The Australia Times

ULTIMATE FOOTY KICK-OFF AT RIVERLAND BAR ON YARRA RIVER

3 November 202215 March 2018 by Connie Lambeth

The season Melburnians have all been waiting for is about to begin with the Ultimate Footy Kick- Off Party at Riverland Bar on the Yarra River. The longing void we’ve all been feeling will finally be filled with the 2018 AFL season just a bounce away, and because Riverland loves footy just as much as … Read more

Bar Patrón by Rockpool Brings Innovative Mexican Dining Experience to Sydney

12 September 20225 March 2018 by Connie Lambeth

Bar Patrón by Rockpool opens to public Thursday 8th March from 5.30pm

Rockpool Dining Group and Patrón Tequila have collaborated in an innovative concept to bring a sophisticated, modern Mexican restaurant and bar to Sydney’s iconic Circular Quay.

Bar Patrón by Rockpool is the latest establishment in the Rockpool Dining Group portfolio, with ultra-premium tequila producer Patrón curating a bespoke spirits collection, including exclusive and special edition tequilas, for this stunning destination.

Opening with an exclusive launch party on Wednesday, 7 March, and welcoming the dining public from 5:30pm on Thursday, 8 March, Bar Patrón by Rockpool combines authentic Mexican flavours, the finest Australian produce and the world’s highest quality, artisanal tequila and tequila-based cocktails by Patrón.

Rockpool Dining Group Culinary Director Neil Perry oversees a menu of quintessential Mexican favourites, which are bold in flavour and approachable in price. Lunch, dinner, pre-theatre and late-night dining options include snacks such as empanadas, tamales, quesadillas and tacos; soups and small plates of esquites and tostadas; tortas and traditional sandwiches; and larger plates of enchiladas, enmolada con pollo and shared taco platters. A delightful range of pastries and desserts are hand-made on site daily.

Grant Cheyne’s breathtaking interior design delivers hints of elegant Mexican haciendas, Caribbean and Creole bungalows and sub-tropical Queenslander timber homes. A simple white palette is complemented with lush greenery and soft Italian leather upholstery in warm orange and red tones. Retro bronze and glass light fittings, and some antique furnishings, add to the residential and colonial vibe.

Diners can sit at intimate or larger tables, as well as a huge, window-side Carrara marble bar that offers magnificent views of Circular Quay and the Harbour Bridge.

Keeping with the theme of the concept, Patrón is the exclusive tequila on the drinks menu. A core range of Silver, Reposado and Añejo tequila is enhanced by the Roca Patrón and Gran Patrón luxury collections. Five limited and numbered barrel select tequilas have been distilled exclusively for Bar Patrón by Rockpool.

The menu also features the rare Patrón en Lalique Serie 1 and 2. There are just 500 bottles of Lalique Serie 1 worldwide and only 299 bottles of Lalique Serie 2. Each limited-edition crystal decanter costs over AU$10,000.

A signature Margarita is available with Silver, Roca or Platinum tequila, while high flyers may indulge in a ‘Millionaire Margarita’, which is custom-made tableside and features Gran Patrón Platinum tequila, freshly squeezed citrus juice and a salt and sugar-laced rim.

Cocktails deliver a refreshing take on classic Mexican drinks, such as the Paloma, Cantarito and Ponche de Granada. The wine list is focused on the Iberian Peninsula, including Spain and Portugal, as well as classic wine regions such as Argentina, Chile and the United States. Australian wines feature strongly, as does Champagne.

A revolving line-up of DJs from Thursday to Saturday combine with mixology, cocktails and exquisite food to create a sophisticates’ playground that exudes the Mexican estilo de vida – or way of life: fun-filled, flavour-packed and effervescently charming.

Bar Patrón by Rockpool is an extraordinary private event space, accommodating up to 150 guests for cocktail gatherings, including a semi-private VIP area for up to 20 guests.

