From the Editor, Leigh O’Connor.
Here we are already into the third week of the New Year and you know what that means! At the Australian Good Food Guide, the excitement is palpable as we count down to the announcement of the 2025 Chef Hat Awards on Friday, January 17.
It is time to acknowledge the hard work, innovation and creation that goes into restaurant menus and kitchens around the country every day to deliver memorable meals and excite diners to try new dishes and venues.
At the end of the day, that is what we are here for…to excite you to go outside your culinary comfort zone and try something new. Whether it is a new local restaurant around the corner or you take the plunge and plan a road trip to a Chef-hatted destination that promises never-before-tried plates.
This week in the leadup to the big reveal, we take a look at celebrated Australian Chefs and their iconic dishes – think Peter Gilmore’s Snow Egg and Ben Shewry’s Potato Cooked in Earth to name a couple. We reveal where the inspiration came from and why these are dishes have remained on the menu for years, showcasing skill and creativity that is not easy to come by.
With most of us still in holiday mode, we dish up three Summer dessert recipes that are not only easy but have that wow factor we crave when bringing our showstopper sweet treat to the dinner table. From a refreshingly tangy lemon semifreddo dessert with berries and coconut wafers to a mango chiffon cake and individual pavlovas with passionfruit curd and raspberry cream, these are recipes you will definitely want to try.
This year, it’s time for whisky to step into the spotlight as a spirit staple in your Summer cocktails.
Whiskies such as Glen Moray and Wee Smoky, with their bold characters and smooth finishes, make the perfect base for refreshing cocktails that elevate any Summer event. From an Old Fashioned to a fun twist on a Paloma, these whiskies add depth, complexity and amazing flavour to any Summer drink.
Why wait for Winter? It’s time to start enjoying whisky all year round with our three cheeky cocktail concoctions to whet your whistle!
With the New Year in full swing, many Australians are setting their savings goals for 2025 - and travel tops the list.
According to a survey by Money.com.au, nearly half of Aussies (49%) are making saving for travel their biggest priority this year. The survey revealed other major savings goals for Australians, including building an emergency fund (44%), putting aside retirement savings (32%), buying a house (25%) and investing in shares or property (19%).
We tell you which State and Generation are fixated on holiday plans and where they are likely to go.
It’s a big week and one that will culminate with the celebration of the 2025 Chef Hat Award winners. We can’t wait, can you?
