Category: FOOD & DRINK

Whiskey drinker? Try this Italian ‘Chinotto’ inspired batch from Tasmania

A glass of whiskey on a table

We all know Chinotto, right? That black, carbonated Italian drink that’s a kind of cola? Well, Tasmanian whiskey distillery, Lark, took it upon themselves to turn the eons-old beverage into an alcoholic tipple for the slightly adventurous and have crafted their first, ‘Chinotto’ whiskey. On a brisk Tasmanian afternoon, Head Distiller Chris Thomson was sampling a range of house-made single-malts when one dram, in particular, transported him back to a time where a friend introduced him to the cola-reminiscent beverage. Thomson was overcome with a wave of experimentation and creativity, which prompted him to work with a local producer, OSARE, to pair an elegant single-malt whisky with this rich and effervescent drink.  What’s it like? Well, on the nose, you’ll be greeted with fresh vanilla beans, barley wine and scrumptious malted milkshakes. On the palate, hints of charred citrus and cinnamon come into play with nodes of wattleseed and cola. To finish, delighted tastebuds will be met with indulgent and sweet coffee, tingling cola as well as lingering orange oil and dark chocolate. Lark’s ben pumping out quality Tasmanian whiskey since ’92 and this is another example of the greatness that’s coming from their journey. Find out more at the Lark website.

Can a gin be truly sustainable? Let’s take a look at Bombay Sapphire

gin cocktail

The gin will be first major brand made with 100% sustainably-sourced botanicals, they say. Let’s take a look at what’s happening to make that possible. With a truly Global approach, the gin will source all 10 of its botanical ingredients from certified sustainable suppliers in 2021. According to For Life, either of the suppliers have been certified already, with the remaining two grains of paradise from Ghana and liquorice from China – to be certified in the months which follow the lifting of travel restrictions. The For Life certification is awarded by Ecocert S.A., a world’s specialist in the certification of sustainable practices. They recognise the commitment of Ivano and Bacardi to only work with suppliers who act responsibly and ensure a sustainable future for farmers, their communities and the environment, they say. In doing so, Bacardi is having a positive affect on the world, of course, but namely on the people it works directly with. An example of this in practice is the village in Ghana where, over a number of years, Bacardi has worked with AIESEC, a local non-governmental organisation, to help the community establish itself as an independent farming cooperative – from installing a water pump, which now supplies the village with fresh water, to recruiting an agronomist for expert advice and guidance. This year, the village will harvest its first crop of grains of paradise for the gin. It’s good news for the gin and great news for your liquor cabinet! Find out more about the sustainability commitments of Bacardi and… Read More

Hong Kong Guide to Sydney: join the discovery with travel vloggers Nick and Helmi

Helmi Hong Kong cake

This is the year we turn more of our travel focus inward, looking in our own backyard rather than our favourite ‘overseas’. But that’s not a bad thing! The Hong Kong Tourism Board has teamed up with Aussie travel vloggers and passionate foodies, Nick and Helmi, to recreate a Hong Kong experience without leaving Sydney. We caught up with them to reveal Nick and Helmi’s top spots for readers to enjoy a taste of Hong Kong. Kowloon Cafe Located in Sydney’s Chinatown the Kowloon Café brings authentic Hong Kong cuisine to Sydneysiders. Delivering a “cha chaan teng” (Hong Kong style) vibe to diners, you’ll be transported to Hong Kong while consuming local favourites including curry fish balls, spam & egg sandwiches, and Hong Kong Style milk tea. Instagram: @kowlooncafe.com.au Location: Shop 7A-9A 421-429, Sussex St, Haymarket NSW, 2000 Hong Kong Bing Sutt If you don’t want to travel into the CBD, Hong Kong Bing Sutt in Burwood also has a “cha chaan teng” ambience and is described by Nick & Helmi as “a foodie heaven”. With flavours to ignite the senses, enjoy a wide range of curries, crispy creations, and French-inspired treats. Instagram: @hongkongbingsutt Location: Shop 8/11-15 Deane St, Burwood NSW 2134 Kowloon Stir Fry King Missing “dong pai dong” (open-air food stalls) from your previous travels? Located in Sydney’s CBD, Kowloon Stir Fry King brings the flavours of Hong Kong’s street stalls to your plate. Open until late, it’s the perfect location for friends and family to reconnect. Instagram: @kowloonstirfryking.com.au Location: Level 1/249 Castlereagh… Read More