Address: 2 Phillip Street, Sydney, 2000

Telephone: 02 9259 5624

Opening hours: Monday-Sunday, midday-late

Website: www.barpatron.com.au

**Information & Images Courtesy of Bar Patrón by Rockpool/Rockpool Dining Group – Rachel Lebihan

Connie Lambeth

The Australia Times News

Editor GOURMET – Food/Wine/Events

theaustraliatimes.com/news

connie.lambeth@theaustraliatimes.com.au

Read on for more info…

Janet DeNeefe Brings Balinese Cooking to Melbourne for 2 Nights Only

14 September 202214 February 2018 by Connie Lambeth

Janet DeNeefe from Ubud’s Casa Luna Heads to Tolarno Eating House – Melbourne Melbourne expat Janet DeNeefe and proud owner of Ubud’s renowned Casa Luna, will be presenting her famous Balinese home-style cooking for a two-night feast at the historical Tolarno Eating House & Bar in St Kilda. The venue that is known for its … Read more

MELBOURNE’S ONLY CLUB APEROL

7 December 202217 January 2018 by Connie Lambeth

Everyone’s Favourite Citrusy Spritz! The summery good times keep rolling with the announcement of some exciting new pop-ups at two of Melbourne’s most popular venues – Riverland on the Yarra River and Bang Bang at the Rifle Club in Elsternwick. In a celebration of everyone’s favourite citrusy spritz, Melbourne’s only Club Aperol is now open … Read more

Christmas Fun at The Cliveden Bar and Dining from 15th December

27 November 202213 December 2017 by Connie Lambeth

The Cliveden Bar and Dining – Pullman Melbourne on the Park Who wants to save the fun of bons bons until Christmas Day? From Friday 15 December until Christmas Day, The Cliveden Bar & Dining will be playing Santa Claus, giving their restaurant customers a chance to win prizes including a Global Ballooning Australia hot … Read more

FRESH AND LOCAL AT SYDNEY’S BELLBIRD DINING + BAR

29 November 20227 December 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Bellbird Dining + Bar at the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre Review & Images by Daria Kill-Smith – Additional Images Supplied Concrete and steel. Industrial chic. The old Casula powerhouse, since converted to the Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre, the visual arts hub of Liverpool in Western Sydney, is home to the new Bellbird Dining + Bar. … Read more

QV Melbourne’s Wrap Party 6th to 22nd December

5 December 20226 December 2017 by Connie Lambeth

PARTY ON AT QV MELBOURNE’S WRAP / PARTY!

That’s a wrap: new-school carols, dance battles, The After Bar pop-up, free rides on the Christmas Carousel and more in an all-out end of year party at QV Melbourne.

As production closes on 2017, the crew at QV Melbourne are hosting a 17-day Wrap / Party to celebrate the year that was. The program of tinsel-tastic entertainment and events will take over iconic QV Square and surrounding laneways from 6-22 December.

Kicking off with a glitter-bomb-bang at 5pm on Wednesday 6 December, the Wrap / Party launch event will feature new-school carols performed by some of Melbourne’s best voices. Main stage entertainment comes from a range of dance groups including internationally acclaimed hip-hop crew Superhoodz (Australia’s Got Talent) and leading break-dancers BreakHoodz. Joining them are MiniHoodz and JnrHoodz (aged 5-12), busting out advanced hip-hop, funk and break dance moves.

Hip Hop Crew - SuperHoodz — Hip Hop Crew –
SuperHoodz

Be one of the first to snap the perfect ‘Carouselfie’ on the free Christmas Carousel, strike a pose at the spectacular Christmas balloon installation and sip on free cocktails at The After Bar, all while enjoying roving entertainment throughout QV Melbourne’s many laneways. Host Kate Meade (radio host and Victorian Dance Festival founder) will oversee proceedings at the launch event, ensuring the maximum level of fun is achieved.

