Category: LIFESTYLE

A Sicilian beachside dining experience in Melbourne with Mister Bianco

Sand restaurant SYdney

Take your shoes off and enjoy a six course dinner you wish you could do more often. On Wednesday 23rd and Thursday 24th June Joe Vargetto and Lorena Corso will host Siciliana vs Siciliano where guests enjoy a six course degustation dinner, each course with two dishes – one from the Australian Sicilian (Joe) and one from the Sicilian (Lorena) – and vote on their favourite dish. Lorena was born and raised in Sicily and she has worked as a chef in the UK and Melbourne, currently at Napier Quarter in Fitzroy. Here’s what’s on the menu: Arancino vs Arancino – Globe artichoke on crispy bread vs Cured snapper, fried artichoke & broad bean relish – Sea snail cappalletti, sorrel & crustacean bisque vs Periwinkle, pesto trapanese, sea lettuce – Grilled pumpkin and and pickled mussel skewer, fermented honey & saltbush vs Crayfish & pumpkin schiacciata – Kelp wrapped red mullet, cumquats & native sea herbs vs Red mullet with potato scales – Sweet cacao ravioli filled with almonds & apricots vs Almond milk pudding, burnt tangelo granita & vino cotto spelt Tickets are $150 per person – book here

A world first for art: Caldera Festival introduces world first custom immersive art festival

Caldera light

Caldera Festival is the activity that encourages the audience to actively engage with their environment from the moment they enter the event space. And it’s wild. Guided only by light and sound, visitors are invited to search for artworks, discoverable within the Caldera 360º digital playground. Chase each down in turn, click to open, and take charge of the camera angle to tailor your own art experience. Once discovered, each artwork can be visited over and again via an easily accessible menu, for a quick breath of creativity, and the opportunity to try out a new viewing perspective. The Caldera Festival’s been conceived, created and filmed especially for the 360-degree medium and the Caldera 360º performances and artworks are scattered across the site in such a way as to require members to immediately engage and play. Sign up now for the world-first Caldera 360º art experience at 360.caldera.sydney A once-off $10 fee includes unlimited access to the existing five artworks and is also an investment in the creation of future experiences, acting as a kind of crowdfunding to get a second round of content off the ground. For a limited time – until June 30, 2021, new subscribers can enter the promo code FIRE to access a 50% discount.

Get your art fix: the work of Yang Yongliang at Sullivan + Strumpf Sydney

Yang Yongliang art

Born in Shanghai in 1980, at the dawn of China’s open door economic policies, Yang Yongliang has, throughout his lifetime, witnessed the relentless transformation of his surroundings. Now an artist who channels traumatic erasure of his personal history. Decades ago, his own birthplace, an ancient water town with traditional houses, a famous pagoda, and old humpbacked stone bridges over quiet canals, was swallowed by the ever-expanding Shanghai suburbs. So much so that when he returned from university, almost everything he remembered had vanished. On and on, an unceasing expansion, bulldozers tearing up and destroying the landscape, ancient villages replaced by endless rows of high-rise apartment blocks lining eight lane highways. Very movingly, his work’s as if he is constantly revisiting the moment of shock, returning home to find no trace of the familiar. At once fascinated and appalled by this transformation, his work is a lament for all that has been lost, and a warning for the future. And now you can see it digitally courtesy of Sydney’s Sullivan + Strumpf gallery in Zetland

Celebrate 4th of July in Sydney at Salty’s Bondi

Saltys 1

With international travel still off the cards, Salty’s is celebrating 4th of July with an all-day pop-up party that combines America’s west coast vibes with a distinctly Bondi energy. Serving a generous Southern California-inspired Bottomless Package all day long, specials on White Claw Seltzer buckets and Brooklyn Lager’s Bel Air Sour straight outta the US, and a special edition American-Style Beef Burger with crispy waffle fries, the event will be a true Southern Cali celebration. The Bottomless Package will include a salty margarita on arrival, two hours of unlimited beer, wine and spirits and an all-American feast including Cheeseburger Sliders, Stuffed Potato Skins, Loaded Fries and Mini Hot Dogs.  The party will feature live DJs all day, mixing Salty’s classic funk and disco tracks with American favourites, like Bruce Springsteen, Kanye West and Neil Diamond. When: Sunday 4 July, from 11am to 12am Where: Salty’s, 108 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach NSW Cost: Free entry +$99 for the Bottomless Package option Read more and get your tickets at the Salty’s website

