Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.
Grill’d isn’t widely known for experimentation. Sure, they’ve always been consistent in rolling out new, health-focused combinations, but they’ve never truly gone left-field with their inoffensive menu. That changes this weekend, as the burger chain partners with streaming service Binge to introduce a lamb brain burger. Yes, a lamb brain burger. And you don’t get…
Sydney’s hotel restaurants are boring. Maybe that was a bit too definitive. Let’s just say, Sydney hotel restaurants are, for the most part, unmemorable. At least when compared to standard-pushing cities like Tokyo and New York City. Although, I’ve never eaten at a Chicago, San Fran or L.A. hotel restaurant that inspired much enthusiasm either….
Forget the 1.25L bottle of Coke with your Pizza Hut Australia order. From today, the inescapable pizza brand is now chucking beer on the menu. From $20, you can slap a six-pack on top of your pizza (or wings or pasta) order, although the concept has only so far rolled out in Queensland and Victoria….
Yarra Valley’s eternally beloved Four Pillars has teamed up with the equally adored QT Hotels and Resorts for a playful new collaboration which will see the distillery’s latest gin available exclusively across QT’s family of boutique-minded hotels. And though you might not be able to get Four Pillars’ new Ordered Chaos Gin at your local…
In the market for a premium mid-range smartphone? The latest flagship offering from TCL Electronics (yes, the ones that make those consistently impressive super premium televisions) is the TCL 10 Pro and we’ve got one to give away to one lucky reader. Retailing for $749, the TCL 10 Pro provides an immersive experience to users…
I’m shocked. Not because Google and Lenovo have produced a capable entry-level 2-in-1 with the Lenovo Duet Chromebook, but because it’s only $599 (although you can probably get it for much less right now). That’s not cheap per se, but it’s incredible value for something that doesn’t feel like a heavily compromised budget PC. The…
We haven’t even reached the point where smart devices are truly mass market, but we will get there. Curating smart homes has been a big talking point over here at the AU, and in general. It’s a fascinating lean forward into the IoT world, and the big companies like Google and Amazon are starting to…
Whatever your feeling towards the rather aggressive and inelegant name JBL have given their new party box, it’s hard to deny the brand’s impeccable timing. At the tail-end of 2020, where people are looking for different ways to recreate some nightlife at home, the JBL Party Box On The Go is heaven-sent. The pricey, chunky…
By 2024, its predicted that more than 7 million smart video cameras will be totalled across Australian households. Does that sound accurate? It just might. Interest in smart security picked up dramatically in 2020, even though most people were staying at home. And as 2021 continues to unfold, it’s highly likely that interest will keep…
It’s no secret now that Tokyo Lamington is one of the best new dessert shops in the country. After all, they are taking the most beloved spongy treat the country has ever known and layering on a dazzling amount of creativity, with everything from Davidson Plum to Pandan & Coconut sprucing up the classic. Now…
Nintendo loves getting experimental with their flagship franchises, and Mario has by far benefitted most from this penchant. From make-your-own Mario games packed full of features to redefine creation-based gaming, to legendary kart-racing and unique RPGs, there is honestly very few words as exciting as “Mario” for Nintendo players. But overkill is easy. Exhaustion can…
It has been 13 years since Black Star Pastry opened un unassuming shopfront in Newtown, slightly veered off the main strip of King Street with a diminutive space popping with vibrant cakes and fresh pastries. Now, the internationally renowned bakery and sweets shop has firmed their grip on Newtown’s culinary scene by making the big…
Forget cards, jewellery, chocolates or flowers this Valentine’s Day. In 2021, a romantic staycation is quite possibly the best way to mark the occasion. Better still, Valentine’s Day falls on a Sunday this year, so there’s an ideal excuse to enjoy a weekend escape. If you’re feeling like a tiny house escape this weekend, you’re…
Let’s face it, Valentine’s Day is not just about romantic gestures that go heavy on the cheese and cliché (not that there’s anything wrong with that). It also happens to be the first established gift-giving occasion on the calendar year, and given 2020 was an absolute shitshow, that means a lot. Brightening up your signature…
The new COVR-X1873 from D-Link is a powerful triple node system of AX1800 Dual Band Seamless Mesh Wi-Fi 6 towers – the latest in the company’s award-winning COVR series and absolutely one of the most impressive. I’d go so far as to say this is one of the best mesh Wi-Fi 6 systems you can…
