Author: Chris Singh

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.

Giant squid on a stick is Melbourne’s newest street food

Fancy a giant squid on a stick? Get on down to Footscray where new quick service restaurant IKA8 is hoping to add their take on South East Asian street food to the suburb’s already diverse casual dining scene. Giant squid dishes cooked openly on the fire grill or fried in oil will be the signature…

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8bit and Gelato Messina are giving away free food for a month

Free food lovers rejoice, as both 8bit Burger and Gelato Messina are kindly giving away freebies in Sydney and Melbourne, for a whole month. Not only that, but the free food is all from exclusive creations in partnership with Liven to celebrate the launch of their own cryptocurrency. Hence, the food is cryptocurrency themed (wtf)….

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Five things you must do in New York City before the end of the year

There are few places in the world which change as regularly as New York City. The dynamic, kinetic centrepiece of the U.S is rightfully one of the most common answers to the question “what is your favourite city in the world?”, with it’s unmatched landscape of world-class restaurants, museums, comedy clubs, public parks, and distinctive…

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Sydney is getting a mac n’ cheese pizza for World Pasta Day

Menulog has made the wise decision to team up with the excellent Salt Meats Cheese to do something a little bit special – and massively overindulgent – for World Pasta Day on the 25th of October. The celebration of all things pasta will give Sydney locals a chance to try to country’s very first (according…

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Mary’s Pizzeria launches in Sydney’s The Lansdowne Hotel

Jake Smyth and Kenny Graham, the brains behind Sydney icons Mary’s and The Unicorn, along with Mary’s Group Executive Chef Jimmy Garside, are doubling down on their pizza options at The Lansdowne Hotel with the launch of Mary’s Pizzeria. Described as the “Mary’s Burger” of the pizza world, the new venue has been fitted into…

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Games Preview: Rockstar will make history with Red Dead Redemption 2, that much is clear

Rockstar changed the face of gaming in October 2001, and they did it by taking a pretty bold risk, the impact and effects of which are still being felt throughout the industry almost 20 years later. The game they dropped in October 2001 represented a seismic shift in immersive gaming that is often imitated but…

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Adidas give “urban runners” a style upgrade with the PureBOOST Go

Adidas’ PureBOOST Go is the latest in a series of releases which makes full use of one of the best cushion systems in the sneaker game. Joining the PureBoost collection, the “Go” has zoned in and tightened focus on flexibility for street runners and the more athletic types amongst us who rightfully value the ability…

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Sydney says goodbye to Kensington Street Social as it reopens as Barzaari Chippendale

Sydneysiders prepare to say a bittersweet goodbye to Kensington Street Social, the excellent resident restaurant of The Old Clare Hotel which was one of the first to open when Kensington Street was in it’s infancy. Bitter because KSS was a great place; sweet because it’s making way for Barzaari Chippendale, an expansion for the Marrickville-born…

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Best things to do in Melbourne for October 2018

We’re getting into the nitty gritty of spring now, and as a result there’s plenty of outdoor things to do around Melbourne this month. If you don’t feel like spending one of the most exciting months of the year on the couch, then what awaits for your is an urban jungle full of rooftop pool…

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Tech Review: Oppo take a big step forward with the Find X, but is it enough?

We’re now over a month on from the release of Oppo’s new Find X, and from rave reviews and reactions, it’s very clear that the Chinese brand’s consistent evolution has lifted them high enough to face competitors Apple and Samsung head-on. Remarkably, they’ve done so by still sticking to their affordable (well, relatively) aesthetic, putting…

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Best things to do in Sydney for October 2018

October is consistently one of the best months to be living in, or visiting, Sydney. Why? Festival. As we enter the middle of spring, there’s a true celebratory air across the city, as festivals, fairs, and multi-day events pop-up for their annual editions, providing plenty of things to do for those who want to get…

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Interview: Getaway’s Catriona Rowntree talks underrated destinations, TravelCard and more

It’s safe to say that when it comes to travel Catriona Rowntree, rightfully referred to as the country’s “Most Travelled Woman” and famed as the bubbly presenter of Getaway, is an authority. She’s been leaping from country to country for years now, and so an opportunity to pick her brain about travel isn’t to be…

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Menulog is delivering burgapalooza exclusives to Sydney homes this week

The rip-roaring success of Burgapalooza, the returning burger festival which wrapped up it’s two-day gourmet outing in Parramatta this past weekend, ain’t over. Festival sponsors Menulog have rounded up the best event-exclusives from the weekend and is offering them up as limited edition delivery-only items, available to Sydney burger fiends from now up until Sunday…

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This historic food and wine festival is set in one of Canada’s most stunning towns

Anyone planning on exploring Canada’s fall season would be wise to head along to Whistler’s 22nd annual Cornucopia. The world renowned event, taking place from 8th to 18th November on the cusp of the town’s ski season at the iconic Whistler Blackcomb, is often recognised as one of North America’s most unique and diverse food…

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Intrepid tighten focus on sustainable travel with new millennial brochure

Veteran adventure travel company Intrepid have recently put out a brand new, and very substantial, brochure focusing on socially conscious millennial travel. In a nod to the growing importance of sustainable travel and reducing one’s carbon footprint, the 18 to 29s brochure spans more than 80 travel experiences and hops from bucketlist experiences like camping…

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Hong Kong’s historic bullet trains are ready, connecting the city to Greater China

