New era for a Hunter Valley favourite

It is a new era with a new chef and a new menu at long-time Hunter Valley favourite Restaurant Botanica at Spicers Vineyards Estate.

Restaurant Botanica has undergone a major refurb, seen the arrival of head chef Thomas Heinrich, and the launch of a brand new seasonal menu.

The transformation signals a different culinary direction that aims to offer "a refined yet relaxed experience grounded in contemporary Australian cooking and Mediterranean influence".

Overlooking the estate’s vineyards with sweeping views to the Brokenback Mountains, the updated interior has open fireplaces, ambient lighting and an intimate dining room that extends towards the vineyard.

Head chef Heinrich has worked in luxury hotels across Australia and North America.

“My career has taken me through some of the world’s most rigorous kitchens, where discipline, precision and respect for the ingredient are non-negotiable," he said.

"At Restaurant Botanica, I have the opportunity to apply that experience in a setting that is deeply connected to its landscape. The Hunter Valley offers exceptional produce, and our focus is on treating it with restraint and clarity. The goal is to create a dining experience that feels considered, grounded and reflective of place.”

The new menu features Mediterranean-style dishes showcasing seasonal vegetables, homegrown herbs, curated cheeses and simply prepared local meats.

So think starters like charred eggplant with smoked tahini, burnt honey and aged sherry; beef tartare with manchego, garlic toum and puffed wheat; and zucchini flower with goat’s feta, saffron and fermented black pepper.

Mains include smoked duck breast with confit duck leg, red cabbage and pomegranate; Angus striploin with brown butter harissa, leeks and pepper jus; and steamed Blue Eye with chimichurri and celery.

Lunch is available à la carte, while dinner is offered as a three-course menu with sides for $115 per person (boo, why no à la carte at night?), with an optional $70 wine pairing. Guests can also enjoy a five-course tasting menu for $140 per person.

The beverage list features Hunter Valley classics from the likes of Tyrrell's and Silkman, alongside emerging varietals and wines from Greece, Spain, Italy and southern France.

Heinrich’s new menu is now available breakfast daily, lunch on Saturday and Sunday from 12pm and dinner Wednesday to Sunday from 5:30pm.

Restaurant Botanica is at 555 Hermitage Road, Pokolbin NSW 2320. restaurantbotanica.com.au.

Images: Sophie Tyler  

Enjoy an ANZAC Day beer or two for a good cause

Sydneysiders can enjoy a quiet - or not so quiet - beer or two on ANZAC Day and help raise money for a charity for the families of veterans at the same time.

A dozen Solotel pubs across the city will be offering 2UP and Karma Kegs will be pouring across all venues, with $1 from every pint or schooner donated to Legacy to support the families of Australian former military personnel.

ANZAC Day will see venues including The Clock, The Sackville and The Woodstock hosting 2UP from midday on April 25, with DJs and afterparties keeping the energy going into the evening.

Among the Solotel venues marking the day are The Clock in Surry Hills (top image), which will be taking over Collins Street to host the biggest 2UP ring in Surry Hills, as well as serving drinks from its street bar and firing up the barbecue.

Out west, the Albion Hotel in Parramatta promises the biggest outdoor 2UP arena in the area along with live entertainment and all-day barbecue and an after party.

In Rozelle, in the inner west, The Sackville's car park will see 2UP action kick off at midday, with an ANZAC Day menu, bars, live music and DJs.

Other Solotel spots to spend ANZAC Day around the city include: Bridgeview Hotel, Darlo Bar, Kings Cross Hotel, The Marly and The Regent.

See the full list of venues at https://solotel.com.au/  

A new take on a classic gin - with an artistic touch

Hendrick's Gin is one of the highest-profile spirits brands globally - and now it has a sibling.

Another Hendrick's' Gin, offering a new take on the ultra premium brand, is the first permanent addition to the range for a decade.

“Another Hendrick’s was created to explore contrasts - bright citrus and floral notes balanced with the depth of cacao," says Hendrick’s head of marketing Jonathan Sully.

Launched in 1999, with its distinctive dark apothecary bottle, Hendrick's Gin was a prime driver of the premium gin renaissance of the early 2000s.

Packaged in a striking white bottle, the new expression "is the complete opposite of what we’ve been doing for the past 25 years,’ said master distiller Lesley Gracie. 

"After experimenting with different elements from the Hendrick’s Gin Palace’s tropical greenhouse, I discovered this brilliant profile featuring a depth of flavour, hint of sweetness and lift of freshness that is completely distinctive.’

