Tag Archives: Drink

Discovered Uncovered

photo3

Here’s a little of what I’ve been doing, loving and discovering lately…

Read Full Article

Top 10 Green Smoothie Tips

photo[2]

Drink your way to good health with my top ten green smoothie tips!

Read Full Article

Discovered Uncovered

DSC_0697

Here’s a little of what I’ve been doing, loving and discovering lately…

Read Full Article

Discovered Uncovered

37647346855514658_DqZHhwv4_f

Here’s a little of what I’ve been doing, loving and discovering lately.

Read Full Article

Where to Eat, Shop and Drink in Bali



 


While you weren’t looking, the husband and I snuck off to Bali for a sweet moment together. The shopping and eating destinations that I’ve written about previously are still firing. But this trip I found a few more gems to add to the list…



Sip

Cocoon Beach Club is a relative newcomer that is already making ripples. Chic. Sophisticated. Exotic. Cocoon is everything it’s iconically seedy neighbour – Double Six – is not! It’s also the perfect spot to relax on one of the lounges, lychee martini in hand, and watch the lapping Indian Ocean. Heaven! (No. 66, Jl Double Six, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 731 266)


Nosh

While it’s a high-class problem to have, one frustrating part of our trip was not having enough time to eat at all the spots we wanted to! Here are two new, and very worthwhile, places that we did visit:

Sea Circus – With one of the quirkiest and original fit-outs I’ve seen in a long time, Sea Circus has casual fine dining nailed. In fact, with Chef, Stuart Marsden (ex Cecconi’s and Longrain, Melbourne) as your ringmaster, you know you’re in good hands. (22 Jl Laksmana, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 738 667 )

The Beach House – If you’re in Bali for a Sunday night, you’d be mad not to make the effort to head down to The Beach House at Echo Beach (Canggu). It’s a 30 minute cab ride from Seminyak, but once you get there you’ll feel like you’ve walked into this ad. Make sure you get there for sunset and then stick around for live music and a hot coal barbecue. The best spot to sit is outside, looking out to the ocean, so make sure you arrive early to grab a spot – or better yet, call ahead and book a table. (Jalan Pura Batu Mejan, Canggu . Tel: +62 361 7474 604)


Shopping

This trip I didn’t spend much time shopping. Instead I hit up a few choice spots for multiple purchases:

I went a little bit crazy in Lulu Yasmine and picked up quite a few pretty, floaty frocks for the coming season of weddings, parties…anything! (No. 100x Jl. Laksmana, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 736 763)

Biasa Bali is a mecca of colour blocking that stays just the right side of edgy yet relaxed ‘holiday wear’. I bought some great basics here and also a few bags for good measure! (No. 36 Jl Raya, Seminyak. Te: +62 361 730 308)

Known for its simple yet impeccably embellished pieces, Magali Pascal, is as iconic in Bali as it is in Paris. While it isn’t all that cheap compared to other shops in Bali, I did pick up one item that I never thought I’d own – a jumpsuit! (No. 65B Jl. Raya, Seminyak. Tel: +62 361 732 132)

Guest Blog: Nat from Precinkt

There’s nothing like the inside word to make all the difference when visiting an unfamiliar stomping ground – especially when that ‘word’ is bang-on in terms of style, taste and hidden gems that are off the beaten track.

One of the savviest ways to discover a new location, is via Precinkt. Run but the ever-delightful Nat, this astute site serves up the places you need to stop by in precinkts all around Australia (and soon the world – nothing like a plan for global domination I say!).

With a well-honed eye for style and substance, Nat is also the perfect guest blogger. Here she shares three of the best coffee spots in sunny Brisbane. Take it away Nat!

Three of the Best: Coffee Spots in Brisbane

Image: Precinkt

Flamingo Cafe

Chicky-babe Christina has the magic touch when it comes to cafes. This time it’s the ever so daggy Flamingo Cafe. Be ready for a home-made sausage roll, a meatball sanger with crisps and just a little bit of cheeky banter. In amongst the ugly beauty of The Valley, Flamingo is a great place to visit with light-hearted friends or those that need to be.

5B Winn Street, Fortitude Valley.


Image: Precinkt

Bunker

It is what it is. A purpose built bunker that became a well-worn car port and is now home to a leafy hole-in-the-wall coffee joint. The Fourex Brewery looms in the background but it’s great coffee that the people want and Bunker delivers. The combination of a groovy location and respectful baristas is unique and unbeatable.

