QNEWS. 026 CHEAT SHEET: SURRY HILLS, SYDNEY Cocktail hour at Soultrap basement bar Christopher Pearce
QNEWS.
026
C H E AT S H E ET : SU R RY H I L L S , SY DN EY
Cocktail hour at Soultrap basement bar
Christopher Pearce
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When you’re out in the middle of Australia, it’s a reminder of just how vast our continent is.
It is also a reminder of just how important aviation is in connecting our towns and cities and, in doing so, how it has helped shape Australian society. The Qantas founders knew that if they could bring aviation to the Australian outback, they could connect communities and help them build and thrive.
Today, aviation drives business and trade and supports the booming global tourism industry. It contributes billions to the Australian economy by bringing tourists to our shores and through direct and indirect employment.
It is a role we take very seriously and drives our commitment to promote the best of Australia to the world – whether it’s flying and supporting our national sports teams, featuring the amazing food and wine grown by Australian suppliers in our lounges and on board or showcasing bold, beautiful Indigenous art on our aircraft.
More than 20 years ago, Qantas began its Flying Art series that celebrates the work of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists.
The first aircraft in the series was one of our 747s. It featured a design that captured the vivid reds and blues of Central Australia. The colourful livery wrapped around the world’s largest commercial jet was pretty hard to ignore.
Last month we added a fifth piece of flying artwork to our collection. It’s a magnificent conceptualisation of Emily Kame Kngwarreye’s painting, Yam Dreaming, and it now adorns our newest Dreamliner.
The late Emily Kame Kngwarreye, a senior Anmatyerre woman, was born in 1910 in a remote desert area, now called Utopia, 230 kilometres north-east of Alice Springs. Emily didn’t start painting until she was nearly 80 years old. But in her eight short years as an artist, she produced more than 3000 paintings and became known internationally as one of Australia’s most important Indigenous artists.
Qantas has worked with the Indigenous-owned design agency Balarinji to bring all of our five Flying Art pieces to the skies.
The series reflects the dynamic, long, rich history of Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and is in keeping with the airline’s commitment to reconciliation.
It is a source of great pride for all of us at Qantas that, as the Spirit of Australia, we can promote our country’s dynamic Indigenous culture throughout the world.
Heading to Alice Springs with Emily’s family and friends to welcome home this aircraft was an honour.
From the CEO
Magdalena Roze and chef Neil Perry at
his Jade Temple restaurant in Sydney
AlanAlan JoyceJoyceAlan Joyce
CEO, Qantas
When Neil Perry is in the mood for tripe and
noodles, he heads to Happy Chef restaurant
on Sydney’s Sussex Street. If he has a craving
for mackerel dumplings while in Melbourne,
ShanDong MaMa Mini is his go-to. But how
does he uncover these gems when, on the
outside, they may not appear to offer great
cuisine? “When you’re wandering around
Chinatown, you’ve just got to dive in and
take a shot,” he tells Magdalena Roze on
food-focused podcast The Pass. “If you throw
enough darts, you’ll get a few gems.” Perry
reveals more of his secret spots and cooking
philosophies on the first episode of season two
of The Pass on Qantas inflight entertainment.
Food personalities such as Kylie Kwong and
Josh Niland are profiled in each episode and
convinced to divulge their top under-the-radar
dining destinations. They’re likely to become
your favourites, too. K AT E BA R R ACOSA
Food for thought
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Cheat sheet
Surry HillsA fascinating new hotel is taking the cool factor of this inner Sydney neighbourhood to the next level. Here’s how to soak up the best that the suburb has to offer.
downright delicious. Try the
pad seuw – thin sheets of rice
noodles with potently spiced
braised Wagyu beef. It’s worth
both the wait and the noise.
Drink
THE WINERYWhether you nab a table in the
sprawling outdoor area lit with
fairy lights or settle into a large
armchair indoors, a visit to this
local institution (thewinerysurry
hills.com.au) is a must. Although
it lives up to its name with an
easy-to-navigate selection of
Australian and international wines,
there’s also a good selection of
cocktails, beers, ciders and sakes
to choose from.
