Jagermeister Hunting Lodge, Sydney Festival

“You’re invited to hunt out top talent”… whether the invitation is referring to onstage or amongst the crowd, talent abounds at the opening night of the Jagermeister Hunting Lodge in the Honda Festival Garden. 

Despite the balmy January evening, we enter an alpine winter hunting lodge that appears to cozily shelter us from a European frost (a world away from the hot Australian Sydney summer outside). A faux fireplace flickers in front of plush leather lounges, tables and chairs are carved out of logs and mock mounted animal heads line the walls. Glamorous girls serve drinks while clad in shorts and fur beanies, while bow-tied “photographers” use oversized cameras to snap polaroids of the trendily eclectic crowd. 

Kiwi rockstar Tim Finn performed at Tuesday’s launch, revving up the audience with a mix of Crowded House, Split Enz and his own solo music. Shaking his floppy white hair to the music, moonwalking like Michael Jackson on red bull, he announced to the adoring crowd that “cos it’s the Sydney Festival, we’ve gotta talk about really high brow things like astrology and star signs…".

A pop up bar and live performance space in the middle of Hyde Park, entry to the Lodge is free as part of the 2012 Sydney Festival. Chandeliers adorned with jagermeister bottles hang from the wooden installation as the bar serves a selection of mixes of jager, jager, wine… and jager. Jager & Dry is recommended by the bartender, and the various cocktails remind visitors that there is more to the spirit than just chemical warfare (jager bombs don’t even feature on the menu). 

If craving inspiration for high brow conversation (as Finn reminded us, it is the Sydney Festival after all), garden tables are dotted outside to enjoy cocktails, gaze at the stars and check the position of mercury. With intimate live performances, novel surrounds and a hipster crowd worth people-watching, the Jagermeister Hunting Lodge is another winning example of the Sydney Festival’s goal kicking. This is our city in summer.

Popping up as part of the 2012 Sydney Festival the semi-permanent bar and music venue will be open to the public between 10th-29th of January for a series of intimate secret shows.

Shows are open to the public and most are FREE (subject to capacity). Ticket registration is required for some events. Visit www.facebook.com/JagermeisterAustralia for more information.

A kiwi cocktail...

It was over 90 years before a select few apples were allowed across the Aussie / NZ ditch, yet luckily for cocktail enthusiasts a more popular kiwi export has migrated in a fraction of the time.

With an ethos combining fun and freshness, VnC cocktails have conquered a gap in the Aussie market by creating a pre-mixed, premium range of cocktails. A delivery of the naturally spirited range arrived on my doorstep just in time for a weekend getaway up the coast.

Our unanimous fave was the Passionfruit Caprioska, based on a fruit which is described as “the mousy librarian who removes her glasses and everyone realises is a real fox”. A close second was the mango daiquiri, a blend of banana and mango with New Zealand vodka.

Despite a high number of sweet ready-to-drink beverages on the bottle-o shelves, the concept of a natural fruit juice cocktail seems to have been previously overlooked. Founded by kiwi Shane McKillen in 2007, his commitment to no artificial colouring, preservatives or colours will appeal to those health conscious Sydney-siders who are still partial to a tasty cocktail.

Despite being the first company in the world to gain Certified Emissions Measurement and Reduction Scheme (CEMARS) product certification, VnC cheekily claims that the “only problem NZ has is that there’s only three tv channels”.

Following in the footsteps of Flight of the Conchords, pavlovas and beached whales (forget the pesky apples), this is a kiwi export that is likely to punch above its weight (and probably soon be claimed as our own).

A pack of VnC Cocktails was sent to lifeafterfive* by Liquid Ideas.

Cuervo Fiesta Mexicano at Cafe Pacifico

The word fiesta instantly conjures images of Mexico - saucy dancing, salsa laden cuisine, and salt rimmed tequila based cocktails.  A city that can’t resist a party, the Sydney scene has recently seen an outbreak of all things Mexican with new Mexican cantinas, themed bars and cuisine popping up everywhere.  Pubs such as The Norfolk are featuring tacos on their menu (even if they are korean meatball flavour), while chains such as Guzman y Gomez are exploding into foodcourts all around town.  While hot newbies such as Barrio Chino and El Loco are drawing crowds, we would be remiss to forget where it all started in 1997; Café Pacifico.

Olivia Guest, Donna Freak, Alex Adams (Ms Darlinghurst) & their donkey

With over 90 tequilas on their menu, Café Pacifico is the logical host for Cuervo’s Fiesta Mexicano on 13 September as part of BarShow Week 2011.  Cuervo’s master blenders, Don Francisco Hajnal and Phil Bayly, swizzle drinks, blend agave syrup and twirl bottles for a crowd wearing hipster hats that I suspect will reappear in force on Bondi’s grassy knoll this summer.

Donna Freak (Secret Foodies) & Daniella Alhadeff (lifeafterfive*)

Pinatas hang from the ceiling, blow up donkeys lose their tails while maracas are shaken in time with the latino music.  Traditional margueritas on the rocks with agave syrup is my drink of choice, with braver (it’s a school night!) souls opting for the Anejo ‘Old Fashioned’ marguerita concoction.  There are Batangos (as discovered at the Schweppes Elixir launch), another drink that resembles a latino Bloody Mary (tomato juice anyone?) and quality tequila shots are handed out like canapés.

The food lives up to all cheesy, spicy expectations, with delicious mini quesadillas of all varieties in abundance, corn fritter balls and cerviches making an appearance and ensuring  stomachs are lined.

With colourful streamers cascading over the crowd, the bartender performing his moves from the tabletop and the bar fraternity out in force, Café Pacifico and Jose Cuervo are proving that they’re ready to lead Sydney’s charge to Latin America.  Grab a donkey, plant a cactus and get your maracas ready for a fiesta near you.

Pinatas waiting to be opened

A happy Mexican

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

An apple a day...

They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away. But the humble apple has faced tough competition in recent years, with trendy “super foods” like goji berries, wheat grass, and pomegranates hogging the limelight through slick marketing campaigns.

Luckily for our health (and our tastebuds), two Bondi locals have partnered with Batlow Apples to create Batlow Premium Cider. Handcrafted from a blend of 100% Australian-grown apples, brothers Rich and Sam Coombes are helping us fend off the doctors by creating a far more exciting way to fill our daily apple quotas.

When a health scare led Rich to quit his high-pressure job in the corporate world, he decided it was time to revive an old dream to create his own product – “it struck me that life was too short and precious to be doing something I didn’t love”. Enjoying drinks with mates on Bondi’s grassy knoll one summer afternoon, he realised that there was no cider equivalent of a Coopers beer – locally made and premium quality.

He and Sam contacted Batlow Apples, and so began the journey to create what has the potential to become an iconic Australian cider (watch this space!).

Read my interview with Rich Coombes on Eat Drink Play & find out how you can get your daily fix!