Category: FOOD & DRINK

Christmas worthy alcohols and libations, ideal for the season

The Smash Cocktail The Waterway

If there’s one thing that gets us through Christmas, it’s alcohol. And if not that, then plenty of food while thinking about drinking. So with that healthy approach in-mind, let’s take a look at some of the top bottles of grog to wrap your lips around this November-December as we descend into the madness that is Christmas. Manly Spirits’ The Beaches With a flavour profile that combines iconic summer ingredients – mango, coconut, and pine-n-line ice cream, The Beaches is a full-flavoured gin that’s perfect for tropical summer cocktails.  Available for limited time only, this exclusive spirit is perfect for Christmas gifting and is sure to get your name on Santa’s ‘nice’ list. Get it for $95 The Botanist Gin Your Christmas table will never have looked so good, as The Botanist Gin and Eden + Bell pair up to create the perfect finishing touches for entertaining over the festive season. The gift pack includes a 700ml bottle of The Botanist Gin and a stunning table centrepiece from Eden + Bell. The table centrepiece curated by Eden + Bell has been designed to complement The Botanist Gin by using plants and flowers that are reminiscent of the botanicals used in the gin and found in Islay, while using all Australian produce. Get it for $220 from Eden + Bell  Cointreau Christmas Gift Pack An ideal gift for margarita enthusiasts, this pack contains a 700mL bottle of Cointreau, as well as a complimentary salt rim tray for creating the perfect margarita, all in a special decorative gift… Read More

The Macallan unveils first limited edition festive whisky

Macallan NOE mood 28 copy scaled

Extraordinary single malt whisky makers The Macallan, have launched their first limited edition whisky and it’s perfect for the festive season. The Macallan’s ‘A Night On Earth In Scotland’ single malt whisky, tells the story of Scotland’s world famous Hogmanay (AKA New Years Eve) festivities and embodies the joy of sharing special occasions with loved ones. For their first annual limited edition gifting series, A Night On Earth In Scotland, The Macallan has collaborated with acclaimed Japanese-French illustrator Erica Dorn, whose artwork has featured in leading director Wes Anderson’s films and across luxury brands globally, to create a bottle and packaging worthy of any collector. Presented as part of innovative multi-layered packaging that provides an exceptional unboxing experience, Erica Dorn’s playful abstract illustrations are inspired by the colours and rituals of New Year celebrations around the world, as well as distinctive customs of Scotland’s Hogmanay, including the tradition of first footing when it is good luck for a dark haired visitor to be the first person to enter your home after midnight, bearing symbolic gifts. The Macallan Lead Whisky Maker, Sarah Burgess, reveals they also drew on fond family memories of Hogmanay to create a rich, evocative single malt. She says:  “Crafting A Night On Earth In Scotland has been an extremely personal experience for me, which took me back to growing up in our family home in Speyside, just across the river from The Macallan Estate. The whisky’s vanilla sweetness references the rich Scottish shortbread traditionally gifted and eaten at Hogmanay, while notes of… Read More

Holy Basil opens new location in the heart of Haymarket

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Listen in if you’re a fan of Thai and Laotian cuisine, because culinary experts Holy Basil have added a third restaurant to their line up in Darling Square, right in the heart of Sydney’s Haymarket. Adding to the already pumping vibes and great restaurant choices in Darling Square, Holy Basil brings some extra flavour to the precinct with a high end bar menu featuring elegant Cocktails, premium Champagne (such as Ruinart) and delightful French Rosé (including Brad Pitt’s own Miraval Rosé). Stop by for an after work drink, or go all out and sample their fusion menu of the best blends of traditional dishes from Thailand and Laos.  Since the early days of Holy Basil, its owners, Louise and Tony, wanted to showcase distinctive food reflecting their own cultural heritage through these cuisines. Whilst offering a number of curries, soups, salads and stir-fries, the menu also presents a selection of premium ‘wow’ dishes including seafood (try the mussels!), Waygu beef and kingfish carpaccio. Each meal is meticulously executed with a focus on herbs and spices, and a delicate balance between sweet, sour and spicy, for a bold dish rich in flavour. A must-try is definitely the fried ice cream Holy Basil has become popular for! Holy Basil Darling Square is now accepting bookings and walk ins. 

