AUSTRALIAN - MW May2012
1
Food & Travel PERSONAL OZ THE WELL HEALED TRAVELLER From post-surgery recovery to spiritual awakening, wellness tourism is the shot SUSAN KUROSAWA The Byron Bay Detox Retreat includes a one-week ‘purification holiday’ in Bali that brings together naturapathy, yoga, meditation, hydrotherapy, fasting and massage The Mountain Whispers cottage Varenna in the Blue Mountains TO recover from surgery or serious medical treatment, many Australians long for the kind of privacy and healing atmosphere not always found at home or at mainstream hotels and resorts. Enter the prospect of ‘‘patient recovery holidays’’, a trend being promoted by tourism operator Lorraine Allanson, who lives in the Blue Mountains west of Sydney. This region is known for its tranquil and timeless scenery and clear, invigorating air, which dec- ades ago was sold in cans to weary holidaymakers from the plains and still attracts urbanites filling their lungs with nature’s purest. Allanson runs Mountain Whis- pers, a boutique portfolio of self- contained heritage homes for rent. In the past two years she’s noticed more of her guests have included cancer and heart disease patients who’ve been through long-term treatment and are ‘‘looking for a refreshing and soothing change from city life and hospital rooms’’. ‘‘We’ve had cancer patients come here to switch off, allowing their bodies and minds to heal. While the travel and hospitality industry caters to (those who go on) fun-driven holidays, it is equally important to cater to those on recovery holidays.’’ Allanson has lost two family members to cancer and another is undergoing protracted treatment. She has seen ‘‘the suffering, pain and loss such diseases cause’’ and ‘‘understands the importance of support and creating a comfort- able and safe environment not just for those who are recovering, but for terminally ill patients who want to create special memories with their loved ones’’. Apart from providing moral support and special attention to her guests in recovery, Allanson has qualified massage therapists on call and can cater to dietary needs in the tariff-included break- fasts. The district hospital is less than 2km from each property and urgent medical attention can be arranged if required. The Moun- tain Whispers range of cottages covers Varenna, Leura Rose, Strawberry Patch and The Gatsby, all of which have been awarded T-QUAL accreditation, the federal government’s quality benchmark for the tourism indus- try. Guests can expect multiple bedrooms, with space for carers and family, four-poster beds, luxury bathrooms and a deep level of comfort. Other tourism operators are hopping on the wellness wagon with promises of spiritual healing and cosmetic procedures at rates well below the Australian norm. A collaboration between Desa Seni Resort and Byron Bay Detox Retreats includes a one-week ‘‘purification holiday’’ in Bali from June 14-21. Think fasting on juice made from Desa Seni’s organic vegetable garden (supplemented by coconut water, herbal teas and broths), yoga, meditation, colonic hydrotherapy and Balinese massage. ‘‘The retreat will bring together naturopathy and Balinese spiritu- ality,’’ says Natalie Purcell of Byron Bay Detox Retreats. ‘‘An opening ceremony with a Balinese monk or priestess will prepare retreaters for their journey. ‘‘We’ll also have consultations and seminars about detoxification and use specialised supplements.’’ Also in Bali, Bliss Sanctuary for Women at Berawa, Canggu, which is 10 minutes by car north of Seminyak, has seven-day pack- ages that focus on diagnostic and relaxing massages, unlimited yoga, cooking classes and options such as tarot-card readings. ‘‘It’s a place in which to seek a highly personalised version of extreme relaxation,’’ wrote travel journalist Helen Anderson, who recently completed the seven-day program. ‘‘I sweated, inhaled and chanted my way through 90-minute sessions of kundalini, hatha and ashtanga yoga, sound meditation and an exhilarating dance-like-no-one’s-watching hybrid known as NIA (non- impact aerobics), combining mar- tial arts, yoga, nightclubbing and meditation.’’ In southern Thailand, Asia’s only medically licensed rehabili- tation and detoxification centre is promoting ‘‘unique new personal- ised solutions for addictions’’. Bhavana Phuket is billed as a ‘‘boutique rehabilitation centre’’ set on a beachfront estate with 17 guestrooms, and claims all patients receive ‘‘highly personal- ised treatment and focused atten- tion to ensure their recovery stays on track’’. Bhavana Phuket’s flagship BEAT (Bhavana Evaluation As- sessment Treatment) alcohol detox programs can be taken for a minimum of seven days. Founder and chief executive Dr Kai Goh, an internationally acknowledged addiction specialist, says the pro- grams can be tailored for periods of about 10 days to ‘‘address addic- tions to sleeping pills, prescription drugs, opiates and party drugs’’. Says Goh: ‘‘The BEAT (process of) short-term addiction manage- ment (is for) anyone who is not yet ready — or does not have the time — to commit to comprehensive treatment.’’ The initial detox treatment restores the patient’s physical health, says Goh, supported by a clinical team ‘‘providing a crucial opportunity to gain understand- ing and insight into the personal issues that have led to the individ- ual’s dependency’’. Forms of anxiety, phobias and post-traumatic stress are also dis- orders that can be treated using Bhavana’s integrated approach. On a lighter note, Bali is leading the ‘‘spa extras’’ revolution. Boutique resort Semara Semin- yak offers a 30-minute teeth- whitening service promising to make choppers ‘‘between three and 10 shades lighter’’ for about $170. Resort spokesman Sean Waddington says the procedure is approved by strict European stan- dards and is safe for gums and enamel. ‘‘The spa’s experienced therapists use a high-intensity lamp, mouthpiece and whitening gel with the active ingredient sodium perborate to achieve the sparkling results. The spa does not use UV lamps or peroxide.’’ Sounds like a holiday to keep you smiling. R 16 THE AUSTRALIAN, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013 www.theaustralian.com.au QUICK BITE Depot Auckland The pitch? Local chef-hero Al Brown’s rocking, rollicking, all-day restaurant is one of Auckland’s hottest dining tickets. The reality? A table here, inside or out, really is worth fighting for (there are no bookings): the place has more positive energy than the Dalai Lama. Bare tables, mismatched cutlery in old mackerel cans and the rest of the fun, depot-styled room might lead you to suspect that the big investment has been in the food. The cuisine? I want to eat here five nights a week. A one-page menu kicks off with seafood from the raw bar, moves on to local charcuterie and share plates. It’s compact, and compelling. Highlights? Everything we ate. Clams and oysters served on ice shards; fig toasties with prosciutto & Kingsmeade blue and arugula; cumin-battered warehou tortillas with slaw; and a brilliant hapuka belly with eggplant kasundi (NZ hapuka is far better than ours). The wines — 22 by the glass, all but two from NZ. The high- energy staff, especially the manager who sweeps under the table between sittings . . . Lowlights? It’s a fair hike from Oz. And I’m not too thrilled about drinking wine from cafe ´ glasses. The damage? Small plates $NZ15-$NZ18, bigger plates $NZ24-$NZ32. More: eatatdepot.co.nz NECIA WILDEN MAX FACTOR 2012 Scorpo pinot gris MORNINGTON PENINSULA $29-$37 WHEN it’s good, pinot gris provides one of the most luxurious, hedonistic drinking experiences — the kind of rich, textural white wine that makes you crave pate or buttery lobster. And this is a good one: glorious perfume of spiced nectarines, a creaminess that sits plumply on the tongue and a long, dry-ish finish. The prices above are for selected independent retail stores and direct from the vineyard. THE MARK-UP: The wine is available in some wine bars and restaurants for between $55 and $80 a bottle. scorpowines.com.au MAX ALLEN FIRST BITE JOHN LETHLEAN ANOTHER nail in the coffin of