Quay tops restaurant awards for the second time, Sydney Harbour YHA offers million dollar views on a budget, the White Rabbit brewery sits among the wineries in the Yarra Valley and 2010 arts festivals are announced.
Quay tops Good Food Guide The 25th annual
Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide awards were announced this week, with Peter Gilmore’s
Quay restaurant taking out the restaurant of the year award for the second year in a row, and for the fourth time in the last 10 years. Neil Perry’s
Rockpool Bar & Grill won best new restaurant, while Mark Best of
Marque restaurant in Surry Hills was named chef of the year. The best regional restaurant award was won by
Darley’s of Katoomba. The
Good Food Guide awards the best restaurants with one, two or three hats. This year, six restaurants received the coveted three hats rating, they were Bilson's, est, Marque, Pier, Quay and Tetsuya's. For a full list of winners click
here.
R Bar, Adelaide, SA
The newest entry to Adelaide’s bar scene is the R Bar. R Bar also doubles as the cellar door for the boutique wine label R Winery owned by winemaker Chris Ringland. The bar is divided into a series of private lounges all themed to reflect the different wine labels from the R Winery brand. The R Bar maintains a strong sense of mystery, with no phone number, no street sign and entry off a back lane; however, it can be tracked down at 171 O'Connell St, North Adelaide.
White Rabbit Brewery, Yarra Valley, VIC
Following in the footsteps of the famed Little Creatures brewery in Western Australia, the White Rabbit Brewery has opened in the Yarra Valley. White Rabbit has chased down and experimented with some of the best quality sources to invent their own unique product, a dark ale, and also houses a range of new and unusual beers. White Rabbit is a proud part of the Yarra Valley community, and has set up the brewery as a place where people can get together to talk, interact and connect with members of the community and visitors alike.
Flinders Inn, Sydney, NSW
Sydney’s newest local, Flinders Inn, has opened its doors. Chef Morgan McGlone, who trained under Luke Mangan at Salt, has teamed up with his brother Rick to create a modern version of the traditional French bistro. Flinders Inn offers relaxed hospitality, dishes driven by seasonal produce and a classic cocktail and wine list. The interior continues the modern bistro experience with stripped-back decor and specials written on the mirrors in red lipstick.
Sydney Harbour YHA to open, Sydney, NSW
The new Sydney Harbour YHA is on track to open in November 2009, offering quality budget accommodation with priceless Sydney Harbour views. Located on the Harbour’s edge in The Rocks, the new YHA is just metres from Circular Quay, the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Perfect for couples, families and singles travelling on a budget, Sydney Harbour YHA will offer twin, double, family and multi-share 4-6 bed rooms, all with an ensuite bathroom and some boasting Opera House views.
One of the most interesting features of the new YHA is that it has been built above ‘The Dig Site’, an archaeological site located in The Rocks that contains a parcel of land with remains from the time of Australia’s first European settlement in the 18th Century. The site was discovered in 1994 and since that time over 400 volunteers and a team of 20 archaeologists have been involved in the excavation of the site, uncovering the foundations of 30 homes and 750,000 artefacts. The site’s remains have provided a rare insight into early urban life in Sydney and the Sydney Harbour YHA has built The Big Dig Archaeology Education Centre for schools and tertiary groups to continue learning about Australia’s early European history.
Bookings are now open for stays after December 18, 2009 at www.yha.com.au. Bookings for earlier dates will be released in coming weeks.
The Cullen nearing completion, Melbourne, VIC
Opening in November 2009, The Cullen will provide a new luxury offering in the fashionable Melbourne suburb of Prahran. Named after Adam Cullen, one of Australia’s most renowned artists, the hotel features original artworks in the lobby. Cullen firmly established himself as an artistic force winning Australia’s most prestigious art prize, the Archibald, for his portrait of David Wenham in 2000 and The Cullen is the first in a series of Art Hotels set to open in the next year. Future Art Hotels will include The Olsen, named after John Olsen, due to open in South Yarra in March 2010 and The Blackman, named after Charles Blackman, is set to open in St Kilda in the middle of 2010.
Australia Zoo introduces Komodo Dragon encounter
Australia Zoo has launched the brand new ‘Colossal Komodo Dragon’ encounter and is now the only zoo in the world where visitors can get up close to a Komodo Dragon. The Komodo Dragon is the world’s largest lizard which can weigh up to 100 kilograms and can eat up to 80 per cent of their own body weight in a single meal. Australia Zoo has three Komodo Dragon’s named Lulu, Ora and Fat Boy. Due to the rarity of the Komodo Dragons and a number of the zoo's inhabitants, Australia Zoo has started an Adopt an Animal program for animal-lovers and members of the public to provide financial support to protect rare animals and provide them with the highest possible standard of care.
Upcoming Events
The dates for Australia's 2010 Arts Festival have been announced. The first three festivals of 2010 are:
- The Sydney Festival which will run from 9-30 January 2010, offers a rich program of over 80 events covering dance, theatre, music, visual arts, cross media and forums. A highlight of the program will be the arrival of A.R. Rahman, the Academy Award-winning composer of the Slumdog Millionaire soundtrack. Rahman will give an exclusive free concert at Parramatta Park on 16 January as part of the 2010 program.
- The Perth International Arts Festival is the oldest annual international arts festival in the southern hemisphere. In 2010 it will run from 5 February - 1 March and will showcase some of the world's best street arts and literature, along with a range of free community events. 2010 will mark the third year under the helm of Festival Director Shelagh Magadza who has ensured the programs have a strong focus on Perth city and different Perth communities. Again in 2010, the festival will provide visitors with an experience that is accessible but with a unique Perth flavour.
- The Adelaide Festival of Arts, which will run from 26 February - 14 March, has a strong tradition of innovation. The 2010 festival program includes cabaret, new media events, master classes and the Adelaide Writers Week. 2010 also marks the 50th anniversary of the festival. To celebrate, the maestro Arvo Volmer will lead the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, along with eight soloists and 500 choristers in a combined rendition of the spectacular Mahler 8 - Symphony of a Thousand. This special one-night-only performance will pay tribute to the Adelaide Festival in its fiftieth anniversary year and will double as the 2010 finale on the last day of the festival.