A new kind of Mexican in Melbourne: Johnny’s Green Room ‘New El Paso’

Tacos

This Sunday 11 April, there’s a new once-off Tex-Mex extravaganza at Johnny’s Green Room in Melbourne, showcasing the yummiest in food and drink of the Mexican persuasion. Complete with Melbourne rooftop views, delicious Mex-American dishes will be pumped out for under $20 alongside tunes from DJ Chico G. Oh, and a special one-time-only gelato taco from gelateria (and Johnny’s neighbour) Pidapipo will round out the menu with the perfect sweet finale. Garage Project will also have their Golden Path IPA on tap to sip (for only $12 a pint) and enjoy the city views whilst you chow down on delicious tacos and quesadillas. Here’s what to get excited for: Totopos con queso – $11 Corn chips & nacho cheese sauce Mushroom quesadilla – $11 Pine mushrooms, Oaxaca cheese & jalapeño Burnt ends hard shell tacos (2pc) – $17 Smoked brisket burnt ends, salsa roja & guacamole Torta ahogada – $16 Fried chicken sandwich, chipotle mayo, iceberg, guajillo & tomato salsa Pidapipo gelato taco – $11 Sweet corn gelato tacos with capsicum and strawberry jam, poached cucumber & peanut croquant Johnny’s 8 Ball – $20 Blanco tequila, mezcal, Aperol, yellow chartreuse, lime Find it at Johnny’s Green Room presents: ‘New El Paso’ Sunday 11 April, 12pmLevel 2, King & Godfree LnCarlton VIC 3053

Get your booking for Drag Brunch Sundays at The Smith, Prahran Melbourne

Max Drag Queen

Sometimes brunch can be boring. To remedy that, you need a little glitter in your life. Enter The Smith Prahran, offering up Sunday brunch options that serve food, yeah, but offer up the snacks the likes of Max Drag Queen up as the main dish in all her glamorous glory. A two-hour brunch package that includes a brunch dish and bottomless spritzes, you’ll be entertained by Max and Jaw Breakers’ DJs Kali and Sabrina. For the menu and to make a booking, head to The Smith Prahran’s website.

2 places to go for the best Italian and Greek desserts in Melbourne

cannoli on a table

Australia’s prized Mediterranean heritage comes fully into into its own category of awesomeness when you turn your gaze to the food. From the roadside delis of Oakleigh to the gastronomy of the CBD and the full-on production houses of the northern suburbs, there’s no surprise Greek, Italian and Mediterranean food is right up there on Melburnians’ list of ‘must-eats’. But, what about dessert? For those more sugar-inclined, there’s never a reason to overlook the desserts from that region of the world and thankfully, Lukumades (Greek) and Cannoleria (Italian) are filling the gap. Lukumades is – as the name suggests – known for their traditional Greek doughnuts, vehicles for all the sauces and toppings your heart could desire. In fact, they’re so desired that Lukumades has just opened five shops in Indonesia on top of their outlets in Melbourne. They can’t get enough and it’s easy to see why – they’ve taken the traditional lukumade recipe, which is normally served with honey syrup and crushed walnuts, and Australianised it. They look incredible. And if it’s something with a bit more crunch you’re after, that’s where the Italians step in, with their little pockets of deliciousness: the cannoli. The Melburnian Cannoleria was created in 2018 by That’s Amore Cheese; the brand specialises in the traditional Sicilian dessert where the delicate tubes of golden, crunchy pastry are filled fresh daily with That’s Amore Ricotta. We’re getting excited about them again, because on top of their usual quality array of desserts, they’re producing some themed ones for those die-hard… Read More