SOULTRAPA marriage of millinery and
mixology, this basement bar
(soultrap.com.au) on Campbell
Street is the place to go if
you’re looking for a fancy fedora,
followed by a French-style apéritif.
Too specific? Don’t be deterred.
Jazz tunes, refreshing cocktails,
decadent tartines and an
unmistakable speakeasy vibe
are also part of the attraction.
Do
GOLDEN AGE CINEMAIn the same building as the
Paramount House Hotel, the
56-seat Golden Age Cinema
(ourgoldenage.com.au)
screens cult classics and
thought-provoking new
releases. A departure from
modern multiplexes, it’s a step back
in time with green velvet curtains
and timber seats almost as old as
the heritage-listed building.
But first, caffeine…Stop by Single O (singleo.com.au)
for – you guessed it – single origins
from Peru, El Salvador and Kenya.
For the full story, visit travelinsider.
qantas.com.au.
Stay
PARAMOUNT HOUSE HOTELConcrete, timber and terrazzo are
the heroes of the 29 guestrooms
at this new hotel (paramounthouse
hotel.com) from the team behind
some of the suburb’s hippest
haunts, including Reuben Hills and
Paramount Coffee Project. Set to
open in the second week of April,
it features a striking copper and
brick façade and of-the-moment
interiors by Melbourne firm
Breathe. But it’s the new onsite
wine bar Poly (see overleaf) by
the renowned Ester group that
really steals the show.
Eat
REUBEN HILLSCoffee is serious business
at this lofty micro-roastery
(reubenhills.com.au) and the
food menu, replete with
Latin influences, isn’t taken
lightly either. Unlike your
breakfast, the space has
a decidedly local feel, with
oh-so-Surry Hills polished
concrete floors and a roller-
door back entrance.
CUCKOO CALLAYOn Crown Street,
the second outpost of
Newtown institution
Cuckoo Callay (cuckoo-
callay.com.au) is the
perfect lunch spot for three
reasons. One: the blue swimmer
crab cake with corn and avocado
salsa is exceptional. Two: it’s fully
licensed. And three: the upstairs
balcony is the ideal perch for
people-watching on a lazy Sunday.
CHIN CHINIt’s been open for seven months
but you may still have to queue
outside Melbourne restaurateur
Chris Lucas’s first Sydney venture
(chinchinrestaurant.com.au). And
for good reason: the vibe inside
the dining room is peppy (verging
on rambunctious) and the dishes
(Clockwise from top)
Chin Chin’s interior and
stir-fried prawn, bug
tail, egg noodle, garlic
chive and “hellfire” chilli
oil; buzzy Single O café;
micro-roastery Reuben
Hills; a light-filled
guestroom at the new
Paramount House Hotel
Tom Ferguson, Tom Ross
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First bite
New in townAkash Arora serves up
Australia’s hottest new restaurants.
Food
Drinks
Location
Details
Space
Tostadas with tuna, guacamole and
mango salsa, and chicken, refried
beans and lettuce at Bar Patrón
81 North Quay, Brisbane
threeblueducks.com
Open seven days for breakfast,
lunch and dinner
Brisbane
THREE BLUE DUCKS
After opening three stellar
venues in NSW, the TBD team
brings its food and philosophy
to the spanking-new
W Brisbane. Equipped with
a woodfired oven and rotisserie,
the kitchen serves favourites
such as spanner crab scramble
with green mango.
Craft beers, crisp wines
and inventive cocktails
feature on the drinks list.
Earthy tones, stone and
timber contribute to the
dining room’s relaxed vibe.
The third floor of soon-to-open
W Brisbane hotel in the CBD.
2 Phillip Street, Sydney
barpatron.com.au
Open seven days for lunch
and dinner
Sydney
BAR PATRÓN BY ROCKPOOL
Mexican chef Pamela Valdes
Pardo is at the helm of
Neil Perry’s new restaurant,
offering lunch, pre-theatre,
dinner and late-night dining.
