Once upon a time, Hyundai made dependable, practical, everyday cars that weren’t known for their looks or style. It wasn’t that style was ignored, it just didn’t seem to be a priority. That changed when German Chief Designer Thomas Bürkle came on board and decided things were going to be different. Jetting to the company’s global headquarters in South Korea, he was impressed by the city’s local architecture and sought to uniquely incorporate it into the next generation of the i40 Tourer series.

While many car designers claim to be inspired by divine intervention in some form, very few can claim to be directly inspired by places of worship. Bürkle is far from your average car designer.

“I noticed the very sleek lines of the Buddhist temples around Seoul and I used those curves to design the rear end of the vehicle until it was something that was quite sleek,” he proudly claims. Not just from the back, the i40 Tourer is great to look at from all angles.

In a single word it is impressive. Whether driving to the office in peak hour traffic or propelling you through the twists, turns and unexpected bends on a country road trip, it’s a very comfortable ride. That’s partly due to the interior heated seats (both front and rear) and partly due to the fact that they’re just so well-designed, even if you decide not to flick the switch and in an instant increase the temperature on those cold days (and strangely, there’s been a few of those on the east coast of Australia this season).

 

Further assisting your drive to be as effortless as possible the dashboard has the latest features of what you’d expect from a high-tech production vehicle manufactured in 2011. There’s an LCD display, trip computer with clever features like an alarm reminder for your next service and seat adjustment memory, but it doesn’t overwhelm the driver with excess. The interior is spacious enough to allow you and your passengers to relax. In fact, Hyundai have ensured simplicity is the order of the day and its high-tech control features are all simply laid out in a user-friendly format. From the first time driving, it is clear that everything is where it should be.

 

The i40 Tourer with its choice of a 2.0 litre petrol engine (1,999 cc) or a 1.7 litre diesel engine (1,685 cc) is not the most powerful car on the road. Hyundai never designed it to be, but what they have claimed is that it will deliver maximum fuel efficiency and power response output at all times – a wise choice for the inevitable peak hour traffic rush and the ever-increasing cost of fuel. That’s not to say it’s a slouch. Put your foot down and you’ll notice the performance is there. Ultimately the i40 Tourer is a sensible road choice for anyone who wants a well-designed, technologically-loaded car so they can make their journey in complete comfort for themselves and their passengers. And it doesn’t look too bad either.

For more information visit www.hyundai.com.au.

Patrick Lewis

By all rights any restaurant named after ’80s cult TV classic ‘Monkey Magic’ should have patrons summoning waiters by whistling their fingers looking to the clouds, stick-fighting mayhem with other diners, and limiting conversation to small but influential Buddhist figurehead – none of which would make any sense whatsoever. Monkey Magic, the restaurant, on Sydney’s Crown Street in Surry Hills, doesn’t have any of those features – a fact excused only by the quality of its food which, in a word, is spellbinding.

Modern Japanese is the order of the day with some other Asian dishes like duck pancakes (cute miniatures made from buckwheat, pictured above) thrown in for good measure, and an exotic blend of mouthwatering sushi and equally impressive sashimi with some clever takes on traditional Japanese favourites. The Blue Swimmer Crab roll, for instance, works by cleverly substituting soy with curried vinaigrette.

Skewers of prawn and vegetables tempured to a golden brown and uniquely served lollipop -tyle on thin wooden sticks are a great choice of entrée while the salt and pepper cuttlefish boasts a texture and taste far better than the standard calamari ubiquitous in Sydney restaurants. Thanks to just a hint of chili, it proves to be a worthwhile standout. The coriander and garlic mayonnaise accompanying it is the perfect dipping sauce.

 

The Teriyaki chicken could well be Monkey’s signature dish (pictured above). Soft and succulent, it melts in your mouth faster than the miso candied butter it comes with while the sauce itself is dark, sweet, rich and, yes, quite possibly the best of its kind in the city. The steamed snapper with broth emanates a subtlety of textures; the white flesh deliciously falls apart while the snapper skin is sharp and crisp. Not just a tokenistic gesture for vegetarians the restaurant’s steamed Asian greens with a sticky citrus miso is a flavorsome side the most voracious meat-eater would happily sink their teeth into. 

 

Desserts include spring rolls wickedly filled with white chocolate and banana plated with a refreshing green tea ice cream or the salted caramel semifreddo with crunchy meringue which tastes as good as it looks. The wine list boasts a wide selection of international and Australian drops, focusing on WA’s Margaret River. Cocktails should come with a warning: addiction is likely. The ‘Monkey Gland’ of gin, orange and grenadine quickly becomes a favourite. If that’s not enough, there’s an impressive array of sake, whiskey, rum and just about everything else you’d expect  to find at a well-stocked bar.

