Category: CITIES

2019 Melbourne Cup hotspots at The Star Sydney

Melbourne Cup at Sokyo

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Updated: 02/11/2019

Where else would you want to be for Melbourne Cup 2019, but surrounded by fabulous food, friends, fashion and bubbles. With various venues at The Star Sydney putting on a Melbourne Cup experience to remember, there is something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. ChukkaIf Chinese with a Japanese twist is what you’re looking for on Cup Day, book yourself and your friends into Chuuka for lunch with a spectacular view of the harbour. Headed up by Victor Liong and Chase Kojima, Chuuka is offering a 5-course share menu for $165 per person (minimum 2 people) which includes two hours of Moët & Chandon. If you prefer just a glass on arrival (because some of us do have to go back to work after the race, unfortunately), there is also a $135 package which includes the 5-course share menu. Dishes include sashimi platter with scampi, uni and oyster; wagyu wok-fried, green chilli with garlic stems and coriander; and purple yam ice cream with blueberry and kuromitsu pearl. Flying FishOverlooking Pyrmont Harbour is Flying Fish, with Executive Chef Peter Roberston serving up some of Sydney’s finest seafood accompanied with Moët & Chandon on Melbourne Cup Day. The premium package is $165 per person which includes a 3-course set menu and two hours of Moët & Chandon. For $135, you receive a glass of Moët & Chandon on arrival and a 3-course set menu. Dishes include Australia’s Oyster Coast (AOC) oysters with ginger and turmeric dressing; roast duck, confit leg, pistachio and preserved cherry; and passion fruit… Read More

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra is back with Vivaldi’s Four Seasons

Australian Brandenburg Orchestra

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Updated: 03/11/2019

Let the fabulous Australian Brandenburg Orchestra transport you to the Italian countryside for a few hours with Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons concert series commencing 1 November through to 15 November. With nine performances in total, six will be located at City Recital Hall, Sydney, two in Melbourne at Elisabeth Murdoch Hall and one performance at Parramatta Riverside Theatres, Sydney.  The two-hour program includes Telemann Concerto for 4 violins in G major; Telemann Ouverture-Suite in C major, Water Music and Vivaldi’s magical, The Four Seasons. Vivaldi’s extraordinary four violin concertos were composed in the baroque period and depict the seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. Each concerto has three movements, fast-slow-fast. The Brandenburg Orchestra – one of Australia’s favourite period instrument ensembles – will perform under the direction of the brilliant Artistic Director, Paul Dyer. Dyer co-founded the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra 30 years ago and has taken the orchestra from strength to strength. You can’t help but admire Dyer’s love and passion for his work and the orchestra, which is clearly evident when watching him perform on stage, smiling from ear to ear, as he plays along with the rest of the orchestra on his harpsichord.   Concertmaster and Baroque violin soloist, Shaun Lee-Chen delights the audience with an unforgettable performance of one of Vivaldi’s most well-known pieces. Even those among us who aren’t staunch classical fans will enjoy The Four Seasons, a piece that has the ability to appeal and speak to a wide audience. With Christmas just around the corner, it’s also timely to… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, MUSIC, SYDNEY

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Underrated Italian gem I Maccheroni has a new home in Woollahra Sydney

Maccheroni restaurant

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Updated: 16/11/2022

If love were tangible, it would be found in the form of the perfectly pillowy spinach tortelli with burnt butter, crispy sage, and Parmigiano Reggiano at I Maccheroni. Formerly located in Rose Bay, the Italian diner is now situated just off Oxford Street on Woollahra’s Jersey Road. Owned and helmed by ex-Otto and Pendolino chef Marcello Farioli who hails from Modena, Italy, I Maccheroni serves up high-quality, unpretentious, seasonal, homemade Italian fare. The menu focuses on Italian staples and is continually changing, however, there are a few mainstays. The aforementioned divine spinach tortelli, as well as a mushroom arancini, and a tiramisu. Naturally, there’s also always a maccheroni option on offer, with this constantly rotating. With a commitment to seasonal dining, I Maccheroni always has blackboard specials in addition to the regular menu (if you’re lucky enough to visit on a day when the Cacio e Pepe is on offer, this is a must-order dish!). Open for dinner Monday to Saturday, with lunch on Saturdays, the two-level Woollahra joint is a homely yet elevated experience. The venue is a step up from the former long-tabled communal dining setting of the Rose Bay location; I Maccheroni in Woollahra spans two levels and features a bar, upstairs function or dining space, and more intimate small table seating options, all in a fine-dining worthy grey, blue and timber setting. Unlike its former location, I Maccheroni in Woollahra is now fully licensed, and features a substantial wine list with bottles hailing from both Italy and Australia, as well as… Read More

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, ITALIAN FOOD, SYDNEY

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Paddington institution Jackies Cafe is now open three nights a week

