Food & Drink

If you went along the Sculpture by the Sea this year then you may have seen The Grounds of Alexandria’s magical, Hobbit-themed pop-up cafe, The Grounds House, propped in Marks Park. It was an essential part of the whole experience, with small treats, burgers, juices, and great coffee fueling the scene in Tamarama. Well, there’s…

Just in time for Christmas, Cadbury have upped their gift offerings, introducing the Cadbury Dairy Milk Gift Box. The brand has been pretty fond of experimenting this year, and this has been met with mixed results (we all remember the Vegemite Chocolate, right?). This new gift box takes a more straight-forward approach, arguably a box…

Award-winning Adelaide winery Bird in Hand have re-teamed with fashion personalities Dan Single and Bambi Northwood-Blyth following some massive success from their limited edition collaboration wines earlier this year and last year. Such bottles as the Bird in Hand D&B ‘Pour les Amour’ Rosé 2015 have been well-received as part of the winery’s limited release…

Christmas is looming and the heat is on to one-up family and friends in the gift department. Thankfully, it’s surprisingly easy to give someone a unique and unforgettable experience with or without the ‘thrill seeking’ intensity factor via Adrenalin, one of Australia’s leading experience sites. The team have put together all sorts of exciting, inexpensive activities…

Newly available across the country, Australian-made single origin dark chocolate Origin Chocolate brings a different perspective to the comprehensive confectionery market. Just in time for Christmas, the brand has started offering “Christmas Bundles” express posted anywhere in Australia, so we take a look at all eight flavours in our latest On the Shelf. Origin Chocolate…

Sydney premium roasters Campos has been a big part of the city’s cafe culture for a long time now, so them teaming up with award-winning cold drip coffee spirit Mr Black comes as some very exciting news, especially for those who like their coffee-based cocktails. Mr Black, which comes out of a Distillery Botanica in…

After a successful flagship store in Chatswood and a recent opening in Burwood, one of the world’s most famous Dim Sum restaurants Tim Ho Wan will open in one of the most central locations in all of Sydney, Town Hall Station. For awhile now, the entrance to Town Hall station opposite Event Cinema and next…

The nutty chocolate taste is perceptible almost immediately as soon as someone mentions the great Ferrero Rocher. One of the most distinctive and loved balls of chocolate has long been a big player on special occasions around the world. There’s something about those roasted hazelnuts embedded in a wafer-thin chocolate shell, filled with gooey hazelnut…

The Hardys brand continue their ‘The Chronicles’ series with this newly released Grenache Rosé, designing it towards the vision and determination instilled in the brand by founder Thomas Hardy. As part of the fabric of Australian wine making, Thomas Hardy is enjoys a long-lasting legacy from this current series, which aims to capture the apparent…

Instantly recognisable Australian brand Bundaberg have continued their well-received The Master Distillers’ Collective series this year with the release of the very shiny, very luscious looking MDC Blenders Edition 2015, sticking to a commitment for experimenting with some of the distillery’s richest and rarest rum reserves to see how far they can take the classic…

Chef Stephen Seckold of Flying Fish has just entered the world of ramen noodles, opening up a grungy, modern-day experimental noodle bar dubbed Salaryman in Surry Hills. The new restaurant seems to veer from the traditional bowl of ramen and offer up something a almost completely different, with a daily-changing menu that maintains a clear…

The instantly recognisable Chivas Regal have just launched their ‘Ultimate Cask Collection’ series, pushing it to travel retail and teaming up with a renowned experimental Chef to explore the affects of our environment on our Whisky experience. It gives us more than enough reason to re-visit the celebrated expression of Chivas 18, kick starting a…

It’s already been one of the liveliest openings Sydney has seen this year. The Old Clare Hotel continues to take shape, preparing for the opening of it’s third restaurant following Automata and Silvereye, Jason Atherton’s Kensington Street Social. The recently re-opened boutique hotel has become quite the destination for food and drink lovers across the…

Double Bay’s Vine paints a pretty picture on most days with an Eastern suburban feel against a soothing evening backdrop, but when paired with a French inspired pop-up bar, the vibe is taken to the next level just as the sun begins to set. I scored an early invite to the Grey Goose’s Salon at…

