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.

Sydney Film Festival Review: Sami Blood (Sweden, 2016) highlights the brutality of extreme prejudice

Fundamentally there is much about Sami Blood that cinema has seen many times over, though for her debut feature writer-director Amanda Kernell has delivered a uniquely complex and painfully relevant coming-of-age while also shedding light on the largely unknown indigenous population of Swedish Lappland. A film of cultural identity and great pain, the prodigiously talented…

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Sydney Festival Film Review: Axoltl Overkill (Germany, 2017) burns up Berlin with heavily stylised hedonism

Adapting her own novel for the big screen, German author-director Helen Hegemann makes a polished feature debut with Axolotl Overkill. Pulse firmly on the rapid strobe-lit streets of Berlin, the film is very much a muse on teenage excess and independence, as self-destructive as in can be, with an assured sense of style and impressive…

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Sydney Film Festival Review: The Untamed (Mexico, 2016) is a slimy slice of social realism and alien sex

The Untamed, Amat Escalante’s oddball genre film built with space monsters and sexual tension, could have worked just as well as a dysfunctional family drama. The eccentric Mexican director has packed a lot into his fourth feature, an instantly memorable and incredibly unique piece that understands its best possible tension comes from contrasting a heady…

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Sydney Film Festival Review: Spookers (NZ/AUS, 2017) finds therapy under a mask of terror

Kiwi filmmaker Florian Habicht jumps from making documentaries about Pulp and demolition derbies to modestly prodding around the Southern Hemisphere’s biggest horror theme park with Spookers, a stylish 85-minute piece that manages to weave together stories of exploitation and therapy amongst a whole heap of (fake) blood, guts and playful vignettes. It’s clear Habicht and…

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Free Brisbane food festival Regional Flavours announces 2017 program

Across two days in breezy July, Brisbane which will once again host the long-running Regional Flavours, a free food and drink festival showcasing the best Queensland produce as illustrated by some of the country’s top culinary talent. Hosted in South Bank Parklands on 15th and 16th July, the festival will see over 30 cooks and…

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Princess Diana’s former butler is hosting Royal Afternoon Tea on the Gold Coast

You can’t get more regal than sitting down for a spot of afternoon tea with a man famous for his work with the Royal Family. Paul Burrell will be paying a rare visit to Australia to help Gold Coast’s luscious Palazzo Versace host a one day only Royal Afternoon Tea event, described as a grand…

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Icebergs are throwing an essential pasta lovers dinner highlighting various regions of Italy (Sydney)

Bondi institution Icebergs Dining Room and Bar is planning a very special Assaggini di Pasta menu for offer before this month is through, presenting guests with a six-course pasta tasting feast that promises a stroll through the many regions of Italy, with paired wines from natural wine producers. Given Monty Koludrovic and his kitchen team…

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Chrissy’s Cuts has opened a gourmet sausage shop in Dulwich Hill (Sydney)

Haven’t heard of Chrissy’s Cuts? It’s that stall that sets up at some of Sydney’s finest events and ends up with some of the day’s longest queues, pumping out fat, juicy sausages that take gourmet to a whole new level. Well the brains behind it, Chrissy Flanagan and her partner Jim, are finally opening up…

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Zambrero are giving away 750 free burritos in Sydney today

No lunch plans today? Ya’ll need to get over to the closest Zambrero store in Sydney today because they plan to give away a total of 750 of their fresh burritos for today only, an effort as part of their Plate 4 Plate initiative. With the aim to help end hunger, the fresh-focused Mexican fast-casual…

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Burger Watch: BL Burgers channel Vivid Sydney for “Got a Light?”

Welcome to Burger Watch, where we acknowledge the constant creativity bursting from all sides of the epic burger wave that regularly sweeps Australia. The highest-of-high demand is reserved for this timeless food staple and just about every interpretation of it, whether it to be an over-the-top glutton-fest or a focus on simple burgers done well….

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Review: 1821 is a strong entry for Sydney’s rich Greek dining scene

A long wait preceded the recent opening of 1821 in Sydney’s CBD, mid-way between the kinetic action of Pitt Street Mall and the business-minded Martin Place. The modern Greek restaurant is an ambitious offering from renowned chef David Tsirekas and restaurateur Jim Kospetas, who have pulled no punches with the three-level space which was created…

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More Than Just Mountains: 10 essentials for a short stay in Queenstown, New Zealand

Anyone who has been to New Zealand’s invaluable Queenstown would agree that this special part of the world deserves much more than just a few days of exploration. It’s not enough to call it a beautiful part of a country that’s famous for its beautiful parts; such a description would barely nick the surface of…

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Seven new films to hit the 64th annual Sydney Film Festival direct from Cannes

As we near the opening night of the 64th Sydney Film Festival a whole stack of new films have been announced as part of the diverse program. Dipping into the Cannes pool, SFF have brought over some of the most talked about pictures, including winner of this year’s Palme d’Or (the biggest prize in world…

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Three Williams Cafe is now doing Golden Gaytime French Toasts and Truffle Toasties

As if their narnies and apple crumble bowls weren’t enough, Redfern institution Three Williams is currently featuring what is perhaps their greatest menu to date. The playful cafe has always been one of the most popular brunch spots in Sydney but they’ve truly taken the cake this year, and it’s only going to get better…

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TV Review: Fear the Walking Dead makes some bold moves as season three begins

AMC’s Fear the Walking Dead struggled to make much of an impact during its six-episode first season and, though it gave us a strong finale, there were a few plodding narrative choices that felt like a waste of what was already a very limited stretch. One such misstep was the army quarantine and a sizable…

