Eleven Bridge opens

Despite Sydney's nightlife seemingly vanishing before our very eyes with the new Lock Out laws, celebrity chef Neil Perry re-opened his Rock's restaurant as Eleven Bridge on Monday night. Previously named Rockpool, Perry closed the eatery six months ago.
A favourite with celebrities and fine diners- Whispers once sat at a table next to Joan Collins , Russell Crowe and media mogul Lachlan Murdoch (and that was a slow night), the foodie world was stunned when Perry suddenly closed up shop with a restaurant in a prime location and famed the world over.
But always one step ahead of his rivals, Perry had always planned to turn Rockpool into a more informal diner and Eleven Bridge was born.
You can peruse the new restaurants menu here but don't be too shocked at the prices. Hey, it's The Rocks and the NSW Government has just announced plans to spend $200M on refurbishing Circular Quay and The Rocks. Already a major tourist area it badly needs a re-vamp and Perry who also designs menus for Qantas is not one to miss a trick.

Neil Perry is The Tops

The luxury travel magazine Gourmet Traveller has chosen Neil Perry's Rockpool Restaurant as the countries top eatery for 2015 with the judging panel proclaiming it as the“most sublime” dining experience in Australia. And that's not a decision we would argue with having dined there several times.

Perry also overseas Qantas' flight catering and now has a stable of 5 restaurants, two in Melbourne and three in Sydney including the award winning Rockpool in The Rocks (pictured).

The Wit & Wisdom of Eddie Obeid

The family companies may be feeling the pinch- son Moses Obeid looks set to lose the lease of the Rushcutters Bay Marina, but our favourite ex-Labor Power Broker & ICAC witness Eddie Obeid retains his sense of humour.
As the Shuttle revealed in LatteLife Newspaper , if Eddie were to face again any sort of formal tribunal, he has a 6'4" transvestite nephew who once belonged to the legendary Sydney drag troupe, Sylvia & The Synthetics who is very fond of his uncle. Said nephew is itching to turn up in short black dress, huge sunnies and a large picture hat to lend support to Eddie.
We digress : Mr Obied has been tweeting lately his views, not only one of Sydney's top nosheries but shows he also has a cracking sense of humour as you can see in his second tweet.

Party Of The Month

 
  Catalina Restaurant in Rose Bay, by the harbour, has now been one of Sydney's most popular eateries for 20 years and owners Michael and Judy McMahon decided to throw a bash. And what a party . Guests were delivered in a fleet of Jaguars, entertainment was by the world renowned trumpeter James Morrison and his big band and most importantly, the Pommery flowed. We think they should have a party every year like this !


right : Ronan Keating and girlfriend Storm 
Uechtritz enjoyed themselves

below : a sure sign of how well Catalina is thought of by fellow top chefs : Neil Perry & Luke Mangan (right) joined the party

Eileen 'Red' Bond had a ball ..as did Tim Storrier and Justin Miller and this couple approved of the bubbles!

Restaurant News

 Twitter, Facebook, the blogosphere is abuzz with news of a scathing review of top chef Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill in Perth.
Titled :  "your $326 dinner was the most disgusting thing I have ever eaten' our reviewer minces no words:
" From the moment I stepped through your ten-foot-high Japanese-influenced doors and into your airline hangar dining hall, the experience was the most joyless I have ever had involving food. I’m not just talking about the high end stuff. I’m talking about $8.50 kebabs ordered by the roadside at three in the morning after nights out with the lads. I’m talking about failed experiments cooking alone when too drunk to go to the shops. I’m talking about childhood stand-offs with parents ending with me blocking my nose, scarfing the turnip and running from the table crying. Your food was worse, Rockpool Bar and Grill Perth. And you charged me $326."
The blog is authored by someone called  scheissenbedauern ( pictured in his 'selfie')who apparently lives in Brisbane and even that fine city has rankled the poor chap as he explains:
"I recently visited Brisbane for the first time. I never wanted to see Brisbane but got sent for work. I spent the first hour walking around thinking, it’s true, Brisbane sucks. I even wrote some text messages to people. “In Brisbane. It’s everything I expected.”

Read  scheissenbedauern's jottings here. You may also like his other pieces including his lament about supermodel Megan Gale who apparently blocked him on Twitter.
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 In 2010 the Shuttle reported on a ripple of outrage that had run through the Bangkok establishment with the arrival of Australian chef David Thompson  ( pictured above second right) and his Nahm restaurant. "Coals to Newcastle" was the theme, but Thompson has succeeded brilliantly and won over his critics.
Nahm has been named not just in the Best 50 Asian restaurants in the world but is now Number One !
Well we told you so having eaten Thompson's supperb Thai food many times. But don't take our word for it : not only is Thompson Tom Cruise's favourite chef but he also creates banquets for the Thai Royal Family.

Baz Keeps The Party Going

 

Erica Packer, Baz Luhrmann & Neil Perry

Baz Luhrmann has a huge hit on his hands with The Great Gastby and has thrown yet another shindig to celebrate.
                                                                  Gatsby is cleaning up at the box office : to date the flick has grossed over $147M well on it's way to covering the $180M cost and it still doesn't open until this Wednesday in Australia , one of the world's most lucrative markets. This will be his most successful production to date and will give a huge boost to the local film market- it was shot entirely in Sydney around Paddington, Manly and Birchgrove.

The success also vindicates the decision by the NSW state government to invest $40M in the film.
All this was yet another reason for Baz and wife Catherine Martin to host another swell dinner at Neil Perry's Rockpool Bar & Grill, a cavernous restaurant with marbled lined walls and a balcony fora full orchestra to .serenade guests.
Right : Ricky Martin with Baz and (below) with Catherine Martin.