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: melbourne food blog

Melbourne wine & cheese fest 2024

by James Banham

Updated: 12/02/2024

Prepare your taste buds for a truly delectable experience as the Wine & Cheese Fest returns to Melbourne on Sunday, 3rd March 2024. Hosted at The Timber Yard, this event promises a delightful showcase of the finest dairy products and grape varieties, creating an unforgettable celebration for all attendees. An Epicurean Delight Embrace the 11th edition of the Wine & Cheese Fest, where approximately 50 artisan producers from Victoria and beyond will converge to curate a sensory paradise. With complimentary tastings, engaging masterclasses, and the opportunity to interact with each boutique producer, this event is a tribute to Australian businesses and the art of gastronomy. Culinary Showcases Step into a world of culinary exploration with renowned producers such as That’s Amore Cheese, BoatShed Cheese, Schulz Organic Dairy, Long Paddock Cheese & The Cheese School, L’Artisan Cheese, Urban Vineyard, Bellarine Estate Winery, Pizzini Wines, Clarnette Wines, and John Gehrig Wines. Additionally, a selection of eateries including Ummu Gozleme, Porcupine Eatery, Athens Traditional Souvlaki, and Cannoleria will be present, offering delicious dishes to savor between tastings. The Ultimate Experience Whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or simply seeking to tantalize your taste buds, the Wine & Cheese Fest caters to all enthusiasts of fine cheese and wine. Attendees can partake in free masterclasses conducted by cheese producers and winemakers, gaining insights into production techniques, culinary tips, and the art of becoming a true aficionado. For those seeking an extra element of excitement, the Grape Stomp Competition awaits, offering participants the chance to win delightful prizes. Express your interest… Read More

Category: LIFESTYLE, AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, MELBOURNE

Tags: Cheese wine festival, Melbourne blog, Melbourne cheese festival, melbourne food, melbourne food blog, Melbourne wine festival

Melbourne Good Food & Wine Show: What to see this June

by James Banham

Posted: 01/06/2019

On until 2 June in Melbourne, the Melbourne Good Food and Wine Show is on again, pumping out morsel-after-morsel of deliciousness for visitors and locals alike. It’ll bring together some of Australia’s most loved chefs, alongside over 250 exhibitors (120+ cheeses, over 800 wines, and more!), and a range of masterclasses for visitors to take part in and enjoy. The show moves on to Sydney from 21-23 June, but before it does, head on down to see these guys doing their delicious thing. Pinchy’s The champagne and lobster bar in Emporium, will be hosting its first Pop-Up at GFWS, exclusive to the Melbourne Show! Pinchy’s operates under a traceable, sustainable process, distribution and production line, and focuses on a higher quality product. They work directly with fisheries in Maine and Alaska, where their world-leading international and environmental standards preserves the resources and offers the best quality and taste. Emperor’s Champagne Parlour A first for the GFWS, the new Parlour is space dedicated to champagne in all its glory, and will feature the Champagne Dame, Kyla Kirkpatrick as a host throughout the weekend. Kyla will teach guests about the history of champagne, the different types, and the best ways to drink champagne (caviar included!). The Parlour will also feature the Emperor Champagne Truck, and Emperor’s newest beverage addition, Charles Collin (which launched two weeks ago) will be available only through Emperor (both during the event and in general). Glenfiddich The Good Food and Wine Show marks the beginning of a nation-wide Whiskey Wanderer tour, including the exclusive look at the… Read More

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE

Tags: Food wine, Good Food Wine Show, melbourne food blog, Melbourne food wine show, Melbourne Good Food Wine Show, the f food blog, the f melbourne

Take your dog to brunch: Good Times Milk Bar is the dog friendly cafe you need

by James Banham

Posted: 22/05/2019

Down a quiet street in Bentleigh in Melbourne’s southeast sits a corner cafe like few others. Good Times Milkbar is tutti-frutti in colour scheme, positively massive inside, pumps out some of the coolest staple and trendy menu items we’ve seen from any cafe in a while and – and this is the best part – it comes complete with its own dog-friendly courtyard! ? For Easter, they’re indulgent, for dogs they’re welcoming and for the regular weekday humdrum, they’re easy, convenient and welcoming. The menu at Good Times is always changing, but think staple bits like avocado toast, of course, dippy eggs – good for kids of adults – chilli eggs served kind of like a burrito with a tortilla and a pastrami benedict, for those who’re more bougie than bacon. While they do cater for kids with a cute separate menu made up of pancakes, milkshakes and cheesymite soldiers, they don’t have a dog menu. Just give them your leftovers and they’re happy, anyway! Find Good Times Milkbar at 83 Tucker Road, Bentleigh VIC.

Category: AUSTRALIAN FOOD, CITIES, FOOD & DRINK, LIFESTYLE, MELBOURNE

Tags: food blog, Good Times, good times milk bar bentleigh, Good Times Milk Bar review, melbourne food blog, THE F Good Times Milk Bar

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