ATHENAEUM HOTEL & APARTMENTS, LONDON
Considered a home away for many Australians in business, government and media, The Athenaeum Hotel & Apartments on London's Piccadilly overlooks Green Park and is surrounded by all the excitement of Central London.
It is one of the very few family-owned 5 Star luxury hotels in London's West End, with a fine reputation for service, exquisite decor and dining - and its historic ‘Whisky Bar”. The Athenaeum has just been extensively renovated including its foyer and entire ground floor.
The much sought after Athenaeum Apartments are favoured for guests with lengthy stays – each with a distinctive interior.
www.athenaeumhotel.com
AUBERGE ‘LA LUCARNE AUX CHOETTES” BURGUNDY, FRANCE
Owned
by thespian Leslie Caron, “La Lucarne aux Choettes – (“The Owls
Nest’) is on the river at Villenueve S/Yonne in Burgundy. Only
an hour and a half from Paris, it is an enchanting country hotel
with a superb dining room.
La Caron has a passion for restoring old buildings. To create her beloved Auberge, which she regularly visits, she put together four boat houses built centuries ago. Lazy barges and pleasure boats provide an ever-moving fresco for visitors.
'La Lucarne aux Choettes' Chef Inagaki offers a delectable translation of regional
cuisine.
www.lesliecaron-auberge.com
AUSTRALIAN FOOD MEDIA
AWARDS 2008
The
flagship event of the Food Media Club Australia, these national
Awards are viewed by the Australian food media as the industry's
highest accolades, honouring outstanding communicators whose work
can be credited for increasing the Australian public’s awareness
and love of fine food.
The benefits of winning as well as participating in these Awards
are immeasurable for both individual entrants and their publishers
or producers.
www.foodmediaclub.com.au
BILSON’S -
TONY BILSON
Tony
Bilson has been recognised as one of Australia's leading chefs
for over 30 years. His restaurants have been milestones in the
advance of Australian gastronomy and include Tony's Bon Gout,
Berowra Waters Inn, Kinselas, Fine Bouche, the Treasury at Sydney's
Inter-Continental Hotel, Ampersand , Canard, present day Bilson’s
in the Radisson Plaza Hotel and in September 2008, No 1 Wine Bar
at the Paris end of Pitt Street, Sydney.
In 2006 “Bilson’s” at the Radisson Plaza Hotel was elevated to
the illustrious 3 hat status by THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE. Tony was
simultaneously received the SYDNEY MORNNG HERALD’S Award for “Professional
Excellence”. He was also inducted into the Restaurant and Catering
of New South Wale’s ‘Hall of Fame’.
A witty and succinct writer, Tony contributes to many select
national and international food wine magazines, has had five cookbooks
published and has a television documentary series on the origins
of contemporary cuisine in development. He is a regular guest
chef at fine hotels worldwide. His portfolio includes The Oriental,
Bangkok, the Plaza New York, The Excelsior Hong Kong and the Hotel
Kempinksi, Munich.
CUISINE NOW is in development as guide and history of modern
cuisine, in website format and associated television/cable series.
Filming includes exclusive and personable interviews with the
founders of modern cuisine including Verge, Ducasse, Bocuse, Geurard,
and Troisgros .Tony charts their influence and introduces their
dedicated protégés including Trotter, Barbot and Trama.
TONY BILSON’S NO WINE WINE BAR
Opening in late September 2008, No 1 Wine Bar is location central
on the corner of Pitt and Alfred Streets, Circular Quay. The flavour
is brasserie in keeping with Tony’s long association with things
toute francaise,
It looks directly across to a busy harbour and ferry terminal.
French doors open al fresco onto the street, and it has a relaxed
internal dining space.
The Menu will feature around 20 small dishes, salads and a daily
menu of 6 classics including Bilson’s specialties like Bouillabaisse,
Tripes Lyonnaise & Pot au Feu. It will of course, have a large
range of fine wines by the glass.
www.bilsons.com.au
ELISE PASCOE INTERNATIONAL COOKING SCHOOL (EPICS)
The award winning author, chef, and marketeer has has sold her Jambaroo property and is in Italy "Food tastes better in Italy than any other place in the world", Elise says. She will be back late 2008
You can follow her adventures, news , views and recipes of dishes discovered via monthly e-zines at
www.cookingschool.com.au
FOOD MEDIA CLUB
OF AUSTRALIA

The Food Media Club Australia Inc (FMCA) is an association of
food professionals who have expertise in diverse food-related
areas such as journalism, production, marketing, public relations,
food science, nutrition, education, recipe development, food styling
catering for restaurants and small businesses.
www.foodmediaclub.com.au
GAIA RETREAT AND SPA
The creation of Olivia Newton John and her friend Gregg Cave with four private investors in total, Gaia is a retreat and spa, inspired by the healing cultures of the Byron Bay region and its fresh local produce.
