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.

The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards announces 2017 winners and new hatted restaurants

While it’s no surprise that Peter Gilmore’s Quay has once again been named “Vittoria Coffee Restaurant of the Year” at the authoritative The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide 2017 Awards, the comprehensive annual award ceremony did herald a lot of newcomers, as the next generation of Sydney’s top restaurants came to stand toe-to-toe with…

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Team behind Eau De Vie and The Roosevelt plan viking themed whisky bar and carvary (Sydney)

The Speakeasy Group aren’t ones to mess around when it comes to bars; they own and operate Eau De Vie in both Sydney and Melbourne, as well as Boilermaker House in Melbourne, and The Roosevelt in Sydney. All four of these venues are treasured gems in Australia’s bar scene, consistently awarded and always packed. It’s…

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Asia’s best cocktail bar, 28 Hongkong Street, is coming to Australia this month

Maison Ferrand, Neat Spirits, Mancino Vermouths, and Plantation Rum are teaming up to bring 28 Hongkong Street, which was voted Asia’s Best Bar, to town for Sydney Bar Week this month, following which it will pop up in Melbourne for two days. The very welcome news is part of a much larger program which will…

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On the Shelf: “Huxtabrew” by Huxtaburger

“It’s official. We did it. Our own beer. Introducing HUXTABREW!!!,” announced the Huxtaburger team via social media just a few weeks ago, heralding a big step for the loved Melbourne burger chain. The brand has long been a go-to for Melbourne burger fiends, and a sharper focus on their alcoholic offerings can only strengthen that…

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400 Gradi to bring back Johnny Di Francesco’s 99-cheese pizza for one day only… this week (Melbourne)

September 5th 2016 is National Cheese Pizza Day. Yeah it’s a thing, and yeah it’s cause to celebrate with perhaps the cheesiest pizza known to mankind, the 99 Cheese Pizza, which was famously created in 2014 by 400 Gradi owner and World Pizza Champion Johnny Di Francesco. Since then petitions have been made begging Di…

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Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds reveal first single from new album, “Jesus Alone”

Ahead of next week’s release of Skeleton Tree, the 16th studio album from Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, the iconic Australian band has unveiled first single “Jesus Alone”, a solemn number accompanied by an equally soul-bearing video taken from the band’s other project, a movie entitled One More Time With Feeling. The pain stemming…

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SoCal Hardware: SoCal is popping up in Bondi Hardware for this month only (Sydney)

Applejack Hospitality are mashing up two of their most popular bars for a month-long pop up this September. Their wildly popular over-the-bridge Neutral Bay bar SoCal will be scraping together all their Mexican and Cali inspired share plates, tacos, quesadillas, ceviches, mezcals, and tequilas and heading east, unloading it all at the equally busy Bondi…

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Top Melbourne bars are forming an Old Fashioned cocktail trail this week

Some of Melbourne’s top bars are forming an Old Fashioned trail for the next eight days (2nd to 10th September) to celebrate Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned Week, looking to follow Melbourne Spring Fashion Week with a different kind of style. After success earlier this year in Sydney, the classic Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whisky will spread…

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InterContinental Sydney Double Bay reopens lush rooftop lounge bar to the public

Now that Spring is officially here, it’s time for Sydney’s big, beautiful rooftop pools to come out of hibernation and start preparing for an influx of sun-soaking Sydneysiders. InterContinental Sydney Double Bay are able to take that a step further thanks to their luxurious pool-side The Rooftop bar, which is home to a stunning, spacious…

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Film Review: Don’t Breathe (USA, 2016) is an unexpected refresh to an exhausted genre

Fede Alvarez surprised horror fans in 2013 when he tackled a remake of Evil Dead in a way that was satisfying and consistent with the classic blood-soaked series. This time around the Uruguayan director is trying his hand at something much different, a sharp original home-invasion thriller titled Don’t Breathe about three delinquent burglars who…

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Where to take dad to eat in Sydney this Father’s Day

Father’s Day is this Sunday 4th September and a man’s got to eat, right? If nothing else, the day is a chance to celebrate all your main man does throughout the year, and there are few ways to do that then by treating him to a good old fashioned feast, whether it be a sunny…

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Devon on Danks to close in Waterloo; Devon Cafe to open at Barangaroo (Sydney)

One of Sydney’s all-time favourite casual dining spots, Devon Café, will be expanding from the flagship in Surry Hills this October to open a new venue at Barangaroo. The very welcome news does come with a heartbreaking announcement though: the hugely popular Devon on Danks in Waterloo will be closing its doors in a couple…

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Broadway Shopping Centre unveils new food and retail line up after $55 million redevelopment (Sydney)

If you’ve visited Broadway Shopping Centre in Ultimo within the past week you may have noticed quite a few changes going on. The historic retail and dining hub has just completed a $55 million redevelopment to it’s second and third levels, an overdue refresh that has brought in new brands such as H&M, Sunglass Hut,…

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Fratelli Fresh are giving away 500 free build-your-own pizzas this week (Sydney)

Fratelli Fresh will officially launch their long awaited casual pizzeria spin-off, Fratelli Famous, this week in the level 5 food court of Westfield Sydney. Set for Wednesday 31st August, the trusted Italian brand will be firing up that custom-built pizza oven to kick off their massive planned expansion – they want to open around 100…

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On the Shelf: Stolen Smoked Rum

Caribbean-sourced, Florida-bottled, New Zealand’s Stolen rum made waves a few years ago with a distinctive Coffee & Cigarettes flavour, but now they are pushing in an entirely new direction: rebranding as the world’s first smoked rum, maintaining a similar taste but toning down the sweetness and lifting the smokiness. Matured in ex-American whiskey oak barrels…

