It’s been a while since I last ventured into a fusion restaurant, let alone one that skillfully harmonizes not just two, but three distinct culinary traditions into a symphony of flavors. Calle Rey has masterfully achieved this feat, exuding both confidence and finesse through its plant-based and gluten-free menu. The abundance of exquisite diversity in […]
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In our new series “Dining Destinations”, we take you to some of the best and most unique dining experiences you’ll find around the world. We start in Hawai’i, on the island of Maui, where over the pandemic an inspired new restaurant popped up at one of the region’s most iconic hotels, fusing Hawaiian flavours with […]
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This weekend in the Yarra Valley, hot heads and green thumbs alike swarmed to the aptly named Lovely Nursery for the 11th Herb & Chilli Festival. Featuring over 80 stalls, live cooking shows, hot wings, fresh chillies and chilli chocolate chip cookie eating contests, and a whole host of fresh herb and chilli plants to […]
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There are very few things quite as satisfying as pulling a fresh pizza out of the oven and taking a second to admire your handy work. You’ve put toppings on dough, spread evenly, and melted everything into one another to create what is easily one of the greatest food creations in history. There’s one problem […]
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We visited Sydney’s new Italian café La Bottega to check out the vibe and the food. Tucked away down busy Norton Street, it has a friendly inviting feel. Colourful umbrellas give some cool shade to the outdoor tables, while the open glass doors make the indoor space feel part of the outdoors. The menu has […]
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Set at the very start of St Kilda Road, a new family and pet-friendly bar and food truck park has aimed to recapture the historic beauty of the Holy Trinity Church Hall. Majestically transformed into a bright and luxurious bar with a separate wine room, Trinity St Kilda also features a huge outdoor space with […]
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Kid Kyoto is like your trendy cousin. You envy their effortless style and try to imitate their endearing nature, but no matter how hard you attempt to recreate their swagger, it just isn’t right. These are my favourite types of dining experiences – the ones you genuinely can’t replicate at home. As I walked Bridge […]
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Now that Pacific Concepts is ready and willing to trudge forth into new territory, it seems the group has chosen to kick the post-lockdown life off by taking the somewhat inescapable Fratelli Fresh brand and upscaling it with a new standalone restaurant at Grosvenor Place. Carving out the same space that was once occupied by […]
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Surry Hills iconic The Clock Hotel has been through more than a few changes in its lifetime, and I’m hoping the latest is nice and permanent for the long-standing venue. That would be moving away from the typical pub grub associated with such a popular hotel into undeniably French territory, dissing the parma for some […]
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Sydney will never have enough French restaurants. The cuisine can arguably outmuscle Italian and Japanese when it comes to density, with some of the city’s most beloved dining institutions favouring the regional delicacies of France. Sydney’s already got a new spat of finer dining, more upscale French restaurants with Porcine and Bistro 916, but our […]
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Alessandro Pavoni doesn’t have anything to prove. His Ormeggio at the Spit – old enough to be considered legendary – has always been a reference point for Sydney’s excellent spread of trattoria-inspired eateries. The Mosman restaurant’s more recent turn, skewing seafood and flirting with Puglia, has only solidified that reputation. But the chef is clearly […]
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When you think of Korean food in Sydney you either conjure images of wagyu sizzling on a built-in grill, or obscenely crispy fried chicken dripping with a tangy house-made sauce. Illa Kim and Daero Lee have been redefining that image for years at their Surry Hills restaurant, Soul Dining, often bringing in influences from other […]
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Manly Pavilion holds a special place in the Northern Beaches. There are of course many time-tested institutions in the area, but few can boast the same sparkling, impressively serene location of this venue. Perched on the water’s edge, in a restored heritage building, it’s rightfully a top choice for long-lunches, evening cocktails, and more relaxed […]
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Sydney’s hotel restaurants are boring. Maybe that was a bit too definitive. Let’s just say, Sydney hotel restaurants are, for the most part, unmemorable. At least when compared to standard-pushing cities like Tokyo and New York City. Although, I’ve never eaten at a Chicago, San Fran or L.A. hotel restaurant that inspired much enthusiasm either. […]
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Copious amounts of sugar, a baking competition and a cocktail bar – what could possibly go wrong?! The Big Bake Sydney is a pop up baking experience where you team up to compete for the title of Baking Champion. Loosely based on the popular Canadian television show of the same name, The Big Bake incorporates […]
