Category: FOOD & DRINK

Melbourne’s Hawthorn Hotel is back in 2021

Hawthorn Hotel

The Australian Venue Co and Swinburne University of Technology have joined up with the Hawthorn Hotel in Melbourne to bring it back to life. Listen closely enough and you can hear every student of the nearby University cheering! After closing its doors in 2020 due to the impacts of the coronavirus, the 152-year-old venue will undergo a renovation to provide a mix of dining, socialising and event spaces for The Hawthorn Hotel regulars, as well as a dedicated space for Swinburne alumni, industry partners, staff and students. The University’s carved out a spot in the pub and licences the first floor of the venue, which will be transformed into a dedicated space for its alumni, industry partners, staff and students. Meanwhile, the ground floor will be operated by The Australian Venue Co, a world-class hospitality group delivering exceptional food, drink and entertainment experiences across more than 150 venues nationally. So you know it’ll be good.

Perrier collaborates with renowned Japanese artist and filmmaker Takashi Murakami

murakami

The latest artist to restyle the recognisable Perrier bottle is renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. Incorporating his famous flowers and characters Kaikai and Kiki, the original range of bottles will be made available through select retailers and two highly collectible Limited Edition Perrier screen-printed glass bottles will be available to win through competitions.  The Perrier x Murakami collaboration continues the long-standing creative relationship between Perrier and some of the world’s greatest and respected artists, including Andy Warhol, Salvador Dalí, Bernard Villemot, Raymond Savignac, Carlu, and Jean-Gabriel Domergue. Murakami is considered one of the most important Japanese artists of our generation. Drawing from traditional Japanese painting, sci-fi, anime, and the global art market, Murakami creates paintings, sculptures, and films populated by repeated motifs and mutating characters of his own creation. His wide-ranging work embodies an intersection of pop culture, history, and fine art. He also has a history of collaborating with major brands such as Louis Vuitton, Supreme, Vogue Nippon & Commes des Garcons, Google, KAWS, Vans, UNIQLO and PANGAIA.  Murakami says, “When Perrier first approached me I felt extremely lucky to have the opportunity to collaborate with this sparkling water brand with such a long history. It held many positive associations for me. For example, when I was 32 and started living in New York, I used to drink Perrier a lot.” “I also wonder if today, when we can no longer unthinkingly hug, kiss, or shake hands, the stimulating sensation of the Perrier bubbles on our tongues will be even more heightened as one… Read More

3 watermelon cocktails to keep summer alive

Watermelon-cocktail

Summer in a weird lockdown-limbo can be hard. What’s the best way to get through it? Have a guess… Thankfully, Ciroc vodka’s intro’d a new mix for the season, making the most of the ripest watermelons the country’s got on offer. Here are the recipes. Cîroc Watermelon Le Twist 40ml Cîroc Summer Watermelon  20ml Lemonade 40ml Soda 10ml Splash of Cranberry Garnish with a lime wheel, fresh watermelon wheel & sprig of fresh mint. (1.2 standard drinks) Cîroc Summer Watermelon Sparkle 25ml Cîroc Summer Watermelon  10ml Cranberry Juice Topped with champagne (+ 5ml elderflower if desired) Garnish with a watermelon skin twist. (1.2 standard drinks) CÎROC Watermelon Frosé (Serves 4) 200ml Cîroc Summer Watermelon  3 cups ice cubes ½ bottle pink moscato 1 1/2 tablespoons lime juice 625g watermelon flesh, seeds removed Mint garnish Prep: 10min Extra time: 4hr freezing Purée Watermelon Flesh & freeze into cubes. Blend frozen watermelon cubes, lime juice, vodka & pink moscato. Serve in empty watermelon & garnish with mint. (2.5 standard drinks based on 12.5% wine)