21 Railway Terrace, Milton.

Image: Precinkt

Dudley Street Espresso and Collectables

These boys were the first in Brisbane to tastefully mix great coffee with quirky collectables. When you enter Dudley St Espresso you immediately feel warm and welcomed. There’s no fuss here – simple wholesome delicious snacks coupled with amazing coffee. The cafe sits next to a strip of shops that offer vintage clothing, comics, antiques and graffiti supplies. Worth a visit!

494 Ipswich Rd Annerley, Brisbane.

Thanks Nat!!

Goodgod Small Club’s Second Coming






Go on admit it – discovering a hidden gem before everyone else does leads to a satisfying twinge of smugness! So, consider yourself dripping in first-in-the-kn0w-self-love with this tip off…


Last Sunday, Goodgod Small Club, Sydney’s little big club that could, called first drinks in their new front bar. Part social club, part subterranean speak-easy, part late-night drinking haven, the new supper club is set to redefine the midnight hours.

With a bar laid with pebbles that glow like jubes, whitewashed booth seating rippling under cave lighting and lush ferns, a boutique list of cocktail carafes and moorish tastes menu, this is the perfect spot to indulge in life’s small – and decadent – pleasures.

With Mr Luva Luva himself – Shaggy – having his 42nd birthday at Goodgod next week, you won’t be the first in the know for long. You’ve been warned!

Goodgod Small Club, 55 Liverpool Street, Sydney
Open Wednesday 5pm – 1 am, Thursday 5pm – 2 am, Friday 5pm – 5am and Saturday 8pm – 5am.

Muchos Tasty!

Image: The Age
Mamasita

On Saturday night I went on a hot date (with my husband!) to Melbourne’s ‘hottest’ restaurant, Mamasita.


Since opening in February, Melbourne has gone loco for this this authentic Mexican restaurant. Headed up by the crack team of Chef Jason Jones and run by Matt Lane (ex-Cumulus Inc), Mamasita is part-taqueria (that’s “taco shop” if you’re wondering), part high-end tequila bar and part late-night supper club. They have also struck the winning combination of fresh, inspired tastes; bang-on staff that are friendly and knowledgeable and an effortless but buzzing atmosphere.

Here’s what we noshed on:
  • Elotes callejeros – ‘’Street Style’’ chargrilled corn with queso, chipotle mayonnaise and lime
  • de Pescado – Grilled fish with lime, achiote paste & red onion salsa in soft taco shells
  • de Huitlacoche – A Quesadillas with Mexican truffle, mushrooms, roasted corn, epazote and queso fresco
  • Ensalada de Nopales – Cactus, red peppers, green beans, queso fresco & lime
  • Slow Roasted Goat - Unfortunately Mamasita haven‘t updated their menu online, so I can‘t give you all the details of this dish. What I can say though, is it was incredible…muchos tasty…even for a goat-eating virgin like me!
Mamasita lives up to the hype…and then some. Olé!

PS: You can’t book, so arrive early to avoid waiting in a mega queue.

The Big Picture


The Conflict Kitchen

It’s easy to underestimate the impact some people have on your life.

My high-school International Studies teacher was one of those people. Instead of following the well-trod path of mediocre, high-school curriculum, he introduced us to the likes of Noam Chomsky and Geoffrey Robertson Q.C. and passionately shared the truth of countries like East Timor and Nicaragua. Every class was a lesson in the big picture.

Another place serving up a good dose of the big picture is The Conflict Kitchen. This take-out restaurant only serves cuisine from countries the United States is in conflict with. The storefront rotates identity every four months to highlight another nation, and each iteration is augmented by events, performances and discussion about the culture, politics and issues at stake for that country.

To launch they opened with the Kubideh Kitchen, and are serving up an Iranian menu that has been developed in collaboration with the local Iranian community. The packaging is custom-designed (see above) to include interviews with Iranians on subjects ranging from Iranian food and poetry to the current political turmoil.

How about that for food for thought?

Conflict Kitchen is located at 124 s. Highland Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Want Some Punk With Your Plonk?



Images: Vine Arts, The Age & Bouchon Wines


Wine by Some Young Punks

Today will go a little something like this:

  1. Alfie and I are rugging up and heading to the market to do one hell-of-a-big-shop.
  2. Home again and I’ll spend the day happily chopping, dicing, slicing, cooking, basting and baking.
  3. Night falls and six friends will come around for a hearty home-cooked meal.
  4. With a belly full of nosh and good booze we’ll crash between the sheets.
What could be grander than a day like this?

Speaking of good booze, have you heard of the South Australian wine label, Some Young Punks? Or should I say, have you seen their labels? Inspired by pulp fiction novels, these bottles look as good as their contents taste!