Chiswick Turns Two

It's without a doubt one of Sydney's dining successes. Top chef Matt Moran's Chiswick in Woollahra turned 2 years old and they threw a small bash to celebrate.
Guests supped on apple and red basil martinis with fried zucchini flowers and mint- all picked from Chiswick's own garden that can be viewed from the restaurant. Now that is fresh and for a Tuesday night, the restaurant itself was packed.
And a scrumptious Bombe Alaska was dished up with guests helping blow out the candles.

Party host & Chiswick co-owner Peter Sullivan        Warren Fahey & Victoria Morish             Kerri-Anne Kennerley

Bulgari's Art Award.....

It will rate as one of the best bashes of the year- the dinner at the Art Gallery of NSW to celebrate the Bulgari Art Award which goes to Michael Zavros, a Brisbane-based graduate from the Queensland College of Art with a Bachelor of Visual Arts. Zavros has exhibited widely within Australia and his work is held in numerous private and public collections including: The National Gallery of Australia, Queensland Art Gallery, University of Queensland Art Museum and Tasmanian Museum and Gallery. His prize is a worth $80,000 and includes a residency in Italy.

Philip Bacon & Ros Packer

always elegant : Alexandra Joel & Philip Mason

With a magnificent long table in the main gallery and catering by Matt Moran's Aria , guests first had drinks and took in an exhibition of some of Australia's most renowned artists including Rupert Bunny, George W.Lambert, Russell Drysdale, Tom Roberts and Arthur Streeton amongst others. This is an exhibition now open to the public and includes numerous works that haven't been on display for many years. Do not miss it !
And full marks to the sponsors of the show, the wonderful Bulgari brand that was born in Rome in 1884 with family members still managing the elegant label that is now diversifying into hotels and resorts.

Stephen Ormandy & Louise Olsen

Michael Zavros with Melanie & Eddie Listorti

Table art...

George Lambert's portrait of Thea Proctor 1916

 And some art :

Two winning Archibald portraits of Margaret Olley : Ben Quilty in 2011 & William Dobell's -1948

James Angus : 'Bugatti type 35' 2006

Matt Branches Out

Not content with now two of Sydney's hottest restaurants, ARIA right near the Sydney Opera House and the hugely popular Chiswick in Chiswick Gardens Woollahra (and making time for appearances on Master Chef) and an ARIA in Brisbane, one of Australia's top chefs Matt Moran launched his latest catering partnership at the Opera House late last week.

Peter Sullivan & Matt Moran

 And it couldn't have been a more perfect night. A warm Autumn evening nestled below the Opera House sails in a beautifully decorated marquee, with the mastery of the Harbour Bridge opposite, ferry lights gliding by, copious flutes of Laurent Perrier and some of the finest food to be had on this continent as guests were guided down a candle lit red carpet

You have to give it to Matt and business partner Peter Sullivan. Everything they touch turns to gold and this latest venture is a winner. MorSul Catering can be contacted on 612 9240 2244 www.morsul.com.au

Many Men Of Influence

Kelvin Ho

Nick Tobias

To Chiswick in Woolahra for Men's Style magazine's Men of Influence to meet some movers and shakers under the age of 45 from the worlds of business, the arts, design, sports, fashion, management, the media and more.

Top bookmaker Tom Waterhouse & wife Hoda

Michael & Jo Slater

Some of those to make this year's list : actor Lachy Hulme, about to appear in Beaconsfield and later to play Kerry Packer in the Nine network production screening later this year; Josh Lawson, the star of Any Questions for Ben; Daniel Henshall, who scared the hell out of us as John Bunting in Snowtown; the host of Mornings on Nine, David Campbell; swimming’s newest superstar James Magnussen; pop sensation Gotye; Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke; sports presenting all-rounder Michael Slater, and; former wunderkind Kevin Rudd press secretary and now Today show political commentator Lachlan Harris. 
 The night was hosted by Men's Style editor Michael Pickering who says: “Influence can be a hard concept to define but each of these men is inspirational and influential both within and outside their fields. I've found successful people generally have something useful to say about what they have learnt on the journey and that is certainly the case with the men on this year’s list.” 

Paul & Catherine Anderson

Also on the list : founder of the international phenomenon Freelancer.com Matt Barrie, aggressive online retailer Ruslan Kogan and BigCommerce founders Eddie Machaalani and Mitchell Harper. Paralympic wheelchair champion Kurt Fearnley, veteran league champion Nathan Hindmarsh, Wallaby and charity worker David Pocock and GWS co-captain Luke Power.

And one not on the list ; Chiswick owner Matt Moran who has turned Chiswick restaurant into the uber place to be seen. On a blustery Autumn rainy Tuesday evening the place was packed. I'm told on weekends it's almost impossible to get a table unless you book well ahead.

Influential chef and restauranteur Matt Moran surveys a packed Chiswick

Marriage Made in Heaven

Chiswick Gardens in leafy Woollahra is one of the council's prime properties, surrounded as it is by the well heeled of the Eastern Suburbs and a stone's throw from the Consular district .

