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

EAT > HOBART

EAT > Frank, Hobart (14/20)

Frank is a smart restaurant with robust South American cuisine that is right on Franklin Pier looking out towards Sullivan’s Cove. It was described by a friend as, “you can’t miss it, its right underneath the Commonwealth Bank”. Arriving at the front door the restaurant is disected into two zones on the left…

ByCrispyJune 15, 20240Comments

DRINK > HOBART

DRINK > Lucinda Wine Bar, Hobart

If you are walking down Collins Street, Hobart you might easily miss Lucinda hidden away in a beautiful historic building but the signage is very subtle. Step inside and you will find a small room with a large central table and bench seats around the outside. They also have a larger room,…

ByCrispyJune 14, 20240Comments

EAT > MELBOURNE

EAT > Pinotta, Fitzroy North (15/20)

Pinotta has been a busy bustling bistro wine bar on St Georges Road in Fitzroy North since 2011, led by the vibrant Heidi Modra who welcomes guests who come from the neighbourhood and across Melbourne. The big change in 2024 is the addition of Phillipa Sibley as executive chef. Sibley (you may well remember her…

ByCrispyJune 11, 20240Comments

DRINK > MELBOURNE

DRINK > V Wine Salon, Melbourne

V Wine Salon is located in the slightly unlikely West End of Melbourne's CBD. For those who are less familiar with region it is close to the Southern Cross Train Station which tends to make it an area less obvious as a destination for fine dining or fine wine-ing. But…

ByEd ItorMay 28, 20240Comments

DRINK > MELBOURNE

DRINK > Pearl Chablis and Oyster Bar, Melbourne

Melbourne loves to hide its bars and restaurants away down laneways, underground and on top of building roof tops but Pearl is not easy to find. The Midcity Centre arcade on Bourke Street is not a place you would normally associate with fine dining or fine drinking, but make your way past 'Breadtop', the…

ByAl ManakMay 7, 20240Comments

EAT > OSAKA

EAT > Mitsuyama, Osaka

A wander around the neighbourhood and looking into a doorway we discovered Mitsuyama, but they were booked out for dinner so we decided to commit and book for the following evening, a decision that turned out to be outstanding. It is a small restaurant, our party of five were the only diners this night but…

ByCrispyApril 4, 20240Comments

EAT > TOKYO

EAT > Fujimaru, Osaka

Osaka is well known for its street food, with 222 listings in the Michelin Guide (3 for 3 star, 9 for 2 star and 80 for 1 star) you know that they are serious about food. But what about wine, well that is a little harder to find, especially if like us on…

ByEd ItorApril 4, 20240Comments

DRINK > WINE DRINK > WINE > Cabernet Sauvignon DRINK > WINE > Merlot

DRINK > Château Ducru-Beaucaillou

I am not going to pretend to be any kind of expert on the wine of Bordeaux and there are many vastly more experience wine writers who have reviewed this wine in the past and given their reviews. But in December of 2023 at a wonderful degustation/omakase dinner at the quite incredible 'Sushi-M' this was…

ByAl ManakJanuary 19, 20240Comments

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, 20240Comments