Taylor made for the fans: Sydney foodies score Swifty options
With Taylor Swift mania set to take over Sydney, venues across town are capitalising on the superstar singer’s visit. Kitchen Confidential takes a look at what’s on the menu.
Confidential
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If you are not a Swifty, brace yourself for a long couple of weeks.
It seems everyone is getting in on the action ahead of the superstar singer coming to Australia.
With Taylor Swift set to play four sold-out shows at Accor Stadium from February 23 with her The Eras Tour, venues are rolling out the welcome mat hoping to be blessed by the singer’s Midas touch as her concerts will inject millions into the economy.
From Thursday, Crown Sydney will serve a special Swift themed three-tiered high tea at its Teahouse venue.
The feast includes sweet and savoury.
There’s the ‘you need to calm down’ teriyaki wagyu slider and the ‘reputation’ charcoal meringue with burnt vanilla ash and elastic coffee.
Obviously Swift’s music will be playing, and punters can go in the draw to win coveted tickets to one of her Sydney shows.
Elsewhere across town, Harrys by Giuls in Darlinghurst has been celebrating the build-up to the tour with Swift themed bottomless brunches, with guests invited to dress up in an outfit from their favourite Swift era.
The Eras tour is Swift’s biggest tour to date, with 10 distinct acts, a set list of 44 songs and a run time of three hours – an extreme juxtaposition to her first Australian visit in March 2009 when she played The Factory Theatre in Marrickville.
Darlinghurst’s Fortuna hosted the ‘Bottomless Karaoke Taylor Swift Edition’ of singing, winning, drinking and feasting in December.
In Five Dock, colourful Appetite cafe will host a series of Swift-inspired events throughout the month of February including friendship bracelet making, Cat Appreciation Day, Blank Space Colouring, Taylor Paint & Sip and Taylor Trivia.
Swift starts the Australian dates in Melbourne so obviously Victorian’s are also feeling inspired.
Die-hard Swifties in Geelong have been invited to the Blank Space Cafe for a unique themed dining experience. There, customers can order the likes of a Lavender Haze or a Cruel Summer Spritz.
TUESDAY’S BEST EXCUSE TO SCOFF A CROISSANT
Happy International Croissant Day!
Who even knew it was a thing?
Well, today is the day and we are keen to party.
So too is Sydney’s Loulou Boulangerie & Traiteur French bakery in Milson’s Point as it has created a special release macadamia praline and native plum croissant for the occasion. It is the creation of head baker Brendon Woodward, “a labour of love, each croissant is an intricate and time-consuming process that takes three days to make”.
SOLOTEL PREPARES FOR MARDI GREAT
Just over two weeks from the world famous Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras kicking off, Sydney hospitality group Solotel is preparing for a bumper season across its venues.
From the Abercrombie to Darlo Bar, the Kings Cross Hotel and The Clock, Solotel has engaged creatives Xander Khoury and Leslie Tiku (pictured) to curate a schedule of almost 50 events under the banner, Our Future, Your Local. Solotel is the official hospitality partner of the event that injects millions into the local economy each year.
The group’s Rob Squillacioti said: “Solotel has a longstanding connection with the local LGBTQIA+ community through so many of our venues and our incredible team. Being a part of Sydney WorldPride last year was an unforgettable experience and so we’re thrilled to partner with the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras in 2024 and provide unique, safe, and fun spaces for the queer community to celebrate.”
Other Solotel venues include Goros in Surry Hills and Newtown’s The Marlborough Hotel and The Bank.
“Our Future, Your local is the perfect way to connect with our local communities while coming together in celebration,” Mardi Gras’ Gil Beckwith said. “We’re delighted they’ve joined us again as partners in making safe, inclusive spaces and celebrating another year of Sydney’s iconic Mardi Gras.”
FIJI’S FOODIE SURPRISE
To be fair, most people wouldn't consider Fiji a foodie destination.
Arrnott Olssen is doing his bit to change that and believes Australians will fall as in love with Fijian flavours as they have embraced everything from Thai to Italian.
“The exciting thing about Fiji is that it is such a varied and diverse culture that creates a rich food scene,” Olssen told Kitchen Confidential.
“Sure, there are stereotypical things people will think of when talking about Fijian food like corn beef, cassava, kava and the lovo, the traditional earth oven, but there is so much more to explore.”
Fijian food, he explained, is influenced by Indian, Portuguese, Chinese, Scottish and of course the local indigenous delicacies.
“Fresh seafood, delicious curries and amazing fruits and vegetables are often overlooked. We have a lot of interesting dessert offerings too because of the Europeans that have come through Fiji over the years.”
Olssen is a unique talent in the Sydney food scene in the sense that he is also a professional singer, who appeared on Pop Stars reality show (the season after Sophie Monk’s Bardot), and can be seen gigging at venues across town and around the country.
He appeared on My Kitchen Rules in 2022, determined to showcase his Fijian heritage and tonight (Tuesday) hosts his latest regular The Kana Club pop-up at Stitch Bar in the CBD in partnership with Humpty Doo Barramundi.
The menu is inspired by his childhood in Fiji with dishes including Dhal hummus, crispy potato noodles and tamarind, Barramundi Crudo, Charred Pineapple, coconut cream and Nama (sea grapes), and Charred Chicken Fijian Curry with turmeric rice and chutney.
And for dessert is Mango Sago with Coconut merengue shards and passionfruit pulp.
With so many Australians holidaying in Fiji, Olssen suggested visitors try some local delicacies you’re unlikely to find easily elsewhere in the world. They include the Kavika fruit, Mana mud lobster and Madraini Viti, a local bread otherwise referred to as ‘steamed cassava’ that has an “acquired taste”.
CROSS PROMOTION GOES CRACKERS
Here is a collaboration Kitchen Confidential didn’t see coming – Arnott’s Shapes and Budgy Smugglers togs.
With designs for men and women, don’t be shocked if you see someone doing laps with their swimmers adorned with cracker flavours including Barbecue, Chicken Crimpy and Pizza.
“This will be the summer to top them all,” Arnott’s Krishma Sood said.
“With our most popular flavours being the snack of choice for many Aussies over summer, we are pumped Shapes fans cannot only snack on their favourite flavour but wear it too – we’re looking forward to seeing the iconic Shapes colours popping up all over the country.”
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