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Dr. Gimlette, Brisbane City

Paul
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Dr. Gimlette, Brisbane City

BRISBANE | Dr. Gimlette is a cocktail bar in Brisbane’s CBD from the team behind Death & Taxes, and Cobbler. Housed in one of Brisbane’s oldest heritage buildings, which dates back to 1892, the venue exudes old world character. A raised timber floor and exposed brick walls combine with warm, low lighting, artwork on the walls, plush leather booths, and a nine metre long marble bar.

Behind the bar, is a collection of over 300 spirits – local and international. They can be enjoyed neat, in classic cocktail, or in one of Dr. Gimlette’s bespoke creations. On the menu, you’ll find around 30 rotating cocktails themed around flavours, potions, plagues, and cures.

There’s variations on the bar’s namesake, the gimlet, highballs, fruit forward cocktails, herbaceous creations, and more. The ‘Scarlett Stains’, a combination of Fords Gin, Antica Formula Spiced Apple & Rhubarb, and Lemon, is a great option. As is the ‘Death Rattle’, a blend of Lark Symphony No.1 Whisky, ginger, turmeric, toasted coconut and pandan.

Keep an eye out for the bar’s tow martini carts, available to serve every type of martini with various garnishes, gins and methods to pick from. If cocktails aren’t your thing, there’s also a quality selection of craft beer and wine to choose from.

Dr. Gimlette

109 Edward Street
Brisbane City
Queensland 4000
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Sun – Thu: 3:00pm to 1:00am
Fri – Sat: 3:00pm to 2:00am

Wanderlust: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood, Singapore

Paul
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0
Wanderlust: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood, Singapore

I stayed at Wanderlust as a guest of Oakwood.

SINGAPORE | Wanderlust: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood is a boutique hotel in Singapore’s Little India neighbourhood.

It’s part of Oakwood’s “Unlimited Collection”, a selection of hotels that aim to provide guests with “a departure from the conventional short-stay hotel experience”. It’s a funky, modern hotel, housed in a 1920s Art Deco style building that was renovated in 2021.

Location

Wanderlust is located on the eastern fringe of Little India. On one side, it’s the vibrant local food, shopping, and architecture that Little India has to offer. On the other side, there’s the youthful neighbourhood of Jalan Besar, with its trendy bars and restaurants. The exciting Kampong Glam neighbourhood is a short 10 minute walk away.

The hotel’s location makes it a great option when visiting Singapore if you’re really looking for that local’s vibe that you don’t get when you stay downtown. It’s only a 20 minute drive from Changi Airport. If you need to catch the metro, Jalan Besar MRT station is literally around the corner, a two minute walk away.

Little India is a neighbourhood you’ll want to simply wander around in. It’s full of colour and life, with some of the best examples of traditional Singaporean shophouses in the city. The six story electronics mega centre, Sim Lim Square, is in the area, along with 24/7 multi-level, multi-building, Mustafa Centre. For amazing Indian and Malay hawker food, along with clothing and fresh produce, bustling Tekka Centre is a must visit.

Rooms

The hotel features 29 fully furnished rooms across five categories – Deluxe, Studio Deluxe, Studio Premier, Junior Studio Loft, and Studio Loft. Due to the heritage nature of the property, each room has a slightly different layout, but there is much consistency. Gone are the bold, brash colours of the hotel’s prior incarnation. They’ve been replaced with a more relaxed palette of white, grey, and brown, with good use of natural materials such as wood.

The queen-sized Simmons bed, with soft pillows and linen is very comfortable. Paired with blackout curtains, a comfortable, good night’s sleep is easy to get. Housekeeping services are offered daily.

Each room contains a small desk and chair, plush lounge chair, kitchenette, bar fridge, electric safe, phone for free local calls, large TV, coffee and tea making facilities, bottled water, a safe, iron, and ironing board. I was particularly impressed by the clever use of space, especially in regards to the kitchenette with its filtered water tap, stove, and microwave. The backlit storage space under the bed is also very convenient.

Bathrooms feature rain showers, organic toiletries from local brand Ashley & Co, and amenity kits. It was nice to see the toiletries dispensed from pump bottles to be more environmentally friendly.

I was working remotely during my stay, and was able to do so effectively. There’s free and fast Wi-Fi in all rooms (and throughout the hotel). It didn’t skip a beat even when I was working with, and uploading and downloading, very large files. Power adaptors are available to borrow from reception, which is open 24/7.

Amenities

Wanderlust contains a laundry room on level two with a washing machine and a dryer that’s free for guests to use. If you want to chill outside, there’s an outdoor courtyard featuring a small dipping pool and lounge chairs.

