HILL STREET SURRY HILLS SYDNEY

 
We discovered the coolest little hub just off the back of Bourke Street in Surry Hills. 

When you enter Hill Street it just looks like another dingy lane in Surry Hills until you hit, I guess you could call a little business hub, containing the amazing Arthur G furniture, the enchanting lights by Euroluce and a very cool little shop called Workshopped. 

Right smack bang in the middle of these shops is a cafe called The Foundry which prides itself on wholesome seasonal meals. A choice of 4 salads and a green juice plus apparently the best coffee from around that block! There was a super relaxed vibe about the place without even realising the hustle of Bourke Street was less than 50m away. 

Next time you are wandering down Bourke Street, try to sneak down the lane and check out Hill Street. 

For more information visit: 
http://www.arthurg.com.au/ 
http://www.workshopped.com.au/
http://whatthefoundry.com/ 
http://euroluce.com.au/  

ST. GEORGE OPEN AIR CINEMA 2015

The Open Air Cinema is back, first session began yesterday showing the Australian premiere of "The Theory of Everything'. 

This year the line-up is amazing with films such as Birdman, Unbroken, Gone Girl, Interstellar, Taken 3 and St. Vincent. Tickets are $35 + booking fee, and remember this is not your average night out at the movies, it's worth every penny. 

For more information visit: http://www.stgeorgeopenair.com.au/ticket-information/   

SUPPORT NAKED WINES

Did you know that 77% of the retail wine market in Australia is owned by Woolworths and Coles. 

Now whilst we are not looking at putting these companies down as they do create thousands of jobs for the communities we are concerned about the power over certain industries like the wine market. 

Naked Wines is a fantastic company that essentially brings the winemakers to your door. I purchased my first Naked Wine case with a new member discount. I receive 15 bottles of gorgeous wine from all around Australia, from wine makers I had never heard of for $35 with free delivery to my door. 

In addition to their great service, they allow you to review each wine online so others can support. They also have an amazing initiative supporting the wine industry called Naked Angels. 

If you are a wine connoisseur, please visit https://www.nakedwines.com.au/ and give them a go. You will be incredibly surprised and I almost guarantee you will never purchase wine again from anywhere else. 

ORPHEUS ISLAND QUEENSLAND

There are so many amazing parts of Australia that we only dream to visit. 

Orpheus Island is one of those dream locations, it lies off the north Queensland coast about 110km north of Townsville. Access is by charter or private boat and there are no roads of formal walking tracks on the Island. 

The island is part of the Palm group of Islands and within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. 

There are only two (2) forms of accommodation available on the island. 
1) Camping (good luck) and 2) at the luxurious Orpheus Island Resort. 

It is one of the few islands in Australia that is available for exclusive hire, price on application of course. 

The resort is secluded and only accommodates a maximum of 28 guests at any one time. It's just another magical part of Australia to visit. For more information visit: http://www.orpheus.com.au/ 

GARY PEPPER GIRL

Official girl crush alert! Nicole Warne aka Gary Pepper Girl is a phenomenon. With over 250,000 Facebook 'friends' she had a brand and business by the age of 20. 

What I love about the site is that her art direction, photography and ideas are breathtaking. We would all want to have her life, but it's her potent combination of fashion and travel destinations that draw so many followers to her site. 

Visit her at: http://www.garypeppergirl.com/ 

THE MASON SHAKER

I've just purchased the best cocktail making kit EVER!

The Mason Shaker is just that... A gorgeous Mason Jar converted into a cocktail shaker. The best part is because it's a Mason jar (clear glass) you can see the amount of Tequila you are over-pouring ;), handy measuring guide on the side and the easiest recipe guide I've ever used. 

Two very clever Brooklyn boys from New York with a patent pending on the concept should no doubt take over the world with not just the Mason Shaker but their brilliant recipes. The book is just divine, the art direction and photography is so tempting you're left wanting to make a cocktail at breakfast??? Perhaps not. 

For more information visit: www.masonshaker.com

48 HOURS IN ADELAIDE

 

Adelaide is by far my favourite city in Australia... it is full of warm, welcoming, friendly people who go out of their way to ensure you enjoy your time in the supposed ‘sleepy’ city of churches. If you’re a foodie like me, then Adelaide is the place to be. Due to the distance Adelaide is still considered a regional town by most marketers, which works in Adelaide’s favour. There is a strong campaign of eating & buying local produce. In turn by supporting the local suppliers you as a consumer receive some of the best quality ingredients in the country. Speaking to a French couple at a wedding I attended, they confirmed that Adelaide for them (after living in Perth, Sydney and Melbourne) was the only city in Australia where the produce was of the same high standards as it was in France. If you only have 2 days to spare, here are my suggestions so you see, taste and visit the best that Adelaide has on offer:
 