With its dark hardwood floors, brown brick walls, minimalist lighting and spacious interior, Monkey Magic is one restaurant you don’t want to miss out on. Twin Head Chefs Shea Crawford and Shinsuke Tsurita have carved themselves a well-deserved reputation for fusing modern and traditional dishes to very high standards ensuring the success of this restaurant is not down to magic, but to hard work and a shared vision of excellence.

 

Monkey Magic is situated 410 Crown Street, Surry Hills.

Visit www.monkeymagic.com.au for more information or phone (02) 9358 4444 to book.

Patrick Lewis

During the Christmas and New Year’s season, there’s one thing you can count on in hospitality, and that is that the prices of hotel rooms go through the roof. But not so with Holiday Inn. Just launched by the quality and affordable hotel group is its ‘Stay Summer’ promotion offering holidaymakers the choice between inspiring city breaks or relaxing escapes in getaway spots across Australasia.

City slickers and shopaholics, for example, might like to take advantage of a package that includes overnight accommodation, breakfast and parking in CBD Holiday Inn properties situated in Darling Harbour, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Darwin, Auckland and Port Moresby.

Alternatively, those desiring a little R&R can enjoy a package that includes overnight accommodation and a $100 food and beverage voucher at properties in secluded spots in Cairns, Gagudju, Suva, Vanuatu and Rotorua.

Rates are very generous with city stays alone starting from $119 a night (eg: Townsville) and $220 (Potts Point, pictured above) to $239 (Burswood, Perth) and $320 (Old Sydney, The Rocks). Visit www.holidayinn.com/staysummer for more information or call 138 388 to book for affordable stays between December 16 and February 29.

Antonino Tati

It seems even the ampersand in its brand name can’t stop &Beyond from being the world’s leading ecotourism company, this year celebrating a whooping 20 years of successful business, 20 years of  conservation triumphs, 20 years of  luxury responsible tourism. Pretty much 20 years of kicking butt.

With their first Mountain Lodge opening in October 1991, &Beyond have grown into an award-winning hospitality success with more than 35 safari lodges throughout Africa and India, and even better stories to go with them.

Because 20 obviously seems to be the number on &Beyond’s lips, they have compiled numerous lists, all with 20 as a common factor: community empowerment victories, bucket list moments,  insider travel tips and more.

They’re just sharing the love. Why don’t you give on back and check out what &Beyond has got going on at www.andbeyond.com. Take a peak at the amazing adventure holidays that are just a click away.

Image courtesy &Beyond.

Kaya Strehler




Social photographs taken at South City Kiosk in City Beach, Perth, WA. 


 


 


 


 
















Veronica, Jude, Amanda, Silvana & Claudia.


 



 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
















Adam.


 



 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
















Denise.


 



 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
















Sofia.


 



 









Sebastian.


 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
















Stefano.






 



 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 


 
















Andrew.


 



 



 



 









Polly, Maree & Simone.


 













Claudia & Silvana.

Antonino Tati

The vacant wharf between the Opera House and the Rocks passenger terminal has been conspicuously absent for some time. In fact Sydney Harbour just hasn’t been the same since the tall ship replica of the Bounty got sold off to Hong Kong. But all that is about to change. The Southern Swan is a 33-metre tall ship that owner David Warne bought when he first climbed a high-mast ship and decided then and there his life changing experience should also be enjoyed by others.

After carefully checking the tall ships classifieds, a quick purchase, a slow million dollar refit (at his own expense), and inevitably much sweat and tears, the Southern Swan has allowed Sydney Harbour to once again bring the history of the city’s first fleet to life. For just the price of a water taxi you can cruise for a lot longer on the finest harbour in the world, under sail on a wooden boat enjoying wine tasting or a BBQ lunch.

Of course the ultimate goal, and David’s vision, relies on gaining a little altitude. Climbing the mast, just like helping unfurl the sails, is entirely optional but an experience that must be tried to gain the true at-sea adventure. Carefully strapped in, and at 33 metres altitude, the view is definitely worth the climb. Little wonder the Southern Swan, along with the Bridge Climb and the Opera House, has already started to feature high on Sydney’s visitors must-do list. Unlike the Bridgeclimb you’re allowed to bring your own camera/phone and snap until your heart’s content. After the climb, there’s nothing better than to sit back with a glass of champagne as the ship gracefully takes in the sights of the harbour (it’s not called the Swan for nothing) until you’re back again on terra firma.

Visit www.sydneytallships.com.au for bookings and information.

Photography by Tony Palliser.

Patrick Lewis

Normally asking the questions, we sent Cream writer Patrick Lewis on a weekend getaway to Sydney’s beach suburb Manly to experience the coastal life and then grilled him (pardon the pun) when he got back.

 

Why Manly?

Manly is a great destination for interstate visitors, but not many Sydneysiders realise its great laidback atmosphere, suitable for a local getaway. it characterises Australia but it’s great for Sydneysiders who want a break from the bustle of the city because it’s close but insular and so you can really lose yourself. It’s no wonder the locals never leave. While I was there I actually felt I was somewhere else far from Sydney. 