In the lobby, you’ll find something that I thought was wonderful idea – the hotel’s “Mama Shop”. It’s small curated grab and go store concept that endeavours to showcase the best locally made artisanal food and retail products. Perfect for a snack and drink, and “non-touristy” mementos and gifts that are actually useful.

Eat & Drink

The hotel doesn’t have its own food and beverage offering per se. Rather, acclaimed chef Rishi Naleendra’s Sri Lankan restaurant Kotuwa, and its bar, seamlessly integrate into the lobby. It’s a popular restaurant, so do book in advance if you want a table. If you just want a cocktail and snack at the bar, you’ll be fine without a reservation.

Outside of the hotel, there are no shortage of diverse options for food and drink. Follow your nose and the sight of locals enjoying a feed at any one of the delicious and affordable hawker spots that spill out onto the streets of Little India. For breakfast, the aforementioned Tekka Centre is a winner. Nearby favourites of mine include Indian restaurants Om Murugan Vilas Idly, and Mr Biryani; Beach Road Scissor-Cut Curry Rice, Sungei Road Laksa, and Swee Choon Tim Sum Restaurant. For a drink, craft beer specialists Druggists (who also have great cocktails, wines, and snacks) is a must.

Wanderlust: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood

2 Dickson Road
Singapore 209494

Telephone: 6396 3322
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Ann Siang House: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood, Singapore

Paul
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0
Ann Siang House: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood, Singapore

I stayed at Ann Siang House as a guest of Oakwood.

SINGAPORE | Ann Siang House: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood is a boutique hotel in Singapore’s Chinatown neighbourhood.

It’s part of Oakwood’s “Unlimited Collection”, a selection of hotels that aim to provide guests with “a departure from the conventional short-stay hotel experience”. It’s a beautiful hotel, housed in a restored, heritage-listed former Chinese immigrant clan house.

Location

Ann Siang House is located on trendy Ann Siang Street. The street is a small pocket of calm, surrounded by Chinatown’s bustling street life, restaurants, and bars.

The hotel’s central location makes it a great option when visiting Singapore. It’s a 20 minute taxi ride from Changi Airport, and a short walk from Tanjong Pagar and Chinatown MRT metro stations. Walk in any direction, and you’ll find some of Singapore’s best food and drink spots and boutiques.

The hotel is close to tourist sites like the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Sri Mariamman Temple. For those looking for a taste of Singaporean hawker food, the famous Maxwell Road Food Centre is but a two minute walk away. A short walk beyond that, and you’ll find one of my favourite hawker centres in town, the sprawling Chinatown Complex Food Centre.

Rooms

The hotel features 20 fully furnished rooms, across four categories – Deluxe, Deluxe Corner, Studio Executive, and Executive Premier. Due to the heritage nature of the property, each room has a slightly different layout, but there is much consistency. A classy grey and white colour palette, with wood accents and panelling, and upholstered fabric.

The King Size bed is extremely comfortable. A Hypnos mattress, with soft down pillows and 400 thread count cotton duvets. Paired with blackout curtains, a comfortable, good night’s sleep is easy to get. Housekeeping services are offered daily.

Each room contains a small desk and chair, bar fridge, electric safe, phone for free local calls, large TV, Nespresso coffee machine and tea making facilities, bottled water, a safe, iron, and ironing board. About 20 per cent of the rooms come with a basic kitchenette, which is worth keeping in mind if you want to do some cooking in the room.

Bathrooms feature rain showers, organic toiletries from local brand Ashley & Co, and amenity kits. It was nice to see the toiletries dispensed from pump bottles to be more environmentally friendly.

I was working remotely during my stay, and was able to do so effectively. There’s free and fast Wi-Fi in all rooms (and throughout the hotel). It didn’t skip a beat even when I was working with, and uploading and downloading, very large files. Power adaptors are available to borrow from reception, which is open 24/7.

Amenities

Ann Siang House contains a laundry room with a washing machine and a dryer on the third floor that’s free for guests to use. There’s a small communal working space on each floor. I made use of the space on my floor when I was looking for a change of scenery from my room while working.

Eat & Drink

The ground floor lobby and dining space of the hotel was being renovated when I visited, with completion expected late November 2022. Once open, there will be an airy lobby cafe, opening out onto the street.

In this part of town, you’re not short of quality options for food and drink. There’s the aforementioned Maxwell Road Food Centre and Chinatown Complex Food Centre for Hawker food for delicious affordable eats, along with many more of my favourites. Champion Bolo Bun, Tong Heng Traditional Cantonese Pastries, and award winning bars/restaurants Sago House, Native, and Tippling Club, are all a short walk from the hotel.