Westfield Sydney as a restaurant destination? You’d have to say so as Pizza Six (nee Spiedo) quietly disappeared last week, a long- inevitable white flag for restaurateur/chef Alessandro Pavoni of Ormeggio renown. Pavoni launched Spiedo alongside other smart dining outlets (anyone remember Becasse?), but ultimately realised the centre’s demographics were all wrong for rustic, regional Italian cuisine. So it went downmarket with pizza and pasta about six months ago. ‘‘I just didn’t want to do that kind of food myself,’’ says Pavoni. ‘‘I mean, the business was good, but I prefer to concentrate 120 per cent on Ormeggio.’’ CHEF Damien Heads is pondering his next move after resigning from the Pony Group last week, a step that follows the successful launch of the group’s third restaurant, at Brisbane’s Eagle Street Pier, last year. The group has two other Pony restaurants, at Sydney’s The Rocks and Neutral Bay. Heads says the regular interstate work in Brisbane wasn’t working for him or his young family, and that after the sale of the Steel Bar & Grill earlier this year, there was less actual cooking for him than had previously been the case. ‘‘It had really just become an admin role,’’ he says. Heads remains a partner in Pony Neutral Bay. BRISBANE’S Moubarak brothers, savouring a critical hit with Gerard’s Bistro (they also have Fortitude Valley’s Laruche Bar and West End’s Lychee Lounge) are set to open their next food-oriented venture. Elie, Johnny and Mel Moubarak have signed a lease to open Hatch & Co, a 150-seat venture for ‘‘home- style food’’ with wood-oven pizza a feature, at the emerging Gasworks urban renewal precinct in Newstead. They hope to be open by mid-July, although no head chef has been engaged as yet. An interior theme of ‘‘raw timber, steel mesh ceilings and concrete floors . . . will complement the Gasworks steel structure’’, we’re told. With a background in bars, Gerard’s has proven a savvy toe in the waters of dining for the businessmen, taking out several important awards in its first year. IN more Brisbane movement, bistro king Philip Johnson has farewelled his head chefs at both his restaurants, Bistro One Eleven and e’cco. Who’d want to be a boss? Norman Harvey (e’cco) has quit to join Alfred & Constance, but in a bizarre love- triangle twist, A & C’s Mathias Andersson has quit for the head chef’s position at . . . Bistro One Eleven, replacing departing head chef Damien Draper. If you’re still with me, One Eleven’s senior sous chef Sam Brading is going over to Johnson’s e’cco as the new head chef. And Harvey will move to Alfred & Constance owner Damian Griffiths’ new pizzeria Alfredo’s when it opens later this year. Phew. ‘‘NO pressure, really,’’ says Peter Conistis, the Sydney chef most closely associated with modern Greek cuisine in that city, proving he hasn’t lost his sense of humour, despite career ups and downs, as he speaks about the massive new venture in Castlereagh Street he’s fronting on behalf of Sydney’s Hellenic Club. ‘‘Four million has been spent just on reconstruction, and that’s before we get into design and fitout. One executive chef, so, no pressure on me at all.’’ For about 40 years, the historic site has been owned by the Hellenic Club, but it has been little more than ‘‘a hotel for pigeons’’, says Conistis, who came on board as exec chef last year to turn Alpha, as the various outlets will be collectively known, into reality. The ground floor will include a meze bar, cafe, Greek cantina and produce store. It’s due to open within six weeks, with design work by Sydney’s DS17. ‘‘I’ve never worked on a project at such a grand level,’’ says Conistis. It is indeed a grand, indulgent project, for in six months, a first-floor restaurant — as yet unnamed — will open, a place for the chef to ply his trade. ‘‘I haven’t cooked for anyone in two years,’’ he says. ‘‘I cannot wait.’’ [email protected] IN PERSONAL OZ TOMORROW FASHION Does my lapel look big in this? The changing shape of men’s suits WHERE THERE’S SMOKE Concern about a family member smoking HEALTH NATIONAL 45% MEN 39% WOMEN 50% SMOKER 5% FORMER SMOKER 54% NON-SMOKER 42% SOURCE: PURE PROFILE SURVEY 2013 WO 50 SM 5% FO 54% NO 42% SOU FLYING FLYING ALL motorists recognise Australian airports as ruthless fiscal vampires when it comes to short-term parking charges. But whether they suck the marrow from your bones or just leave you anaemic and confused depends on location. Australian Competition & Consumer Commission figures show Sydney airport in 2011-12 applied Dyson-like suction to its motorist victims to relieve them of $16 for the first hour, while those parking in Adelaide paid just a quarter of that amount. Perth was also at the low end of the spectrum at $6 an hour, while Melbourne charged $12 and the parking Nosferatu in Brisbane levied $14. STEVE CREEDY FASHION FASHION JULES Lander spent a year travelling and collecting gorgeous pieces of contemporary jewellery from cities including New York, London and Milan. To meet the appetite of fellow jewellery lovers wanting to avoid the jetlag, she has since very kindly started an online store, Eve Adorned, show- casing the work of some of the designers she discovered during her travels, including Anton Heunis, Rebekah Price and Katerina Psoma (Serpent earrings, $192, pictured). The Eve Exclusive section features one-off designs. Everything is pretty much in the ‘‘statement’’ realm of jewellery, so be prepared to make an impact. Head to eveadorned.com if you want to yield to temptation. GLYNIS TRAILL-NASH CARS CARS ONE of the year’s hottest segments is compact SUVs, which could do to hatchbacks what big off- roaders have already done to large sedans. They offer a command driving position and plenty of space, but take up no more room than a small car. With a dozen models, demand is up 21 per cent to date and the Hyundai ix35 is top with one in four buyers. However, a flood of fresh product from August will multiply choices, with newcomers including the Holden Trax and sibling car the Opel Mokka (pictured) just confirmed, plus the Nissan Juke and Peugeot 2008, while the Ford EcoSport and Renault Captur are due early next year. PHILIP KING GADGETS GADGETS WANT a chatty caddy sitting on your wrist, on your belt or hat? GolfBuddy has released the Voice+, a tiny GPS rangefinder that’s preloaded with more than 36,000 golf courses worldwide and more than 1000 in Australia. Button presses tell you distances to the front, centre and back of the green, based on GPS position. It automatically recognises the course and hole you are on, and has a dynamically rotating view of the green. It will speak distances in any of 10 languages or you can view them. Promised battery life is 11 hours, enough for two rounds of golf, and it’s tournament approved. $220. CHRIS GRIFFITH FITNESS FITNESS HITTING the pavement for a run burns fat like nothing else, but as the mercury plunges, it gets harder to find the motiva- tion. One solution is to have a goal, such as one of the dozens of fun runs around the nation. Give yourself at least eight weeks to train and stick to a program. Here are some options: City2South (Brisbane, June 16, city2south.com.au); City to Surf (Sydney, Aug 11, city2surf.com.au); City-Bay Fun Run (Adelaide, Sept 15, city-bay.org.au); Sydney Run- ning Festival (Sept 22, sydney- runningfestival.com.au); Mel- bourne Marathon Festival (Oct 13, melbournemarathon.- com.au); Bridges Fun Run (Perth, April 7, wamc.org.au). WALLY MASON
-
Upload
lorraine-allanson -
Category
Documents
-
view
23 -
download
2
Transcript of AUSTRALIAN - MW May2012
Food & TravelPERSONAL OZ
THE WELL HEALEDTRAVELLER
From post-surgery recovery to spiritual awakening, wellness tourism is the shot
SUSAN KUROSAWA
The Byron Bay Detox Retreat includes a one-week ‘purification holiday’ in Bali that brings together naturapathy, yoga, meditation, hydrotherapy, fasting and massage
The Mountain Whispers cottage Varenna in the Blue Mountains
TO recover from surgery orserious medical treatment, manyAustralians long for the kind ofprivacy and healing atmospherenot always found at home or atmainstream hotels and resorts.
