In this week's issue: Ideas on how to spend your Easter, ways to treat your mum this mother's day, lots of fantastic news from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, the last week of the Contiki #NOREGRETS Challenge, the opening of H&M's first Australian store, and so much more.
FOOD
MERIVALE EXPANSION – BEACH PALACE HOTEL
Merivale has continued the expansion of its ever-growing list of hospitality venues. The latest addition is the Beach Palace Hotel in Coogee. This acquisition follows Merivale’s recent addition of the Noble Canteen (previously the Trumps Tavern) to the company’s portfolio. The hotel has been closed for an initial refurbishment.
GOOD FOOD WEEK - PETE EVANS COOKING CLASS
The inaugural LivingSocial Good Food Week has launched, offering amazing local food deals in Australian cities. Good Food Week provides LivingSocial members with an opportunity to purchase quality experiences at some of Sydney’s best restaurants, exclusively through its site. The highlight deal of the week is a once-in-a-lifetime experience; an opportunity to cook with celebrity chef and media personality, Pete Evans. The deal will include an opportunity for guests to participate in a two-hour class hosted by Pete at Sydney Cooking School followed by an hour of dining, feedback and discussion. The class’s recipes will be derived from Pete’s new cookbook, ‘Healthy Every Day’ of which each attendee will take home a signed copy. This deal is highly limited, with only 40 spots available. To check out this, and many other deals available through Good Food Week, click HERE
FRESH CATERING AT MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK
Fresh Catering, exclusive caterer for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia for the second year, are launching their bespoke dining venues today at the fashion industry’s event of the year. At the Carriageworks site, they have opened The Doll House an Asian inspired pop-up bar & restaurant; The Kiosk a grab and go café at The Hub; the Rekorderlig Cider Bar on level 2; as well as an exclusive private dining room; a backstage kiosk and the VIP only Mercedes-Benz Star Lounge which takes over the space that is Cornerstone Bar & Food. Make sure to check out these venues during Fashion Week so you can treat your tongue as well as your eyes.
GLUTEN FREE EASTER
Enjoying a freshly baked, hot crossed-bun on Easter morning is a favourite tradition that most people take for granted but for the more than a quarter of a million Australians food allergies and intolerances have meant they missed out. But thanks to gluten free grain free, expert and cookbook author, Tania Hubbard this doesn’t have to be the case, especially with her new and improved hot-cross bun recipe. Tania’s Hot Cross Bun recipe can be baked from scratch using the recipe on the Gluten Free Grain Free Company website – www.glutenfreegrainfree.com.au. Or to make it even easier, you can purchase Tania’s bread mix, add a handful of dates and a little cinnamon and ginger and have your very own hot cross buns in the oven in minutes.
FIVE AUSTRALIAN RESTAURANTS MAKE WORLD’S BEST RESTAURANTS LIST
Australia boasts a total of five restaurants in the Elite 100 Restaurants 2014, a prestigious annual guide to the best dining in the world as voted for by Elite Traveler’s jetsetting readers. Three of these masterful restaurants are in Sydney and two reside in Melbourne. Australia also impresses by making the Top 10 countries for fine dining throughout the globe, alongside culinary stalwarts such as France, USA, UK, Japan, Italy and Germany. Sydney is ahead of Melbourne as the sixth best city for fine dining in the world, just behind London, Paris, New York and Tokyo. The full top 100 list can be seen here for those interested http://www.elitetraveler.com/category/finest-dining/top-100-restaurants-...
NEW FOOD PROCESSING TRAINING CENTRE
Australia’s next generation of food technology and manufacturing experts will be educated at a new training centre led by University of Sydney chemical engineers. The ARC Biotechnology and Food Processing Training Centre will be kick started at a roundtable conference attended by as many as eleven food industry partners. The centre has been funded for three years and will be directed by Professor Fariba Dehghani from the University’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Professor Dehghani said the centre will support Australian businesses to design better methods of food processing and storage, as well as develop advanced manufacturing techniques aimed at reducing costs and increasing energy efficiency.
