Category: MELBOURNE

Your favourite Aussie bartenders add local flavour to 4th of July cocktails

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The 4th of July may pass Australians by with nary a thought, but what if we told you it was worth celebrating this year with an American classic cocktail in hand, but with a local twist.  Partnering with ‘Cheers! Spirits from the USA’, 22 well-known Australian bartenders and mixologists lent their expertise to creating a free cocktail book for Independence Day, containing a range of cocktails that hero American spirits, but with an Aussie twist, and designed specifically to be made and enjoyed ar home.  The cocktail list highlights the quality and versatility of American spirit brands including Angel’s Envy, Jack Daniels, Koval, Maker’s Mark, Old Forester, Wild Turkey, Westland, Westward American Single Malt Whiskey and Woodford Reserve. Once you download the cocktail book, the recipes are yours to keep, but if you do prefer someone else making your drinks (you’re only human), the participating bartenders will also have them available at their venue from June 27-July 4.  Have a gander at the below list of bartenders and their creations, plus the venue to find them at:  Simon Hopkins (Jolene’s Sydney – NSW) puts a chocolate spin on the classic Old Fashioned using Westward Whiskey. Dan Gregory (The Gresham Bar – QLD) is showcasing a Woodford Reserve Goin’ Out West. Adam Lau (Grain Bar – NSW) develops the DJ Sutherland celebrating Westland American Oak Whiskey. Grace Rawlins (Memphis Slim’s House of Blues –  SA) is using Westland Peated Whiskey in the innovative Spicy Peat cocktail. Chris Garner (The Barrie – NSW) is highlighting Wild Turkey… Read More

The ultimate Japanese culinary and KI NO BI gin experience at Sake Melbourne

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World Gin Day is just around the corner. And what better way to celebrate than treating yourself to an intimate tasting experience at Sake that includes a spectacular six-course dinner accompanied by KI NO BI gin cocktails and tastings! The ‘6 Elements’ dinners will take place in Sydney and Melbourne and will deliver the ultimate culinary experience for lovers of gin and Japanese cuisine alike. The ‘6 Elements’ dinners are inspired by KI NO BI’s intricate production process, where botanicals are divided into six different categories, known as the 6 Elements, steeped in rice spirit, and then distilled individually. Produced in Kyoto, KI NO BI gin is distilled with Japanese botanicals, grouped by flavour to create the six elements which are macerated and distilled separately, before being blended with Fushimi water.   The 6 Elements that make up the dry style of gin KI NO BI is renowned for are Base, Citrus, Tea, Herbal, Spice and Fruity & Floral, which are then blended to create the distinctive KI NO BI flavours. As most gin lovers would appreciate, water is a vital ingredient of this popular spirit, as it makes up more than 50% of the liquid inside every bottle. The KI NO BI distillery is located close to the famous sake-producing area of Fushimi, south of Kyoto city. The name “Fushimi” comes from the Japanese words for “hidden” or “underground” and “water”, and Fushimi water is renowned for its purity, softness and flavour. In addition to the pureness provided by the Fushimi water, quality ingredients… Read More

8 places in Melbourne to celebrate the Queen’s Jubilee

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Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating 70 years on the throne. If that’s not cause to celebrate – even for the strongest non-monarchist amongst us – then what is? But where? I hear you ask. Well, here you go. Eight of Melbourne’s finest establishments to celebrate the milestone none of us will ever reach, but we’re so happy someone else did. Fargo & Co – bottomless brunch, DJs until late and exclusive cocktail list 216 Swan St, Richmond Friday 10th June – DJs on the decks until late. Sat 11th and Sunday 12th June – O.G. Bottomless Brunch from 12-2 pm and 3-5 pm ($69pp), with the option to upgrade to be seated in a lush après ski lodge cabin and enjoy a chocolate fondue fountain for an extra $10pp, at $79pp. Bookings essential. DJs on the decks until late plus an exclusive cocktail list. Harlow – open all long weekend for live music, bottomless brunch and drag trivia 447 Church St, Richmond Friday 10th June – Live music in the beer garden, then DJs until late. Saturday 11th (11.30 am and 2 pm) and Sunday 12th June (12 pm) – Disco Drag Bottomless Brunch, which includes 2 hours of bottomless beverages (Bacardi cocktails, Moon Dog seltzers, house wine, sparkling and beer), plus a choice of dish from the new lunch menu, hosted by a fabulous Drag Queen. $69pp, bookings essential. DJs on the decks until late. Monday 13th June- Open for normal trade, Drag Queen trivia in the main bar from 7:30pm. Free… Read More