In striking pastels and summery hues, QV Melbourne’s FREE Christmas Carousel isn’t just for kids. Hop on the Insta-worthy horses and circle the square to the tunes of the 80’s, 90’s and 00’s, with some Christmas classics thrown in for good measure. The Christmas Carousel is open from 12pm to 2pm and 4pm to 7pm daily. Take a much-needed pit-stop at The After Bar pop-up in QV Square, open 6 and 15 December from 5pm until late. The After Bar serves up FREE fruity and flirty cocktails and mocktails: the perfect pick-me-up after a long day of shopping cardio.

Kick up your sneakers on Friday 15 December when Wrap / Party gets large with an epic Dance Battle at 6.30pm, when Superhoodz go head to head with their mini-me companions, youth hip-hop group Minihoodz. Breakhoodz and JnrHoodz will also compete. Cheer your favourites with free cocktails from 5pm at The After Bar.

Hip Hop Junior Crew - MiniHoodz — Hip Hop Junior Crew – MiniHoodz

On Wednesday 20 December DJ Chango Phat (Victorian Champion, Australian Turntable Championships) will set the scene for the silly season, spinning tunes from 4pm until 8pm while Schnitz will pop up with a bar serving craft beers and wine, plus some free cheeky Schnitz chips.

Dress your dog in their festive best and bring them along for a complimentary Pooch-mas Photography session on Saturday 9 December and Saturday 16 December between 11am – 4pm. Assemble your squad and get snap-happy as the Christmas Balloon Selfie Station sets up shop in the QV Square from 10am – 8pm daily. Tag @QVMelbourne on 6 December for the chance to win an awesome prize from Harvey Norman.

Wrap / Party is the third installation in QV Melbourne’s Laneway Series: a seasonal program of eclectic outdoor events, festivals and activations in the QV Square and surrounding laneways.

What: QV Melbourne’s Wrap / Party: celebrating 2017 with a range of entertainment and events

Where: QV Square, Level 2, QV Melbourne, corner Swanston and Lonsdale Streets, Melbourne

When: Wednesday 6 December to Friday 22 December.

Times vary, visit qv.com.au for details.

**Information & Images Courtesy Of QV Melbourne/Fuller PR – Keshia Hutchens

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times News

Editor GOURMET – Food/Wine/Events

E: literallyconnie@gmail.com

E: connie.lambeth@theaustraliatimes.com.au

W: editorcsl.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatgourmetmag/

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‘The Memory of Water’ – Chapel Off Chapel Till Sunday 26th November

12 September 202220 November 2017 by Connie Lambeth

‘The Memory of Water’ now playing in Melbourne

Play Review

by Connie Lambeth

The tussles, drama and follies of life are brilliantly woven into the plot of ‘The Memory of Water’ by Shelagh Stephenson, playing till 26th November at Prahran’s Chapel off Chapel theatre.

This pacy, award-winning UK play centres around three sisters preparing for the funeral of their mother Vi. Within the tight confines of Vi’s bedroom, the escalating conflict of the estranged siblings plays out in this well-scripted family ‘drama’ laced with comedy and metaphors. The single room stage setting ensures audience attention is focused on the characters within. Thrust together at the death of their mother, old grievances give way to protracted disagreements and emotional outbursts, in a seemingly persistent verbal contest. With ‘memory’ as the play’s key theme, childhood recollections bubble to the surface, revealing each sister as having her own take on events, adding to the fray.

The sisters are vastly different as siblings often are. Mary is the ‘middle child’, a doctor…the clever, self righteous and overbearing one. Her frailties are revealed when we learn of her affair with Mike, a married man unwilling to leave his ill wife, her teen pregnancy kept secret all this time, and the desire to have her own child now she’s thirty nine. An interesting twist is the conversational presence of her deceased mother as an apparition. It seems no matter how hard Mary denies she has some of her mother’s traits, they are ever present, in a gesture, an expression, a word. Vi’s memory lives on.

The martyr attitude of eldest sister Theresa is destined to annoy sisters and audience alike. Her natural therapy business is an important element, with homeopathy pushing memory to the fore once again, as no matter how diluted with water, the healing powers remain, much like the essence of the mother who lives on in her daughters. Theresa’s weaknesses too are fleshed out, as tensions rise and she hits the whisky bottle as a non-drinker, much to her husband Frank’s angst.

