Category: FOOD & DRINK

Cazcabel Tequila has all your cocktail needs covered this Christmas

cazcabel tequila

Who doesn’t like kicking off the holiday festivities with a tequila cocktail? Summer has officially arrived and Christmas is just around the corner so it’s time to up the entertaining ante with Cazcabel Tequila, which recently launched its premium range in Australia.  Cazcabel Tequila is created in an independent micro-distillery in the town of Arandas, located in the highlands of the Jalisco mountains in Mexico. The elevation of Arandas ensures that the agave are well hydrated and that they have mineral and nutrient-rich soil which allow them to grow larger than anywhere else in Jalisco. The recently launched range includes Blanco, Coffee, Reposado and Honey.  Cazcabel Blanco Tequila – At the heart of Cascabel’s range, the spirit is fashioned from sun-baked blue weber agave from the heart of the Jalisco region. Fresh, crisp and with a rustic hit of earthy agave, this tequila is truly one to be sipped and savoured. RRP $64.99. Cazcabel Reposado Tequila – Rested in American oak barrels for nine to eleven months, it balances the clean and earthy agave flavour of the double-distilled Blanco with the complex but subtle aromas of toasted oak. RRP $69.99. Cazcabel Coffee Tequila – Using the fresh and earthy base of the Blanco, Cazcabel Coffee Tequila blends in a roasted sweet hit of luxury coffee for the perfect balance of sweetness and bitterness. It’s a stunning shot that can be used in innovative cocktails or enjoyed neat over nice. RRP $59.99. Cazcabel Honey Tequila – This multi-award-winning tipple is one of the world’s first honey… Read More

Love Peking Duck? Then get yourself to Lotus The Galeries immediately!

Lotus the galeries

Tucked away on Level 1, The Galeries on George Street in Sydney’s CBD is Lotus The Galeries. Unassuming yet sophisticated, this venue has been one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets and our only regret is not knowing about it sooner. The menu boasts some of the best Shanghainese dishes with a nod to Cantonese cuisine and the unique table-side Peking Duck experience is truly a highlight.  For a Wednesday night, the venue is surprisingly busy and is buzzing with guests – a joy to observe after what has been a horror year for the hospitality industry. Restaurant manager Ryan Bishell is busy greeting guests who are excited to be out and about again and you can see Ryan’s enthusiasm rubbing off on the rest of his friendly team as they go about their business looking after hungry and thirsty patrons.  But back to the Peking Duck experience…. what a great way to share a meal with friends! This incredibly delicious journey starts with thinly sliced duck skin from the breast served with white sugar. The duck skin is full of flavour and literally melts in your mouth. And this is just the first part of this exquisite experience. It’s then followed by duck pancakes and served table-side with three special sauces, thinly sliced red onion, cucumber, and leek. A half-duck is a very reasonably priced $59 and a whole duck is $108 and can be enjoyed Wednesday – Saturday.  The range of mouth-watering dishes on the menu to accompany the duck is impressive. For example, the… Read More

Krispymas has arrived and these doughnuts are almost too cute to eat

Krispy Kreme doughnuts

Yes, get frothing people, because it’s time to celebrate Krispymas with Krispy Kreme’s annual festive doughnut celebration!  To spread more festive cheer after a ride of a year, from 12 December Krispy Kreme is introducing ‘12 days of Krispymas’, which will gift fans daily offers via Krispy Kreme Australia’s socials like sing a Christmas song to score yourself a free OG Krispy Kreme doughnut! Let’s introduce you to this year’s awesome selection (all $3.75) Krispy Kreme Snowy Doughnut: Dipped in white truffle with a sour strap scarf, filled with raspberry flavoured jam  Krispy Kreme Pudding Doughnut: Filled with custard, dipped in choc and topped with a glace cherry & white choc leaf. Krispy Kreme Reindeer Doughnut: Original Glazed doughnut dipped in caramel truffle, topped with choc-coated salted pretzels, with candy eyes & nose. Krispy Kreme Tree Doughnut: Dipped in truffle, with a choc coated wafer trunk and white truffle drizzle. “Each year, the Krispymas range gives people the opportunity to share and create joy-filled memories with their loved ones by gifting these dough-licious festive treats. The team here at Krispy Kreme love getting in the spirit of Krispymas and sharing Kris-py Kringle’s holiday range,” said Olivia Sutherland, Marketing Director at Krispy Kreme Australia.  These cute Krispymas doughnuts are now available in all Krispy Kreme Australia stores, online via click and collect and delivery as well as your local 7-Eleven and selected Woolworths stores. For the last-minute gift buyers, delivery is also available via Krispy Kreme, Deliveroo, UberEATS, Doordash and Menulog. Find your nearest participating store… Read More