Meet Alexander McQueen at NGV International: man behind the Mind, Mythos, Muse

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From 11 December to 16 April, you’ve got the chance to get more familiar with one of the most significant fashion designers of the late twentieth century, who was lauded for his conceptual and technical virtuosity. McQueen’s critically acclaimed collections synthesised his proficiency in tailoring and dressmaking with encyclopaedic and autobiographical visual references that spanned time, geography, media and technology. Organised by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), in partnership with the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV), Alexander McQueen: Mind, Mythos, Muse is the first major Australian exhibition to explore the work of this boundary-pushing fashion designer. Showcasing 60 garments and accessories drawn from LACMA’s holdings of important works by McQueen, the Melbourne presentation also features nearly 50 designs by McQueen from the NGV Collection, making this Australian-exclusive presentation especially rich and comprehensive. Offering an unprecedented insight into the mind of this seminal designer, McQueen’s work is presented alongside more than 70 historical artworks including painting, sculpture, photography, decorative arts and works on paper from the collections of LACMA and NGV, that reveal the myriad reference points that influenced his designs. The juxtaposition of garments and artworks highlights McQueen’s creative process and capacity for storytelling, as well as offering audiences an opportunity to gain a deeper appreciation of his artistic legacy and the nature of inspiration. So, now you’re sold, get more info and tickets at the NGV website

Melbourne drinks: cocktail trees in Northcote at The Distiller

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A little bit Instagrammy, a little bit flash; cocktails mightn’t be for everyone, but who can turn away from a tower of them, begging to be enjoyed? The Distiller in Northcote has decided to make it a thing, pumping out cocktails trees in a range of combinations for group weekend shenanigans and celebrations all year ’round. Serving up twelve cocktails at a time, The Distiller Cocktail Trees are the perfect centrepiece and will ensure a photo-worthy moment, whatever the occasion. Here are the options available: Spritz Cocktail Tree Package, $110 For those who love a spritz, The Distiller Spritz Cocktail Tree is for them. Twelve full sized Grainshaker Spritz to share with friends or family. Each spritz is low calorie, low sugar and garnished with dehydrated fruit and botanicals. Including flavours such as Pink Grapefuit, Lime & Soda and Lemon Myrtle, each spritz is one standard drink. Classic Cocktail Tree Package, $165 Celebrating the end of the work week, or just getting together with friends? The Distiller Classic Cocktail Tree Package is twelve full sized Grainshaker classic cocktails that are sure to satisfy everyone, from Espresso Martinis to Cosmopolitans and Passionfruit Martinis. Cocktail Trees are available between 6-9pm on Fridays and 1-9pm on Saturdays. Bookings must be placed at least 2 hours in advance and the tree will be ready for the booked arrival time.

WHO ARE YOU? Find out at the NGV with Australian Portraiture

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In an exhibition that poses the question “what is portraiture?”, you can now take a journey into the Australian face at the National Gallery of Victoria. From March to August this year, the NGV will feature more than two-hundred works by Australian artists including Patricia Piccinini, Atong Atem, Howard Arkley, Vincent Namatjira and Tracey Moffatt, and featuring sitters including Cate Blanchett, Albert Namatjira, Queen Elizabeth II, Eddie Mabo and David Gulpilil all to explore our inner worlds and outer selves, as well as issues of sociability, intimacy, isolation, celebrity and ordinariness. The whole exhibition is about revealing the rich artistic synergies and contrasts between the two institutions’ collections, this co-curated exhibition considers portraiture in Australia across time and media, as well as the role of the portraiture genre in the development of a sense of Australian national identity. What does that mean for you? To discover it and more, head to the NGV website