Meanwhile Catherine the youngest, provides comic relief with her attention-seeking personality needy of love wherever she can find it. 78 lovers and still counting it seems, as she smothers her woes with alcohol and joints, grieving more about her Spanish boyfriend dumping her than the loss of her mother! When conflict between the elder two sisters intensifies, there is an almost collective sigh of relief when Catherine stumbles in with quirky quips, an oversharing personality, and later, inappropriate funereal clothes, perhaps designed to relax the tension on stage and in the audience. It worked.

The support roles of Mike as Mary’s lover, and Frank, Theresa’s tolerant spouse, add a steadying influence amid the disputes of the women. The men also manage to successfully bring the outdoors inside, with clothing, hand rubs, and references to freezing conditions. Perhaps playwright Stephenson crafted this concept as another metaphor to reflect the icy weather on the outer, and frosty relations on the inner, or maybe to tell us the setting is winter in the north of England. Either way, the cold was a prominent feature and the audience felt it, helped along with the aircon!

The cast put up an impressively strong performance, demonstrating the tapestry of emotions on display when ordinary people are faced with a situation beyond their everyday realm. Meanwhile the cello added an ethereal quality, contributing to the mood and pathos of the story.

Producer Darren Mort has the last word when he says:

“Please enjoy our production of ‘The Memory of Water’ – you will laugh and cry all at once, but most of all, you will understand the importance of relationships and the art of forgiveness”.

**The Memory of Water is playing at Chapel off Chapel in Prahran until next Sunday 26th November

Genre: Comedy/Highly Recommend

www.chapeloffchapel.com.au

**3 Big Men Productions in association with The Rehearsal Room

Images supplied courtesy of HRPR/**Connie was a guest of Helen Reizer hrpr

**Connie wishes to acknowledge E. Clarke for our ‘post play literary discussion’ inspiring further thought-provoking concepts for the article

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times News

Editor GOURMET – Food/Wine/Events

E: literallyconnie@gmail.com

E: connie.lambeth@theaustraliatimes.com.au

W: editorcsl.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatgourmetmag/

Read on for Information on Actors/Producer/Director/Cellist plus more fabulous pics…

From L-R Frank (Producer Darren Mort), Cellist Grace, Richard Sarell (Director), Vi, Catherine, Theresa, Mary, Mike — From L-R
Frank (Producer – Darren Mort), Richard Sarell (Director – kneeling), Cellist Grace Gilkerson, Vi, Catherine, Theresa, Mary, Mike

Here Comes the Sun: Southgate Restaurants Showcase Summer Delights

11 September 20228 November 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Melbourne’s Southgate Restaurants Warming up with a Season of Foodie Feasts & Events

With Summer around the corner there’s a feast of foodie events with new seasonal produce, riverside alfresco dining, a festive dessert workshop and end of year celebrations at Southgate Melbourne

Summer means longer days and warmer nights with a refreshing cocktail and seasonal share plate in hand, taking in scenic city views along the banks of the Yarra River. To make it all the more enticing, Southgate Melbourne’s slew of riverside restaurants and bars has a range of events and specials from November-January.

Alfresco dining is back in a big way with the newly refurbished and expanded riverside diner BearBrass primed to welcome the warmer months. With 350 breakfasts turning over every hour each weekend, the venue is preparing for their busiest time of year. The new look venue features an open bar where you can watch the chefs preparing your food while the bartender mixes your favourite cocktail. BearBrass venue manager Michael Singleton says “Our new bright burnt orange colour scheme has brought a vibrant, fresh feel to the venue.”

Dessert bar Damon Bradley is set to host their first summer pastry workshop for sweet treat lovers on Saturday 2 December. Masterchefs-in-the-making will have the chance to work alongside the Damon Bradley pastry chefs and learn to plate up like a pro just in time for Christmas. You’ll also get to sample some of their new season desserts bursting with summery flavours, like the Devonshire crepe filled with the award-winning Damon Bradley lemon curd topped with fresh berries.