Praise bottles and jars now made with 100% recycled Australian plastic

Praise recycling

In a big step forward for sustainable packaging, Praise Mayo and Aioli bottles and jars are now made with 100% recycled Australian plastic. An Australian first in the category, the new packaging will save a whopping 380 tonnes of virgin plastic a year.  Praise has also partnered with Take 3 for the Sea – experts in the sustainability space. The partnership will allow opportunities such as thought leadership, ambassadors, and access to significant sustainability knowledge.  “We know Aussies really want to be conscious when it comes to their impact on the environment so it’s great to see household names like Praise using 100% recycled plastic in their packaging. We’re glad to be involved in this event that symbolises part of positive change for real sustainability,” said Sarah Beard, CEO of Take 3 for the Sea.  Mick Anderson, Head of Sustainability at Goodman Fielder said, “Getting to 100% Australian sourced post-consumer recycled plastic is a proud achievement for Praise. We’re delighted that every Aussie can help do their bit for the environment by choosing Praise and helping to support the circular economy. Most importantly, consumers can help their packaging live on simply by recycling it.” Keep an eye out for the new 100% recycled bottles starting to hit shelves in a store near you! You may notice the new bottles have a slightly darker tint, and this is simply because the plastic is recycled. They remain totally food safe and still contain the same delicious Aussie made Praise you know and love! Do your bit to… Read More

Hampton Water Rosé has landed in Australia

Hampton water wine

When someone mentions Jon Bon Jovi, you instantly think rock icon and ‘Living on a Prayer’. But who would have thought this rocker also dabbles in winemaking? In 2018, Bon Jovi joined forces with acclaimed French winemaker, Gérard Bertrand to launch Hampton Water Rosé in the US. Fast forward three years and this outstanding wine has since won many prestigious awards and is now available in Australia. This venture was inspired by Bon Jovi’s son, Jesse Bongiovi, who played a pivotal role in the brand’s creation. The idea to create a wine, emblematic of a vacation focused lifestyle, emerged from a long-standing joke between Bon Jovi and his son.  What is Rosé? Rosé, a popular drink for the Bongiovi’s, had initially been dubbed ‘pink juice’ by Bon Jovi until Jesse and a friend inadvertently coined the brand name and an idea was born. Bon Jovi and Jesse began exploring this idea as a real enterprise, designing bottles and nailing down concepts. They were eventually introduced to Gérard Bertrand by a mutual friend and the three quickly developed a shared vision, to create a unique rosé, uniting the essence of the relaxed lifestyles of East Coast beaches and the South of France. Hampton Water is available from Dan Murphy’s stores, RRP: $33.99, $32.30 6-pack, $193.80 case of 6.  Hampton Water Rosé Cinco de Mayo Cocktail Recipe Ingredients – 1.5 oz tequila – 1/2 oz jalapeño syrup – 3/4 oz watermelon juice – 1 oz lime juice – 2 oz Hampton Water Rosé Method Add all ingredients… Read More

Mouth-watering Jamaican patties delivered to your door by Goodies

Goodies Jamaican patties

Goodies founder, Maurice Hylton was born and bred in Kingston, Jamaica. Lucky for us, Maurice migrated to Australia in 2006 and brought with him a love for Jamaican food and culture, from which his brand, Goodies was born in 2020.  These patties are full of explosive flavours and generous amounts of filling, surrounded by a buttery pastry that melts in your mouth with every bite.  Jamaican patties are flaky, sweet, spicy and tender pillows filled with either chicken, beef or goat and authentically seasoned with fresh scotch bonnet pepper, scallion onion, pimento and thyme. Note, the goat patties are seasonal so not always available on the menu. There is also a vegetarian/vegan option. Oh yes, it has kick! But if you prefer a less spicy version, milder patties can be made to order. All patties are hand made with natural ingredients and their distinctive yellow pastry is naturally coloured with annatto, curry and turmeric.  Patties are delivered frozen, so all you need to do is throw them in the oven and dinner is done! Delivery fees are based on postcode (check your postcode here) with free delivery to some postcodes in the Northern Beaches.  How to cook:  Frozen patties should be baked at 175 degrees Celsius (fan-forced) for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry has completely risen and is golden in colour. Baked patties can be stored in the fridge or freezer and reheated in the oven or microwave. Sounds good, yes?! Place your order here.

FishMe! solves all your Christmas seafood shopping stress

FishMe

Christmas will be here before we know it. Problem is, so will the Christmas fish market queues but what’s an Aussie Christmas without seafood, right?! The solution? FishMe! Sydney’s brand new one-stop-shop for the finest, freshest, and biggest seafood delivered right to your door.  Recently launched, FishMe! has been a sure-fire success for Sydneysiders during lockdown and is set to continue its popularity as we inch closer to Christmas as well as summer get-togethers. FishMe! delivers directly to your door in insulated temperature-controlled packaging. From seafood platters to whole fish, the range is impressively wide and competitively priced. FishMe! source directly from seafood suppliers so they can ensure the quality is consistent at all times. This means they can also pass on savings to you by minimising the handling and any other middleman costs. “When COVID lockdowns caused restaurants to close and all you could do was eat at home, a hobby became this passion project. My wife Janice and I turned a combined love of eating fresh seafood and a desire for a service to fulfil Sydneysider’s needs when it comes to fresh seafood delivered to our door – it is safe to say we are seafood fanatics,” said Winson Tu, founder of FishMe! FishMe! offer a flat rate of $12.50 for weekdays and $18.50 on Saturdays for delivery anywhere within Sydney metro areas with a minimum order of $40.  Head to the FishMe! website for some easy seafood inspo from Octopus Escabeche to garlic crab. Here’s a favourite to kickstart the party.  Garlic… Read More

