Author: Chris Singh

Chris Singh is an Editor-At-Large at the AU review, loves writing about travel and hospitality, and is partial to a perfectly textured octopus. You can reach him on Instagram: @chrisdsingh.

Gelatissimo brings brown sugar bubble tea gelato to Australia

Boba fans should be heading to their nearest Gelatissimo store this week to indulge in the chain’s latest limited edition flavour, “Brown Sugar Bubble Milk Tea”. Popping the flavour of natural brown sugar pearls into milk tea gelato, the new flavour gives a heady nod to the global bubble tea phenomenon. The profile is made…

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Gelato Messina’s ‘Fairy Bread Cookie Pie’ is available from today

Comfort food has never been more important during waves on (necessary) lockdown this year. And the gelato gods at Messina have been up to task over these past few months, with eye watering mash ups like Nutella Cookie Pie. Now, the cult ice creamery has doubled-down on the love of franken-food with a new ‘Fairy…

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Cocktail recipes from the best bars in Memphis, Tennessee

The historic music city of Memphis isn’t just a beacon for artist’s the world over. The home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll also boasts a soulful food and drink scene that’s as much about lip-smacking comfort food as it is fresh seafood with a worldly outlook. Bluff City does boast…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Sammm. “Four Eyes” (2020)

Brisbane’s Sammm. has doubled-down on dreamy indie-rock with his latest single “Four Eyes”, a poignant track which unpacks a sense of bruised optimism. As elegant as it is angsty, the single channels the style of bands like The War On Drugs and Real Estate with ease. Sammm., otherwise known as Samuel Geddes, puts on one…

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Best female rappers

100 of the greatest songs by women in hip hop

It opens with Erykah Badu rhyming over a beatbox from Rahzel, and closes with Missy Elliot threatening to slap you right across your melon. We’ve put together a 100-deep playlist for this month’s Hip Hop and R&B Retrospective, celebrating women in rap by spotlighting some of our favourites from the 80’s (Roxanne Shante, Queen Latifah,…

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Some of the absolute best staycations New South Wales has to offer (Part One)

That New South Wales has some of the best accommodation in the world has never been a secret. What, with the kind of landscapes that people save for their entire lives to come and see? You’d expect no less: seriously bucket list resorts sketching indulgence onto rugged scenery, relentlessly charming boutique hotels you’d dream of…

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Five UK bands you should be listening to in 2020, according to Bloxx

Fronted by the enigmatic Fee, West London indie rockers Bloxx have been on quite the roll leading up to their debut album Lie Out Loud. That continues with the release of third single “Off My Mind”, a stadium-sized earworm perfectly highlighting those strong pop sensibilities fast making them one of the most exciting UK bands…

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Sonos Move Review: It may lumber, but this portable beast packs a punch

While Sonos is prolific in the audio space, the brand doesn’t have a product cycle as speedy and frequent as some competitors. It often feels like a long time between drinks when it comes to Sonos, but usually when that drink finally comes around, it’s a velvety classic – a meticulously built Old Fashioned or…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Mardi Wilson “Part Time Lover” (2020)

Raw and brutally honest, “Part Time Lover” is the new single from Brisbane singer-songwriter Mardi Wilson. Tt’s a bit of a departure from previous songs like “Runaway” and “Don’t Stop”, lifted from a forthcoming debut album while further highlight Wilson’s undeniable talent at spinning her own feelings and experiences into compelling songs. Based on something…

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Penguin Biscuits, UK’s version of Tim Tam, finally launching in Australia

Penguin Biscuits have long been considered the United Kingdom’s competitor to Australia’s fiercely beloved Arnott’s Tim Tam. Whether or not they are better is the topic of hot debate amongst expats, but Penguins do at least have the claim of predating the dynamic Aussie treat by more than three decades. Now more Aussie locals will…

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McDonalds now has a KitKat McFlurry on its Australian menu

Fast food fans are going to have a field day today as McDonalds had added a genuine KitKat McFlurry to the dessert menu. And it’s really as simple as it sounds, taking crunched-up flecks of KitKat and imbibing it into the classic Maccas ice cream dessert, then capping it with a wave of hot chocolate…

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Track of the Day: Joesef Feat. Loyle Carner “I Wonder Why” (2020)

Joesef may be tight-lipped on his debut album, but the increasingly popular artist isn’t hiding his extraordinary talent on new single “I Wonder Why”. A static R&B jam, the new single sees Joesef hook up with fellow Brit Loyle Carner for what is easily one of the most lush, aesthetically beautiful songs out right now….

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Merivale At Home to launch in Melbourne with Totti’s, Mr. Wong and more

When Merivale launched its at-home dining business “Merivale At Home” earlier this year, it gave locked-down Sydneysiders the opportunity to experience some of the city’s best venues without leaving their house. Now it seems the delivery platform has given the juggernaut hospitality group a somewhat modular in design, allowing Justin Hemmes to expand his empire…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Sarah Goodwin “Look Forward” (2020)

Aussie pop artist Sarah Goodwin has already built a solid reputation for genuinely uplifting, summer-soaked singles like “Waste My Time” and “Darker Shades”, a steady collection of blissful bops that now welcomes a new addition. Premiering today on the AU review, “Look Forward” is the new single from the Brisbane based singer-songwriter, simply diving into…

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Jimmys Falafel Bar Sydney

Three new Middle Eastern restaurants open in Sydney

Sydney has never wanted for good, full-throated Middle Eastern food. Efendy, Stanbuli, Barzaari, Nour, Anason, Kepos Street Kitchen, Tayim, Thievery, Cubby’s Kitchen, Shenkin, Emma’s Snack Bar, El Jannah – need I go on? It’s one of the most reliable and diverse cuisines sutured into the very belly of the city’s multicultural fabric. Evidently, the promise…