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Circular Quay favourite Q Dining prides itself on using Australian native ingredients and a bounty of fresh local produce. And with a new autumn-indebted menu, newly appointed Exec. Chef Steven Hartert is set to further that dedication to produce. Promising prime views of the harbour yet set back from the crowds in the heart of […]
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A new burger bar concept has emerged in Manly, rethinking the very idea of what a burger could be, by focusing on the bun. It’s no surprise that more and more burger lovers are swapping traditional carb-heavy buns for healthier alternatives, such as the ubiquitous naked lettuce wraps. BunBar seems to thrive on this evolution, […]
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Rose Bay favourite I Maccheroni has relocated to Woollahra, squeezed into a site that comes with its own lofty culinary standards. Standing on Jersey Road, the slim two-storey Victorian-era building that now hosts this fantastic Italian eatery glows with the reputation of having previously housed both Pinbone and Buzo. Now, the location is once again […]
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Replacing the spectacular Flying Fish at the apex of Jones Bay Wharf is an ambitious meeting of two accomplished culinary champions, ambitiously clashing Japanese and Chinese flavours at the behest of The Star Sydney, debuting their very first off-site restaurant. Chase Kojima (best known for Sokyo) and Victor Liong (best known for Lee Ho Fook) […]
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It’s always exciting to re-visit one of your favourite restaurants on the Gold Coast, more so when it’s even better than you remembered. When Chase Kojima (of Sydney’s celebrated Sokyo, and the more recent Chuuka) first opened this slick modern Japanese restaurant at The Star back in 2015, reception was instantly, and understandably, enthusiastic. Sokyo […]
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The folk behind Sydney’s beloved Devon Café sure are banking on the Japanese donburi with their new venue Dopa by Devon. And why shouldn’t they? The staple simmered bowl of rice and protein is a constant favourite for anyone who has ever been over to Japan (which should be everyone by now – flights are […]
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David Thompson’s masterstroke Long Chim is all about depth. That much has been touted since the acclaimed chef opened this Sydney outpost in 2016, triumphantly returning home after swiftly building up a reputation as one of the world’s leading Thai food chefs. The shadowy industrial space just off Martin Place is lit like the pulsating […]
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It would require no stretch or exaggeration to proclaim Manta a legend in Sydney’s dining scene. The high-end fixture of Woolloomooloo’s illustrious finger wharf has for 9 years now been the first port of call for schmoozy seafood-centric lunches and luscious business dinners thanks to its uncompromising worship of the highest quality produce. Nothing has […]
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If you thought it was hard to find casual fine-dining that celebrates local flavours around Circular Quay then take a visit to Q Dining. Celebrating local native flavours, and boasting stunning harbour views, you won’t find this restaurant within the tourist-hustle bustle along the promenade. Instead, take a step inside the luxury Pullman Quay Grand where […]
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Carriageworks host an excellent farmers market every Saturday. They also feature chefs’ masterclasses which showcase the markets excellent and sustainable produce. Duncan Welgemoed of Adelaide’s Africola hosted the March edition with Shannon Martinez from Fitzroy’s vegan mecca, Smith & Daughters. They cooked up delicious dishes that were influenced by different cultural influences and fused together […]
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I first tried Singapore restaurant Porta during my stay at Park Hotel Clarke Quay and while I didn’t say so in the small paragraph I wrote about it, I did immediately notice the lack of diversity on their menu in terms of dietary options. I mentioned that I was a pescetarian quite immediately when I sat […]
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Last Wednesday saw a launch night to celebrate the re-opening of trendy restaurant, Fish & Burger Co (F&BC). Located in Doncaster East just outside of Melbourne, the venue has been beautifully decorated and modified by design agency, Studio Equator. Light bulbs and greenery dangle from the ceiling, whilst natural light floods through to create an open […]
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At first sight, with its minimalistic interior design complete with cool pastel walls and plywood furniture, the Grand Lafayette feels just like any other Melbourne café. And in many ways, that’s exactly what it is. The breakfast and lunch menus consist of popular western dishes infused with Asian flavours and ingredients, resulting in dishes like […]
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Sydney’s Greek dining institution Alpha has refined their menu further to make Peter Conistis’ cooking more accessible to a wider variety of diners. The major change is that they’ve taken some of their most popular, larger dishes and also included options for smaller sizes so those who really want to indulge, especially groups, can have […]
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Let’s just say trying to explain how a partnership between connoisseurs of fine gelato and a major air fragrance company may work to anyone elicits some pretty intriguing reactions. However, given Gelato Messina’s rather unique and quirky approach to producing their flavours, it makes sense they’d take inspiration from Airwick’s new Life Scents range, don […]
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