Boxpark in London’s Wembley is about to come alive with The X Factor’s celebrity special event taking over the space on 30 November. Thanks to Just Eat, the food delivery folks, the ultimate X Factor viewing experience will be narrowcast on a 16-foot screen while familiar X Factor faces will take part in a Q&A session and stun guests with an exclusive live performance. Not to mention karaoke for the singers, meet-n-greets with the stars for the selfie-takers and all the food for the foodies, courtesy of vendors like Mama Jacq’s and Koolcha who both appeared at Just Eat’s flagship summer event, Food Fest. Sign up to head along at Eventbrite.
In a city gripped by bureaucracy and laws that stifle fun, it doesn’t mean you can’t get out amongst it in Sydney this summer. There are a lot of things on around the city this summer, courtesy of the hospitality folks at Merivale, to keep you occupied as the city heats-up. This is what’s on… Free live music Live music is the beating heart of all world-class cities and needs to be the driving force of Sydney’s reinvigorated future. Working closely with The Music and Booze Co, Merivale has curated a free programme of incredible and unexpected music experiences in the CBD. This week will see The Preatures and Thandi Phoenix take over Palings, Kira Piru play a pumping poolside set at Pool Club and Brendan Maclean perform by a grand piano at Establishment. Disco Espresso – The city’s tiniest disco Every Thursday and Friday afternoon, Will & Co on George Street will be transformed into Disco Espresso, Sydney’s tiniest disco party. Larger than life disco duo, The Dollar Bin Darlings, will be spinning tunes under the mirror balls from 5pm, with wine, beer and cocktails served on tap. Late night bites From tonight until the end of summer, Merivale is offering 50% off all bar food in all CBD bars – 11-12pm, Tuesday to Saturday. Guests will be able to enjoy half-price late-night bites at Palings, Establishment Main Bar, Slip Inn, Pool Club, Palmer & Co,.Bar Topa, Little Felix, Charlie Parker’s and the soon to open Bar Totti’s and Jimmy’s Falafel. Poof Doof Sydney… Read More
It was back in June that Aria Sydney celebrated a production at the Sydney Opera House. Read about that here. And now, the restaurant’s doing it again but this time, in celebration of Sylvia by the Australian Ballet. The production by The Australian Ballet will be on at the Sydney Opera House from 8 – 23 November and much like the production: a writhing tale of passion and humour entangled with love and sword fighting, the dessert tells a similar tale. Designed by Executive Chef, Joel Bickford, this exclusive pre and post theatre dessert is a delicate mix of natural elements and bold flavours that pairs sweet juicy strawberries with crisp shiso and bursting black grapes. The new dessert is obviously a limited run, and can be enjoyed as part of Aria’s pre and post theatre menu until the show concludes on Saturday 23 November.
Nestled in the heart of Paddington, the Royal Hotel underwent a transformation last month, with all four levels now providing a unique offering. The local closed for a mere four days, from September 8th to 11th, reopening on the 12th with new interiors and an updated menu across the entire pub. The genesis of the relaunch was the desire to redesign the Elephant Bar. The relaunched Elephant Bar and Dining, which now spans across levels one and two. The space is light and airy, with botanical touches littered about the first two levels, complementing the marble bar tops and straw chairs and tables. Elephant Bar and Dining consists of a restaurant, cocktail lounge, and two event rooms. Whilst all the spaces are united aesthetically, each space has a unique look; from the forestry patterns adorning The High Room, to the nautical theme of the private Colonial Club. Created by the Royal Hotel’s ex-bar manager Kurtis Bosley, the drinks menu is geared towards the warmer weather. The cocktail range is experimental yet approachable, with well-blended flavour palettes. A standout is the 5 Ways Sling, a delicately fruity combination of pomegranate liqueur, strawberry infused gin, lime, rhubarb bitters and whites. The Mediterranian style menu is made for sharing; kick off your coastal culinary exploration with the South Australian Sardines and Western Australian Octopus, try a classic Mediterranean salad, before feasting on Spring Bay Mussels Marinara or White Wine, Pan Fried Pumpkin and Ricotta Gnocchi, or Chili Spanner Crab Linguini. For those who enjoy more traditional pub fare,… Read More