 

What was the highlight of your weekend?

Quite simply it was waking up by the water. I stayed at Quest Serviced Apartments overlooking the Manly bay. It was great to look out the window, see the sun come up first thing in the morning, and the ferries coming in. All with the city as its backdrop. It’s understated but there’s a buzz to Manly. It sounds simple, but walking along both the beaches both days at morning and when the sun went down was really invigorating.

Describe the restaurant scene in Manly. Where did you eat?

Dining out in Manly has changed enormously in the past five years. There’s now such a diverse range of restaurants like China Beach on North Steyne. It serves modern Asian dishes like twice-cooked free range duck with sweet tamarind, lychee, ginger and crispy eschallo, and crispy chicken with Chinese spices, honey, soy and black vinegar sauce. Both dishes are absolutely delicious and would give Billy Kwong’s and Jimmy Liks a run for their money. Beautifully tiled black and white floor with empty bird cages hanging from the ceiling. Comparing that to café Belgrave Cartel – if you were taken there blindfolded and then opened your eyes you would think you were in Newtown; the furniture is eclectic, the décor is incoherent, and it’s so different to anything else in Manly. Run by two Italian brothers they make a rich full coffee and amazing eggs.

Organicus (pictured above) is a great little spot in between the wharf and the beach. The philosophy behind Organicus is to produce healthy versions of junk food. While sausage rolls and stodgy burgers are normally avoided, after the Organicus treatment, a fennel and pork sausage roll with tomato relish and pasture-fed  burger with lacto-fermented cucumber was really tasty, and low in kilojoules. Chef Matt Wellings has worked under Gordon Ramsay. He really knows his food.

 

What does Manly have to do with space travel?

While alcohol is banned on NASA space missions and in the International Space Station, most countries don’t consider producing astro beers a possibility but forward-thinking Aussie Jason Held, Director of Saber Astronautics Australia, said this would change with the rise in space tourism over the next two to five years. He’s developed a series of fantastic beers low in carbon dioxide but big on taste – available in all your typical flavours and even a few drops of something more exotic: the highly recommended banana beer is love at first taste and guaranteed to blow you out of this world. 

 

What else did you get up to in Manly?

Getting on the water on a kayak under your own steam is a great workout. There’s only a few millimeters of plastic separating you from the harbour so you connect with the water in a way that you can’t in a boat. It’s a great feeling paddling around, checking out the million-dollar waterfront mansions and then heading to the national park on the other side for a rest. Oh, and if you’re lucky you might spot a humpback whale!

On land, i’s great hiring a bike and the winding down at Manly Beach Studio. The yoga classes are always full and it’s not surprising to learn that this studio is something of a mecca for yoga teachers around Australia. Believe it or not, it used to be a nightclub and the walls are soundproofed so it’s really quiet. The hardwood floors and the natural filtered light create a really relaxing atmosphere making it the perfect place to relax.

Manly is the perfect place for a weekend getaway to get you up and about.

 

For more information visit www.manlyaustralia.com.au.

For accommodation visit www.questgrandeesplanade.com.au or click on the image below.

creammag
Oct 27th, 2011

Cream tests two alternative places of accommodation in Bali, each distinctively different but impressive on all fronts: from fine cuisine to major comfort factor, dayspa services to distance from the main hubs of Ubud (in Central Bali) and bustling Seminyak. By Antonino Tati

Ubud’s ultimate retreat

Okay, you can do Bali one of two ways. The first, more common way, is to score some cheap accommodation that’s been fused into the flight package and will probably have you sleeping in uncomfortable conditions, likely having to pay for some back-fixing upon return from your ‘vacation’. Or the second, more preferable option, is by booking an economic flight and splurging on a stunning hotel. That way you’ll be inclined to enjoy the venue’s facilities a lot more, perhaps ultimately saving some money in the long run.

For an establishment that is just 30km away from Denpasar town, yet close to the hub of authentic Indonesian artisanship, you cannot go past the Viceroy in Ubud. Before going into detail about this magnificent place of accommodation, a little about its artistic precinct’s background: Ubud kicked off Bali’s cultural and artistic community back in the early 1900s when a group of ex-pats, namely Walter Spies, Willem Hofker and Rudolf Bonnet, began gathering artistic talents from all over Indonesia and encouraged them to ‘set up shop’, as it were, in the heart of Bali. As the city centre, quite literally, Ubud is also home to Bali’s traditional medicine making, its name actually translating to ‘medicine’. Located amid picturesque emerald green rice fields, along the edges of a long flowing Petanu River, the town covers a mere nine square kilometres of land, most of which is best trekked by foot or bicycle.

