Gourmet Traveller

SUBSCRIBE NOW magshop.com.au/gmt Details p52 There is something special about this time of year; that short window between the last of the summer heat and the arrival of winter’s drab grey cloak. Autumn often feels like the shortest of our seasons, which only adds to its allure. The fact it falls in step with both Easter and Anzac Day – which happily converge as back-to-back long weekends this year – is certainly part of its charm. Some of my fondest memories as a teenager, and well into my twenties, are of April long weekends in New Zealand. When it’s still warm enough for a bracing morning dip yet cool enough to sip pinot noir, fireside, as night falls (or perhaps Vodka Cruisers if we’re recalling my younger years). It’s also…

MELBOURNE Sydney chef Junda Khoo will bring his clever take on Malaysian flavours to Melbourne with a slated Easter opening. Landing a three-level site at 235 Bourke Street with an entrance on Royal Lane, each floor will feature a separate menu and vibe. “So, it’s like having three different Ho Jiak concepts under one roof,” says Khoo. The ground floor will be home to Da Bao, with a street-food focus. Expect “stufflike nasi lemak, Hainan chicken rice and a bain-marie with different dishes – similar to the “chap fan” stores on the street in Malaysia”. The first floor – named Ho Jiak after the original in Sydney’s Strathfield – is set to be more formal, exploring the cultural intersections of the cuisine with a levelled-up playfulness. “That’s where we will…

HAVING CARVED OUT HIS NAME AS THE ENDEARING foodie on Queer Eye, Antoni Porowski’s next step is a culinary journey. In No Taste Like Home, Porowski – who is Canadian-born, New York-dwelling, with Polish heritage – teams up with National Geographic and a cast of celebrities for the new six-part series. “Food is one of those things, often in our everyday or periphery, that we don’t really take a close look at, but what’s so fascinating is it has this rich history,” says Porowski. In each episode, food isn’t just devoured but put under a keen research lens, every dish or ingredient acting as a clue to each guest’s heritage. When it came to scouting the six personalities for the series, it wasn’t just about celebrity status. “We had a…

COULD THIS BE THE ULTIMATE ROAD TRIP WATCH? THE VERY FIRST CARRERA, RELEASED IN 1963 BY TAG HEUER, was inspired by the Carrera Panamericana – a notoriously dangerous five-day car race that roared along Mexican highways in a cloud of adrenaline and glamour. Key to the watch’s original design was ultra-clear legibility even while cornering at speed; a gently thrilling notion that cemented its popularity among motorsports fans of the day. A pillar of the luxury Swiss watch brand ever since, the Carrera has evolved into various iterations, most recently this glittering chronograph, unveiled at LVMH Watch Week earlier this year. Practical for use while navigating the Australian roads on your next long weekend, its 83 diamonds and pearlescent alligator strap make it just as fitting for Champagne on arrival.…

GRILL AMERICANO’S BELOVED TABLESIDE TIRAMISÙ IS SET TO conquer Sydney this spring, with veteran restaurateur Chris Lucas announcing he will open a second chapter of the popular Melbourne grill in September. The Sydney CBD spot promises to scale up the original offering, with a larger dining room and kitchen, plus breakfast service – and broader appeal. “I know in Sydney, there’s been a few grills open lately,” says Lucas, “but I don’t want it to be overly masculine.” Lucas is the powerhouse behind one of Australia’s most established restaurant groups, comprising 10 Melbourne venues, plus outposts in Geelong and Canberra. This opening will mark the second Sydney venture for Lucas Restaurants, following the arrival of Chin Chin to Surry Hills in 2017. Grill Americano Sydney will take up residence in…

SENSES AWAKEN AT ANANTARA UBUD. THE NEWLY opened resort, high in the hills of Ubud’s ancient Payangan region, is at Bali’s spiritual and geographic heart – just a 20-minute drive from Ubud’s bustling centre and less than three hours from the airport. The sprawling new outfit from the luxury hotel brand opened in October 2024 after years-long delays, and it’s been worth the wait. The result: a mountaintop jungle retreat that eschews common Bali clichés in favour of quiet luxury. Here, everything is calm, quiet and oh-so languid. As you ascend the mountain and snake down the lush frond-fringed driveway, arriving to the gentle drumming of the lobby’s kinetic gong sculpture, it’s clear this is a sanctuary – confirmed the next morning as you witness the sun rise from your…