Italians just want to welcome people, however simple, in abundance

"IN SURRY HILLS ONE GUY IS REINVENTING THE IDEA OF THE EVENING MEAL BY OPENING HIS SPACE FOR A WEEKLY GATHERING OF FRIENDS & STRANGERS. SO GRAB YOURSELF A SEAT, PASS THE WINE & PITCH IN BECAUSE THIS IS NEIGHBOURHOOD DINING AT IT'S VERY BEST. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF NORMAL RESTAURANTS IN SYDNEY. THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM"

Decantered wine is poured, fresh bread ready for olive oil dunking as a group of old friends find seats at the long table. A live guitarist provides ambiance as we share abundant, wholesome, grandmother-worthy food, swap seats as the evening progresses and make ourselves at home.

Recreating the dining experience of any large Italian family, Table for 20 provides a home away from home where the food is hearty, the owners and staff are friendly and the wine is plentiful. For those who have been living under a rock for the past few years, Table for 20 was one of Sydney’s first concept dining experiences. Despite its popularity (large group bookings must be made months in advance), it thrives on the personal touch and passion of its owner – Michael Fantuz.

He personally welcomes us to dinner and stays for a chat, describing a childhood of large European households where food was shared, people were everywhere and memories were created. The love of the job is evident in the attention to detail, the genuine warmth of the staff as they take your coat and invite you to Sticky Bar upstairs while waiting for a table – as if they are inviting you into their home. 

Michael Fantuz welcomes us to dinner

The three set courses change daily, and ten percent of the proceeds go to the Hope Street Mission, a local charity that provides services to homeless people. Hidden in a Surry Hills alley, passion for family and community, personality and originality characterise this well known but hard to find gem. 

Michael tells us of his plan to open a Buffalo Mozzarella bar in Darlinghurst, a trend that has taken off in New York, Tokyo and Milan. Despite the niche appeal of the concept, if the new venue has the energy, character and authenticity of Table for 20, it may be worth getting your booking in now – before the rest of Sydney catches on.

TABLE FOR 20
3C Set menu
+ Mum's Limoncello
BYO wine only - no corkage
Or drink mine
Live music every night
$70 Wed,Thurs,Fri&Sat
Functions available for Sat
Legs under the table for dinner by 8pm
182 Campbell St, Surry Hills
SUMMER @ STICKY
Sticky Bar open from 5.30pm

Eau de Vie awarded 'World's Best New Cocktail Bar'

Melbournites are clinging precariously to their reputation for hiding Australia’s superior bar scene in their laneways and warehouses, as Sydney gem Eau de Vie has taken out the coveted title of ‘World’s Best New Cocktail Bar’.

Trumping a shortlist comprising of only New York venues, Eau de Vie beat the city synonymous with cocktails, exclusive bars and Manhattans at the internationally recognised Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards.

“We set out to create a small cocktail bar where quality of drinks and service are king… I hope that we're helping to drive trends on a global level rather than just following whatever's happening in London and the U.S which have typically been seen as the leaders in our industry,” said owner Sven Almenning in response to the award.

Also nominated for ‘World’s Best Cocktail Menu’ and ‘World’s Best Drink Selection’, the recognition is testament to Almenning’s dedication, original design and attention to detail.   Lifeafterfive’s hazy recollection of a martini master class run by the brilliant Dr Phil led us to proclaim Eau de Vie a hidden bar full of expert bartenders, priding itself on knowing its Hendricks from its Anchor Junipero. 

Fronted by Luke Redingon, the not-so-hidden bar has attracted a loyal clientele of Sydney siders seeking quality, ambiance and style.  With an Eue De Vie Melbourne in the works for October, defensive Melbournites can hold their fears of the imminent turning of the smallbariffic tables at bay… for now.

Eau De Vie
229 Darlinghurst Rd
Darlinghurst 2010

Back to class with Eau de Vie

The James Bond films are known for their blatant product placement, but it was Bond’s famous martini instructions “shaken, not stirred” which challenged the drink’s origins and caused controversy among connoisseurs worldwide.

At Eau de Vie’s Martini Masterclass, ‘Dr Phil’, the waistcoated bartender who has studied everything martini, tells us that the classic (read: authentic) martini was stirred so as not to bruise the gin.  Not merely a strong cocktail in a stylish glass, we learn that the martini has a history full of politics, science – and of course, culinary debate.

A hidden bar which prides itself on knowing its Hendricks from its Anchor Junipero, Eau de Vie is the ideal setting to learn about the evolution of a cocktail that found its feet during the American prohibition era.  Water is served in antique crystal tumblers, and strains of Chicago’s ‘All that jazz’ reinforce the sense that one is in an intimate speakeasy set up for the discerning tippler.

Winston Churchill makes a regular appearance in this alcohol enhanced history lesson, where his most important contribution to history appears to have been the popularisation of the dry martini (the more vermouth, the wetter the martini) – stating that “I would like to observe the vermouth from across the room while I drink my martini”.

Sipping our lychee martinis, the students seated around the bar are told that ice is the most important part of any martini (beware a bartender who doesn’t fill the glass!).  Crushed or broken ice is another warning signal.  Serious about its commitment to quality, Eau de Vie has liquid nitrogen on hand to ensure that the drinks are served at ideal temperatures and makes its own vermouth on the premises.