The Acre Eatery in Sydney is probably one of the inner west’s best kept secrets. A stunning farm-to-table establishment located in Camperdown Commons, this venue now stands where the Camperdown Bowling and Recreation Club once existed. The beautiful thing is that this farm-like eatery is now a community hub for locals to gather and feast. What could have been developed into another block of bland high rises, is now a feel-good urban farm in the city. The establishment is located within Camperdown Commons, which is also home to not-for-profit organisation Pocket City Farms. Pocket City Farms take neglected spaces in Sydney and turn them into sustainable, urban farms. The venue boasts three areas to dine in – a sunny garden terrace, a takeaway section (known as the ‘Container’) and an impressive, country-style dining room that is fit for a wedding. And yes, Acre Eatery does cater for such events. The funky Spritz Bar is located on the Garden Terrace and is a great space to sit around with friends and share a meal over a few drinks. Breakfast is served in the Garden Terrace five days a week from Wednesday to Sunday and is the perfect location for a relaxing weekend breakfast, overlooking the community garden. Breakfasts don’t get any heartier than the ‘Country Breakfast’, which includes homemade pasture-raised pork sausage, butter mushrooms, bacon, grilled tomato, free-range poached egg, toast and pickles. For something a little naughtier, you may want to consider the spelt flour ricotta hotcakes with macerated berries, maple butter and caramelised banana…. Read More
The Wines From Spain Awards is part of the larger Eat Spain Drink Spain roadshow which showcases the best of Spanish food and wine. The campaign aims to bring together the diverse and exciting wine and authentic food to allow food and wine livers alike to explore the opportunities that Spain offers. In it’s seventh year, The Wines From Spain Awards, showcase a fascinating selection of the top 100 Spanish wines, chosen from over 400 entries. This year, the line up expressed a large range of diversity and a high quality of wine being produced in Spain. Spain continues to offer some of the best wine in terms of value, with wines on display ranging from £7.99 to £50. When speaking to Director Fernando Munoz at the London Wine Tasting which was held at Mimo London, he focused his tasting this year on the more unknown regions and grape varieties. “I was very pleased with some of them: for whites and rosé, nº 10, 13, 18 and 42, were all excellent. As for reds, I quite liked nº 46, 50 and 55.” “We had a group of 11 judges, who in July chose 100 winners which are showcased here today, and out of the 100 winners we also select 13 Champion wines for each category.” Said Fernando. In the White Wine Category; Pansa Blanca 2018, Raventos de Alella was awarded the Best Discovery; Raimat El Niu de la Cigonya 2018, Raventos Codorniu was awarded Best White Over £10; Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2018, Bodegas El Grifo,… Read More
Occupying a prime position on the corner of Glebe Point Road and Ferry Road for almost a century, The Toxteth recently underwent an update. Glebe’s beloved local has long been the pub of choice for catching up with friends and family over drinks and good food with live music. In late 2018, The Toxteth, or The Tocky as it’s known by locals, was given a makeover. Retaining its rustic exposed brick walls, The Tocky has been fitted out with plush leather banquettes, leather paneling on the bar, copper fixtures, and timber finishes, all set around a soft neutral olive colour palette. The courtyard now features a retractable roof, making it a viable dining option regardless of the season. To accompany the new decor, the food and beverage menu has also undergone a new look. The Tocky’s classic rump steak and chicken schnitzel remain, however they’re now joined by new plant-based options. The vegetarian and vegan fare ranges from delightfully crispy popcorn cauliflower and Italian-inspired mushroom arancini to kelp noodle salad with salt and pepper tofu or a variety of hot bowls. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, join ‘Sienna’s Brunch Club’, a bottomless Bellini brunch. For the first time, The Toxteth is serving cocktails and mocktails. The Gins and Roses is a beautifully balanced floral option, while the Espresso Martini on tap from the Lexington Hill Collection is sure to be a millennial favourite. The range of cocktail carafes provide the perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon with friends, and the lychee and passion fruit… Read More