In Australia, the launch will be celebrated by a Hendrick's collab with artist Rone: Hendrick’s Gin Presents: Another TIME by Rone, billed as "an immersive exhibition where art and curious flavours collide, creating a layered, sensory experience like no other".

The free, two-day-only exhibition will be held on May 8-9 at Sydney gallery COMA.

“I’ve always been drawn to contrast - the push and pull between opposing elements and the emotion that sits in between - and Another Hendrick’s captures that same duality." says Rone in masterful marketing speak.

Guests who have tickets to the free, limited-run exhibition will also enjoy a complimentary Another Hendrick’s Spritz - a blend of Another Hendrick’s with peach liqueur, prosecco, and soda water, finished with signature cucumber slices and an orange twist.

Sign up to pre-registration for priority access to tickets before tickets go on sale to the public on April 23 here. Or visit www.hendricksgin.com.

Smoke on the water: Fire disaster for Evian

The delightful French town of Evian-les-Bains is known both for its mineral springs and its grand, historic casino.

Opened in 1912, the casino is Evian's most iconic building, located on the French side of Lake Geneva, just across from Lausanne in Switzerland.

Earlier this month, however, the spa town's casino was engulfed by a devastating fire, just two years after a major renovation had been completed on the complex, new hub Travel Mole reports.

The building, a Belle Époque masterpiece, has long served as a cultural and social hub for visitors drawn to Évian’s famous thermal waters.

For over a century, it has received aristocrats, high society and international gamblers.

The structure is crowned with a Byzantine-inspired dome, which firefighters managed to save in a dramatic effort involving 130 personnel.

The blaze began in a restaurant roof and quickly spread to the casino, threatening the emblematic dome.

The fire, fuelled by strong winds, prompted the evacuation of around 100 people, including staff, guests, and nearby residents.

Firefighters battled the flames for more than 10 hours, focusing on preserving the dome.

“Our priority was to vent the hot gases accumulating under the roof, which is heavily insulated and acts like a lid,” explained Commander Jean-Noël Chapuis of Sdis Haute-Savoie to French news station FranceInfo.

But the complex’s gaming halls, administrative areas, and dining sections were largely destroyed.

The casino fire happened the year Evian is welcoming the G7 Summit to be held from June 15-17.

The conference will go ahead at the nearby Hôtel Royal.

Image: Travel Mole  

Thailand ponders mandatory travel insurance

Thailand is considering making it mandatory for tourists to have travel insurance before they are allowed to enter the country.

The Asian nation has seen an epidemic of stupid tourists who have been unable to pay their hospital bills. We've all seen the pathetic GoFundMe appeals for the ill-prepared or tight-arsed.

Now there is a push for regulations requiring international tourists to obtain accident insurance before entering the country.

Unpaid medical bills and accident risks posed by the unwary place a mounting strain on public healthcare, the Bangkok Post reported this week.

"Each year, we absorb about 10 million baht (over $450,000) in treatment costs for foreign patients without insurance," Dr Weerasak Lorthongkham, the director of Vachira Phuket Hospital told the newspaper.

He pointed to inexperienced motorcycle use and consumption of alcohol and drugs. 

"Many visitors come to Phuket and try riding motorcycles for the first time, which increases accident risks," he said. 

The Thai Ministry of Public Health estimates unpaid medical bills from foreign patients amount to at least 100 million baht annually, with major tourism hubs such as Phuket and Chiang Mai most affected.

Emergency care cannot ethically be delayed, meaning hospitals often treat patients regardless of their ability to pay, leaving health facilities to absorb the financial costs.

Sri Lanka plans to up its tourism game

Sri Lanka is speeding up plans to introduce free visas for visitors from up to 40 countries as the island nation looks to correct a slowdown in tourist arrivals linked to ongoing Middle East tensions and disrupted air travel.

Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister Vijitha Herath confirmed the free electronic travel authorization (ETA) scheme is set to be finalized and submitted to Cabinet, with parliamentary approval targeted this month, travel news hub Travel Mole reported.

The move comes as Sri Lanka grapples with a dip in inbound travel.

Authorities report a 15% decline in arrivals, which they link with regional instability, which has impacted flight routes, increased airfares, and triggered cancellations - particularly on Europe-Asia corridors.

Between March 1 and 25, Sri Lanka welcomed 151,693 visitors, down 22% year-on-year.

Average daily arrivals fell to 6,068, compared to 7,407 during the same period in 2025.

Seven countries - including China, India, Japan, and Russia - already benefit from free ETA access.

The new proposal would extend the waiver to an additional 33 countries, including major European markets, the United States, Australia, and Gulf states.

Image: Aleksei Popov, Scop.io