Krispy Kreme’s Christmas celebrations are set to be a hole in one, slinging free Original Glazed doughnuts alongside a spectacular light show display even Santa couldn’t miss. The festive spirit will be taking over select Krispy Kreme drive-thrus (Bulleen, Redbank Plains, Penrith & Myaree) this season from the 7th December. From 8pm till midnight, show up to any of these stores and enjoy a free doughnut alongside local carolers, inviting you to sing-a-long to your favourite Christmas carols. The incredible light display will be sticking around until the 28th December, giving plenty of time for Christmas fanatics to feast their eyes on fairy lights and festive memorabilia. Continuing the charitable spirit, for every Original Glazed dozen sold throughout the day at each of the four stores, Krispy Kreme will be donating $1 to a different charity like the Animal Welfare League and Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation. Following the lighting event at 8pm, sausage sizzles and face painting will be available for a gold coin donation to the store’s local charity. Not able to make it to a store? Krispy Kreme’s bespoke range of Christmas doughnuts can bring the cheer to you, including the Santa Sprinkles, Krispymas Pudding and adorable Snowy available now.

Yarra Valley’s breathtaking hidden treasure has just been discovered, a wine and food lovers paradise nestled behind a pristine hedge. Promising to delight all the senses, Coombe Yarra Valley is a destination dedicated to Dame Nellie Melba, the Australian opera singer, socialite and trailblazer for women’s rights who previously owned the property. With a new lease on life, it is now one of the Yarra’s most bustling, Instagrammable spots. Featuring a cellar door, art gallery featuring Dame Nellie Melba’s personal art collection, providore, and a world-class restaurant in the historic Clock Tower, it promises to satisfy all of your senses. Executive Chef, Neil Cunningham has carefully crafted a casual fine dining men, boasting fresh ingredients plucked right from the estate’s very own gardens. Expect to see crispy skin barramundi with leek and saffron puree and a medley of slow cooked mushrooms with baby sorrel. For those on the liquid diet, expect your glass to be filled and refilled with perfectly matched wines from Coombe’s renowned collection. Known for their Tribute Series to the Dame herself, Nellie Melba Blanc de Blanc, Coombe’s wine is loved for being a hand-picked, quality focused range. From wine tasting at the cellar door, high tea in the restaurant and guided tours of the home and garden, Coombe’s has headed straight to the top of our list for the next visit to the Yarra Valley.

Altum, the latest harbourside dining venue has officially docked at Milsons Point, boasting spectacular venues and a delectable Mediterranean menu to boot. Head Chef, Dionisio Randazzo has taken great care in sourcing local ingredients, offering uncomplicated but delicious dishes with a melting pot of flavours. Expect to see seasonal produce take centre stage, with menu items including burrata with grilled and marinated eggplant, Moreton Bay bugs with crumbled amarett and fior di latte glace, with raspberry and rhubarb. Formerly known as The Deck Sydney, Altum has a prime position to enjoy a glass of wine and small plate of arancini or a charcuterie board with uninterrupted ocean views. The wine list is a celebration of Australian wine with a festive season Happy Hour from 5 – 7pm daily with 30% off tap beers and sparkling wine. Altum is the newest venue to dock at this iconic location, so be sure to savour these flavours for yourself.

Like we needed any more reasons to worship Four Pillars gin, they’ve just gone and collaborated with Melbourne chocolate masters Hunted + Gathered to make a Rare Dry Gin Dark Organic Chocolate. Made from spent gin botanicals and gin-steamed oranges, 70% cocoa forms the base with notes of juniper, cardamom and cassia bringing a zesty orange flavour throughout. This is the latest installment in the Four Pillars nose-to-tail gin story, a commitment to utilise their by-products for other goods to minimize waste. The project has seen the creation of a bespoke marmalade and cheese offering, with chocolate being the natural (and most delicious) next step. These bad boys are selling for $7.50 and are available from the Four Pillars Distillery, Hunted + Gathered physical and online stores and David Jones stores nation-wide.

Champagne house Laurent-Perrier has marked a major milestone, with the appointment of the first-ever Laurent-Perrier Brand Ambassador for the Australia and Pacific region. Relocating from the Laurent-Perrier Headquarters in Tours-sur-Marne, France to Sydney, Australia to represent the gloabl brand. Desualle has played a monumental role in the product, packaging and global media plans. Once in Australia, she hopes to spread her passion about the brand and share the values of the house with the Australian Pacific market. Desaulle has had a lengthy career in the Champagne industry, developing her interest and knowledge across the world, in locations such as South Africa, Brazil, Vietnam and Cuba. Caroline will undoubtedly be an asset to the Laurent-Perrier brand, particularly focusing on the promotional development of the Cuvée Rosé, the number one selling rosé champagne by value, world wide.

