100)

Herederos Del Marqués De Riscal is a wine broadly recognised by fans of Tempranillo the world over. It is a "go to wine" see it on a wine list and you know that you are safe, this is going to be a nice bottle of wine, impress your friends or a date. Its…

ByCrispyJanuary 25, 2024

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > GSM

DRINK > Charles Melton – Nine Popes 2018 (and 2013)

The wines made by Charles (or Charlie) Melton and his team in the Barossa Valley are special. I clearly recall a visit to the winery with an American friend and colleague (I was introducing him to the wines for the first time) on tasting the Nine Popes he just stopped for a moment, sighed and…

ByCrispyJanuary 18, 2024

DESIGN

BAR > Jazz Spot Bokunen, Kanazawa

There is every chance you have never heard of Kanazawa as it is not the first stop for tourists visiting Japan but that just means that you are missing out. Jazz Spot Bokunen has been spinning records and pouring whiskey since 1992 and let me tell you it is worth considering a visit. …

ByCrispyJanuary 17, 2024

STAY > TOKYO

STAY > Hoshinoya Tokyo

The Hoshinoya Hotel is in the heart of Tokyo's economic centre Maranouchi. A short walk from the Imperial Palace and Tokyo Station it sits amongst the office towers, from the outside you can see the metal skin screening the facade (a design akin to interlinked lotus flowers). The hotel was designed by architect Rie Azuma…

ByCrispyJanuary 17, 2024

EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Julia, Shibuya Tokyo (19/20)

I love wandering the fashionable streets of Omotesando in Shibuya, there are brilliant fashion stores, smart designer furniture and iconic one of a kind homewares. Some streets seem to have nothing but hair dressers and others feature brilliant coffee shops. But venture just a little further into the more residential area of Jingumae (only a…

ByCrispyJanuary 16, 2024

INTERVIEW >

INTERVIEW > Roz Kaldor-Aroni – The Ice Cream Queen

Roz Kaldor-Aroni has had an extensive corporate career initially as lawyer, then as CEO of a not for profit medical research organisation and now she has turned her hand to ice cream. Why ice cream? Did you know that Australian's and New Zealanders eat more icecream per head of population than anywhere else in the…

ByCrispyDecember 14, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Apsley Gorge, Pinot Noir 2020 (95/100)

Apsley Gorge Vineyard was founded in 1990 by former abalone diver and lobster fisherman Brian Franklin. He planted Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes on a 7 hectare plot of land near Bicheno on Tasmania's east coast at the entrance to the Apsley Gorge. Apsley Gorge Winery sits right on the sea at Bicheno. WINERY The region…

ByCrispyDecember 12, 2023

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Chardonnay

WINE > A. Rodda Willow Lake Chardonnay 2021 (92/100)

The Willow Lake Vineyard Chardonnay from A.Rodda is consistently amongst the top chardonnay's in the country and the 2021 release is another excellent release. Some people maybe asking why are you reviewing the 2021 not the 2022 release, well that is because that is the one I am drinking right now. 2021 was an important…

ByCrispyDecember 11, 2023

INTERVIEW >

INTERVIEW > Mark Cleary Short & Sweet

Mark Cleary built a career first as a journalist, then in advertising and as a writer before finding his passion in producing theatre. Mark founded Short+Sweet in Sydney 2002. What began as a small festival of 10-minute plays has grown to other performance mediums; from theatre to dance, cabaret to Bollywood, and musicals to stand-up…

ByCrispyDecember 11, 2023

INTERVIEW >

INTERVIEW > Cowboy Simple

I think the year was 1987. I have this somewhat fuzzy recollection of hanging out with my high school friend Lewis, who had recently moved from Adelaide to Sydney. We had a couple of beers and he suggested we go and check out this band that some guys (also from Adelaide) were playing in. We…

ByCrispyDecember 1, 2023

Crispy

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