Now if Ubud is the cultural capital of Bali, the Viceroy Hotel is its castle. And you’ll feel like a king once you step foot in this place. Architects and designers have maintained a traditional Balinese aesthetic throughout each of the villas and deluxe suites, and their surrounds but equipped them, too, with all the necessary modern amenities from en-suite bathrooms to outdoor splash pool, air-conditioning and fan to iPod dock and WiFi.

The suites alone are luxuriously fitted with an oversized king bed, long sofa that separates bed from entertainment area, a 47-inch television, stereo system, mini bar, and espresso machine. Indeed, you might be tempted to stay in your villa or out on the private pool deck for your entire stay. But rest assured there’s plenty else on offer at this establishment.

“Nearly all our staff are Balinese and come from the Ubud area,” tells General Manager, Anthony Syrowatka. “Behind the scenes we fully embrace the Balinese traditions and culture, and there are many daily rituals carried out, as well as big ceremonies on special days which guests are more than welcome to take part in.”

Syrowatka tells me that the resort is family owned and run and that while he and his folks “get caught up in our work and lose sight sometimes of how special our surroundings are, we sometimes get the chance to join our guests or friends in the hotel for dinner or a drink at the bar and that magic comes back to us.”

Having done much travelling themselves, the Syrowatka family have made a conscious effort of making their guests’ stay truly memorable, unique and excellent value for money.

“There are things we’ve liked and disliked when we’ve travelled and we have created an experience of staying with us that we would expect when we travel but don’t always get… Things like extra bathroom space, 24-hour internet access, non-alcoholic mini bar, car and driver to take guests to the greater Ubud area, breakfast, and many other things, all being complementary during your stay.”

One component of the Viceroy that Syrowatka is justifiably proud of is the Viceroy’s in-house restaurant, CasCades, which although offers predominantly western (notably French) fare with a slight Asian twist, invites guests to try a traditional Indonesian ‘rijsttafel’ menu peppered with amazing, authentic Balinese dishes. Set amongst reflection ponds, and stunning timber finishes, CasCades is arguably one of Bali’s better dining spots: its breathtaking views as romantic as its cuisine is delectable. It’s no surprise that it has won Best Restaurant every year, from 2007 to 2010, as acknowledged by Indonesia Tattler and American Express.

Further on the subject of award-worthiness, the Viceroy’s opulently built spa, Lembah, is considered by many to be Ubud’s finest therapeutic facility, with both local and accredited Swiss therapists at hand to provide a variety of massage options. Guests can opt to have treatments carried out in the privacy of their villa or on the spa’s relaxation decks that overlook the gorgeous Petanu Valley.

No doubt about it, the Viceroy confirms Ubud’s namesake of betterment through natural medicine, while reiterating the area’s artistic sensibilities. Your every whim is catered for here, even special requests such as butler serviced in-villa dining or a volcano tour via helicopter. Now that’s an innovative way to appreciate the true heart of Bali.

The Viceroy is a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World. Visit www.slh.com/viceroy or phone 1800 251 958 for booking information. Visit the resort’s website directly at www.viceroybali.com. Also, for special offers click here. And for other travel benefits become a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World Club (it’s free!) at www.slh.com/club.

 

 

Seminyak’s new Wow factor 

Time to show off. I’ve had the pleasure of staying at various W Hotels around the world, each with their unique aesthetic attributes that pay tribute to the cities that surround them, be it Hong Kong, Sydney (sadly now taken over by the Blue Hotel), or New York (having shacked up in both the Times Square and Lexington Avenue venues out of the four Ws in NYC). In my taxi going up the long cobble-stoned drive to W’s newest addition in Seminyak, Bali, it didn’t look like a hotel lobby I was heading towards, but instead some sort of futuristic space station. The foyer itself is massive with a welcome bar at its centre and many more staff at reception than at your average hotel. From this central hub sprawl the establishment’s many suites and retreats (158 in total), with each wave of rooms looking like the giant tentacle of an octopus when viewed from the air, I’m sure.

Inspired by retro chic architecture of the 1960s and ’70s, mixed in with hints of traditional Balinese design, architectural firm AB Concept have done such a magnificent job in blending the traditional and the classic with the contemporary, that the word postmodern doesn’t even begin to describe it. Straight stepping profiles, typical of traditional pagoda temples, have been reinterpreted in the resin contours of the bar, a focal point of the W Lounge. The lobby’s ceiling features a gorgeously intricate henna design in keeping with Bali’s Hindu tradition, while the steps leading down to the pool take their design cue from cascading layers of rice paddies that are so ubiquitous in Indonesia.

But while tradition has sneaked into the hotel’s pragmatic design, vibrant colour also plays a part, with mood lighting greeting you at the lifts, and a host of hot pinks and purple furnishings capturing the vibrancy of a Balinese sunset.