Enter the prospect of ‘‘patientrecovery holidays’’, a trend beingpromoted by tourism operatorLorraine Allanson, who lives inthe Blue Mountains west ofSydney.
This region is known for itstranquil and timeless scenery andclear, invigorating air, which dec-ades ago was sold in cans to wearyholidaymakers from the plainsand still attracts urbanites fillingtheir lungs with nature’s purest.
Allanson runsMountain Whis-pers, a boutique portfolio of self-contained heritage homes forrent. In the past two years she’snoticed more of her guests haveincluded cancer and heart diseasepatients who’ve been throughlong-term treatment and are‘‘looking for a refreshing andsoothing change from city life andhospital rooms’’.
‘‘We’ve had cancer patientscome here to switch off, allowingtheir bodies and minds to heal.While the travel and hospitalityindustry caters to (those who goon) fun-driven holidays, it is
equally important tocater to thoseon recovery holidays.’’
Allanson has lost two familymembers to cancer and another isundergoing protracted treatment.She has seen ‘‘the suffering, painand loss such diseases cause’’ and‘‘understands the importance ofsupport and creating a comfort-able andsafe environmentnot justfor those who are recovering, butfor terminally ill patients whowant to create special memorieswith their loved ones’’.
Apart from providing moralsupport and special attention toher guests in recovery, Allansonhas qualified massage therapistson call and can cater to dietaryneeds in the tariff-included break-fasts. The district hospital is lessthan 2km from each property andurgent medical attention can bearranged if required. The Moun-tain Whispers range of cottagescovers Varenna, Leura Rose,Strawberry Patch and TheGatsby, all of which have beenawarded T-QUAL accreditation,the federal government’s qualitybenchmark for the tourism indus-try. Guests can expect multiplebedrooms, with space for carersand family, four-poster beds,luxury bathrooms and a deep levelof comfort.
Other tourism operators arehopping on the wellness wagonwith promises of spiritual healingand cosmetic procedures at rateswell below the Australian norm.
A collaboration between DesaSeni Resort and Byron Bay DetoxRetreats includes a one-week‘‘purification holiday’’ in Bali fromJune 14-21. Think fasting on juicemade from Desa Seni’s organicvegetable garden (supplementedby coconut water, herbal teas andbroths), yoga, meditation, colonichydrotherapy and Balinesemassage.
‘‘The retreat will bring togethernaturopathy and Balinese spiritu-ality,’’ says Natalie Purcell ofByron Bay Detox Retreats. ‘‘An
openingceremonywithaBalinesemonk or priestess will prepareretreaters for their journey.
‘‘We’ll also have consultationsand seminars about detoxificationand use specialised supplements.’’
Also in Bali, Bliss Sanctuary forWomen at Berawa, Canggu,which is 10 minutes by car north ofSeminyak, has seven-day pack-ages that focus on diagnostic andrelaxing massages, unlimitedyoga, cooking classes and optionssuch as tarot-card readings.
‘‘It’s a place in which to seek ahighly personalised version ofextreme relaxation,’’ wrote traveljournalist Helen Anderson, whorecently completed the seven-dayprogram. ‘‘I sweated, inhaled and
chanted my way through90-minute sessions of kundalini,hatha and ashtanga yoga, soundmeditation and an exhilaratingdance-like-no-one’s-watchinghybrid known as NIA (non-impact aerobics), combining mar-tial arts, yoga, nightclubbing andmeditation.’’
In southern Thailand, Asia’sonly medically licensed rehabili-tation and detoxification centre ispromoting ‘‘unique new personal-ised solutions for addictions’’.
Bhavana Phuket is billed as a‘‘boutique rehabilitation centre’’set on a beachfront estate with17 guestrooms, and claims allpatients receive ‘‘highly personal-ised treatment and focused atten-tion to ensure their recovery stayson track’’.