New Yarra Burn spritz is a picnic hamper essential this summer

Yarra burn spritz

There’s no denying, picnicking is so hot right now. Picnic rug. Tick! Food. Tick! Convenient spritz in a can. Tick! Yes, because Yarra Burn Spritzes are now available in convenient and stylish cans to take to your next soirée. There are four delicious and refreshing styles to choose from: Prosecco Spritz, Rosé Spritz, Prosecco Spritz with Orange Bitters, and Cuvée Spritz.  Prosecco – refreshing appeal with crunchy pear fruit characters and a crisp, fresh finish. Rose Spritz – red berry fruits with a soft creaminess, fresh acidity and lively bubble impact. Prosecco Spritz with Orange Bitters – orange, rhubarb and marjoram flavours. Bright and zesty finish with a refreshing twist of bitters, with no artificial colours or flavours. Cuvée Spritz – bright fresh fruits characters. Finishes clean and crisp with bright acidity and lively effervescence. Yarra Burn has been crafting elegant sparkling wine for over 45 years and the delicious new spritzes are ideal for those looking to moderate alcohol consumption and still enjoy the perfect serve this summer. Yarra Burn Spritzes are lower in alcohol (at 9% ABV) than their existing traditional sparkling wines. The aluminium-made cans are 100% recyclable – offering drinking pleasure with less environmental impact.  “The ready-to-drink segment is booming in Australia – it’s the fastest-growing category in the alcoholic beverage industry Globally. Not only are we seeing more consumers becoming more conscious around their alcohol consumption, but they are also increasingly focusing on products that offer accessibility, convenience and are available in eco-friendly formats,” said Accolade Wines Marketing Director, Jack… Read More

Sydney, it’s time to get out again and enjoy new waterfront Mexican-inspired venue Tequila Daisy at Barangaroo

Tequila Daisy at Barangaroo

It’s warming up, the days are longer and we’re all starting to come out of hibernation after the Sydney lockdown, so what better timing for Tequila Daisy to officially open its doors to Sydneysiders looking for some harbourside fun and a mouth-watering Mexican menu, to boot! Oh, and of course there is a very long (and impressive) drinks menu to accompany the bar and food menu. Tequila Daisy was originally due to open in August, but due to the stay-at-home orders, the launch was delayed until October, giving customers a little teaser during the lockdown with a takeaway only menu.  However, last night saw the launch of the restaurant’s terrace dining, with ‘good times’ back in full swing. There was music, laughter, incredibly tasty shared plates and frozen watermelon margaritas that will have you coming back for more. Yes, we are back in business, Sydney!  Owners of Tequila Daisy – husband and wife duo Rebecca Lines and Hamish Ingham – said they were excited to be able to officially welcome diners into the venue to enjoy the full terrace and bar dining experience.  “Our Bar Taqueria takeaway was a great way to introduce Tequila Daisy to Sydney, but the full experience is all about sitting around a table with friends and feasting on fresh Mexican flavours with a cocktail in hand,” said Hamish.  “We’ve created a long drinks list that will work regardless of if you’re enjoying a quick beer or settling in for an afternoon of margaritas,” added  Rebecca.  The drink list features more… Read More

UK Coffee Week: 5 other espresso martini cocktails to try

Espresso martini

It’s UK Coffee Week and there’s no better way to celebrate the occasion than with some delicious caffeinated cocktails courtesy of the masterminds at The Bottle Club. Cinnamon Espresso Martini An autumnal take on the traditional Espresso Martini, a Cinnamon Espresso Martini is just the thing you need to get you through those rainy days and cold nights. Credit: Pxfuel  Ingredients  60ml Monin Cinnamon Syrup  60ml vodka  60ml espresso  1-2 tbsp cinnamon sugar  Cinnamon sticks and coffee beans for garnish How to make  Start by pouring roughly 30ml of the cinnamon syrup on a small plate and covering it with your cinnamon sugar. Then, gently run the rim of the martini glass over the mixture – your cocktail glass is now decorated and Instagram ready!  Once the all-important presentation is out of the way, it’s now time to make your drink! In a cocktail shaker, combine your vodka, espresso and 30ml of syrup and give the contents a good old shake. Finally, strain the drink into your glass and garnish with your coffee beans and cinnamon sticks.  Espresso Tonic Forget a gin and tonic, ever heard of an espresso tonic? Made from two simple ingredients, this booze-free drink will ensure that you won’t miss out on that espresso martini kick, even if you are the designated driver.  Credit: Unsplash Ingredients 100ml tonic water 50ml fresh espresso   How to make Begin by brewing your espresso in a shot glass or small jug and letting it stand. While this is happening, fill your chilled glass with big… Read More