUSEUM The Kimchi Field Museum first opened in Seoul 1986 as South Korea's only food museum at the time — a testament to the nation's love of the fermented vegetable dish. The museum offers up valuable insight into not only the history of kimchi, but also its significance to South Korean culture. There's also kimchi-making courses that vary in complexity and cost (between $18-$65), and you get to take the kimchi home. Score. Kimchi Field Museum, 35-4 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea. Image: ecodallaluna via Flickr. FRIETMUSEUM Frites is the OG name for the most universally successful of all the deep fried delights: the french fry (or, as we say in the Antipodes, hot chips). But did you know that frites are the national food of Belgium? Or that they originated in Peru ten thousand years ago? These facts, life-sized serves of chippies and many fry-related puns (including the 'eye on the fries' gift shop) await you at the Frietmuseum in Bruges, as well as actual, edible fries. So, until you head to Bruges and try the originals, you can't claim that Maccas make the best chips. At least, not with a clear conscience. Frietmuseum, Vlamingstraat 33, 8000, Bruges, Belgium. Top image: Guilhem Vellut via Flickr.
Potts Point is now home to a new micro-deli, and it's slinging loaded sandwiches, salad bowls and smallgoods to the Victoria Street masses. Small's Deli now occupies the hole-in-the-wall that previously housed French restaurant Mère Catherine (for 45 years, no less). New owners Emily Van Loon and Ben Shemesh have revamped the pint-size digs to create an Italian-style delicatessen with freshness as its focus. There's none of that pre-made nonsense here. Instead, all Small's sandwiches are built-to-order, and the offering will change regularly based on seasonality. Famed Bronte bakery Iggy's is the bread of choice, and diners can purchase loaves of the stuff every Tuesday–Saturday from 11am (until sold out). House specialties include the croque monsieur ($13) — double smoked ham and dijon mustard with a blend of comté, béchamel and gruyère cheeses, all served on toasted Iggy's sourdough — and the fan-favourite Florence & the Aubergine ($14): a panini piled with sopressa, eggplant, walnut paste, creamed pecorino and rocket. Other recent sando specials include Le Bateau ($14) with marinated tuna and hard-boiled egg; the Comrade Ovo ($13) featuring 'smooshed' eggs baguette with dill and cornichon remoulade; and the June Bug ($14) a panini stuffed with roast pumpkin, ricotta, and mint and hazelnut pesto. [caption id="attachment_778825" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Leigh Griffiths[/caption] The tiny takeaway counter also displays charcuterie and cheeses, which are sliced to order and available from 11am. A daily rotation of salad bowls with house pickles, olives and labneh are up for grabs, too. And, if you're looking for a new morning go-to, head in from 7.30am to grab a pastry and a cuppa — made using Reuben Hills coffee beans. As it's a (very) small space, expect a minimalist fit-out by Son Architecture — think a terracotta tiled counter, concrete floors and stainless steel finishes, plus a chalkboard menu. One wall is lined with shelves and stocked with Small's own preserves, jams and pasta sauces, as well as other smallgoods from artisanal suppliers. While the focus may be on the takeaway counter, there's also one banquet table in the corner for dine-in — if you're lucky enough to nab it. Or, if you're in a rush, make a quick phone call before heading in, and your lunch will be ready and waiting for your arrival. Images: Leigh Griffiths
Aid worker Jo Dunlop travelled to Freetown, Sierra Leone in 2011 in the aftermath of a bloody civil war. Unexpectedly, she found herself walking through streets of people oozing unique personal style, or, in her words, "Teeming with some of the most resourceful, brave and outrageous fashion decisions ever made." Dunlop began a fashion blog called Freetown Fashpack and it gained international attention, later sparking an eight-part web series filmed by ABC Arts. In this touring exhibition from Bega Valley Regional Gallery, footage from the web series will sit alongside 15 larger-than-life photographic portraits from Dunlop's collection. Exploring the connection between communication, fashion and the delightfulness of individual expression, Dunlop's photography exudes a sensitivity that allows her sitters to revel in their own personal brand of style. There's always plenty on at Casula Powerhouse during April, so you could make an afternoon of it.
Take a break from your shopping spree with a bowl of steaming-hot laksa at Temasek. This extremely popular Malaysian-Singaporean eatery looks no-frills from the outside, but, once you're tucking into your spicy feast, you'll understand why it's been packed since opening in 1992. The laksa list offers chicken, prawn, chicken and prawn, seafood and vegetarian versions. But, if none of that whets your appetite, there's a bunch of other dishes to choose from, including Singapore chilli crab, Hainanese chicken rice and a spectacular oyster omelette. We started with a serving of vegetarian spring rolls and beef curry puffs which were deliciously light and crunchy. After that we sampled to Singaporean laksa with fishcakes and the vegetarian version. Both were perfectly spiced and fragrant and while a decent size, we were left craving more. A serve of Hainanese fried rice filled the gap and we washed it all down with some home made iced lemon tea. Can't get much better than that.
Close your eyes and imagine French cooking. For many of us, our minds will wander to tartare de boeuf, duck à l'orange, croissants, frog legs and snails. Unfortunately, this doesn't cover the full scope of French cuisine. Much of the modern French cuisine, served outside of France, is a hollow caricature of the true nature of its national gastronomy. At Frenchies, however, it's veered away from the dishes that haunt the tourist traps along the Champs-Élysées, and instead, offers a broader adventure into the tradition of French culinary arts. The beers brewed upstairs at Frenchies deserve a review unto themselves and, luckily, there's enough time here to wax lyrically about the raspberry saison. It delicately traipses the fine line between traditional and left of field. Dishes like steak frites served on a broad, white plate, drizzled in red wine jus, with a symphony of hand-cut fries on the side, convey that food must not only be cooked to perfection (it invariably is), but it's got to look great, too. The beef casserole is served with creamy potato gratin dauphinois and is an absolute must-order in the colder months. The wine list, too, is varied to please every palate, and features a host of Australian wines that show off characteristics inherent in French winemaking. Head chef and co-owner of Frenchies Thomas Cauquil trained at Michelin-starred restaurants across Europe. Together with Vincent de Soyres, business partner, fellow French expat and beer expat, he's helping to revitalise the French bistronomy scene in Sydney. But the team didn't stop there. After beer, they set their sights on buttery pastries and cafe fare with their new Frenchies Bakery & Pâtisserie just two doors down. Start your day at the bakery and then, when the sun goes down, hit up the brewery. The Frenchies team has your whole day covered. [caption id="attachment_705409" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Frenchies Bistro and Brewery.[/caption] Appears in: The Best Sydney Brewery Bars for 2023
Located in the heart of the bustling CBD, Machiavelli Ristorante dates back to 1988, and focuses on brining the finest and freshest ingredients to its menu, while choosing organic whenever possible. Head chef Laurent Cambon has been at the helm since 1994, drawing from his experience working at Paris classics such as L'Arpege and Au Trou Gascon to bring the finest dining experience to Sydney. The interior is a classic Italian eatery, complete with white-washed arches and tiled brick floor. The tables are adorned with classic white tablecloths and the simple wooden furniture helps to draw attention to the main star — the cuisine. Its not hard to picture Don Corleone enjoying a meal here, however with the excellent service and delightful clientele the night is destined to be memorable for only the right reasons. The Machiavelli Ristorante menu here is everything you could expect from a traditional Italian joint that's famed for hosting prime ministers and media moguls. The antipasti menu includes zucchini flowers with ricotta, a caprese salad with vine-ripened tomatoes, basil and fresh mozzarella and a serving of prosciutto served straight up. For a pasta dish, try the gnocchi gorgonzola or the pappardelle duck ragu in a rich madeira sauce and fresh thyme. They are absolute winners. Mains include the Milanese scaloppine with golden bread crumbs and lemon as well as the deliciously rich and creamy steak diane with butter garlic and Worcestershire sauce. Be sure to pair it all with a glass of red or two and finish off with an adffogato paired with Amaretto or Frangelico. Appears in: The Best Italian Bars in Sydney for 2023
The latest exhibition at Brett Whiteley studio, West of the Divide celebrates what was a lifelong affinity between Whiteley and the land west of Sydney — encompassing Bathurst, Oberon, Sofala and beyond. Showcasing his iconic, inspired translation of the Australian landscape that combined elements of abstraction and realism in an incredibly lyrical, expressive way, you'll see both intimate studies and larger poetic works filled with birds, nests, trees, rocks and rivers. This particular collection of paintings, sculpture and drawings — arguably some of his most magical — spans three decades of Whiteley's career and were personally selected by Wendy Whiteley and Alec George. If you're a fan of Whiteley's work you should also check out the upcoming documentary Whiteley by James Bogle (released May 11), promising to be a "raw and intimate" insight into his both his life and his creative legacy. Bogle and co-writer Victor Gentile have drawn from personal letters, notebooks and photographs and combined them with interviews, re-enactments and animations. Check out the trailer. Image: Brett Whiteley, Autumn (near Bathurst) — Japenese Autumn, 1987 - 1988.