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London’s Ministry of Sound Club is launching in Sydney this month

In what should be big news for club-minded Sydneysiders, London’s iconic Ministry of Sound Club is making it’s way on over the the harbour city, launching from Saturday 10th June for weekly residencies at ivy. Every Saturday night onwards will feature a brand new four-room soundsystem and clubbing experience curated by MoS, which has remained…

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The Grounds of the City is now open in Sydney CBD

After three years of planning Sydney’s world famous The Grounds of Alexandria have officially opened their CBD spin-off, The Grounds of the City. Located on the ground floor of The Galeries, Grounds of the City looks to bring an old-world spin to what has made The Grounds such an iconic destination for drinking, dining and…

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White Rabbit White Ale named best beer in Australia for 2017

It’s not much of a surprise when we hear that Australia’s beloved White Rabbit makes a dent in the overseas market; the constantly creative and playful brewers have put out some of the best released in the past few years – not to mention their epic twin-brewery in Geelong with Little Creatures. Though this news…

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You can now get gin scented grooming products in Australia

Awarded bartender, gin expert and the brains behind Sydney’s treasured The Barber Shop, Mikey Enright, has went and released his own gin-infused grooming products as part of the new Enright’s Original Gin range. Inspired by his time working alongside the best barbers on the scene (The Barber Shop is a cocktail bar which has an…

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L.A’s popular E.P & L.P restaurant to take over The Dolphin Hotel for June Long Weekend (Sydney)

As part of their ongoing aperitivo hour guest chef series, Surry Hills’ The Dolphin Hotel is planning on opening up their slick venue to the L.A’s famed E.P & L.P restaurant, a hotspot co-owned by renowned Australian DJ – and Ministry of Sound favourite – Grant Smillie. The only day only takeover is landing on…

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A week full of cheese appreciation events has kicked off in Sydney

For those who really, really like their cheeses (that is, everyone) & Cheese is a new, currently running, week-long event coming straight to Sydney with the help of The Australian Specialist Cheesemakers’ Association (ASCA). The cheese-loving body have hooked with some of the best producers and venues across Sydney to put on a series of…

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Australia’s Game of Thrones inspired wine festival is back

Aptly described as the “comic-con of wine”, the unique Game of Rhones festival is set to kick off it’s Australian tour this month, marching straight through the six kingdoms from Perth all the way to Brisbane and even across the narrow (Tasman) sea to Wellington and Auckland. Sticking true to what has made the event…

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How to do National Doughnut Day in Australia 2017

Tomorrow (Friday 2nd June) is National Doughnut Day. While technically an American celebration, Australia is once again hijacking the tradition and some of our favourites are getting involved. Need we explain any further? We’ve rounded up some of the best exclusive National Doughnut Day happenings across Sydney and Melbourne so you can be ready for…

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Paddington’s iconic Lord Dudley Hotel has opened a new restaurant (Sydney)

One of Sydney’s most beloved and charming pubs, The Lord Dudley, has introduced The Garden, a new restaurant headed by chef Paul Medcalf. Opening after years of planning, the new addition to the quaint family-run English-style pub is committed to maintaining the strong reputation for food which has seen The Lord Dudley become a destination…

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A big Tasmanian food and wine festival is coming to Sydney and Melbourne this August

A huge showcase of Tasmania’s famed produce will once again hop on over to the mainland when Vin Diemen returns later this year. The traveling food and wine festival will bring a very comprehensive platform for Tasmania’s finest producers to both Sydney and Melbourne, celebrating the event’s third year with an extended lineup. Some of…

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This new Circular Quay bar is dedicated to using only Australian produce (Sydney)

Sydney now has a bar which exclusively stocks only Australian beverages and produce, nodding heavily to this country’s abundance with a strong dedication to keeping it local. Three Bottle Man is the name, and it’s opened as part of the lush Sydney Harbour Marriott down in Circular Quay and the property’s $15 million transformation, offering…

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Krispy Kreme are giving away 30,000 freebies for National Doughnut Day this week

Krispy Kreme is going full Oprah for this year’s National Doughnut Day, once again prepping for an Original Glazed giveaway but pushing up stock to 30,000 freebies. The brand’s beloved and highly indulgent signature will be available for one day only, pushed out for free to hungry doughnut lovers on Friday 2nd June. Getting your…

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Zac Sykes tightens focus on communal dining at North Bondi Fish (Sydney)

Zac Sykes, Head Chef at North Bondi Fish, is stepping into a series of share-style dinners as of next month, giving him a platform to tighten focus on one-off dishes made with sustainable seafood and seasonal produce. Designed as a special “Zac’s Table” menu, guests taking part in the communal tables will feast on a…

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Paddington’s The Unicorn named “Pub of the Year” at Time Out Sydney Pub Awards

The Time Out Sydney Pub Awards have once again gone through and highlighted the top performers in this city’s generous and ever-evolving pub scene. Much like the publications bar and food awards, the list serves as a comprehensive celebration of quality, awarding venues across 11 categories based on everything from best pub food and family-friendliness…

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A two-night festival of improvised and experimental music is coming to Carriageworks

Biannual experimental music festival Open Frame: Room40 will return to Sydney’s iconic Carriageworks this year, set for two nights at the end of June with a line up curated by composer and artist Lawrence English. Eclecticism is the main aim here, highlighting various electronic, experimental, improvised and conceptual performances from world-class musicians who make a…

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