Category: FOOD & DRINK

Wines from Spain: What you need to be drinking in 2020

Wine cheers

The Wines From Spain Awards is part of the larger Eat Spain Drink Spain roadshow which showcases the best of Spanish food and wine. The campaign aims to bring together the diverse and exciting wine and authentic food to allow food and wine livers alike to explore the opportunities that Spain offers. In it’s seventh year, The Wines From Spain Awards, showcase a fascinating selection of the top 100 Spanish wines, chosen from over 400 entries. This year, the line up expressed a large range of diversity and a high quality of wine being produced in Spain. Spain continues to offer some of the best wine in terms of value, with wines on display ranging from £7.99 to £50. When speaking to Director Fernando Munoz at the London Wine Tasting which was held at Mimo London, he focused his tasting this year on the more unknown regions and grape varieties. “I was very pleased with some of them: for whites and rosé, nº 10, 13, 18 and 42, were all excellent. As for reds, I quite liked nº 46, 50 and 55.” “We had a group of 11 judges, who in July chose 100 winners which are showcased here today, and out of the 100 winners we also select 13 Champion wines for each category.” Said Fernando. In the White Wine Category; Pansa Blanca 2018, Raventos de Alella was awarded the Best Discovery; Raimat El Niu de la Cigonya 2018, Raventos Codorniu was awarded Best White Over £10; Malvasia Seco Coleccion 2018, Bodegas El Grifo,… Read More

Glebe favourite The Toxteth pub gets an upmarket refresh

Toxteth dining room

Occupying a prime position on the corner of Glebe Point Road and Ferry Road for almost a century, The Toxteth recently underwent an update. Glebe’s beloved local has long been the pub of choice for catching up with friends and family over drinks and good food with live music. In late 2018, The Toxteth, or The Tocky as it’s known by locals, was given a makeover. Retaining its rustic exposed brick walls, The Tocky has been fitted out with plush leather banquettes, leather paneling on the bar, copper fixtures, and timber finishes, all set around a soft neutral olive colour palette. The courtyard now features a retractable roof, making it a viable dining option regardless of the season. To accompany the new decor, the food and beverage menu has also undergone a new look. The Tocky’s classic rump steak and chicken schnitzel remain, however they’re now joined by new plant-based options. The vegetarian and vegan fare ranges from delightfully crispy popcorn cauliflower and Italian-inspired mushroom arancini to kelp noodle salad with salt and pepper tofu or a variety of hot bowls. If you’re visiting on a Saturday, join ‘Sienna’s Brunch Club’, a bottomless Bellini brunch. For the first time, The Toxteth is serving cocktails and mocktails. The Gins and Roses is a beautifully balanced floral option, while the Espresso Martini on tap from the Lexington Hill Collection is sure to be a millennial favourite. The range of cocktail carafes provide the perfect accompaniment to a sunny afternoon with friends, and the lychee and passion fruit… Read More

German Gymnasium London: The bar’s doing autumn cocktails a la Game of Thrones

German Gymnasium cocktails 2

Look, we all felt the full force of the ending of Game of Thrones. We all wanted Cersei to be brutally murdered. We all wanted Jamie to be a bit more vindicated. We all wanted to get the real story about Bran, the Night King and the whole whack story. But for everything the show let us down on, German Gymnasium right next door to Kings Cross Station in London, is building us back up with – in cocktail form. For autumn in the UK, the bar is introducing four new cocktails to its menu: Stark’s Old Fashioned, a smooth and classic drink with Woodford Reserve, Mozart chocolate and chocolate bitters. Winter Is Coming, made with Woodford Reserve Rye, cherry brandy and vermouth, served in a stunning goblet emblazoned with the dire wolf. A Dance with Dragons – Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons’ fiery refreshment made with Jack Daniels, beer, ginger beer and elderflower; and lastly. A Song of Ice and Fire, a fruity and velvety concoction created for Queen Cersei Lannister, made with Jack Daniels Rye and served in the Queen’s golden goblet. Ans the drinks aren’t all, the venue is renowned for its fairly epic installations in the middle of the thoroughfare inside, and for this round, they’ve put a beautiful autumnal tree inspired by the Heart Tree in Game of Thrones, with matching weirwood trees upstairs in The Meister Bar and throughout the restaurant.  So though the story may be gone and told, it’s definitely not forgotten. These exclusive cocktails are available… Read More