Says Co-Founder and Director of AB Concept, Ed Ng, “In designing W Retreat & Spa Bali – Seminyak, we set out to redefine what a Balinese resort looks like. We wanted to create a unique property unlike anything else on the island. Although we’ve taken inspiration from the local culture and architectural forms, we’ve added a bold, modern twist to these conventions.”

Once in your room, you’re greeted by aquatic greens and blues that bring to mind the sea that is just a hundred metres away. A bathroom skylight provides natural sunlight and floor-to-ceiling windows take full advantage of the gorgeous ocean view.

Noticing all the nifty gadgets and amenities in the retreats and suites, including Bose sound system, iPod docking station, flat-screen TV, high-speed WiFi, and deep soaking tub, it becomes obvious that this W will appeal to the sophisticated traveler who is design-conscious but pragmatic in their accommodation decisions.

In a place like Bali, visitors are pretty spoilt for food. For a few thousand rupiah you can enjoy traditional Indonesian cuisine that tastes great and is good for you. For this reason, the food and beverage team at the new W have insisted on keeping the prices at the hotel’s two restaurants – Fire and Starfish Bloo – very affordable, boasting menus of a clever east-meets-west fusion cuisine. Headed up by Aussie chef, Ian Lovie, Fire offers guests the best fire-cooked prime meats and seafood, and an array of enticing appetizers like Crispy Confit of Duck, Jimbaran Market Calamari Risotto, and Carpaccio of Australian Grade Kobe Beef. Starfish Bloo gets even more experimental with Chef de Cuisine Jack Yoss delivering an adventurous Pan Asian menu night after night. Voss, like Lovie, is insistent on capitalising on the island’s bountiful seafood, exotic fruits, and native herbs to create dishes he refers to as “raw, rare and naked” (but yes, of course many of his dishes are properly cooked).

After dinner, it’s nice to enjoy a cocktail at the WooBar while the DJ plays the coolest of chill-out tunes that soon segue into electro-dance, and if you want to party on, such Seminyak hot spots as Potato Head, 66 and Mixwell are only a short distance away (Potato Head is right next door, actually).

Now there is a reason the W likes its newest addition to be referred to as a Retreat & Spa and that is because it’s spa facilities are state-of-the-art and out of this world. One of the few resorts in the world that offer around-the-clock services (that is, 24/7), myself and my travelling guest couldn’t resist a midnight massage. We were offered oxygen to begin with that got us in a blissful state, then a choice from one of three fabulous sounding massage menus: ‘Serene & Soulful’, ‘Glamour & Glitz’, and ‘Fit & Fabulous’. We opted for the first one, and let’s just say the menu might well have its name changed to ‘Heavenly & Heartfelt’. I swear I almost cried after my hour and half treatment; it was as though the therapist had soothed the aches and pains in practically every muscle, bone and nerve.

It’s a brilliant idea having a 24-hour spa in a resort. After all, it’s after the hard partying or heavy shopping that most people want to detox and relax. Blissful treatments and glorious cuisine aside, it’s the little touches that make staying at the W Retreat & Spa in Seminyak a magical experience. Things like the message on the welcome mat in the elevator suddenly changing at dusk; the mini bar looking more like a maxi bar; the wooden façade that rolls out to reveal a giant TV; the statuette in your toilet that humorously reads ‘Take your time, I like to watch’; light fittings that look like something out of a Lady Gaga video; and high tea in the lobby that Alice would find more vividly memorable than Wonderland. It’s these kind of details that make me look forward to my next stay here, knowing there are a lot more surprises to discover I’m sure.

 

W Retreat & Spa is situated Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak, Kerobokan, Denpasar Bali.

Visit www.whotels.com/baliseminyak  or phone +62 361 738 106 for rates and enquiries.

Antonino Tati

Jeep has come a long way since the US military’s light reconnaissance vehicles first saw action in 1941. Although the gung-ho GIs back then needed a rough and robust way of storming through occupied Europe, the qualities that defined those first production models have been strengthened to even higher standards and are very much a part of Jeep’s philosophy today.

 

Manufacturers of Jeep have long been conscious of their American heritage and the need to stay true to their principles while never complacent of the high standards of the European and Japanese brands they are competing against. Enlisting a crack team of engineers and designers from all over the globe, the 2012 production models do not disappoint.

 

While the Overland boasts a whopping 5.7 V8 litre engine, the star of Jeep’s fleet is the Grand Cherokee:  mighty 3.0 litre turbo with a direct-injection V6 engine that allows you to put your foot down and truly feel the difference. Jeep’s new engine is more powerful, more fuel efficient, and produces lower emissions than any of its predecessors. The results from test-driving the Cherokee are felt immediately: on and off road the 3.0 litre is just as impressive over dirt and sand as it is over tarmac.

 

The new Cherokee has an array of impressive standout features – it lifts off the ground to help clear obstacles, an air suspension system cushions the bumpiest obstacles, and it’s new aero mode features improved aerodynamics meaning you go faster with less energy.

