Sandi Sieger’s guide to what’s hot and happy(ning) this week. Eat, drink, buy, try, visit, read, be merry.
EAT: 8bit x European Union’s French Cheese Menu (Yes, The Whole Thing)
Melbourne burger institute, 8Bit is currently celebrating French cheese in all its gooey, cheesy glory.
Shayne McCallum, 8Bit co-founder and chef, has jumped into the kitchen to collaborate with Josh Monteiro (Ex Changz Canteen/Changz Hot Sauce) to create exclusive dishes in celebration of Melbourne’s eternal love for burgers and French cheese.
Available until 28th September 2019 is:
The Burger: ‘Sabotage’ – Beef Patty, blue cheese Fourme D’Ambert, bacon, smoked red onion jam, lettuce, 8bit Sauce (house sauce) $16.50
The Side: Potato gems, Raclette cheese sauce, bacon, cornichons, spring onions
Available as a vegetarian option on request $11
Venues: 8-bit CBD: 231 Swanston St, Melbourne CBD ; 8-bit Footscray: 8 Droop St, Footscray
DRINK: Spritzes at Fatto Bar and Cantina
Spring is in the air at riverside favourite Fatto Bar and Cantina and to celebrate it will be serving up $5 Aperol Spritz throughout the whole of September. Alongside the quintessential Italian spritz, a special Italian snack cone filled with 18 month Prosciutto di parma, Mount Zero olives and Bella Lodi raspadura cheese will also be available for just $2.
On Thursday 12 September Trophy Wife will also be joining in the festivities giving those enjoying an Aperol Spritz between 5-8pm the opportunity to have a freshly painted set of nails.
Bookings can be made via Fatto’s website.
TRY: ALLEN’s All-New Less Sugar Lollies
Australia’s favourite confectionery brand ALLEN’S is giving lolly lovers nationwide a reason to smile as it launches a new range of lip-smackingly good lollies made using 25% less sugar*.
ALLEN’S 25% Less Sugar range has been designed to satisfy the soaring demand from Aussies for more natural ingredients.
The two must-try packs have been carefully crafted using all-natural flavours, and without artificial colours or sweeteners and are guaranteed to make your taste buds tingle.
ALLEN’S Grubs come in a fruity mix of five flavours: raspberry, pineapple, apricot, blackberry and lemon, while ALLEN’S Strawbs are bursting with a mouth-watering berry flavour**.
Taking more than 200 days to perfect, each new lolly has undergone over 100 tantalising taste tests to help create the delicious new recipes, which will complement the existing ALLEN’S range.
The ALLEN’S 25% Less Sugar range (RRP $2.95) is available now in Coles, Big W and independent supermarkets nationwide – keep an eye out for the new look packaging inspired by the all-natural flavours.
*Compared to the average amount of sugar in the ALLEN’S jellies range. To create the ALLEN’S 25% Less Sugar range, the total sugar has been reduced and substituted with a soluble dietary fibre. We have not added any artificial sweeteners.
**ALLEN’S Grubs: Features grub shaped lollies in five individual fruity flavours of raspberry, pineapple, apricot, blackberry and lemon. ALLEN’S Strawbs: Features berry flavoured strawberry shapes.
BUY: De Bortoli’s Wine Advent Calendar For The Most Wine-derful Time of the Year
Were you lucky enough to get your hands on Australia’s first ever Wine Advent Calendar last year? The De Bortoli Wines elves have been hard at work to create a new Wine Advent Calendar for 2019, featuring a mix of classic favourites and exciting new wines.
Containing 24 mini-wines made up of 12 different varieties, the limited edition 2019 De Bortoli Wine Advent Calendar is the perfect way to countdown to Christmas with a wine-derful surprise every day in December!
The Advent Calendar is jam-packed with some of De Bortoli’s latest award-winning wines. We don’t want to give too much away, but here’s a sneak peek:
Rosé Rosé – this innovative wine has been making headlines and winning awards for its design and taste.
Pinot G – a definite head-turner with its funky holographic label that shines a whole new light on the popular Pinot Gris varietal
Woodfired Cabernet Sauvignon – De Bortoli’s newest release is just the wine to add some seriously good flavour to summer BBQs.
These and the other great tasting mini-wines in the Advent Calendar are ideal for any festive occasion – sparkling wines to enjoy at Christmas celebrations, white wines and rosé to cool you down on those warm summer days, and a selection of red wines to savour with your evening meal.
RRP: $139
For more information visit debortoli.com.au/adventcalendar
VISIT: Green & Black’s Conscious Café Pop Up
Green & Black’s Conscious Café is a pop-up dining experience that allows you to enjoy a 3-course sensory menu, inspired by the new Green & Black’s Smooth dark chocolate range.
Green & Black’s will bring its Conscious Café at Cremorne’s renowned Glasshaus, in collaboration with a team of like-minded Australians, who share a common ethos of ethics and indulgence.
Running over 4-days, visitors to the Conscious Café will be treated to a three-course zero waste menu, with matching wines, curated by Matt Stone and Jo Barret (of Oakridge, Yarra Valley), featuring an array of Green & Black’s chocolate inspired dishes.
Australian Furniture Designer Mark Tuckey will provide exquisite bespoke furniture for the space, which will be scattered amongst the beautiful living green garden of Glasshaus and an abundance of seasonal florals. Through the Conscious Café collaboration, Green & Black’s has also partnered with aid agency, Save the Children in Australia. The organisation is dedicated to supporting children to reach their full potential. $60 from every ticket sold will go directly to Save the Children’s Hands on Learning Cafes Program in Australia
What: Green & Black’s Conscious Café
When: 12-15 September 2019
Where: Glasshaus, Cremorne
Tickets: www.greenandblacks.com.au/conscious-cafe
READ: A Flair for Hair by Bilyana Di Costanzo
New Holland recently announced a partnership with the Starlight Children’s Foundation as their official Children’s Book Publishing Charity Partner. Together, they will help deliver happiness, and the perfect escape through their fabulous new kids’ publishing program.
New Holland will be filling the libraries of Starlight Express Rooms nation-wide with many happy moments through their delightful books, author appearances, interaction and events.
The Starlight Express Rooms provide a treatment-free respite for seriously ill and hospitalised children and their families. Starlight Express rooms are there to deliver the fun when sick kids and families need it the most.
A Flair For Hair is a humorous look at modern hairstyles put on animals with caricature-style illustrations. The book features bright and engaging illustrations, humorous text appealing to both boys and girls, and rhyming text with high frequency words that help children’s vocabulary and literacy.
A Flair For Hair, New Holland Publishers, RRP $19.99 available in September from all good book retailers or online www.newhollandpublishers.com and will proudly support the Starlight Children’s Foundation.
