FOOD & DRINK

Discover the home of Australian whisky at Starward’s new distillery and bar precinct

16/04/2024

After winning 24 Double Gold medals in 2 years, Starward goes even bigger with its recent unveiling of a brand-new distillery tour and bar experience.

Adelaide Hills wineries worth a visit

12/04/2024

By James Banham

Renowned for its cool climate, this picturesque locale offers an ideal terroir for producing some of the most exquisite wines known to connoisseurs and casual enthusiasts alike.

A unique fusion of whiskey and art in Sydney

12/04/2024

By James Banham

The ‘Glenfiddich x Jordan Gogos Pop-Up Bar’, is an initiative set to enchant Sydneysiders from 17th April to 8th May, 2024.

Ruben’s Deli does good food in Melbourne’s Armadale

12/04/2024

By James Banham

What really sets this Melbourne gem apart isn’t just its delectable sandwiches; it’s the incredible catering service spearheaded by owner Amanda Ruben, that’s capturing the hearts of food lovers across the city.

Sweet Greek Delights in Melbourne

12/04/2024

By James Banham

Sweet Greek is offering the same beloved seasonal dishes with a fresh new look that promises to elevate your dining experience to new heights.

Tag: Chinese food Sydney

Kowloon Cafe Express opens in Chatswood, Sydney

by James Banham

Updated: 04/02/2024

Chatswood has just welcomed its latest culinary gem, the renowned Kowloon Cafe Express, which opened its doors on the 12th of January, 2024. This marks the fourth establishment under the Kowloon Cafe umbrella, breathing life into Chatswood’s vibrant food scene with its unique Hong Kong-inspired ambience and cuisine. The grand opening of Kowloon Cafe Express is not merely the inauguration of another eatery; it symbolises an ongoing commitment to delivering an authentic slice of Hong Kong, artistically curated by Howin Chui and Howard Leei. The duo, known for their expertise in crafting niche Asian dining experiences, continue to weave cultural threads from their native Hong Kong into Sydney’s tapestry, encapsulating rich traditions with every dish served. “Howin’s vision to translate the spirit of Hong Kong into every element of his cafes – from melody to menu – has been once again realised with the opening of Chatswood’s Kowloon Cafe Express,” commented Darren Kong of Kong Studios, the architectural maestro behind the cafe’s design. Passersby can step off the bustling streets into a haven of nostalgia and new memories, perfect for fast-paced Sydneysiders who still covet the pleasure of dining. The cafe’s highlights include the Crispy Butter Pineapple Bun, the equally photogenic and palate-pleasing Hong Kong-style French Toast, and an array of beverages from traditional HK Style Condensed Milk Tea to the inventive Ribena with Vanilla Ice Cream. With Chui at the helm, Kowloon Cafe Express is set to become a cornerstone of culinary excellence in Chatswood, reinforcing the suburb’s status as a go-to destination for… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, ASIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, SYDNEY

Tags: Chatswood Sydney, Chinese food Sydney, Chinese restaurants Sydney

Get excited for the new Lotus Dumpling Bar at Summer Hill

by Emi Berry

Posted: 20/05/2022

Sydney’s inner west has a new venue opening on 25 May 2022 and this one is worth getting excited about. The Lotus Dining Group – which already runs six restaurants across Sydney including Lotus Barangaroo and Lotus Galeries – is opening their latest venue in Lackey Street, Summer Hill. Despite being the new kid on the block, it feels like the new venue is among old friends. Located in the heart of Summer Hill, just across the road from the village square – otherwise known as The Piazza, which comes alive in the evenings with live music where locals can be seen dancing – the atmosphere is relaxed and friendly. With the impressive menu designed by Lotus Dumpling Bar at Summer Hill head chef Chris Tsao and Lotus Dining Group’s head chef, Steve Wu, guests are guaranteed to enjoy an extensive range of flavour-packed dumplings and share plates, such as Hot and Numbing Chicken Ribs, XO Scallop with Chinese Dipping Donut and Crispy Prawn Dumplings. Other notable dishes include Mix Mushroom & Endive Salad with Citrus Dressing, Five Spice Tofu and Black Fungus Dumplings, Pork Xiao Long Bao, Wok Fried Prawns with Thai Sweet Basil and Chilli and Steamed Broccolini with Sugar Snap Bean and Kale. “We’re excited to bring our dumpling bar offering to Summer Hill,” says Wu. “Over the lastfew years, we’ve seen a big shift in diners choosing to stay local so we wanted to share ourWalsh Bay concept with a brand new neighbourhood within Sydney. The new menu haseverything people will… Read More

Category: FOOD & DRINK, SYDNEY

Tags: Chinese food Sydney, Chinese restaurants Sydney, lotus dining, lotus dumpling bar

