WINE > Bannockburn Pinot Noir, 2024 (18/20)

There are a few wines that are always in my wine cellar and regular and reliable choices when out for dinner with friends and it is found on the wine list. The Bannockburn Pinot Noir is a crowd pleaser, delightfully pretty but retaining enough structure and elegance to appeal to the wine snob…

ByCrispy9 hours ago0Comments

EAT > Scopri, Carlton (18/20)

There are places that stay forever on your most reliable list. It takes a special mix of reliably fine food a warm and comfortable room, good acoustics and genuine service. Scopri remains one of those establishments that remains on our favourite list and is one of Melbourne’s most quietly assured Italian dining rooms: a…

ByCrispy11 hours ago0Comments

EAT > ITALY EAT > ORTIGIA EAT > SICILY WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Ristorante Regina Lucia, Ortigia, Syracusa Italy (18/20)

Nestled in the heart of Ortigia’s iconic Piazza Duomo, Regina Lucia delivers refined Sicilian cuisine with contemporary flair in a historic baroque palace setting. This MICHELIN Guide-recommended spot earns consistent praise for its inventive dishes and polished service.Summary Intro goes here. As you wander the Piazza Duomo with its buskers, tourists and the occasional wedding…

ByCrispyMarch 7, 20260Comments

EAT > ITALY EAT > ORTIGIA EAT > SICILY WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Cortile Spirito Santo, Siracusa, Ortigia Italy (18/20)

Nestled in the historic heart of Ortigia, Syracuse's enchanting island, Cortile Spirito Santo delivers Michelin-starred Sicilian refinement in a 17th-century palazzo. This gem, part of Palazzo Salomone Luxury Suites, blends Baroque elegance with contemporary flair, earning its star in 2023 for chef Giuseppe Torrisi's masterful dishes. AMBIENCE > Elegant and serene, the restaurant unfolds in…

ByCrispyMarch 7, 20260Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Pinot Noir

WINE > Elanto Pinot Noir, Balnaring (18/20)

Mornington Peninsula is home to many fine Pinot Noir wines but it has been quite a few years since the industry got quite so excited about a new vineyard. Elanto has only released two vintages of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir to date and they are already receiving outstanding reviews from the biggest names in wine. …

ByCrispyMarch 2, 20260Comments

DRINK > AUSTRALIA DRINK > BARS DRINK > MELBOURNE

DRINK > Death & Co, Melbourne (18/20)

Slip behind the velvet curtain on Flinders Lane and Melbourne falls away, replaced by a low-lit room that feels like an edit of the world’s great cocktail bars: a little East Village swagger, a lot of CBD polish, and a level of detail that rewards staying late. This is Death & Co’s first international outpost…

ByLexiFebruary 28, 20260Comments

DRINK > WINE

WINE > S.C Pannell Sunrise 99, 2022 (18/20)

There are Grenaches that charm, and then there are Grenaches that draw a line in the sand. S.C. Pannell’s Sunrise 99, from a century-old McLaren Vale vineyard, feels like the latter: a debut that arrives fully formed, pitched at the serious, ageworthy end of the spectrum while still humming with McLaren Vale warmth, but this…

ByCrispyFebruary 15, 20260Comments

EAT > JAPAN EAT > TOKYO WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Sushi Mizukami, Chiyoda, Tokyo (18/20)

Sushi Mizukami in Ichibancho is a study in quiet precision: an intimate, nine-seat counter where Edomae tradition, long-honed technique and a distinctly Kyoto-like sense of calm converge in one of Tokyo’s most focused sushi experiences. Helmed by Chef Michinobu Mizukami, a 16-year apprentice of Sukiyabashi Jiro (Two Michelin Stars) and Executive Chef Masami Nesaki, it…

ByCrispyJanuary 9, 20260Comments

STAY > AUSTRALIA STAY > NSW STAY > SYDNEY WHERE TO STAY >

STAY > QT, Sydney (18/20)

QT Sydney brings theatrical glamour, bold design, and a playful, inner-city energy to one of Sydney’s most characterful heritage corners. Blending the restored State Theatre and former Gowings department store, it delivers an urban escape that feels equal parts boutique hideaway and backstage pass to the CBD’s creative pulse. AMBIENCE > Arriving at QT Sydney,…

ByCrispyDecember 1, 20250Comments

EAT > AUSTRALIA EAT > NSW EAT > SYDNEY WHERE TO EAT >

EAT > Olympus Dining, Sydney (18/20)

Since opening their doors at the new Wunderlich Lane in Redfern, Olympus Dining has been one of the hottest bookings in Sydney. Greek food at its finest, in the heart of one of Sydney’s original Greek suburbs. AMBIENCE > The Wunderlich Lane precinct includes the Eve Hotel, restaurants, bars, supermarkets and apartments. It’s stunning, and a vast improvement from the former shopping…

ByPaulaOctober 26, 20250Comments

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