Welcome to the weekly Food & Lifestyle News! In this weeks edition: Busabout Europe, Food ingredients India, Mad Mex Big Burrito, Gurrumul's biography, Art Battles, Gochi Japanese, new music grants in SA and more...
DISCOVER EUROPE WITH BUSABOUT
This month, Busabout (www.busabout.com) kicked off its 2013 season running from May to October – taking travellers around Europe on a flexible hop-on, hop-off loop. Now in its 15th season, Busabout has found that over the years too many travellers fall into the trap of only visiting those ‘typical European cities’ such as Paris, Barcelona and Amsterdam, and don’t experience lesser known European cities that offer amazing sights, attractions and culture. Busabout includes 33 destinations, including Wildschonau Valley, Austria; Dresden, Germany; Cesky Krumlov, Czech Republic; Siena, Italy; Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland and Avignon, France. Busabout offers a range of hop-on hop-off routes starting from $589 per person (with student discounts available). For more information visit www.busabout.com.
THE 5TH ANNUAL INDEPENDENT GAMES FESTIVAL SUBMISSIONS
The 5th Annual Independent Games Festival (IGF China 2013) now is calling for submissions! All independent game developers in the Pan-Pacific Area are invited to join the event. IGF China seeks out the most talented independent game developers and amazing designs each year, attracting game p[layers, manufacturings, investors and putting game developers in contact with each other. The submission deadline is July 19th this year, with six major awards on offer. Learn more at www.gdcchina.cn/events/igfrules
HISTORIC LYON HOTEL RE-LAUNCHES AS CHIC MGALLERY
One of France’s most historic hotels, the Hotel Carlton Lyon, has re-opened and is now part of Accor’s MGallery Collection (a collection of nearly 60 high-end hotels). Lyon is just over two hours south west of Paris, known over the centuries for its fine chefs and close proximity to France’s best know wine growing regions: Beaujolais and Cotes du Rhone. The Hotel Carlton Lyon was built in 1894 and the rooms have been renamed to pay tribute to celebrities who have stayed there such as Patrick Chesnais and Laurent Terzieff. A visit on 8 December will enable tourists to see Lyon’s famous light festival, Fête des Lumières. Hotel Carlton rates start from Euro160 per night. For more information or to book, visit www.mgallery.com
FOOD INGREDIENTS INDIA
With the third largest economy in the world, India is the new hotspot for sourcing food ingredients and Food ingredients (Fi) India is providing a global portfolio extending from the iconic Fi India tradeshow to online platforms, magazine publications and high-level industry specific conferences. In October 2013, India will play host to this fully dedicated food ingredients show and Fi India have worked intrinsically to gather hundreds of the leading food ingredient suppliers plus around 6,000 visitors and industry professionals. The Food ingredients portfolio hosts the world’s leading food, natural and health ingredients trade shows. For more information, visit www.foodingredientsglobal.com
FOXTEL’S STUDIO CHANNEL
Foxtel’s arts and entertainment channel STUDIO was relaunched on May 1. It’s return was heralded with a provocative Kings Cross billboard with a shot from controversial Black Mirror, a controversial UK series which will air on the channel in June. The new campaign of ‘WTF!’ could stand for anything from Watch The Forbidden to Watch The Flaunting, with the channel focusing on programs that are provocative and engaging.
THE MAD MEX BIG BURRITO IS BACK
The Mad Mex Big Burrito is back, a burrito made with twice the amount of fresh ingredients as the standard serve, weighing in at a hefty 1kg! Def‘EAT’ the Big Burrito ($22) and choose your very own Mexican wrestling mask from a collection of 9 authentic designs until May 31.
CHANNEL [V] BRINGS YOU THE 2013 BILLBOARD MUSIC AWARDS LIVE
Australian viewers will be able to watch the 2013 Billboard Music Awards LIVE this year with the ceremony to be broadcast exclusively on Channel [V], Monday May 20 at 10am EST, Express from the US. These awards celebrate the most successful artists in America over the past twelve months. It will be hosted by Tracy Morgan (30 Rock, Saturday Night Live), with performers such as Justin Bieber (pictured), Taylor Swift and Bruno Mars. Catch the 2013 Billboard Awards live on Channel [V], Monday May 20 at 10am EST. There will be encore screenings on the same day at 4pm and 9pm.