 

The select terrain system allows for maximum grip and stability whether you’re driving over rock, sand, mud or snow but perhaps the Cherokee’s most impressive standout is its automatic breaking feature. Identifying downhill breaking problems as the situation most likely to lead to loss of control for 4WD drivers, the smart folk at Jeep ingeniously created the automatic breaking feature that takes the stress out of SUV driving. Jeep wizardry senses the gradient and exerts just the right amount of breaking power and acceleration to ensure your ride to the bottom is not just safe but effortless too. All it takes is two quick flicks of a switch and then a microchip takes over. Putting your life in the hands of a computer while facing a steep hill isn’t a decision taken lightly but feeling the Cherokee glide effortlessly down the sand covered embankment it quickly gained full confidence. Cutting edge technology ensures you’ll never have to chance those problem slopes again.

 

While tough and technologically tanked up, the vehicle does not come at the expense of comfort. In fact the American GIs that stormed Normandy in the first cut-off Jeeps could only dream of the comfort that modern drivers now enjoy. Black, handstitched leather interior complete with real wood trim means that style clearly was a priority for designers. Expert craftsmanship and an army of engineers have collaborated to achieve maximum driving style and feel while ensuring vehicle handling is in no way compromised.

 

Too often modern car designers sacrifice design for gimmicky aesthetic that prohibits the practical use of the features they are trying to enhance. Not here. Jeep delivers strong performance in all aspects of its interior from air-conditioning to a ‘Uconnect’ voice command system that boasts an integrated 30 GB hard drive radio and iPod control, all conveniently displayed with simple and sturdy controls. 

 

With a strong yet sleek body that’s impossible to ignore, the Cherokee is just as impressive turning up to the opera on opening night as it is driving onto a deserted beach for on outback adventure.

 

Jeep has been designed, tested and built in the unforgiving deserts of Arizona, the rugged beaches of California, and the gritty roads of Detroit. Ultimately it is the pinnacle of United States engineering. In every respect buying a Jeep is like buying into a piece of America. It is all at once big, bold, brash and totally dependable when you need it. Especially for the great Aussie outdoors.

 

For more information visit www.jeep.com.au.

Patrick Lewis

Melbourne may have its unofficial debates with all the other Australian capitals over which is better in the delivery of fashion, food, fine art and so forth, but one field it supersedes the others in is design at large. The city itself boasts some of the most beautiful heritage buildings that stand tall, but far from pretentiously, alongside newer edifices of the sturdiest fabric and boldest of hues. Even crossing the bridge in a cab from Tullamarine airport, visitors are greeted by bursts of unabashed colour with primary hues of cyan, magenta and yellow brightening up the grey between bitumen and sky.

It’s no surprise, then, that Melbourne plays host to one of the most extensive design festivals in Australia. Where most capital festivals that celebrate aesthetic invention might focus on one aspect or another, the Melbourne State Of Design Festival acknowledges the gamut of attractive and pragmatic design: from its countless cosy, bohemian cafés and kaleidoscopic street art to the grandest examples art deco architecture and magnificent wares housed in internationally renowned museums. From fashion to film, art to architecture, club culture to cuisine, it seems everything in Melbourne appears to have a strong focus on design. And when these disciplines come together, the lines of strict design are beautifully blurred, making way for an awesome criss-crossing of cultures. And it is this ubiquitous multicultural beauty that we love most about Melbourne.

Fittingly, Melbourne Central (above, left) posed as the official hub for this year’s State Of Design Festival, where beneath the juxtaposing elements of design that make up Coops Shot Tower – its red brick tower built in 1888 still standing strong under a modern iron and glass dome – visitors could explore pop-up shops, view in-store installations, photographic exhibitions, and generally mingle to discuss all that is design-related. Each year, the festival hosts an Open House where members of the public is invited to investigate more closely architectural and engineering wonders, both historic and contemporary. A particular highlight this year was a tour of the glorious art deco Manchester Unity (MU) building on the intersection of Collins and Swanston Streets which once stood as the tallest building in Melbourne when its pinnacles were complete in 1932 (pictured above, right).

The MU building was an important addition to Melbourne’s skyline in that it represented a new faith in commerce and progress during the city’s inter-war years. It was the first building in Melbourne to boast escalators and other innovations such as automatic cooling and diesel generation for its lifts. But what people appreciate most about it is its attention to detail in design. Australian marbles are used extensively on the interior walls throughout the building, while terracotta faience tiles decorate the floors. Original light fittings have remained in place where possible, or exact replicas added to increase visibility now that the majority of residencies in the building are dentist surgeries. Put it this way, it’s worth making an appointment to get your gums checked just to check out the stunning design of this place.

