Australia Day 2019: Vegemite pizzas, Tim Tam margaritas and DJs on deck
Vegemite pizzas, Tim Tam margaritas and DJ Tigerlily are all part of the Australia Day fun being served up in Sydney’s CBD.
Vegemite pizzas, Tim Tam margaritas and one of Australia’s hottest DJ’s, Tigerlily, are all part of the Australia Day fun being served up in Sydney on Saturday.
1. AUSSIE TWIST, FRATELLI FRESH & EL CAMINO CANTINA
Fratelli Fresh and El Camino Cantina restaurants are throwing tradition out of the window on Saturday, each putting an Aussie spin on some of their best-loved menu offerings.
Fratelli Fresh’s Australia Day offering is a limited edition Vegemite pizza for $20.
The pizza, available at all seven Fratelli Fresh restaurants across Sydney, is coated with Vegemite and topped with smoked and buffalo mozzarella.
While El Camino Cantina’s classic margarita is being given an Australia Day Tim Tam twist. The Tim Tam Rita, a smooth blend of tequila and caramel liqueur, comes topped with a caramel Tim Tam biscuit, from $15.
It’s available from both restaurants at The Rocks and Manly.
Visit
fratellifresh.com.au or elcaminocantina.com.au
2. THE ARGYLE, THE ROCKS
The Australia Day fun includes a sizzling summer BBQ in The Argyle’s courtyard from 11am, featuring snags, burgers, prawn skewers and lamb chops.
Bringing Saturday night to a close is Sydney DJ Tigerlily, who is hitting the decks at midnight with a fusion of house, dance and electronic hits.
Partygoers can kick on with an outdoor courtyard party from 11am on Sunday, featuring table tennis competitions, live music, DJ entertainment and $25 cocktail jugs.
Visit theargylerocks.com
3. SUMMER POP-UP, OPERA HOUSE
If you want to escape the Australia Day-themed offerings head to Blanc Bar at Portside Sydney, the newest sundowner hotspot with a champagne and gin cocktail pop-up.
DJs spin into the night while diners can sample a Parisian-inspired menu featuring the likes of gin-cured ocean trout with cucumber jelly, radish and native lime and elderflower dressing and Sydney rock oysters with verjus vinaigrette.
Portside Sydney head chef Kasper Christensen (ex-Quay, Bathers Pavilion) said The Blanc Bar’s menu complemented Blanc de Blanc Encore, now showing at the Opera House.
He said the snack-style menu was full of French notes with a dash of cabaret such as salt cod brandade, toast Melba and artisan cheeses with condiments, fruits and crackers. The pop-up runs until February 4. Visit portsidesydney.com.au
4. TAYIM, THE ROCKS
Spend Australia Day in The Rocks at the historic precinct’s newest restaurant, Tayim.
The mixologists from the Middle Eastern-influenced restaurant have created Anna’s Passion which will be available on Saturday and Sunday.
Anna’s Passion, named so in honour of Russian ballerina and namesake of the Pavlova, Anna Pavlova.
Anna’s Passion is inspired by the dessert with the ingredients of vodka, vanilla liquor, lemon, fresh passionfruit, and egg all shaken together to create a meringue like taste — the cocktail is finished with a fresh spritz of rose aroma. Visit Tayim.com.au
5. Q DINING, SYDNEY
The Australia Day set menu focuses on fresh, local ingredients and indigenous fruits and spices.
Chose from dishes including seared emu fan fillet, Kakadu plum, roasted parsnip puree, macadamia crisp and balsamic reduction, baked north Queensland baby barramundi, fennel soubise, beach greens and lemon burnt butter and apple and riberry tarte tatin, lemon myrtle, leatherwood honey ice cream and candied walnut.
Visit qdining
6. THE BOTANIST, KIRRIBILLI
The Botanist has created the quintessential Australia Day menu, full of true blue Aussie favourites, such as herb-crusted lamb rack served with beet puree and kipflers and a sweet treat pavlova dessert special.
Sip away the afternoon with a cold Australian brew or work your way through the botanical-inspired cocktail list.
Visit Thebotanist.com.au
ALSO CHECK OUT
ENDEAVOUR TAP ROOMS, THE ROCKS
Endeavour Tap Rooms will open early on Australia Day, welcoming patrons from 10am with meaty-menu specials.
These include the almighty steak sarnie served on rye bread with caramelised onion and rocket with fries ($24) and pulled pork burger with slaw, bacon crumb, pickles, mustard mayo and fries ($22). Also grab one of the $8 tinnies of Endeavour Beer Citrus Ale.
Visit Taprooms.com.au
SOCAL, NEUTRAL BAY
SoCal is bringing their signature Southern Californian flare throughout Australia Day weekend for a weekend of live music, Bottomless Rosé lunches and great vibes.
On Australia Day, there will be live music from 8:30pm with Tyler Azza Duo.
SoCal’s Bottomless Rosé Lunch will run from 12pm-3pm all weekend.
The lunch features two-hours of unlimited rosé & rosé sangria and a banquet feast tailored to share for $65 per person.
Visit Socalsydney.com.au
HACIENDA SYDNEY
The Australian-themed bar menu features a classic Aussie burger and bucket of prawns, washed down with a specially created Australia Day cocktail.
Special event offers include a bucket of Australian prawns served with a glass of house wine of beer for $50 (two people) and $95 (four people).
Visit Haciendasydney.com.au
VIC ON THE PARK, MARRICKVILLE
Vic on The Park’s post Australia Day Hot Weekend, on Sunday, starts at 12pm.
Get to the carpark early to get warmed up with live DJs and $15 jugs between 12 until 2pm or seek refuge from the heat in the front bar and tune in to The Hottest 100 countdown.
Stay hydrated with an ice-cold slushie or a beer from the backyard tinnie-bar while Bad//Dreems, TOTTY and Kimono Drag Queens take the stage from 2pm.
They’ll also be slingin’ sausage sangas (meat and vegan) with proceeds going to Wirringa Baiya Aboriginal Women’s Legal Centre. Visit merivale.com/venues/viconthepark
Just outstanding! The young guns on fire in Waratahs v Reds U15 battle
It’s a taste of things to come, a critical showcase for rising stars of rugby and the annual battle between the NSW Waratahs and Queensland Reds under 15s did not disappoint. Stars, photos
‘We are incredibly excited’: Next Gen rugby 7s women turning heads
There were blowouts, close calls, a hot boot and multiple try-fectas in the opening round of the Next Gen Sevens rugby series in Sydney. Stars, great photos and Rd 1 result wrap.