Bhavana Phuket’s flagshipBEAT (Bhavana Evaluation As-sessment Treatment) alcoholdetox programs can be taken for aminimum of seven days. Founderand chief executive Dr Kai Goh,an internationally acknowledgedaddiction specialist, says the pro-grams can be tailored for periodsof about 10 days to ‘‘address addic-tions to sleeping pills, prescriptiondrugs, opiates and party drugs’’.
Says Goh: ‘‘The BEAT (processof) short-term addiction manage-
ment (is for) anyone who is not yetready — or does not have the time— to commit to comprehensivetreatment.’’
The initial detox treatmentrestores the patient’s physicalhealth, says Goh, supported by aclinical team ‘‘providing a crucialopportunity to gain understand-ing and insight into the personalissues that have led to the individ-ual’s dependency’’.
Forms of anxiety, phobias andpost-traumatic stress are also dis-orders that can be treated usingBhavana’s integrated approach.
Ona lighternote,Bali is leadingthe ‘‘spa extras’’ revolution.Boutique resort Semara Semin-yak offers a 30-minute teeth-whitening service promising tomake choppers ‘‘between threeand 10 shades lighter’’ for about$170. Resort spokesman SeanWaddington says the procedure isapproved by strict European stan-dards and is safe for gums andenamel. ‘‘The spa’s experiencedtherapists use a high-intensitylamp, mouthpiece and whiteninggel with the active ingredientsodium perborate to achieve thesparkling results. The spa does notuse UV lamps or peroxide.’’
Sounds like a holiday to keepyou smiling.
R
16 THE AUSTRALIAN, TUESDAY, MAY 7, 2013www.theaustralian.com.au QUICK
BITE
DepotAuckland
The pitch?Local chef-hero Al Brown’srocking, rollicking, all-dayrestaurant is one of Auckland’shottest dining tickets.
The reality?A table here, inside or out, really isworth fighting for (there are nobookings): the place has morepositive energy than the DalaiLama. Bare tables, mismatchedcutlery in old mackerel cans andthe rest of the fun, depot-styledroom might lead you to suspectthat the big investment has beenin the food.
The cuisine?I want to eat here five nights aweek. A one-page menu kicks offwith seafood from the raw bar,moves on to local charcuterie andshare plates. It’s compact, andcompelling.
Highlights?Everything we ate. Clams andoysters served on ice shards; figtoasties with prosciutto &Kingsmeade blue and arugula;cumin-battered warehou tortillaswith slaw; and a brilliant hapukabelly with eggplant kasundi (NZhapuka is far better than ours).
The wines — 22 by the glass, allbut two from NZ. The high-energy staff, especially themanager who sweeps under thetable between sittings . . .
Lowlights?It’s a fair hike from Oz. And I’mnot too thrilled about drinkingwine from cafe glasses.
The damage?Small plates $NZ15-$NZ18, biggerplates $NZ24-$NZ32.
More: eatatdepot.co.nzNECIA WILDEN
MAXFACTOR
2012 Scorpo pinot grisMORNINGTON PENINSULA $29-$37
WHEN it’s good, pinot gris provides one of themost luxurious, hedonistic drinking experiences— the kind of rich, textural white wine thatmakes you crave pate or buttery lobster. Andthis is a good one: glorious perfume of spicednectarines, a creaminess that sits plumply on thetongue and a long, dry-ish finish. The pricesabove are for selected independent retail storesand direct from the vineyard.THE MARK-UP: The wine is available in somewine bars and restaurants for between $55 and$80 a bottle. scorpowines.com.au
MAX ALLEN
FIRST BITEJOHNLETHLEAN
ANOTHER nail in the coffin ofWestfield Sydney as a restaurantdestination? You’d have to say soas Pizza Six (nee Spiedo) quietlydisappeared last week, a long-inevitable white flag forrestaurateur/chef AlessandroPavoni of Ormeggio renown.Pavoni launched Spiedoalongside other smart diningoutlets (anyone rememberBecasse?), but ultimately realisedthe centre’s demographics wereall wrong for rustic, regionalItalian cuisine. So it wentdownmarket with pizza and pastaabout six months ago. ‘‘I justdidn’t want to do that kind of foodmyself,’’ says Pavoni. ‘‘I mean, thebusiness was good, but I prefer toconcentrate 120 per cent onOrmeggio.’’