Prahran Market Melbourne’s celebrating truffles

truffles

There’s a celebration of truffles coming to Melbourne! So get your snuffle on and head to Prahran Market for the full experiences. Complete with three menus, the celebration The Truffle Trail is a ticketed experience where guests can follow a trail around the Prahran Market to pick up delicious truffle dishes and products, some to eat along the way and some can be taken home to enjoy.  Details below! Prahran Market Truffle Trail Menu A, $35.50 (incl booking fee) Farini – Truffled mushroom pizza slice Kook’s Kitchen – Buckwheat soba noodle, roast Brussel sprout, enoki, black fungus & parsley salad with freshly grated black truffle The Essential Ingredient – Buckwheat truffle polenta with mushrooms, Taleggio drizzled with truffled honey Fritz Gelato – Double cream black truffle ice-cream Damian Pike – Truffled eggs (1/2 dozen) Prahran Market Truffle Trail Menu B, $40.50 (incl booking fee) Gary’s Meats – Truffle, veal and mushroom sausage in an artisan dinner roll Prahran Seafoods – 2 Hervey Bay scallops baked in the half shell with mornay sauce and freshly shaved truffle Stir The Pot – Truffled chicken petite pie Naheda’s Choice – Truffled parmigiano with crackers Fritz Gelato – Double cream black truffle ice-cream Damian Pike – Truffled eggs (1/2 dozen) Prahran Market Truffle Trail Menu C, $65.50 (incl booking fee) Everything on Menu A and B! There’s limited edition truffle treats on sale from everyone’s favourite Market Traders such as Truffled Cacio e Pepe and Truffled Brioche from Maker & Monger, Truffle Sausages from Gary’s Meats and Truffled Eggs from… Read More

Celebrate State of Origin the Krispy Kreme way

State of Origin doughnuts

If you purchased NSW Blues doughnuts for tonight’s game, you could be on a winner (sorry QLD!). But there’s always game two, right? To celebrate the legendary State of Origin matches, Krispy Kreme is treating Aussie rugby league fans to two new limited-edition game day doughnuts, to sweeten the bitter cross-border feud.  It’s game on with QLD Maroons – Original Glazed doughnut dipped in maroon icing and finished with a caramel truffle drizzle VS NSW Blues – Original Glazed doughnut dipped in blue icing and finished with a divine white icing drizzle.   State of Origin supporters can order these Krispy Kreme doughnuts online for next day click and collect, ahead of each game day during the 2021 series or in any Krispy Kreme store on game day. Fans in Victoria will only be able to order take away, which is subject to change as per Victoria Health restrictions. WA fans – doughnuts will only be available for click & collect and delivery. Delivery not available on the weekends. Online pre-orders will be available until 17th July for a final click and collect date of 18th July. Available in selected stores on the following dates: Sunday 27 June Wednesday 14 July Not available in SA. Not available at 7-eleven, BP, Woolworths, Jetsers or via UberEats, Deliveroo or Menulog.

New Hill St Baking Mixes have just made at-home baking a breeze

Hill st baking mixes:

Baking doesn’t get any easier than this – even if you’re rubbish in the kitchen! Say hello to no-fuss baking with New Zealand baking company Hill St officially launching their collection of easy-to-use baking kits in Australia. Now there is no excuse not to bake up a storm AND have fun doing it! Available from Woolworths, the base range gives you the flexibility to make chocolate brownies, chocolate cake, scones, vanilla cake, biscotti, chocolate cookies and more! It’s the perfect solution to your next Sunday baking session. There are three easy to create recipes on the back of each pack, so it’s no one-trick pony. For instance, with the Vanilla Baking Mix, you can make a zesty lemon loaf, party cupcakes or a delicious vanilla cake.  Is dairy-free? As for your vegan or dairy-free friends, they’re covered as well, as the Hill St Base range is dairy-free and vegan, with options for allergies, intolerances, and dietary preferences.  The Hill St Base range is built on classic flavours that take you back to your childhood and includes Chocolate, Vanilla, Dough and Choc Chunk Cookie Baking Mix, as well as Kids Cupcake Baking Kits in Cosmic or Jungle themes.  Hill St is also committed to using clean, simple ingredients and single-ingredient foods that are mostly unprocessed, free of chemical additives and rich in nutrients. Their packaging is either recyclable or compostable with sustainably sourced materials.  The baking mixes start from $6.50 and are available exclusively in Woolworths.  If you’re looking for more inspo, head to the New… Read More

