Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD

Celebrate Australia with food: South Australian dining series at MODE Kitchen and Bar

Francesco Mannelli Mode Kitchen 1

In the hotel lobby of the Four Seasons Hotel in Sydney, MODE Kitchen and Bar rules the roost – along with Grain Bar – in giving its guests and visitors one hell of a ride in gastronomy. A part of the hotel’s Celebrate Australia dining series, head chef Francesco Mannelli has played with some of the finest fare – and seasonally-based, geographically sourced goods from down under – the country has to offer. It hails from South Australia, really heroing a lot of what the state has to offer. And for an Italian, Mannelli really loves what it does; adding a lot of variety to food he knows well and loves to work with. For Mannelli, simplicity is key when working with such incredible produce. He notes that the best way to highlight an ingredient that is already special on its own, is to create a dish with a good balance of flavour, a contrast in texture and respects the produce. Guests dining on the new menu can experience dishes like sautee Coorong Pippies, served with spicy sausages from Calabria, karkalla and grilled focaccia; a grilled hard to source cut in the form of a Mayura Station Wagyu Tri Tip MB 9+ with roasted balsamic onions; Hiramasa kingfish sashimi with sweet and sour sauce, macadamia and pickled onion and a South Australian kangaroo loin, crusted with crushed Tasmanian pepper, warigal greens and beetroot. “It is one of Mode Kitchen & Bar’s key philosophy to work with local produce, showcasing to our International and domestic clientele…. Read More

Listen up chicken lovers: Chargrill Charlie’s is moving to Melbourne

Chargrill Charlies

Sydney’s chicken people, Chargrill Charlie’s – popular with Justin Bieber and any other international guest that comes to Oz to visit – is opening in Melbourne. Set to open on 6 April in the centre of the city’s inner-east in Camberwell, Chargrill Charlie’s first Victorian store is ready to recreate the friendly atmosphere that has seen the 11 New South Wales venues become a staple of Sydneysider life – just see what they have on offer. The founder of the slow-cooked rotisserie chook in Australia, Chargrill Charlie’s menu goes beyond the tender take-out mainstay. The extensive dine-in and take-away list will tempt you with an abundance of fresh creations, be they healthy or not so much. They’ll also have the usuals like salads, dinner plates, chicken schnitzels, homestyle vegetables, crunchy hot chips, wedges, rolls and burgers as well as the infamous apple pie dessert. Here’s what in store on opening day: From 12pm – 1pm Chargrill Charlie’s will be serving a FREE quarter sized BBQ Chicken + Chips combo. Then, between 5pm – 6pm there will be a FREE half BBQ Chicken + small Salad dinner deal. See more at the Chargrill Charlie’s website.

Cruise Bar at Circular Quay does a decent dinner

Cruise Bar

There’s a reason Cruise Bar is called so. Whiling away a day on the Sydney Harbour with a sweeping view of the famed Circular Quay – where all the ferries dock – and the Sydney Opera House makes for the perfect location to cruise, kick back try some of their pretty well-rounded menu. Cruise Bar has been an institution in Sydney forever, but it’s their new menu that sets them a cut above the rest. They hero seafood, and offer the rest of it out of courtesy – and done well – to cater to the thousands of visitors that get on and off the gigantic cruise ships that dock out the front. Coupled with a small but robust list of wines in a venue that’s as relaxed as it is easy to access, Cruise Bar does relaxed and accessible like the best of them. Find more about Cruise Bar online.

Carbs for Mardi Gras: Textbook Patisserie does a Golden Gaytime croissant

Golden Gaytime croissant 1

If you’re in Sydney’s inner south and know Textbook Patisserie, then prepare to have your pre-Gras diet shot to shit: they’re doing gay croissants. Because the art of butter, crispy, bread-like pastries from the pretty, wrought iron-clad streets of gay Paris just simply aren’t gay enough, John Railey is going next level. Multicoloured croissants made by the Callebaut Chocolate hero Railey will adorn the display cabinets of the Botany Road bakery this Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras season, celebrating in a more delicious way, the freedoms we’re so afforded in this wonderful era, city and country as gays and their friends. The pastry is literally rainbow coloured and bursting with coloured Callebaut Chocolate pieces, caramel, chantilly and caramel peptides for an extra little somethin’. Get them from Saturday 2 – Sunday 3 March for $12.50. Find Textbook Patisserie at 274 Botany Road, Alexandria.

Beresford Hotel and Absolut Vodka celebrate Mardi Gras with

Absolut Mardi Gras bottles

Because vodka is happiness and happiness is gay and gay is the Sydney Mardi Gras, the Beresford Hotel and Beresford Sundays are joining the celebrations in an epic way. MORE: See how Mardi Gras is saving the planet Beresford Hotel from 16 February – 4 March will host a series of experiences including Absolut Mardi Gras brunches, trivia nights, a special edition Absolut cocktail, live-stream of the parade on the big screen and Laneway Party. Here’s what’s on. MORE: What’s on at this year’s Mardi Gras after party The First Mardi Gras Inc. Trivia Night When? Wednesday 20 February The First Mardi Gras Inc, Trivia Night is back by popular demand and will again be supporting events for 78ers, a not for profit organised founded by the participants in the first Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. Bonnie Bocamp and Alissar Gazal will entertain the crowd, Young Henrys have generously donated a brewery tour for the winning table, and a raffle will be held with prizes from Sydney Theatre Company, Dendy, Sydney Symphony, Art Gallery of NSW and many more. Get tickets here. Absolut Mardi Gras Brunch and Recovery Brunch When? 24 February, 11-1 and 4 March, 12-3 These special Mardi Gras brunch editions at The Beresford will be hosted by the ever-fabulous Maxi Shields, one of the faces of the original We Are Colourful campaign when it launched in 2018. The brunch package offers a bespoke brunch menu of five delicious mains, alongside a range of Absolut cocktails specially created for the series. Think ‘The Bero Toastie’ with Sonoma sourdough, smoked ham, comté, mustard and preserves, or the poached… Read More