Places doing Thanksgiving in Melbourne this year

Roast cauliflower being spooned onto a plate

Thanksgiving is an American tradition, sure, but why can’t we take the best bits and make it our own? Enter King & Godfree on Melbourne’s Lygon Street, offering a faultless American style banquet feast option for anyone who’s thinking about taking on the tradition, or just after a quality – and massive – feed. Bringing the iconic American festivities to Melbourne, King & Godfree is cooking up a celebratory feast drawing on traditional Thanksgiving fare with an Italian spin. For one night only, a set menu will be available for $85 per person for a 7pm sitting including a special cocktail on arrival. As per tradition, the centerpiece of King & Godfree’s Thanksgiving spread is a classic roast turkey with cranberry sauce, served with mashed potatoes and gravy and either vegetarian or Italian pork and fennel sausage stuffing. Cacio e pepe mac and cheese, green bean casserole, cornbread with honey butter, and a sweet potato casserole with marshmallows will also make a welcome appearance, best enjoyed alongside the evening’s special cocktail, a cranberry sour. On a sweet note, pecan pie with fior di latte gelato will be the final dish of the evening. With limited spaces, bookings and pre-payment is required and reservations can be made here.

Movember at KOI Dessert Bar Sydney

Koi Dessert Bar

If ever there was someone who knew how to make cakes, it’s Reynold Poernomo and co.: the guys behind Sydney’s KOI Dessert Bar. In partnership with the annual Movember movement to raise money for men’s heath in Australia, KOI Dessert Bar will this weekend be hosting a decadent ‘Guy Tea‘. Arnold and Ronald have created a decadent menu with a mixture of sweet & savoury canapes including; Salmon Roe Tart with Brown Butter Potato, Smoked Bacon and Yol Jam ‘Cigar’, Milk Chocolate & Whisky Macaron and guests will be treated to a special cocktail upon arrival crafted by cocktail making sensation Wen Wang (Australia’s Best Bartender Top 100). Working with family is no easy feat, and add the complex nature of the fast paced hospitality industry, the boys have had their fair share of challenges, inevitably affecting their mental wellbeing. In a bid to bring people together through their shared love of food, the Guy Tea aims to help mates from all walks of life feel connected and comfortable to ‘at the table’ chat about how they’re feeling. Sessions will take place on Saturday, 19 and Sunday, 20 Movember with 2 sessions each day from 12pm You’ll find KOI Dessert Bar at 6 Central Park Ave, Chippendale 2008

New London food and drink hub: Iyoki opens this December

Iyoki men chef

Ikoyi will welcome guests to its new home within London’s new space for the creative industries, 180 The Strand on London’s Northbank. And the time to get excited is now. With a dedicated entrance on the corner of Surrey Street, the larger restaurant and kitchen space will afford its co-founders, Jeremy Chan and Iré Hassan-Odukale, the freedom to focus on the future evolution of their pioneering restaurant.  You could describe the new Iyoki as “a restaurant beyond definition” and the core identity of Ikoyi will persist: a true form of global modernism that is placeless, free, unfixed and personal whilst symbolising the energy of its international city home. With an open kitchen, a larger dining space, an outdoor terrace, and a private dining room, the pair commissioned the acclaimed Danish architect and designer David Thulstrup, to help them create a cohesive union of all four spaces. This will be Thulstrup’s first hospitality commission in Britain. His aesthetic and practice of a contemporary approach to the Scandinavian values of simplicity and humility with a dash of boldness will be fully embraced at Ikoyi. See more at the Iyoki Instagram

Sam Smith is performing at Adelaide’s famous d’Arenberg Cube

Sam Smith

Sam Smith, the GRAMMY, BRIT, Golden Globe and Academy Award winning international songwriter and singer is coming to Australia to perform surrounded by wine. Sounds like a dream. They will be performing in an intimate, exclusive concert at the iconic d’Arenberg Cube; home to renowned food and wine experiences and a unique Salvador Dali gallery. This will be Sam’s only Australian show during their visit to the country and will feature Sam’s extensive catalogue of hits and their latest ARIA #1 single Unholy. In partnership with the South Australian Tourism Commission and Sam Smith, the performance will highlight key tourism experiences in the state, focusing on food and drink, wildlife, and Aboriginal cultural tourism. Sam will share their South Australian adventures across social media, which has a significant following of over 35 million globally.  The concert at d’Arenberg Cube will take place in early January 2023. The all-inclusive event will highlight the region’s best food and wine producers, including d’Arenberg Wines, Settlers Spirits, and Pizzateca.   The invite only event will be facilitated in partnership with Sam’s long time Australian concert promoters, Frontier Touring. Win tickets to see Sam Smith in South Australia Key national radio networks ARN, The Hit Network and Nova, will give the public a chance to win tickets to the exclusive performance and include return flights to Adelaide, South Australia (if residing outside of South Australia), accommodation, and bus transfers to and from the concert. 

