Sandi Sieger’s guide to what’s hot and happy(ning) this week. Eat, drink, buy, try, visit, be merry.
EAT: Gigi’s Gelato
Gigi’s Gelato is the first Victorian gelateria to be Slow Food accredited, as it received a ‘Snail of Approval’ for its efforts in producing good, clean and fair food.
The Slow Food movement aims to counteract fast food by promoting local food traditions and education around where food comes from and how it is made. Originating in Italy in 1989, it is now celebrated across 160 countries.
The Slow Food Snail of Approval is recognised globally as a symbol of high-quality food, as well as a fair return for both producers and consumers.
The Yarraville gelateria has received a double Snail of Approval – one for its gelato and another for Le Cordon Bleu chef and co-owner Gigi Pozzoli, who handcrafts every flavour using the best ingredients, combined with knowledge and technique that goes back generations.
Gigi’s mission is to bring Melburnians true Italian gelato from the maestros who taught him back in Italy.
For more on Gigi’s Gelato, check out their Instagram.
DRINK: Afloat’s New Pool Club is Now Open with a New Tulum-Inspired Agave Bar
Afloat has opened the “Afloat Pool Club”, a brand-new pool area with an eight-metre-long tiled swimming pool, two four-metre palm trees, a Tulum-inspired agave bar, and a standalone taco hut.
Located on the west end of Afloat’s lower deck, the “Afloat Pool Club” welcomes the return of Afloat’s eight metre tiled swimming pool, fit with imported Italian tiles and an infinity edge facing the afternoon sunsets. Leaning into the rich and vibrant culture of this season’s “Viva Mexico” theme, the “Afloat Pool Club” has its very own poolside Tulum-inspired agave bar, and a nearby taco hut, so you won’t have to wander far for a post-dip sip and snack.
The taco hut – equipped with a grill and hot top – will offer a rotating selection of special tacos, with a hanging chalkboard menu changing from week to week. You might find corn tortillas loaded with grilled, locally-grown cactus and tender beef, crunchy crickets with avocado and tomatillo salsa or a classic Al Pastor, packed with slices of pork shoulder, pineapple, chilli, onion, and coriander.
Over at the agave bar, you’ll find a selection of 60-odd agave products, ranging from tequila, mezcal, sotol and raicilla. The list will evolve throughout the summer, with rotating special pours and limited-edition cocktails from Don Julio, Patron and El Christiano.
There’ll also be margaritas of all tastes and flavours and 10 of Afloat’s signature, tequila-based cocktails including a Spicy Margarita made with Habanero & Pasilla Chillies, Corralejo, Cointreau, Agave Nectar & Lime; a Pornstar Margarita with Jose Cuervo, Cointreau, Passionfruit, Vanilla Cava Syrup, Lime & Champagne Foam; and a Yuzu Margarita with Espolon, Marionette Curacao, Okabayashi, Yuzu, Cilantro Salt & Lime.
For particularly warm afternoons, a short but sweet selection of boozy Paleta Popsicles will also be exclusively available from the poolside agave bar. The menu includes flavours like Aperol Spritz, Pink Gin & Tonic, Blue Yuzu Margarita, Spicy Margarita, Kiwi Mojito, Watermelon & Strawberry Spritz, Pineapple Jalapeño Margarita (NON) and Elderflower & Apple Spritz (NON).
TRY: Mys Tyler’s AI Stylist
Body-relevant social commerce app, Mys Tyler, has announced the launch of its latest in-app feature, Mys Tyler AI Stylist, utilising generative AI to serveup hyper-personalised shopping and style advice to app users.
Mys Tyler founder Sarah Neill said, “The launch of Mys Tyler’s AI Stylist is like having a personal stylist in your pocket 24/7. We’re bringing together the expertise of our Fashion Contributors and the power of AI to give users on-demand, personalised advice and recommendations.”
Launched in 2020, Mys Tyler now serves over 500,000 women across the world and the team continues to innovate the shopping experience with a focus on finding the best fit for shoppers, amplifying diversity, and serving up hyper-relevant content to consumers.
Mys Tyler’s AI Stylist will roll out on the app in two phases, with the first phase now live and phase two following in early 2024.
The first phase will allow Mys Tyler Pro users to ask fashion questions, like “What should I wear to a wedding in Hawaii?’, or ‘What’s a good pair of white sneakers I can wear with a dress for under $200?’. The AI Stylist considers the user’s body data – shape, size, height, colouring, age and style preferences– to deliver an immediate response. Questions can then be opened up to Mys Tyler’s Fashion Contributors for additional advice and recommendations. This process will create an ever-growing online hub of fashion Q&As that all users will have access to.
Phase two is currently in a significant research and development stage, with Mys Tyler training an AI model using the app’s image data. When this feature goes live, Mys Tyler’s AI Stylist will not only offer advice to consumers based on the style questions they’ve asked, but it will also provide a selection of outfit recommendations sourced from the app’s image database. This will allow consumers to easily visualise how these outfits appear on individuals with similar body types and directly shop for them through the app.
Mys Tyler is available for download via Google Play and App Store.
BUY: Make My Shave’s Vegan Razor Blades
Since launching in 2021, Make My Shave has been making waves in the shaving market by redefining the female shaving experience. This Australian brand is all about delivering a smoother and more sustainable approach to female shave care. And now, they’re stepping up the game even further having launched the first ever Vegan Australia Certified women’s razor.
Inspired by a desire for a better way to shave, their new vegan blades are crafted with precision, using 100% vegan-friendly materials that are cruelty-free and gentle on your skin while delivering a flawlessly close, comfortable shave.
What truly sets Make My Shave apart is their unswerving commitment to authenticity, and they’re not just stopping at lip service. While many brands may claim to be vegan, the journey of verifying each ingredient for authenticity can be complex and rigorous. Here’s where Make My Shave takes a leap forward. They’ve not only made the declaration but have taken the decisive step of securing the seal of approval from Vegan Australia.
Make My Shave is not just shaving; they’re pioneering a movement where ethics, authenticity, and innovation come together to redefine beauty and care. In their journey to transform the shaving experience, the brand is propelling the industry towards a more sustainable and ethical future, one shave at a time. Their products are a breeze to use, they get the job done, better than any razor I’ve used. Five stars.
For more on Make My Shave, please click here.
VISIT: Sunday Xmas Market at Izakaya by Tamura & Friends
Sunday Market at Izakaya by Tamura will be held at 343 Smith Street, Fitzroy on Sundays 3, 10 & 17 December with some talented Japanese artists and friends.
Stalls include records, Kimono, Japanese tea, nama chocolates, temporary tattoos, upcycling items and more.
They will have DJs, live takoyaki, drink specials and Tamura sho-ten will have our their merchandise on sale, too. There’ll be a heap of great and unique Christmas gift options, too.
For more info, please visit their website.