Ann Siang House: The Unlimited Collection by Oakwood

28 Ann Siang Road
Singapore 069708

Telephone: 8608 8190
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Casa Chow, Woolloongabba

Paul
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0
Casa Chow, Woolloongabba

BRISBANE | Casa Chow is, I believe, the first restaurant in Australia that’s completely dedicated to Chifa cuisine. Chifa is a Peruvian-Chinese fusion cuisine that began to develop in the late 1800s in Lima, when Peru experienced a large wave of Chinese migration – labourers who helped build modern Peru.

I first experienced Chifa dishes when I visited Peru in 2018. From refined takes at Isolina Taberna Peruana in Lima and Chicha In Cusco, to the casual family hole in the wall spots, I fell in love with the it. To this day lomo saltado Is one of my favourite things to eat.

Co-owner Jared Thibault’s wife Fiorella (who sadly passed away in April) was Peruvian, and he fell in love with her family’s dishes, and the many Chifa spots he visited on trips to Peru. The other owner, Vince Lombino, meanwhile, worked in Miami’s contemporary Latin restaurant, Chispa. Those influences are apparent as soon as you step in the door. The live DJ, neon lights, and pastel colour scheme all shout “Miami Vice”.

Back to the food, and there’s a lot to like on the menu. Dishes are inspired, and in many cases identical, to Fiorella and her mum Edith’s, home recipes. Lomo saltado, a beer and vegetable stir fry on chips, is great, as is the fried rice, ceviche, And dumplings. In fact, it’s all very tasty.

To drink, it’s cocktails inspired by the food, a selection of pisco sours, beer by local brewers Aether Brewing, and delicious wines.

Casa Chow

4B/148 Logan Road
Woolloongabba
Queensland 4102
Australia

Telephone: 1300 185 730
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Wed – Thu: 5:00pm to 10:30pm
Fri: 5:00pm to 12:00am
Sat: 12:00pm to 12:00am
Sun: 12:00pm to 9:00pm

Sprout Artisan Bakery, Fortitude Valley

Paul
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0
Sprout Artisan Bakery, Fortitude Valley

BRISBANE | Sprout Artisan Bakery began life as a wholesale baker, building a reputation for supplying some of Brisbane’s best cafes with delicious baked goods, and popping up at local farmers markets. A few years later, they opened their own bricks and mortar venue in Fortitude Valley, selling an expanded range of delicious sweet and savoury baked treats, and delicious coffee.

Their sourdough loaves are fantastic, taking 72 hours to leaven and rest before being baked. Beyond bread, there’s classic and seasonal favourites like egg custard tarts, twice baked chocolate croissants, danishes, scrolls and more. Coffee beans are sourced from Reuben Hills, and the coffee is great.

Ingredients are of the highest quality. They’re organic and sourced locally, from ethical producers and growers. Sprout’s ethical, environmentally conscious philosophy doesn’t just relate to sourcing either. They use a closed loop recycling system with a local farm for their food waste, and support local charities and community organisation.

Sprout Artisan Bakery

76 James Street
Fortitude Valley
Queensland 4006
Australia

Telephone: 0427 260 163
E-mail: n/a
Website

Open
Sun: 7:00am to 1:00pm
Tue – Sat: 7:00am to 2:00pm

Foster & Black, Fortitude Valley

Paul
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0
Foster & Black, Fortitude Valley

BRISBANE | Foster & Black was founded by Andrew Foster and Harrison Black in 2015, with the aim of sharing specialty coffee in unlikely places. Over the years, they expanded up and down the east coast, fulfilling their goal by opening up cafes and stalls in shopping malls and outer suburban areas.

Their excellent coffee is roasted at their Fortitude Valley HQ, which also operates as a cafe. This isn’t a cafe to visit for a feed – the focus here is specifically on coffee. There’s the house blend and rotating single origins for black and filter coffee.

All of the main brewing options are available to choose from, most as either hot or cold. If you really don’t feel like coffee, there is iced and hot chai, chocolate, and tea. Alternative milks are also available.

A retail section to the side has beans for sale, showcasing what’s on offer at any given time, along with a small selection of brewing equipment.