Touring outside of France for just the third time since it was designed in Paris circa 1500, medieval masterpiece The Lady and the Unicorn tapestry cycle comes to the Art Gallery of New South Wales this month and everyone's pretty excited. On special loan from impressively named Musèe de Cluny – Musèe National du Moyen Âge, the six exquisitely beautiful, mind-blowingly intricate wool and silk woven tapestries span over 20 metres in length and are considered to be some of the greatest surviving textiles from the European Middle Ages — the French national treasure has been dubbed the 'Mona Lisa of the Middle Ages', after all. (Can you imagine being in charge of packing these things up and getting them to — literally — the other side of the world? No pressure.) Embodying meditations on earthly pleasure and courtly love, they depict a bejewelled lady in richly adorned costume alongside a majestic unicorn set against a luscious millefleur ('thousand flowers') background. Five tapestries explore the senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing and sight, with the sixth said to represent an internal sense — usually interpreted as the heart, desire or understanding. There's a whole host of talks, activities and workshops designed to complement the exhibition (textile fans may want to take Natalie Miller's tapestry masterclass) so you can make an entire morning or an afternoon of it. Take note: this is going to be busy. It's not every day that you get to see a 15th-century national treasure up close, not to mention one that has directly inspired everyone from George Sand to Rilke to Jean Cocteau. You'll want to book ahead. Image: Sight c1500 (detail), from 'The lady and the unicorn' series, Musée de Cluny – Musée national du Moyen Âge, Paris Photo © RMN-GP / M Urtado.
Looking to up your fancy brunch game? Start picking out your Sunday best. Ananas Bar and Brasserie have announced the return of their monthly champagne brunch, starting with a 'Frozen Brunch' on April 26 that will transform the award-winning French restaurant into a glamorous winter wonderland. Designed by Ananas’s Michelin-starred executive chef Damien Brassel along with chef de cuisine Neil Martin, these luxury brunches will hinge around a roaming-style buffet. Guests can have their pick of a bountiful spread that includes a seafood grazing station, juice bar and fruit station, omelette station, housemade charcuterie and cheeses, and a selection of éclairs and macarons. Not too shabby for $69 per person. Ananas's monthly brunches will offer guests the chance to upgrade their experience with a two-hour bottomless champagne flute package for an extra $50. That's a lot of bubbly. The brunches will also include a rotating lineup of live entertainment, with local bands and DJs channelling the energy of the infamous Bagatelle Brunch in New York City. Tucked away at 18 Argyle Street in The Rocks, Ananas' interior is inspired by 1920s Parisian decor, and includes a dedicated oyster bar and a very well-stocked drinks menu. Executive chef Brassel has previously worked under the likes of Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White, so expect the unexpected. Ananas champagne brunches take place from 11am to 5pm on selected monthly dates. Bookings are essential. For more information, visit their website.
One of Sydney's prime pieces of culinary real estate has found new life. Three years after being placed into liquidation, the legendary Manly Pavilion is making a comeback, reopening today with a slick new fitout both inside and out — even though it's the middle of bloody winter. Sitting on its well-known overwater site on the Manly Cove Esplanade, Manly Pavilion now boasts breezy open spaces, a slick new dining space (somewhat straightforwardly) called Bistro at Manly Pavilion, repurposed Chesterfield lounges and parquet flooring. With a brand new crew on board, the Pav has multiple spaces to lounge around in, from a casual openair balcony deck to a lounge bar area, a ballroom opening in November 2016 and the fancier aforementioned Bistro dining room. Sydneysiders have been watching this one with interest over the last few months, after it was revealed to be on the market back in February 2015. The Roads and Maritime Services announced that receiver Grant Thorton had "identified a preferred replacement tenant for the remaining term of the 25-year lease." Early frontrunners for the site Cafe Sydney apparently pulled out of the race before tenders were lodged. With his highly successful Coogee Pavilion a waterfront pav success, Merivale's Justin Hemmes himself had reportedly shown interest in the Manly Pavilion — before he quashed those rumours with the opening of The Newport this year. In its heyday, Manly Pavilion was considered one of Sydney's finest restaurants, winning a Michelin Star as well as the 2011 Best Restaurant Award from the SMH Good Food Guide. Its demise was one of several in the city's high-end restaurant world, with closures attributed to changing tastes and tighter economic conditions. At the time it shut down, Manly Pavilion's owners were more than $590,000 in debt. While winter might not be the most predictable time to open a waterfront pavilion, it could work in Manly Pavilion's favour. Manly Pavilion is now open at West Esplanade, Manly Cove. Open Tuesday to Thursday 12-10pm, Friday and Saturday 12pm-12am and Sunday 12-10pm. For bookings, call (02) 9450 2000. By Tom Clift and Shannon Connellan. Images: Manly Pavilion.
There may have been a time when veganism was considered an extremist sub-genre of the #cleaneating crew, but that time is no more. In our forward-thinking society, vegans have plentiful greasy options to chow down on after a big night on the brews and that now include a classic basket of fish and chips. Yes that’s right, a deep fried fish smeared in aioli is possibly one of the least vegan meals out, but somehow the team at Sydney’s new fish and chippie, the wonderfully-named Bliss and Chips, have worked some plant-based magic and made it happen. Just opened on King Street, Bliss and Chips uses soy-based protein or konjac to create the texture, which is then flavoured with oceany goodness. Check out Facebook user Roxy Moon's shot of the goods: Looks pretty legit, right? The owner, Liss Harry, told Good Food that she spent three years researching the winning formula, to ensure the texture has that characteristic chewy bite and is indeed vegan and gluten free. And the menu is almost indistinguishable from a standard fish and chippie, with fish cocktails, crabsticks, pluto pups (!), fish fillets,prawns, calamari, burgers and even a deep–fried Mars bar. Plus, they're all at super reasonable, fish shop prices. Sydney's first ALL VEGAN FISH& CHIP SHOP will be opening in the next week! More information coming soon....Watch out... Posted by The Cruelty Free Shop on Sunday, November 8, 2015 The venue is (so far) also social media free too, with limited Facebook and no Instagram presence but is doing pretty damn well for itself regardless. The Cruelty Free Shop in Glebe, a spot celebrated for their vegan answers to meaty foods like pies and sausage rolls, announced the opening to widespread online applause. We also very much dig the sassy fish in disguise on their signage. Looks like Newtown's vegans have much to celebrate of late, especially with King Street pizzeria Gigi's all-vegan transformation. Via Good Food. Image: Dollar Photo Club. Find Bliss and Chips at 215 King Street, Newtown, open seven days from 11am–9pm.
Back in 2016, Bentley co-owners Brent Savage (food) and Nick Hildebrandt (wine) announced they were going 100 per cent vegetarian with fine diner Yellow. Their aim? To show that vegetarian and vegan dishes are just as tasty as any other menu item. Now, it's one of Sydney's go-to dining destinations. Set in Yellow House on Macleay Street, the bistro's name and design pay respect to the building's history as an artists' dive during the 70s when Brett Whiteley, Martin Sharpe and George Gittoes would reportedly grace the place with their presence. Designer Pascale Gomes-McNabb gives due respect to the original building by retaining a bohemian character and featuring exposed brickwork. The fit-out takes a leap forward into high irony with elements such as distressed wooden tables that belong more at a beachside country kitchen than inner-city bistro, but with the geometric bling of mirrors and gold frames as a counterbalance, we know we're in safe hands. Service is snappy and informative, and early on a Monday night the place had a Friday night buzz. Open seven nights a week from 6pm (and for lunch on weekends), this could very easily become a second home for Potts Point locals. Lucky things.