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Koko Black channels unique Australian flavours with new artisan chocolates

You might not be able to take an actual bite out of Australia’s grizzly landscapes and boundless plains, but you can at least have a taste. Swallowing Australia is even more tempting now that popular artisan chocolatier Koko Black has traversed the many native flavours of Australia for its new collection. The “Australian Native Collection”…

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Withings Steel HR Review: Outstanding looks, but very few hooks

A delicate balancing act is evidently difficult to achieve for the hybrid smartwatch. The category is always moving forward, especially with quality offerings from Fitbit, Garmin, Apple, Samsung, Huawei and Withings, but it seems 2-in-1 wearables which aim to be a fitness track and a smartwatch fall too heavily on just one side. We saw…

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Click Frenzy announces “Julove” sale: $14 iPhone 11s, $3 Bose headphones and more

It seems the folk behind Click Frenzy couldn’t wait to open the flood gates on another ridiculous online flash sale. “Julove” is the website’s new online shopping event, following on from Click Frenzy Mayhem, which only happened in May of this year. The headliner here is that some products will be up to 99% off…

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Samsung seek domestic dominance with slick dry-cleaning AirDresser

Samsung has officially brought its intriguing AirDresser to Australia. It’s a fancy (and expensive) clothing-care device which arrives with considerable acclaim behind it, having clocked the Gold Award for Product Design at the International Forum Design Awards, and is basically a small and slim wardrobe that keeps your clothes in top shape between washes. Stylish…

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Exclusive Video Premiere: The Marlenes “Breaking Out of Touch” (2020)

Get ready for a lot of deep, lingering looks and hazy 60’s style vocals as Melbourne band The Marlenes croon their way through “Breaking out of Touch.” Lifted from their recently released Advertise on the Moon project, the woozy soft-sway of surf rock rolls over a heady hit of psychedelia as lead Michael Proctor’s relaxed…

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Guzman Y Gomez is doing $9.90 burritos and bowls with free delivery for Victorians

It’s tough to be in VIC right now, with COVID-19 cases soaring and Melbourne returning to tight lockdown measures. Some of Australia’s biggest casual restaurants are doing their best to help out. We’ve already seen Grill’d offer Victorians 2-for-1 burgers to ease them back into the order-in state of mind. Now it seems Mexican favourite…

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Track of the Day: IJALE Feat. Rara Zulu “Hotlines” (2020)

Melbourne-based Australian-Nigerian emcee IJALE has served up the first taste of his upcoming debut EP Wildly Disparate Sounds with the conceptually powerful, aesthetically smooth “Hotline”. More than just a song, the hip hop artist has expanded upon the idea of having a safe space for the Black community and other people of colour to vent…

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Exclusive Single Premiere: Resin Moon “The Middle” (2020)

Alice Springs based producer Resin Moon has found his voice in a town so rich in culture, camaraderie and artistic experimentation. As he recalls, the artist found his home in remote Central Australia follows a few years of travelling and trying to find hone his craft, a path to self-discovery which has led to his…

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Cocktail recipes from the best bars in Singapore

We all know Singapore is lionised when it comes to food. Though while dining through the city-state is definitely something every gourmand needs to do at least seven times in their life, it’d be a big mistake to gloss over the incredibly diverse and creative cocktail scene coursing in between all those hawker markets and…

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Travel Gear: Eco-friendly Nike Air VaporMax 2020 Flyknit coming to Australia

Nike’s move towards sustainable solutions will see a substantial leap forward when the highly anticipated Nike Air VaporMax 2020 Flyknit makes its way to Australia next month. The new release is touted as being one of the brand’s most sustainable shoes to date, with at least 50 per cent recycled content by weight. Representing a…

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Exclusive Album Premiere: Sowdy – Shine! (2020)

Perth emcee Sowdy is steadily building a reputation as one of the most versatile and exciting hip hop artists in the country. Just one listen to his latest single, “Love”, would tell you all you needed to know about the wildly creative rapper, drummer and vocalist, whose love for the art is endearingly obvious. His…

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Bondi’s Sculpture by the Sea 2020 announces more than 100 exhibiting artists

Following a solid response from artists around the world, this year’s Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi has confirmed that more than 100 artists have been selected for the iconic outdoor exhibition. As one of the first major public arts events in Sydney since the Covid-19 lockdown, Sculpture by the Sea is currently scheduled to…

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QT Sydney and Bondi switch up the mini bar with Cocktail Porter

Fancy a little cocktail bottle hunt? Both QT Sydney and QT Bondi, two hotels cut from the same highly eccentric cloth, have teamed up with cocktail delivery service Cocktail Porter to stock their rooms with premium handcrafted bottled concoctions. But that’s not the most exciting part – although it’s pretty damn enticing enough. To celebrate…

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Qantas announces major changes to frequent flyer program

As demand for domestic flights continue to rise, Qantas has announced several important changes to its frequent flyer program to make it easier for customers to use points on domestic and, potentially, Trans-Tasman flights. For the remainder of this year, Qantas Frequent Flyer will be boosting the availability of Classic Flight Reward seats by up…

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Robotic arms serve free beer at Australia’s first contactless bar

Students from the University of Sydney and robotics engineers have created the bartenders for the city’s first ever “zero-contact bar”. Located in Darlinghurst, the Heineken Zero0.0 Contact Bar will make use of two robotic arms – named “Heidi” and “Ken” – to serve up the bar’s namesake (alcohol-free) beer, in-line with the need for physical…

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