WINE > Valli Bannockburn Pinot Noir, Central Otago NZ (2021)

There are Pinots that gently introduce themselves, and then there are Pinots that make the room go quiet for a moment: Valli’s Bannockburn sits firmly among the latter. Bannockburn, the original Central Otago subregion for Pinot Noir, is famed for clay-schist soils and sun drenched, cool-climate vines—and winemaker Grant Taylor’s assured touch means every bottle…

ByCrispyJuly 20, 2025

EAT > NYC

EAT > Cosme, New York (18/20)

Some restaurants in Manhattan are just looking for a crowd. Cosme, though—Cosme feels like it was built with the city in mind: restless, inventive, and impossible not to love, at least if you know what you’re looking for. Step into this Flatiron institution, the music’s up, the crowd’s dressed, the mezcal’s cold—and you just know…

ByCrispyJuly 20, 2025

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel, Dunkeld VIC (19/20)

There are restaurants that feel like a pilgrimage—Wickens at Royal Mail Hotel is one of them. Set at the foot of the Grampians in Dunkeld, Wickens is not just a meal, but a masterclass in the art of place-driven dining. Here, the landscape is more than a backdrop: it’s the main ingredient. AMBIENCE > Descending…

ByCrispyJuly 14, 2025

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Kafeneion Emeis, Melbourne (15/20)

Once upon a time Lonsdale Street was home to Melbournes Greek community and was thick with restaurants and cafes. Today however most are gone, out to the suburbs leaving most people to believe that there are few choices in the CBD other than Stalactites (the greasy late night diner). Kafeneion Emeis, perched…

ByCrispyJuly 12, 2025

EAT > ATHENS EAT > GREECE

EAT > Merceri, Athens Greece (16/20)

There are restaurants in Athens that lean on nostalgia, and those that chase the latest culinary trends. Then there’s Merceri: a quietly confident bistro in the heart of Thissio, where Greek tradition meets cosmopolitan flair and the result is something genuinely memorable. AMBIENCE > Tucked away on the pedestrian stretch of Iraklidon Street, Merceri…

ByCrispyJune 29, 2025

EAT > ITALY STAY > AMALFI STAY > ITALY

STAY > Hotel Pupetto, Positano Italy (15/20)

Step off the ferry, leave the chaos of the main beach behind, and meander along the coastal path to discover Hotel Pupetto—a tranquil retreat nestled on the secluded sands of Fornillo Beach. Here, the Amalfi Coast reveals a quieter, more authentic side, where lemon trees sway in the breeze and the soundtrack is the gentle…

ByCrispyJune 17, 2025

EAT > AMALFI EAT > ITALY EAT > POSITANO

EAT > Next2, Positano Italy (16/20)

There are restaurants in Positano that lean on the view, there are restaurants that are just for the tourists (formula and expensive), there are premium restaurants (overly expensive) and then there’s Next2: a contemporary gem tucked up above the town’s main drag, where the food is as memorable as the setting. In a village known…

ByCrispyJune 15, 2025

SKI > JAPAN

SKI > Lotte Arai Resort, Japan

Powder, Luxury, and Adventure on Japan’s Snowiest Slopes There’s a certain thrill to arriving at Lotte Arai Resort—a sense that you’ve come to a place where the mountains still call the shots. Set on the flanks of Mt. Okenashi in Niigata Prefecture, just under two hours from Tokyo by bullet train, Arai is a rarity…

ByCrispyJune 14, 2025

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Quealy Musk Creek Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula Australia

APPEARANCE & AROMA > A luminous garnet in the glass, Musk Creek Pinot Noir immediately impresses with its clarity and vibrancy. The nose is beguiling—florals, wild strawberry, and a touch of rose petal, underpinned by exotic spice (think Sichuan pepper) and forest floor. There’s a sense of autumn leaves and earthiness, lending complexity and…

ByCrispyJune 14, 2025

SKI > ITALY

SKI > Civetta Ski Resort, Dolomites Italy

Civetta Ski Resort, Dolomites: The Quiet Heart of the Dolomites After a week skiing in Val Gardena we had no idea what to expect of Civetta. We would ask people and they would say either they had not heard of it or that they expected it to be quiet. Its true it is…

ByCrispyJune 8, 2025

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