SydneyTimes Food Guide

27/11/2025

Festive treats and sparkling streets: Christmas in SydneyCity of SydneySydney is set to shine bright this Christmas with a feast of free events, markets, cho...

13/11/2025

Avengers, assemble!

13/11/2025

09/11/2025

Dan Murphy Champagne Showcase at Double Bay
The Best NVs & Vintage Value-Dan Murphy Champagne Showcase at Double Bay

Had an incredible time at Saturday's Champagne showcase attended by a really great bunch of Dan's "wine affianado"clients . It verged on a masterclass revealing the huge shift towards precision and lower dosage in top non-vintage (NV) wines.
The Aperitif Winner:
My top pick for an elegant, fresh NV was the Laurent-Perrier La Cuvée. Its delicate citrus, white flower notes, and beautiful finesse offer the best 'bang for your buck'—I bought a bottle on the spot!

NV Standouts:
Lanson Black Création: Super crisp and zesty (no malolactic fermentation!), perfect for stimulating the appetite.
Perrier-Jouet NV Grand Brut
V
intage Value Choice :
The clear star for complexity and age was the Lanson Le Vintage 2013. This 100% Grand/Premier Cru blend has been aged for nine years, showing powerful notes of praline and honey with remarkable freshness. It's a spectacular wine that currently offers exceptional value for money!
For your next celebration look beyond the ordinary!
For your next celebration, look beyond the usual to these precision-crafted NVs and high-value vintages!

30/10/2025

"Single O" and Reground Launch NSW’s First Dedicated Coffee Upcycling Program at 3 Blue Ducks
-Celebrity Chefs Endorse Sustainable Grounds at Three Blue Ducks

SYDNEY – October 29, 2025

The Sydney coffee scene just took a massive step toward sustainability. Yesterday, Single O officially launched the "Giving a Puck" initiative in partnership with social enterprise Reground, creating NSW’s first dedicated coffee waste diversion project. The program aims to revolutionize how cafes handle the millions of kilograms of spent grounds, or 'pucks,' that currently end up in landfill.

The launch was heralded by two major events, demonstrating both industry commitment and public enthusiasm.
The project received a significant, high-profile endorsement on Tuesday, October 28, at a special launch lunch hosted by the pioneering sustainable restaurant, Three Blue Ducks. Several prominent Sydney celebrity chefs attended, gathering to publicly throw their support behind the coffee recycling project. Their presence signaled that sustainability in the hospitality sector extends beyond the plate—it now includes the coffee cup, and the puck inside the machine.

“The buy-in from our peers is crucial,” said a spokesperson for Single O. “The industry knows we need to do better, and seeing major names and venues like Three Blue Ducks commit sends a powerful message that this is the future of coffee service in NSW.”
The initiative targets what Single O CEO, Mike Brabant, calls the industry’s "hidden waste problem."
“Spent grounds are the coffee industry’s hidden waste problem. We so often think about the impact of single-use cups, but not the spent coffee puck from our morning latte that goes to landfill,” says Brabant. “We’re fired up to be changing that—this project gives everyday coffee drinkers a simple way to get involved and help create a more sustainable future for coffee—it's as simple as supporting your local cafe that Gives a Puck.”

30/10/2025

CALABRIA FAMILY WINES’ CELEBRATES 80 YEARS OF WINEMAKING, FAMILY & VISION

Sydney/Media Release posted 29 October,2025

● Calabria Family Wines celebrates 80 years of winemaking, honouring four generations of family legacy, innovation, and resilience since 1945.
● The business continues to evolve with premium Barossa Valley vineyard holdings and wines, sustainable viticulture, and a strong commitment to community through the Bill Calabria Foundation.

From humble beginnings in Griffith, NSW, the Calabria family marks 80 years of winemaking, a milestone that honours four generations of passion, resilience, and innovation.

What began in 1945 with Francesco and Elisabetta Calabria’s dream has grown into one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine businesses, with a legacy rooted in tradition and a future shaped by innovation.
Bill Calabria AM, second-generation and Director, reflects on the journey:

“We’ve come a long way from my parents’ backyard winery. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to quality, our love for the land, curiosity, and the belief that wine brings people together. That’s what drives us forward.”

The Calabria story is one of grit, growth, and generational legacy. From hand-crushed grapes in the 1940s to state-of-the-art facilities today, with third and fourth generations now actively involved, the business continues to evolve while staying true to its founding values of integrity, hospitality, and craftsmanship.

Calabria Richland and Three Bridges ranges remain household favourites, while new innovative brands like Calabria BELENA reflect the family’s ongoing commitment to relevance in a changing market. Premium wines such as Iconic and Saint Petri allow the winemaking team to work with exceptional parcels of fruit
from the family’s three vineyards in the Barossa Valley, land proudly acquired over the past decade.

As Calabria Family Wines celebrates its 80th anniversary, the focus remains firmly on the future. With new product development and a growing digital presence, the business is poised for its next chapter.

25/09/2025

Visiting Champagne Taittinger: A Journey Through History and Bubbles

My recent press trip to Reims, France, gave me a priviliged look into the legendary world of Champagne Taittinger. As Publisher of Connoisseur Magazine UK I’ve experienced many fine offerings, but this was truly special. The visit was more than a tasting; it was a journey back through the centuries, exploring the historic Saint-Nicaise site and its four kilometers of UNESCO-listed cellars—ancient chalk quarries that perfectly age their exquisite wines. Taittinger remains one of the few family-owned Champagne houses, and their unwavering dedication to quality, particularly their signature Chardonnay-focused style, is evident in every detail. From their extensive 288 hectares of vineyards to the family’s philosophy—"In order to obtain gold in our bottles, we first need to have it in our hands"—the entire experience was a masterclass in tradition and craftsmanship.