Summer just got hotter with Drumstick’s two latest ‘Mega Tip’ flavours

drumsticks

They’re as Aussie as the cricket during the summer, days at the beach over Christmas, and the sound of lawnmowers roaring in the distance on a hot summer afternoon. We’re talking about the Aussie Drumstick. Drumstick has always signified the arrival of summer in the hearts and minds of Aussies and their new brand platform ‘summer’s here’ celebrates this. And now summer just got a whole lot better with Drumstick’s two latest flavours – Choc, Peanut & Caramel and the very nutty, Honey Macadamia. But what’s even more exciting is the end game – the iconic Drumstick choccy tip – which is now double the chocolate!  So first of all, let’s break down the Choc, Peanut & Caramel Drumstick. This delicious creation is a combination of chocolate and peanut with gooey caramel syrup and crushed peanuts swirled throughout. It’s topped off with more peanuts and caramel on top, with an extra-large choccy tip. The Honey Macadamia is just as glorious – with the cone filled with caramelised honey syrup swirled through frozen creamy macadamia, topped with crushed macadamia nuts on top and of course, the mega choccy tip. The brand has also had a bit of a refresh, with Australian artist James Gulliver Hancock collaborating with Drumstick to create an illustrative wallpaper, capturing the spirit of all things Aussie and summer. The illustration now features as the background of the new packaging, connecting Drumstick even closer to its summer roots. There’s also a shiny new all-gold logo on debut too. The new Mega Tip flavours… Read More

Make it creamy: Creams’ new round of fabulously-flamboyant desserts

Creams indulgence doughnut box 3

For everything sugary, carby and delicious, there’s only really one name you need to know in London: Creams. Encircling the city, Creams are the place to go for fabulously flamboyant desserts and sweet treats, celebrating all things vibrant, colourful and fun. Think gelato, loaded waffles and sky-high shakes, to crepes, cheesecakes and even savoury choices, there’s something for everyone on the menu. Currently, they’re pumping the doughnut option from November onwards, that rival even the biggest names in doughnut providores around town (sorry Doughnut Time and Crosstown!). Add on top of that the usual Creams staples like shakes, crepes, sundaes and the rest of it, you’ve got a whole menu that spreads the whole gamut of things your dentist would slap you for eating. Coupled with fluffy waffles, sweet-but-not-sickeningly-so cookie doughs and generous scoops of icecream finished with lashings of sauces and syrups, Creams cafes are the producers of some of the best desserts known to man – and it’s easy to see why. “We’re even more proud of our commitment to diversity. People matter more to us than anything else (even ice-cream) and we open our arms to everyone both as customers and in our cafe teams”, they say. Like desserts, like philosophy! Find your nearest Creams at their website.

Monkey Shoulder’s on a Christmas cheer mission

Monkey Shoulder

The premium whisky brand’s on its Christmas cheer mission by driving Australia’s biggest cocktail mixer truck to Canberra to deliver great-tasting cocktails aplenty and a service to remember – and all for just a donation of the recipients choice.  From Canberra to Bateman’s Bay, Port Macquarie and finishing up in the Blue Mountains on 12 December, they’ll be donating $1,000 to each of the venue partners, in an effort to support the hospitality industry. And to make it that much better, throughout the month of December, Monkey Shoulder will also be matching up to $1,000 of monetary donations to each partner venue.  TO see if the mixer’s coming to your town, head to the website.

Lake Club summer pop-up coming to Albert Park in Melbourne

Lake Club 1

Lakeside bars around the world, eat your heart out; there’s a new pop-up in town. Melbourne’s newest lakeside social, Lake Club by The Smith Prahran X Power House is the summer destination Melburnians didn’t know they were missing! It’ll launch this 9 December and can be found right above Albert Park Lake. Open seven days a week, Lake Club is the perfect destination for casual cocktails and delicious snacks – whether it is drinks with friends while enjoying the sun-drenched deck, or grabbing some favourite dishes to-go for the ultimate lakeside picnic. The menu is full of fresh, summer inspired food from Local Calamari to Red Coral Lobster and Prawn Rolls, Cape Grim Wagyu Katsu Sanga to Plant Based Burger and Charcuterie to salads. Contactless ordering will be available via Mr Yum to encourage safe social distancing. Find the Lake Club at Power House Deck, 34 Lakeside Drive, Albert Park and at the website

