Tag Archives: Food

A taste of Sydney’s Artisan Popsicles

Pure Pops by William Meppem for Gourmet Traveller

Pure Pops by William Meppem for Gourmet Traveller

We’re having a heat wave! And we only have one thing on our minds – ice pops! That’s right. The extreme weather has our overheated sights concentrating on only the essentials today, with number one being ice blocks. And we’re not talking about your everyday icy pole; we’ve discovered an appreciation for artisan popsicles.

Liana Raine

What’s an artisan popsicle? It’s an intricately conceived cold delight that’s full of seasonal flavours and natural ingredients to cool your ice pop craving. Two such Sydney brands we’ve come across that embrace this sweet idea with mesmerising flavours include: Liana Raine, and Pure Pops.

Liana Raine was created by sister duo Aja and Bianca. They produce mouthwatering gourmet ice popsicles that use only the best seasonal fruit and produce available. Some of their enticing flavours you’ll fall in love with include: peaches and cream, pineapple chili, blueberry mint, lychee and orange with cardamom, and nectarine and rose yogurt, just to name a few.

Liana Raine

Liana Raine has currently parked their cute, blue and white vintage-inspired carts outside the Sydney Opera House for this month’s Summer at the House setting. We can highly recommend the rockmelon and lime flavour – tried and tested!

Liana Raine Sydney Opera House

Not to be outdone, Pure Pops has a range of flavours to excite your eager taste buds, too, including: lemon and elderflower, two-tone watermelon and pineapple, Pimms punch, rhubarb and vanilla yoghurt swirl, roast peach and honey, and more fun varieties. These handcrafted pops are at Sydney’s Big Day Out today and you can find them regularly at Bondi and Manly markets.

Pure Pops
We’ve had a taste of artisan popsicle magic and now we need more! We’d love to know of any more clever popsicle creations around the country. Send us a picture and let us know the details if you’ve come across gourmet popsicles in your hometown, we’d love to share the hotspots. In the meantime, keep cool friends.

Pure Pops cart

Liana Raine

Images via:
lianaraine.com | Facebook
eatpurepops.blogspot.com.au | Facebook

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UPDATE: The Old Library shortlisted for IDEA 2012

The Old Library has been shortlisted in the Hospitality category of the Interior Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) 2012. The Interior Design Excellence Awards is Australia’s largest and most successful independent design awards program. Launched by (Inside) magazine in 2003, the program celebrates the best of Australian interior and product design across 11 categories and five special awards.

Designer Hecker Guthrie transformed what was originally a library in the 70s, into a modern Italian designer in Cronulla, Sydney. Award winners and commendations will be announced at the IDEA Gala Party, to be held on Friday 9 November at the Seymour Centre in Sydney. Check out more finalists here.

We spoke to owner, Mario Kalpou, about the restaurant’s award-nominated design and decor here and discovered more about Mario himself here.

The Old Library

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Aura Island Rangehood wins Australian International Design Award

The extraordinary Miele DA 7000 D ‘Aura’ island rangehood has won a prestigious 2012 Australian International Design Award™ (AIDA).

This year, more than 200 products were judged against a criteria focusing on innovation, form, function, quality, safety and sustainability. The Miele DA 7000 D was one of only 37 products, from 105 finalists, to receive a coveted AIDA Design Award™.

The rangehood is an outstanding showpiece and the ideal solution for apartments or kitchens where ducting is challenging. With its sleek, stylish elliptical design, the rangehood is suspended by four virtually invisible wires and features the ultimate in recirculation technology for the effective absorption of odour,” says Miele Category Manager Food and Beverage Preparation, Rudi Niemoeller.

Aura Island Rangehood

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UPDATE: The Old Library restaurant nominated for second design award!

The Old Library has been nominated for a Belle - Coco Republic Interior Design Award this year! Last month we shared the details about the restaurant’s interior with you here as well as an interview with Mario Kalpou here.  We’re now excited to announce the restaurant’s design is nominated along with Apollo at Potts Point and Scarlett at The Rocks in its category.

The awards tomorrow will celebrate the excellence in Australian interior design and decoration by individuals, partnerships and design practices at residential, commercial and corporate levels. These prestigious awards are committed to supporting the creativity and innovation of the Australian interior design industry.

The Old Library offers the finest flavours of Southern Italy in a designer setting that’s fresh and modern and remains true to the heritage of its 1908 building.

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April’s most popular posts

Oh my how the year has flown by — we’re nearly half way through! Here are last month’s three most popular posts on Ed & Ruby for those of you who missed them.

1. An update on Daniel Cloud Campos’ Kickstarted project. He asked the public to lend him a helping hand in creating a dream – to make a feature length film using music, song and dance.

2. Mario Kalpou shares the inspiration behind The Old Library’s award-nominated design. It’s an Italian diner in Cronulla, NSW that’s brimming with beachside chic.

3. We chat to Fabian Scaunich who is a Maestro Mosaicista (qualified mosaic artisan) — the only one in Australia! He shares his inspiration with us and takes us into the world of mosaic art.

Enjoy!

Today’s the day Daniel Cloud Campos

The Old Library

Butterfly by Fabian Scaunich

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Fast Five with Mario Kalpou, The Old Library

Mario Kalpou, owner of The Old Library, Cronulla’s new Italian diner that’s receiving praise and recognition for its standout design, takes part in our Fast Five.

1.   Best meal you’ve had in Sydney?
The zucchini flowers and meat balls at sopra.

2.   Favourite drink with dinner?
Glass of pino nior.

3.   Favourite Sydney bar?
Zeta Bar, Hilton.

4.   Favourite Travel Destination
Greek islands, of course!

5.   I never leave home without …
My wallet — in-case I feel like eating out!

Congratulations to Mario and design practice, Hecker Guthrie, for Commendations in the Hospitality Design category at the 2012 Australian Interior Design Awards!

