Chocolate is not something normally associated with an ethical stance. It has long been the guilty pleasure snuck late at night in darkened kitchens, or secretly indulged in from a stash in the office drawers. It’s a food steeped in sin for being decadent, delicious and often the subject of glutinous greed.

But Rebecca Kerswell, owner of Coco Chocolate, is an artist who works in the medium of chocolate and she is championing ethical production and good taste with her strictly regulated standards of production.   From her boutique shops in Kirribilli, Mosman and Edinburgh, Rebecca produces organic, GM free, gluten free, vegan, and fair-trade chocolate. You practically become a better person just by eating it! Read the rest of Estelles article about Coco Chocolate»

In the 1920s, a new Sydneysider was born. She smoked, she drank and she danced at the Strawberry Hills Hotel, then called the Southern Cross and newly refurbished in Art Deco style – and listened to the ‘new’ jazz.

It is only appropriate that a little of the glamour of that flapper era is retained in the newly restored Strawberry Hills Hotel, which has now re-opened. You can see it in the art deco windows, the twenties style pub tiles and the State Theatre carpet which takes you upstairs to the hotel’s bistro and decked garden.

It’s six million dollar renovation of its nineteenth century premises in Sydney’s Surry Hills  is the hotel’s first major restoration since it was redesigned in 1921 by then renowned hotel architect, Sidney Warden. According to the hotel’s general manager, Brenden Lawless, the refurbished hotel is ‘deliberately a classic pub, not a bar with an identity crisis’.

The restoration has transformed one of the inner city’s largest pubs into a mixture of 1920s glamour and modern ease, with a stunning second floor beer garden, an outrageously glitzy ‘original Vegas’ gaming room and an atrium of large glass windows for light and air flow.  And the hotel, which has a 24 hour licence, will open its doors with a refreshing attitude, serving gourmet cuisine at bistro prices

What: Strawberry Hills Hotel
Where: 453 Elizabeth St (on the corner of Devonshire St), Surry Hills NSW
When: Open now
How: brendenlawless {at} hotmail(.)com or 0411493300

How do you experience the esteemed Yarra Valley wineries if you’re broke and don’t drive?  Now there’s a dilemma many students philosophise over as they recline into their second-hand couches sipping three-dollar merlot.  Most decide that it’s not possible, that it’s an experience reserved for the wealthy, and recline further – resigning to live vicariously through an episode of Getaway.  I am one of those broke students with no car.  Luckily (?!) for me I have one of those darling girlfriends who just loooves an adventure; the more ambitious, the better.  Now throw in a couple of recently purchased second hand push-bikes to the mix and I was faced with the recipe for a beautiful disaster; its bittersweet taste not easily forgotten.

The toasty interior of the Flinders to Lilydale train allowed a temporary escape from the harsh reality of Melbourne’s furious winds outside.  At bang on midday we sat down at Danielle’s Cafe (conveniently located directly opposite Lilydale train station) with a map marking the wineries around the region.  With well over 50 estates within a 30 kilometre radius, we sought the advice of the friendly blokes at Yarra Valley Cycles (conveniently located two doors down from the cafe).  They drew a few squiggles and wished us luck.  A quick gulp of Danielle’s enlivening latte, a cautious glance at the brooding weather clouds overhead and we were off:  pedalling down the B300 highway at the steady pace of 11 km/h, alongside the thunderous cavalcade of hurtling trucks and semi-trailers blowing their warm welcome of horns and jeers.  Viva la adventure!

Read more about the Yarra Valley»

Do you remember the floury golden goodness of the pastry treats of your youth? You know… when you used to eat carbs.

Fingers of gooey dough, studded with raisins and lashings of pink icing. Custardy slices, strawberry and mock cream-stuffed neenish tarts, what next is the question… rich gentlemen have it, boys, in-di-gestion!

Sorry, Oliver aside, we do want more but then there seems to be a drought in Sydney. We will now refer to it as The Great Cake Shop Drought and, I’m afraid, it ushered in the canary-yellow, crumbly, hardened pastry that has permeated suburbia.  I’m sure I don’t need to remind you this has been followed by heavy, too-floury cupcakes, soggy pastry, thin icing, sickly-sweet aerated cream-substitute and a general reduction of apple filling all round. Read all about The Great Aussie Cake Shop»

“Festival director Joanna Savill is a journalist, presenter, linguist and world traveller, with a particular fascination for food, wherever she may find it.

This is her second year in the director’s chair, after an enormously successful inaugural festival in 2009 – during which more than 300,000 people attended a massive 438 individual events ”

Read below as Two Flat Whites roving reporter Arno Billard asked Joanna Savill a few questions about the Crave Sydney International Food Festival. Read Arnos Interview with Joanna Savill»

For one night only 7 of Sydney’s best Restaurateurs and Front of House Managers serve up a 6 course feast – part of the Crave Festival

Seven of Sydney’s most outstanding Restaurateurs and Front of House Managers gather on one special night to present signature dishes from their restaurants matched to their favourite wine. Sarah Wilson will MC this fun evening of beautiful food and wine and top service.

The All Stars are donating their time and food/wine to allow proceeds from the evening to support StreetSmart Australia.  The event has been kindly support by The Sydney International Food Festival – CRAVE.

Your Front Of House All Stars are:
Tim Connell – Coast
Sam Christie – Longrain
John Fink – Otto
Howard Flannigan – Bistrode CBD (with Jeremy Strode)
Colin Nelson/Charles Leung – Sailors Thai (with Janni Kyritsis — ex MG Garage)
Stuart Knox – Fix St James

When: Sunday 24th October 2010 – 6:30pm for 7pm
Where: Coast Restaurant, Cockle Bay Wharf
Price: $155.00 per person, 6 courses with wine all inclusive

Bookings and Enquiries:
Phone: 02 9267 6700
Email: reservations {at} coastrestaurant.com(.)au

On Monday Design Federation popped into a construction site in Paddington to check out some magic being made. Photographer, Phu Tang, was shooting his “Shoot The Chef” submission featuring English chef, Jamie Thomas, the food maestro for new restaurant Avido.  

Amid the drilling, concrete dust, sparkies and cement pouring, Tang had his chef (ex Victor Churchill) perched on some scaffolding sharpening his knives in a vaguely psychopathic manner. While the swirling chaos of the restaurant reno moving at pace around them (afterall, doors are scheduled to be swinging open late September) Thomas maintained a stronghold over serenity.  

To further the zen and ambience of the place, enter Matt Woods, new kid on the block when it comes to designer interiors. He’s handling look and feel which was still an unrealised vision on Monday but rumour is, the place will look wicked and if sustainably designed Bloodwood - Matt’s last project – is anything to go by, we should expect to be impressed.

This week, the venue that was formerly home to Cupcake Bakery & Hot Gossips cafe, will begin transformations into Oxford Street’s newest food and wine haven, AVIDO.

AVIDO will be an 80 seat restaurant and wine garden that aims to bring a new style of culinary experience to locals.  The name AVIDO translates in Italian & Spanish, to greedy or hungry and thirsty, reflecting the focus on sharing great food & wine with friends. Read all about Avido»

Last night the Electrolux Appetite for Excellence 2010 national winners were announced at an exclusive reception held at the Electrolux Showcase, Sydney, attended by Australia’s leading chefs, restaurateurs and food industry luminaries. 

The 2010 Electrolux Appetite for Excellence winners across three award categories are:  Read who won the Electrolux Young Chef of the year»