In this week’s issue: The Tomato Festival hits Sydney; we look at places to see the Australian Open in Melbourne; Asahi Extra Cold Bar enters its last week; the Pop-Tart Caravan cools down summer for Sydneysiders by handing out free ice cream sandwiches; Tokyo's famous Robot Restaurant is popping up in Sydney; a special Iron Chef series of events in Melbourne; and more!
FOOD
TOMATO FESTIVAL SYDNEY (SYDNEY)
The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will bring passions alive over the Valentine’s weekend as they pay homage to the ‘love apple’ with the return of the award winning Tomato Festival Sydney on February 14 and February 15. The Tomato Festival is great for people of all ages and is family friendly. There will be a pop-up bar & café, local and organic produce stalls, degustation luncheon, free workshops, a cooking Master Class with Pietro Demaio, talk on heirlooms by Clive Blazey, Founder and Chairman of the Diggers Club, free guided tours and many more talks.
When: February 14 & 15
Where: The Royal Botanical Garden, Sydney
GOODGOD SMALL CLUB WELCOMES BELLY BAO (SYDNEY)
The kitchen at Sydney CBD bar and music venue Goodgod Small Club is now on it's third evolution, after being home to successful American diner The Dip and more recently Caribbean haven Junkanoo. In continuing it's foray into international cuisine, Goodgod now welcomes Taiwanese street food concept Belly Bao, providing it with it's first permanent kitchen after successful, sell-out pop up stores around Sydney's best food markets.
For those that aren't familiar with Taiwanese street food, the concept is based around 'Gua Bao' which is a soft taco-shaped steamed bun folded around braised pork belly, pickled mustard greens, crushed peanuts, and coriander. Belly Bao builds upon this tradition, using this template to explore more filling such as Roast Pork Belly Crackling and Soft Shell Crab alongside a range of pickles and homemade sauces all served with sweet potato fries and Asian slaw.
On the menu will be six signature savoury Baos on offer alongside other South East Asian hawker-inspired dishes like BBC Fried Chicken (crunchy, sticky, or spicy in wings, half, of whole chicken), and some distinctive dessert creations like Baoana and Strawbelly Bao, a brioche-like golden fried bao filled with ice cream and topped with condensed milk and fruit.
Full story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/sydneys-goodgod-small-club-wel...
POP-TARTS CARVAN GIVES OUT FREE POP=TARTS ICE CREAM SANDWICHES (SYDNEY)
Kicking off from January 24, the colourful Pop-Tarts Caravan will literally be ‘popping up’ at popular summer destinations across Sydney, serving FREE Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Sandwiches to hungry Sydneysiders. All that’s needed to get your hands on this awesome summer treat is to follow @poptartsau on Instagram and post an image hashtagged with #CrazyGood. Delicious Frosted Chocotastic and Frosted Strawberry Sensation Pop-Tarts Ice Cream Sandwiches can be found at the following locations:
Wet ‘n’ Wild, Prospect – January 24, 3pm – 10pm
Australian Open of Surfing, Manly Beach – February 7 & February 8, 10am - 5pm
Australian Open of Surfing, Manly Beach – February 14 & February 15, 10am – 5pm
Bondi Beach – February 21, 10am – 4pm
Good Life Music Festival, Randwick – 1 March, 11am – 7pm
COLD ROCK ICE CREAM LAUNCHES HUGE COMPETITION (SYDNEY)
Ringing in the new year in true Cold Rock style, the Australian Ice Creamery is giving customers the ultimate chance to sit in the driver’s seat and ‘POP’ around town this summer with their Rock, Pop and Go competition. Customers can go away sporting some hot new wheels in the form of a Fiat 500 POP (valued at $17,000), by dreaming up their very own custom-designed Cold Rock Combo
Officially from January 12, Cold Rock Ice Creamery is calling ice cream aficionados from all over Australia to get behind the wheel to create and then name their ultimate Cold Rock Ice Cream and Mix combination, for the chance to win an ice cream-coloured Fiat 500 POP. Yes, an ice cream-coloured car, all for designing an ice cream combo.
Full story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/cold-rock-ice-creamerys-rock-p...
ROBOT RESTAURANT BROUGHT TO SYDNEY BY CONTIKI (SYDNEY)
Leading travel brand Contiki are gearing up for the launch of their 13-day Japan Unrivaled trip, part of their 2015/2016 Asia program, and to celebrate their bringing over something very unique to give Australians a taste of what they can expect on the trip.