Is that even meat? Beyond Burger comes to Ribs & Burgers

Burgers

If you like burgers, but kinda get over eating animal for every meal or every day (which is bad for you, anyway), then this might tickle your tastebuds. Burger people at Ribs & Burgers have joined with Beyond Burger, who’re responsible for plant-based burger patties, offering veggies and their friends amongst us a nicer alternative. On 11 March, it’s D-Day for the burger patties, which will make their way into Ribs & Burgers outlets around Australia, launching the ‘Beyond Old School Cheese’ and ‘Beyond Original’ burgers ($12.90) nationwide. These are the two plant-based versions of Ribs & Burgers’ top selling beef burgers. The sauces, flavours and ingredients remain exactly the same as the famous ‘Old School Cheese’ and ‘Original Burger’ but with The Beyond Burger patty, which contains 20 grams of plants based protein, made from peas, with less saturated fat, calories and 0% cholesterol. See more at the Ribs & Burgers website.

Have brunch at the Beresford for Mardi Gras with Absolut

Absolut brunch toast

When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras descends on Sydney, it means three things: more nudity, more drinking, less food, but better quality, at least. That’s why Absolut – who do those fabulous little gay bottles of vodka at this time of year – have again partnered with Sydney’s gay church Sunday session at the Beresford by Merivale, to put on a Mardi Gras brunch for the whole season. With brunch options for everyone (not just LGBTIQ people) on 17 and 24 February and 4 March, there’s enough of an excuse to get out and ‘be scene’, from 11-1 in February and 12-3 in March for the self titled “recovery brunch”. With standard brunch fare like eggs, bacon, hash roestis and such, it’s an all encompassing offering, but it’s the hero Absolut cocktails that really make it. Here’s the menu. Find the Beresford at 364 Bourke Street, Surry Hills.

Woolwich Pier Hotel is local food done nicely

Woolwich Pier Hotel

It’s comfy, cosy, made out of an older, renovated, more contemporary version of its former self and is popular with the locals; it’s the Woolwich Pier Hotel in Sydney’s inner west and it’s nice. It’s a colonial-era hotel from the outside with all the mod cons of what you want from somewhere to go and eat these days, inside. From long group tables downstairs, where there’s more of a pub-like feel, gaming included, to upstairs where there’s cosy nooks to hide away in, the Woolwich Hotel caters to it all. Complete with beer garden for the relaxed Sunday sessions on one hand and white tablecloths for those after something a little more refined, on the other, there’s no shortage of options catered for. If you glance off the top floor balcony in the Harbour Bridge direction, you see it, too, making the hotel a prime position for New Years’, parties and just general unwinding. See more about the Woolwich Pier Hotel at the website.

Cheese festival Melbourne: The wine and Cheese Festival is back again in Williamstown, Melbourne

Cheese festival Melbourne

Seaworks on the Williamstown foreshore is host to this year’s annual Wine and Cheese Festival, that will put more than 50 wineries, cheesemakers and artisan food producers on show. They’ll be on-hand to showcase gourmet goodies, plus one of a kind masterclasses from the region’s award-winning winemakers and cheese producers. George Linguanti of That’s Amore Cheese will have guests drooling as he performs a live demonstration of mozzarella making and you’ll hear the clinking of wine glasses as Mount Avoca’s Matthew Barry takes guests on a journey during his masterclass – “Taste 100 Years of Wines.” The festival’s popular Grape Stomp Comp is returning, with a mouth-watering prize pack filled with cheese, wine and artisan goodies from all corners of Victoria up for grabs. Wine and Cheese Fest is children friendly complete with a Kids Zone with face painting and games. Tickets also include free tastings, sampling and a take-home wine glass. Find the festival on Saturday, 9 Marc,  11am-6pm at Seaworks, 82 Nelson Place, Williamstown.

New restaurant in Darling Harbour: Flying Fish swims over to The Star

Flying Fish Star Moet

Since Flying Fish first splashed onto the dining scene back in 2004, it has become well regarded by Sydneysiders as one of the best waterside restaurants in the city, specialising in (yep, you guessed it) seasonal and delicious seafood. Now it’s taken up residence at The Star, with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the beautiful Pyrmont Bay. The new digs have been modernised, with a fresher vibe than the former Jones Bay Wharf location. Walking into the restaurant, you’ll cross lush bespoke carpets, with subtle splashes of colour that pop against the dark and sophisticated furnishings, and crystal ball lights twinkling overhead. Executive chef Peter Robertson joins the Flying Fish team in its new location, which opened just last week. On offer were a veritable buffet of seafood delights. It’s impossible to have a “bad” dish at Flying Fish, but some our favourites were the Harvey Bay Scallop and the Black Pepper Style Butterflied Prawn. Our pick for dessert was (hands down) the melt-in-your-mouth Valrhona chocolate sundae, miso caramel and malt cream. When it came to the drinks, we sampled the “grammable” and vibrant Bondi House Fizz; lemon myrtle vodka with butterfly flower tea and agave, as well as the Flying Fish version of the Aperol Spritz, the East Bound and Down; apricot and quince spritz with Aperol and crisp cider. For wine drinkers, there’s a deliciously well-considered wine list with delectable drops from both local and international regions. See more of what’s on offer at the new digs at the Flying Fish website.