Vegan sweet tooths tired of choosing between sorbet and fruit salad, get yourself and your sugar cravings to North Bondi. Long-time vegan and cake-maker extraordinaire Grace Watson has opened her 100 percent animal product-free Zeitgeist Mylk Bar, bringing you apple pie and custard mylkshakes, cinnamon doughnuts and peanut butter cookies, among other delightful, delightful treats. "As a vegan, dairy milk can be a problem," says Grace. "It's really pervasive, so it's hard for vegans to find creamy, indulgent desserts." Not so at Zeitgeist. Grace is busy turning house-made almond mylk and coconut ice-cream into all kinds of deliciousness. You've a choice of three mylkshakes — the aforementioned apple pie and custard, as well as red velvet and znickers. Match yours with a piece of passionfruit, a cinnamon doughnut made with a mix of soy milk and apple cider vinegar (instead of egg white) or a raw znickers bar, layered with nougat, dates and caramel and covered in hand-tempered, 100 percent organic chocolate. And they're just beginning of the menu. With treats in-hand, you can take a seat inside or outside — or head for nearby Sam Fiszman Park or the beach. "It's a milk bar set-up, with seating inside and outside, for about twelve people at once," Grace says. "The design is old-school, taken to a new, modern level. So, there are pastel colours and running writing, but we've also used polycarbonate and carbon-coated black steel. My partner and I worked on the interior together, with help from Liam Nugazin, who's creating a huge chandelier." North Bondi provides some solid vegan company, including Sadhana Kitchen, Bondi Wholefoods and Orchard Road. "North Bondi's really taking off as a vegan hub," Grace says. "Like Newtown, it's an awesome place for vegans to visit and a really supportive community." Despite opening just two days ago — on Saturday, April 9 — Zeitgeist has already been inundated. "It's been super busy," Grace says. "Much busier than we expected". Find Zeitgeist at 43 Gould Street, North Bondi.
A cultural excursion is always better at a time slot that is cocktail-appropriate. So, Sydneysiders will be pleased to know that the Museum of Contemporary Art is back with MCA Late, the fan-favourite that sees the doors stay open on Friday nights with a string of fresh music acts, talks, workshops and film screenings in tow. And entry is free. Kick off your weekend early and appreciate the works of five young artists at Primavera 2021, dive deep into the 23rd Biennale of Sydney with rivus or return to your favourites in the permanent collections. If you want to get more hands-on, head to a clay-based workshop led by Ebony Russell or sign up for Sundown Sketch, which sees museum-goers explore the current works via a drawing class (with a glass of wine at hand, too). Want to make sure you never miss an opportunity to flex your own creative muscles? Sign up to the MCA Late mailing list. Sounds on the Terrace will take over the rooftop Sculpture Terrace on April 8, 15 and 22. Take the lift up for a unique lineup of music performances and the chance to wrap your ears around the sound of local talent. One week Bria will be spinning her vibe-heavy tracks, and poet Sara M Saleh will be hosting Marcus Whale and experimental Arabic music collective Ensemble Dandana the next. Down on the forecourt, Muggera will be cutting shapes, providing an opportunity for audiences to learn and be entertained by a kunjil (dance) performance from the traditional owners of our land. Sip a perfectly balanced Jaffa Negroni while you get your fill — and glitzy views of the harbour after dark — at the MCA Cafe. Then, check in for retail therapy at the MCA Store. MCA Late is the ideal way to shake up your after-dark activity rotation. Head to the website to check out the program. Please note, some exhibitions are ticketed. Image credits: Sam Whiteside, Jordan Munns and Liam Cameron
It had been three decades since Sydney institution Golden Century opened its doors in Haymarket. The late-night Chinese restaurant was famed for its unbeatable midnight feasts and the queues of chefs, celebrities, hospo workers and everyday diners that lined up to partake into them. And just before the original shut down thanks to the lockout laws, they opened a new one in 2019— XOPP by Golden Century — inside the (at the time) new Exchange Building. Those who had eaten at the original restaurant might recognise the name as a homage to its pipis in XO sauce, a dish so revered that even David Chang has called it "the best dish in the world". This 160-seat restaurant is helmed by Billy Wong — son of original owners Eric and Linda — who has developed a more contemporary dining concept that he's hoping will speak to a new generation of casual diners. Most notably, there is a bar serving snacks and smaller dishes alongside cocktails — think XO mayo prawn rolls and chicken liver parfait served with Chinese doughnuts. Oh, and 250 wines. Just as the vibe is different to Golden Century in Chinatown, so is the menu. Chinatown regulars will notice the addition of baby abalone with salted egg yolk, and a roasted kung pao cod fish fillet with cashew nuts. Other modern additions include kale and brussels sprouts and a jasmine bubble tea panna cotta. But you can expect to see a few nods to the OG restaurant — including the pipis in XO, of course. The impressive XOPP venue is located on the mezzanine level within Darling Square's striking new six-storey Exchange Building designed by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma. The dining room makes use of the circular building with floor-to-ceiling windows that show the timber that wraps around the facade. Inside, it's all very sleek with black ceilings, leather banquettes patterned light fittings. It joins the Maker's Dozen on the ground floor of the building, which includes a Tokyo-inspired milk bar from the Devon team, a bar from craft beer specialists Bucket Boys and a Japanese pasta shop from Hamish Ingham and Rebecca Lines of Banksii and Kerby Craig of Ume. The building is also home for Haymarket Library. And if you're booking for a special event then look to book one of XOPP's impressive and elegant private dining rooms, with spaces available for 10, 20, 40 or 60 guests. [caption id="attachment_742977" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Steven Woodburn[/caption] Images: Steven Woodburn
Lots of different people hang out at dog parks. Mostly there are people who own woofers and who are taking them for their daily exercise. But there are also quite a few people like us who live in tiny rented apartments, pay exorbitant rent and are frantically saving money for the ultimate dream of a mortgage, a backyard and a pooch of our very own — people searching for some daily dog interaction.The following is a list of excellent dog parks (and beaches!) for Sydneysiders who want to give their hounds an excellent frolic, but also for puppy perverts who just want to go for a stroll and watch other people's glorious dogs romp around — and maybe pat a couple if it's ok with the poochies and their owners. [caption id="attachment_622126" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low[/caption] CAMPERDOWN MEMORIAL REST PARK Inner west locals will be pretty familiar with this one — it's incredibly popular with dog owners and dog-watchers alike. It's central, green and flat and also large enough to use one of those tennis ball-throwie thingys. Frisbees are also a delight here — there is a particularly athletic German Shepherd regular who is a gun with the disc. The park is officially off-leash at all hours on weekdays and between 4pm–9am (or 5pm–9am daylight saving time) on weekends, but there always seem to be dogs running free here. It makes for an excellent afternoon of dogspotting. SIRIUS COVE, MOSMAN There's shade, grass and bins with those handy little plastic bags for your dog's business at Sirius Cove, but most importantly there is WATER for splashing and jumping and fetching. This place is basically Sydney's happiest stretch of sand — when we visited there was a dachshund and a Labrador having a tug of war with a large stick in shallows (the dachshund did not win) and a Great Dane the size of a small motorcycle doing what appeared to be backflips. Prepare for sand to go everywhere and for that delightful wet dog smell, but also for your pooch to have the best day ever. Sirius Cove allows off leash access all day on weekdays, and before 9am and after 4pm on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays. [caption id="attachment_653317" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kimberley Low.[/caption] ST IVES SHOWGROUND North Shore types, you have it made. This expansive patch of land happens to be Ku-ring-gai's largest sports and recreation facility, with a soccer field, equestrian ring, BMX trails — but you're here for your pooch, so we'll skip to the good stuff. St Ives Showground has four fully off-leash areas, all with great fencing. Not to mention there's a forest you can take pooches for an on-leash adventure. MACLEAY RESERVE, ELIZABETH BAY It's only teensy, but this park has views to die for, and some of Sydney's fanciest pooches to spy on. Off-leash at all times (though be careful with your woofers near the kids playground), Macleay Reserve is also a super popular wedding spot so maybe make sure Nugget isn't going to crash any nuptials before you unclip his lead. On every visit so far there has been a delightful array of white fluffballs, pugs and often a slightly beserk Boxer called Marvin. It's the best. ROWLAND RESERVE, BAYVIEW Prepare yourself for that wet dog smell again. Rowland Reserve is right on the water and perfect for aquatic dogs who like a good paddle and a wet tennis ball. It stays relatively shallow close to the beach so owners can also have a decent wade without getting soaked — there's also a bonus jetty for Rover to practice his catches off. Parking can be tricky on weekends, especially as it's a popular launch site for boats. It's always off-leash though so try a weekday afternoon for maximum puppy splash opportunities. HAWTHORNE CANAL RESERVE, LEICHHARDT This shady inner west reserve is ideal for good boys who love to run around as it's 100 percent off-leash. Plus, it has several handy taps for thirsty pups. It doesn't hurt that there's a waterway running through it, too. BUNGARRIBEE PARK, DOONSIDE On of Sydney's largest off-leash parks is BIG. The actual dog-park is called the Warrigal Dog Run, and has good strong fencing, water bowls and dog business bags. There's heaps of parking all around the gigantic park, and dogs are allowed inside the whole area if they stay on-leash. Bungarribee also has a great bike path, so it's pretty much a great day out whether you have two or four legs. Owners here are super friendly too — so head in and ask for a pat, you've got a great shot at some puppy love. Don't have a pooch to take to one of these parks? Borrow one. Top image: Marion Michele.
