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.

Royal Stacks are launching a “create your own burger” smartphone game

Having expanded to Sydney earlier this year, Melbourne born cult burger joint Royal Stacks are capping off a very successful year by launching their very own smartphone game, by which users will be able to create their own burgers and earn points to pick up freebies in store. The game is simply named “Royal Stacks”…

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Allen’s are bringing a massive pop up lolly bar with rarities and DIY jars to Westfield Sydney

Sugar slingers Allen’s are celebrating 125 years of filling your stomach with lollies by delivering Sydney what they are describing as the “ultimate lolly-lower’s corner store”. It’s a pop up lolly bar which will allow anyone to create their own pick ‘n’ mix from childhood classics, as well as bespoke lolly jars, returning rarities, and…

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Hopscotch is Southbank’s new 30-tap beer bar with DIY cocktail kits and a microbrewery (Melbourne)

Hopscotch, a new arts-inspired “urban beer bar”, will open in Southbank just in time for the summer holidays, setting up on the riverside promenade with a strong dedication to craft beer, fancied pub eats, and cocktails. Melbourne’s adjacent arts precinct has found its way into the design for the new venue, with local artist Resio…

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Nina Gravelis opens Exchange Restaurant & Bar on Oxford Street (Sydney)

Nina Gravelis is far from inexperienced when it comes to Sydney’s dining scene; the restaurateur has worked with the likes of Luke Mangan, Neil Perry, and Christine Manfield in the past, and is the daughter of Fratelli Fresh boss Barry McDonald. Needless to say, she knows dining, and so her new eatery, Darlinghurst’s Exchange Restaurant…

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Surry Hills’ Salaryman heats up new menu with modern Asian BBQ (Sydney)

For the past 12 months it has been known as the spot for “ramen done differently”, but the kitchen at Surry Hills’ grungy Salaryman is now making some big changes to the way they do things, celebrating their one-year by moving towards a menu influenced by Asian BBQ and charcoal-grilling. Chef Stephen Seckold and his…

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New chef brings the flavours of Louisiana to The Chippo Hotel (Sydney)

Just a few weeks ago Chippendale hot spot The Chippo Hotel – formerly known as The Chippendale Hotel – welcomed in Charlie Fisher, an well accomplished Louisiana-born Head Chef who brings experience from working around England and Australia, as well as the Michelin seleted Castel Marie-Louise in France. With him, Fisher has brought a bit…

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Video Games Review: Sega 3D Classics Collection (3DS, 2016)

Nostalgia never dies, and is almost always a completely viable way to market something. That notion has been proven by Nintendo time and time again, and while riffing on past triumphs may have worked to the brand’s detriment at times, no one can deny the joy of being able to revisit your childhood through gaming….

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On the Shelf: La Marca Prosecco

Known for being an elegantly crisp entry into the wide world of sparkling wine, La Marca Prosecco, has popped on over to Australia after being named the top premium prosecco in the United States. It was launched not only in time for Melbourne Cup, but ahead of what is starting to look like a blazing…

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On the Shelf: Viniq Liqueur

Shake a bottle of that shimmering purple liquid known as Viniq Liqueur and your eyes will likely be darting all over the place as flecks majestic velvety shimmer start to sparkle. This ghostly shimmer comes from the same ingredients that is used to give frosting its shine or rock candy its sparkle, a mineral called…

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Shangri-La Hotel plans “A Week in India” food festival (Sydney)

The high-end Shangri-La Hotel in Sydney’s The Rocks are partnering up with Manjit’s to curate a four day festival celebrating the many tastes and aromas of Indian culture and cuisine, showcasing various elements for the Bollywood-themed “A Week in India”. It will all take place in the hotel as Manjit’s Chef de Cuisine Varun Gujral…

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Newly appointed Head Chef Enrico Tomelleri makes some changes to 10 William St (Sydney)

There has been a few changes down at Paddington’s immensely popular 10 William St, with the industry and public favourite welcoming a new head chef in the internationally recognised Enrico Tomelleri. The chef, who moved to Australia in 2011 before landing his first local stint at Fratelli Paradiso, seeks to continue to legacy left behind…

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William Grant & Sons pick up top honours at 47th annual International Wine and Spirits Competition

William Grant & Sons have just seen a very successful run at the prestigious 47th annual International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), held each year in London. In addition to being named “Distiller of the Year” for the sixth time, the company picked up the title of “Scotch Producer of the Year” and a number…

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Royal Croquet Club pops up on Bondi Beach for 11 days of food, music and art (Sydney)

Traveling culture festival Royal Croquet Club has officially debuted in Sydney after returning for its third overall consecutive year in Australia, propped up on the iconic sands from now until Sunday 4th December with a jaw-dropping list of some of the city’s most popular food vendors, fashion stalls, live music, experiential art installations, theatre, bars,…

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Carriageworks announce over 160 stalls for annual Christmas Market (Sydney)

Over 160 stallholders across restaurants, providores, designers, homewares and lifestyle brands will be spaced throughout Carriageworks for the art hub’s second annual Christmas Market. Those seeking gifts and artisanal produce at the very last minute will relish the opportunity to stock up on pretty much everything one needs, getting the chance to be across fresh…

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Rocks Brewing Co are hosting a Beers N Bones Doggie Day this month (Sydney)

Comes 27th November, the crew at Rocks Brewing Co will be introducing their very first Beers ‘N’ Bones Doggie Day, filling your Sunday with the opportunity to dive into their craft brews while taking your favourite furry friend for a day out. The Alexandria based brewery will turn into a dedicated hub for two and…