Tacos, tamales, tostadas and
everything in between are on
the menu as well as pastries
handmade on site.
Patrón is the official (and only)
tequila on the menu, along
with a selection of cocktails
and Spanish, Chilean and
Portuguese wines.
Marble, timber and leather
in warm tones mingle against
the backdrop of a simple yet
sophisticated white palette.
Two minutes’ walk from
Customs House at Sydney’s
Circular Quay.
80 Commonwealth Street, Surry
Hills paramounthousehotel.com
Open Saturday-Sunday for lunch
and seven days for dinner
Sydney
POLY
Ester owner-chef Mat Lindsay
is opening a new haunt in
Surry Hills but it’s nothing like
his Chippendale restaurant.
For starters, it’s a wine bar
with handheld food, most
of it cooked over charcoal.
“Everything is designed to
go with the drinks,” he says.
About 100 wines appear on
the always-changing menu
– all organic and natural from
small-batch producers and
many specifically made for Poly.
Exposed beams and
a concrete bar pay homage to
Poly’s site, the heritage-listed
Paramount House.
Across the road from Chin Chin
and right next to Paramount
Coffee Project in Surry Hills.
480 Hay Street, Perth
garum.com.au
Open seven days for breakfast,
lunch and dinner
Perth
GARUM
Guy Grossi will give Western
Australian ingredients a Roman
twist at this osteria in
soon-to-open hotel The Westin
Perth. Expect Fremantle
octopus topped with olives,
tomato and capers and
White Rocks veal with sage,
prosciutto and semolina.
Wines from the Italian
region Lazio will be the star
attraction but there will be
many local drops to savour, too.
A soaring pitched roof, peeling
plaster, exposed beams and
oversize bulbs give the dining
room an air of elegance.
The east end of Perth’s CBD.
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View of Saint-Tropez from the citadel
Port of call
Saint-TropezRegent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Explorer docks in
Saint-Tropez this month en route to Monte Carlo. The ship’s concierge, Phil Leech, shares the French
Riviera town’s secrets with Samantha O’Brien.
What’s a great place for lunch?
Very much off the beaten track,
Restaurant L’Olive (11 rue Aire du
Chemin; +33 4 94 97 09 21) has a
shaded terrace for alfresco dining.
It’s a lovely place to have a quiet
lunch, as most visitors on their
way to Citadelle de Saint-Tropez
rarely look into pedestrian alleys.
Where should I go to have a drink?
Saint-Tropez’s Old Town is a
hotspot where locals and visitors
end up rubbing shoulders. The
retro Bar Du Port (9 Quai Suffren;
+33 4 94 97 00 54), located right
in the heart of the flamboyant
Vieux Port, is a great spot to enjoy
some food and delicious cocktails.
Where should I go to shop? The
most famous luxury brands are
all in the Old Town. A few narrow
streets, such as rue Georges
Clemenceau, are lined with souvenir
and local-craft shops. But the best
boutiques are on rue Gambetta,
which starts by Vieux Port and ends
in Place des Lices, where you’ll find
an open-air market every Tuesday
and Saturday morning.
The big Q
Front row or back row?
Torn between forward and aft seats on your next economy-class flight? Two frequent flyers state their positions to Kate Barracosa.
Lyndon TerraciniArtistic director, Opera Australia“I prefer the front row because I like to get on the plane and
go straight to sleep. I carry a lot of stuff and it’s much easier
to get settled in the front row, as there’s always more space.
Also, during the flight, fewer people walk past your seat so
you’re disturbed less. And there’s no-one reclining their seat
in front of you either so there’s far more room to stretch out
your legs, which is especially important on long-haul flights.”