CHEF Damien Heads ispondering his next move afterresigning from the Pony Grouplast week, a step that follows thesuccessful launch of the group’sthird restaurant, at Brisbane’sEagle Street Pier, last year. Thegroup has two other Ponyrestaurants, at Sydney’s TheRocks and Neutral Bay. Headssays the regular interstate workin Brisbane wasn’t working forhim or his young family, and thatafter the sale of the Steel Bar &Grill earlier this year, there wasless actual cooking for him thanhad previously been the case. ‘‘Ithad really just become an adminrole,’’ he says. Heads remains apartner in Pony Neutral Bay.
BRISBANE’S Moubarakbrothers, savouring a critical hitwith Gerard’s Bistro (they alsohave Fortitude Valley’s LarucheBar and West End’s LycheeLounge) are set to open their nextfood-oriented venture. Elie,Johnny and Mel Moubarak havesigned a lease to open Hatch &Co, a 150-seat venture for ‘‘home-style food’’ with wood-oven pizzaa feature, at the emerging
Gasworks urban renewalprecinct in Newstead. They hopeto be open by mid-July, althoughno head chef has been engaged asyet. An interior theme of ‘‘rawtimber, steel mesh ceilings andconcrete floors . . . willcomplement the Gasworks steelstructure’’, we’re told. With abackground in bars, Gerard’s hasproven a savvy toe in the watersof dining for the businessmen,taking out several importantawards in its first year.
IN more Brisbane movement,bistro king Philip Johnson hasfarewelled his head chefs at bothhis restaurants, Bistro OneEleven and e’cco. Who’d want tobe a boss? Norman Harvey(e’cco) has quit to join Alfred &Constance, but in a bizarre love-triangle twist, A & C’s MathiasAndersson has quit for the headchef’s position at . . . Bistro OneEleven, replacing departing headchef Damien Draper. If you’restill with me, One Eleven’s seniorsous chef Sam Brading is goingover to Johnson’s e’cco as the newhead chef. And Harvey will moveto Alfred & Constance ownerDamian Griffiths’ new pizzeriaAlfredo’s when it opens later thisyear. Phew.
‘‘NO pressure, really,’’ says PeterConistis, the Sydney chef mostclosely associated with modernGreek cuisine in that city,proving he hasn’t lost his sense ofhumour, despite career ups anddowns, as he speaks about themassive new venture inCastlereagh Street he’s frontingon behalf of Sydney’s HellenicClub. ‘‘Four million has beenspent just on reconstruction, andthat’s before we get into designand fitout. One executive chef,so, no pressure on me at all.’’ Forabout 40 years, the historic sitehas been owned by the HellenicClub, but it has been little morethan ‘‘a hotel for pigeons’’, saysConistis, who came on board asexec chef last year to turn Alpha,as the various outlets will becollectively known, into reality.The ground floor will include ameze bar, cafe, Greek cantina andproduce store. It’s due to openwithin six weeks, with designwork by Sydney’s DS17. ‘‘I’venever worked on a project at sucha grand level,’’ says Conistis. It isindeed a grand, indulgent project,for in six months, a first-floorrestaurant — as yet unnamed —will open, a place for the chef toply his trade. ‘‘I haven’t cookedfor anyone in two years,’’ he says.‘‘I cannot wait.’’
IN PERSONAL OZ TOMORROW
FASHION
Does my lapel look big in this?