You used to have to leave the Hills District for a decent meal, but times have changed. There are now cafes, bars and restaurants serving incredible food in the area (that's Castle Hill, Dural, Winston Hills, Glenhaven and surrounds). If you live in the area, we're truly sorry to have neglected you with food and drink listings thus far. It stops now. In partnership with Castle Towers (which has just launched The Cooking School—a series of food-focused workshops), we've put together a guide to the best food and drink options in the area. Leave your inner city bubble and you'll find inventive breakfasts in Dural, burgers and fries in Winston Hills and extravagant cocktails to drink with dinner in Castle Hill. THE BARON, CASTLE HILL Part of the allure of living in the Hills is the suburban atmosphere and the idyllic setting, but getting something good to eat can be tricky. Matt Stone and Mike Ico of The Baron recognised this, so they took all of their zero hospitality experience and opened up a cracking joint in Castle Hill that champions solid food, great specialty coffee and local produce. The two have taken to food service like a duck to water—on the breakfast menu are wood-fired Smoking Gun Bagels, and there are the delicious beef burgers and toasties for lunch. The Baron is licensed and champions Australian wine, playing host to an occasional burger and natural wine pairing night. WOLFE AND CO, DURAL At Wolfe and Co, every ingredient, design decision and cup of coffee is lovingly chosen, created and delivered with pride. From the delicate kingfish fillet with grains and gazpacho to every Five Senses flat white, the Dural cafe is about lifting the hospitality game in the Hills and providing its people with the finer things in life. The cafe has an elegant, black and white fit-out, which is comfortable but plain enough that it draws attention to the craft rather than the building. As many places in the Hills seem to be, Wolfe and Co is licensed—it serves alcohol alongside an all day breakfast and lunch menu. It's the perfect to take your family for a slightly fancy meal. YOUENI, CASTLE HILL Youeni is all about healthy eating and clean living. The cafe started out in Surry Hills a while back, then it moved over to Castle Hill to bring its philosophy of holistic dining out west with a second venue (as if Surry Hills wasn't already spoiled for choice). The cafe is light, airy and the menu is vegan friendly. It covers all your cafe classics from sandwiches to a salad that will literally save your life—the Life Extending Bowl gets you all the nutrients you need in the most delicious way possible. Youeni is the perfect spot for a healthy weekend breakfast date. THE TUCKSHOP, GLENHAVEN Not content with just one entry on the list, The Tuckshop comes to you from the same boys behind The Baron. Their second digs takes a similar approach to food, where it must be tasty, but it must also be good for you—a philosophy that extends to their famous burgers (the beef is a spectacular option). If you're looking for somewhere that serves up ace food and coffee in an idyllic setting with an old-school canteen feel, then The Tuckshop's the joint for you. Printed on the wall is 'Greetings from Glenheaven, where it's not the city and you couldn't care less'. Delightful. AUSTRALIAN BREWERY, ROUSE HILL The 20-year-old Australian Brewery is the birthplace of some super delicious beers (its own pale ale, pilsner, lager and cider), but it also takes food very seriously. The spacious dining area is inspired by great beer halls, with high ceilings and long tables that are the perfect place to throw back a freshly brewed frosty beers while chowing down on some hearty pub grub. The menu has great pub classics, everything from a parmigiana to a grilled T-Bone or a pizza. There are also extensive gluten free options. This Rouse Hill local caters for everyone, and the large tables make it an obviously perfect choice for a function, should you need to gather up your friends and family for a celebration. WILD PEAR CAFE, DURAL Wild Pear is an institution in the Hills region—locally famous for its fresh, colourful and delicious food. The menu covers some great cafe classics—there's the standard, delicious shakshuka, then there are pancakes with banana and honeycomb and burgers with crispy chips for lunch. Creativity is turned up to eleven with the garnishes—think fairy floss and edible flowers. The food is great, but you can't talk about Wild Pear without mentioning the view—the verandah looks over a huge, beautiful nursery of plants, trees and flowers. A stunning, peaceful spot to sit down and relax with a coffee. EL BURGER, WINSTON HILLS El Burger is a popular spot in Winston Hills, serving up twelve delicious burgers for lunch every day inside the local shopping centre. Take your pick from a menu that features burgers made with beef, chicken, lamb, pork, vegetarian or fish. As is customary in a burger shop, there are multiple versions of loaded fries too—some topped with cheesy bacon, others with chicken or pork. Milkshakes are on the menu too—flavours include Nutella, honeycomb caramel and strawberry swirl. CROOKED TAILOR, CASTLE HILL Castle Hill was dying for a new bar that's not Hillside. We're not saying there's anything wrong with Hillside, but we are saying that sometimes you just want to get a drink somewhere where you won't be surrounded by fresh-out-of-high-school teenagers and possibly underage kids. When Crooked Tailor opened, the people of Castle Hill breathed a sigh of relief. Mainly because at this bar there's a lovely, leafy courtyard, a great food menu and an extensive cocktail menu to order off. The food menu features barbecue meats alongside a healthy smattering of vegetarian food, and the cocktail menu features drinks like the Waterside—gin, lime juice, mint and house-made watermelon soda— and the 49'RS—made with chilli honey jam, lemon juice, whisky and orange bitters. THE HILLS FOOD FESTIVAL, ROUSE HILL The Hills obviously has some spectacular food offerings, but the Australian Brewery recognises that there's other great food in Sydney too. In that spirit, the brewery hosts The Hills Food Festival—an annual festival of good eating where the very best Sydney street food is showcased. Last year Messina popped by, as well as the crew from Knafeh Bakery. Stay tuned to the brewery's website for information on the festival—it was extremely popular last year. Castle Towers is running The Cooking School over April and May—a series of food-focused workshops, classes and events for kids and adults. Visit the Castle Towers website for tickets and details. Words: James Whitton and Kelly Pigram. Images: Steven Woodburn. Top image: Wolfe and Co, Dural.
Leaving the safety net of university life can be daunting. Taxes, health insurance, budgeting and eating greens are all tricky requirements of adulting, not to mention trying to get a job ("Graduate position, minimum two years of experience required..." what is this madness?). But fear not, there is hope. We've profiled five young go-getters who hit the ground running after uni and achieved their success through unconventional means. They did it and you can too (stop that, yes you can). [caption id="attachment_562120" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: @sedgebeswick.[/caption] SEDGE BESWICK, 26, GLOBAL SENIOR SOCIAL MEDIA AND COMMUNITY MANAGER AT ASOS For most of us, using social media is just that a social activity. For others it’s a way of life and a strategic marketing tool; when wielded properly can elevate a start-up and polish a personal brand no matter how small. Sedge Beswick is one such social media maven and part of a young generation of digital natives that are coming up through volunteer positions and internships to absolutely kill it at the media game for big companies. That playful tone you adore on ASOS social media? That’s Beswick. And while managing the global social media for ASOS, she’s also racked up a neat little 11k on her personal Instagram, written a book about using Twitter strategically and designed a line of t-shirts emblazoned with social media slogans. She’s literally #killingit. BECKY SUI ZHEN, 31, MUSICIAN Sui Zhen is one of the many monikers of Melbourne-based musician Becky Sui Zhen who has risen through the ranks of the music scene to be hailed as a 'social media musician' due to her pristine and eye catching artistic vision. She’s put in the hard yards over the years, studying graphic design and Japanese, winning grants, releasing EPs in Japan and doing overseas residencies and all while playing prolifically around Australia. She also produces and edits the iconic film clips for Sui Zhen and has collaborated with artist and photographer Phebe Schmidt. She’s poised to take over the world in 2016 following the late-2015 release her first Australian LP ‘Secretly Susan’. The LP caught the attention of FADER who clocked her as one of 25 international artists to watch and she’s supported Toro Y Moi in Melbourne on his 2016 Aussie tour. We imagine 2016 is only going to get better for this kawaii gem. GERMAINE STATIA, JAMAL OULEL + AYOUB AOURAGH, 23, 25 + 24, FOUNDERS AND DEVELOPERS AT REFUGEE HERO When the Syrian refugee crisis peaked in 2015, Dutch trio Germaine Statia, Jamal Oulel, and Ayoub Aouragh, responded with a contemporary and altruistic solution. Refugee Hero, hailed as the Airbnb for refugees, is a platform that allows people to offer their spare room up to refugees who have just arrived in their country. “We want to give back humanity to mankind,” says Statia. The service is 100 percent free and mobile-friendly. It allows individuals or institutions to offer help and shelter whether or not their government is pro-refugee. The team hopes the service can one day expand to cover all elements of resettling, from applying for passports to finding a new school for children and is a shining example of how modern technology can be used for good in the face of adversity. EMMA MULHOLLAND, 27, DESIGNER There’s something about Emma Mulholland that Australia is crazy for. The young designer hit the ground running after graduating from TAFE in 2010 and hasn’t stopped since. Her latest project, a collaboration with iconic Aussie label Mambo, proves that in a few short years, she’s explored, honed in on and defined exactly what makes her work so popular. The garish '80s and '90s themed prints and icons of our childhood combined with a(h)ctivewear references hit the nostalgia nail right on the head and the collection has resonated with Aussie kidults who grew up wearing bike shorts and climbing trees. Far away from the catwalks of Paris and Milan, Australia often struggles to define itself outside of a European reference and it’s no easy feat to export a uniquely Australian line, but Mulholland has done so with aplomb, straight outta TAFE. [caption id="attachment_562121" align="alignnone" width="1280"] Image: @louislazarus.[/caption] LUKE HAMPSHIRE AND ALEXANDER ROBINSON, 28 AND 32, AVIATION ENTERPRENEURS AT AIRLY In January, the Australian aviation scene had a sorely need shake up. Two young guns, 28-year-old Luke Hampshire and 32-year-old Alexander Robinson announced their airline company Airly which completely turns air travel on its head. Airly members pay a fee of $2550 (minimum) per month to fly as much as they like on the company’s private jets which operate between Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney. For frequent fliers, the minimum waiting time and luxury service is a tasty drawcard. Hampshire, a former Air Force pilot, recognised a gap in the marketplace and despite the pair’s youth, turned an insight into an industry shake-up and paved the way for more options and versatility in air travel. Top image: Sedge Beswick.
