Handpicked Wines brings all your favourite things together - and we mean all of them. A taste of Spanish grapes in Australia? Done. A beautifully curated cellar door in the middle of the city? Done. A fun night of wine tasting, DIY cocktails and a delicious selection of charcuterie? Done, done and done.
Nestled on the end of the booming Kensington Street, Handpicked Wines is able to both combine the air of importance that shrouds a winery with the comfortability of your friendly local. With delicious wines at affordable prices too, this is a perfect place for a couple of cheeky mid-week wines, or an upgrade from the local bottle-o for your dinner at Spice Alley.
The Handpicked story is quite simple - they invite you to travel the world one wine at a time. But what we did not anticipate was the fact that we’d actually be able to experience and recognise the great journey on which we were taken. Now, I’m the type of wine drinker who opts for the second cheapest bottle (because its just that most important step up from the cheapest bottle) and can only spare a few, faked opinions about the fullness of a body or the fruitiness of a wine. But with the passionate and hospitable guidance of our sommelier, we came to discover some of the freshest, most unique and complex wines I’ve ever tasted. We were not only continuously surprised and impressed with every glass but taken on a sensory journey that had us picturing ourselves, lounging on the Spanish seaside coast as we sipped on our wine.
It wouldn’t be a wine tasting without some incredible cheese. The selection for charcuterie brings out all the complexities and great flavours of wine - or maybe I just really like my cheese. There’s also freshly cut pieces of meat of which we couldn’t get enough.
We could go on and on about the details of each wine - as we had furiously scribbled down notes to encapsulate our experience. But really, the best way to understand the unique proposition Handpicked Wines brings is to go yourself! Join them for a casual wine tasting and even keep your eyes out for their spectacular events throughout the year. We’ve got our eyes on the wine and yoga!
**ratings: 9.0g edibles | 9.0g value | 9.0g service | 9.0g ambience
Tips: invited to dine as a guest of Handpicked Wines Cellar Door
Nothing says the weekend like a boozy brunch in a beautiful location. Bloody Mary’s Brunch at Gazebo Wine Bar in Darlinghurst ticks all the boxes. Head there any Saturday or Sunday from 10am to 2pm, and you’re bound to have a good time.
I’ll admit, a Bloody Mary is an acquired taste. So, the DIY Bloody Mary bar is perfect for the uninitiated. With all the toppings, spices and herbs even the greatest of Bloody enthusiasts would envy, this brunch lives well and truly up to its name.
Whether outside on the terrace, getting lost in the secret garden vibes or nestled in the slightly more conservatively lit, open place dining room, this brunch is perfect for a party or just a little weekend indulgence.
The food is stock-standard brunch food, with all the classics from avo to mushrooms on a thin, fresh toast. They’re the perfect sustenance to the main event of pre-mixed or DIY bloody mary’s.
Tips: Tiffany dined as a guest on behalf of ningjaeats
For a breakfast sweet treat on a sunny Sunday, indulge your tastebuds in the Tiny Giant’s famous Brioche toast, topped with strawberries, berries, Candian maple and salted caramel, topped with mascarpone and Persian pashmak.
Balancing the sweetness, smash into the scrumptious Pea smash parmesan, enjoying the savoury flavours of aged prociutto, pesto and my favourite – the parmesan crisp. Finally, enjoy the braised flavours of tomato sugo, mushroom and onion in the baked hotpot served with two free ranged eggs. Don’t forget to add some extra spice with chorizo!
Being Sydney and Melbourne’s leading Italian fine food restaurant, it’s only natural that Fratelli Fresh would mix things up and welcome in the warmer months with a brand new Spring menu.
Fratelli Fresh’s new menu heroes the very best of Italian cooking, while also offering light, new summery additions. There’s no mediocre here, Fratelli Fresh showcases Australia’s stunning seafood in homage to the warmer climates, yet also makes sure that their crowd favourite dishes still make an appearance. That’s right everyone, the irresistible zucchini flowers stuffed with five Italian cheeses are still available on the new menu.
Sampling the new spring menu at Fratelli’s brand new Westfield branch in Sydney, the family owned Salumi Australia cured meats make an appearance across a variety of dishes, with my favourite being the ParmaFresh Figs with Stacciatella di Bufala. For main, the Chilli and Lobster Paccheri combines the perfect balance of sweet summer lobster, heat from chilli and fragrance with basil. The paper parcel Black Cod al Cartoccio was also a crowd favourite, with its infused flavours of lemon, tomato, artichoke, dill and olives.
With it’s modern and chic interior, Fratelli’s Westfield store serves breakfast, lunch and dinner for dine in or take away, while still maintaining its promise to provide simple but big flavours with generous portions and the freshest produce.
Sizzle your weekend at the perfect destination for a lazy Sunday brunch with relaxed and welcoming service. Refresh your taste buds with an acai berry bowl, which are very of the moment, but this special house blend of blueberry, banana, almond milk sprinkled with granola and goji berries definitely trumps the rest. Stack on with a slightly more substantial choice, the "So Corny" corn fritters to satisfy cravings with its tasteful combination of tomato salsa, parmesan and perfectly gooey poached egg.
**ratings: 8.0g edibles | 8.0g value | 8.0g service | 8.0g ambience
Tips: Rowena dined as a guest on behalf of ningjaeats