SEE/VISIT
Adelaide Hills www.southaustralia.com 
Adelaide weekly farmers market http://www.adelaidefarmersmarket.com.au/
Barossa Valley http://www.barossa.com/
Churches & Museums http://www.samuseum.sa.gov.au/  
Glenelg http://glenelgsa.com.au/
Hahndorf http://hahndorfsa.org.au/
Kangaroo Island http://www.southaustralia.com/regions/kangaroo-island.aspx
 
EAT
FB Burgers http://www.fancyburger.com.au/
Gusto www.gusto-onhutt.com.au
Hill of Grace www.adelaideoval.com.au/4146/hill-of-grace-restaurant
Jamie's Italian www.jamieoliver.com/italian/australia/restaurants/adelaide
Orana http://restaurantorana.com/
Rain Asian www.rainmodernasianbistro.com/
Sean's Kitchen www.seanskitchen.com.au 
Pave in Norwood 

 
DRINK
Botanic Bar http://botanicbar.com.au/
Chihuahua Bar http://www.chihuahuabar.net.au/
Grace the Establishment http://thegrace.net.au/
Mesa Lunga Sangria Bar http://mesalunga.com/gallery/
 
PLAY
Central Markets Gouger Street http://www.adelaidecentralmarket.com.au/
Rundle Street http://rundlestreet.com.au/
The Parade Norwood http://www.theparadenorwood.com/
 
STAY
Crowne Plaza
Grand Adelaide Treasury
Majestic Minima
Southern Ocean Lodge Kangaroo Island
 
To plan your adventure visit:
www.southaustralia.com
www.qantas.com.au

HINOKI & THE BIRD LA

Hinoki & the Bird is an imaginative dining concept that pushes modern Californian cooking to vibrant new bounds. Taking cues from travels through the Silk Road, the restaurant serves as a colourful kaleidoscope where bright flavours, a healthy sensibility and technique harmoniously collide.

Like many great chefs, Kuniko Yagi received no formal culinary training, but the artistic drive had always been with her. After graduating from Ferris College in Tokyo, Yagi began a career in finance working at Gunmai Bank. It was not long before she realized that the structured world of banking was not her professional calling and she decided to take a leap of faith.

She left her native Japan for the United States seeking inspiration that luckily did not take long to appear. Upon arrival in Los Angeles, Yagi began to work as a server in a Japanese noodle house where she discovered her affinity for gastronomy. She was inspired by the energy of a kitchen and the pleasure that a chef can bring to guests through the creativity on a plate.  One day, she struck up a conversation with a customer about the new passion she was unearthing and soon discovered he was a chef himself, at one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the city no less: Sona. 

 Sona’s chef, David Myers was moved by the way Yagi articulated her desire to cook, something that he usually found in much more seasoned professionals, and suggested that she stage in the Sona kitchen to see if her culinary aspirations translated into reality.

Yagi was up to the challenge.  She found that the blend of traditional and modern flavors with which Myers improvised perfectly suited her and her unwavering work ethic was an asset in the breakneck world of professional kitchens.  Myers immediately recognized her dedication and offered her a coveted full time position on the Sona team, something for which other chefs worked years to even be considered.  Yagi’s innate culinary skill combined with strong determination, led to her rapid advancement through the ranks of the kitchen where she worked her way from the amuse station to the sous chef position in three years.

As is often seen with chefs, Yagi did not follow a conventional career path, but she followed her heart and worked tirelessly to achieve her goals.  In 2007, Yagi was promoted to chef de cuisine, a role which allowed her to lead talented cooks.  Yagi later assisted with key Culinary Lab restaurant openings, including Comme Ça Las Vegas. Her passion informs her cooking with a unique sensibility and flavors which span the globe from East to West.

For more information on this beautiful establishment visit http://hinokiandthebird.com/

GOLDIES LA

Goldie’s is a modern, California-inspired restaurant located on 3rd Street in the heart of Los Angeles. With a resolute philosophy of incorporating only local, sustainable ingredients of the highest quality into everything on the menu, Goldie’s proudly serves seasonal cuisine, wine and cocktails. 

Featuring a selection of small plates and family-style dishes, the Goldie’s menu offers simple and approachable dishes handcrafted by our renowned team of chefs using old-world techniques that celebrate the flavor and freshness of each ingredient. 

The award-winning cocktail program is designed in the same fashion, making use of small batch products and fresh, seasonal ingredients to create artisanal, yet unpretentious libations that can be enjoyed with a friend at the bar, accompanied by a few snacks, or with a meal. 

Rovin Raven loves bringing information from our local hood to around the world, but the connection here is that the owner Nick Mathers was born and raised in Australia and moved to NYC in the early 2000’s. 

In 2003 he opened his first restaurant, bringing Australian cuisine to lower Manhattan. Ruby’s garnered success and buzz for Mathers, who then partnered with Ralph Lauren in Washington D.C. to create and co-produce Rugby Food and Spirits. Since the launch of Ruby’s and Rugby, Mathers has gone on to develop several other restaurants under his flagship in New York including Kingswood Restaurant and Dudley’s. In 2010, Mathers introduced his Los Angeles expansion with Eveleigh. 