Freshwater welcomed a new Mexican eatery in 2022 that boasts an expansive set menu of food and drink. A sibling to Avalon's Alma, St. Alma joins the long-standing venue in the northern beaches, 30 minutes south of the OG eatery. Located on Albert Street, the restaurant joins a bustling food and drink neighbourhood, with a host of bars, cafes and restaurants occupying the same corner and Freshwater favourites Harbord Hotel and Pilu just down the road. "What people don't know is we signed a lease in Freshwater back in 2017 before opening Avalon, but unfortunately it fell through," owner Jack Leary. "Ever since Freshwater has been on our wish list for a restaurant venue – you can't beat the location for its beach vibe and sense of community." At St. Alma you can start with freshly prepared chips and guac, scallop tostadas and mezcal-cured kingfish served with pistachios and preserved lemon. Continue down the menu, and you'll find a selection of tacos. Choose between a changing fish taco with coleslaw and peanut macha aioli and the carne asada taco with guac, flank steak and a rich burnt chilli sauce. While the majority of the menu is set up for a banquet-style experience, there is a spread of impressive larger mains on offer that can be served as a personal feast or work as the centrepiece to a table of share plates. These change seasonally, but you might find confit mushrooms, chicken in adobo, grilled octopus covered in pickled turnips and prune mole and crispy pork belly. The drinks list stretches on just as far as the food. If you're prepared for a big night, tasting flights are an ideal place to start, offering up four tequilas and other Mexican spirits for you to try. Bevs include seven different kinds of margaritas, plus a slew of other classic Mexican cocktails. Eight tequila and mezcal tasting flights are also available for those looking to learn more about these increasingly popular agave-based tipples. End your afternoon of feasting with a walk along the beach at Freshwater, and there you have a pretty marvellous day out in Sydney's Northern Beaches.
Equal parts delicious and disturbing, Dark Mofo is an immersive celebration of the winter solstice that descends upon Hobart to flaunt the gruesome and the visceral, exploring ancient ritual and ceremony from the past to the present day. Kicking off on June 8, the 14-day festival features a slew of music, food, performance art, light and sound installations alongside exhibits that are beyond the boundaries of regular categorisation. Presented by the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona), the festival is the brainchild of the museum's founder David Walsh and creative director Leigh Carmicheal, and 2017 will be its fifth iteration. Mona was built as an extended, underground labyrinth, 11 kilometres north of Hobart — an easy 25-minute ferry ride along the Derwent River — with the private fortune of Walsh. It's explicit and unashamed, and is affectionately referred to as 'the museum of sex and death'. In short, you have to go. And Dark Mofo is the perfect excuse to head down to Tassie and make a weekend of it. Spectacular events (like this one) are worthy of a big trip, and aside from casual laziness and a little lack of inspiration, there's really nothing stopping you from squeezing Dark Mofo into your schedule. We've teamed up with Mazda3 to help you plan your out-of-the-city trips ahead of time, so you can detour from your regular routine and inject a little adventure into your life. The festival will keep your schedule jam-packed, but you should make some time to explore Hobart too. Here are the best places to eat, drink and stay if you're visiting for Dark Mofo. Pack a coat (and gloves, and a beanie) and bring a palate laced with intrigue — hedonism is the order of the day. [caption id="attachment_619495" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Dark Mofo's Winter Feast, shot by Rémi Chauvin.[/caption] EAT It's no coincidence that Hobart's restaurant scene is undergoing a new wave. Local chefs are giving restaurateurs on the mainland a run for their money, establishing eateries that significantly reduce the time it takes to transport produce from paddock to plate. No visit to Hobart would be complete without a Saturday morning trip to Salamanca Market. Every weekend, the harbourside suburb becomes a bustling marketplace, showcasing a broad and delicious range of local produce, artisanal crafts and food stalls. Be sure to drop by Machine Laundry, a cafe that doubles up as a laundromat serving some of the best coffee in town. Another honourable mention for coffee and brunch is Room for a Pony — it's located up the hill in North Hobart. While Salamanca is an iconic (and necessary) weekend tourist stop, it's worth noting that the market can get very busy, particularly over the festival period. A quieter alternative is the Farm Gate Market, which closes off Bathurst Street every Sunday from 8.30am until 1pm (late enough for you to sleep away the sins of the previous night). Brimming with local farmers, this is the place to source some of Tasmania's best game and fresh meat, as well as fresh-from-the-farm produce, such as pickles and chutneys. Bathurst Street is also a hotspot for brunch options; The Flipped Egg serves a mean breakfast burger, while Bury Me Standing is your go-to for pot-boiled bagels. Tasmania is also said to boast some of the freshest fish outside of Japan and the Farm Gate Market is lucky enough to host Masaaki Koyama's hugely popular sushi stall. And you absolutely need to get a dozen oysters (yes, even for breakfast). If your budget extends beyond market nosh, make time to have a meal at Franklin. David Moyle's ten-tonne Scotch oven warms up the concrete space with a tight but top-notch menu of modern Australian dishes and some prized Tasmanian seafood. It's also totally fine to drop by for a drink and a snack before or after a show, so you can still visit without spending up a full storm. In the evening, Dark Mofo offers two avenues for gluttonous excess. Set along Hobart's waterfront, the Winter Feast is a holy pilgrimage for the hungry. Local and international chefs serve hawker-style hedonism within a medieval-themed banquet hall, lined with naked flames and a diverse range of food outlets. Otherwise, head down to Dark Park at Macquarie Point — this is the free and interactive epicentre of Dark Mofo. The space is an industrial expanse littered with art installations, food trucks and the obligatory fire pit — a must for anyone still fanging for sensory stimulation. [caption id="attachment_619511" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Preachers.[/caption] DRINK If you're looking to make a boozy discovery, Hobart is a bonafide goldmine. Cascade Brewery sits pretty at the foot of Mount Wellington and takes home the trophy for Australia's oldest operating brewery. For a small fee ($25-35), you can tour the 185-year-old building before enjoying a selection of ice-cold, just-pulled beers and ciders from the Cascade portfolio. If whisky's more your thing, Lark has won countless awards for its single malt, a dram that holds its own on the global market. For $75, you can take a tour of the distillery — it's located 15 minutes northeast of the CBD — and discover the intricacies of the production process. Of course, whisky tastings are included in the cost of the ticket, and you'll round off the tour with a well-earned G&T made with their Forty Spotted Gin. And if you've got access to a car, it's worth making the 20-minute drive out to Sullivans Cove. In 2015 they were awarded World's Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Whisky Awards for their French oak cask — so a dram of their stuff is hard to come by. They do tastings and tours on the hour, Monday to Friday. Back in town, Preachers is your go-to for craft beer (they have 16 on tap), cider and boutique wines. It's a laidback pub with a vibe suited to all seasons — they have open fires to warm you up on cold nights (and the nights are very cold). There's even a vintage school bus parked on the front lawn — a gimmick that doesn't seem to wear off. Keep an eye out for South Seas Cocktail Lounge too, a secretive den for rum-based cocktails and tropical vibes. It's tricky to spot and often bypassed — but be sure to look for the red abstract artwork at the front of the building, located at 13-17 Castray Esplanade. At Dark Mofo's own Dark Park, drop by the Talisker Dark Bar serving hot toddies and Irish coffees, and pairing ten-year-old single malt whisky with blue cheese jaffles — a melty fusion of Tasmanian stilton and mozzarella. DO Dark Mofo's creative director Leigh Carmichael has called this year's program the most ambitious to date. The lineup combines typical plumes of fire, feasting, bacchanalian imagery and challenging performance pieces that are as confronting as they are spectacular. Austrian artist Hermann Nitsch will exhibit 150.Action, a visceral performance piece that is not for the faint-hearted. This performance will feature 500 litres of blood and an animal carcass with the backing of a full orchestra. Heavy. On the lighter end of the spectrum, Crossing invites participants on a 200-kilometre pilgrimage north of Hobart, visiting six different churches across six different nights. Each church will provide a backdrop for soundscapes and light shows. This year, Mona will also host The Museum of Everything for its first Australian showing, a world-wandering exhibition that lays focus on the untrained, the unintentional, the undiscovered and the unclassifiable artists of the last three centuries. The musical lineup is the strongest yet. Scottish post-rock stalwarts Mogwai will perform a vast and soaring soundscape, and German experimental noise art pioneers