Our last evening staying at the incredible ANA InterContinental Appi Kogen Resort we were offered drinks at the generous 'aperitivo hour' a time for snacks and drinks while enjoying the music from resident piano man 'Salvatore' (who comes from Calabria). Feeling like we had already consumed a little too much of the house…
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…
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. …
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…
For regulars it's jut 'Appi' - a resort famous for its champagne powder great accomodation and good food options and while it is not 'Ski Bali' (yet) it does have a good mix of western and Japanese options.
So Appi is a ski in ski out resort that sits in the Iwate Prefecture toward the…
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…
After a rough 3 years the Courthouse Hotel in North Melbourne is back open under new ownership from the team behind Naughtons in Parkville. Seeking to bring the local gastropub back to its heyday with a new menu, wine list and range of beers. The room has a warm refreshed style that is just the…
The Central Club Hotel sits on Victoria Street in North Melbourne, it is right on the city fringe close to Elizabeth Street, across the road from the Queen Victoria Markets and a stones throw to Carlton.
The convenience of the location makes this a popular venue but it is the combination a smart refreshed fit-out,…
My favourite bubbles by a very long way are Ruinart. I like some of the others but there is something quite especially delicious about the Ruinart Blanc de Blanc, so I thought perfect opportunity to learn a little more about the wine.
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…