Have a cocktail in Sydney, save a tree in the Daintree

Daintree cocktail bartender drink

It’s not often you find a bar with an interstate social purpose and manifest that benefits so much more than its own tills. Especially not in Sydney! That is until you discover Daintree Sydney, the social enterprise first cocktail bar that’s putting the benefit of the Daintree Rainforest and the greater Australian ecosystem at its core. At a time when we need it most! The unique micro-bar is a proud partner of HalfCut – an environmental movement that engages people to raise funds to protect rainforests and wildlife. HalfCut, with Daintree Sydney’s fundraising support, is currently focusing on preserving the Daintree Rainforest in Queensland, working closely with the Traditional Owners of the low land Daintree. Daintree Sydney donates half of all its profits to HalfCut. Since opening its doors in July 2022, the bar has raised more than $52,000 and counting via their HalfCut fundraising page. The cocktail list features drinks with seasonal native ingredients and where possible, fresh herbs grown by the bar. Cocktail classics with a native twist include a Gumnut Negroni, Quandong Daiquiri and a Piña Nut, Daintree Sydney’s take on the Piña Colada with coconut-wash white rum, macadamia butter and wattle seed. Alongside the cocktails is a wine and beer list that champions New South Wales producers and highlights minimal intervention and natural wines. As a further nod to Daintree Sydney’s transparent environmental pledge, the menu also points out how far each of their wines and beers have travelled as a real carbon cost. Find Daintree Sydney at 106b George Street,… Read More

This futuristic plant based burger is dropping at Soul Burger for World Vegan Month

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ICYMI November is World Vegan Month and plant-based burger chain Soul Burger is dropping a funky new burg in collaboration with DJ Tigerlily to celebrate. This not-so-fishy burger features Future Farms Tvna, a vegan alternative to tuna. Introducing the fish-tastic vegan burger ‘DJ TVNALILY’. Just in time for World Vegan Day, international food tech company Future Farm and plant-based burger chain Soul Burger enlisted the help of Australian DJ and animal rights activist, Dara Lawson aka DJ Tigerlily to create a bright, plant-based burger. The eye-catching aqua-coloured burger was sculpted based on its muse, DJ Tigerlily, who is known for her colourful wigs and fun style.  Dara Lawson aka DJ Tigerlily said she is honoured to be the inspiration behind DJ TVNALILY, and that it was an opportunity she felt drawn to being a devoted vegan and animal rights activist: “I went vegan over six years ago for three main reasons: my health, my love for animals and the environment. This burger blends some of my most important values, not to mention it tastes just like real tuna which is so cool. I’m so excited for everyone to try the DJ TVNALILY!”  While it’s ‘grammable, what does it taste like?! Marcos Leta, Future Farm Founder said this new burger may look wacky, but it’s filling feels and tastes just like real tuna, highlighting just what Future Tvna is capable of: “Future Tvna is flaky, 100% vegan, non-GMO, and made with our signature triple-protein blend, making it a healthy and hearty vegan option. Delicious shouldn’t cost… Read More

5 dishes to look forward to at this year’s Melbourne Night Noodle Markets

Wonderbao food

The annual Melbourne Night Noodle Markets are back in Melbourne – and that means food; plenty of food. On from 10-27 November 2022 at Melbourne’s Birrarung Maar, the Melbourne Night Noodle Markets bring the best food providers from Melbourne and the country and stick them right at your doorstep. Here’s what to look forward to… Mr Miyagi, Hoy Pinoy, Mazda x Bumplings, Wonderbao, Gelato Messina, Donut Papi, Flying Noodle and more, this year’s markets are promising Melbournians a feast for the tastebuds.  We’ve compiled five delicous dishes to keep an eye out for: Mr Miyagi’s Bao Burgers – bao buns just got bigger, better and more instagrammable thanks to Windsor’s own Mr Miyagi showing up at the markets! These bao burgers are available exclusively at the markets – so get in quick.  Messina’s Milo Fry Club – deliciously deep fried milo gelato in messinatella (Messina’s own take on everyone’s favourite spread) pudding, oreo crumble topped with warm messinatella. Yes – it’s that good. Mazda x Bumplings Pork & Ginger Dumplings – celebrity chef Brendan Pang’s lip-smacking dumplings filled with pork and just the right amount of ginger.  Flying Noodles –these gravity defying noodles taste even better than they look! Hoy Pinoy’s legendary skewers – just follow the infectious smell of Hoy Pinoy’s unmissable pork, chicken or beef skewers, marinated and barbequed to perfection.