Exotic Peddlers Rare Shanghai Gin lands in Australia

Peddlers Rare Shanghai GIn

Exotic and crisp, Peddlers Rare Shanghai Gin is now officially available in Australia. With a fusion of 11 rare botanicals, this award-winning craft gin emerged from Shanghai after five years of masterful experimenting, which resulted in the perfect balance of organic botanicals that include Sichuan Pepper, Buddha’s Hand, Lotus Flower, Chinese Mint, Guangdong Liquorice, and Coriander Seeds. Peddlers Rare Shanghai Gin has been awarded Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Gold at the Chine Wine Spirits Award. And it’s proving to be quite a hit in some of the local favourites, making appearances at the more voguish venues across the nation, including the likes of Melbourne’s Kisume, Chin Chin, and Hawker Hall, and Sydney’s PS40, Mr Wong’s and Mrs G’s.  For something a little different to its European cousins, gin lovers will fall in love with Peddlers Rare Shanghai Gin’s Eastern influence. “A little over five years ago, we embarked on this wild journey to create China’s first craft gin. Since launch, the industry support and public uptake has been phenomenal, and I’m thrilled we can now bring Peddlers Gin to Australia. It’s like nothing you’ve tasted before – powerful and earthy. Perfectly paired with tonic, Peddlers also makes for an exceptional negroni or martini. Ultimately, it’s a gin that’s going to give your drink a real kick”, says founding member of Peddlers, Ryan McLeod. Peddlers Rare Shanghai Gin is now available for RRP $88.00 at leading retailers including First Choice Liquor, Vintage Cellars, Dan Murphy’s, and where all good spirits are… Read More

Get better water in the UK: Zerowater is the way

Zerowater

Know what’s scary? A recent survey by Zerowater UK revealed that 70% of people in the UK are still drinking unfiltered tap water. It also turns out that while we know bottled water contains a tonne of microplastics – obviously – unfiltered UK tap water does, too. This is why we need a suitable alternative for hydration that’s a bit more environmentally sound than bottles and can live stylishly on our kitchen benches. Enter the Zerowater 12 cup filter worth £39.99, the absolutely foolproof water filtration system for your home that removes as much as 99.6% of all toxins, solids and contaminants, such as lead, chlorine, mercury, aluminium and plastic particle. It is so good it makes tap water the closest thing to pure H20. A list of what it removes is here. Zerowater rates what it does so highly, that they even asked famous UK TV personality Philip Schofield to step in a demo the gunk-extracting power of Zerowater – with a bottle of red wine. And the results? Well, have a look…

Sydney cocktail bars: Billich Champagne bar

Billich champagne bar Sydney

While Melbourne’s locked down and Brisbane is on the back foot, make the most of the freedoms in Sydney and celebrate with champagne! Escape the mundane and embrace luxury in the Billich Champagne bar, where glasses of Pommery champagne are served with sparkling diamonds and you can snack on truffle fries dusted with 24 karat gold.  In light of keeping it bougie, enter this European-like oasis – as close as you’ll get until 2022 – and spend an hour or two soaking up the sun on the patio, strolling through the illustrious gallery of Charles Billich, or listening to captivating live music performances from renowned artists all with a glass of champagne in hand.  The bar was created to breathe life back into the Rocks, offering something more refined for visitors, including those with a ridiculously expensive taste. On offer’s the most expensive cocktail in Sydney with a pricetag of $7500 – that was sold in the first week! For more info, check out Billich Champagne bar’s website.