Built to work seamlessly across both 4G and 5G networks is the new moto g 5G plus from Motorola. And given how strong their smartphone offerings have been lately, it’s safe to expect big things from such a feature-rich set. Bolstering those blazingly fast speeds you’ve got a quad-camera set-up, led by a 48MP sensor…
Domestic travel is on the cusp of a resurgence with states across Australia beginning to relax lockdown measures. International travel? That’s a different story. With many countries around the world struggling in the fight against COVID-19, we’ve been given conflicting information on when international travel will resume to a sense of normalcy anytime soon. Some…
More than 8,000 love stories and break up mementos have been sourced by the eternally playful folk behind QT Hotels & Resorts for a temporary museum dedicated to relationship relics of the past. Twisting the idea of Valentine’s Day, QT Gold Coast will turn into “Heartbreak Hotel” from 1st to 21st February, showcasing a pop-up…
What defines Port Macquarie? In the scope of New South Wales, a state with some of the beautiful coastal towns in the country, Port Macquarie may not seem all that distinctive. Until you get there. Make the four-or-so hour drive from Sydney (5.3hrs from Brisbane), like many do throughout the year, and you’re rewarded with…
Since opening a Sydney flagship store late last year, Tokyo Lamington has opened up to various interpretations of the namesake treat held so dearly in the hearts and minds of Aussies nationwide. The humble lamington has seen some head-turning interpretations from the speciality dessert store, which has been introduced a “Melbourne Bushfood” series, introducing a…
Withings have always made the more beautiful watches when it comes to fitness trackers, sticking closer to a more conventional design that doesn’t look like you’re wearing anything too high-tech on the wrist. Withings watches are simple, elegant, and feature-rich, and the ScanWatch is undoubtedly their best offering yet. And that’s no surprise, hype has…
This coffee machine is smart. And there is perhaps no smarter created to date, reimagining the do-it-all semi-automatic machine to make it more accessible for a great variety of coffee drinkers, whether they have barista experience or not. And while it is quite pricey, that’s a valuable thing to have for the office or the…
How we take care of the air in our homes has shot up in terms of priority this year. We’re used to sucking up all the dirt and potentially hazardous particles from our surfaces with a high-powered vacuum cleaner, but prior to 2020, it wasn’t as widespread to consider how we go about maintaining the…
A camera just over 5-inches long has no business being this good, and yet the DJI Pocket 2 is perhaps the best pro-quality camera made with such a small, flexible profile. It’s part of DJI’s renewed focus on becoming the highest quality provider of action cameras, and they nail just about everything they could while…
After the masterstroke that was the Find X2 series, Oppo is in a very good spot within the smartphone market. Chinese peer Huawei is still battling away with its advanced hardware but Google shut-out, which definitely helps, plus the brand has now expanded their ecosystem in Australia, which includes Oppo Watch and Oppo Enco Earphones….
Christmas themed hip hop songs have been a part of hip hop culture since the early 80’s, and from The Treacherous Three and Kurtis Blow to Kanye West and Run the Jewels, there are actually some really good ones out there. To soundtrack your Christmas family get together we’ve gone through and counted down what…
Not a fan of stuffing turkeys and layering trifles on Christmas day? Not many people are. Christmas is always an exciting time of the year, but it’s also just damn busy. And ‘busy’ is where online meal delivery services like to play the hardest. Not all of them are made equal though, and it seems…
Given that, years later, the Sony WF-1000XM3 truly wireless earbuds are still the best out. Yes, still. It’s an interesting prospect to get a pair of budget buds from the company. Can they be as successful on the other end of the price range? That’s a loud and clear yes, although there are obviously cost-cutting…
A chunky 9,600mAh battery, a built-in power bank, and a punch 30-watts of power with an optional Bass Boost feature – what’s not to love about the BlueAnt X3? Well, it’s design doesn’t help the portable boombox stand out on a crowded market, although it offers enough to muscle around with the likes of JBL’s…
There’s a lot to love about the Google Pixel 5. Quite a lot actually. In the face of the relentless trend of high-end phone brands splitting their newest flagship into multiple iterations to appeal to different budgets, the indelible company has decided to be different. Yet again. For their new flagship, Google have bowed out…
