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
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 the present BILSON'S, housed in the 5 star Radisson Plaza Sydney, his new NUMBER ONE WINE BAR & BISTRO, Canard, Ampersand, The Treasury at Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel, Fine Bouche, Kinselas, Berowra Waters Inn and Tony's Bon Gout. 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.
In 2006 Tony received the SYDNEY MORNNG HERALD'S GOOD FOOD GUIDE Award for "Professional Excellence". He was simultaneously inducted into the Restaurant and Catering of New South Wale's 'Hall of Fame', and BILSON'S was elevated to and maintains - the prestigious '3 Hat' category of the GOOD FOOD GUIDE AWARDS.
A witty and succinct writer, Tony contributes too many select national and international food wine magazines, has had five cookbooks published and has a multi media program in development called CUISINE NOW.
BILSON'S
Bilson's is regarded as one of Australia's finest restaurants, celebrating local and seasonal produce with an emphasis on French flavours and cooking techniques and a wonderful cellar of Australian and French wines.
Bilson's has been awarded '3 Hats' in the Sydney Morning Herald's 2006, 2007 and 2008 GOOD FOOD GUIDE. Simon Thomsen, the Sydney Morning Herald's senior food critic, commented in his latest review "Tony Bilson has never cooked with more intelligence and finesse. Bilson's is a rare treat that should be loved, adored and honoured by every serious Sydney diner"
Bilson's has begun a program of international guest chefs in January each year, coinciding with the Sydney Festival. A premiere week in January 2009 saw 2 star Michelin chef Alain Solliveres, from famed TAILLIVENT in Paris, cooking with Bilson and his executive chef Manu Feildel. The venture was a sell out.
www.bilsons.com.au
NUMBER ONE WINE BAR & BISTRO
More Barcelona than Paris, Number One Wine Bar & Bistro is a sophisticated new hot spot in the Sydney CBD, located on the ground level of Goldfields House and facing onto Circular Quay, at 1 Alfred Street.
Bilson's head chef Miguel Maestre is a talented Spaniard who understands the new dishes that are the buzz throughout the Med. The cuisine is edgy, offering classical French influence with a Spanish flair, combining tapas and bistro culture in a totally unique way.
Menu items are affordable, with daily/regular blackboard specials. The Cellar gives a nod to the classic old world regions and listings, as well as drawing from Australia's iconic boutique wineries.
The warm bar and dining room reflect Bilson's love of comfortable, soft surrounds and of contemporary art - the works on the walls are from his personal collection. The room will take 16 pax seated at the bar, 80 pax in the dining room, 90 pax for cocktail parties. Outdoor seating is available for 40 pax around the Fairfax fountain, a focal point on the streetscape at Circular Quay.
www.numberonewinebar.com
BRISBANE'S INNER CITY PORTAL HOTEL
Perfectly situated above the heart of Brisbane's CBD at 52 Astor Street, Spring Hill the Portal Hotel is the city's latest boutique hotel, opening on 1 March 2009
It is a modern, edgy 4 star alternative to traditional hotel chains. The Portal provides relaxed affordable accommodation without compromising style and service. The resident OBar & restaurant at street level, is a delightful entrée to this popular urban village atmosphere - comparable to Sydney's Surry Hills and South Melbourne.
Whilst seamlessly integrated with the Portal Hotel's fresh look and feel, O Bar and Restaurant has been specifically designed to set itself apart from the traditional impersonal hotel restaurant atmosphere and become an eating place of choice, rather than of necessity. It provides an essential service for hotel patrons and Brisbane locals alike.
Stay at the top of the city and enjoy superlative service, well designed rooms, cutting edge technology and fine cuisine. The Portal has 7 floors, 84 rooms, 2 suites and is totally affordable.
Go to the website for best priced bookings www.portalhotel.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
MAMA SHELTER
MAMA SHELTER is a unique property - and a perfect place to truly experience urban Paris...
Mama Shelter transcends any previous definition of hotel. It is sassy, sexy, and egalitarian and on every modern traveller's lips.
It is also affordable - its rooms range from 79 Euros to 200 Euros. Across 7 floors there are 172 rooms in 5 colour schemes.
Created by the TRIGANO family (co-founders of Club Med) and French philosopher, Cyril Aouizerate, MAMA SHELTER was designed by Philippe STARCK to offer an eclectic and electric ambiance thanks to its friendly, warm and casual common areas
It is in the heart of the picturesque Village Saint Blaise - address 109 rue de Bagnolet. in the 20th district. A place of rebel character , with a wealth of fascinating local experiences - all spelt out for you on a wall board on each residential floor. And only Metro stops from the centre of Paris.
Its creators built it on the site of a disused multi level graffiti- covered garage on a forgotten railway cutting. The garage has been transformed into one of the most exciting concepts opened in Paris for years - the railway cutting has been used to great effect as a backdrop for a long, lazy terrace for balmy spring and summer nights.
This is your shelter in the world capital of tourism - your key to the city.
www.mamashelter.com
PLAZA ATHENEE, PARIS
This truly Parisian luxury property filled with elegance and charm, is ideally located between the Avenue
des Champs Elysées and the Eiffel Tower, at the crossroads of fashion, entertainment and business.
With fine décor "á la parisienne", the Hótel Plaza Athénée features 188 guest rooms including 43 suites,
offering views to the chic avenue Montaigne, the Westside of the Eiffel Tower or the charming courtyard.
Since its inauguration in 1911, the Plaza radiates an incomparable charm which has seduced an elegant Parisian and international clientele. The recent redecoration of the lobby recaptures the warm colour codes used by the hotel: "Plaza reds", terracotta wares, gold and bronzes.
To enchant every guest, the hotel mingles glamour and tradition with the most updated technology.
www.plaza-athenee-paris.com
BAROQUE BISTRO PATISSERIE
Vive la différence! The Charkos family which created and owns the very popular landmark La Renaissance Café Patisserie in lower Argyle Street, is set for expansion in the same Sydney precinct known as The Rocks.
Baroque Bistro Patisserie will open late October in a historic building at 88 George Street (corner of George Street & Hickson Road) — just next to that weekend institution, The Rocks Markets.
With interiors by Dale Jones Evans, Baroque boasts feature windows with terrific views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, seating 80 pax and a further 40 on its covered outdoor terrace.
www.baroquebistro.com.au
Twelve of Australia’s most famous family wine labels have formed a collective that will work to engage consumers, retailers, restaurateurs and industry members across the globe about the real character and characters of Australian wine. The dozen doyens own between them more than 5,500 of the country’s finest vineyards and are known as the Australian First 
Western Australia is represented proudly by the Burch family, headed by Jeff and Amy Burch. The family’s philosophy is to produce wines of distinct regional character of great subtlety, balance and elegance with an uncompromising commitment to quality. The Burch’s Howard Park label has already forged an international reputation including single vineyard and multi-
The Burch family also has a French Australian “co-production”. Marchand & Burch – Fine Wines of Western Australia and Burgundy” Pascal Marchand, Burgundian winemaker and ex-regisseur from Domaine Compte-Armand and Domaine de la Vougeraie and Howard Park’s Jeff Birch met in a small village in Burgundy instantly connecting through their passion for Pinot Noir.
The traditional aboriginal water turtle design on the Madfish label (by Noonbar traditional artist Maxine Fumagalli) is a symbol representing enjoyment and drinkability. The MadFish label was first released in 1992 with the MadFish Premium White, soon followed by the MadFish Premium Red in 1993.