Marnie GodingCreative director and founder, Elk Accessories
“People think that by sitting at the front, they won’t have to wait
as long to get off but we all have to wait for our bags. Being up
the back is handy when you’re with children, as you don’t have
to constantly tell them to stop staring over the seat at other
passengers and you’re closer to the bathroom – kids never tell
you early enough that they need it. And if it’s not a full flight,
there’s a better chance the seat next to you will be empty.”
BACK
FRONT
Where should I go to stretch my
legs? Head to the old port, Vieux
Port – it’s more than a must-do.
Start off on the east side and walk
towards the Tour du Portalet (the
Portalet Tower) on the opposite
side and you’ll get to admire the
harbour from different angles.
Once you reach the 15th-century
tower, the walk up a flight of
stairs offers magnificent views.
Where can I get a decent coffee?
Le Café (5 Place des Lices; +33 4 94
97 44 69) is a great place to enjoy
coffee away from the tourists.
With a bit of luck, locals may be
playing boules in the square right in
front. Be sure to have a peek inside,
admire the superb 19th-century
décor and be tempted to return
for a cocktail.
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Q N E WS .
(hotel.qantas.com.au/cavallopoint). It has the best views of the Golden Gate Bridge and San Francisco skyline. The cocktails and wine list are exceptional and the food is tasty but the best part is the cosy setting. I love it.If you’re after a market experience, don’t
miss… the farmers’ market at the Ferry Building (ferrybuildingmarketplace.com) on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Local farmers and artisans have stalls there and there’s a variety of food. You can’t really come to San Francisco and not go there.For designer shopping, visit… Fillmore Street. It has a lot of small boutiques with high-end labels, including Elizabeth Charles, Marc Jacobs and James Perse. There are options for every age and some great restaurants and bars to visit.For vintage shopping, head to… the famous Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood. It has this great variety of vintage clothing stores, such as Relic Vintage and Wasteland.You can find the perfect memento at… the Exploratorium’s gift shop (exploratorium.edu) on Pier 15. It has lots of fun, unique things for all ages.If it’s raining, spend the day at… California Academy of Sciences (calacademy.org). There’s a four-storey rainforest exhibit, a great planetarium and a fantastic café.
You wish...
Out of this world
These 5.25-carat black opals may be hewn from the red rock at Lightning Ridge in northern NSW but on closer inspection they seem to contain a slice of the galaxy. Suspended in 18-carat white gold and surrounded by dangling rows of diamonds, these one-off “Starry Nights” earrings ($50,400) are designed by Opal Minded owner Renata Bernard. Though the earrings are made from one half of the same stone, their bright blues and greens glimmer slightly differently when the light catches them. Visit opalminded.com. K AT E BA R R ACOSA
Ask the concierge
Nancy K. DuBoisCavallo Point
San Francisco
The restaurant that best shows off San
Francisco is… Quince (quincerestaurant.com) in the historic Jackson Square neighbourhood. It has three Michelin stars and the chef, Michael Tusk, only uses local, seasonal ingredients to create these incredible Californian dishes. I’m a big fan.And the restaurant that’s a real hotspot for
locals is… Nomica (nomicasf.com) in the Upper Market neighbourhood. It does excellent Japanese with a bit of a twist. I love the chicken in brioche with miso butter.For the best coffee, make your way to… the Ferry Building. There’s a great food hall there and I always go to Blue Bottle Coffee (bluebottlecoffee.com) for my caffeine hit.And for breakfast I recommend… Brenda’s French Soul Food (frenchsoulfood.com) on Polk Street in the city. They serve the classics – beignets, shrimp and grits, say, and French toast with butter pecan sauce – but they do them really well.When my friends are in town, I take them
for a drink at… Farley Bar at Cavallo Point
(Clockwise from top)
Farley Bar at Cavallo
Point; Quince chef
Michael Tusk; lettuce
cups with marinated
vegetables and Red Boat
fish sauce at Nomica;
the Ferry Building
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QNEWS.
