Booze

Bar Fly: The Barber Shop

The font on this seems all wrong, not ye olde English enough, like the heading of The Barber Shop beverage list. The Barber Shop is a gin joint with an extensive international craft list and vintage gin collection.

Wed April 23rd, 2014

Botany View Hotel

The front bar of Newtown’s Botany View Hotel felt a bit like a scene from Cheers. For the locals, it’s clearly a place where everybody knows your name. Drink specials abound: from ten-buck Aperol Spritzes “all day every day”, to twelve-buck jugs of mainstream beers, or a bottled selection of craftier options.

Wed April 23rd, 2014

Food News – The Rocks Vintage Dinner

With drizzly weather predicted The Rocks Vintage Dinner took place under a gorgeously intimate, street-length fabric marquee. Seated at the long, beautifully adorned communal table between seasoned attendees and enthusiastic, young newcomers,

Wed April 16th, 2014

Woodland Kitchen & Bar

You met him at Pony Dining, but now Chef Damian Heads is riding his own horse. Taking over the Neutral Bay Pony outpost, he’s created his own remarkably unpretentious bistro, despite the fancy Matthew Darwon fit-out featuring five kilometres of wood!

Wed April 16th, 2014

Le Pub Balmain

As I got stuck into an excellent crusty French-bread take on Sydney’s obsession with miniaturisation - Le Petit Dog ($6) with lamb shoulder, lime labne, green chilli jam and coriander - the ladies at the next table mused: “I guess if I order a Grilled Chicken Salad ($18), I won’t feel so bad about the wine.”

Wed April 9th, 2014

Café Del Mar

A gently melodic tinkle heralds the arrival of Restaurant Manager Jessica Mead, wafting across the floor in a bright Camilla Franks kaftan. Her welcoming smile and down-to-earth nature suits this little slice of Ibiza, pitched to become the crowning jewel of Darling Harbour.

Wed April 9th, 2014

Food News – Moutai

Last week I joined a select group of people from Richard Nixon to Jackie Chan, who have been afforded the opportunity to drink Moutai. While their experiences probably came at Chinese feasts with foreign heads of state or distinguished guests, mine was at the launch of Kweichou Moutai.

Wed April 9th, 2014

Bar Fly: Fiore Cafe & Bar

Today the Tozzi name might be better known as one of the judges on Australia's Next Top Model. Yet Tozzi the father has a long history in the Sydney food café and club scene. When Nicola Tozzi arrived in Sydney, he opened thriving Italian venue Caffe Roma, which still operates today after almost 27 years.

Wed April 9th, 2014

Toxteth Hotel

“I am a chef and cannot keep calm,” is printed on a nicely thematic union jack affixed to the kitchen. By contrast though, the men inside the glass box are deadly silent, moving like a well-oiled machine.

Wed April 9th, 2014

Wagyu House

Ten minutes outside the Inner West, a circus tent of lighting alerts you to this Korean mecca of meat. Pull your vehicle directly into what appears to be the centre of the restaurant; get met immediately by a smiling waiter.

Wed April 2nd, 2014