DRINKS
BISHOP SESSA’S NEW BAR FOOD & COCKTAIL MENU
You’ll be hard pressed to find a venue that has a bar food menu and cocktail list quite like Bishop Sessa this April. They have an inspired new snack menu that includes pine-baked pork pies ($9), french fries with house-made oyster mayonnaise ($12), deep-fried lamb and miso soldiers with harissa aioli ($8) and the oyster po’boy with pickled cucumber, cos and aioli ($8.50). You’ll also find cocktails like the moustache-inspired Playboy Back Page, made with Dubonnet, Hennessey Cognac, Parfait Amour, orange and lemon ($17.50). Try a Grandma’s Little Helper with earl grey liqueur, peach schnapps, clove-infused Manzanilla sherry, Dolin French dry vermouth, fresh mint and egg whites, served in a chipped tea cup ($17.50). There’s sure to be something to quench your thirst and your hunger at Bishop Sessa.
EASTER EVENTS
This Easter long weekend, iconic pubs across NSW will be opening for usual trading hours every day except Good Friday (12pm -10pm), and will be offering some sweet specials and great giveaways :
The Australian Heritage Hotel in The Rocks will be serving bunny beers all long weekend with a selection of chocolate brews, as well as a fresh seafood tray and Easter hamper raffles on April 18 from 7pm.
The Glenmore will be visited by the Easter Bunny itself throughout the weekend, and will be joined by some of Sydney’s hottest DJs spinning some party tunes on Saturday and Sunday night til late. After all that partying, the Monday Recovery Session is a must, with a mouth-watering food menu and drinks list, including one of the city’s best Bloody Marys.
The Royal in Leichhardt will feature live music from 4pm on Easter Sunday and special chocolate cocktails available all weekend for those craving an extra chocolate hit.
The Seabreeze Beach Hotel in South West Rocks will be open all weekend if you’re planning on heading up the coast for a long weekend getaway. They have live music on Sunday from 2pm and a special Easter colouring competition to keep the kids busy.
THE SUTTON’S CIDER FESTIVAL
Champion Queensland cider makers will be holding the state’s first celebration of Australia’s fastest growing favourite beverage. The Sutton’s Cider Festival will be a celebration of the apple that made the town of Stanthorpe in the Granite Belt famous, by showcasing cider varieties and locally made produce that feature the humble fruit. The festival will be held amongst the autumnal leaves in the Sutton’s Farm apple orchard with special features including Mulled Cider and Mulled Apple Juice. Bookings can be made at http://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/cider-festival-tickets-10559749495 and full details of the event can be found at http://suttonsfarm.com.au/ciderfestival/
CHEESE MAKING AND CIDER TASTING
The Newtown Hotel’s is Cider Yard now in full swing, and they are now looking to educate their guests on the beauty of cider and cheese pairing. Circumventing the usual wine and cheese night, they will be offering a cheese making 'night school' of sorts held in the upstairs cinema space. Guests will learn the art of making soft cheeses such as ricotta, labne & even yoghurt. Tickets are $99 each and will go fast, so be sure to book early. Email info@newtownhotel.com.au to make sure to grab your ticket.