Foster & Black (Fortitude Valley)

628 Wickham Street
Fortitude Valley
Queensland 4006
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Mon – Sat: 7:00am to 3:00pm
Sun: 8:00am to 2:00pm

Industry Beans, Newstead

Paul
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0
Industry Beans, Newstead

BRISBANE | Industry Beans is one of my favourite Melbourne coffee roasteries and brunch spots. Over the years they’ve expanded up the east coast of Australia, always maintaining the quality that I’ve become accustomed to. On my recent visit to Brisbane, I was staying just around the corner from the Newstead cafe and roastery, so of course I had to visit.

Consistency is something that I appreciate at Industry Beans, and it’s a hallmark of everything that they do. Walk inside the former warehouse and you’ll see a whole lot of recognisable design elements. Minimalist with lots of white, light timber, natural materials, and greenery. Unsurprisingly, Melbourne based “Design Office”, have designed all of the brand’s venues.

This consistency translates to the menu too, which is identical across locations. A selection of sweet and savoury breakfast and lunch options, incorporating fresh, seasonal ingredients and elements such as foams, dusts, and gels. Favourites of mine include the pandan bubble waffle, salmon garden, and coffee rubbed wagyu burger.

On the coffee front, there’s a whole lot of hot and cold espresso and filter based options. House blends and rotating single origins, brewed in a variety of ways. For something a bit different, try one of the bubble coffees – think bubble tea, but coffee instead. The sparkling cold brew and cascara are great too.

There’s a decent sized retail section at the front of the venue, where you can purchase the full range of coffee beans for home, along with coffee brewing equipment, and canned/bottled coffee drinks for the fridge at home.

Industry Beans (Newstead)

18 Proe Street
Newstead
Queensland 4006
Australia

Telephone: (07) 3180 1190
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Mon – Sun: 7:00am to 3:30pm

Freyja, Melbourne CBD

Paul
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0
Freyja, Melbourne CBD

MELBOURNE | Freyja opened in Melbourne’s 1880s gothic heritage listed Olderfleet building in June this year. It joins sibling basement bar Valhalla, which opened last year, in bringing a distinctly “new Nordic” food and beverage experience to the city.

Leading the kitchen is Seoul-born and raised chef Jae Bang, who was previously in the kitchen at Norway’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant Re-naa, and two-Michelin-starred restaurant Daniel, in New York City, before that. Not to mention a stint at Spain’s El Bulli. Co-owner Soren Trampedach has given Bang license to do what he does best at Freyja, and the result is one of Melbourne’s most unique and memorable dining experiences.

The menu is unmistakably new Nordic, with a distinctly Australian flavour, and a low waste ethos. It’s traditional Scandinavian techniques like pickling, curing, smoking and fermenting, made famous on the world stage by chefs like René Redzepi of Noma and Magnus Nilsson in the early 2000s. The ingredients, however, are all local and seasonal. Victorian growers and producers are showcased, and native Australian ingredients feature throughout.

The menu is tight. 15 or so options for dinner, with a tasting menu that gives you a broad overview of what the kitchen does best. At lunch, it’s a more limited offering, with the addition of three different smørrebrød (open-faced rye sandwiches).

The Freyja waffle has fast become a signature dish and is well deserving of the plaudits that it’s gained. It’s a traditional, buttery Scandinavian waffle topped with Yarra Valley trout roe, smoked sour cream, and mixed herbs. Gippsland beef tartare is topped with tarragon cream, Tasmanian mountain pepper, and sweet native quandong.

Duck from Milla’s Farm in Macedon is dry-aged for 10 days, slow-cooked on a charcoal grill, and, glazed with house-made mostarda. It’s served with poached and salt-baked Ramarro Farm beetroots, and garnished with dried finger lime peel and coriander seeds. It’s one of the best duck dishes in this city. Even the potatoes, fermented and fried, fluffy on the inside and impossibly crisp on the outside, are memorable.

To drink, it’s a small selection of cocktails that follow the same philospohy as the kitchen, along with the classics, and a decent selection of local craft beers and wines from around the world. A Coravin wine preservation system means that some of the costlier drops you’d normally have to buy a full bottle of, can be enjoyed by the glass.

Call it New Nordic, fusion, modern Australian, or whatever else you like. Whichever way you cut it, a meal at Freyja is one of the most memorable dining experiences you can have in Melbourne right now.

Freyja

477 Collins Street
Melbourne
Victoria 3000
Australia

Telephone: (03) 8688 7141
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Sat, Mon – Tue: 5:30pm to 11:00pm
Wed – Fri: 12:00pm to 3:00pm; 5:30pm to 11:00pm

MIN The Cafe, Docklands

Paul
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0
MIN The Cafe, Docklands

MELBOURNE | MIN The Cafe is a cafe at the Victoria Harbour end of Docklands that I recently visited for What’s On Melbourne. It’s a comforting, minimalist space, featuring natural materials, a light colour palette, lots of natural sunlight, and pastel floral accents.

