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.

Here’s what to expect from the ambitious art program at Helsinki’s award-winning Flow Festival

Heading to Flow Festival in Helsinki this year? Great choice; not only will you be getting amongst performances from world-renowned acts like Frank Ocean, Lana Del Rey, Aphex Twin, London Grammar, the xx, and Angel Olsen, you’ll be able to experience an immersive cutting-festival which has been named one of Europe’s very finest. And that’s…

Read more

TV Review: Fire reigns in epic Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 4 “The Spoils of War”

In a move to rival the sheer scale and CGI glory of “Hardhome”, Game of Thrones have just presented what is probably its most epic battle yet, even outranking the “Battle of the Bastards” in some ways by pitting Jamie, Bronn and the Lannister forces against Dany, Drogon, and the Dothraki army. Like all of…

Read more

Henry Deane takes a big step with a new menu from former Mr Wong chef (Sydney)

One of the city’s most impressive rooftop bars, Henry Deane has given a refresh to its food and drink offerings in collaboration with chef consultant Brendan Fong, former Head Chef at Sydney’s world renowned Mr Wong, and Matt Linklater from Melbourne’s awarded Black Pearl. The impeccable views of the harbour and the city that define…

Read more

Finland’s finest food and drink planned for Helsinki’s award-winning Flow Festival

If you’re heading to Flow Festival in Helsinki this week then congratulations; you’ll be spending a weekend (11th-13th August) immersed in what has been named one of the very best and most inventive music and arts festivals in Europe. Though it’s not just music and arts for responsible for Flow Festival’s universal acclaim; the annual…

Read more

16 performances you need to see at Helsinki’s award-winning Flow Festival this month

In one week it will be time for Helsinki’s highly regarded Flow Festival to once again fill the historic Suvilahti Power Plant (a disused power plant, that is) with an entire weekend of international and local artists spanning music, food, drink and the arts. This year’s headliners include none other than Frank Ocean, the xx,…

Read more

Rosebery’s Da Mario: still one of the best pizzerias in Sydney

Two years on and food lovers across Sydney are still reeling over the closure of Surry Hills’ treasured Pizza Mario. The highly celebrated pizzeria was long-established as one of the very best this city has ever seen, and its unfortunate closure in 2015 was a huge hit to the otherwise rich and consistent Italian dining…

Read more

This new Wolli Creek eatery is doing burgers inspired by the world’s greatest cities (Sydney)

After much hype Concept Burger has finally opened in Wolli Creek, bringing the suburb its very own contender in the very, very competitive scene of gourmet burgers in Sydney. This one’s got a neat little twist though, and with culinary adviser Tomislav Martinovic, the famous chef who helped make North Sydney’s Five Points Burgers a…

Read more

Barangaroo is hosting its own month-long food and drink festival in August (Sydney)

Throughout the month of August food and drink precinct Barangaroo is celebrating the tail-end of winter with a series of exclusive events, all spread across various restaurants, bars and diners including 12-Micron, Bel & Brio, Born by Tapavino, and Zushi. The collection of venues, officially dubbed “The Streets of Barangaroo” will be offering a range…

Read more

Cape Town’s Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel’s new package celebrates the life of Nelson Mandela

The stunning Belmond Mount Nelson Hotel is preparing a true gift for those planning to Cape Town in October and an elegant homage to Nelson Mandela, timed to celebrate the release of Dare Not Linger: The Presidential Years – the long-awaited second volume of Mandela’s memoirs. This is channeled in their recently announced “Memories of…

Read more

Proud and powerful: Machiavelli Ristorante is still one of Sydney’s finest Italian restaurants

It seems the 2016 arrival of a spin-off restaurant, imposing Rushcutters Bay warehouse restaurant Bar Machiavelli, has sparked a new flame under Sydney’s long-standing Machiavelli Ristorante, a stalwart dining destination that has been standing since 1988. There’s a real “if these walls could talk” kind of history behind this famed Italian restaurant, a sprawling space…

Read more

Bend the knee to this enormous M&M ice cream sandwich in Sydney and Brisbane today

It’s National Ice-Cream Sandwich Day today. Well at least that’s what we’ve just been told by dessert slinger Mister Fitz who, for one day only, is offering pretty much the biggest, most ridiculous, world-destroying ice cream sandwich known to humankind. Given their usual flair with ice-cream sandwiches we’re expecting this one to actually taste pretty…

Read more

South West Rocks’ 11-day German Fest is back (NSW)

Bringing a taste of Bavaria to the South West Rocks, The Seabreeze Beach Hotel is planing on throwing one massive 11-day German festival, brought back for its fifth year following massive success in the past. Kicking off at 24th August and lasting until 3rd September, the stunning seaside hotspot will be celebrating all things readily…

Read more

TV Review: Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 3 “The Queen’s Justice” is uneven but eventful

The transfer of power to those most capable of running an ever-changing world tends to only happen when traditions fly out of the window. That’s always been one of the primary messages of Game of Thrones, and watching it unfold with power moves and converging character arcs is where the show’s major strengths lie. A…

Read more

New restaurant Marta to bring the flavours of Rome to Rushcutters Bay (Sydney)

In moving his beloved Popolo to the city in 2018, Flavio Carnevale has announced that he’ll be returning to his Roman hospitality roots with new restaurant Marta, a traditional cucina Romana that taps into the spirited streets of Rome to create a true neighbourhood osteria. It will be a move away from the formality of…

Read more

A cookie dessert pop up has opened in Potts Point (Sydney)