PEPPERS ‘WINE WARS’
The Peppers Gourmet Food Trail (launched in August 2012) continues down Australia’s east coast with a new ‘Wine Wars’ series of events promoting healthy regional rivalry. ‘Wine Wars’ is a light-hearted series of events bringing ‘rival’ winemakers together to compete at select Peppers retreats and resorts. Guests are asked to vote on their favourite wine for each course served and at the end of the evening, the winning ‘Wine Wars’ winemaker will be revealed. ‘Wine Wars’ events yet to come are in Peppers Guest House Hunter Valley NSW, Peppers Salt Resort & Spa Kingscliff NSW, Peppers Craigieburn, Bowral, Southern Highlands NSW and Peppers Beach Club & Spa, Palm Cove, QLD. To attend the nearest ‘Wine Wars’ near you this coming June, head to www.peppers.com.au/food/winewars-list-of-events/.
ASOS MAGAZINE JUNE ISSUE
The June issue of the ASOS Magazine features breakout band HAIM, made up of sisters Alana, Danielle and Este. They have played at South by South West festival, have been signed to Polydor Records and have supported the likes of Mumford & Sons and Florence & the Machine. HAIM's Fashion Up issue is available to download today from the ASOS Fashion up free app. (photo courtesy of ASOS Magazine and the photographer Michael Hauptman.)
GURRUMUL: HIS LIFE AND MUSIC BIOGRAPHY
Award-winning biographer Robert Hillman reveals the story and inspirations behind Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu's international success and fame in his illustrated biography of the musician. The book features previously unpublished images and also includes an exclusive CD of remixed songs from his bestselling albums Gurrumul and Rrakala.
STYLE YOUR HOME WITH CUSTOM CANVAS PRINTS
ArtWorldPod.com is the new custom artwork website from Melbourne-based Chamton Group, a leading manufacturer in the art & picture framing industry. Launching on 17 June, the website provides exclusive photography from iconic landscape photographer Ken Duncan, as well as thousands of other images including AFL team memorabilia, nature & flora, cityscapes and vintage designs. Buyers can customise the size of all artwork to suit their needs, with image reproduction available on both paper and canvas prints. The ink life rated at 100 years in the right conditions. Prices for all items range between $32-$300. The full selection is now available at www.artworldpod.com
THURSDAY NIGHTS AT THE SPICE CELLAR (Sydney)
Each Thursday from 7pm acoustic music of various styles will be featured at the Spice Cellar. The Spice Cellar is inspired by tapas eateries in Barcelona, cocktail bars in Amsterdam and nightclubs in Berlin and is a great space for late night dining and entertainment, with the Spic kitchen open until midnight.
‘A TASTE OF’ AT CAFE OPERA (Sydney)
The second A Taste Of menu in the series has just launched at InterContinental Sydney’s Café Opera. A Taste of WA with Marron Crayfish will feature from May 6 – 26, a celebration of crayfish sourced from Western Australia. Guests will enjoy a four-course degustation dinner at the hotel’s market-style restaurant, a gourmet experience based on local Australian produce. It costs $85 per person or $115 per person with matching wines. Bookings are essential, so head to www.interconsydney.com.au.
WORLD COCKTAIL DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE MORRISON (Sydney)
World Cocktail Day took place on Monday 13 May and to celebrate, The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room is offering three stellar cocktails with matching canapés for $50 per person, available for the entire week (13 – 19 May). As a nod to its New York style brasserie roots, The Morrison Bar & Oyster Room has created a cocktail menu of the Big Apple's classics.
SEASONAL MENUS LAUNCH AT SONOMA (Sydney)
Following the recent announcement of Alex Herbert (Bird Cow Fish) and Jared Ingersoll (Dank St Depot & Cotton Duck) joining Sonoma Artisan Bakers earlier this month, Ingersoll has developed a sensational seasonal menu which is now available across all six Sonoma Cafes in Sydney. The winter warmer menu uses the freshest and best quality local produce, with eah dish specifically designed to showcase the Sonoma signature loaves. Breakfast items include the Polenta porridge with rhubarb ($10); the Cress, parsley salad, slow cooked eggs & Sonoma Country White ($14); and the scrumptious Bacon Tartine ($15). Lunch includes Soup Boule ($12) and hot smoked King Salmon ($12).