Einstürzende Neubauten will delve into their portfolio, which spans 37 years. Dark Mofo has also secured a performance from indigenous hip-hop group A.B. Original and Norwegian black metal experimental musicians Ulver. Xiu Xiu will celebrate the music of David Lynch's Twin Peaks. Then there are the Dark Mofo regulars. The Nude Solstice Swim is a communal dip in the ocean on the first sunrise after the winter solstice, and the Ogoh-Ogoh, the traditional Indonesian monster procession, arrives in Hobart in two parts: the purging and the burning. STAY If you're visiting Hobart during Dark Mofo, you'll want to be in the thick of it. Events are scattered across the city, but are centralised around the Salamanca, waterfront and CBD areas. Filling the gap between backpackers and budget chain hotels, the Alabama Hotel offers boutique, budget-friendly accommodation at the centre of Hobart. You won't find elevators, fluffy robes or en-suite bathrooms here — rather, every room has its own decorative style, heaps of character and super-fast WiFi. The bar is well-stocked and serves a good coffee throughout the day. If you're on a higher budget, consider renting a Mona Pavilion. You won't be staying at the museum (you're only allowed to do this if you're dead, the Pavilion website kindly reminds us) but a luxury den sitting on the bank of the River Derwent. Each pavilion is named after an influential Australian architect and is decorated with Mona artworks. It's fancy. Alternatively, The Henry Jones Art Hotel is close to the waterfront and just steps away from Macquarie Point, the site of Dark Park. Rooms are pricier than The Alabama, but tastefully decorated with works from local artists. You'll also wake up to the glorious views of the harbour. Dark Mofo runs from June 8 to 21. Top image: Rémi Chauvin (2014), courtesy of Mona. Personalise your next adventure via The Playmaker, driven by Mazda3.
You might like getting back to nature, but that doesn't mean you have to like wet tents, cold showers, blistering sun, flies, mosquitoes, ticks, midges, sandflies, red belly black snakes, brown snakes and spiders. Okay, okay, we hear you. And, luckily, so do the good folks at NSW National Parks. In fact, you'll find all kinds of accommodation options in national parks that don't involve canvas or pegs, yet surround you with trees, beautiful views and friendly wild creatures. Here are ten of the best. GREEN CAPE LIGHTSTATION KEEPERS' COTTAGES, MERIMBULA Here's an opportunity to play lighthouse keeper for a weekend. You'll be watching out for ships from the southernmost lighthouse in New South Wales: Green Cape. It's about 500 kilometres south of Sydney, on the rocky northern peninsula of Disaster Bay (yep, there've been stacks of shipwrecks here), backdropped by Ben Boyd National Park. During whale watching season (May to December), you'll be astounded at the amount of humpback action, while coastal walks and secluded beaches will keep you busy during summer. The cottages comes with claw foot baths, open fires and shady verandahs overlooking the sea. Where? Ben Boyd National Park. How much? $280–350 in peak season, and $250–325 off-peak per night. Book here. Q STATION, MANLY Need trees, but don't have time to skip the city? Hop over to Manly's share of the Sydney Harbour National Park for a sleepover at Q Station. It gets its name from its former incarnation as the Quarantine Station. These days, the historical buildings, which are scattered over a slice of land overlooking Sydney Harbour, have been turned into fancy hotel rooms and suites. This is one of the most luxurious stays on the list — expect crisp white sheets, trendy design and a bunch of onsite restaurants with views. Beyond them, there are kayaks, guided tours, a cycle path leading to Manly, Quarantine Beach for swimming and snorkelling, and 30 hectares of bush. Where? Sydney Harbour National Park. How much? $169–449 per night. Book here. SUGARLOAF POINT LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS' COTTAGES, SEAL ROCKS The mid-north coast is home to some stunning beaches, and you can cop an eyeful of one of them at every waking moment at Sugarloaf Point Lighthouse. As at Cape Byron, the three lighthouse keepers' cottages have been transformed into accommodation — and have just re-opened after receiving a new lick of paint and some conservation improvements. The best part about this accommodation is undoubtedly the position on the headland, which afford views over the Pacific and, if you're lucky, some dolphins and whales. The head keeper's cottage sleeps eight and the two others sleep six each — you can rent out one or all of them, depending on your group size. Where? Myall Lakes National Park. How much? $445–685 in peak season, and $360–610 off-peak per night. Book here. ASSISTANT LIGHTHOUSE KEEPER'S COTTAGES, BYRON BAY Stay within sight of one of the state's most famous panoramas at Cape Byron's lighthouse cottages. Formerly the domain of the assistant lighthouse keeper, these heritage-listed dwellings, built in 1901, are now dedicated to public sleepovers. The period furniture helps you step back in time, but you can count on some mod cons, including a TV, a stereo, a barbie, a kitchen and a laundry. Wake up first thing to see Australia's sunrise before anyone else does — Cape Byron is the country's easternmost point. If you're looking for things to do in the area, check out our 48 hours in Byron Bay guide. Where? Cape Byron State Conservation Area. How much? $420–1155 per night. Book here. WEEMALAH COTTAGE, ROYAL NATIONAL PARK Weemalah Cottage sits on the banks of West Arm Creek, a tributary of Port Hacking River and one of the wildest waterways in the Royal National Park. Commit your entire break to sitting on your private balcony with a beer in hand, watching the river roll by. Or, pack your kayak and get paddling upstream, where you're likely to meet sea eagles, deer, wallabies and, in the upper reaches, South West Arm Rock Pools – when the tide is running in your favour. Weemalah has three bedrooms with room for six guests. Where? Ben Boyd National Park. How much? $400–500 in peak season, and $250–400 off-peak per night. Book here. BIG YANGO HOUSE, BULGA This spacious homestead sits on what were once grazing pastures at the foot of Mount Yengo, about two hours west of Lake Macquarie. There are beds for eight spread across three bedrooms, plus a cabin where another five can get cosy. Spend your time visiting ancient Aboriginal rock art on the Finchley Cultural Walk, gazing at Wollemi wilderness from Mount Yengo Lookout or conquering a 43-kilometre stretch of the Old Great North Road on your bike. The house isn't available between November and February, but, come winter, Big Yango's fireplace and oversized couches will keep you warm. Where? Yengo National Park. How much? $250 per night for the house, and $50 for night for the cabin. Book here. YARRANGOBILLY CAVES HOUSE, SNOWY MOUNTAINS This grand heritage house, built in 1917, is in Yarrangobilly Valley in Kosciuszko National Park, just a stumble away from Yarrangobilly Caves and an above ground thermal pool. Even in the deepest, darkest depths of winter, you'll be swimming in 27-degree water. If you're travelling with 23 friends, then take over the entire place; otherwise, book a queen or king room with or without an ensuite. Either way, you can count on a touch of luxury. In between caving and swimming, head out for bush walks and kick back on the verandah, getting lost in mesmerising views. Where? Kosciuszko National Park. How much? $145–390 per night. Book here. [caption id="attachment_616629" align="alignnone" width="1920"] T Burke[/caption] MYER HOUSE, SOUTH COAST This stunning house is the work of architect Sir Roy Grounds, who also designed the National Gallery of Victoria, the Melbourne Arts Centre and the ANU's Botany Building. It's perched on pristine Bithry Inlet, which runs into Wapengo Lake in Mimosa Rocks National Park, about 400 kilometres south of Sydney. Floor-to-ceiling windows maximise your views and four bedrooms provide lodgings for up to 12 guests. When you're not lazing about, smash out a game of tennis on your private court and get to know the park's many untouched beaches, bays and walking tracks. Catch is that you have to book for a whole week. Where? Mimosa Rocks National Park. How much? $5000 in peak season, and $2350 off-peak per week. Book here. MUNGO SHEARERS' QUARTERS, NEAR MILDURA At Mungo National Park, you can experience old-school shearing life with a sleepover in the Mungo Shearers' Quarters. The park, which you'll find due west of Sydney, was (in part) a sheep station before being turned over to public use. Take a guided tour of the spectacular Walls of China with an Aboriginal ranger, set off on a self-guided drive tour and wander around Lake Mungo, home of the famous Mungo remains. The quarters give you a choice of bunk beds, doubles and queens. Where? Mungo National Park. How much? $60 per room per night. Book here. PLOMER BEACH HOUSE, NEAR PORT MACQUARIE This laidback shack is surrounded by bush in the sheltered southern corner of Plomer Beach. There are four bedrooms, so feel free to invite your nine best mates along. When you're not lighting the barbie, drinking vino on the patio, swimming or snorkelling, go exploring in Limeburners Creek National Park. The 1.4-kilometre Big Hill Rainforest Track travels through coastal rainforest and, at sunset, you can expect to meet micro bats. Meanwhile, Port Macquarie is just an hour's drive south — take our handy weekender's guide with you. Where? Limeburners Creek National Park. How much? $371 in peak season, $314 in shoulder season and $171 off-peak per night. Book here. All images supplied by NSW National Parks unless otherwise specified.