Modern Melbourne architects and designers have an uncanny way of melding the classic with the contemporary, with examples of the best of both worlds evident in the city’s many boutique hotels. One intelligent hospitality group, Art Series Hotels, has gone one step further to incorporate the works of famous Australian artists into its décor themes. The Cullen Hotel (lobby pictured above) is a dramatic black block of a building situated on Commercial Road in Prahran, with smaller blocks of green light poking out of its front wall. Splashes of original artwork and prints by contemporary Australian artist, Adam Cullen, fills its walls from the ground floor up. Similarly, but drawing on more of a classic artist, The Olsen adopts the artworks of its namesake,  surrealist John Olsen, to add effervescence to its interiors (see review that follows this article).

Melbourne has a knack of making the old look cool enough to be juxtaposed with the new. A guy can walk into cool gentlemen’s outfitters Captains Of Industry in Somerset Place, for example, thinking he’s going in for a simple haircut, but walk out having had a shave, a shoeshine, a haircut and style (all while seated in ye olde-style barber chair), three soy lattes, and a new suit made to measure. This one-stop shop (or shoppe, more like) combines three businesses – barber, tailor and shoemaker – on one studio floor, with a café setup on the far end that bustles at lunch time. It’s like being part of a special men’s club but with the occasional hoodie paired with quality lace-up derbys.

Another venue that flirts with ye olde but keeps its food and coffee fresh and contemporary is the Manchester Press café on Rankins Lane (what is it with Manchester and Melbourne connection? There’s even a bar called Manchuria). In décor, recycling is key at Manchester Press with industrial equipment upcycled into furniture: a glass top laid over an old radiator to make a table; old medicine bottles taking on a new lease as vases. Illustrated fine artworks are pinned to distressed walls, while old school chairs are dotted around small tables, but the real star is the coffee itself, each perfectly brewed cup of ’cino lovingly decorated by your ardent barista.

If clubbing and pub-crawling is more your thing, Mel Tours offers visitors to Melbourne a broader experience of nightlife. Guests meet guide Jerome Miller out front of a designated landmark and are then taken on a tour of the most interesting of lizard lounges and hole-in-the-wall bars. A venue that impressed us very much was – achtung! – The Berlin Bar in Corrs Lane, which flirts with everything World War related from its bunker-style seating in the backroom, to sinister red neon lighting and a cocktail list that’ll blow you away. How’s this for an innovative bevvy: French brandy infused with roast duck fat, plum, dandelion root, wattle seed and celery. If that mix of ingredients boggles your mind, wait till you see the effects it has on your eyes, nose and throat. Bringing the glass to your lips, first you’ll a sense a slight sting in your eye, then the fumes will rush up your nose making you think you’re going to gag, then comes the initial course rush down your oesophagus. Several coughs later, and once the fumes start settling, you really start to enjoy what might be the most innovative drink this scribe has tried.

Other striking drinks on the Berlin Bar menu include The Great Dictator No. 2 (blended Scotch Whisky with Italian Amaro, passionfruit, saffron and citrus juice) and the Socialist No. 2 (dry gin stirred with yuzu, ume, white peach, basil and homemade ginger beer). Goodness knows what these cocktails’ predecessors contained that made them popular enough to be granted a sophomore version each!

To get back to the comment at the beginning of this article about Australian cities in debate over which is better at delivering what, we can confidently say that Melbourne has a strong chance at coming out on top in the culinary stakes. One eatery I’d been hearing a lot about of late is Hare & Grace. When I first read the restaurant’s name I thought it was ‘hare’ as in Krishna (since I figured it juxtaposed nicely with the ‘grace’ part. Rather, when you walk into this expansive dining space, you’re greeted by a mural of a giant white hare looking like it had hopped straight out of the pages of ‘Alice In Wonderland’. Open since November 2010 on a site that was once a bluestone butter factory, there’s a cosy old-world charm to this place. Not that it’s packed with bric-a-brac but instead features great big butcher-type illustrations of cattle and pigs with each edible part of the animal indicated. It’s an interesting aesthetic tactic in that you would think diners wouldn’t want to see pictures of the animals they’re about to eat right in front of them, but it’s done tastefully and minimally so as not to offend. Joost Bakker was the cunning artist and designer behind the idea.

Each dish is a work of art in itself, appearing on your table like mini Miro paintings. For something simple on the starter of ‘composite’ menu, you could try a Yabbie ‘Sandwich’ with crustacean mayonnaise, tomato, cucumber and broad beans ($22) or for something fancier and innovative, Smoked Quail with sage, blueberries and milk thistle ($22). Mains are rich in texture but not as intense in taste as their ingredients might suggest: the Pork Belly with beetroot and coffee essence ($37) and Braised Beef tongue with celery, caper cream and sour apple ($38) both satisfying the savoury enthusiast’s palette. Now we that if ordering oysters, they should be enjoyed at the start of  meal but the ‘Eton Mess’ is best eaten after your mains since it consists of oysters topped with horseradish, and doused in a passionfruit sauce, topped with a beetroot meringue, the latter two ingredients lending it an almost dessert quality. Hare & Grace is one place you should mark in your Melbourne things-to-do diary. It takes experimental, molecular dining to an altogether new level.