An exclusive five-course wine and dine experience in Melbourne at Mr Joe

Mr Joe food

From Richmond, Mr Joe is partnering with two of Victoria’s most notable wineries to inner Melbourne with an exclusive five-course wine and dining event. Hosted in collaboration with 2019 Winery of the year winner, Seville Estate in Yarra Valley and Indigo Vineyard in Beechworth, the events are expected to showcase the best of Victorian wine and produce, including an exciting global-fusion set menu. And now, you can enjoy. Get in touch via the website or through details below to purchase a ticket for unforgettable evenings across April 29th and 30th for Indigo Vineyard, and May 6th and 7th for Seville Estate – only at Mr Joe. And prepare yourself for an onslaught of gastronomic intensity you don’t find often. Head chef Martin Sun has curated an exciting five-course menu for the event, featuring the innovative, boundary-pushing cuisine that Mr Joe is renowned for. Sun’s dishes will take guests on a sensory experience around the globe, using cooking techniques and ingredients from different countries including yuzu from Japan, gianduja from Italy, tzatziki from Greece and veloute from France. Despite the inherent worldliness of their cuisine, local ingredients are at the forefront of the menu, with wagyu rump from Sher Wagyu in Ballan, lamb saddle from Gippsland and dairy from inner-Melbourne’s only micro-dairy, St David Dairy. More awaits, but to find out, get booking.

There’s a new Rumble Coffee espresso bar at Kensington, Melbourne opening up

Rumble coffee

Rumble Coffee Roasters are known for making waves in the world of Melbourne drinkers – the coffee capital – and have long been causing a rumble from their Kensington roastery. Up until now, they’ve commanded attention in the wholesale market and now, they’ve opened up a cafe! Originally from New Zealand, Matt Hampton and Joe Molloy have spent decades running award-winning cafes and espresso bars (Octane Espresso, The Truffala Seed) and developing profound, lifelong passions for both hospitality and specialty coffee. In doing so, they felt that there was so much more that coffee roasters could, and should, be doing to support both the cafes they sold their coffee to, and the producers and farmers from whom they purchase their beans. Find it at Rumble Coffee Roasters is located at 8 Thompson St, Kensington VIC 3031.

Pizza takeovers in Sydney and Melbourne at Ria Pizza + Wine and Arbory Afloat

Arbory Pizza 2

Because pizza is everyone’s favourite thing let’s celebrate the right way. Ria Pizza + Wine’s new Pizza Party Series is kicking off this March, playing host to some of the country’s best chefs for a series of pizza parties supported by Breville. Momofuku Sei?bo’s Paul Carmichael will be launching the first party in Sydney style on Sunday 28 March, taking guests to the beaches of Barbados with Caribbean-inspired pizzas. The menu includes ‘Maybe I’m just a Jerk‘ (smoked fior di latte, jerk seasoning, egg), ‘Leonardo DiCrabrio’ (blue swimmer crab, salt cod XO, cream cheese) and ‘The Cal Jumped Over the Moon’ (jamaican beef patty & cheese calzone). It’ll go down like this: From 5 pm, pay $70pp and embark on a pizza-based journey of: – Maybe I’m Just a Jerk (smoked fior di latte, jerk seasoning, egg) – Leonardo DiCrabrio (blue swimmer crab, salt cod XO, cream cheese) – Is Pineapple on Pizza Illegal in Italy? (cured pork, chilli, pineapple) – The “Cal” Jumped Over the Moon (Jamaican beef patty & cheese calzone) Snacks- Piklitz and avocado- Cos, mojo, parmDessert- Layered strawberry & white chocolate yoghurt cake Find it at 71A Macleay Street, Potts PointSydney NSW 2011 Meanwhile in Melbourne, the riverside Arbory Afloat will be hosting a Detroit Style Pizza pop-up, slinging only 75 of the deep dish, cheesy rectangular pizzas each day from 12 March to 31 March. Dished up by Afloat’s resident pizza phenomenon Salim Gafaryi and Executive Chef Nick Bennet, the limited-edition pizzas are topped with plenty of cheese (edge to edge) and a range of delicious… Read More

Love the pickle? You’ll love this new festival dedicated to fermenting in Mudgee

Fermanting

Fermenting’s the unsung hero of the kitchen. If ever you wanted to make stuff last forever, it’s the number one tool for success. And the best bit? It’s literally so easy, you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it yourself sooner and been opting for super expensive pre-done options from the supermarket for years. There’s a festival happening in Mudgee to know about, if this is up your street, called Fermenta, celebrating fermenting in the format of a twilight picnic. Headlining events to look forward to are: breakfast with an alpaca, ‘Wild stories’ foraging guide, kombucha demonstration and brewing workshops, how to make honey ginger beer, sourdough crumpets making, chocolate fermentation classes and even a traditional sauerkraut demonstration. Fermenta is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW and Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s The Festival of Place – Summer Fund and the Australian Government’s Regional Tourism Bushfire Recovery Fund. For more info and to get tickets, head to the Fermenta website