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.

Rockstar release gorgeous first trailer for Red Dead Redemption 2

Following the very recent, very exciting announcement that Rockstar will finally be bringing us Red Dead Redemption 2 in 2017, the unstoppable publisher has unveiled the official first trailer, and yes, it will induce tears of joy.

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UberEATS are delivering free smashed avo around Australia this weekend

UberEATS seem to understand that torn feeling millennials now have to choose between saving for their very first home and tucking into a fund-draining, home-destroying smashed avo breakfast. The food delivery service, which recently launched all across the country is but the latest to weigh in on the #SmashedAvo debate that was sparked earlier this…

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Film Review: Ouija: Origin of Evil (USA, 2016) leaves its predecessor in the dust

Scares were flat when Stiles White made his directorial debut with 2014 film Ouija, a supernatural horror which got by commercially on its formulaic, same-same structure – and the release date being Halloween – but ultimately faltered in the face of superior genre films released that in the same year. Nothing about Ouija was particularly…

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Your guide to the best Melbourne Cup events in Sydney

Even for those not taking any financial part in Melbourne Cup, the day has become an excuse to float around outside of work and track down some of Sydney’s best long lunches, whether it be down at the local pub (which usually turns out to be the best choice) or at a picturesque new restaurant…

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The “Nintendo NX” is revealed: Nintendo Switch to place an emphasis on portable gaming

It often feels like Nintendo is represented by the shy, imaginative kid in the corner, the one tinkering away with ideas, fueled by independent thought while his bigger, beefier peers dominate the playground. That’s certainly a valid comparison when considering all Nintendo have done over the past few years, starting with the game-changing Wii which…

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Lennox Hastie is bringing Firedoor to Melbourne for one night only

Lennox Hastie will be traveling down to Melbourne next week, bringing the city its very first taste of celebrated Surry Hills restaurant Firedoor. The occasion: Hastie’s former protégé, 22 year old chef Charlie Carrington, recently opened his very own restaurant in South Yarra, a globe-trotting conceptual dining experience called Atlas Dining. Hastie will join Carrington…

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Fancy Hanks team open Knuckles BBQ and Sandwiches Bar (Melbourne)

Bourke Street BBQ joint Fancy Hanks isn’t all that’s new for the business; sticking to their roots the team have seen an expansion these past few weeks, opening up a new concept opposite the Victoria Markets by the name of Knuckles BBQ Sandwiches & Bar. Gutting the original Queen Street location of Fancy Hanks, they…

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Dogma: Ex Aria chef opens gourmet hot dog joint in Cronulla (Sydney)

ex-Aria chef Brendan Hill leads the kitchen at Dogma, a brand new cafe-bar on Cronulla’s busy high street that zeros in on signature gourmet hot dogs that seem to be a more high-end than usual. Along with coffee, beer, wine, cocktails, sides, cold-press juices and salads, Hill has pushed forward with a fresh approach to…

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Secret pop up dinner Le Diner en Blanc will return next month for fifth year in Sydney

Secretive pop up dinner Le Diner en Blanc will be returning to a top secret Sydney location next month to celebrate its fifth anniversary in the famed harbour city. The event itself is almost 30 years old, earning itself a sizable following over the past few decades leading to some huge success which, last year,…

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Catalina Rose Bay is ready for summer with new Sunday sessions (Sydney)

The sterling Sydney weather hasn’t gone unnoticed over at Waterside favourite Catalina Rose Bay, who are preparing for the remainder of spring and the transition into summer with their new Sunday session series. From Sunday 30th October, those heading along each leisurely weekend can expect Catalina to switch things up with a brand new bar…

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Win a bottle of Hendrick’s Gin with one of their quirky teacups CLOSED

Famous gin brand Hendrick’s put out a bit of a call to Australians earlier this year, asking for help on a horticultural quest to create and cultivate a world-first Australia cucumber with quintessentially Australian ingredients. Using their social media channels, they asked people across the country which Aussie ingredients should be used for the “Unusually…

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Twilight at Taronga & Melbourne Zoo Twilights announce Killing Heidi, The Living End, Tegan and Sara, and more for 2017 concert series

Year after year, the live music programs at twin open-air concert series Twilight at Taronga and Melbourne Zoo Twilights have reached far and wide, bringing a diverse range of Australian and international acts to pop up stages set on the grounds of these famous destinations. Last year saw the concert series bring in the likes…

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Review: Barzaari – Marrickville (Sydney)

I sometimes wonder what it would have been like walking into a restaurant like Quay or Rockpool for the first time, back when they first opened. Would diners get that instant feeling of longevity, the kind that says to you “yeah, this is something special, this is going to be here for the long run”?…

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World renowned macaron and tea house Ladurée is opening in Chadstone (Melbourne)

Luxury Parisian patisserie Ladurée, a business dating back to 1862, has finally unveiled their first expansion to the streets of Melbourne, bringing Chadstone one of its opulent tearooms. This is the third location for the renowned brand in Australia, following popular venues in Sydney’s Westfield and Woollahra, propping up as part of the huge Melbourne…

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Table Talk: Carriageworks to host collaborative dinner with top local chefs (Sydney)

As part of Good Food Month in Sydney this year, Carriageworks will be hosting a special event by the name of Table Talk: Food Is More Than Food. It’s a not-for-profit dinner experience and discussion with four of Sydney’s top chefs controlling the flow of the evening with a collaborative share menu complemented by ideas,…

