Quickfire Catch-up: Toby Stansfield, a new chef for the Old Fitz
“Playing with nostalgia is really what I want to be doing … so there’ll be a shorter hands-friendly menu at the bar and then some fun, flirty stuff happening in the bistro.”
Cookbook of the week: Yiayia Next Door
A heart-warming book about helping others and overcoming grief, packed with traditional Greek recipes.
Ace Hotel Sydney is finally open and taking bookings
It’s the first southern hemisphere location for the acclaimed American hotel chain. Rooms are now available, lobby restaurant Loam is open for business, and chef Mitch Orr’s Kiln is just weeks away.
Adam Liaw goes off-camera with his first podcast: How Taste Changed the World
The seven-part series explores the ways in which sweet, salty, sour, bitter and umami tastes have influenced humans. And it features big names like Dan Barber, Fuchsia Dunlop and Yotam Ottolenghi.
Josh and Julie Niland launch Fish Butchery Delivered
Get some of the best fish in Sydney delivered, plus ready-made meals, condiments, and meal kits (including the Nilands' famous tuna cheeseburgers).
The Sofitel Melbourne has just completed its long-running refurbishment
The $15 million renovation of each of the 360 rooms, which took 18 months, has given one of Melbourne’s best-known hotels a beautiful spruce-up.
Connie’s, a retro Italian diner and rooftop by the Everleigh and Bar Margaux team, opens in Melbourne
The latest venue by Michael and Zara Madrusan is a celebration of Michael’s Italian upbringing. Come for alfresco spritzes, deep pan pizza, and plenty of pasta.
Coming soon to Sydney: a Negroni aperitivo bar with food from a former sous chef at The Apollo
There are 12 Negronis on the menu and a sizeable roster of post-dinner digestivi – from Amaro Montenegro to Sorrento-style limoncello. The food line-up is all about Italian share-plates, plus free Negroni-infused salami sticks.
First verdict: The Rover, Sydney
This old dog from the team behind Bistecca and The Gidley has picked up some new tricks, with a major spruce-up to celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Parlar, a new Catalan restaurant from the Franca team, opens in Sydney’s Potts Point
Catalonia, the Spanish region that borders France, inspired the Spanish restaurant that borders Franca.