Renowned for it's sensory-overloading sci-fi cabaret show and ostentatious aesthetic, Tokyo's Robot Restaurant will be brought over to Sydney for two nights only on Monday 23rd February and Tuesday 24th February this year. Titled Robots Unrivaled, the Sydney pop-up is guaranteed to be the most unique and memorable dinners the city has ever seen, sending patrons on a futuristic journey throughout the blend of Japanese culture and Robot-centric pizzazz, all while enjoying delicious and authentic Japanese food and drink.
Those who enter this marvelous pop-up will be treated to a 'take no prisoners' performance, including dance routines set to banging J-Pop beats, more fluorescent colours than one could possibly expect, as many lasers as can possibly fit, and, of course, massive robots from the future doing battle in an attempt to destroy mankind once and for all. What.
Full story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/japans-robot-restaurant-is-com...
IRON CHEFS WANT TO COOK YOU DINNER (MELBOURNE)
World famous Japanese Cooking Program Iron Chef has produced some of the most respected and acclaimed chefs in the world, and some of these are heading to Australia for a very special, very exclusive two-day culinary event that is guaranteed to be one of the most sought after dinners of 2015.
Hiroyuki Sakai (Iron Chef French), Masahiko Kobe (Iron Chef Italian), and Kentaro Chen (Iron Chef Chinese) will be heading down for the event, which will be held at RACV City Club on Bourke Street in Melbourne. The exclusive dinners are $380 per person and will be held of February 14th and February 15th, 2015.
The event will feature a six-course meal prepared by the Iron Chefs, each with their own culinary focus, with dishes to be confirmed closer to the date. The Iron Lounge, inside RACV City Club, will be open one hour prior to the dinner and host a Kirin Beer Bar and a Sake Bar plus seasonable canapes.
Full Story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/a-special-iron-chef-culinary-e...
DRINKS
VEUVE CLICQUOT AIRSTREAM ROLLS INTO SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE (SYDNEY)
Sydney-siders need a pop-up slice of luxury for Summer, and that's exactly what Veuve Clicquot Airstream seeks to achieve, bringing with it Clicquot’s unique combination of luxury, food and design. The pop-up diner has kick-started parties all over the world, and, this season, will return to Australia with an island summer vibe, complete with palm trees and Clicquot long boards.
Walk along the Western Boardwalk when you get to The Sydney Opera House and you'll spot this unique looking venue-on-wheels, bringing a touch of Clicquot's trademark yellow to the shade of the famous white sails. The sleek aluminium trailer will be offering delicious food paired with the brand's world renowned champagne while providing all the seating you need to lie back, stare out over Circular Quay, and transport yourself to an island getaway.
Full story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/the-veuve-clicquot-airstream-r...
THE BEER DELUXE MARKETS (MELBOURNE)
Every Wednesday until March 25,
Beer DeLuxe Federation Square will be serving up the very best of local and international craft beer and street food, giving the hump day tipple the ultimate revamp. Beer DeLuxe’s infamous beer garden will transform into a hawker style market, with food vendors dishing up all of your favourite street food, from paella to duck sliders with Asian slaw and mini American style hot dogs, as well as serving over 250 of the finest ales and lagers.
When: Every Wednesday until March 25, 5pm – 10pm
Where: Beer DeLuxe, Federation Square, Flinders Street
ASAHI SUPER DRY EXTRA COLD BAR (SYDNEY)
With just over a week to go before the Asahi Super Dry Extra Cold Bar closes its doors, now is the perfect time for the most discerning drinkers to pop on in and taste what’s been Sydney’s preferred summer beverage, served to perfection and poured fresh at -2 degrees. Already a huge success in Japan and Korea, the Asahi Super Dry Extra Cold Bar will be closing its doors January 23 – so what better way to celebrate the start of the Australia Day long weekend than with an ice cold beer?
When: From now until January 23, Monday – Wednesday, 4pm – 10pm; Thursday – Saturday, 12pm – 10pm
Where: 37 Bligh Street, Sydney
FASHION & CULTURE
IMB SUNSET CINEMA RETURNS (SYDNEY)
MB Sunset Cinema is back at the historic North Sydney Oval, from Thursday January 22nd. The Oval is the location of Australia's first documented outdoor cinema, dating back to 1909, and more than a 100 years later the event will be attended by thousands of locals, this time using a state of the art inflatable cinema screen and digital projector.
Screening from the January 22 through to the March 28, four nights per week, IMB Sunset Cinema offers its guests an entertaining mix of blockbusters and cult classics, as well as live music, beanbags, gourmet food and a fully licensed bar - it’s so much more than a night out at the movies!
The 2015 IMB Sunset Cinema North Sydney program has something for everyone from blockbusters such as The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, to cult hits like Dirty Dancing, Ghost and Top Gun, and Family Friday flicks including Frozen: Sing-A-Long, Penguins of Madagascar, and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb.
