In part 2: The ArgyleXchange Festival starts its month long run, we take a look at The Crab Carnival, the culture festival Semi-Permanent releases its headliners, ASOS Africa gets launched, and so much more.
FOOD
THE ARGYLEXCHANGE FESTIVAL
From March 4 to March 31, The ArgyleXchange Festival will play host to nine fresh events across four extraordinary venues, in one unique space. Located in the heart of The Rocks Sydney the festival is celebrating The Argyle, Saké Restaurant & Bar, The Cut Bar & Grill, and Ananas Bar & Brasserie - each with its own unique identity and food offering. Three of Sydney’s most acclaimed chefs Paul McGrath, Shaun Presland and Grant Croft have joined forces to design and curate a menu combining quality food, drink and entertainment. For a full list of the culinary events on offer, and for booking info, head to http://www.argylexchange.com.au/
Events include: Harajuku Nights Pop-Up Bar (Friday 14 March; Free Entry<) with Harajuku girls delivering Izakaya dishes and drinks with a twist (including a Wasabi Roulette creation); Scotch & Steak night (Tuesday 18 March; $99 per person) at The Cut Bar & Grill for a night of food, wine, and education; Chef's Table Series: Chef's Feast (Tuesday 25 March; $99 per person) with Grant Croft, head chef of The Cut Bar & Grill; and The Last Truffle Dinner (Thursday 20 March; $120 per person; $200 for matching wines) at Ananas Bar & Brasserie for an exquisite 8-course truffle degustation.
MEAT FREE WEEK
It’s just two weeks to go until Australia’s annual Meat Free Week, which returns bigger and better from March 24-30. The national week is dedicated to raising awareness of the amount of meat Australians eat and the impact it has on human health, the environment and the welfare of animals. Australia is ranked in the top three biggest meat-eating countries in the world. This consumption compromises our health, and with global meat production predicted to double within six years, it also raises serious concerns about long-term sustainability and animal welfare. Participants of Meat Free Week are sponsored to go without meat, including seafood, for seven days in order to raise funds for charity. For more details visit www.meatfreeweek.org
FRESH FODDER EASTER
Put down the chocolate and ship in the seafood… it’s time for Easter celebrations and Fresh Fodderhave the perfect recipe. With another holiday on the calendar, Fresh Fodder gives hosts’ the reason to boast – let their fresh and flavoursome range of dips, antipasto, salads and sauces sing for themselves. Leading the pack for Easter is their famous Taramosalata. Keeping in the fish focused tradition of Good Friday, this classic, red caviar dip is made using cod roe and is gluten, dairy AND preservative free – so it’s a big hit, even among the fussiest of guests. The Fresh Fodder range is available at independent retailers and delis in NSW , Queensland, Victoria and Western and Prices start at just $4.50ea for 200g dips.
DINE ON US
King Street Wharf is pleased to announce that in celebration of Taste of Sydney it will be giving guests the chance to win 1 of 3 dining experiences worth over $1,400! 'Dine on Us' entitles each of the three winners a voucher at King Street Wharf every month for a year. To win all you have to do is head to the King Street Wharf stall at Taste, located at stands 10 and 11 at the festival. Taste of Sydney is on at Centennial Park in Sydney from March 13 - 16.