PERFORMANCE SPACE PRESENTS SHOW OFF (Sydney)
Between 20 June and 17 July, Performance Space presents SHOW OFF, a season of all Australian-made performances at Carriageworks and Blacktown Arts Centre, in partnership with Mobile States touring. In SHOW OFF The River Eats (Carriangeworks); participate in the live filming of the interactive cop show BINGO Unit (Carriageworks) by Team MESS; catch the much-anticipated return of the Sydney Festival / Belvoir boxing hit I’m Your Man (Carriageworks); and see the powerful contemporary Indonesian music and dance show, Opal Vapour at Blacktown Arts Centre.
Tickets start from $20 for concession and $30 for full price, for more info head to www.performancespace.com.au
JULIAN ASSANGE ANNOUNCED AS SPECIAL KEYNOTE AT ISEA2013 CONFERENCE (Sydney)
Julian Assange will present a keynote speech at the International Symposium on Electronic Arts (ISEA2013), presented by the Australian Network for Art and Technology (ANAT), focusing on the conference theme ‘Resistance is futile’. This will be through a live video link from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, shown at the University of Sydney on Thursday 13 June at 5:30pm. ISEA 2013 will showcase the best media artworks and future-focused ideas from Sydney from 7-16 June. For full program details visit www.isea2013.org
AUSTRALIAN GARDEN SHOW SYDNEY LAUNCHES PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, has announced the launch of the Australian Garden Show Sydney, in Sydney's Centennial Park, which will herald the start of the floral and garden shows that take place each year throughout NSW. The show will take place 5-8 September and is designed to create an entertaining and educational experience for visitors. It will feature a grand floral pavilion, retail displays, a potting tent for children and a plant crèche where purchases can be safely stored. By night the area will transform into a lounge bar. Tickets and further program information is available at: www.australiangardenshowsydney.com.au
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE RELEASES FOOD AND BEVERAGE OUTLETS TO PUBLIC TENDER
The Opera House today released the first of its food and beverage outlets to public tender as part of an 18-month process that will continue into next year.
Currently, all of the Opera House’s food an beverage outlets are operate by third parties under contract, but these contracts expire in the first half of 2014. The Opera House has released its first request for tender for the Bennlong restaurant. The Opera House today released the first of its food and beverage outlets to public tender as part of an 18-month process that will continue into next year.
More information can be found on the Opera House food and beverage tender microsite sydneyoperahouse.com/foodandbeveragetenders
YEBISU IZAKAYA OPENS IN SYDNEY’S J-VILLAGE
Yebisu, Sydney's funkiest new izakaya bar and restaurant, has opened in Sydney’s ‘J-Village’, the revitalised Regent Place, George Street, opposite Sydney Town Hall. Izakaya dining is fast becoming the go-to way of eating in Sydney with Yebisu’s extensive menu covering yakitori and other grill items as well as a huge roster of other Japanese classic hits such as sushi, sashimi, hot pots, noodles and fried dishes. Yebisu also offers diners a fully integrated iPad ordering system with each table featuring its own iPad menu for customers to browse and order from. This system allows diners to see what stage their order is at and have constant access to a running list of what food and drink has been ordered and a total cost of the bill. Yebisu Izakaya is open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
ART BATTLES AUSTRALIA CROWNS WINNER OF 2013 'THE QUAY SERIES' (Sydney)
Art Battles Australia ‘The Quay Series’ held its finals over Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th May 2013 at Circular Quay. The 2 day finale ran in conjunction with Tiger Beer’s Street Football tournaments, creating a collaboration of music, art and sport. Twelve artists came together at Circular Quay on Saturday to battle it out in three semi-final rounds. Artists had 90 minutes to complete an artwork with the theme ‘Concrete Jungle’ on oversized canvases. Artists Lee McConnell, INDO, Caryn Griffin, Ken Tucker and Sam Paine made it through to the Grand Final on Sunday and with the new theme ‘Where You Would Rather Be’, artists created another live artwork. Lee McDonnell Mambo artist took out the first prize, winning an all expenses paid trip to Vietnam. For more information visit: www.namethisbar.com.au & www.artbattles.com.au
THE AUSTRALIAN HOTEL MEAT TRAY RAFFLES (Sydney)
Every Friday night 5-7pm at The Australian Hotel in The Rocks, you can try your luck in a meat tray raffle. Meat trays and exotic fruit baskets can be won, and you’ll be supporting local charities at the same time! Head to australianheritagehotel.com for more info.