Celebrate two centuries of whisky excellence with "The Macallan x Park Hyatt: A Journey Through Time," an exclusive event hosted at The Bar at Park Hyatt Sydney from July 10 until August 31. This unique whisky experience marks The Macallan's 200th birthday with a curated flight of Rob Roy cocktails, masterfully crafted by bar manager Kevin Botte. A Rob Roy is a Scottish twist on a classic Manhattan cocktail, but swapping out the bourbon for a Scottish dram — in this case, The Macallan. [caption id="attachment_970876" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Kevin Botte[/caption] During the cocktail flight, guests will be served three twists on a Rob Roy representing the past, present and future of the renowned whisky brand. Begin your journey with a cocktail highlighting The Macallan Double Cask 12 Years Old, celebrating the brand's storied past. Progress to the present with a creation featuring The Macallan Double Cask 15 Years Old, and imagine the future with a cocktail crafted from the limited-edition Harmony Collection Amber Meadow. Guests will also receive a full-serve cocktail of their choosing and indulge in a thoughtfully paired two-course dinner from The Dining Room's culinary team. With the Park Hyatt's picturesque Sydney Harbour backdrop, it makes for an ideal setting and a top choice to treat the whisky-lover in your life — especially if that is you.
If gorgeous, achingly tasteful objet d'art and interior design is your weakness, prepare to be overwhelmed at Avalon store-cum-showroom Composition. The brainchild of interior architect Claire Perini, Composition offers a meticulously curated selection of modern antiques and contemporary brands assigned to one of three categories: Artefact (unique vintage), Object (new product) and Print (design literature both vintage and new, and lithographic works). The showroom itself is a lovely environment to simply be present in, with something beautiful to catch the eye at virtually every inch. A pair of Art Deco-period French cane and walnut armchairs might find themselves propping up a Matisse lithograph or an original artworks by Danish painter Egil Jacobsen, and could be sitting alongside candy-coloured decorative glassware by Helle Mardahl (of which Composition is the exclusive stockist for New South Wales). [caption id="attachment_944545" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Art Deco 1940s chairs on display[/caption] Brands featured in the store include established Australian lines by Maison Balzac, Corey Ashford, INBED, as well as exclusives like plates created by multidisciplinary fine artist George Raftopoulos. Initially, Perini's focus for Composition was almost entirely on Australian product and brands, but since setting up shop in the Avalon space in 2020, she has evolved the mix to include covetable international brands like French cutlery label Sabre Paris and Swedish jeweller Sara Robertsson. For those customers with a particular yen for Claire's design sensibility and aesthetic, she also offers services as an interior consultant so you can just hand over the keys and let her work the magic. You can stay up to date on new items and sales by following Composition on Instagram. Image credit: Sage Hammond.
You've tried a pisco sour, but have you had a pisco margarita or a pisco-spiked cosmopolitan? What about a pisco espresso martini? At King Street locale Calle Rey, you'll find all four. It's showcasing the true potential of this under-represented Peruvian spirit at its Diablo Pisco Bar alongside scrumptious plant-based dishes. There is a range of pisco cocktails on offer from a classic pisco sour to more unusual combinations like the pisco espresso which is similar to an espresso martini but a touch sweeter. If you can't choose, you can opt for the pisco-tasting flight with four of the most popular pisco cocktails — available on Thursdays. For something a little 'extra,' you can go for the enormous (and seriously sweet) 'Largaritas', which come topped with either a Vodka Cruiser or a Sol beer — and could easily be shared between four. The Newtown restaurant offers a 100% plant-based menu that melds Mexican, Peruvian and Japanese cuisines. About 90% of the menu is made in-house from some of the faux-meat options to the sauces. At Calle Rey, you'll find cauliflower buffalo wings in a smoky barbecue sauce; 'chicken' nachos (aka jackfruit) topped with guacamole and sour cream; and 'cheeseburger', 'smoked chicken' and crowd favourite 'fried calamari' tacos (konjac) — all of which are made with vegan ingredients, but do a fair job of making you think otherwise. On the Japanese fusion side, there's the sweet chilli togerashi cauliflower with wasabi mayo, black and white sesame, spring onions and crisp shallots. For a true taste of the menu offerings, you can choose between two set menus — The Calle Rey set or the Japanese Fusion — or opt for the 'Taco Experience', available Tuesday to Thursday which includes all of the available tacos. There are also share plates and midweek specials to ensure you get the best bang for your buck.