What to see at the NGV – 5 excellent exhibitions to not miss

NGV Gallery Melbourne

This year, the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV) has a quality spread of art and culture to keep you occupied all autumn-winter long. Comprising the autumn-winter 2022 program, the NGV will kick things off with an homage to Picasso before embarking on the rest. Scroll down for more… The Picasso Century This exhibition opens June 10 at NGV International. The Picasso Century charts the extraordinary career of Pablo Picasso in dialogue with the many artists, poets and intellectuals with whom he intercepted and interacted throughout the 20th century, including Guillaume Apollinaire, Georges Braque, Salvador Dalí, Alberto Giacometti, Françoise Gilot, Valentine Hugo, Marie Laurencin, Dora Maar, André Masson, Henri Matisse, Dorothea Tanning and Gertrude Stein. Get tickets here WHO ARE YOU: Australian Portraiture  This exhibition opens on 25 March and will unite collections of the NGV and the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, for the very first time. Featuring more than 200 works by the likes of Patricia Piccinini, Howard Arkley, Vincent Namatjira and more, and depicting sitters such as Cate Blanchett, Queen Elizabeth II and Eddie Mabo, this exhibition will be one of the largest presentations of portraiture ever mounted in Australia. Get tickets here Queer: Stories from the NGV Collection  Because equality is key! This exhibition is a celebration of the queer and LGBTIQA+ stories embedded in the NGV Collection – and is one of the most historically expansive exhibitions ever dedicated to this diverse subject opening March 10. Get tickets here Melbourne Design Week 2022  Australia’s leading annual international design event, returns for its sixth edition from 17–27 March 2022, a key highlight this… Read More

Pubs in Melbourne: The Orrong Hotel is back

Orrong Hotel pub dining room

A new look, a new menu; the new Orrong Hotel in Melbourne is open and ready for you. Standing proud on the corner of Orrong Road and High Street in Armadale is the iconic Orrong Hotel, which after three years of closure is back open for business after having been lovingly restored to its former glory by new custodians who have ensured the pub’s old bones remain intact. There’s a full gamut of weeknight specials and local community initiatives, plus a variety of spaces perfect for if you want to catch a game, play some pool, grab a feed or settle in and let life pass by.  It’s time to rediscover this iconic neighbourhood corner pub and fall in love with it again. Find out more at the Orrong Hotel website.

Food festivals in Melbourne: East Malvern’s Central Park food and wine festival is back

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The 5th annual East Malvern Food & Wine Festival will return to East Malvern’s picturesque Central Park! At long last, after a long pandemic-fuelled break, the festival will boast a vast range of exquisite wineries from all across Victoria, artisan provedores and entertainment on Sunday 27 March 2022, from 11am to 6pm. The festival will feature a vast range of exquisite wines from 12 wineries from the Victorian wines including: Turners Crossing, Innocent Bystander, Red Edge, Tellurian Wines, Linnaea Vineyards, Munari Wines, Heathcote Winery, Olive Hills Estate, Wren Estate, Buller Wines, Buckshot Vineyard and Mount Avoca Wine. And for the more foodie amongst us, there’ll be local Melbourne favourite food trucks, local favourite restaurants and pop-up restaurant stalls like 48h Pizza & Gnocchi Bar, Nepal Dining, The Flying Calamari, Bao Melbourne, Mushiki Dumplings, The Smoke Pit and more. There’s also freshly shucked fresh and wild Signature Oysters matched with Sparkling prosecco served all day long. Our Merchant Coffee Roasters from Mansfield serving up freshly brewed coffee and even puppicinos for our fury friends and delicious desserts from the Pressed Waffle Bar and Luvlee Gourmet’s handcrafted ice creams for all to enjoy. For more info and to sort your itinerary out (tickets are $22.95), head to the festival’s website

All about wellness, T2 tea has a range that’ll get you there

T2 tea wellness

Life’s super stressy at the best of times. Throw in a pandemic, international travel and the constant work-life balance we struggle to find and there’s no wonder there’s been a huge spike in calls for mental health and wellbeing programs to up their ante! But never fear; T2 is here with their batch of plant based brews that are here to support your mind and body, the growing wellness collection is designed for the next generation of health enthusiasts. With four blends, the Australian grown tea master is channeling your inner zen for you in the form of a teacup. The Quiet Mind, The Dreamer, The Belly Blend and The Glowgetter are those blends, sourced from ingredients around the country. The Quiet Mind has been developed to help you wind down after a long day and press pause on the world. Breathe in soothing peppermint, lemongrass, and eucalyptus while adaptogenic herbs ashwagandha andschisandra deflect stressors of all kinds. With a refreshingly citrusy flavour – if cool, calm and collectedhad a taste, this would be it. Say hello to serenity, The Dreamer is the next sleepy sister in this essential lineup, transporting you to theland of Nod as you drift off to sleep. This relaxing tea is an unmissable step in your bedtime ritual, evoking the comforts of crisp white sheets and the plushest of pillows. Trusted for centuries by herbalistsand naturopaths, this tasty blend is sprinkled with a little valerian, that goes a long way to send you offto sweet dreams. Following in its footsteps… Read More