ROUND SHE GOES PRELOVED FASHION MARKET (Sydney)
Round She Goes is a pop up fashion market event just for women, first started in Melbourne in 2008 and will hit Sydney on Saturday 18 May. The indoor market is devoted entirely to women’s preloved fashion and will be held at the Marrickville Town Hall in Marrickville from 10am-3pm. It will only cost you $2 to enter and browse 60 stalls of preloved designer fashion and vintage clothing.
MAD MEX CROWN STREET RE-OPENING (Sydney)
Mad Mex Crown Street have reopend and are celebrating by giving away free bottles of Dos Equis lager with any main meal purchase from 5pm – 7pm Friday 17th and Saturday 18th May. They only have 250 free bottles to give away each night, so you better get there quick!
CORNERSTONE BAR & FOOD AT CARRIAGEWORKS (Sydney)
Fresh Catering has officially opened Cornerstone Bar & Food at Carriageworks, unveiling their newest urban dining establishment for theatre patrons and locals. In keeping with the quirky contemporary nature of its home at Redfern’s multi-arts institution, Carriageworks, the new bar and dining venue promises to be that little bit different with its mix of gritty industrial aesthetics combined with new life features. The bar and food offering continues the theme with a comprehensive line up of locally crafted beer and coffee by local suppliers such as Young Henrys Beer and Little Marionette coffee.
DESSERT DEGUSTATION AT GLASS WINE BAR (Sydney)
On Tuesday 21 May at 6:30pm, glass wine bar at Hilton Sydney is presenting its dessert degustation, with dishes never before seen on glass brasserie’s dessert menus. The degustation will progress from light and fruity to more heavier and rich desserts using both sweet and savoury components. The menu features a selection of refined ingredients that will showcase a marriage of unique and delicate flavours, contrasting textures and spins on conventional classics. It will cost $75.00 per person including five-course menu. Reservations are essential, call 02 9265 6068 or email eat@glassbrasserie.com.au
DUNBAR HOUSE WINTER DINNERS (Sydney)
Dunbar House, normally open only for private functions, and day dining, will open its doors to host four exclusive “winter dinners” in June, on Friday 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th of June. Additionally, on Saturday, June 15th the venue will light up as it brings guests a one-night-only Portugese Fado evening. The winter dinners following the successful ‘Summer Nights’ dinner series, and will include a full menu of seasonally inspired dishes. Dunbar House is located at 9 Marine Parade, Watsons Bay, and is easily accessible by car or ferry to Watsons Bay Wharf. Reservations are now open for these exclusive winter evenings by calling (02) 9337 1226 or contacting info@dunbarhouse.com.au
BEI AMICI’S CURLY FLAT WINE DINNER (Sydney)
Bei Amici in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs is hosting a Curly Flat Wine Dinner with Phillip Moraghan on Sunday 2 June. Renowned Australian winemaker Phillip Moraghan will raid his cellars to showcase nine of his Curly Flat range alongside a set menu devised by Chef Felix Rutz. It will set you back $125 pp for four courses and matching wines.
GOCHI JAPANESE (Melbourne)
Gochi, Crown's new Japanese Izakaya has now opened. In Japanese Gochi means 'small feast' or 'small meal'. At Crown this translates to favourite dishes such as karaage, (soy and sake marinated fried chicken, $7.50), tekka maki (tuna, $4.10) and spider (tempura soft shell crab,$7.10) sushi rolls. Running the open kitchen are two former Nobu Melbourne chefs, Juntaro Fujimura and Heejon Jung. Gochi is located opposite Giuseppe, Arnaldo & Sons and is open 11am- 11pm Sunday- Thursday and 11am- 1am on Friday and Saturday. Head to crownmelbourne.com.au/gochi for more info.
CONTEMPORARY MUSIC GRANTS (SA)
Almost $60, 000 in grants has been awarded to local musicicans and organisations to record and promote music as part of the State Government’s Contemporary Music Funding Program. Musicians such as Frank Yamma, Kelly Menhennett (pictured), band Sincerely, Grizzly, local business 5/4 Entertainment and Gorgeous Festival are a few who have received grants this year.