Melbourne’s multi award winning Italian restaurant and gelateria Tutto Bene, took out yet another award this year, winning Best Italian Restaurant in Victoria at the 2017 Restaurant & Catering Savour Awards. Head Chef Nathan Scarfo looks for vibrancy in the colour of his produce and counts asparagus, snap peas and zucchini flowers to be among his favourites for the warmer months.

“Our new dishes all have a focus on using the whole ingredient. We are focusing on traditional Italian cooking – simple, no wastage, with every ingredient having multiple uses,” says Nathan. One of his summer menu highlights is the Fiori di Zucchini: fried zucchini flowers, roast pumpkin, peppitos and mustard fruits, best enjoyed on the Tutto Bene Terrazza with a crisp glass of Chardonnay.

Following its recent expansion over two levels and the launch of the more casual PS Bar + Kitchen, the new Pure South Dining continues to make the most out of the best produce of the season with Executive Chef David Hall highlighting pears, asparagus, broad beans and broad bean leaves as his ingredients of choice.

“We keep our dishes simple and allow the amazing spring and summer produce to be the hero. Our house cured line-caught Kingfish with dashi, meyer lemon, wakame and quail egg is proving to be very popular and a great simple dish heading into the warmer months,” says David.

Family favourite La Camera Southgate has one of the best Aperitivo Hour deals in Southbank, accompanied by sweeping balcony views over the Yarra River. Sip on a complimentary Italian cocktail (choose from Negroni, Sbagliato, Aperol Spritz and more) with any antipasti plate.

ENA Greek Street Food puts an authentic Greek spin on the most important meal of the day with the launch of their new breakfast menu. Think Spanakopita, Tyropita (layered buttery filo with cheesy egg) and Strapatsada (Greek style scrambled eggs with tomato and fetta) and for the sweet tooths, Bougatsa (semolina custard filled pastry).

One of Southgate’s favourite watering holes, Waterslide Bar, has reinvented the spritz with their signature “Tinder Date” cocktail, the perfect accompaniment for flirtations on their leafy riverside balcony. The refreshing drink combines delectable French Loire Valley Cremant Sparkling with fresh berries and yuzu.

Southgate’s stable of riverside restaurants will come alive throughout the festive season with Christmas lunches hosted by iconic Irish pub P.J.O’Brien’s and German Bier Bar Grill Hophaus. The silly season continues with an array of New Year’s Eve celebrations including Waterslide Bar, ENA Greek Street Food, BearBrass, P.J.O’Brien’s and Hophaus, each boasting some of the best firework-viewing vantage points.

Southgate is home to fifteen diverse restaurants, bars and eateries, with cuisines ranging from German to Tasmanian to modern European. A range of boutique retailers including vintage fashion, books and stationery can also be found within the precinct.

www.southgatemelbourne.com.au

**Information & Images Courtesy of Southgate Restaurants/Fuller PR

Connie Lambeth – The Australia Times News

Editor GOURMET – Food/Wine/Events

E: literallyconnie@gmail.com

E: connie.lambeth@theaustraliatimes.com.au

W: editorcsl.com

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tatgourmetmag/

READ ON FOR THE FULL PROGRAM OF FOODIE FEASTS & EVENTS RIGHT THROUGH TO NEW YEAR’S

Rockpool Dining Group & Four Pillars Create New Small-batch Gin

11 September 20228 November 2017 by Connie Lambeth

Rockpool Dining Group & Four Pillars Collaboration Rockpool Dining Group bar managers and mixologists have collaborated with Four Pillars Distillery to craft a limited-edition Maker Session Gin, which is exclusively available on the drink menus at the Group’s premium restaurants in Sydney and Melbourne. Just 30 bottles of the Four Pillars & Rockpool Maker … Read more

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