Food & Drink

Baron Samedi Spiced Rum launches in Australia with a little help from The Rubens

Last week Merivale venue Beresford Hotel hosted a mysterious, spectacularly macabre scene as part of Campari Australia’s launch of a new brand of spiced rum named after Haitian/Lousiana voodoo spirit of death Baron Samedi. Campari Australia teamed up with Nova Entertainment putting together an immersive musical and theatrical experience available exclusively for competition winners and…

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Enjoy afternoon tea with Leona Edmiston at The Langham to celebrate Fashion Week (Sydney)

When you think of style and poise in Australian fashion, leading designer Leona Edmiston springs to mind.  It’s no wonder, then, that The Langham in Sydney, a hotel equally as stylish, has partnered with the celebrated designer to hold a series of glamourous afternoon tea sittings throughout the month of May. Held in the hotel’s chic Palm Court tea…

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BBQ legend Rodney Scott attracts the masses to Harpoon Harry for two-day residency (Sydney)

Tonight, Monday 16th May, will be the final day of pitmaster legend Rodney Scott’s brief kitchen takeover at Surry Hills’ Harpoon Harry. The takeover, which began yesterday and attracted an enormous queue, is a very rare opportunity for Sydneysiders to take one of the most famous BBQ’s in the world – possibly the best –…

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A food truck chilli festival is coming to Prahran in June (Melbourne)

Next month, on June 4th, some of Melbourne’s most in-demand food trucks will be coming together to raise funds for the Prahran Mission by staging a big Chilli Festival in a vacant parking lot next door to Brunch hot spot Hobba. From 6pm to 10pm, the Melbourne Chilli Festival will be bringing together Dos Diablos,…

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Hawthorn has a new 24 hour live music venue named “Untz Untz” (Melbourne)

The Hawthorn revival has made a giant leap with the launch of Untz Untz, a new multifaceted venue from local music entrepreneur and club veteran Nick Foley that boasts a shiny 24-hour liquor license and more than a handful of ambitious plans. Gutting the former, long-standing Cheers and replacing it with a concept venue that’s…

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Review: Vicolo Café – CBD (Sydney)

The great café revolution that has swept the outskirts of Sydney CBD for the past few years hasn’t quite cleaned up the clutter in the annoyingly one-way streets around Town Hall and Wynyard. Sure, there’s some excellent long-established institutions that have withstood the test of time, but for the most, it’s often a gamble walking…

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Finn McCool’s Irish Bar set to open in Fortitude Valley this month (Brisbane)

Brisbane’s busy nightlife district, Fortitude Valley, has a new Irish pub opening its doors this May. Finn McCool’s Irish Bar will take pride in place in the heart of Brunswick Street Mall and is expected to be the largest Irish pub in town. Being treated to a $3.5 million fit-out, the pub will have a…

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Taylors Wines celebrates annual release of pinnacle wines

One of Australia’s most awarded wineries, Taylors Wines, is this month celebrating the third release of The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon 2012, as well as its entire St Andrews range: the 2013 St Andrews Cabernet Sauvignon, 2013 St Andrews Shiraz, 2014 St Andrews Chardonnay, and 2015 St Andrews Riesling. The family owned Clare Valley winery has been…

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Nominees announced for the Time Out Sydney Pub Awards 2016

It’s now your chance to brush up on your knowledge on some of Sydney’s best pubs, as the nominees for the third annual Time Out Sydney Pub Awards have been announced. See below for the full list of nominees, featuring returning favourites plus some new ones who have been on point for the last 12…

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A new three-level theatrical bar opens up in Darlinghurst (Sydney)

A new three-floor bar aimed at theatrical entertainment? We’ll take it! The Oxford Circus is an ambitious multi-purpose venue that has opened up in Darlinghurst, bringing a bit of theatre and pizzaz to nights out in lock-out city from Wednesday to Sunday. With morale about Sydney’s nightlife at a record low, touches like this may…

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Burgers by Josh reveals the next location of his next pop-up and potential 3am closing time (Sydney)

Sydney’s burger guru, Burgers by Josh is here to announce his new venue and talks to us about his future! Following an epic residency at Sydney’s institution, The Annandale Hotel, that saw massive lines out the door every night and stunning specials, Josh talks to us about what is in store next for him. Josh…

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SBS to debut new series about Noma Australia plus second season of Poh & Co.

Thursday nights on SBS just got a whole lot tastier with two exciting food programs airing back to back, added to the channel from May 19th. The premiere of Noma Australia, documents the inspirational journey behind the highly anticipated opening of the restaurant with the same name at Sydney’s Barangaroo. Right after, charming, warm and…

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Review: Harpoon Harry (Morgan McGlone’s Bar Publico Menu) – Surry Hills (Sydney)

Best known as the man behind legendary Belle’s Hot Chicken brand, Morgan McGlone stands as one of the most sought after chefs for casual dining in Australia, especially if we’re talking about the cooking styles of the Southern States. McGlone was most celebrated overseas for his work at the world-renowned Husk in Nashville before starting…

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Enjoy a week of good old fashioned fun with bars, bourbon and cocktails (Sydney)

Modern living getting you down?  Maybe it’s time to rearrange your schedule this week and head to some of Sydney’s best bars like Earl’s Juke Joint, Papa Gede’s and The Wild Rover (just to name a few) to take part in the inaugural Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned Week, which will run from 11th to 20th May in select bars around…

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Review: Bar Chinois – Chippendale (Sydney)