In an effort to further strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a gateway to Greater China, the city’s Transport and Housing Bureau is getting ready to introduce the long-awaited – almost a decade in the making – High Speed Rail system connecting Hong Kong, Guangzhou and Shenzhen. Set to commence operation on 23rd September of this…

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Fried chicken coated with BBQ Shapes is a thing in Australia now

BBQ Shapes (Original Recipe) flavoured Fried Chicken exists. If that surprises you then you obviously haven’t been keeping in touch with Australia’s over the top food trends lately. The newest slightly weird, absolutely delicious (probably) collaboration comes from Arnott’s Shapes, Deliveroo and three of the East Coast’s most beloved chicken joints. The ever-iconic staple snack…

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Fujifilm create luxury “Fuji Island” so guests can get the perfect Instagram shot

A genuine pinch yourself moment: soaking in a private infinity pool with a five-star luxury villa to one side, the crystal-clear turquoise waters of Fiji as your background, and absolutely no tourists in sight. This is your island, and you’re sharing it with a handful of other friends, being served gourmet meals, cocktails and wine…

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Hotel Review: Marriott sticks to classic hospitality in Melbourne’s CBD

It’s hard to surpass the classic beats of good old fashioned hospitality. While Melbourne Marriott Hotel may play it extremely safe in a city that’s dotted with interesting boutiques and creative accommodations, there’s enough charm throughout this 10 floor property to sit nicely beside the luxury amenities often expected from one of the hotel group’s…

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Hotel Review: The Cullen remains one of Melbourne’s most unique hotels

It all started here for Art Series Hotel Group, the boutique hotel brand renowned for dedicating each of their properties to an individual Australian artist. Opened in 2009, The Cullen was the first for the group, and has arguably remained one of their finest achievements, thanks to the late great Adam Cullen and his grungy…

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Huxtaburger is making its Sydney debut with $1 burgers this week

I guess you can call Huxtaburger a pioneering business. The Melbourne-born burger joint first popped onto the scene in 2011, long before the burger boom that has since seen – in particular – Sydney and Melbourne become two of the best cities in the world for burger lovers. Though unlike some others, Huxtaburger’s popularity has…

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Six things you need to do in Melbourne this September

Melbourne’s dynamism and constant revolving door of things to do is one of the reasons why it has remained one of the world’s most desired cities. Now that Spring is here, there’s going to be a bunch of things happening across town, and we’ve picked out six of our favourite things to do this month….

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Film Review: Is The Nun (USA, 2018) a sinister ghost story or middling monster movie?

The Conjuring universe began five years ago, spurred by James Wan who had successfully delivered one of the great ghost stories of the 21st century. It was a box office darling, as was every sequel and spin-off that came after, with only the first Annabelle (terrible by every standard) failing to meet the franchise’s critical…

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Here’s where to get the new Nike Air Presto Mid x ACRONYM sneakers in Australia this month

ACRONYM’s Errolson Hugh, the wildly imaginative Canadian designer behind the mega successful Berlin-based fashionable techwear brand, is about to release the second collection of his collaboration with Nike Air’s Presto. The sneaker world got its first taste of the Nike Air Presto Mid x ACRONYM collection back in 2016, when Hugh’s utility-focused design ethos elevated…

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Queensland’s High Tropics to represent Australia for Project: Aloft Star in Seoul

Marriott’s millennial brand Aloft hotels is once again kicking into high gear for their annual Project: Aloft Star, a good ol’ fashioned band comp that, for the past few years, has been uncovering and amplifying unsigned musicians from across the Asia-Pacific region. Fashioned as an “artist discovery competition”, the program is nearing its grand final…

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Best things to do in Sydney for September 2018

Be gone winter. Spring is here, which means some of Sydney’s best events and openings are coming up throughout the month of September. There’s a whole heap of one-off events, openings, festivals and exhibitions to get out and see so we’ve listed some of our top picks, including two very worthwhile road trip ideas that…

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Lauryn Hill announces Australian tour with special guest Nas

It has been two decades since Ms Lauryn Hill branched out into a solo career, releasing her seminal The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill and watching it become one of the most acclaimed, awarded and influential albums of its time. She’s been busy touring it around the world for the all important 20 year anniversary, and…

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Gold Coast’s new billion-dollar luxury apartment hotel nears completion

After years in development, the so-called “billion-dollar game-changer”, The Ruby Collection is ready to add its substantial weight to the Surfers Paradise skyline. A sightly “Ruby” rooftop sign has officially been raised on the first tower, indicating that the luxury development is finally nearing completion, with just over 70 days to go before CEO David…

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Melbourne’s 400 Gradi has introduced a pizza with 150 different types of cheeses

Just a few months after being named the best pizza in Oceania and one of the top 50 pizzerias in the world, 400 Gradi will be adding a not-so-modest achievement to their already world-class reputation. For National Cheese Pizza Day (Sep 5th), owner and chef Johnnie Di Francesco will now attempt to best an ambitious…

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Review: Alpha Restaurant (Sydney) – Greek institution makes some welcome changes

Sydney’s Greek dining institution Alpha has refined their menu further to make Peter Conistis’ cooking more accessible to a wider variety of diners. The major change is that they’ve taken some of their most popular, larger dishes and also included options for smaller sizes so those who really want to indulge, especially groups, can have…

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