The highlight was an exclusive dégustation, culminating in the Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs—a true masterpiece only produced in exceptional years and a champagne I now believe belongs on the dinner table, not just as an aperitif. The house is also embracing innovation with the stunning new Polychrome restaurant, offering a monochromatic, art-focused culinary experience paired beautifully with their champagnes. A visit to Taittinger is a profound encounter with history, elegance, and the timeless artistry of one of the world's most revered Maisons. If you're ever in Reims, their unique 'Instant' tours are highly recommended for a truly unforgettable immersion into the 'Art de Vivre.'

02/09/2025

Discovered a fabulous LAVAZZA Cafe not 200 metres from the majestic Galleria Milano were I took respite and sampled some fine and delicate gastronomic delight and on of the great coffees- an Espresso Dopia - no milky coffee for this bloke -certainly not in Italy !

11/08/2025

Your Chance to be Part of Sydney’s Biggest Bottomless Brunch is Here!

Over 15 of Sydney’s hottest venues - including North Bondi Fish, Opera Bar, Chiswick, and Oxford House are teaming up to host Sydney’s Biggest Bottomless Brunch, in an attempt to break a world record. This city-wide event will take place on Saturday, 30 August from 11am to 1pm, and one lucky guest will also win a trip for two to Paris, with flights and accommodation included.



For $95pp, guests will enjoy a bottomless brunch feast featuring exclusive creations by Shadow Baking, alongside a flowing menu of signature ST-GERMAIN cocktails. Every venue will bring something special; whether it's a live DJ or a band, ensuring every seat feels like the best in the house.



The flavour-packed Bottomless Brunch menu includes highlights such as avocado & smoked fetta on Shadow Baking focaccia, prawn cocktail mini crumpets, a signature shakshuka tartlet created especially for the event by Shadow Baking with lamb merguez & soft egg, Shadow Baking custard danish, and coconut yoghurt topped with watermelon, strawberry, and a fragrant elderflower syrup.



As for the drinks, it's all about French-inspired flair, with a bottomless ST-GERMAIN cocktail menu featuring the ST-GERMAIN Hugo Spritz (ST-GERMAIN, prosecco, mint, soda), the crisp White Linen (Bombay Sapphire, ST-GERMAIN, cucumber, lime, soda), and the bold Stealth Margarita (Patrón Silver, ST-GERMAIN, jalapeño, cucumber, lime).



Event Details:

When: Saturday, 30 August l 11am – 1pm
Where: 15 Solotel venues including Opera Bar, Oxford House, Paddo Inn, The Clock, Kings Cross Hotel Rooftop, Chiswick, Bridgeview Hotel and The Golden Sheaf (see full list here)
Cost: $95 per person (includes food & bottomless cocktails)

Bookings: https://www.solotel.com.au/sydneysbiggestbrunch

11/08/2025

A Legacy of Excellence: A Journey Through McWilliam's Cool-Climate Wines and iconic Aged Fortifieds

Sydney,09 August

Written and Photo Credits by Wine Editor, A.Ritenis /Text formatted with Gemini AI

Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a special luncheon and wine tasting hosted by the esteemed McWilliam family at the Private Dining Room of Café Sydney. This exclusive event, a celebration of craft and heritage, offered a rare opportunity to delve into the brand's distinguished style, spanning both their latest cool-climate vintages and a magnificent aged fortified collection.

It’s worth noting that this new chapter for McWilliam's comes after a significant period of change for the historic brand. After entering voluntary administration in 2020, the company was successfully acquired by Calabria Family Wines in 2021. This sale saw the iconic Mount Pleasant winery sold to a separate party, allowing the McWilliam's brand to consolidate its operations around the Griffith winery and recommit its focus to its core portfolio, particularly the cool-climate wines of New South Wales and the highly respected Aged Fortified Port wines.
This new focus on regional expression and the New South Wales provenance,..was at the very heart of the tasting.
The wines on tasting were a testament to McWilliam's focus on showcasing the best of New South Wales' diverse wine regions.

This strategy allows them to produce elegant and balanced wines that truly express their unique regional character all NSW’s wines.

The restaurant dishes from Café Sydney were paired with the wines in the following way:

The starter: The Western Australian octopus with green romesco, fennel caper salsa, puffed rice, and Aleppo pepper was paired with the McWilliam's Single Vineyard Chardonnay Tumbarumba 2024, the McWilliam's 1877 Chardonnay Tumbarumba NSW 2022, and the McWilliam's Single Vineyard Pinot Noir Tumbarumba 2021.

The main course: The beef tenderloin (PICTURED ABOVE )with roasted oyster mushroom and peppercorn sauce was matched with the McWilliam's Single Vineyard Shiraz Canberra District 2021.

The dessert: The salted caramel hazelnut, dulce de leche slice with churros and chocolate ice cream was served with the fortified wines, including the McWilliam's Hanwood Estate 20-Year-Old Rare Topaque, Rare Tawny, and the 30-Year-Old Very Rare Tawny.