THE CRAB CARNIVAL
Sydneysiders will be able to get their ultimate crab fix when The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room launches its inaugural Crab Carnival on Tuesday April 1 - 13. The fortnight of festivities include a host of fun events, fantastic offers. There will be crab races, a crab eating contest, $5 crab tacos and a multitude of crab menu specials. For full details, check out http://themorrison.com.au/crab-carnival
BOB MARLEY CHOWDOWN
Queenies celebrates all things Tuff Gong with its second annual Bob Marley Chowdown on March 13. A Marley inspired set menu that floats around the Carribean will be served, and vego options (Bob was Rasta Vegan after all) are also on offer. Drinks specials all night and there is a Marley only soundtrack for the evening. Check out the menu (rego and vego) on their facebook, https://www.facebook.com/queeniesjerk
AUSTRALIA’S LARGEST BBQ COMPETITION
This month, balmy Port Macquarie will play host to Australia's largest barbeque competition to date. The competition has attracted national attention with teams from all over the country gathering to cook in the trend of the moment, thr 'low and slow' or 'smokers' style barbeque. A movement which is gaining huge momentum with fans of the method grilling meats 'tailgate' and backyard 'bootleg' style, with not a sniff of gas in sight. It's set to be an unreal couple of days with the country's biggest barbeque enthusiasts joining some big hitters on the scene on March 28 for the actual comp, with the popular Southside Smokers from Melbourne being the team to beat. For more details, visit www.bluesandbbq.com.au
CAKE BAKE & SWEETS SHOW
The inaugural Cake Bake & Sweets Show is set to take Sydney by storm this March, with international baking talent such as Adriano Zumbo, Duff Goldman, Eric Lanlard, and so many more cooking superstars attending the event. There will be exquisite and awe-inspiring displays of cake artistry around the event as well as a Wedding Cake catwalk for some bridal inspiration. Live demonstrations will be happening throughout the 3-day event as well as master classes and workshops for those with a true dedication and passion for baking. The show runs March 21-23, and tickets are available from www.cakebakeandsweets.com
GÖZ CITY
Göz City is the first specialty gözleme cafe in Australia. Small yet confident, it’s a welcome addition to the business end of the city. Göz City is unlike any other Turkish food experience, combining the age-old gözleme tradition with a distinctly modern aesthetic and attitude. Headed up by Taylan Aksoy, the Göz City team are göz experts of Turkish heritage. Göz City is located on Little Collins Street in the Melbourne CBD.
DRINKS
JUNIPER SOCIETY AT THE ROOK
Angus Winchester, the global brand ambassador for The House of Tanqueray, is joining forces with the team at The Rook to bring you a gin drinking session like no other. Tanqueray London Dry Gin is said to be the Rolls Royce of gins, and a marker for measuring quality. This special gathering of the Gin Club is being held March 10 , and will certainly be a milestone in the club’s history.
SPICE THURSDAYS
With the shifting sands and massive changes happening at The Spice Cellarincluding the fresh juice bar and "SPICE Blocks", an exciting new weekly club night has emerged. Launching March 6, SPICE Thursday aims to bring you underground house and techno to satisfy your midweek cravings and urge to hit the dance floor. From 10pm till late, each week there is a different flavour with some of the best in the business on rotation including Mantra Collective, Parkside, EK Collective and Airspace.
BARCARDI LEGACY COCKTAIL COMPETITION
Bacardi is proud to announce Australia’s first ever Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Winner, Fred Siggings from The Black Pearl, VIC. Siggins will be Australia’s inaugural representative, competing at the International Final in Moscow during May. The winner of that Competition will be nurtured and championed by BACARDÍ to develop as a bar professional and spread their drink across the top cocktail lists around the world. Siggins presented The Empire of Dreams, his BACARDÍ Legacy drink, together with an Original BACARDÍ Daiquiri to a panel of three judges on the night to claim his place in the International Final and was scored on his technical ability, his drink’s taste and aroma balance and the inspiration behind it. The Empire of Dreams reciple is:
50ml BACARDÍ Superior rum
30ml Fresh pineapple juice
10ml Apricot Brandy (Joseph Catron used)
10ml Fresh lime juice
5ml Orgeat Syrup (Crawley's used)
15 Espresso beans
NEWTOWN HOTEL CIDER FAIR
The Newtown Hotel has announced it will host a one day Cider Fair on April 5. Cementing its position as the inner-west’s ‘home of cider’, the Newtown Hotel Cider Fair will feature 25 different ciders in a range of flavours for guests to enjoy on the day. Makers from popular cider brands such as Bilpin, Batlow, Kirin, Hills Cider, Kopparberg, Dirty Granny and locals, Young Henry’s will also be on hand to meet and greet customers and offer tastings of their delicious brews. Newtown Hotel’s Cider Yard will be transformed into a fair ground of sorts, with all makers taking up residence in the small stalls situated around the cider tree. Ciders will be served in small tasting glasses to ensure you can sample many of the great flavours on offer.