Words: Vanessa Lawrence. Collection Cartier ©Cartier. Photography: Nick Welsh
Elizabeth Taylor’s diamond and ruby suite, 1957Film producer Mike Todd was a smitten new husband when he gave his pregnant wife, actress Elizabeth Taylor, a suite of Cartier diamond and Burmese ruby jewels while they holidayed in Cap-Ferrat on the French Riviera. She was in the pool when he presented her with the stunning bib necklace that forms part of the exhibit. “It was like the sun, lit up and made of red fire,” Taylor recalled years later. “I shrieked with joy, put my arms around Mike’s neck and pulled him into the pool after me.” A matching bracelet and earrings followed.
THE DUCHESS OF WINDSOR’S “FLAMINGO” BROOCH, 1940Cartier is synonymous with the scandalous love story of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor. Twice-divorced Wallis Simpson had a mind-boggling collection of jewellery, much of it given to her by the former king, Edward VIII, but the “Flamingo” brooch he commissioned as a birthday gift was a favourite. A necklace and four of the duchess’s bracelets were “recycled” to create the flamingo. Its plumes are set with emeralds, rubies and sapphires – 42 of each – while the legs and body are made up of 102 diamonds. The Cartier Collection didn’t acquire the piece until 2010, when it went up for auction at Sotheby’s in London.
María Félix’s two crocodile brooches, 1975Mexican actress María Félix was a Cartier diehard and as flamboyant as her jewellery was colourful. Legend has it she took an aquarium containing her baby crocodile to the Cartier flagship on rue de la Paix in Paris to request an exact likeness of her beloved pet in the form of two brooches, the first made up of 1060 emeralds and the second comprising 1023 brilliant-cut fancy intense yellow diamonds. The brooches join together to form a necklace and the feet are replaceable with clawless paws so as not to scratch the skin of the wearer.
Cartier: The Exhibition is showing
until 22 July. Visit nga.gov.au/cartier.
All that glittersMore than 300 spectacular Cartier items – many on loan from royal families and
celebrities – are on display at Canberra’s National Gallery of Australia in a first for
the country. Here’s our guide to four of the exhibition’s most impressive sparklers.
QUEEN ELIZABETH’S “HALO” TIARA, 1936In April 2011, Queen Elizabeth lent the Cartier “Halo” tiara, which has 888 brilliant- and baguette-cut diamonds, to Catherine Middleton for her wedding to Prince William. King George VI commissioned it for his wife, Elizabeth (later the Queen Mother), who passed it on to their eldest daughter, then Princess Elizabeth, when she turned 18.
Watch this space
Turnaround time
The Tiffany & Co. “East West” watch is unlike any other, thanks to the landscape orientation of the dial. This version, measuring 42mm x 25mm, is encased in stainless steel and set with round brilliant diamonds, the white dial contrasting with a black alligator strap. A smaller model is also available. It’s water-resistant to 30 metres – not that you’d
swim in it – and priced at $10,900. Visit tiffany.com.au. BA N I M c S PE D D E N @baniwatch
Ask Qantas
QIs it true that Qantas
has used mustard seeds to fuel an aircraft?
AYes, indeed. In January this year,
a Boeing Dreamliner 787-9
took the world’s first biofuel
flight between the United States
and Australia. The scheduled
passenger service, QF96,
made the 15-hour trip from
Los Angeles to Melbourne
powered by a blended fuel
derived from Brassica carinata
– a non-food mustard seed.
The flight resulted in seven per
cent fewer emissions compared
with the airline’s regular flights
over the same distance.
Pass it on...Here at Qantas magazine, we’re full of advice about where you should eat, drink and sleep. We also know that you, our well-travelled readers, could tell us a thing or two about
places you’ve uncovered or experiences you’ll never forget – that tiny dumpling den tucked away in
a Beijing hutong or the beautiful Aussie beach you can have to
yourself any time of the year. And what about that rooftop bar in New
York City that only the cool cats of Williamsburg know about?
If you’ve discovered a gem, we’d love to share your insights in a soon-to-be-launched column. Email your
best travel tales to [email protected]. We’ll do
our best to (ahem) pass them on.