New modern Chinese restaurant, Lucky Kwong opens in Eveleigh

by James Banham

Posted: 22/05/2021

From Potts Point to Eveleigh, you can’t escape Kylie. Lucky Kwong is a casual Australian-Cantonese cafeteria-style eatery, featuring some of Kylie’s best-known dishes for dine in or takeaway. This is the first time since Kylie’s beloved Carriageworks Farmers Market stall, that her food will be so accessible. Named after a child she and her husband lost, Lucky’s got some emotional roots, helping Kylie on a personal journey of rediscovery and the benefit’s in the output. he menu will be small, with daily specials showcasing producers and fellow chef collaborators and will feature some Kylie Kwong favourites – from prawn dumplings and Uncle Jimmy’s noodles to caramelised pork belly with Davidson’s plum, stir-fried Boon Luck Farm vegetables with tofu, and steamed savoury pancakes with toppings like Fish Butchery’s yellowfin tuna and XO. Kylie will continue to work with small, sustainable producers, many of whom she has long-standing relationships with, and will incorporate native edible plants as she has done for the past 10 years. Find out more and make a booking at the Lucky Kwong website. Lucky Kwong 2 Locomotive Street, Eveleigh, 2015 NSW 02 8377 1878 Open: Monday- Friday lunchtime 11am- 2.30pm for walk-ins and takeaway

Category: ASIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: Chinese food Sydney, chinese restaurant sydney, Kylie Kwong Sydney, Kylie Kwong Sydney restaurant, Lucky Kwong, Lucky Kwong Chinese Sydney, New modern Chinese restaurant Lucky Kwong opens in Eveleigh

The best of Shanghai in Sydney: Shanghai Nights with Merivale

by James Banham

Posted: 25/04/2021

Take a trip to Bridge Lane Sydney from 6-7 May and you’ll see it in a new light. Taking over the space for a special occasion, all things Shanghainese will be put on show, in celebration of the Shanghai Nights festival; a dazzling laneway showcase of live entertainment, street-food and cocktails. It’ll transform the laneway into an aromatic Shanghai experience, injecting colour, vibrant energy, rich flavour and originality into the heart of the city. There will be three food stalls, al produce of which will be complemented by Glenlivet cocktails and music from DJs. Here’s a guide: Dim Sum Scallop and prawn shumai (3 pieces) $12 Poached prawn wontons with Sichuan chilli sauce $12 Wild mushroom dumpling (3 pieces) $12 Work Station Stir-fried Shanghai noodles with roast duck and black pepper $12 Stir-fried rice cakes with prawns, mushrooms and fragrant chilli oil $12 Wok-fried Shanghai noodles with shiitake mushrooms, gailan, garlic and black pepper $12 Grill Station BBQ lamb skewers with fennel and cumin salt $6each BBQ chicken skewers with garlic, chilli, flower pepper $6each And the best thing? It’s free to go. Get your ticket at the Merivale website.

Category: ASIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: Best Shanghai food, Chinese festival Sydney, Chinese food Sydney, Shanghai Nights Sydney, The best of Shanghai in Sydney: Shanghai Nights with Merivale

Move over Tim Ho Wan, new restaurant Canton! Canton! is here

by James Banham

Updated: 18/02/2019

If, like most people, you thought Tim Ho Was was as gross an excuse for Chinese food as it was, then you’re about to have your day made. Canton! Canton! is taking over the old venues on Pitt and George Streets in Sydney on 18 February, bringing quality Cantonese eats to central Sydney. Inspired by the hustle and bustle of Canton’s vibrant markets, Canton! Canton! serves up home-style Cantonese dim sum and roast meats by executive chef Jackie Chan and his team of foodies. Jackie has spent the past 28 years perfecting the art of dim sum. It all comes off his experience as head dim sum chef at Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore before joining the Tim Ho Wan group in 2016. He’ll be working hard to transport guests to the capital of Guangdong and the epicentre of Cantonese culture through food. He’s drawn from the region’s rich tapestry of culture, history and tradition to form a menu that features the perfect blend of the traditional five Chinese flavours – sweet, sour, bitter, savory and salty. Check it out from 11am at Shop GD04, 580 George Street, Sydney or see more at the group’s website.

Category: ASIAN FOOD, CITIES, FEATURES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, SYDNEY

Tags: asian restaurants sydney, Best Chinese restaurants Sydney, Canton Canton Sydney, Cantonese food Sydney, Chinese food Sydney, food blog, sydney restaurants, THE F Asian food, THE F Chinese food, the f sydney, Tim ho Wan Sydney

ARTS & CULTURE

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Shooshfest: Australia’s first ever silent short film competition

17/04/2024

By James Banham

Australia’s Shooshfest, an inaugural silent short film competition, invites diverse creators to innovate in storytelling sans speech. Promising an immersive experience, it will connect with audiences, honour silent film and catalyse cinematic culture.