From now until the 26th August Bistro Rex in Potts Point will play host to a very special cookie dessert pop-up, a collaboration between Byron Bay Cookies and dessert diva Christine Manfield. Brought to life to celebrate the brand’s new Ginger Spice Cream Cookie (ginger biscuits sandwiched with a nutmeg spiced fruirt mince cream), the…

Read more

Norman Reedus, Michael Cudlitz and more The Walking Dead actors headed to Australia for Walker Stalker Con

Earlier this year we reported on rumours that Walker Stalker Con could be heading to Australia. Now it seems that rumours have turned into reality, following the announcement that the immensely popular event would indeed be making its way down under, bringing The Walking Dead stars both past and present down under for what has…

Read more

Australia has a new curated delivery service bringing rare wines from France to your door

Wine enthusiasts have long known that specialised distributors are the way to go, a gateway to experiencing some of the best drops that local bar or restaurant may not have on the menu, while also taking away the painful hours of research (and the ever-stressful opportunity cost) that comes with trying to find the best…

Read more

Recipe: Matt Moran’s Ham & Gruyere Potato Gems

Matt Moran’s Paddo Inn Bar & Grill has whipped Sydney’s iconic Paddington Inn into shape. The celebrated celebrity chef has always been reliable when it comes to a good ol’ fashioned pub refurb, so his re-focus from the venue’s up-scale pub grub to a more casual grill has unsurprisingly been a hit with the locals….

Read more

Din Tai Fung announce exclusive 18-course degustations for Melbourne and Sydney

Dumpling favourite Din Tai Fung has announced two exclusive one-night-only degustation menus for August, both on the same date with one being in Sydney and the other being in Melbourne. The set menus will feature a whopping 18 courses for guests, including various new dishes never seen on Din Tai Fung menus before, sitting alongside…

Read more

Bundaberg Rum Solera is back on shelves after being named Best Dark Rum in the World earlier this year

After selling out in a matter of the days when it was first released in October of last year, the multi award-winning Bundaberg Rum Solera is back. Australia’s famed Bundaberg Distilling Company announced earlier this month that they have heard the waves of demand both nationally and abroad, lifting the cover on the anticipated second…

Read more

Four of Arnott’s most legendary biscuits have been turned into ice creams

In the wildest Australian collaboration yet Arnott’s have teamed up with Peters on a range of ice creams which take some of the former brand’s most iconic biscuits and turns them into indulgent ice creams. While we’re not quite at the level of Pizza Shape ice cream yet, four or Arnott’s other most famous expressions…

Read more

Tyler, the Creator collaborates with Converse on new One Stars

Ever the creative footwear connoisseur emcee Tyler, the Creator, who is fresh off the release of his new album Flower Boy, is now part of the Converse family. The first expression of this new collaboration is part of the brand’s famed “One Star” silhouette, giving the suede sneaker’s a substantial twist with a limited-edition light…

Read more

Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival to feature everything from J-Pop to sumo wrestling

Japanese culture will be front and centre as Auburn’s Japanese Botanic Gardens host the Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival in August. Set to be the biggest Japanese Festival in Australia, the spectacular surrounds will be filled with two weeks of Japanese food, drink, music, garden shows, art, anime, cosplay, and even a special sumo competition. From…

Read more

Liverpool is getting a new cultural precinct with the restoration of the old Collingwood Paper Mill (Sydney)

As more and more attention is being brought to the cultural scenes outside of Sydney CBD and the inner-west it seems that Liverpool will be the next suburb to receive a lush new modern cultural and community hub, reshaping the area’s industrial past to bring new life to The Paper Mill. Previous restorations of historical…

Read more

Cheeseburger soup is real and it’s coming to Melbourne this month

We were ready to write this one off as a “nope” until we found out who was behind it and what it was for. Burger lord Jimmy Hurlston of Jimmy’s Burgers, Easey’s, Guilty and a whole host of other top-notch burger joints has teamed up with Deliveroo and The Salvation Army for a special exclusive…

Read more

4 Ounces Burger Co opens in Alexandria (Sydney)

As of earlier this month Alexandria has its very own entry into Sydney’s contentious gourmet burger scene, welcoming hip-hop oriented joint 4 Ounces Burger Co which is pushing a strong commitment to sustainability and local produce. The new business comes from Michelin trained chef Rory Donnelly (ex-Cafe Del Mar) and childhood friend and experienced bar…

Read more

A Sydney based company is bringing Southern France’s best rosé wines to Australia

Championing the wines of Southern France, particularly of the Rosé variety, Quattro Wine Group has begun stamping quite the impression on Australia. The company, which was started by four Sydney-based wine enthusiasts, are trying to push one of the more underrated sides of the French Riviera to more Aussies, curating a selection of rosé wines…

Read more

TV Review: Cersei draws first blood in Game of Thrones Season 7 Episode 2 “Stormborn”

An episode sandwiched by a brutal storm, one literal and one figurative, “Stormborn” was a momentous series of events which has moved this narrative further then many would have expected. As I mentioned last week, the time for economical storytelling is upon us, and so every – well, most – sequences are going to count…

Read more

Our top 10 acts of Splendour in the Grass 2017

Non-headliners ruled Splendour in the Grass this year, and if anything defined the festival for 2017 it was that interest is shifting towards locals who are giving it their all, swiftly outshining headliners for what has become the proving ground for many a homegrown musician over the years. As a festival, Splendour is one of…

Read more

A.B Original triumph, Tina Arena surprises and Sigur Rós transcend for Splendour in the Grass Day Three

Saving the best for last – even after that Powderfinger reunion – Splendour 2017 closed out with what very well may be its single best day in years. The quality on offer from start to finish was undeniable, upheld by both locals and internationals who were clearly set on not letting Bernard Fanning own the…

Read more