FASHION & CULTURE
ROUND SHE GOES FASHION MARKET
The Round She Goes Fashion Market is part of this month’s Virgin Australia Melbourne Fashion Festival’s Cultural Program. The market is set up by the brand Round She Goes and features over 60 stallholders. It will be held on March 23 at 90 Bell Street in Coburg Victoria. It’s open from 10am to 3pm, and entry costs $2. The stallholders are a mix of professional sellers as well as women having a wardrobe clear out. The preloved labels the stallholders are selling range from high-end such as Chanel and Prada right through to high street labels such as sass & bide or Sportsgirl.
JAMES COURTNEY CLIPSAL 500
With the band back together James Courtney put the Holden Racing Team in the winner's circle in another epic Clipsal 500 Adelaide on the mad South Australian streets last week. Courtney swiped his former team manager from Red Bull Racing Australia at the end of last year and it was ironic that his victory today came with a red hot Craig Lowndes exerting maximum pressure. He also returned from the savage crash that he had at Phillip Island last November where he smashed a leg, then endured a two-month rehabilitation program over Christmas. This has been Courtney’s first win in Adelaide
CEO SLEEPOUT
Business in Heels is about giving back and helping others. Their on-going work with Sanfilippo Childrens Foundation is a testament to that, and now their CEO, Jac Bowie, is taking part with Vinnies CEO Sleepout on Thursday June 19. Sleeping rough on one of the coldest nights of the year to raise money and awareness for Australia's homeless. All money raised will go towards helping Australia's estimated 100,000 homeless men, women and children to find the warmth, safety and dignity that they desperately deserve. To support Jac, check out http://www.ceosleepout.org.au/ceos/nsw-ceos/jacbowie
Iconic British fashion and lifestyle magazine i-D announce plans to launch its reimagined online presence i-D.co in Australia and New Zealand. The innovative, video-driven site debuted in the US and UK in November last year, showcasing editorial that is shaping the future of digital fashion experience and content creation like no other title. i-D Australia will follow in the tradition of profiling the most captivating personalities in fashion and culture; examining the intersection of fashion and music, film and design; and championing up-and-coming talent and emerging trends in our part of the world. Visit i-D.co to see for yourself.
NRL MEMBER’S ROUND
The NRL will celebrate the game’s members by officially naming Round Two of the NRL Telstra Premiership Members Round, (March 14-17). Club celebrations will take place on the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and New Zealand and include cocktail parties, player meets and member’s only functions. The Sea Eagles, Broncos, Warriors, Storm, Roosters, Titans, Knights and Bulldogs will proudly host a home-ground members guard of honour, invite one of their key members to do the official coin toss and a member will run the ball out prior to kick off.
ASOS AFRICA
The long awaited ASOS AFRICA collection has just launched. Inspired by traditional African occasion wear, the collection boasts authentic African lace with sheer black organza over lays - all sourced and produced in Nigeria. ASOS Africa aims to help growth and empowerment in Africa, encouraging artisans and community groups as well as larger producers across the continent.
SEMI-PERMANENT
Semi-Permanent, the world’s most inspiring design event, is evolving into a festival of art, design & creativity. The 2014 Sydney lineup of speakers will include Skateboarding legend Tony Hawk, discussing the building of the Hawk brand with long-time friend and collaborator, former Australian skateboarding champion, Corbin Harris. Controversial artist Mr Brainwash will discuss his relationship with Banksy and how he has progressed as an artist since the Exit Through the Gift Shop documentary. These big names will headline alongside creative icons from across the world. Semi-Permanent will be hosted at the Carriageworks, Eveleigh, Sydney and will run May 22 – 24. For full details, check out www.semipermanent.com
TRAVEL
OLD IRISH SYDNEY
Old Irish Sydney, a new self-guided walking tour app, will go live on March 13. The app highlights Sydney's rich Irish heritage. The app content has been compiled by staff at the Dictionary of Sydney, with the assistance of a group of local Irish and Irish-Australian historians. The tours contain over 40 images, bot historical and contemporary, and 13 audio recordings written and narrated by local Irish actors. The tour can be walked in 1 hour or broken into two half an hour walks. Each tour is simple to follow with a GPS-enabled map of the route and its stops. Detailed text, audio commentary and stunning historical imagery reveal the stories of the Irish characters, events and architecture that have transformed the city of Sydney. The free app will be available for both Apple and Android device upon launch.