Bar Chinois has brought an interesting fusion of Asian and French flavours as the very first small bar-cafe to hit the ever-evolving Kensington Street precinct in Chippendale. Shaped into a double terrace near the entrance of hawker-style food court Spice Alley, the new venue stands bathed in a sultry glow which reflects off the homely…

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Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival returns for two months of events (NSW)

The nation’s oldest wine region is set to showcase the best of its wine and food culture, as the Hunter Valley Wine & Food Festival kicks off in May and June of 2016.  Visitors to the region can take part in over 70 culinary events and activities, with additional activities also taking place in various venues and wineries. It’s…

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Brisbane’s epic BBQ Festival is back and bigger than ever

Following the success of last year’s sold out event at Wandering Cooks in South Bank, the Brisbane BBQ Festival will return to the city on Saturday July 2, bringing with it an almost overwhelming amount of things to do. This year’s Festival boasts a lineup bigger and badder than before with BBQ big hitter and…

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Review: Zaaffran – Darling Harbour (Sydney)

“Butter chicken is not authentic Indian food,” said restaurateur Freddie Zulfiqar at a sit-down media event for Zaaffran this past Tuesday night. It was a sentiment shared by the 110-strong crowd gathered to enjoy the established Indian restaurant’s cuisine in the buzzing Darling Harbour precinct. What Zaaffran (meaning saffron) does well is “capture the essence…

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The New Britannia is Chippendale’s newest gastro-pub in a hertiage listed building (Sydney)

An new gastro-pub has made its way into Chippendale, fitting out a heritage-listed building on Cleveland Street with what is the latest venture from bespoke hospitality crew Idle Group, the folk responsible for Darlinghurst’s Henrietta and Bondi’s Neighbourhood. With two of Sydney’s most loved venues as part of their portfolio, The New Britannia opens to…

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Our top picks for World Class Cocktail Week 2016 in Sydney

Get ready for seven days of fine drinking as the annual World Class Cocktail Week comes to task Sydney’s best mixologists with highlighting the city’s fantastic bar culture. In the past few years, Sydney has truly stepped up to rival Melbourne’s scene of small bars; add this to the big pub revival that’s happening, as…

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On the Shelf: Sesión Mocha Tequila

Winning a Gold Medal and two Silver Medals so early in the game is a big deal for Australian owned Tequila Sesión, who only launched around six months ago. It was their Sesión Mocha Tequila that earned them the Gold (Sesión Blanco and Reposado won Silver) in the influential San Fransisco World Spirits Competition and…

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David Chang denies rumours that Momofuku Seiōbo is switching to Packer (Sydney)

Inexplicably, The Sunday Telegraph recently published a story based on rumours that world-renowned Chef David Chang will be pulling the rug out from under The Star and moving Momofuku Seiōbo over to their forthcoming competitor Crown Casino. Mariah Carey’s hubby-to-be James Packer will be opening up Crown at Barangaroo, across the water from The Star….

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‘Culture Collective’ charity event bringing pop up bars, art, and music to Kings Cross Hotel (Sydney)

In collaboration with Sailor Jerrys, Young Henrys and Gasoline Motor Co., Kings Cross Hotel will be hosting an event on Thursday 12 May, celebrating fast and loud local culture in the name of charity. Donations will go towards supporting the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to document, expose and prevent illegal…

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First Impressions: Saké Flinders Lane – CBD (Melbourne)

As someone who absolutely loves their Japanese cuisine, I was overjoyed to be invited to a private dinner at Saké’s new Flinders Lane location nestled in one of Melbourne’s most iconic gastronomical strips. Three-star Michelin chef Jean Paul Lourdes would be showcasing some of his mouth watering signature dishes, accompanied by an array of impressive…

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Our top picks for Australia’s Top Restaurants dining program in each state

May has become one of the most exciting months of Australia’s culinary calendar thanks to the massive dining program that aims to celebrate The Australian Financial Review’s Australia’s Top Restaurants presented by Qantas, highlighting the best of the best with exclusive events and special offers in each state set to showcase what makes this country’s…

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Review: The Swanson Hotel – Erskineville (Sydney)

When we first arrived at The Swanson Hotel, I almost had to double check we were in the right place. The funky wallpaper, animal print stools and mounted zebra head on the wall was highly contrasting to the red-brick exterior and terraced houses that we’d left outside. Having passed the pub a few times on…

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David Thompson to open Long Chim in Martin Place (Sydney)

Mid-way throughout August this year Sydney will be getting a brand new Thai street food restaurant from world-renowned Chef and restaurateur David Thompson, a man who has long been considered as an authority on Thai food. Thompson has confirmed that he’ll be bringing his famed Long Chim restaurant in Sydney, adding it to his list…

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What to do for Cinco de Mayo in Sydney for 2016

Tomorrow, May 5th, will bring Cinco de Mayo around once again, celebrating Mexican culture around the world, and you can be sure some of Sydney’s best are getting involved with various specials, events, and more. We’ve put together a guide for the best happenings in Sydney tomorrow so get across these and you’ll soon be…

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Seven new Melbourne bars you really need to know about

Melbourne’s bar scene is perhaps the most influential in the country, and it’s a constant reference point for creativity and culture, always moving forward. That forward movement has resulted in some pretty epic openings in the past few months so from Fitzroy to Cheltenham we bring you seven of our favourite new and new-ish bars…

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Lunch with the man behind Melbourne’s The Meatball and Wine Bar, Matteo Bruno

When I first stumbled across The Meatball Shop in New York’s Lower East Side back in 2011, it had barely been open for a year, but the owners were already preparing to expand to two more locations – and, five years later, they now sit in six locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn. Things move pretty fast in New York. In…

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