Canberra’s Agostinis restaurant has announced a new way of dining, completely personalised with a 5 course meal tailored to your exact preferences. Chef Francesco Balestrieri and his team will prepare a bespoke Italian dining experience for two to four people, utilising fresh, seasonal produce both locally and internationally sourced. Returning from a recent trip to Italy, Balestrieri observed that “some of the best meals are enjoyed at the family dinner table, an Italian meal created from scratch and shared with special friends.” This has inspired the new dining experience, taking guests on an authentic culinary journey through Italy. Your menu might start with olives ascolane with bufala ricotta, followed by Francesco’s ricotta and spinach raviolo and finishing with a warm chocolate torte and pistachio cannoli with digestive. The La Tavola di Francesco dining offering is available on Friday and Saturday nights only, for two to four people, $85 per person with the option of matching wines for a further $55 per person.

While hospitality has been considered a predominantly male-dominated industry, all of that is about to change with The Vue Group creating and mentoring female rising stars. The number of female apprentice chef enrollments and female run restaurants is undeniably on the rise, with female chefs claiming influence over the sector with their passion and skill. The Vue Group’s latest female superstars, Jodie Odrowaz (26) and Sarah Cremona (29) are just two of the women following their love for food who have been recognized for their ambition and skill. Sarah is an apprentice, currently on rotation at the Vue Group who quit her 9-5 to follow her passion for cooking. She has worked at world-leading restaurants including Scott Pickett’s St Crispin and Copenhagen’s iconic Noma, recently placing First in the 2018 Thierry Marx Career Development Award beating out 11 other contestants. Judges were impressed with Sarah’s technical ability and creativity, which was shown through her winning dishes including Jerusalem Artichoke filled with white chocolate miso cremeaux and chocolate soil (dessert). Jodie is currently the Junior Sous Chef, Iki-Jime whose humble beginnings growing up on a tomato farm have seen her take a finalist spot in Young Chef of the Year 2019. Jodie is passionate about promoting sustainability within the food industry, hoping to set a positive example for others. There’s no doubt that these two are ones to watch and we can’t wait to watch them grow and develop throughout their culinary journey.

Harvest Newrybar has let their imaginations run free with the extension of their Wild Harvest Wednesday to seven days a week! The menu has been created and inspired by a day foraging in the Byron Hinterland with wild food researcher Peter Hardwick. The team are ecstatic to be bringing this adventurous menu to the Byron Bay palate every day of the week, with each ingredient challenging the norm and celebrating the diversity and creativity that comes with cooking. Head Chef Alastair Waddell believes that a weekly changing evening menu is the most sustainable way to showcase all that the Byron Hinterland has to offer, working with the restaurant’s local suppliers and showcasing dishes that are inventive, exciting, spontaneous – an expression of the region in that moment. 5 courses is $85 while 7 courses are $105, bookings can be made here.

Melbourne’s Rockpool Bar & Grill will host a pop-up restaurant with a festive lunch, bar and gift boutique this silly season. Dine on a group sharing menu for eight or more guests before browsing a tempting range of gastronomic gifts. Taking place in the sophisticated event space of Alfred Place, the pop-up will be available every weekday from Thursday, 29 November at 12pm. The menu will be comprised of Rockpool classics, where the spirit of Australia meets Christmas spirit, finishing of course with a mouthwatering passionfruit pavlova. Once you’ve eaten till your hearts (and stomachs) content, you can finish up your lunch with a little festive buying. You’ll be temped by Neil Perry cookbooks, a range of Champagne, wine, spirits and Rockpool Dining Group gift cards, which can be loaded to any value. If you just can’t wait to see the menu, it can be found here. To book: Call 03 8648 1900

We all love picnics in the summer but sometimes we just can’t deal with the stress of packing them ourselves. Those on the hunt for a picnic spread thats guaranteed to impress don’t need to look any further than Windsor wine bar, Neptune. Taking their most-loved menu items and lovingly packing them into convenient hampers, all you need to provide is good company and a blanket. Each hamper will showcase local and seasonal produce for two people including: freshly prepared sandwiches; cheeses and crackers, house-made pickles and jams, tinned seafood; and a bottle of wine. They even come with stemless glasses and cutlery so you don’t need to worry about bringing out the precious glassware. These park-ready picnic hampers are $90 and can be collected on the run or via Ubereats (delivered directly to your picnic spot of choice!).

