Category: FOOD & DRINK

Countdown the Winter Days with these Warming Cocktails

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It’s officially the last month of winter and the countdown to spring is on. But with the nights still cool, now is the time to warm up with a winter cocktail creation from Bacardi-Martini Australia. Patrón Anejo El Diablo Ingredients: 45ml Patrón Anejo 15ml Dekuyper Blackberry Liqueur 25ml Lime Juice 75ml Fever Tree Ginger Beer Method: Build all ingredients in a Collins or Highball glass Swizzle and add ice Garnish with a fresh blackberry and lime wheel Grey Goose Espresso Martini Ingredients: 45ml Grey Goose 15ml Tia Maria 5ml Dekuyper White Cacao 45ml Pinnacle Cold Brew Coffee Method: Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker Shake vigorously with ice Double strain into Coupette Garnish with three coffee beans BACARDÍ Spiced Rum Spiced Apple & Ginger Ingredients: 50ml BACARDÍ Spiced Rum 50ml Apple Juice 50ml Ginger Ale 2 Dashes Angostura Bitters (optional) 1 Lime Wedge Method: Fill a highball glass with ice. Build all liquid ingredients into the glass, squeeze a wedge of lime and Angostura bitters if desired. Stir to combine. Garnish with another lime wedge or an apple slice.  Bombay Sapphire Gin Refashioned Ingredients: 60ml Bombay Sapphire 15ml Spiced Pear Syrup 2:1 3 Dashes Whisky Barrel Bitters 3 Dashes Orange Bitters Method: Stir all ingredients in a cocktail glass Strain into an old-fashioned glass with block ice Garnish with candied pear

Slim’s brings back the old-school diner with quality (and affordable) burgers

Slim's burgers

Who doesn’t love old-school burger joints inspired by the classic 1950s American diner? The good news is, Slim’s – which is exactly that – has just opened their newest store at Westfield Sydney. The new fit-out is a nod to the retro decor of the mid-1950s, with neon signs and cherry-red banquettes.  Now to the burgers! Founders Michael Tripp, Nik Rollison and David Hales are incredibly passionate about creating deceptively simple, delicious, quality burgers that raise eyebrows and tantalise the taste buds. “The most important thing for us is that the burgers are made fresh for every order, and we offer high-quality burgers that are affordable for all to enjoy,” said the founders. And affordable they are, with all burgers priced under $10.  The founders said you won’t find over-the-top burgers made just for the Instagram feed at Slim’s. However, you will find fresh, simple, quality ingredients assembled with the utmost care by the Slim’s team.  The burger menu: Cheeseburger Deluxe cheeseburger Slim’s original The works Chicken and cheese Cripsy chicken and cheese Slim’s original grilled chicken Slim’s original crispy chicken Grilled chicken club Crispy chicken club Veggie burger “In the vast Australian burger market, we too often see venues that are built on gimmicks and fads. Whether it’s the cheesiest burger or doughnut buns, we think Aussies have come full circle and want something that is simple, affordable and made from only the highest quality ingredients. Slim’s Quality Burger has been built on exactly that,” said Nik Rollison, Director of Slim’s Quality Burger.  Slim’s… Read More

Cointreau in a donut is a thing thanks to Donut Papi

Cointreau x Donut Papi collab

Lovers of Cointreau and donuts, listen up!  Cointreau and Donut Papi have joined forces to create two exclusive donut flavours inspired by the signature orange flavours of Cointreau. As an ode to Cointreau and Australia’s love of Margaritas, the two flavours of donuts on offer include the Original Cointreau Margarita Donut, which features a plain donut with an orange glaze icing and pipette with Cointreau in it, as well as the Coconut Ginger Margarita Donut, a ginger glazed donut with coconut flakes with a pipette filled with Cointreau.  And because Father’s Day is just around the corner, this is the perfect gift for those dads and father figures with a sweet tooth and a soft spot for that delicious orange liqueur.  These delectable donuts will be available at Donut Papi located in Redfern from 1 August until 10 September 2022. You can also order online and have a gift pack delivered straight to dad, ensuring you are the favourite child on the day. The donuts will be sold individually for $8 but will also be available for purchase as a gift pack of nine donuts for $63.  And if you want to spoil dad with a Cointreau-based cocktail on the day, click here for inspo. 