The London Bridge Rooftop: making it worth going outside this winter

London city

With bottomless fondue, 360-degree views and a cosy set-up, the London Bridge Rooftop and its newly launched ‘Winter Heights’ pop-up is officially one of the best reasons to leave home this winter. It’s a brand new alfresco rooftop bar in the heart of London Bridge, only a two minute walk from the station, serving you breathtaking sights of the dazzling Shard lit up at night alongside hot cocktails, live DJs, Ginger Pig BBQ and more. You’ll find it nestled on top of a 60s-style office block building six storeys high, the light grey concrete and brutalist architecture of the rooftop mingles with twinkling fairy lights and 12-foot Christmas trees to create a stunning festive oasis. Open now, grab five friends and catch up to make up for lost time, while still keeping safe in the heated outdoor setting. The 180 cover venue will be open from midday until 11pm daily with tickets available from £17.50 – £25 per person including entry, a mulled wine and a hearty meal of hot cheese fondue, gourmet ginger pig hot dog gourmet barbecued halloumi hotdog and more! Find the rooftop at Colechurch House, Tooley Street, London SE1 2SS or visit the London Bridge Rooftop website

Sydney’s Icebergs Botanical Terrace is back at the beach

Icebergs Kettel One terrace 1

Beachside drinks are on this summer: the Ketel One Botanical Icebergs Terrace is back, serving up views and potent bevs to keep you going all weekend. The terrace is a stunning outdoor spot to drink in vodka as well as oceanside views all the while chucking back drinks with botanicals and infused with natural fruit essences. Located at the crest of Sydney’s famed Bondi to Bronte walk, Icebergs Terrace x Ketel One Botanical overlooks Bondi’s spectacular coastline and the endless horizon of the Pacific Ocean, and will be serving each Ketel One Botanical varietal, topped with Santa Vittoria soda, alongside Ketel One mixed drinks including the No. 930 (Ketel One, Passionfruit, Aperol, Thai Basil and Prosecco) and No. 152 (Ketel One, Peppermint Gum, Lime, Clarified Coconut Milk and Soda).  Icebergs Terrace x Ketel One Botanical is open Friday-Sunday, 12.00pm to 8pm. For the menu and to make a booking, go to the Icebergs Kettel One Botanical Terrace website.

Bellboy cafe is opening in Melbourne East Brunswick Village this December

Bellboy cafe Melbourne

Brunswick in Melbourne is getting a new cafe this December: Bellboy, your friendly neighbourhood venue that’ll bring to life the East Brunswick Village development and will offer a brunch style menu with dedicated bagel section and coffee roasted on site. The menu’s quality brunch items created from nice produce, including house-made sourdough crumpets and flat bread. Complete with its own bagel section, Bellboy offers a refreshing break from the low-quality standard Instagram café dish norm with delicious fillings ideal for breakfast, brunch, lunch or a mid-afternoon feed. Supplied by Savion and available in plain or sesame, the bagels will be great for both eat in and take away. Menu highlights include Muffuletta Bagel $15 (with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone, red pepper, olive salad and mustard), Eggs Cacio e Pepe $17 (soft scrambled eggs, pecorino, guanciale and zucchini pickle on seeded sourdough) and Chop Chop Salad $17 (wild rice, seasonal greens, avocado, tomato, beetroot, sweet corn, house pickles, soft boiled egg, everything bagel seasoning and buttermilk ranch dressing, with the option to add chicken, haloumi or salmon). Contactless ordering and payment is available. Of course, coffee is roasted on site by former Golden Bean winner Mark Leo. The café’s ‘Penthouse’ blend is called Ding Ding and the filter blend is called Wake Up Call. Check out more and plan your first visit at the Bellboy website.