Sydney’s Northern Beaches favourite watering hole, The Park House at Mona Vale is about to get a major dose of Christmas spirit. Undergoing a magical transformation into a Christmas oasis for the entire family, there’s an epic lineup of menu changes and activities throughout December. The Christmas Markets will be appearing on the 7th an 14th of December filled with gifting inspiration, festive decorations and indulgent desserts. Then, prepare to take a Christmas photo unlike any other with the giant snow globe, open Friday 4-6pm and Saturday/Sunday 12-4pm. Step inside the inflatable Christmas wonderland , start a snowball fight and snap up a fun-filled picture to treasure. For the kids, Santa will be coming to town for photo opportunities, get creative with a gingerbread decorating station and write a letter to Santa filled with Christmas wishes. For the adults, festive-themed cocktails will be taking over the menu, including Pepe the Parkhouse Reindeer’ made with Don Julio tequila, Fever Tree ginger beer, a spring of mint and topped with a candy cane. Entry to the Park House and all activities mentioned are entirely free, even the photos with Santa! Be sure to head down early and experience the festive magic for yourself.

What better way to kick off the New Year than an epic outdoor party at one of Sydney’s most iconic venues, Bondi Icebergs? This New Years day, the party of the year will be taking place with musical talent, Mambo Brothers and Sneaky Sound System playing the best in electronic dance music to get the party started. The Icebergs Dining Room and Bar will have undergone an artistic transformation by artist Carla Uriarte inspired by fresh starts and new beginnings. Executive Chef Monty Koludrovic will be creating a bespoke menu celebrating Bondi in Summer, drawing on Italian flavours and made with the freshest Australian produce. Matthew Whiley, from the highly acclaimed Talented Mr Fox will be behind the Icebergs Bar to create two specialty drinks as part of the NYD 2019 drinks list. Tickets for this exclusive event are $450pp, including entertainment, canapes, signature Icebergs Drinks and Perrier Jouet Champagne. Be sure to register here.

Glebe has been blessed with the arrival of a new restaurant and cocktail bar, The Charleston. Paying tribute to the beautiful colours and bold flavours of South Carolina, the menu menu takes inspiration from the shorelines of South Carolina from Coastal Charleston to the Old South Plantations. Head Chef, Ellena Kim (previously of Uccello) will offer up seafood, barbequed meats and vegetarian dishes with signature dishes including the Lobster Roll with kohlrabi, apple remoulade, house pickle and served in a luxe milk bun. The cocktail menu is a playful take on the famed flavours of the South, including infused sweet teas, dubbed the ‘Champagne of the south’. The venue has forged a partnership with loved neighbouring brewery, Young Henry’s, bringing their Natural Larger to the taps. This venue is set to be a very popular drinking and dining destination in Glebe, perfect for mid-week dinners and weekend get-togethers with friends and family.

Multi-faceted brand Maison Kitsuné has started their newest venture, Café Kitsuné, popping up in Sydney’s Surry Hills in partnership with Incu. Kindly hosted by Sydney coffee institution Artificer, the pop-up will be slinging Café Kitsuné’s classic hot and cold drinks including their famous Iced Matcha Latte and Iced Yuzu. For those who need their coffee fix 24/7, Café Kitsuné beans will be available for purchase in packets of 100g, 250g and 1kg (for the hardcore caffeine addicts). Neighbourhood favourites Messina and Black Star Pastry have created limited edition treats exclusive to the pop-up, think Green Tea-ramisu and Mango Yuzu Cheese. The Café Kitsuné collection of tableware, ready-to-wear and accessories will be also available for the first time in Australia, at the pop-up and in all stores during the Holiday Season as part of the Incu Gift shop.

Merivale has launched an enviable light-filled private dining and event space overlooking Centennial Park, named The Apartment at Hotel Centennial. Converted from a former private residence, the space has maintained a homely feel, mimicking the intimacy of entertaining at home. With arched windows, high ceilings and a private terrace, it’s the perfect setting for any event, from private dinners to cocktail-style engagement parties. The space can even be used for private meetings, workshops and conferences, highlighting its sophisticated versatility. The venue is a perfect blank canvas to build upon, bringing each individuals artistic vision to life over a refined backdrop. The Apartment at Hotel Centennial accommodates 32 seated, 60 theatre and 100 cocktail, with a shared menu available from $115pp.