Starward Whisky unveil their next limited release whisky

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Off the back of a successful 2021 that saw Starward Whisky receive a Double Gold medal at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition for their limited release and included in the Top 10 Whiskies Overall at the International Whisky Competition, Starward ‘UnExpeated’, they’re back with their 2022 offering, ad ‘new world’ twist on a traditional, old-world whisky style: Starward Peated Finish. This hotly anticipated release is an 18-month red wine barrel aged, single malt whisky, finished in peated whisky barrels straight off the rugged coast of Islay, Scotland. For those lucky enough to score a bottle, they can sip and enjoy Starward’s quintessential tropical notes melded with the smoky and earthy flavours from Islay’s coastal peat. These peaty characteristics combined with their delicious single malt create a whisky unlike any other in Australia. Unmistakably delicious on its own, mixed in a cocktail or paired with some fresh oysters, a smoky beef brisket or an oozy chocolate lava cake. Commenting on this latest release is Starward’s Founder, David Vitale; “When we sourced these barrels from the coasts of Islay, we knew we had something special on our hands. Peated Finish, for us, represents the old and new world coming together. We wanted to honour the charred and smoky notes from these peated barrels, while also putting our Starward flare on things with our red wine barrel aged whisky, which is fruitier and more tropical in flavour. Finishing our single malt whisky in the peated barrels for 18 months allowed the spirit to develop a richer… Read More

4 gin drinks perfect for winter sipping

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Move over mulled wine, gin is the go-to winter tipple. Yes, gin may have a strong hold on summer, but we’d like to make a case for cracking open the Aviation Gin in winter too and treating yourself to a gin based cocktail that’ll keep you warm as the temperatures drop. Take it from co-owner Ryan Reynolds, “If you’re drinking anything else, you’re drinking bullsh*t”. Inspired by our friends at Aviation Gin, here are 4 gin cocktails perfect for winter: 1. Negroni Upgrade 1.5 shots Aviation American Gin 0.75 shot Bitter Aperitivo Liqueur 0.75 shot Sweet Vermouth Orange Twist Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with ice. Stir, then strain into Rocks glass with ice. Garnish with Orange Twist. 2. Hugo’s Martini 1.5 shots Aviation American Gin 0.5 shots Dry Vermouth 1 Dash Orange Bitters Lemon Peel Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with Ice. Stir, then strain into chilled Martini glass. Garnish with Lemon Peel. 3. Gin Fizz 2 shots Aviation American Gin 1 shot freshly squeezed lemon juice 0.75 shot simple syrup 1 egg white  Soda water, to top Combine gin, lemon juice, simple syrup and egg white to a shaker and shake vigorously with no ice for 15 seconds. Add ice, shake for another 15 and strain into Rocks glass and top up with soda water. 4. Bijou 1 shot Aviation American Gin 1 shot Green Chartreuse Liqueur 1 shot Sweet Vermouth 2-3 Dashes Orange Bitters Combine all ingredients into a mixing glass with Ice. Stir, then strain into chilled… Read More

Sydney’s new 25 Martin Place has officially launched its theatre and dining precinct

25 martin place restaurants

With a $170 million redevelopment behind it, the new precinct 25 Martin Place is open and ready to welcome visitors, so for the moments you’re wandering through the middle of Sydney with food on the mind, this is where to go. Located at Martin Place Sydney, the multi-storey dining district and late-night bars overlook the plaza and feature an enticing mix of local and international cuisine, lively bars, fine dining and casual cafes, along with the state-of-the-art refurbishment of Theatre Royal Sydney. Here are six new offerings from restaurants in the area to look forward to…

Become your own home barista with Nespresso Favourites

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With costs going up, more Aussies than ever are feeling the pinch and with the average household consuming three coffees every day, more and more are opting to make their coffee at home to cut back. New YouGov research, The Nespresso 2022 Australian Coffee Report, shows 73% of Australians are now making their coffee at home in some capacity, with more than 63% (which is 9 million!) saying it’s to save money. While Australian cafe culture remains strong, it seems that the at home Nespresso supplements the daily coffee intake and we’re still enjoying the best of both worlds.  Of course saving cash isn’t the only benefit, with 67% of Australians reporting they found it convenient, and 51% saying they were confident their coffee would always be made exactly the way they liked it. In fact, Australians were largely very satisfied with their own coffee-making  skills, with 75% of coffee drinkers claiming the quality of their own homemade “When you’re consuming several coffees a day, it’s a huge benefit in times like these to be able to pare back your spending by making some of those coffee orders at home without having to compromise on quality,” said Nespresso Coffee Ambassador, Mitch Monaghan. “Australians will continue to visit their local café for that social experience, but they also want to know the first coffee they make as they roll out of bed in the morning is up to standard. Nespresso’s AAA Sustainable Quality Program™ ensures the coffee you buy is both the highest-quality and sustainably sourced.”… Read More