MOTHER’S DAY PUKKA TEA COLLECTION
Warm Mum’s heart this Mother’s Day with Pukka Tea’s limited edition Exquisite Collection Tin. it contains two of Pukka’s signature organic blends, Love and Peppermint & Licorice. Lovingly created with rose and lavender to warm the heart and elderflower and chamomile to relax and soothe, mum will love kicking back with a cup of Pukka’s Love blend. For something with a bit of a kick, the Peppermint & Licorice tea is a refreshing blend of spicy peppermint, renowned for its digestive properties, and sweet licorice. This collection is available online from http://www.pukkaherbs.com.au/
FASHION & CULTURE
H&M AUSTRALIAN STORE
H&M have finally opened their first Australian store. The new Melbourne H&M Australia flagship store opening attracted over 3000 people, all of which queued so they could get a glimpse of the shop’s extensive fashion collections. On top of all this, those who bought anything on the first day received a unique gift: a t-shirt that was designed by a top student at Melbourne’s RMIT. This t-shirt was the result of a competition that saw students compete to have their design featured at this shop. This new store has three levels of fashion, accessories and homewares. For full details of the H&M range, head to http://www.hm.com/au/
CONTIKI NO REGRETS CHALLENGE
It is the final week for the Contiki #NOREGRETS Adventure challenge. Contiki has been taking 18-35 year olds on an epic adventure around the world with their campaign, The #NOREGRETS Adventure Challenge. Every Monday, the travel company has rolled out a new video challenge. In this final week, the destination is Peru. To find out how you could win this final, life changing trip… visit http://www.contiki.com/adventurechallenge
FASHION WEEK AMBASSADORS
With fashion designers, industry identities and international guests gathering in Sydney this week for Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, seven fashion focused Sydneysiders have been teamed up with visiting international media as Fashion Week Ambassadors to give the press the inside track on Sydney’s style, food, wine and culture. The 2014 NSW Fashion Week Ambassadors will share their favourite experiences in Sydney and regional NSW with international fashion media including US Marie Claire, US Lucky Magazine, blogger Susie Lau from Susie Bubble, street photographer Tommy Ton and Refinery 29. The Ambassadors are:
Designers, bloggers, entrepreneurs and sisters, Alexandra and Genevieve Smart of Ginger & Smart.
The creative mind behind brand alice McCALL, Alice McCall.
Former model come fashion blogger, Steph Adams.
Beauty and health writer and blogger, Eleanor Pendleton.
And finally, fashion models Zac and Jordan Stenmark.
For full details of the Fashion Week, check out http://mbfashionweek.com/australia
MONSTER AND HARYONO SETIADI COLLABORATION - MERCEDES-BENZ FASHION WEEK
Monster, global leaders in high-performance personal audio, and critically acclaimed Australian fashion designer Haryono Setiadi, are excited to announce their partnership and show-stopping collaboration, for the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week. The runway show on April 9 will demonstrate the undeniable synergy between fashion and music – with Setiadi’s headphones designed to showcase and reflect the key elements of the designer’s new range. Setiadi himself will also masterfully provide his own score for the collection, said to be inspired by Australia’s coastline. For complete information regarding the collaboration, including purchasing info, visit http://www.convoy.com.au/
LET’S CELEBRATE - CAPRI ON VIA ROMA
The Gold Coast’s newest social and foodie hub, Capri On Via Roma, is set to mark the final stages of opening with a six-day celebration, showcasing its evolution to a market-style, waterfront shopping destination. The Let’s Celebrate event, held from April 16 - April 21, will see Capri on Via Roma come to life with an array of interactive events and workshops, food and product samplings, centre-wide specials as well as roving musicians. To find out more, head to http://www.caprionviaroma.com.au/
LUNA PARK #FUNFEST PASS
Parents looking to entertain their kids during the Easter holidays need look no further than Sydney’s iconic Luna Park.For the entire month of April, the park is offering parents and guests a well-earned break with an offer too good to refuse. The $55 Luna Park Sydney #FunFest pass provides unlimited access to the theme park and rides, and is inclusive of school holidays. The #FunFest pass is the first of its kind for the park and offers huge value and savings to families who are looking for a fun way to spend their holidays. In addition to general admission, the pass will also come with additional promotional and in-park deals, plus savings across food and beverage, merchandise and more. Bookings can be made at http://www.lunaparksydney.com/buy-tickets
LUNA PARK FREE COMIC BOOK DAY AFTER PARTY
Speaking of Luna Park, May 3 will see Australia’s most dedicated comic book fans, including world-famous CosPlayers, descend on the park as Books Kinokuniya and Luna Park Sydney present the F.C.B.D After Party, which boasts one of the best views in the city as celebrations kick off for F.C.B.D. For just $25, attendees of the after party will have exclusive access to the park, it’s famous rides and amusements while also being treated to displays and interactions from the world’s leading film studios and comic book publishers, major announcements to be released over the coming weeks. Tickets for the event are available from http://www.lunaparksydney.com/