Full Story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/imb-sunset-cinema-north-sydney...
BEN & JERRY'S OPEN AIR CINEMA ON BONDI BEACH (SYDNEY)
Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas are back with a bang this summer, bringing music by day and movies by night to Sydney’s Bondi Beach. As part of a nationwide series of events, which are enjoyed by more than 150,000 people across Australia, the Sydney leg of the tour will take place on the lawn by the Bondi Pavilion, overlooking the ocean, from January 22 until March 1 2015.
With live music from an array of Sydney’s best up-and-coming artists every Saturday and Sunday - the latter with free ice cream and games as part of the Ben & Jerry’s Sundae Sessions – Ben & Jerry’s Openair Cinemas will once again be recreating their famously fun and friendly festival vibes.
Melbourne stars Husky, the Sundae Sessions season headliners, will be kick-starting proceedings before a screening of ‘Pride’ at the Charity Launch on January 25. Having toured with the likes of Gotye and Mumford & Sons, the trio are set to perform tracks from their forthcoming second album ‘Rucker’s Hill’. Tickets to the biggest night of the season are on sale now and all proceeds from ticket sales go to WWF-Australia’s efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef.
Full story: http://www.theaureview.com/lifestyle/news/ben-jerrys-openair-cinemas-ret...
MOONLIGHT CINEMA ANNOUNCES FEBRUARY LINE UP (SYDNEY)
It’s summer, which means that it’s time to pack a picnic, get a glass of wine, and relax underneath the stars and watch some of your favourite flicks. That’s right, Moonlight Cinema is back in most cities from December 11 – March 29.
Feel like glamming up? Spoil yourself and grab the Gold Grass package – with reserved bean beds in an optimum viewing location and wait service, your viewing experience won’t be disrupted at all. Forgot your picnic? LA style food trucks are here to help your rumbling stomachs.
Feel like taking your pooch for a special date? You’ll be able to take them with you for The Doggie Night sessions on February 12 with Into The Woods and Taken 3.
Our picks are Boyhood (Feb 3), The Rocky Horror Picture Show (Feb 13), The Imitation Game (Feb 20) & Birdman (Feb 22).
Full story: http://iris.theaureview.com/2015/01/20/cool-down-on-hot-summer-nights-wi...
FRANKIE’S PIZZA VINYL FAIR (SYDNEY)
Head to Frankie’s Pizza on February 15 to experience one of the coolest events in Sydney. Frankie’s Viny Fair will feature a mass of stalls selling rare, collectible, vintage and modern vinyls. There’ll be records to suit everyone. Between 6pm and 8pm, Frankie’s are turning their speakers over to you and will let the audience play some of their favourite albums. Head to frankiespizzabytheslice.com to find out more.
When: February 15, From midday onwards
Where: 50 Hunter Street
WHERE TO WATCH THE AUSTRALIAN OPEN (MELBOURNE)
If you can’t head to the Australain Open in person, the next best thing is to watch it somewhere comfortable, friendly and welcoming. Canadian Club is teaming up with the venues Holliava, Transport, Beer DeLuxe, European Bier Café and Campari House to help those who can’t see the Open live still enjoy themselves.
When: January 19 – February 1
Where: Holliava: 36 Swan St, Cremorne, http://holliava.com.au/
Transport: Swanston St 2, Melbourne, http://www.transporthotel.com.au/
Beer Deluxe: Federation Square, Melbourne, http://www.beerdeluxe.com.au/
European Bier Café: 120 Exhibition St, Melbourne, http://www.europeanbiercafe.com.au/
Campari House: 23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne, http://www.camparihouse.com.au/
AUSTRALIAN TATTOO CONVENTION (BRISBANE)
Bringing together some of the best Australian and international tattoo artists, the inaugural Australian Tattoo Convention will make its debut in Queensland at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank from March 20 to March 22. Alongside the impressive line-up of tattoo artists, the Australian Tattoo Convention will feature some of the industry’s leading products and services as well as hundreds of exhibitors selling tattoo-culture wares from the latest fashion and accessories to original artworks and skincare. Tickets are available from www.tattooshow.com.au, via phone 02 9452 7575 or on the door.
When: March 20 – March 22
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank
LOVER – JUMBLE SALE (SYDNEY)
LOVER is holding a huge Jumble Sale on January 22 and January 23 at the Paddington RSL in Sydney. The sale will be on up to 70 per cent off past collections, archived pieces, swimwear and one-off samples. Head along to make your wardrobe on point without breaking the budget.
When: January 22, 11am – 8pm; January 23, 11am – 2pm
Where: Paddington RSL, Sydney