The restaurant in the gardens-Chiswick has lain dormant for some years now and after a long tender process the council has awarded the premises to one the countries best know chefs, Matt Moran and his business partner Peter Sullivan. It's a wise decision on the council's part and the pair have spent the last 18 months renovating the dining areas and adding their own vegetable garden to supply the kitchen with fresh produce.

Masterchef's Hayden Quinn

Silvia Colloca, Richard Roxborgh & Matt Moran

Anyone who has dined at Matt's Aria restaurant right next door to the Sydney Opera House will know of Matt's superb culinary skills that have made Aria the first stop of choice for visiting celebrities and tourists.

Chiswick Gardens is a bit more laid back with it's polished floors, rustic tables and superb floor to ceiling windows that open onto the gardens giving the place a light and airy feeling. Prices are reasonable and it's guaranteed to become one of the area's most popular dining spots. On Tuesday they held a launch party for regular customers.

Kerri-Anne Kennerley loves a party

Silverchair's Chris Joannou & Laura Csortan

the veggie garden

MKR's Manu Feidel & Clarissa Weerasena

Leo DiCaprio's New Sydney Neighbour-Bill Gates.

The world's second richest man Bill Gates and his family are in Sydney and have settled in for a month's holiday in a grand Point Piper mansion.

Gates is staying just 6 doors away from Hollywood star Leo DiCaprio who is in Sydney to film Baz Luhrmann's The Great Gatsby (in glorious 3D). Leo also has an entire floor at the newly renovated Star Casino where his entourage stay. That floor has been provided gratis by The Star management in return for DiCaprio turning up for the odd party now and then. They throw in the corporate jet as well for Leo's use.

Neville Crichton

Gates and family have now been spotted at several Sydney restaurants including Matt Moran's Aria on Tuesday night  and today he leaves for a few days of sunshine at Hamilton Island .

The Tuscan style mansion that Gates is renting for a reputed $25000 a week belongs to luxury car entrepreneur, New Zealander Neville Crichton. With an underground garage, a spa, a pool and a private beach and jetty, the villa has everything one could desire.

The Ferrari HQ minus tram shed

Neville Crichton has also scored another property victory. Two years ago he spent $4M on his new Waterloo headquarters where one can pick up a new Ferrari or Maserati for some loose change.

the vanished tramshed

Crichton has had an ongoing battle with the local council over a rather dilapidated tram shed that sat right at the front of his glistening new glass and steel showrooms. Locals insisted it should be heritage listed but in a city where so many glorious sandstone convict era buildings have bitten the dust, the tram shed was just an eyesore.

Over the past few months the council demolished half the building, leaving a bizarre half section remaining with a plaque on it. Just a month ago the entire thing finally disappeared leaving Neville Crichton's entrance free of obstructions.

It's Delicious!

Matt Moran & Valli Little

Matt Preston & Bill Granger

Delicious Magazine has been a great Australian publishing success for ten years now and that's a good enough reason to throw a party.

Which is what they did last week at Carriageworks in the Inner West with a host of top foodies and chefs turning up to celebrate with editor Trudi Jenkins, including Masterchef's Matt Preston (who also writes for delicious) Matt Moran, Christine Mansfield and Bill Granger whose new London restaurant will open next month in Westbourne Grove near Notting Hill.

Held at the new pop-up cafe John and Peter Canteen in Carriageworks, one would expect the food to be spot on and so it was with an amazing variety of delicious eats washed down with French champagne. John and Peter are the guys to watch. They're building an excellent reputation and their staff is professional and friendly.

Pop-Up Pommery

Grant Dwyer

 If you plan to go shopping this week at Westfield's new glitzy super centre in the Pitt Street Mall, make your way to the third level. Amongst all those brand name stores-Gucci, Calvin Klein, Chanel, Zegna, Christian Louboutin, Diane von Furstenberg, Prada..you get the drift- you will find an oasis at the centre-the Pommery Bar.

Michael McMahon *  Angela Shallis*Jon Cammell

It's a 'pop-up' bar provided by the management for weary shoppers overcome with the luxury of the whole place. Last night they threw an opening bash with magnums of Pommery doing the rounds and a host of fashion and TV names on hand to sample the drop.                                  

Matt Moran & Deborah Thomas

Lewis Grant & Jordan Coulter

The Nine network's hit show 'The Block' judge Neale Whittaker who doubles up as Editor in Chief of the design bible Belle magazine, Woman's Weekly Editorial Director Deborah Thomas, TV producer Michael Pell, Weekend Sunrise host Samantha Armytage, designer Carla Zampatti , MasterChef star Matt Moran and restaurateur Michael McMahon joined luxury hotel owner Terry Schwamberg and Ashley Dawson Damer amongst others.

Michael Pell * Samantha Armytage

It's only there for one week so don't miss it !

Maggie Tabberer* Michael Love*Amanda Tabberer

Julia Clarke

Carla Zampatti
 Stop Press : According to the Champagne Bureau Australia the high Australian dollar is now making French champagne far more affordable with brands like Moet & Chandon selling for around $44 a bottle. Australia is the ninth largest importer of the bubbly and with the current global financial malaise- Australia being almost unique in having weathered the financial meltdown -French champagne houses are targeting the country in an effort to increase sales.