Foodie News

In the 1960s in Sydney, Windsor Street in Paddington was the place to be. The Windsor Castle pub was packed nightly with it's many bars and live music in the beer garden. Gays & lesbians, heterosexuals, the legendary Push (Germaine Greer etc) all made their way there. Paddington was a working class suburb with a mix of immigrants who flocked to the cheap housing.

Lucio (right) celebrates with pals.

These days those once affordable terrace houses with their exotic French lace ironwork sell for over a million dollars. The Windsor Castle has become a vast private home and each house seems to boast a BMW or Mercedes.

Maria Venuti partied with Mickey Robbins

One establishment opposite the Castle that has lasted : Lucio's Restaurant serving classic Italian food. It stared life as the Hungry Horse art gallery before being taken over by Lucio in 1983. In it's early days it was a hangout for artists like John Olsen and Tim Storrier who sometimes paid their bills with works of art. Lucio probably has a small fortune hanging on his walls. These days Lucio Galletto OAM hosts all manner of guests from movie stars like Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig with celebs like Ricky Martin and Giorgio Armani dining there. And thirty successful years was a good enough excuse to hold a party.
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One guest at Lucio's party was Leon Fink who owns the world famous Quay Restaurant , seen her in our snap deep in conversation with News Ltd honcho Piers Ackermann (left).

Leon is behind the push to takeover the most visable dining spot in Sydney- Bennelong at the Sydney Opera House.
With the lease up on the top restaurant and chef Guillaume Brahimi throwing in the dish cloth, Fink has a plan to instal top chef Bill Granger who is cutting up a storm in the UK.

Another Hemmes' Winner

Peter Gilmore wields chopsticks at Mr Wong with Janni Kyritsis

You have to be quite brave to open up your brand spanking new restaurant to host the countries top foodies, chefs and restaurant owners representing 400 of Australia's best establishments but the Hemmes' family did just that last night for the 2012 Australian Gourmet Traveller Restaurant Awards.

John & Merivale Hemmes

Mr Wong is Justin Hemmes' new addition to his burgeoning $200M entertainment empire. Located in Bridge Street in the old Tank nightclub premises it's two floors of exquisite Chinese fare.

And there really was no surprise when the top gong went to Peter Gilmore, known for his "snow egg" dessert, as his restaurant Quay was crowned best restaurant.
Not satisfied with scooping up award after award around the world (Quay under Gilmore's stewardship is usually rated amongst the world's top eateries) this is third time Quay, which has a stunning views overlooking the harbour and Opera House has been named Australia's best eatery.

Justin Hemmes' Mr Wong

 AUSTRALIAN GOURMET TRAVELLER AWARDS
Restaurant of the Year - Quay, Sydney
Best New Talent - Alejandro Cancino, Urbane, Brisbane
New Restaurant of the Year - Momofuku Seiobo, Sydney
Outstanding Contribution to Hospitality - Janni Kyritsis, chef
Chef of the Year - Ben Shewry, Attica, Melbourne
Sommelier of the Year - Banjo Harris Plane, Attica, Melbourne
Regional Restaurant of the Year - Loam, Drysdale, Victoria
Maitre D' of the Year - Ainslie Lubbock, Pei Modern, Melbourne
Bar of the Year - The Everleigh, Melbourne
Wine List of the Year - Carlton Wine Room, Melbourne

Peter Gilmore's Quay

As for the food at Mr Wong, there really isn't any point reviewing the food-it's quite simply sensational. You just have to check out yourself.