Foodies’ Diary

Sustainable Pyrmont
This week I toured Doltone House Darling Island Wharf, where Executive Chef James Viles (one of Australia’s youngest chefs to be awarded a hat) has taken charge of the bustling kitchen. Impressively, this is our state’s first six star, green star building and sitting right opposite the Star City Casino it might even restore some of Pyrmont’s karmic balance. In fact it’s so green, even the flyers can be soaked in water and planted (I’m not having you on) resulting in a lemon-scented bottlebrush! Sustainability is the name of the game in the kitchen too. James explains: “We are incorporating the sustainable philosophy of the venue into the cuisine where ever possible… One of the most exciting aspects is the 100-mile menu…  which exclusively uses ingredients sourced from within a 100-mile radius.” Right now the venue is open for functions, so if your company has a corporate mission to be kind to the planet, you can honour it here. Oh and rest easy about the food – James says “the ‘function food’ concept is not in my vocabulary – our aim is to produce restaurant quality food in an event environment.” It sure smelt good to me!
Darling Island Wharf, 48 Pirrama Road, Pyrmont www.doltonehouse.com.au

Ciao Bondi
The stark Utzon-esque raw concrete bar (below) of the newly remade, remodelled and relaunched Ravesi’s Wine Bar on Bondi Beach caught my eye at it’s celebratory shindig last week. Eastern suburbs royalty from Wayne Cooper to Underbelly stars mingled with us humble scribes as we all snacked and sipped our way through the new menu and list – and it was much better than the usual fare from bars with such a view. Check ‘em out at www.ravesis.com.au and stay tuned for an upcoming review!

Indy Xmas
I’m already quite committed to buying my groceries at my local independent grocer, but this week IGA came up with another reason for my loyalty. Just in time for Christmas 2010, IGA have launched a Christmas Club. So if this year’s impending festivities are plaguing you with worry about your bottom line, ‘set and forget’ a small amount of money each week, fortnight or month, to make next year’s holiday season a breeze. Unlike some of those other hamper companies, IGA won’t be telling you how to spend your saved funds – with your card you can buy any products you choose, in any of IGA’s 1,278 supermarkets across Australia. If you’re one of the first 2000 members to sign-up at www.iga.com.au or by visiting your local store, to celebrate the launch of the program IGA will throw in $50 to start you off!