Missed our interview with Mario Kalpou about The Old Library? You can find it here. 

Mario Kalpou

The Old Library

The Old Library, Cronulla NSW

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Nic and Rocco Sydney Cooking Classes

Sydney fans can now try their hand at Nic and Rocco’s traditional Italian recipes with a modern twist as they bring their cooking classes to NSW! Nic and Rocco will be appearing at Peter’s of Kensington from May 14-19 for exclusive cooking classes that will cover dessert, seafood and pasta.

The dynamic duo dazzled judges and TV audiences earlier this year on season three of My Kitchen Rules. Armed with delicious Gateau Operas, mesmerising Macarons and charms to kill, they whipped up inspired creations night after night, making their way to the final cook off. Despite being pipped at the post in the final stages, the boys have maintained a steady following and have opened their own ‘desserts for order’ business as well as cooking classes for the culinary enthusiast.  Book now for Nic and RoccoWeek at Peter’s of Kensington as places are limited and will sell out fast. Every session will have free giveaways including a Kenwood prize pack plus lots of Nic and Rocco specials!

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Interview: Mario Kalpou, The Old Library

Originally a library in the 70s, The Old Library has been redeveloped into Cronulla’s hottest modern Italian diner. By the Sydney beach, hungry guests can relax in the spacious sit-down eatery, that comes with complementing bar and private dining room, and indulge in delicious Italian flavours. It boasts an impressive menu as well as a character-filled interior that’s been shortlisted in the Hospitality Design award category at the 2012 Australian Interior Design Awards.

Owner, Mario Kalpou says, “The space was designed with relevance to its surroundings. The interior is reflective of a contemporary seaside establishment while still retaining the essence of the original building and its features including its vaulted, timber-lined ceiling.” We chat to Mario about the award-nominated design.

Describe The Old Library before you got your hands on it?
It wasn’t in the best shape. All I had to work with was the bones of the building, but what great bones they were! There was an amazing sense of volume, and its character was screaming at me. I knew I had a winner! The inspiration was to keep it classy yet not intimidating and also very much in touch with its surroundings, the beach.

What was it like working with designers Paul Hecker and Hamish Guthrie who helped revamp The Old Library?
When it comes to design, the most important aspect of doing a job in partnership is speaking the same language. We successfully bounced ideas off each other. I had to incorporate hospitality and industry practicality with their vision of aesthetics and, it was a juggle, but we nailed it!

What’s you favourite feature of the restaurant’s design?
The bar and the book lounge.

What does it mean to be short-listed in the Hospitality Design award category at the Australian Interior Design Awards?
Not to sound arrogant, but I wasn’t extremely surprised because I knew how much we put into its design, of course, it’s always humbling to see your hard work pay off. It means a hell of a lot and it’s great to know we’re up there with some of the country’s best venues.

What can people expect when visiting the old library?
To me it’s all about the experience. Food and beverage is about bringing people together, creating a great vibe and sharing — that’s what I want people to feel. The food is good, simple, fresh, Italian cuisine. I don’t believe in complicating food, we use fresh produce and always the best! We keep it seasonal — the way it should be.

The Old Library owner, Mario Kalpou, shares his Fast Five with us next week! Stay tuned.

Fig Salad

Chocolate Budino

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Kitchen by Mike

Haven’t been to Kitchen by Mike yet? Tsk, tsk, tsk – you’re missing out! Word is spreading fast about how funky – and more importantly – delicious, this place is and, soon enough, it’ll be tough to hold down a table. The raw and rustic canteen is the brainchild of former Rockpool head chef, Mike McEnearney. The result is a polar opposite of his days serving up expensive dishes on fancy china. Now it’s bare communal tables and tin cutlery cans for his fresh and organic creations. What’s on the menu? Can’t say. You need to log onto Facebook daily to get a run down of the breakfast and lunch selection that’s posted after Mike’s return from the market. Today you could try lentil salad with tomatoes and goat’s cheese, pork with mango chutney, or chicken, hazelnut and saffron, but as for tomorrow – who knows? That is of course if you can look past the freshly baked artisan bread and Mike’s own homemade jams and sauces.

Once you’ve satisfied your hunger, wander through the Koskela showroom. Kitchen by Mike shares the once giant canning factory with Russel Koskela and Sasha Titchkosky – the duo that produces beautiful and functional furniture for Australian homes. It’s a zesty mish-mash of neon-encrusted pieces, quirky timber creations and traditional accessories that’ll have you thinking you’ve stepped into interior heaven.

Kitchen by Mike 85 Dunning Ave, Rosebery, NSW 2018
Images Lauren Circosta

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Better Than Sex

House is one of those beer gardens where, unless you’re of a Thai heritage, or an avid ‘authentic’ Thai food eater, you’re pointing at the picture menu to get your dinner. There are no curry puffs or pad thai noodles to choose from here, it’s traditional, Thai Northeast street food all the way. The one item that does jump off the menu however – in plain English – is the Better Than Sex (BTS) dessert. I’ll take it! Partly because it’s the only thing I understand on the menu, and partly because I’m suddenly intrigued. The BTS features one thick-slice of brioche that’s been deep fried and topped with a scoop of Pandan ice cream and palm syrup. The bizarre combination, on first bite, seems to be a sugar punch to the face but, the more you eat, the more delicious it becomes, ultimately turning into a seriously addictive feast. Is it better than sex? You’ll just have to find out for yourself.

House 202 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW 2010

Image: Benny Grylls

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