From the Editor, Leigh O’Connor.
As we savour the second week of 2024 and contemplate the start of a new year filled with excitement, promise and hope, we also want to spare a thought for those around the country who have had their holiday period turned upside down with the wild weather that has hit our country.
Here at AGFG, we have not escaped the havoc wreaked on Southeast Queensland with some of our staff left without power for days and suffering water and flood damage to their homes…but that hasn’t dampened our enthusiasm for the announcement of our much-anticipated 2024 Chef Hat Awards on Wednesday, January 17.
Will your favourite restaurant win an award this year?
A must-read is Laura Rancie’s look at the revamped Paradise Centre beachside precinct on the Gold Coast with a range of January activities to keep the kids (and grown-ups) entertained before the end of the Summer holidays; with the Australian Open scheduled to start next weekend, we also learn about Tennis Australia’s newest partner Aperol and dive into this spirit’s history along with how best to drink it.
Instead of voting for your favourite pie, Tasmanian company National Pies has curated a top 100 song list about pies with a Spotify playlist to back it up – the best part is you can vote on your fave tune and win 100 meat pies and 100 beers to wash it all down. Expect to listen to tunes like Don McLean’s American Pie and The Wiggles version of Neil Diamond’s Porcupine Pie – yes, we hear you…100 songs about pies, but we bet you want one right now!
From comfort food to Sunday sessions and private dining experiences, we take you on a culinary adventure to some of the country’s best venues to discover during the holiday season, along with four Readers’ Choice Award-winning restaurants to visit in the NT next time you are in town.
For this week’s Chef Chat, we head to exclusive Japanese omakase fine dining venue Takashiya in South Bank to find out how Chef Takashi Nami has become one of the deftest hands at slicing sashimi, crafting nigiri and other technical wizardry – plus he shares his recipe for marinated toothfish baked in the oven to produce a delectable flavour.
Read on…