Williams Burger Days: a new elevated burger concept in Sydney’s CBD

Williams Burger 3

The team behind Grill’d takes another bite out of the burger market with Williams Burger Days, a premium concept burger restaurant. Williams is like a distant cousin to Grill’d; whilst the later has over 130 outlets across Australia, Williams presents an elevated alternative far withdrawn from the notion of burgers as a ‘fast food’ concept. Williams Burger Days opened in Westfield Sydney in September, with plans to open a Melbourne outlet in the coming months. The brainchild of former Vue de Monde and Circa chef Josh Powell, the Williams menu features a range of house-made burgers, salads, elevated sides, sodas, and shakes, as well as a concise cocktail, beer, and wine list. Williams keeps with current culinary trends, utilising native Australian ingredients throughout the menu; for the signature Williams sauce, Williams uses karkalla pickles which provide a tangy, salty hit. The burgers themselves are next-level; fresh herbs like dill, mint, and coriander provide a flavour hit to the vegetarian burgers. The Mushroom & Parmesan burger is a particular standout, with the sharpness of the parmesan cheese perfectly complementing the mild creaminess of the mushroom. Meanwhile, care is taken to source high quality meat and seafood, using producers such as O’Connor beef, Mayura Station Full Blood Wagyu, Summertime chicken and Fish Butchery’s yellowfin tuna. The sides menu vastly differs from that of traditional burger joint offerings. In lieu of the traditional ketchup and fries, Williams features crispy charred broccoli served with airy whipped feta, skin on chips, onion rings seasoned with saltbush and vinegar, seasonal green… Read More

The country’s sweetest event – the ‘Cake Bake & Sweets Show’ is back in town

Sweets show

Are you that person that effortlessly bakes delicious slices and takes them to work to share with colleagues just because you love baking or the family member everyone turns to when they need a standout birthday cake? Then you’re going to want to head to The Cake Bake & Sweets Show for further baking inspo, as it’s back in town! And this year at the same venue, you’ll also be able to experience an exciting new foodie event that will appeal to the home cook – For The Love of Cooking.  But first of all, let’s talk sweeties! From cakes, decorating, sugar craft, sweets and everything in between, The Cake Bake & Sweets Show is back in Sydney at ICC Darling Harbour from Friday, 8 November – Sunday, 10 November. Melbourne, don’t fret! You too, will have the opportunity to experience the sweet smell emanating from the The Cake Bake & Sweets Show at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre from Friday, 29 November – Sunday, 1 December.  Experience demonstrations by some of Australia’s best dessert and sweet creators including, Queen of Chocolate Kirsten Tibballs; award-winning pastry chef Anna Polyviou; and cake creative Katherine Sabbath. At the time of writing, the super popular ‘Queen Make & Take’ classes were sold out at the Sydney show, however if you’re planning to head to the Melbourne show, make sure you get in early.  You may also want to upskill your cake decorating and fondant moulding skills by taking part in one of the many workshops on offer,… Read More

2019 Melbourne Cup hotspots at The Star Sydney

Melbourne Cup at Sokyo

Where else would you want to be for Melbourne Cup 2019, but surrounded by fabulous food, friends, fashion and bubbles. With various venues at The Star Sydney putting on a Melbourne Cup experience to remember, there is something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. ChukkaIf Chinese with a Japanese twist is what you’re looking for on Cup Day, book yourself and your friends into Chuuka for lunch with a spectacular view of the harbour. Headed up by Victor Liong and Chase Kojima, Chuuka is offering a 5-course share menu for $165 per person (minimum 2 people) which includes two hours of Moët & Chandon. If you prefer just a glass on arrival (because some of us do have to go back to work after the race, unfortunately), there is also a $135 package which includes the 5-course share menu. Dishes include sashimi platter with scampi, uni and oyster; wagyu wok-fried, green chilli with garlic stems and coriander; and purple yam ice cream with blueberry and kuromitsu pearl. Flying FishOverlooking Pyrmont Harbour is Flying Fish, with Executive Chef Peter Roberston serving up some of Sydney’s finest seafood accompanied with Moët & Chandon on Melbourne Cup Day. The premium package is $165 per person which includes a 3-course set menu and two hours of Moët & Chandon. For $135, you receive a glass of Moët & Chandon on arrival and a 3-course set menu. Dishes include Australia’s Oyster Coast (AOC) oysters with ginger and turmeric dressing; roast duck, confit leg, pistachio and preserved cherry; and passion fruit… Read More

Underrated Italian gem I Maccheroni has a new home in Woollahra Sydney

Maccheroni restaurant

If love were tangible, it would be found in the form of the perfectly pillowy spinach tortelli with burnt butter, crispy sage, and Parmigiano Reggiano at I Maccheroni. Formerly located in Rose Bay, the Italian diner is now situated just off Oxford Street on Woollahra’s Jersey Road. Owned and helmed by ex-Otto and Pendolino chef Marcello Farioli who hails from Modena, Italy, I Maccheroni serves up high-quality, unpretentious, seasonal, homemade Italian fare. The menu focuses on Italian staples and is continually changing, however, there are a few mainstays. The aforementioned divine spinach tortelli, as well as a mushroom arancini, and a tiramisu. Naturally, there’s also always a maccheroni option on offer, with this constantly rotating. With a commitment to seasonal dining, I Maccheroni always has blackboard specials in addition to the regular menu (if you’re lucky enough to visit on a day when the Cacio e Pepe is on offer, this is a must-order dish!). Open for dinner Monday to Saturday, with lunch on Saturdays, the two-level Woollahra joint is a homely yet elevated experience. The venue is a step up from the former long-tabled communal dining setting of the Rose Bay location; I Maccheroni in Woollahra spans two levels and features a bar, upstairs function or dining space, and more intimate small table seating options, all in a fine-dining worthy grey, blue and timber setting. Unlike its former location, I Maccheroni in Woollahra is now fully licensed, and features a substantial wine list with bottles hailing from both Italy and Australia, as well as… Read More