4 reasons to get excited for ‘Frontiers: Choreographers of Canada’s at Sadler’s Wells

11/04/2024

By James Banham

This exceptional triple bill showcases the extraordinary talents of three distinguished Canadian choreographers: Crystal Pite, Emma Portner, and James Kudelka, promising an unforgettable journey through the world of contemporary ballet.

New gallery in Sydney: A Secondary Eye opens

05/04/2024

By James Banham

Sydney, Australia is set to welcome a profound addition to its art scene as A Secondary Eye announces the launch of a new gallery space nestled in the arts district of Woollahra. Opening its doors on Friday, 3 May 2024, this new venture promises a fresh perspective on Australian Indigenous and contemporary art. Founded in 2020 by Jesse-Jack De Deyne, a seasoned specialist in the secondary market for Australian Indigenous art, and Boris Cornelissen, formerly of Sotheby’s London and Hong Kong, A Secondary Eye has quickly established itself as a key player in the art world. Their focus on developing the secondary market for art and collectibles in Australia has led to the exhibition and sale of works by prominent artists like Emily Kame Kngwarreye, Sidney Nolan, and Fred Williams, among others. The gallery’s efforts have not gone unnoticed, with several pieces entering the collections of Australia’s most prestigious art institutions. Strategically located in Queen Street, a spot historically linked with the crème de la crème of secondary market art dealers, the new gallery is poised to continue its tradition of excellence. The inaugural exhibition will shine a spotlight on Rover Thomas, a luminary and trailblazer in the Australian art landscape. Known for his significant influence on the East Kimberley school of painting, Thomas’s works are lauded for their modernist abstraction and profound connection to ancestral land and Indigenous life. The exhibition, titled “Rover: Master of the Kimberley”, marks the first solo presentation of Thomas’s work in Sydney in nearly two decades. It will showcase… Read More

Momentous moment in art at National Gallery London

05/04/2024

By James Banham

In 2025, the art world will witness a remarkable event at the National Gallery as “Siena: The Rise of Painting 1300?1350” opens its doors in spring, marking the 200th anniversary of the institution. This exhibition promises an unprecedented reunion of paintings by some of the most celebrated Italian artists of the 14th century, artworks that have been scattered across the globe for centuries. Highlighting this unique collection are masterpieces in gold ground, many originally part of larger compositions, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the innovative spirit of Western painting tradition from this era. The spotlight of the exhibition is the coming together of several panels from the revolutionary double-sided altarpiece, the Maestà, painted by Duccio di Buoninsegna for the cathedral in Siena. Recognized as the first double-sided altarpiece in Western art, this narrative shift in art will be showcased along with other significant pieces from the ensemble. Notably, the National Gallery’s panels from the Maestà will be reunited with works like “Christ and the Woman of Samaria” from the Museo Thyssen-Bornemisza, Madrid, and “The Calling of the Apostles Peter and Andrew” from the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. Another focal point is the reunion of the Orsini Polyptych by Simone Martini, a folding piece created for private devotion, likely for Cardinal Napoleone Orsini. Dispersed between prestigious institutions – the Louvre in Paris, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts in Antwerp, and the Gemäldegalerie in Berlin – the exhibition will bring together all six panels for a rare presentation. Besides these reunifications, the exhibition… Read More

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Carmen is coming to Sadler’s Wells in London

04/04/2024

By James Banham

In an event that harmoniously blends tradition with contemporary flair, Sadler’s Wells Theatre unfolds its red carpet for Acosta Danza, as they present the UK premiere of Carlos Acosta’s version of Carmen from the 2nd to the 6th of July, 2024. This adaptation by the dance legend Carlos Acosta gives a new lease of life to Georges Bizet’s opera, stirring the soul nearly two centuries after Prosper Mérimée penned the original story. Carlos Acosta himself steps onto the stage, not just as a creator but as a performer, embodying ‘The Bull’ – a symbol of fate and destiny. This role, specially crafted by Acosta, emerges from his deep-seated desire to encapsulate the essence of the narrative while marking his departure from the Royal Ballet. His rendition of Carmen holds onto the timeless and universal appeal of the tale yet introduces a fresh perspective by minimising the setting to its core elements. Joining forces with Acosta Danza are Principal dancers Laura Rodriguez, Enrique Corrales, and Alejandro Silva, alongside guest stars from the Birmingham Royal Ballet – Yaoqian Shang, Javier Rojas, and Lachlan Monaghan, who will portray Carmen, Don José, and Escamillo, respectively. This cast embodies the spirit of the characters they portray, bringing to life the tragic tale of love, passion, and jealousy. Carmen’s story has always captivated the imagination of many, attracting a variety of choreographers such as Marius Petipa and Roland Petit to its fiery core. The opera’s enchanting melodies like the ‘Toreador Song’ and ‘Habanera’ continue to resonate, underscoring the opera’s enduring popularity… Read More