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The Royal Leichhardt restores grand wraparound balcony (Sydney)

Leichhardt institution The Royal has recently added a new dimension to their already sterling presence on Norton Street by restoring the grand heritage-style wraparound balcony that was originally taken down in the mid to late 1920s. The restoration comes ahead of the venue’s 130th birthday celebration later this month and completes a picture which nods…

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Collingwood’s historic Cromwell Manor is now STREAT’s flagship youth-training cafe and bakery (Melbourne)

Three years ago Geoff Harris, a key supporter of STREAT, purchased Collingwood’s beautiful Cromwell Manor for a cool $2.5 million with the aim of restoring the historical property and providing the youth-focused social enterprise with a flagship site. A little over a month ago, the result of steady planning has resulted in Cromwell STREAT, a…

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Carlingford’s Pizza Fresh Co pushes for DIY pizza with a broad range of toppings (Sydney)

Feel like a pizza topped with ribs, brisket and poached egg? Head west to the Sydney suburb of Carlingford and you’ll find Pizza Fresh Co, a brand new pizzeria unafraid to break tradition and think outside of what one would usually see heating up in the oven. The team behind it have approached pizza making…

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Scott Pickett has opened a deli and rotisserie at Queen Victoria Market (Melbourne)

Melbourne’s quintessential Queen Victoria Market has welcomed a deli and rotisserie from Estelle chef Scott Pickett, realising a life long dream for the renowned chef and restaurateur and bringing a high quality offering to the iconic marketplace. Pickett’s Deli & Rotisserie is a European-styled deli which is open for hungry market goers through the week,…

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Tramsheds have announced their very first artisan markets (Sydney)

It has now been a few weeks since Tramsheds Harold Park opened to the public, a new and unique European inspired dining hall in the historic Rozelle Tram Depot that has proved to be a massive hit with visitors. The food and dining precinct has quickly become one of the it destinations in Sydney, bolstered…

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Tella Balls Dessert Bar opens near Fox Studios, plans third cafe in Concord (Sydney)

And to think this growing empire built on sugar and sweets started when one man decided to put a doughnut on top of a milkshake and send it out via Instagram. Aki Daikos, co-owner of the flagship Tella Balls Dessert Bar in Sydney’s Dulwich Hill, who along with business partner Simon Kappatos, has watched his…

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Cocktail Recipe: Viniq-ly Chic

Shimmery purple tinged liqueur Viniq launched in Australia earlier this year, bringing an interesting new product to the shelves, one which is made by fusing premium Vodka and moscato, and fruity notes like peach, citrus, berry, and hints of orange blossom. For Australian cocktail culture, a new liqueur such as this is like a shiny…

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The Morrison is doing a bacon meets seafood menu this month (Sydney)

CBD institution The Morrison are doing something they’ve never done before for duration of this month, tasking top chef Sean Connolly with creating a “PIGFISH” menu. What’s pigfish you ask? It’s the sacred union of seafood and bacon, with Connolly crafting a menu that highlights traditionally trashed ingredients with the aim of encouraging diners to…

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Charlie Carrington opens “no rules” restaurant Atlas Dining in South Yarra (Melbourne)

22 year old Melbourne chef Charlie Carrington has taken inspiration from an eight month trip spanning 15 countries for his new – and very first – South Yarra restaurant Atlas Dining, hoping to channel vast influences from the likes of South American, North America, Europe, and Asia. A casual restaurant that constantly evolves with “no…

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Recipe: Knuspriger Schweinebauch (Crispy Pork Belly)

With Oktoberfest celebrations not letting up anytime soon at either Munich Brauhaus or the many Bavarian Bier Cafes that dot Australia’s east coast it’s kind of called for that we tap into the German powerhouses for a traditional recipe, right? Around 2.5 tonnes of pork belly will be roasted and served with traditional crackling skin…

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Win a double pass to the Sydney Craft Beer Week Opening Gala CLOSED

We’re just about ready to give ourselves over to Sydney’s largest annual celebration of craft beer once again. Sydney Craft Beer Week is back, a nine day festival with more than 100 events showcasing everything craft beer across more than 75 different venues. You can expect the likes of axe-throwing competitions, hair of the dog…

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Vietnamese favourite Great Aunty Three in Surry Hills commences dinner service (Sydney)

Locals around Surry Hills should be jumping all over this one. Popular Vietnamese street food restaurant Great Aunty Three have decided that two years of just being a smart pick for lunch isn’t quite enough, meeting demand and celebrating their 2nd birthday by finally extending opening hours to dinner time. Those heading along can now…

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Raising the Bar: Sydney’s drinking holes will turn into classrooms for top academics this week

The University of Sydney and Raising the Bar are doing something pretty unique around Sydney this week, bringing what has been a worldwide initiative to various bars and pubs across the city. On Tuesday 18th October there will be 20 different talks as 20 different academics shape up 20 different free thought-provoking talks facilitated by…

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XXXX Summer Bright introduces new look and mango flavour

Tapping into the increasingly popular market of flavoured beer XXXX Summer Bright Lager have decided to go through a little refresh as well as add the very weather-appropriate flavour of mango to its profile. Mirroring the cleaner, more colourful design, the new flavour has been inspired by the typical Australian beach, obviously setting their sights…

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