Behind the scenes of an Australian craft whisky makers – Black Gate Distillery

Cloaked in mystery, the arcane art of making whisky, and those behind it, have always fascinated me – the who, why and how of it all. When we recently had the pleasure of meeting Brian and Genise Hollingworth, owners of Black Gate Distillery in Mendooran, Australia, all my questions were answered. Some 400km northwest of … Read more

Go west, young man and eat – where to drink and dine in Parramatta, NSW

Parramatta is setting itself up as a hub for food, entertainment and fun in the west. Even as Sydney’s sprawl spreads further and further from the harbour and it’s opera house, Parramatta is becoming its very own city with its own feel and dynamic. Here are our top 3 recommendations for a night out in … Read more

The best food pairings for champagne

Champagne and sparkling wine are often the hero of the party. There’s nothing like the sound of that cork popping to get the night started. But what do you eat with champagne? Husband-and-wife team Fran Flynn and David Stevens-Castro have all the answers in their new book Paired. What do you usually eat when you’re … Read more

A choc dinner, San Diego rooftop bars and a fishing party with a difference

The week’s really zipped by to the point where I’ve only just realised – 2 days late – that it’s November already! I’ve got a feeling it’s going to be Christmas way too soon and I’ll be doing my gift shopping on Christmas Eve as usual. Anyway, stay in the moment, stay in the moment. … Read more

3 San Diego rooftop bars you must visit

San Diego was built for rooftop bars. From its perfect weather and range of views to its friendly locals and SoCal lifestyle, this city should have way more high-up open-air drinking spots. Here are our 3 favourite San Diego rooftop bars you must visit. We’ve spent a lot of time in San Diego rooftop bars! … Read more

Broome to blow the budget – how to live it up in the capital of the Kimberley, WA

Broome, Western Australia and its romantic allure of exotic isolated sunset beaches has been calling to us forever. Popular with a wide range of travellers, it is possible to come to this notoriously expensive destination on a shoestring… but this is Broome to blow the budget. I’ve wanted to go to Broome since I first … Read more

The Dos and Don’ts of the cellar door

When you visit a cellar door, it’s easy to forget that you’re meeting the people directly connected with the wine you’re trying. It’s likely you’re even speaking to owners. We’ve asked Sally Scarborough from Scarborough Wine Co in the Hunter Valley, NSW what are good questions to ask at the cellar door… and also what’s … Read more