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, 20250Comments

EAT > GIRONA EAT > SPAIN

EAT > El Celler de Can Roca, Girona Spain (19/20)

There are restaurants that make you feel like you’re at the centre of the culinary universe. El Celler de Can Roca, tucked away in a quiet Girona suburb, is one of them. The Roca brothers-Joan, Josep, and Jordi-have turned their family-run spot into a temple of modern Catalan gastronomy, and the world has taken notice.…

ByEd ItorJune 14, 20250Comments

EAT > BURGUNDY

EAT > L’Épi d’Or, Paris (17/20)

L'Épi d'Or: A Parisian Bistro Reborn Nestled in the heart of Paris's 1st arrondissement, L'Épi d'Or stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of traditional French bistro cuisine. This historic establishment, dating back to 1880, has recently undergone a revival under the expert guidance of Michelin-starred chef Jean-François Piège, (his fifth restaurant with partner…

ByEd ItorOctober 20, 20240Comments

EAT > BURGUNDY

EAT > Aux Terrasses, Tournus (19/20)

I found Aux Terrasses in Tournus entirely by accident. A string of Google searches, reviews in various online papers (the ones with reasonable travel sections), Tablet Guide, Michelin Guide and it made it to the top of the list. Offering a smart hotel (read the review here), a charming Michelin-starred restaurant (that offers an exceptional…

ByEd ItorOctober 20, 20240Comments

STAY > FRANCE STAY > PARIS

STAY > Aux Terrasses, Tournus, Bourgogne (19/20)

19/20 Nestled in the heart of Burgundy, Aux Terrasses offers a delightful blend of gastronomic excellence and exceptionally comfortable accommodation. A charming hotel and Michelin Star restaurant (review here) combination that provides an ideal base for exploring the picturesque town of Tournus and the surrounding wine country. AMBIANCE > The hotel Aux Terrasses features…

ByEd ItorOctober 14, 20240Comments

EAT > HOBART

EAT > Ogee, North Hobart (16/20)

It is quite a solid walk up to Ogee in North Hobart from Sullivan’s Cove and downtown Hobart. It will take you about 30 minutes depending where you start and the incline gradually increases all the way up. I note this because we chose to walk up, it is a Sunday morning and…

ByCrispyJune 16, 20240Comments

EAT > HOBART

EAT > Fico, Hobart (19/20)

Fico means fig in Italian, but in Italian slang it also mean cool and that is a very good definition for Fico it is definitely cool. To start it is not a typically Italian restaurant but the food is obviously heavily influenced with Italian techniques and flavours. The chef co-owners Federica…

ByCrispyJune 16, 20240Comments

DRINK > MELBOURNE

DRINK > Above Board, Melbourne

A serious cocktail bar. Only 16 seats and no standing permitted. That is the message for the now widely acclaimed Above Board. Located off Smith Street Collingwood it is not easy to find but this is an area where cocktail bars are serious and Above Board take that to a level more akin…

ByCrispyMay 9, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > IDES, Melbourne

It is not that long ago when Smith Street in Collingwood was considered more a place to see a grunge band than a place for fine dining and slick cocktail bars but Collingwood has gentrified a lot in the last 10 years and now there are lots of outstanding places to eat and drink. …

ByCrispyMarch 3, 20240Comments

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