Jackies Cafe

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Updated: 05/11/2019

Tucked away in a leafy courtyard on Glenmore Road in Paddington is iconic venue, Jackies. Perfect for lazy afternoon cocktails at the sushi bar, an intimate dinner in the main restaurant or a casual shared plate get-together with friends in the courtyard, Jackies is now open three nights a week from 5.30pm until late (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).  With the new opening hours comes an exciting Jackies by Night menu which includes signature dishes from the sushi bar and mouth-watering shared dishes such as the braised beef rib with wasabi mash and crispy fried calamari with ponzu sauce. The braised beef rib literally falls off the bone and sits on a delicious bed of wasabi mash. It’s a combination made in heaven. The crispy fried calamari is just as much of a hero on the evening menu, perfectly cooked with a light tempura batter that keeps you wanting to go back for more. Other exciting dishes that feature on the evening menu include typical Japanese favourite, okonomiyaki; pork and prawn ramen; teriyaki glazed quail and agedashi tofu.  And of course, there’s always dessert! Make sure you leave enough room for the Japanese inspired matcha ice cream, seasonal berries and black sesame praline; the dark chocolate mousse with miso caramel and espresso foam; or the dessert with an Italian twist, the affogato jersey milk ice cream with an espresso shot and biscotti.  In addition to the great vibe at Jackies, it’s also a fabulous space for events. With work Christmas parties on the horizon, or any… Read More

Category: ASIAN FOOD, AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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There’s a new reason to look forward to 5pm: ‘Eliza Hour’ at Eliza Food & Wine, Darlinghurst

Eliza food

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Posted: 26/10/2019

Located on the corner of Victoria and Liverpool Street in Darlinghurst is a bright, stylish, yet casual venue called eliza food & wine. Conveniently located just a quick stroll from one of Sydney’s iconic landmarks, the Coca-Cola billboard, eliza is perfect for a quality Friday lunch that won’t break the bank or for catching up with friends over a leisurely cocktail and dinner. Handy location aside, eliza quite possibly features the best duck liver parfait in Sydney! But more about that in a moment.  Headed by respected chef Jermey Bentley (of hatted restaurant The Devonshire before its closure in 2017), eliza food & wine opened earlier this year. Also part of the team is talented head chef Shaz Akbar and manager Rory Fitzpatrick, delighting diners with incredibly delicious dishes and exceptional service, respectively.  The venue has just launched a new Friday Prix Fixe lunch offer as well as Eliza’s hour which includes a new spring snack menu. The three course lunch menu is only $39 and is available every Friday from 12pm to 3pm.  Eliza’s hour runs from Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm until 6.30pm, where you can enjoy eliza’s $10 signature cocktails, $8 house wine and $5 tap beer. Perfect timing for that spontaneous get together after a hard day at the office or a well-deserved weekend tipple.  To accompany your tipple is eliza’s spring snack menu, which is packed with dishes boasting flavour, colour and texture. Let’s start with that duck liver parfait we mentioned earlier. Ever so smooth, the duck liver parfait… Read More

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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Sydney theatre review: Billy Elliot is in town

BILLY-ELLIOT-THE-MUSICAL-AUSTRALIA-2019-20-River-Mardesic-Aaron-Smyth-PIC-CREDIT-JAMES-D.-MORGAN

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Updated: 16/11/2022

Dust off the tutu and slide on your tap shoes because Billy Elliot is back in town.  Based on the movie of the same name which was released back in 2000, Billy Elliot the Musical is a celebration of dance, infused with comedy, drama and inspiring music by Elton John. Originally premiering in London’s West End in 2005, the musical first toured Australia in 2007 for two years. After a 10 year absence, the production is back in Australia, playing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre until December 15, 2019. It then plays at the Festival Theatre in Adelaide from December 2019, the Regent Theatre in Melbourne from February 2020, the Crown Theatre in Perth from June 2020 and QPAC’s Lyric Theatre in Brisbane from July 2020. The show opens by taking the audience back to 1984, to a small coal-mining village in Northern England just as the coal miners’ strike is unfolding under the Thatcher government. Billy’s mother is no longer with us, so Billy is being brought up by Jackie, his working class father who is a coal miner (played by Justin Smith) and Billy’s grandmother (played by Vivien Davies). The role of Billy Elliot is being shared by four young talented actors – Omar Abiad, River Mardesic, Wade Neilsen and Jamie Rogers. Also appearing in the cast is respected Australian actor Robert Grubb, who plays Billy’s hilarious boxing coach, George.  We follow Billy on his life journey during some of Britain’s most turbulent times as it takes him out of the boxing ring… Read More

Category: ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, FEATURES, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY, THEATRE

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World Class Sydney turns the city into stage for Bartender of the Year 2020

