This week’s news round-up includes the Champagne Room, Australian Monin Cup, Green Peppercorn at Civic Hotel, Pina Colada Carnage with Mount Gay Rum, Espresso Di Manfredi Coffee, Opera Bar, Good Food Month, a new direction for Mejico and a cool Fathers Day Gift Guide.
Champagne Room @ The Winery
The Keystone Group will open Australia’s first Perrier-Jouët champagne bar when it launches the Champagne Room, on the top level of The Winery in September. The Champagne Room will showcase an impressive list of fine champagne including Perrier-Jouët Belle Époque 2006 by the flute (the only venue in Australia to offer this exceptional wine by the glass) and bottle.The venue will open every evening from 5pm til late and 11am on Saturdays and Sundays.
Green Peppercorn @ Civic Hotel
Green Peppercorn @ Civic Hotel
Popular Green Peppercorn Lao restaurant in Fairfield launched its city offshoot on the first floor of the Civic Hotel in the Sydney CBD. The launch event packed a solid crowd who enjoyed the selection of tasty cocktails and delicious food that were served throughout the night. corner of Pitt & Goulburn St Sydney
Australian Monin Cup
The inaugural Australian Monin Cup was held on Monday night at the Brydon’s Stadium in Sydney University with Jimmy Irvine taking out the title. The bartender competition is designed for 18-27 years old bartenders and forms part of a global competition by Monin.
L-R: Joe Worthington (Host), Kari Nicol (Finalist), Pez Collier (Finalist), Jimmy Irvine (Winner)*
The three finalists were Jimmy Irvine, Pez Collier of The Lychee Lounge and Kari Nicol of Eau de Vie Melbourne from 12 competitors. Judging the competition were Tomas Vikario (Monin), Sam Bygrave (Bartender magazine), Reece Griffiths (Low 302) and Paul Wootton (Bars & Clubs). The afterparty was held at Sweethearts Rooftop Bar in Kings Cross. Jimmy Irvine will be travelling to Kuala Lumpur to represent at the Asia Pacific finals.
* Photo Credit – Nigel Wisebaum, used with permission
Pina Colada Carnage with Mount Gay Rum
The Pina Colada Carnage, a bartender competition with Mount Gay Rum was held on Monday night at The Cliff Dive with Michael Nicolian of Gardel’s Bar taking out the title. The trade event kicked off with a masterclass and tasting of the Mount Gay Rum range presented by brand Ambassador, Nathan Stretch Bradbery.
Mount Gay Rum
The range of Mount Gay rums was on taste including Mount Gay Eclipse Silver, Mount Gay Eclipse, Mount Gay Black Barrel and Mount Gay XO. The highlight of the tasting was the Mount Gay 1703 Old Cask, a blend of 10 to 30 yo rums with a higher proportion of pot still rum. Rich in oak, caramel and leather on nthe nose, it has ripe bananas on the palate with stewed fruit, elegant spice with a smooth and lingering finish.
Espresso di Manfredi
Boutique espresso brand Espresso di Manfredi has launched a take-home pack of coffee beans which bring the Espresso di Manfredi experience home. The 250g Classico blend is available at Espresso di Manfredi cafés Australia wide. The original Classico blend offered in the 250g pack is a fine, complex coffee with a full and textured body and a blend of high-quality arabicas from South America and a touch of fine robustas from Asia. The blend has well-balanced fruit and elegant acidity with a long lingering chocolate finish.
Fathers Day Gift Guide
Forget socks and ties. We have the ultimate Fathers Day Gift Guide. After extensive research, we’ve put together an article featuring the top 10 Australian craft spirits. Whether it’s rye whisky, rum, gin, whiskey or moonshine, you’ll find it a handy gift guide to spoil him on his special day.
A New Direction for Mejico
Eighteen months after it launched, Mejico in Sydney’s CBD has changed its food direction with a new menu with many new dishes inspired by the Yucatan, Baja and Veracruz regions of Mexico as well as wider Latin American influences. A new kitchen team is headed up by Head Chef Shishir Rajbhandari and Mexican Sous Chef Pablo Galindo. Gone is Mexican street food and in are Tuna tostadas, Whole deconstructed flounder, Whole Bullhorn Chilli and Meximisu. Mejico also has a large collection of agave spirits and is listed in our guide to Sydney’s best tequila bars.
Good Food Month
Good Food Month is back for the sixteenth year this October with over 450 listings. International chef Yotam Ottolenghi will be headlining the program and the Night Noodle Markets will run from October 10 -26 including Sundays with new arrivals such as China Republic, Harajuku Gyoza and from Melbourne. goodfoodmonth.com
Opera Bar
Solotel, the current operators of Opera Bar, in association with restaurant group, MorSul, have won the tender for a further ten-year lease at Opera Bar. The new food concept will include a charcuterie, raw bar and cafe, with a strong focus on the best Australia has to offer in the way of produce and drinks. Opera Bar will close for approximately four weeks in the last quarter of 2014 and be open for trading by the end of the year.
Recent Reviews
In case you missed it, we reviewed sensational whiskies from the Lost Distillery, Tito’s Vodka from Austin, Texas and the new look Cidery Bar & Kitchen.