When Merivale purchased the iconic Newport Arms earlier this year from long-running owners The Bayfield Family, interest was almost immediate. What would Justin Hemmes and his crew do the new venue? They had already showcased their ambition and knack for creating super-sized and extravagant hospitality hubs with the likes of ivy and Coogee Pavilion, so…

Mosman favourite Cala Luna was forced into closure earlier this year due to a devastating fire at Middle Harbour Yacht Club. Following extensive work, owner and Executive Chef Michel Rossetti has re-opened the adored venue, once again bringing a premium Italian, harbour-side dining experience to the area. Those heading to Cala Luna will be met…

Noodle spinning and stretching just may be that undiscovered talent you had hiding inside all along, and to bring it out of you loved hot pot brand Simmer Huang are hosting ‘noodle challenges’ are all of their venues, across Sydney and Melbourne. The restaurant has become known for unique and theatrical cooking methods, with a…

Now that we’re in December, Sydneysiders are no doubt scrambling to lock in those perfect NYE plans, and with so many options available around the famed Harbour City, one is definitely going to need some help sorting through all that’s on offer. Pretty much every venue around Sydney will be trying to coax you through…

Local Woollahra fav The Light Brigade Hotel has undergone quite the impressive transformation, joining the long list of contemporary pub makeovers that have been strung throughout Sydney this year. The venue’s spirit has been refined and re-imagined with a vibrant, modern approach from new owners The Bayfield family, who are most known for their long-running…

Fresh off a successful, inaugural Dog Show, Sydney institution The Beresford has released their summer calendar for this season, bringing in weekly events to fully showcase their new menu and refreshed interiors. Most notably on the schedule is the return of The Monday Jam and Movie Night in The Beresford Courtyard. The Beresford has always…

Single Malt Scotch Whisky Mortlach launched a new expression in Australia earlier this year, offering an entry level to add a bit of elasticity to their reputation as “The Beast of Dufftown”. Mortlach has always had that rich, powerful body that has made the Whisky ideal for use in blends, but this new expression, the…

2015 is ending with a burst of exciting new openings for Sydney and front and centre is Lot.1, a lush three-level establishment in the heart of the CBD that offers a premium dining experience, leaning towards classic Italian favourites and focused on local seasonal ingredients handled with a refined modern twist. The venue has a…

Tasmanian sparkling is an MVP every time NYE comes around, due to the region’s famously cool climate, offering an alternative to French sparkling that is now widely known to be just as good – if not better – for big occasions. Two varietals have remained the brand’s most acclaimed, the classic Premium Cuvée NV, and…

Since 1978 Ben & Jerry’s has been a constant in discussions about good quality ice cream, and the brand has certainly delivered on that reputation time and time again. They remain once of the most loved ice creams brands in Australia, so whenever they introduce a new flavour to their ever-evolving Legendairy range it’s always…

What do you get when two of the kings of Sydney’s brimming burger scene collaborate to the benefit of hearts and minds across the city? You get a brilliant summer residence from Pub Life Kitchen and Barrio Chino at inner-west fashion-slash-cafe staple Deus Ex Machina, propped up in the large space that has become known…

Famed, forward-thinking fashion label Romance Was Born will be making Sydney fans very happy this week as the team host not one but two sales throughout the week, each at different locations, both in darlinghurst. The first sale will be hosted by Lyn Balzer and Tony Perkins on Thursday 10th December, 6pm-8pm at the Australian…

While not quite a chain (like, at all) Mary’s have now been established as one of the most popular food businesses Sydney has ever seen. The wild enthusiasm with which people seek out their American-style burgers remains feverish, and so news that you can now get their signature burgers delivered comes as very welcome news….

Renowned UK artist Grayson Perry is going to have a big presence at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney this summer season, with his exhibition My Pretty Little Art Career featuring from 10th December 2015 to 1st May 2016. To accompany and celebrate this big moment for MCA, the street-level entrance has just grown…

Few things are as summer-appropriate as a nice, crispy Italian Prosecco, and as the weather heats up in Australia we take a look at some very fine, straight forward Prosecco from northern Italy, specifically: Veneto. The Il Colle 46 Parallelo Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG has been spread throughout the nation by Euro Concepts in…

Relatively new craft brewery Stockade Brew Co. in South West Sydney stayed true to their promise of continual forward movement this year by introducing an entirely new line-up of beers earlier this year. Their commitment to using only high quality ingredients, no sugars for high speed fermentation, and no compromises on purity has, in previous…