Located on Sunset Blvd, Eveleigh’s architectural space was personally designed by Mathers and has been praised for its stunning aesthetic. In March of 2013, Mathers opened his newest concept, Goldie’s, which he also personally designed. Since it’s opening Goldie’s has been lauded for its cocktail program, California-inspired dishes, casual, mid-century modern décor and intimate ambience. 

The Australian connections continues with Thomas Lim, Executive Chef beginning his career in Western Australia and as the apprentice chef to world renowned Tetsuya... couldn't get any better than this partnership. 

For more information visit http://www.goldiesla.com/

*NEW* Ku-ring-gai Aquatic Centre

Ku-ring-gai Fitness and Aquatic Centre (formerly known as West Pymble Pool) was originally opened by Ku-ring-gai Council in 1969. Set amongst the leafy surroundings of West Pymble. The long-awaited Ku-ring-gai Fitness & Aquatic Centre is now open!

Ku-ring-gai Council set aside $17 million to create the new facility, which has attracted patrons from across Ku-ring-gai and beyond. The YMCA has partnered with Council to operate the Centre and offer a range of fitness and swimming classes.

25m heated Indoor Pool

50m heated Outdoor Pool

Health Club

Creche & heated baby pool & water playground

Disability access & parking

Cafe & free parking

Highly recommended. For more information visit http://www.ymcansw.org.au/centres/kfac

HUXBABY

Hipster babies wait no more!!

Huxbaby is a unisex fashion label with a sustainable ethos. 
Uber cool but incredibly practical for babies on the go. 

For more information visit http://huxbaby.com/ 

NORTH Magazine

In an era when most people are claiming that print is dead (big call), these guys are making sure that print will never die. With a quality publication like this on offer to a highly targeted demographic (northern beaches hipsters) I live in hope that other publishers will follow suit. 

North Media are based in Avalon and to be honest I know little about them, other than they are offering a FREE quarterly press publication which is of the standard of any of the top publishing houses. 

What I love about NORTH is that they have taken a newspaper format, which most read and discard or if you're like me use for the bottom of your bird cage ;) and have turned it into a coffee table centre piece. 

I'm proud to have my NORTH magazine on my desk or at home, displayed for all to see and enjoy because I value the effort that has gone into making this such a beautiful publication. 

Pick up your copy and start supporting publishers that redefine the future of media - it's not all about iPads and Online, sometimes the old school hard copy you can touch, feel and enjoy is the way to go. 


For more information on NORTH and stockists visit them at http://www.thenorth.co/  

BARRIO CHINO

Two words for you people... Habanero Margarita!!!

Barrio Chino is located on Bayswater Road, Kings Cross and is open Tuesday to Sundays. 

Mexican cuisine has come a long way and by far Barrio Chino is the best Mexican experience in Sydney. We are yet to try Mejico located on Pitt Street having heard amazing reviews, but for now Barrio Chino is it for us. 

Celebrating our families birthday last weekend, the highlight for me was the Habanero Margarita. Let me warn you now... this is not for the faint hearted, and if you are like us and think you can handle your chilli well think again - this baby has got a kick and its awesome!!!!

Habanero infused with a habanero salt rim... mmmmmmmm pleasure and pain. 

http://barriochino.com.au/

The Kiosk at Clontarf

Clonny's at Clontarf is gone and replaced with a family friendly, super tasty selection of treats and delights for the happy crowds that congregate around the beautiful foreshore. Unlike most other tourist traps, The Kiosk serves up the best burgers this side of town for less than $15 each. We were also super impressed by the fresh grilled salmon and chips on offer as well as the boutique range of tea by The Rabbit Hole. Visit them today. More information at http://www.clonnysatclontarf.com.au/

Restaurant Review: Daniel San Manly

 









It appears that the Northern Beaches is finally coming of age ;) for a local like me who has been travelling across the bridge for feasts and delights, it is extremely exciting that all the major restaurateurs are now acknowledging that the Northern Beaches is the place to be...

The latest chow down to join the waxed up crew including the likes of Merivale's Papi Chulo, Hugos and Donny's Bar is now the uber cool but super fun DANIEL SAN http://danielsan.com.au/ 

Fraser Short and his business partner Arthur Laundy have launched a 350 seat capacity Japanese casual eatery cum cocktail bar and the rooftop Dojo at Daniel-san, at Novotel Manly Pacific.

Even more exciting for me is that the Executive Chef Benjamin Orpwood from Toko in Surry Hills has moved in taking charge of the kitchen and providing a fresh casual Japanese menu which clearly addresses a gap in the market for Manly.

Images courtesy of www.danielsan.com.au

Visit them at the Novotel Manly Pacific, Manly Beach, Manly.