You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) You must be a Qantas Frequent Flyer (QFF) member to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A member to earn and redeem Qantas Points. A joining fee may apply. QFF T&Cs (qantas.com/joining fee may apply. QFF T&Cs (qantas.com/
terms) apply. The redemption of points is subject terms) apply. The redemption of points is subject to the QFF T&Cs, Qantas Store Terms of Use, and to the QFF T&Cs, Qantas Store Terms of Use, and any other T&Cs disclosed at the time of redemp-any other T&Cs disclosed at the time of redemp-
tion. Visit qantasstore.com.au for details.tion. Visit qantasstore.com.au for details.
Set to JET?
everydaycashmere.com
QNEWS.
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Mike Frey
Check in
Aman TokyoAn elegant taste of the city’s high
life, this hotel is a monument to the principles of Japanese design
and living, writes Vanessa Frey.
Water in room Two 500ml
bottles and soda water from
Suntory’s Yamazaki natural
springs – all on the house.
Room service A variety of
Western, continental, Asian
and Japanese dishes are
available around the clock.
Pillow menu Hypo-allergenic,
buckwheat, Airweave and
Tempur ergonomic.
Bath Traditional furo stone
soaking tub with a hinoki-
wood bucket and stool for
pre-washing – bathing is
a ritual in Japan.
Bathrobe Velvety-soft chenille
microfibre and a kimono-style
robe for use at the Aman Spa.
Amenities Custom-made.
The concierge test Asked to
suggest Tokyo activities, one
of the two concierges mapped
out an entire two-day itinerary
of the city’s highlights.
TV and movies Forty TV
and three movie channels.
Wi-fi Free and fast.
Price From $1080 a night.
Ask for… the Deluxe Palace
Garden View Room.
Verdict Perfect harmony
comes at a pretty price in one
of Tokyo’s ritziest districts.
The lowdown
Location On Tokyo’s “Wall
Street”, near the historic
Nihonbashi district.
Number of guestrooms 84.
Check in/out 3pm/noon.
Food and drink Arva
is the hotel’s signature
(Italian) restaurant
but it also does
breakfast, Japanese-
style. For more casual
fare, try the French-
inspired The Café by
Aman or all-day diner
The Lounge by Aman.
Wellness There are
yoga and Pilates
studios, Japanese
baths and steam
rooms, a 24-hour fitness
centre, a 2500-square-metre
day spa and a 30-metre pool
on the 34th floor.
Business facilities A 16-seat
boardroom with skyline views
and a meeting room with
secretarial services.
Minibar There’s a small but
considered selection of fresh
juices, local beer, Californian
wine, champagne and sake.
(From top) The hotel’s
30-metre city-view
pool; the airy Deluxe
Palace Garden View
Room; a koto player
serenades guests
The hotelDiscreetly occupying the upper six floors of a high-rise in the Otemachi financial district, Aman Tokyo (aman.com) is right at home among the city’s modern skyscrapers and power players. There’s serious money here and this is a seriously elegant hotel to match. At ground level, the broad, clean streets are reminiscent of New York’s stately boulevards but it’s 33 floors up where your dreams will be made, not broken.
The roomOverlooking the Imperial Palace complex and, on a clear day, Mount Fuji, the west-facing Deluxe Palace Garden View Room is minimalist, meticulous and generous. At 71 square metres, this is reportedly the biggest standard room in a crowded city where space is at a premium. Tradition and nature are paid the utmost respect – from the black stone, blond wood and other raw materials that bow graciously to the Earth’s elements to the delicate shoji screens in the guestrooms. Less is definitely more here.
Did you know Australians use more than one billion disposable hot-drink cups a year, with most of them ending up in landfill? Of course, it doesn’t have to be so. Simply Cups collects used cups from participating businesses and recycles them
to keep the planet cleaner and greener. And it gets better. For every two cups recycled, your business earns one Qantas Point. What’s not to like? For more information, go to simplycups.com.au.
Green beans