Paddington institution Jackies Cafe is now open three nights a week

Jackies Cafe

Tucked away in a leafy courtyard on Glenmore Road in Paddington is iconic venue, Jackies. Perfect for lazy afternoon cocktails at the sushi bar, an intimate dinner in the main restaurant or a casual shared plate get-together with friends in the courtyard, Jackies is now open three nights a week from 5.30pm until late (Thursday, Friday and Saturday).  With the new opening hours comes an exciting Jackies by Night menu which includes signature dishes from the sushi bar and mouth-watering shared dishes such as the braised beef rib with wasabi mash and crispy fried calamari with ponzu sauce. The braised beef rib literally falls off the bone and sits on a delicious bed of wasabi mash. It’s a combination made in heaven. The crispy fried calamari is just as much of a hero on the evening menu, perfectly cooked with a light tempura batter that keeps you wanting to go back for more. Other exciting dishes that feature on the evening menu include typical Japanese favourite, okonomiyaki; pork and prawn ramen; teriyaki glazed quail and agedashi tofu.  And of course, there’s always dessert! Make sure you leave enough room for the Japanese inspired matcha ice cream, seasonal berries and black sesame praline; the dark chocolate mousse with miso caramel and espresso foam; or the dessert with an Italian twist, the affogato jersey milk ice cream with an espresso shot and biscotti.  In addition to the great vibe at Jackies, it’s also a fabulous space for events. With work Christmas parties on the horizon, or any… Read More

There’s a new reason to look forward to 5pm: ‘Eliza Hour’ at Eliza Food & Wine, Darlinghurst

Eliza food

Located on the corner of Victoria and Liverpool Street in Darlinghurst is a bright, stylish, yet casual venue called eliza food & wine. Conveniently located just a quick stroll from one of Sydney’s iconic landmarks, the Coca-Cola billboard, eliza is perfect for a quality Friday lunch that won’t break the bank or for catching up with friends over a leisurely cocktail and dinner. Handy location aside, eliza quite possibly features the best duck liver parfait in Sydney! But more about that in a moment.  Headed by respected chef Jermey Bentley (of hatted restaurant The Devonshire before its closure in 2017), eliza food & wine opened earlier this year. Also part of the team is talented head chef Shaz Akbar and manager Rory Fitzpatrick, delighting diners with incredibly delicious dishes and exceptional service, respectively.  The venue has just launched a new Friday Prix Fixe lunch offer as well as Eliza’s hour which includes a new spring snack menu. The three course lunch menu is only $39 and is available every Friday from 12pm to 3pm.  Eliza’s hour runs from Wednesday to Saturday from 5pm until 6.30pm, where you can enjoy eliza’s $10 signature cocktails, $8 house wine and $5 tap beer. Perfect timing for that spontaneous get together after a hard day at the office or a well-deserved weekend tipple.  To accompany your tipple is eliza’s spring snack menu, which is packed with dishes boasting flavour, colour and texture. Let’s start with that duck liver parfait we mentioned earlier. Ever so smooth, the duck liver parfait… Read More

World Class Sydney turns the city into stage for Bartender of the Year 2020

Sun-Tavern-cocktails-2

If your life revolves around alcohol and making cocktails (to serve, not drink), then you’d know what World Class is. It’s regarded as the world’s biggest and most influential bartending competition, instrumental in transforming fine drinking and cocktail culture around the world. This year, it comes to Sydney, where it’ll turn the city of Sydney into a vibrant hub of events, experiences and festivities as an elite group of finalists battle it out to be crowned the world’s best. None of this happens until 2020, but we spoke to one boss chick who’s taking it on herself, a bartender at Isabel, the 2019 World Class Finalist who had this to say: “World Class truly paves the way for innovation in our bars. It helps reshape and redefine what the cocktail experience is by challenging what bartenders know about technique, creativity and charisma. It’s also a great chance to delve into the minds of our peers and see what they get up to, providing a global community where we can learn from and be inspired by each other”. Meanwhile, she and a guy named Tim Philips-Johansson will be competing in a competition that runs in more than 60 countries and has supported, educated and inspired more than 300,000 bartenders through its training and advocacy programme.  Actually, Tim won in 2012 and co-owns a bar in Sydney. He said: “Our bars and bartenders have long been celebrated for being the best in the business, qualified by the fact we are one of only two countries to produce… Read More