We’re calling it. This is the drink of the summer: tequila seltzer

While we’re in the dead of the coldest winter Australia has felt in a very long time, our friends in the UK are having the hottest summer on record (our global warming post will be coming later!). One positive is we can take early notes of what everyone is drinking and get excited for what is sure to be a sweltering summer Down Under. What’s in everyone’s esky? Tequila Seltzers! If you’re not a seltzer lover, we’re sorry to say that they’re here to stay, but they’ve had a sophisticated glow up and tequila is the tipple of choice over vodka or the unknown spirit in most seltzers. Tequila Kings Rey Loco have released two new ready to drink seltzer flavours to get you sorted for every BBQ: Tequila Lime and Soda and Tequila Bloody Orange and Soda. The Rey Loco Tequila Lime and Soda is a perfectly blended and balanced combination of lime and soda, producing a refreshing sparkling, slightly sweet, citrus tequila taste. While many love the traditional tang of lime with tequila. While the Rey Loco Tequila Blood Orange and Soda showcases another delicious citrus combination by blending authentic tequila with fragrant blood orange topped with effervescent soda. While many tequila premix brands use an agave spirit, Rey Loco is unique in the fact that both drinks are made with 100% real tequila, while also both being 99 calories. By creating Rey Loco using real tequila, Aussies can be sure that they are drinking an authentic premix that tastes and is the… Read More

Cleaver’s National Hot Dog Day cheat sheet

Cleaver's Hotdogs

Hot dog lovers rejoice! 20 July is National Hot Dog Day so Cleaver’s has created the ultimate hot dog cheat sheet, breaking down four simple ways to cook hot dogs that will get you wanting to duck down to your nearest Coles to give it a go yourself! Air Fryer Crunch Ever wanted your hot dog skin to have the perfect crisp for the perfect crunch? Simply chuck your Cleaver’s Beef Hot Dogs and buns into the air fryer and cook for 5 minutes for a crispy hot dog and bun. The hardest part is choosing your condiment of choice! Are you a ketchup lover or a BBQ fiend? Do you zigzag your sauce, a little squiggle or a simple straight line? Stovetop Sear If you haven’t hopped on the air fryer bandwagon just yet, you can’t go wrong with the classic stovetop sear. Simply add your Cleaver’s Beef Hot Dogs on a non-stick fry pan or cast-iron skillet to avoid any charring and cook over medium-high heat. Don’t forget to add a tablespoon of butter for extra buttery goodness. Microwave Simplicity Next one is a bit controversial but if you haven’t tried it already, why not try cooking your Cleaver’s Beef Hot Dogs in the microwave?! All you have to do is place your hot dogs on a microwave safe plate and heat up for 45 seconds to 1 minute. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it, microwaving hotdogs is the easiest and quickest way to get the job done in under a minute…. Read More

McGuigan Zero ‘Dry July’ cocktail recipes

McGuigan wines

Each year, more and more Australians are embracing Dry July. Whatever the purpose for your month off alcohol, the health benefits of abstaining remain the same. Giving up alcohol for five weeks can have the following benefits: Improved quality of sleep, increase wakefulness, enhanced work performance and improved concentration. You may also lose weight, decrease your cholesterol, lower blood glucose and decrease liver fat. Making it possible for Australians to enjoy their wine moments, just without the alcohol, McGuigan’s – one of Australia’s biggest sellers of no-alcohol wines – has created some Dry July cocktails to share with friends. Nulled Wine Makes 8-10  1 x bottle of McGuigan Zero Shiraz or McGuigan Zero Red Blend 2 cups of cranberry juice 8 cloves 1 cinnamon stick 3 star anise 1 orange sliced Brown sugar to taste (if added sweetness is desired) Add all ingredients to a large saucepan and bring to a very low boil on medium-high heat. Turn heat to low and steam for 20-30 minutes (can leave up to 1 hour if you’ve got more time). Strain, or remove orange slices and spices. Pour into a mug and add garnish. Saintly Spritz Makes 1 120ml McGuigan Rosé or McGuigan Sparkling Rosé 30ml lemonade Mint, to garnish Lemon slice, to garnish Red berries, to garnish Add all ingredients to a glass over ice, stir and enjoy! Rosé Mimosa Makes 8  Syrup: 1/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup water Cocktail: 1 bottle McGuigan Rosé  ½ bottle McGuigan Zero Sparkling 8 rosemary sprigs, to garnish Pomegranate seeds, to garnish In a small saucepan bring the sugar and water to a boil, simmer for 5 minutes until dissolved. Cool and mix in the McGuigan Zero Rosé, then freeze in a loaf pan, breaking up occasionally until frozen solid. Process in batches in a food processor until smooth, then freeze again until firm. Scoop into coupe glasses and top off with McGuigan Zero Sparkling.