What Matters has been revealed as the theme for the 2020 Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras and it promises to be bigger and bolder than ever. The theme builds on the legacy of Mardi Gras – a platform for activism, encouraging the community to think about creating a more inclusive future. “This year we celebrate those at the forefront of the fight for equality. From ground-breaking queer artists to trailblazing thought leaders, Mardi Gras 2020 is an opportunity to visit the next destinations on our journey of diversity, inclusion and social justice,” says Mardi Gras Arts Interim CEO, Grant Lowe. Mark it on your calendars! Friday 14 February 2020 is when the festivities kick off, with a diverse program of events running until Sunday 1 March 2020. They’ll be dazzling dance parties, top-tier theatre, music, world-class workshops and family-focused fun, with the iconic Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade taking place on Saturday 29 February, 2020. The post-Mardi Gras Parade celebrations will continue with the iconic Mardi Gras Party happening at the Hordern Pavilion with the electrifying Dua Lipa headlining. The pavillion and its surrounding areas will be transformed into a brand-new adult playland with the party starting at 11pm – 8am. Fourth release tickets are on sale now. There’s a supersized program on offer including the pre-eminent vogue ball, Sissy Ball and iconic festival classics such as Fair Day and Laneway, the traditional closing event of Mardi Gras. There’s no shortage of thought-provoking workshops and community events, with Queer Thinking taking over… Read More
Look, we all felt the full force of the ending of Game of Thrones. We all wanted Cersei to be brutally murdered. We all wanted Jamie to be a bit more vindicated. We all wanted to get the real story about Bran, the Night King and the whole whack story. But for everything the show let us down on, German Gymnasium right next door to Kings Cross Station in London, is building us back up with – in cocktail form. For autumn in the UK, the bar is introducing four new cocktails to its menu: Stark’s Old Fashioned, a smooth and classic drink with Woodford Reserve, Mozart chocolate and chocolate bitters. Winter Is Coming, made with Woodford Reserve Rye, cherry brandy and vermouth, served in a stunning goblet emblazoned with the dire wolf. A Dance with Dragons – Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons’ fiery refreshment made with Jack Daniels, beer, ginger beer and elderflower; and lastly. A Song of Ice and Fire, a fruity and velvety concoction created for Queen Cersei Lannister, made with Jack Daniels Rye and served in the Queen’s golden goblet. Ans the drinks aren’t all, the venue is renowned for its fairly epic installations in the middle of the thoroughfare inside, and for this round, they’ve put a beautiful autumnal tree inspired by the Heart Tree in Game of Thrones, with matching weirwood trees upstairs in The Meister Bar and throughout the restaurant. So though the story may be gone and told, it’s definitely not forgotten. These exclusive cocktails are available… Read More
The team behind Grill’d takes another bite out of the burger market with Williams Burger Days, a premium concept burger restaurant. Williams is like a distant cousin to Grill’d; whilst the later has over 130 outlets across Australia, Williams presents an elevated alternative far withdrawn from the notion of burgers as a ‘fast food’ concept. Williams Burger Days opened in Westfield Sydney in September, with plans to open a Melbourne outlet in the coming months. The brainchild of former Vue de Monde and Circa chef Josh Powell, the Williams menu features a range of house-made burgers, salads, elevated sides, sodas, and shakes, as well as a concise cocktail, beer, and wine list. Williams keeps with current culinary trends, utilising native Australian ingredients throughout the menu; for the signature Williams sauce, Williams uses karkalla pickles which provide a tangy, salty hit. The burgers themselves are next-level; fresh herbs like dill, mint, and coriander provide a flavour hit to the vegetarian burgers. The Mushroom & Parmesan burger is a particular standout, with the sharpness of the parmesan cheese perfectly complementing the mild creaminess of the mushroom. Meanwhile, care is taken to source high quality meat and seafood, using producers such as O’Connor beef, Mayura Station Full Blood Wagyu, Summertime chicken and Fish Butchery’s yellowfin tuna. The sides menu vastly differs from that of traditional burger joint offerings. In lieu of the traditional ketchup and fries, Williams features crispy charred broccoli served with airy whipped feta, skin on chips, onion rings seasoned with saltbush and vinegar, seasonal green… Read More