MIN was created by Ellie to introduce a way of life that focuses on quality, wellness, and sustainability. Dissatisfied with a life that looked perfect on the outside, but struggling within, Ellie spent almost four years travelling the world, trekking, volunteering, and appreciating how to live more, with less.

Moving to New York City in 2016, Ellie studied at the prestigious Parsons School of Design, pursuing a long held passion for fashion and design. Upon returning to Melbourne, Ellie decided to put all of these experiences into MIN.

The cafe focuses on light and tasty dishes informed by Ellie’s passions and experiences, and love for Melbourne’s brunch scene. Think things like traditional and alternative lattes, bubble teas, milkshakes, and smoothies. The cereal milk latte, a nod to Ellie’s frequent visits to Milk Bar while studying in NYC, is a must order.

For food, it’s items like Basque burnt cheesecake with matcha cream, a miso glazed salmon salad and rice bowl, and scrambled egg croissants.

As well as the cafe, MIN is also home to Ellie’s fashion label of the same name. On the racks and displays you’ll find a selection of clothing and jewellery, as well as superfoods, face masks and other beauty and health products.

MIN The Cafe

868 Bourke Street
Docklands
Victoria 3205
Australia

Telephone: n/a
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Thu – Mon: 10:00am to 4:00pm

Mama Le, Kensington

Paul
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0
Mama Le, Kensington

MELBOURNE | Mama Le is a modern Vietnamese restaurant tucked away in an industrial pocket of Kensington. After over two years of pandemic-related delays, it opened earlier this year and joins local favourites La Tortilleria and Bonehead Brewing, in what’s becoming quite a gem of a block.

From the street, the former office and warehouse appears, but it’s actually quite spacious. There’s the downstairs bar and dining space, mezzanine kitchen and dining room, and a spacious second bar and dining/function space upstairs. Colourful murals, neon lights, and funky tunes combine for a vibrant atmosphere.

Claims of “fusion food” and the “cool” space might ring some alarm bells and fears of style over substance. This couldn’t, however, be further from the truth. At its heart, Mama Le is a family restaurant. It’s owned and operated by mother and daughter duo Leanne and Lisa Le. Lisa loves her mum’s traditional Vietnamese cooking, and also loves the modern spots that put twists on things. So why not combine the two?

With no prior experience running a hospitality venue, Leanne and Lisa took the bold step of opening Mama Le. You’ll find Leanne leading the kitchen, while Lisa’s also on the tools, learning from her mum as she goes. At front of house you’ll find Lisa’s partner Brendan, welcoming and chatting to diners. You can tell that it’s a place that’s been operating under the radar, with a rapport between staff and customers that you only get when a place is filled with mostly returning locals.

The food at Mama Le is rooted in Leanne’s traditional home-style recipes, but isn’t held back by anyone’s preconceptions about what “real” or “authentic” Vietnamese food should be. There’s a respect for tradition, quality produce, and flavour.

Banh mi is served as banh mi bruschetta, topped with pork nem nướng, pate, pickled veggies, and sweet hoisin sauce. There’s bowls of pho on the menu but also pho rolls. The ingredients and flavours of beef pho in rice paper roll form. They’re both worth ordering.

On the more traditional side is the delicious bánh xèo (crispy rice pancakes) filled with mung beans, and bean sprouts, served with fresh salad and dipping sauce. Nem nướng (Vietnamese grilled pork sausage) served with hoisin sauce is another winner.

For larger dishes, there’s things like bánh hỏi (crackling pork served on vermicelli sheets
with fresh salad and dipping sauce), lemongrass chicken chilli ribs, and an outstanding Vietnamese curry served with a fluffy, crisp tiger roll for dipping.

Three desserts round off the menu. Be sure to try the Vietnamese coffee tiramisu. There’s a reason why it’s Lisa’s favourite dessert on the menu.

To drink, it’s a small selection of cocktails inspired by the flavours of Vietnam, plus the classics. There’s a decent selection of local craft beers in the fridges, and a mostly Australian wine list. Mama Le also has a dedicated coffee bar and serve up some very good coffee – Western-style and Vietnamese.

Mama Le

31 Stubbs Street
Kensington
Victoria 3031
Australia

Telephone: (03) 8488 9288
E-mail: [email protected]
Website

Open
Wed – Fri: 11:00am to 3:00pm; 5:00pm to 9:30pm
Sat: 5:00pm to 10:00pm

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