Although Australia is fast becoming one of the preeminent producers of artisanal gin, our output retains an air of seriousness that originates from the spirit's British legacy. Larrikin Gin is a new entrant on the spirit scene that is looking to add a dash of quintessential Aussie irreverence to the mix. more
If you’re still labouring under the misapprehension that vegan food just isn’t that good, you’ve obviously never paid a visit to Smith & Deli. The insanely popular Melbourne haunt has been feeding earthlings and fooling carnivores for years with its mouth-watering meals and treats, with people lining up around the block to get a taste. The masterminds behind this premier plant-based dining destination have been generous enough to reveal their secrets (read: pure sorcery) in the form of their new cookbook Smith & Deli-cious: Food from our Deli (That Happens to be Vegan). more
If your liquor cabinet or fancy drinks trolley is housing some fine spirits, then you'll need quality mixers to match. The genius folk behind drinks company StrangeLove have just dropped a series of fancy new mixers that put an intriguing and refined spin on traditional sugar-laden varieties. more
Have you ever had that dilemma in the afternoon when you could totally have a beer, but you're also in desperate need of a pep-up ... you know, the kind of pep up that only coffee can provide. Well, consider this (first-world) problem officially solved, thanks to the latest release from Burleigh Brewing Co. more
Don’t get it twisted – we’re never going to give up our barista-made coffee completely. The joy of sipping an expertly made cuppa is nearly unparalleled, but for convenience sake we’re open to the idea of getting a comparable caffeine hit at home or at work. Specialty coffee is expanding into the realm of instant brew – we're talking DIY brew kits, pods and sachets, which means we don’t need to spend energy grinding, brewing and pouring on our own whenever the energy levels dip. Here are some ingenious products that will bolster your coffee game considerably (and sustainably) – just don’t let the crew at your local coffee joint find out! more
Do you love sweets and champagne? We feel like there are a lot of you that fall into that category. We're right in there with you. Well, now you can have the best of both worlds with champagne-infused gummy bears from luxury confectionary company Sugarcube. more
Currumbin's Balter Brewing has launched the latest addition to its full-time line-up – it's first mid-strength beer. Aptly named Captain Sensible, it's designed for the designated drivers, the people who want to keep their sessions low key, and the beer swillers among us that have finally realised that they just can't keep up with their mates. more
Although we've all considered doing it, cask wine is certainly not appropriate at a dinner party. While they are generally filled with undrinkable headache-inducing wines, these cardboard dispensers do have one thing going for them – convenience. That's why we were delighted to come across Pord, an Australian company that has combined top-end wines with art to create a series of mini wine barrels that are worthy as the dinner table centrepiece. more
No matter how niche your interests and hobbies, there’s a big chance there’s a podcast dedicated to it. Now, the culinary arts are far from niche, but there’s still plenty of scope to delve deep into the nitty-gritty elements depending on where our food passion lies. If you’re curious about the inner workings of a restaurant, or are simply a die-hard lover of tasty treats, someone is currently making a podcast that caters to your tastes. If you’re looking to expand your podcast palate to include a foodie-centric offering, we’ve assembled a selection of five that are bound to tantalise your mental tastebuds (and maybe stir up your hunger). more
Let's be honest (we're all friends here), instant coffee doesn't have the best reputation. Scooping freeze-dried granules from a 1.5-kilogram communal tin and mixing it with long-life milk in the office lunch room isn't exactly the most appealing option for a caffeine hit. If you're picking up what we're putting down, then you need to know about Sipp – it's instant coffee, but not as you know it. more
Can you imagine life without negronis? We'd rather not even try. If you too are an appreciator of this classic Italian aperitif, then hear this – you can now get a tasting flight of pre-bottled negronis from around Australia delivered to your door. That's six different negroni styles from various boutique bars and distilleries, all made by hand before being bottled (or tinned) and shipped for your sipping pleasure. more
Back in 2012, the old church in Billinudgel changed hands. Its purchasers were Andrew Morris and Amanda Callan, who soon moved in and turned the dreamy half-acre parcel into an organic vegetable garden. There was a bit of excess produce left over from their garden like herbs, habanero chillis, tomatoes, turmeric and ginger, so they decided to make a few of their own soaps and sauces. Then, to paraphrase Paul Kelly – from little things, big things grew. more
Licking the bowl when your mum was baking cookies was (is) a real treat but also kind of unsafe when you think about all those raw eggs and uncooked flour you consumed as a kid. Sure, you turned out perfectly fine but thanks to Gold Coast-based company Just Dough It, you needn't take the risk. more
If you've ever been to Melbourne, there's a very high chance that you've been to or are familiar with famed coffee roaster and cafe ST ALi. If you've longed for their coffee since your last visit, then we've got good (nay, great) news – ST ALi has released Nespresso-compatible pods and instant coffee satchels, so you can now enjoy its delicious brews and blends without even leaving the house. more
We'll let you in on a little secret – we have a real weakness for ice-cream. Like, put a pint of the good stuff in front of us (chocolate flavour will do) and it will not last the night. It's a love-hate relationship though. We're oh-so fond of ice-cream but the reality is all that sugar, dairy and cream mixed together is not great for gut health and does zero to help our summer bods. Well, we might have found a solution – Rice Cream. more
Unfortunately 'chocolate' and 'good for you' are rarely seen in the same sentence. Well, that was until Loco Love came along. These Byron Bay-made artisan chocolates are handcrafted with organic ingredients, superfoods, tonic herbs and healing spices so you can, for once in your life, actually feel good after you indulge. more
In case our name wasn't enough of a giveaway, we're all about the weekend. Generally speaking, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are full of action and hustle, then comes Thursday – and you get that faint flutter of excitement in your stomach when you realise that Friday is just one more sleep away. It's that sublime almost-Friday feeling that inspired two local mates to go out on a limb and pour their passion for the weekend into a keg. The result? The Gold Coast's newest craft-beer brand, Thursday Brewing Company, which officially launches on Monday April 30. more
Let's face it – we all live pretty fast-paced lives. During the week we're often on the go, rushing to work, inhaling takeaway coffees, returning phone calls and constantly chasing our tails. Then the weekend hits, it's time to play catch up – fold those clothes, try that restaurant, reply to that message, meet that friend, drink that wine, mop that floor. Sound familiar? In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it's easy to overlook the most vital part of our existence – food. When was the last time you stopped, slowed down and really connected with what was on your plate? We'll assume it's been a while, so with that in mind, let us introduce you to Bhavana – an organic farm and cooking school in the Byron Bay hinterland. more
We love coffees made by our favourite local baristas, but unfortunately there are times, both when travelling and at home, when we've had to reach for (dare we say it) instant coffee. Sure, there are plenty of fancy alternative-brewing devices out there, but if you're not keen to pack your glass Chemex in your travel bag or take your Aeropress with you to the hairdresser, then we've found the solution – drip coffee bags from Burleigh Heads-based outfit The Laughing Pug Coffee Co. more
Hard done by herbivores have been waiting with baited breath for the large-scale roll out of plant-based protein in Australia, and now the time has finally arrived. Lord of the Fries has announced it is the exclusive restaurant partner for Beyond Meat, the celebrity-backed burger made from plant-based protein, meaning the meat-free revolution is upon us. Viva la vegan! more