Sun-Tavern-cocktails-2

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Updated: 16/11/2022

If your life revolves around alcohol and making cocktails (to serve, not drink), then you’d know what World Class is. It’s regarded as the world’s biggest and most influential bartending competition, instrumental in transforming fine drinking and cocktail culture around the world. This year, it comes to Sydney, where it’ll turn the city of Sydney into a vibrant hub of events, experiences and festivities as an elite group of finalists battle it out to be crowned the world’s best. None of this happens until 2020, but we spoke to one boss chick who’s taking it on herself, a bartender at Isabel, the 2019 World Class Finalist who had this to say: “World Class truly paves the way for innovation in our bars. It helps reshape and redefine what the cocktail experience is by challenging what bartenders know about technique, creativity and charisma. It’s also a great chance to delve into the minds of our peers and see what they get up to, providing a global community where we can learn from and be inspired by each other”. Meanwhile, she and a guy named Tim Philips-Johansson will be competing in a competition that runs in more than 60 countries and has supported, educated and inspired more than 300,000 bartenders through its training and advocacy programme.  Actually, Tim won in 2012 and co-owns a bar in Sydney. He said: “Our bars and bartenders have long been celebrated for being the best in the business, qualified by the fact we are one of only two countries to produce… Read More

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

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Hendrick’s unveils a whimsical limited-edition Midsummer Solstice Gin

Hendricks gin

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Posted: 17/10/2019

Hendrick’s has launched a new limited-edition gin; Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice. The small batch gin is the first innovation to reach Australian shores since the flagship gin was released over 20 years ago. Described as “an enchantingly refreshing twist and floral bouquet that is perfect for light drinking as Australia prepares for the warmer months and longer evenings ahead,” Hendrick’s Midsummer Solstice gin makes the ideal drink for the warmer months. The Midsummer Solstice gin has notes of berries, violet, hibiscus and rose hips, making a delectably floral gin and tonic. To celebrate the launch, Hendrick’s has transformed Sydney’s Paddington favourite, the Paddo Inn; renaming it and adorning it with flower installations by artist Dr Lisa Cooper, who collaborated with Hendrick’s master distiller Lesley Gracie to create the floral fixtures. Temporarily renamed the Paddo (G)inn, the local will be serving up specialty Midsummer Solstice cocktails and menus including the Most Unusual Lunch, a two-hour bottomless lunch which promises diners the chance to escape the conventional with a culinary adventure laced with delicious surprises. Hendrick’s will be celebrating the unusual and rewarding curiosity throughout the season, with Sydneysiders encouraged to enjoy the floral festivities. Look out for Hendrick’s floral London cabs and penny farthings which will traverse the streets of Paddington offering a delightful journey from the bar to the beach.

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, FOOD & DRINK, SYDNEY

London Cocktail Week’s done – but The Sun Tavern is always worth a visit

Sun Tavern cocktails 3

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Updated: 16/11/2022

London Cocktail Week takes over the city every year in October, turning it on for the most beloved bars around the city. It’s a slurry, hazy blur of cocktails and spirits, but for those whose persistence for flashy beverages knows no end, it’s the week of the year. And The Sun Tavern in Bethnal Green took it upon itself this year to get amongst it, and you know what? No one was mad. It’s a quaint little corner spot, that for the week, was whipping out £6 cocktails to thirsty locals and visitors, concocted by the minds of one bartender ‘Ross’. They in fact partnered with cocktail bar, Discount Suit Company for their London Cocktail Week House Party series that ran 6-13 October: a series of unmissable bar collaborations with globally renowned and celebrated bars spanning form LA to Barcelona, including World’s 50 Best, Limantour. Couple it with a steady flow of pizzas from Yard Sale and it made for a quality night. Sure, it’s done for 2019, but dropping by for a visit and tipple, just ‘cos you can is always a solid idea. See more at the Sun Tavern website.

Category: CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

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Buying art is possible – London’s Affordable Art Fair is in town

Affordable Art Fair, Battersea Park, London , UK 06 Mar 2019.

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Posted: 15/10/2019

Walking around some of London’s most renowned galleries like the National Gallery, V&A or Somerset House, it’s easy to convince yourself you’ll never own anything nice for your own walls. Until, you stumble across quaint little (read: massive) art fairs like the Affordable Art Fair, that travels around the UK, and your thinking’s shifted. The Affordable Art Fair has revolutionised and democratised the art market with its fun and accessible approach, bringing art under £6,000 to its three UK locations: Battersea Park, Hampstead Heath, and Bristol, as well as an online shop. In fact, it was the Fair’s 20th birthday in early August 2019 and it doesn’t look like it’s slowing down. Every fair offers something different, with a diverse range of local, national and international galleries showcasing art in an array of styles. Pieces by household names sit alongside the latest emerging talent. The concept has become a global phenomenon with 14 fairs in 11 cities across several continents.  There’s a Fair on in Battersea from 17-20 October.

Category: ART, ARTS & CULTURE, CITIES, LIFESTYLE, LONDON

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