The changing shape of
men’s suits
WHERE THERE’S SMOKE
Concern about a family member smoking
HEALTH
NATIONAL45%
MEN 39%
WOMEN 50%
SMOKER 5%
FORMER SMOKER 54%
NON-SMOKER 42%
SOURCE: PURE PROFILE SURVEY 2013
WO50
SM5%
FO54%
NO42%
SOU
FLYINGFLYING ALL motoristsrecognise
Australian airports as ruthlessfiscal vampires when it comesto short-term parking charges.But whether they suck themarrow from your bones or justleave you anaemic andconfused depends on location.Australian Competition &Consumer Commission figuresshow Sydney airport in 2011-12applied Dyson-like suction toits motorist victims to relievethem of $16 for the first hour,while those parking in Adelaidepaid just a quarter of thatamount. Perth was also at thelow end of the spectrum at $6an hour, while Melbournecharged $12 and the parkingNosferatu in Brisbanelevied $14.
STEVE CREEDY
FASHIONFASHION JULESLander spent
a year travelling and collectinggorgeous pieces ofcontemporary jewellery fromcities including New York,London and Milan. To meetthe appetite of fellowjewellery lovers wanting toavoid the jetlag, she has sincevery kindly started an onlinestore, Eve Adorned, show-casing the work of some ofthe designers she discoveredduring her travels, includingAnton Heunis, RebekahPrice and Katerina Psoma(Serpent earrings, $192,pictured). The Eve Exclusivesection features one-offdesigns. Everything is prettymuch in the ‘‘statement’’realm of jewellery, so beprepared to make an impact.Head to eveadorned.com if youwant to yield to temptation.
GLYNIS TRAILL-NASH
CARSCARS ONE of the year’shottest segments is
compact SUVs, which coulddo to hatchbacks what big off-roaders have already done tolarge sedans. They offer acommand driving positionand plenty of space, buttake up no more roomthan a small car. With adozen models, demand isup 21 per cent to date andthe Hyundai ix35 is topwith one in four buyers.However, a flood of fresh
product from August willmultiply choices, with
newcomers including theHolden Trax and sibling carthe Opel Mokka (pictured)just confirmed, plus theNissan Juke and Peugeot2008, while the FordEcoSport and Renault
Captur are due early next year.PHILIP KING
GADGETSGADGETS WANT achatty caddy
sitting on your wrist, on yourbelt or hat? GolfBuddy hasreleased the Voice+, a tiny GPSrangefinder that’s preloadedwith more than 36,000 golfcourses worldwide and morethan 1000 in Australia. Buttonpresses tell you distances to thefront, centre and back of thegreen, based on GPS position. Itautomatically recognises thecourse and hole you are on, andhas a dynamically rotating viewof the green. It will speakdistances in any of 10 languagesor you can view them.Promised battery life is 11 hours,enough for two rounds of golf,and it’s tournament approved.$220.
CHRIS GRIFFITH
FITNESSFITNESS HITTING thepavement for a
run burns fat like nothing else,but as the mercury plunges, itgets harder to find the motiva-tion. One solution is to have agoal, such as one of the dozensof fun runs around the nation.Give yourself at least eightweeks to train and stick to aprogram. Here are someoptions: City2South (Brisbane,June 16, city2south.com.au);City to Surf (Sydney, Aug 11,city2surf.com.au); City-BayFun Run (Adelaide, Sept 15,city-bay.org.au); Sydney Run-ning Festival (Sept 22, sydney-runningfestival.com.au); Mel-bourne Marathon Festival(Oct 13, melbournemarathon.-com.au); Bridges Fun Run(Perth, April 7, wamc.org.au).
WALLY MASON
![TEASER PORTFOLIO [MAY2012]](https://static.fdocuments.in/doc/165x107/568c0f391a28ab955a9354e5/teaser-portfolio-may2012.jpg)