After concocting and drinking approximately five variations of martinis (the experiential part of the learning experience), our recollection of the techniques may be hazy but we have a newfound appreciation of the level of skill required.  Wet or dry, vodka or gin, stirred or shaken – the drink of tuxedos, Aston Martins and general sophistication is definitely one worth outsourcing to the experts at Eau de Vie.  As Dr Phil spins around the bar, pouring shots, stirring the drinks and juggling the glasses, he reminds us of the most important ingredients – theatre and flair.

The Martini Masterclass was run by Eau de Vie as part of World Cocktail Week.  Keep an eye on their Facebook page for future events.

Tickets were provided courtesy of Eat Drink Play

 

Check it out!  Eau de Vie comes to life in this brilliant video by the team at Barology

Rock Lily launch party

“Trust me. You’re not gonna see this anywhere else” the tattoed barman promises, expertly pouring a precise 30ml tequila shot. Despite long established wisdom that one should never trust a man who says “trust me”, in this case it’s a gamble I’m willing to take.  With over 120 tequilas on offer, Star City’s new bar Rock Lily offers sought after varieties that can’t be found anywhere else in Australia.

Not just a tequila bar (though the Cadillac margaritas are sensational), Rock Lily is Sydney’s newest and most exclusive live music venue, attracting top Aussie rock bands and international talent (Snoop Dogg has already hosted his invitation-only after party there prior to the official opening) to perform for no more than 200 people.  Despite being in the middle of neon-drenched Star City casino, Rock Lily manages to pull off an intimate and atmospheric performance space that will attract bands and rockers alike.

At the official launch party on Wednesday 20 April, the crowd was treated to ‘up close and personal’ performances by hot Australian bands Washington and Art v Science.  I could practically reach out and touch Dan Mac from Art v Science (tempting but I did refrain) and someone from the crowd offers him a beer to scholl mid-performance.



Art vs Science


Lounging in converted Cadillac seat booths while watching the 1970s tvs above the bar, all décor - from the juke box in the corner to the mustard squiggled hot dogs - follows the mid-west American diner theme recently embraced by bars such as Shady Pines Saloon and the Stuffed Beaver.  Tattooed works of art cover the arms of all tequila savvy bartenders, suggesting that no detail has been neglected in designing and bringing the concept to life.

I step outside to take a phone call, and am momentarily confused to find myself surrounded by the bright lights and clanging jangles of a casino – I hurry back into the dimly lit oasis of rock and cocktails.

A surprisingly laid back and inviting space, let’s hope that Rock Lily is the start of movement by Star City to make the most of its huge, inner-city precinct.  Showcasing the best talent from home and abroad, Rock Lily is will inspire celebration among live music fans – just make sure you’re one of the 200 lucky enough to get through the door.

Rock Lily is open from 5pm on Wednesdays to Sundays


This article first appeared on Eat Drink Play.

"Sandy feet, bikinis and board shorts welcome"

“Sandy feet, bikinis and board shorts welcome” declares the elegant script at the entrance to Manly Wine, the latest and most scenic addition to the Gazebo family.

The eclectic, arty and intentionally chaotic décor that Gazebo is known for stimulates the senses, with yellow roses jostling for space with plastic flamingos and mini television sets. The friendly staff in denim overalls, the massive bread baskets delivered to the tables upon being seated and the mismatched but comfortable chairs reinforce the message of ‘casual but quality’.

Despite the welcoming statement at the door, the crowd gathered for long Saturday lunches would look equally comfortable at an expensive restaurant or afternoon bar launch. A look-book of the latest winter fashions, there are girls touching up make up in the bathroom, strutting heels in the mid-afternoon, and no sign of sandy feet or boardshorts (though to be fair – it is mid-winter).



Ask any non-Sydney resident their impression of Sydney nightlife and culture, and you’ll often get a response along the lines of “pretentious, expensive, tacky…” (with particular emphasis from smug Melbournites).

Gazebo’s welcoming invitation, along with statements such as “We say no to… Door charges. Dress codes. Door bitches” at Pocket in Darlinghurst seem to be part of a growing trend in Sydney to reject the pretentious, the over-dressed and exclusivity that Sydney has long been renowned for. Small Bar’s proud admission that “we’re homely and intimate, and we don’t have tv screens, gambling or draught beer” is another example of ambiance without the fuss. In a funny twist, the smaller the budget, the harder to find and the quirkier the décor of a place, the more likely it is to be frequented by those it claims to exclude.

Challenging the dominance of establishments like Ivy , a pleasure palace planned and built during boom times but ironically opened at the same time as the advent of the Global Financial Crisis, the anti-cool, anti-establishment, anti-rules vibe is starting to dominate Sydney’s bars and restaurants, kicked off by the small bars spreading over the inner city since the change to the liquor licensing laws in October 2009. Larger bars like the Gazebos and The Village (formally known as East Village) are reinforcing the trend by creating small bar-esque, familiar and cozy environments within their larger venues.

With hidden bars like Sticky hosting old school gaming machines, table tennis at Dr Pong, and drinking wine on crates on the pavement outside The Shop and Wine Bar in Bondi, the focus is on fun, art and experience – with a serious disdain for those who take life too seriously.


The plastic pink flamingo has the best view in the house