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We are still processing our recent trip back to Aotearoa. After four years between visits there were a lot of changes on the dining scene of our original homeland. There are pockets of beautifully restored early century buildings with well-designed streetscapes - such as Britomart downtown and the hip, fun venues in the lovingly restored 19th Century St Kevin's Arcade on K'Rd giving us hope for a bright and innovative future of dining in Aotearoa.
Congratulations Sydney! You made it to the other side of 107 days in Lockdown 2.0. Looking forward to full and buzzy restaurants, sitting at the bar and chatting to our fave staff, making new friends, not wearing a mask outdoors and heading to the cinema on a lazy Friday afternoon. Here's a few shots from our lockdown walks and home delivery experiences from around the hood.
Opening auspiciously on the first day of Spring, Bloom Cafe Aperitivo is a small but fabulous space is bought to you by the very creative Mauro & Amel of House Bar & Bistrot. The cafe is very conveniently situated just behind the restaurant on Kellett Place.
It feels good to duck-up to the front counter of the doorways and windows around the hood and grab our weekly takeaway treat from our favourite people. Even some of the die-hard "we-don't-do-takeaway" businesses are coming to the party now! Moving and taking action always feels better than sitting at home stewing about a situation that feels out of your control.
There's an awful lot of amazing takeaway and delivery options available across the city right now. Sometimes we feel overwhelmed at the sheer amount of offerings inner city Sydney is pumping out! This is an exercise in morale boosting, employment of staff and engagement with the regulars of each small business in each precinct. There is often not a high profit margin in this service, it's really about the businesses staying connected with the community.
We have just completed our first Australian Travel Exchange trade show at the International Convention Centre (ICC) at Darling Harbour. Consisting of a hybrid event of live and online appointments between Buyers and Sellers of the Australian travel industry over a ten day period. Offerings included: accommodation, tours, online travel websites and other services and products suitable for the domestic and overseas markets.
Every six months or so the kids at Dulcie’s create a new cocktail each. They then invite the Quaffing Club - regular bar flys and industry supporters of the bar - to meet and test the new flavours and give our expert option on whether we think the latest inventions pass muster. We are not at liberty to discuss the members or rules of the club, but let’s just say we all know our vermouth from our liqueur and leave it at that.
The idea for SOUL Deli - Sydney’s first Korean brunch café/deli - came from a spur-of-the-moment pivot. When the nation went into the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and husband-and-wife team chef Daero Lee and Illa Kim had to close their Surry Hills contemporary Korean restaurant SOUL Dining, they launched BOWL by SOUL to offer freshly made takeaway rice bowls. The pivot proved hugely popular with locals, many who returned daily, to enjoy the affordable and authentic Korean rice bowls (deopbap), homemade with fresh ingredients.