Working from home has its undeniable perks. Your day begins in your own space, minus long crowded commutes, cramped office cubicles and strained water-cooler conversation. And if you feel like wearing pyjamas the whole damn day, there's no-one to judge. But this no-rules workplace can quickly become all too comfortable. Pot plants and pets can only go so far to providing stimulating companionship. Plus freedom and procrastination virtually go hand-in-hand. That's where the 'coffice' comes in. Work-friendly coffee shops give artists, writers and freelancers a change of pace from their solitary spaces. These ten are our favourite places to head when that mid-morning creativity slump kicks in. All are mostly quiet, relaxed enough to accommodate long sittings and have free Wi-Fi thrown in. 107 PROJECTS CAFE, REDFERN Nestled in the artist-run 107 Projects, the 107 Cafe feels more like a good mate's laidback living room that just happens to have a coffee machine tucked in the corner. Frequented by resident artists and locals looking for an excuse to get out of the house, the space features roomy, sun-drenched tables; indoor and outdoor seating; and the kind of shambolic interior design to get those creative juices flowing. BERKELOUW BOOKS' 1812 CAFE, PADDINGTON Surround yourself with stacks of intellectual inspiration at this cosy cafe bookstore space. With plenty of bar and table seating around, you'll be ticking boxes and meeting deadlines in no time. This place is a coffice classic; you'll notice your fellow patrons either tapping away at laptops or talking through low-key meetings. And if energy levels drop and hunger strikes, fear not. Their menu of homemade baked goods and healthy lunch dishes will keep you fuelled and firing all day long. COPO CAFE AND DINER, DRUMMOYNE Serving up South American-inspired eats just minutes from The Bay Run of Iron Cove, Copo Cafe and Diner is the perfect spot to spend an afternoon working away in the sun. Head to the terrace for a view of the surrounds, or tuck yourself away inside the cafe's laidback lower level. With lush greenery at every turn and spacious seating (so you'll never feel in the way), this is just the place for those needing a change of scenery to get their to-do list done. THE HILL EATERY, BONDI The Hill Eatery gives Bondi-goers the perfect blend of relaxed cafe dining and stunning beachside views. Their wholesome menu of locally sourced ingredients, with everything from egg and bacon rolls and hearty beef burgers to gourmet salads (plus an assortment of freshly baked treats), will keep you truly well fed. Nab a spot on their uber-comfy cushioned benches, or grab a table under their iconic curved window. If you can avoid daydreaming about the water, it's a killer spot to spend a chilled working afternoon. FLEETWOOD MACCHIATO, ERSKINEVILLE Tucked away in the leafy streets of the inner-west, Fleetwood Macchiato answers all your coffice needs. Brimming with tasty snacks and a team ready to deliver every coffee call, it's the perfect weekday space for creative folk and freelancers to set up camp. Their small tables make solo visits perfectly acceptable, but be warned, this isn’t a place to head during the busy weekend rush. Get the timing right, and you'll be greeted with a cosy little gem serving some pretty incredible seasonal dishes. Image by Sacha Fernandez. CLEVELAND'S, REDFERN Decked out with some of the cutest interiors around, Cleveland's is a barber meets coffee shop with a difference. Pumping out brews courtesy of beans sourced from The Little Marionette and whipping up feeds featuring locally sourced produce courtesy of Brickfields, Farmer Jo and Sticky Chai, it's no wonder this place is a well-loved Redfern favourite. A little exposed brick and quaint wooden seating produce the perfect aesthetic to get you working (or at least, make for some great 'gram backdrops). PARLOUR LANE ROASTERS, CBD For those stuck for a spot to work among the crowded inner-city streets, Parlour Lane is the perfect solution. Sure, it may be situated on one of the busiest Sydney CBD streets around, but somehow this nook-style cafe is always an oasis of calm. The dim lighting mightn't suit those with drowsiness-inducing work to do and the mobile reception is apparently patchy (a pro or a con, depending on your procrastination tendencies), but otherwise this art deco spot is a good one. And since Parlour Lane is also a bar, you'll be perfectly places to kick off post-work drinks come 5pm. AMPERSAND CAFE AND BOOKSTORE, PADDINGTON Laneway seating and books sprawled out in abundance. No folks, you don't have to travel to Melbourne for this. Paddington's beloved Ampersand Cafe is a tranquil oasis surrounded by some of the sweetest boutiques, galleries and bookstores around. Sequester yourself away in one of the nooks or tables dotted across four rickety levels, and when all that thinking leaves you peckish, tuck into a freshly made sandwich or gluten-free brownie. THREE WILLIAMS, REDFERN An easy stroll along to the quieter end of Elizabeth Street gets you to this warehouse-style coffice. Though the sound can bounce around a lot in the cavernous space, the ample table space, clean lines and a menu of hearty cafe eats will put you back in the work/study zone. There's also an all-day breakfast menu, for those late risers hanging for a bacon-and-egg fix to ensure an afternoon of productivity. MCA CAFE, THE ROCKS Hello, Sydney! Working or studying up on MCA's Sculpture Terrace is one surefire way to get into an inspiring headspace. Head to the roof for uninterrupted views of all the iconic Harbour sights. Plus, a bit of sun never hurt anyone's energy levels. They don't disappoint with the menu, either, whether a light lunch of salad or a hefty po'boy is your style. And when you begin to run out of steam, you're only a mere flight of stairs up from some of Australia's best contemporary art. Let your mind wander over it and who knows what it'll come up with?
The mastermind behind the wildly successful taco pop-up Ghostboy Cantina is back in the kitchen and reinventing himself once again. Toby Wilson (ex-Wedge Espresso and Sample Coffee) joined forces with his hospitality mates to launch their newest pop-up venture, Bad Hombres, which opened quietly in Surry Hills in March 2017. The new restaurant is a distinct departure from the casual 'tacos no los autenticos' ethos of Dixon Food Court and Tio's, with Bad Hombres owning a decidedly more dressed-up atmosphere. The dimly lit interior has an artsy, industrial fit-out that suits its location well — think exposed brick and graffiti walls, bright red tables and a bustling kitchen at the back. The venue is well-run and the friendly service gives the space a no pretensions, no-fuss vibe perfect for dinner any night of the week. On the food side, everything is plant-based. And by your first bite into the 'tuna' tostadas or Pastor mushroom tacos, you'll forget all about your love for meat or seafood. You won't even miss the cheese — we promise. These flavour-packed eats are the real deal. And show how easy it is to go vegan when noshing on Mexican food. And because it is meatless, the prices are incredibly reasonable. Get around the six-dish banquet menu for just $40 per person or hit up Bad Hombres on a Tuesday to nab three tacos for $15. Drop by the next day and dive into $13 margaritas all night long. When it comes to bevs, the team has certainly stepped their game up. Get around pet nats, skin contact vinos and some dynamite sangrias. Frozen margaritas are available for those balmy summer eves, while stacks of beers round it all out. Even without the meat and animal products, Bad Hombres is one of the top Mexican restaurants in Sydney. Vegans best add it to their dining wishlist.
Kittyhawk, from the team behind The Lobo Plantation, is a seductive bar and restaurant on Phillip Lane hiding in plain sight from the blur of corporate warriors and traffic that are customary for a location where the city and Circular Quay intersect. Taking its name from a US fighter jet, Kittyhawk takes you back to the historic French liberation, when US and French troops celebrated liberté, egalité and fraternité on the streets of Paris. Inside this generously sized but intimate feeling time capsule of a venue you'll find walls decorated with vintage wartime posters, gleaming leather banquettes, velvet chairs, and an impressive 12-metre-long handcrafted American oak bar across which a continuous output of smart cocktails and wine from an impressive cellar are served. The food is playful French fare where dishes with rustic tradition are delivered with dashes of contemporary luxury. Enduring classics like the duck liver pâté with cornichons and tawny port jelly or appellation oysters with mignonette are essential starters, and opulent mouthfuls of the Siberian caviar bump with frozen Grey Goose or the scallop crudo on blini with caviar and horseradish add some extra sex appeal to the table. The white anchovy tarte with caramelised onion is an exercise in perfectly executed simplicity, while the lunch-only steak sandwich with gruyere, onion jam and pickles is a flavour-packed flex. The menu options invite you to either stay and linger over several bottles of wine, or take in a quick pre-theatre or pre-gig snack with a martini (they take bookings for drinks seatings). The Kittyhawk drinks menu is presented as a pilot's flight operating manual and, like the real thing, it is a lengthy document: 32 pages of triumphant cocktails, a versatile and varied wine list, and spirits ranging from Australian whiskey to amaro. Can't decide what to drink when and with what? Leave it in the extremely capable hands of the floor and bar staff. Kittyhawk might be inconspicuously tucked away behind a deep-blue door on Phillip Lane, but those in the know are always treated to a very, very good time.
Need to do refresh your spring or summer wardrobe? Online vintage treasure trove Hawkeye Vintage will let you into its covetable virtual closet with a huge sale on bags, clothing and accessories. Held over on its Instagram on September 11–12 and 18–19, it'll feature 1000s of items from the 70s to the 90s, including the likes of Chanel bags and Gucci scarves. The pieces on offer will run from the affordable right up to the super expensive, but all will be going at a reduced price. Given some of the brands on offer — including Louis Vuitton, Hermes, Chanel, YSL, Celine and Fendi — you'll be able to pick up some bargains, or opt for a few investment pieces. As the sale will be help on Instagram instead of in-store (unlike the brand's previous sales), the rules are a little different. There'll be no jostling over bags and boots at this one. You'll find all the nitty-gritty over on one of Hawkeye's Instagram Story highlights, but the short of it is this: when you see an item you like, DM sold with the item number and description, wait for a confirmation message and then you'll need to make a payment within 30 mins. There are a few different payment options available, too, including layby, and shipping is free across Australia. Hawkeye Vintage Marathon Live Designer Sale runs from 9am–5pm.
Curious about contemporary art from the Philippines? Then hightail it to AGNSW for Passion and Procession, a feast of installations, videos, sculptures and paintings that reflect the rich past and dynamic present of the country's artistic history. You'll see works exploring religion, ancestral traditions, the relationship between the individual and the community, and the ongoing artistic influence of India, China, Spain and Mexico. The show is part of the Bayanihan Philippine Art Project, a series of exhibitions and programs designed to celebrate the art and culture of the Philippines. It's an exhibition full of contrast, from Santiago Bose's oil and collage works exploring the intersection between faith and science, to Nona Garcia's striking light box installations, to Geraldine Javier's delicate silk organza and thread octopus-like creatures creeping out of wooden frames. And there's a definite Diego Rivera quality to the colourful acrylic-on-canvas visions created by Rodel Tapaya. While you're at AGNSW, mosey on over to the Mervyn Bishop exhibition too. Image: Rodel Tapaya, 'Do you have a rooster, Pedro?,' 2015-16.