"Barefoot meets Armani" is Olivia's description.
Its gracious hospitality and choice of offered experiences has earned it accolades from specialist spa writers and its guests – repeat business is booming. The location at Brooklet is stunning – the highest hill in the region with lush, beautifully landscaped surrounds and space. And only 40 minutes from airports north or south.
A visit to Gaia is a unique boutique Spa Holiday experience.
Its Amala Day Spa takes pride in tailored treatments by highly trained healers and practitioners. Guests are surrounded by natural beauty, treated to delicious organic cuisines, and pampered by caring staff.
A variety of packages, services and facilities are offered. Refresh and renew with a fitness retreat or yoga retreat package, simply relax and indulge in a spa retreat fantasy or explore your creative side with artistic retreat packages and classes.
www.gaiaretreat.com.au
GARDEN COURT, SOFITEL
WENTWORTH SYDNEY
The
Sofitel Wentworth Hotel’s new signature restaurant Garden Court
has been reinvented in the style of an urban conservatory. Curving
around the Hotel’s semi –circular rooftop garden the Brasserie
is strikingly modern and has an open kitchen. Its unique, relaxed
garden setting belies its setting in the heart of Sydney’s business
district.
Retaining the name of its predecessor which was regarded as the
centre of cultural, business and social Sydney from the time of
the Hotel’s opening in the mid 60’s today’s Garden Court is fast
tracking to vie for a wider patronage.
The interior design by the award-winning Ara Design Studio
draws on heritage-listed elements of the existing building while
introducing a contemporary look with custom furnishings inspired
by the cafes and restaurants of Paris.
Malaysian-born French - trained Jess Ong is Executive Chef. Ong
was previously at the Summit restaurant and worked with the legendary
Anders Ousback. Ong's cuisine is distinctly French influenced
- he trained with the Roux brothers and Paul Bocuse in London
and France.
THE CAPTAIN'S TABLE AT
GARDEN COURT Sydney’s
Sofitel Wentworth has retained the history of Garden Court
restaurant, and created a fine modern brasserie. It is called
Garden Court.
There is a secret fine dining room known as The Captain’s
Table nestled behind the smart black and white brasserie area.
www.sofitelwentworthsydney.com.au
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GOING PUBLIC 2008 - AN EVENT FOR WOMEN OF INFLUENCE
Going
Public is the leading event for women in the public sector and
politics in Australia. The conference unites women to hear about
the life stories of others. It enables them to network with elected
representatives and other females working in local, state or federal
government.
Importantly, it allows delegates to learn from other women’s experiences
and take away practical strategies for their own workplaces. The
Going Public speaker line-up is always impressive. Previous speakers
include Julia Gillard, Julie Bishop, Joan Kirner, Cheryl Kernot,
Kerry Chikarovski, Clover Moore and a host of leading public servants
and management experts. Many delegates have commented that Going
Public is one of the best and most relevant conferences they have
attended in their professional lives.
Respected broadcaster Fran Kelly is fascilator.
www.goingpublic.com.au
LUKE HARDY
Photographer
Luke Hardy roamed the world with the United Nations High Commission
for Refugees for many years, and during that time was an avid
amateur photographer, recording places, people and animals in
extraordinary situations. He has seen corners of the world closed
off to most observers.
Luke’s sell out 2007 exhibition SNOWFORMS at Dank Street Depot
depicted simian, human and daruma (buddha) figures amidst the
three rotating states of nature, as represented by ice, water
and vapour.
www.lukehardy.com
KATHY SELBY
Kathryn
Selby is recipient of the prestigious Australia Council Fellowship
for 2007-8, has been guest artist with many of the world’s great
orchestras and chamber ensembles.
Artist-In-Residence at St Andrews Cathedral School for 2007, Kathy and has recently become associated with the Australian Institute of Music in Sydney... Her TrioZ has been appointed ‘Ensemble in Residence” at the City Recital Hall, Angel Place for 2008
www.selbyandfriends.com.au