Melburnians seem to enjoy the shared dining experience – literally – with popular tapas restaurants often having queues of people waiting for a seat. The Hairy Canary is an old-school favourite and Movida has almost become synonymous with Melbourne dining. For something different, we tried Aňada, a tapas restaurant and bar in Fitzroy that offers a tasting menu from $55 per person, offering such tantalising delights as salt cod and garlic croquettes, pork belly with smoked aubergine, and gem and barberry salad with Andalusian balsamic.

The restaurant is the brainchild of Jesse and Vanessa Gerner who fell in love with Moorish cuisine during travels through Europe and North Africa and from their experience working at Moro and The River Café in London. They’ve added Muslim Mediterranean touches to simple peasant food from Andalusia in the south of Spain and – voila – created an innovative dining experience.

If share plates aren’t your thing, a tapas menu doubles up as an exotic list of entrées, with highlights including Charcoal grilled quail with freekeh and pomegranate ($6.50 a serve) and queso manchego with membrillo (hard Spanish sheep’s milk cheese with quince paste, $3.50 each). The more adventurous of mains include grilled sardines wrapped in vine leaves with pistachio orange blossom sauce ($17), and crispy goat on hummus with barberries, pine nuts and flatbread ($20). Add a bottle of Portuguese wine, and it all makes for a marvellously memorable meal.

Now we won’t go into detail about Melbourne’s fashion design scene. You already know that – thanks to it being the city that gets lumped with more rain than most – dressing stylishly is part of its cultural vernacular. Indeed, as is the case in other fashionista capitals such as Milan and Paris, even when a Melburnian chucks on a black skivvy and jeans, they look like, well, they’ve got the right look. But we will go into a little of its arts. Earlier this year, Cream ran an article on Melbourne’s wonderful street art tours (see here) and street art culture is still flourishing. Walk down the city’s smaller side streets and you’ll discover some amazing kaleidoscopic murals and graffiti detail.

For art the conventional way, no trip to Melbourne is complete without the obligatory visit to the National Gallery of Victoria. One exhibition not to miss is ‘Looking At Looking: The Photographic Gaze’ (image above) which explores how photography constructs particular ways of looking and includes 20 images from one of our favourite local pix men, Bill Henson. The exhibition commences September 30, and best of all, entry is free. On the other end of the NGV spectrum, there’s ‘Game/Play’ (image below), which opens on September 24 and explores the evolution of digital games to date while also presenting insight into the new wave of independent game development.

Forget those advertisements for Melbourne of several years back, that featured a giant ball of wool making its way through the city (and a mess of it in its wake). Of course, Melbourne will always hold onto some of its quaint and historical reputation so as to maintain a certain charm and credibility, but the city at large is doing brilliant things on the contemporary front, too. Its architecture, art, fashion and food are just the tip of the iceberg.

DIRECTORY

Aňada Bar & Restaurant

197 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy

Phone: (03) 9415 6101

Web: www.anada.com.au

 

Berlin Bar

16 Corrs Lane
Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: (03) 9639 3396

Web: www.berlinbar.com.au

 

Captains Of Industry

Gentlemans Outfitter and Café

Level 1, 2 Somerset Place, Melbourne  

Web: www.captainsofindustry.com.au 

 

Hare & Grace 

525 Collins Street, Melbourne

Phone: (03) 9629 6755

Web: www.hareandgrace.com

 

Manchester Press Cafe

8 Rankins Lane, Melbourne
Phone: (03) 9600 4054

Web: www.8oz.com.au

 

Mel Tours

Phone: 0407 380 969

Email: jerome.miller@meltours.com.au

Web: www.meltours.com.au

 

National Gallery of Victoria

Federation Square, Melbourne

+ NGV International

180 St Kilda Road, Melbourne

Web: www.ngv.vic.gov.au

 

The Cullen

164 Commercial Road, Prahran

Phone: (03) 9098 1555

Web: www.artserieshotels.com.au/Cullen

 

The Olsen

637-641 Chapel Street, South Yarra

Phone: (03) 9040 1222

Web: www.artserieshotels.com.au/olsen

 

Photography by Antonino Tati except for The Cullen lobby images; second last image:

Bill Henson, Australian 1955–, Untitled 1980–82 1980–82
from the Untitled 1980/82 series 1980–82, gelatin silver
photograph, 32.6×47.2cm. National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne
Anonymous gift, 1993 (PH3-1993) © Courtesy of the artist
and Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Sydney

And final image:

‘Once Upon A Spacetime Costume Design’ by Tim Goschnick 2011, NGV.

 
 

 

Antonino Tati
 
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