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Win a SodaStream Power valued at $250 CLOSED

You’ve no doubt heard of SodaStream by now, that home carbonation product that is pretty much a godsend for fans of sparkling water across the world. The benefits of having fresh sparkling water at your fingertips is evidently something many people have been adding to their daily kitchen (or office) routines, a trend that doesn’t…

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Orange Wine Festival announces special program to celebrate 20 years of winemaking (NSW)

One of New South Wales’ best known and most loved annual festivals returns when the Orange Wine Festival takes over the famous cool-climate region come October. Spread from 14th to 30th October, the stacked program, celebrating 20 years of Orange as a wine-growing region, will add an additional two signature festival events along with its…

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Rootstock: artisan wine and food festival returns to Carriageworks this November (Sydney)

For its third year bringing a program of natural wines and sustainable, artisan produce to Sydney, Rootstock will once again be setting up within the iconic walls of Carriageworks come November. Maintaining a dedication to sustainable practices and organic, biodynamic, and natural wines, Rootstock stands as one of the most unique food and wine festivals…

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Summer Hills’ One Penny Red has expanded with the opening of Vernon’s Bar (Sydney)

The team behind Summer Hill’s popular One Penny Red restaurant have completed a long awaited expansion with the level-one opening of their new concept Vernon’s Bar, extending the lively atmosphere of an already largely celebrated local favourite. Chef RJ Lines (ex-Longrain) will help the new bar-restaurant distinguish itself with a menu of modern seasonal dishes…

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Peter Manettas Seafood is Sydney’s first fully interactive online fish market

Purchasing freshly prepared seafood just got a whole lot easier for Sydneysiders. Digital service Peter Manettas Seafood has brought the city it’s first truly interactive online fish market with the aim of creating greater and more convenient access to over 120 different seafood products, all of which are sourced directly from the Sydney Fish Market…

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Mosman’s Avenue Road Cafe pushes forward with fresh new look and menu (Sydney)

The team behind Mosman favourite Avenue Road Café have made the recent decision to re-focus their approach, resulting in both a new menu and a new look, switching up their breakfast and lunch offerings to include an array of dishes that focus on owner Taran Tamana’s heritage, reinterpreting café classics through a unique scope that…

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Strip clubs, live music venues, and some CBD bars are now exempt from the lockout laws (Sydney)

Much has been said about Mike Baird’s contentious Sydney lockout laws and it’s widespread effect on the hospitality industry and vibrant nightlife that the city’s tourism (and morale) kind of needs. Last week a Supreme Court ruling may have put a crack in those laws, as there are now some venues across Sydney which will…

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On the Shelf: James Squire Hop Thief 8

The crew over at Malt Shovel Brewery have brewed up the latest in the James Squire Hop Thief range, being the Hop Thief 8, the continuation of a wildly popular series tweaking the brand’s American Pale Ale, and the follow up to last year’s very well-received, fruity 7. Cascade and Crystal hops have been sourced…

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Krispy Kreme and Reese’s have teamed up to create a peanut butter doughnut

Dominant doughnut chain Krispy Kreme have come together with Reese’s (best known for Reese’s Pieces) and birthed the peanut butter doughnut, the most logical outcome of this collaboration. The flavour fusion comes after weeks of experimenting in the Krispy Kreme lab, tinkering with the best ways to balance a Reese’s Peanut Butter with the brand’s…

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Live Review: Maxwell – Enmore Theatre, Sydney (22.09.16)

If Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite, Maxwell’s stunning debut album, was released today instead of two decades ago perhaps it would be him who would hold the power to glue our eyes to a live stream of a near empty room for days on end. Perhaps it would be #Maxwell that would constantly trend on Twitter…

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Review: Norsk Dor – CBD (Sydney)

Mystery surrounds CBD restaurant Norsk Dor, a unique Scandinavian venture from a team that has up until now been best known for their work behind small bar Uncle Ming’s. If it wasn’t for the modest signage and menu standing outside on Pitt Street, it’d be difficult to discern what the street level entrance actually leads…

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David Thompson’s Long Chim opens at Martin Place this month (Sydney)

“It’s been over 20 years since I last opened a restaurant a Sydney”, says David Thompson, whose Long Chim will be finally be unveiled to the public come opening day on Monday 29th August. The renowned homecoming chef will be serving up interpretations of Thai street food at the new two-floor, 190-seat restaurant and bar,…

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Haverick Meats are hosting a Meat Masterclass at The Oaks this month (Sydney)

Before August is said and done Sydneysiders will have a chance to head along to North Shore institution The Oaks for an exclusive Meat Masterclass and dinner from one of the city’s most acclaimed providores, Haverick Meats. For the event, Chef Danny Russo will be showcasing some of Haverick Meats’ finest produce in a specially…

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Hannibal Buress is bringing his Hannibal Montanabal Experience tour to Australia

In between doubling over with belly laughs while watching Adult Swim’s outrageous The Eric Andre Show, you may notice the charming dead-pan Hannibal Buress as the show’s grounded – and relatively sane – co-host. Well that man, who is also well known for his role on Broad City, is set to tour Australia later this…

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The third annual Smooth Festival of Chocolate announces super sweet program (Sydney)

Come September, two days of surfing through a sweet sea of sugary treats will once again define the annual smooth Festival of Chocolate which each year transforms The Rocks into a hotbed of dessert trends both new and old, pastry pop-ups, cooking demos, and more. Some of the country’s best will be turning out for…

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