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Adelaide Hills are heading to Surry Hills for a tap takeover at Keg & Brew (Sydney)

South Australia’s Adelaide Hills Distillery are the latest in homegrown brewers to take full advantage of Keg & Brew’s ongoing tap takeover series. 21 of the popular pub’s 33 taps will be surrendered to Adelaide Hills this Thursday 24th November as both Mismatch and Hills breweries present various brews, alongside a few cocktails from the…

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Fratelli Fresh to open in Crows Nest (Sydney)

As the long-loved Italian brand continues to grow and evolve this year, Fratelli Fresh has announced that they will be expanding to include a new location in Crows Nest just in time for summer. The casual Italian dining concept will be opening up their eighth Australian venue early next month at 118 Willoughy Road, taking…

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Details announced for Meatstock Melbourne: The Delta Riggs, Burgers by Josh and more

With tickets for BBQ-loving food, music and drink festival Meatstock Melbourne now on sale, details are starting to take shape about exactly how the two day extravaganza will go down. The organisers aren’t playing around when they say they are making this their biggest event yet, managing to rope in some of the best bands…

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InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are celebrating classic cocktails with a slick new menu

70 years in and InterContinental Hotels & Resorts are still at the forefront of premium travel around the world. And as one of the leading hotel brands, it only seems right that they celebrate such a milestone by connecting many of their finest properties around the world through one celebratory cocktail menu, fashioned as the…

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TV Review: The Walking Dead Season 7 Episode 5 “Go Getters” sees a lack of any real tension

If last week’s “Service” showed me anything it was that the very excellent Jeffrey Dean Morgan is turning in an uncharacteristically dull performance as Negan. There’s something about having pretty much the same cadence for every single darkly jolly line that starts to get dull after awhile, so it was nice to leave him behind…

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Brisbane is getting a new fried chicken joint called Winner Winner

The Brisbane suburb of Paddington has welcomed a fiery new fried chicken joint going by the name of Winner Winner. Authentic Nashville cooking defines the menu here, and a sharp focus on offering every possible style of chicken is exactly what the intentions of owner/operators Luke Stringer and Ashleigh Bates. “The fried chicken movement doesn’t…

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Stoneleigh are hosting a wine pop up at an abandoned hotel in Chippendale (Sydney)

New Zealand’s popular Stoneleigh have pushed for a big presence in Sydney during these next few weeks, taking over an overrun and abandoned hotel in Chippendale to create a Jumanji-like immersive wine experience that sketches the wondrous Stoneleigh vineyards onto the concrete jungle that is inner Sydney. The philosophy of minimal intervention winemaking will be…

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Review: Fratelli Fresh – Westfield CBD (Sydney)

Fratelli Fresh has long been an iconic brand for Sydney’s dining scene, a produce-driven Italian dining concept that was this year picked up by Urban Purveyor Group (now Rockpool Dining Group) and spread far and wide to new locations outside of the original and best known Bridge Street and Walsh Bay venues. One of the…

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Review: Classico Moderno – Darlinghurst (Sydney)

Three different set menus – with the option to mix-and-match or add dishes – define the offering at new Darlinghurst restaurant Classico Moderno, which sits modestly behind the Hyde Park end of Oxford Street. Chef Bryan Gerlini seems to have been inspired from his time spent at the highly acclaimed Café Paci with Pasi Petanen,…

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Review: Oceans Dining & Drinks – Coogee (Sydney)

As far as beachside locations around Sydney, Bondi has the lion’s share of quality restaurants and bars. Though Coogee has a long way to go as a competitor the neighbouring eastern suburb certainly veered onto the right track in these past few years, emerging as one of the better by-the-beach drinking and dining destinations with…

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These Australian stores will be stocking the Yeezy Boost 350 V2 this month

Ready to queue, click, and fight your way to yet another release from adidas Originals and their now iconic collaboration with Kanye West? This Wednesday 23rd November will see a worldwide release of the highly anticipated Yeezy Boost 350 V2 silhouette model, in three different colour schemes – red, green, and copper. The footwear giant…

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On the Shelf: Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur

The world’s first blood orange liqueur, Solerno, has been around for years though the essential cocktail ingredient has recently seen a resurgence in populaity thanks to a new range of cocktails and a new signature serve called The Solerno Serata. The liqueur, which is the brainchild of Hendrick’s Master Distiller Lesley Gracie, launched in Australia…

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Danks Street Produce Merchants is Waterloo’s permanent European-style indoor market (Sydney)

The family behind Mosman’s famed Fourth Village Providore have now spread the love to the inner-west with Danks Street Produce Merchants. Opened just a few weeks ago, the permanent new venue is fashioned as a European-style market looking to fuel the hungry and produce-focused cooks of the surrounding suburbs. While the number of stalls are…

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33rd annual Glebe Street Fair announces program for this weekend (Sydney)

Glebe Street Fair will return for it’s 33rd year this weekend, filling one of Sydney’s best known stretches with a celebration of local community and culture. Set for Sunday 20th November, the country’s longest street fair will present a program of live performances, market stalls, talks, contests, workshops and music to a great number of…

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Melbourne’s getting a three day traveling champagne and chocolate festival

Leading boutique Champagne brands will be showcased at a forthcoming traveling wine festival, planned by Wine Republic in partnership with KoKo Black to leap from suburb to suburb in Melbourne, across three days. The free-entry series of events promise to showcase hard-to-find bubbles that have been carefully selected from some of the best boutique, small-production…

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