Superstar chef Crenn to launch in Melbourne

Dominique Crenn, one of the highest-profile chefs in the world, is to open a restaurant in Melbourne.

French-born Crenn will open Petit Crenn in partnership with Australian hospitality operators Salter Brothers next month in the Rialto building at 495 Collins St.

Petit Crenn will bring together French hospitality and Melbourne's vibrant dining culture, Salter Brothers said in a media release.

"Petit Crenn comes from my own life, from the cafes in France where you can sit for five minutes or five hours and always feel welcome," Crenn said. 

"I've wanted to bring that feeling to Australia for a long time." 

As the chef behind the three-Michelin-starred Atelier Crenn in San Francisco, Crenn was named one of Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2024. Her portfolio also includes Bar Crenn, Café Dior by Dominique Crenn in Dallas and Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn in Beverly Hills.

The new eatery will offer everything from morning coffees to late-night gatherings.

Crenn says the restaurant will reflect her approach to everyday French bistro cooking; drawn from her childhood memories, shaped by place and community, and guided by seasonality and simplicity.

The intimate 40-seat venue has been designed by Crenn herself in partnership with Salter Brothers’ design team. It draws on the landscapes and coastline of Brittany, her home region in France.

On the menu, guests can expect signatures including steak tartare with egg yolk jam and sauce au poivre, alongside a croque madame with jambon and gruyère. Seasonal tartines, composed salads, and daily French classics will complete an all-day menu.

Matthew Butcher, director of culinary at Salter Brothers, said “This is a landmark moment for Australian dining. Dominique Crenn is one of the world’s most celebrated culinary voices and to bring her vision to Australia for the first time is incredibly special.

"Petit Crenn reflects exactly the type of partnership we are focused on building; globally recognised talent, a distinctive hospitality concept, and a city with the energy and appetite to embrace it. Melbourne is the right place, and this is the right moment.”

See www.petitcrenn.com.au

Go West: Fiji Airways signs up for new airport

Tourism to and from Fiji is about to get a major boost.

Fiji Airways today announced a major expansion of its Australian network with the launch of new direct flights between Nadi, Fiji, and the new 24-hour Western Sydney International Airport (WSI).

Fares are now on sale now ahead of the inaugural service on Friday, March 19 next year.

The announcement comes as Fiji has never been more popular with Australian travellers, the airline said in a media release.

Fiji has just broken the one million visitor mark for a 12-month period for the first time in its history, with the destination also posting its highest-ever monthly arrivals in July.

Scheduled to operate three times per week on Mondays, Fridays and Sundays using modern Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the new service will give Fijians an additional direct connection between the two nations, driving more tourism to Fiji.

Fiji Airways is the first international carrier to announce services between Fiji and Western Sydney International, adding more than 53,000 seats annually between the two destinations.

The new Nadi-Western Sydney route is a natural next step for Fiji Airways, said Fiji Airways managing director and CEO Paul Scurrah,

“It is one of the fastest-growing regions in New South Wales, and a direct route there means easier, more affordable access for Australians looking to holiday in Fiji - which means more visitors, more jobs and more opportunities for our tourism industry," Scurrah said.

"It's also home to one of the largest Fijian communities outside Fiji, so this route is about more than just tourism - it's about making it easier for our people to stay connected to family and friends, and for Fiji to keep growing as a destination the world wants to visit.”

The new route will complement Fiji Airways existing double-daily services between Nadi and Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport.

Western Sydney Airport CEO Simon Hickey says: “We’re excited to have Fiji Airways join Western Sydney International as the countdown continues to welcome our inaugural passengers in less than 60 days’ time.

"Western Sydney is one of the most diverse and rapidly growing regions in the nation, which includes more than 70% of our global city’s Fijian population. We’re delighted to be delivering a new, seamless service for them to connect with family and friends, while also giving tourists more choice and flexibility to visit Fiji and explore everything the warm, welcoming leisure destination has to offer.”

The Crying Game: the world championship

The British are experts at quirky spectacles.

And they don't come much more quirky than The World Town Crier Tournament.

This gloriously British event will be held in Chester, Cheshire, from September 22-26 - and it is completely free to attend.

The event will bring together 25 town criers from across eight destinations: England, the Channel Islands, Australia, Canada, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and the US.

Entrants will compete for the title of the world's best, all against the backdrop of one of England's most historic and beautiful cities.

Competitors will be judged on their vocal power, clarity, showmanship and audience engagement.

Visitors can expect vivid costumes, impressive lung capacity, and plenty of chants of 'Oyez!'

Chester is a fitting location for the Tournament with the city's town crier tradition stretching back to at least 1554.

The same streets where Roman soldiers once marched host a daily town crier proclamation throughout the peak summer season.

Before newspapers and widespread literacy, town criers were an essential way of spreading news. The word 'Oyez' comes from Anglo-Norman French and means 'hear ye' or 'listen'.

Jamie Christon, chair of event hosts Marketing Cheshire, said: “Modern day town criers may seem quaint, but there is still a surprisingly varied and active international community, with Chester's tournament expected to bring together many of the best ceremonial criers currently practising worldwide, making it one of the biggest international town crier gatherings in years.”

For further info see visitcheshire.com

When Japanese and Peruvian cuisines blend in Sydney

Sydney is poised to get a new niche restaurant offering with ESCA Hospitality Group set to open Amé, a Nikkei restaurant bringing Japanese-Peruvian cuisine to Oxford Street, Darlinghurst. 

Situated on the ground floor of a heritage-listed 1927 building at 84 Oxford Street, Amé will be led by executive chef Erik Ortolani, who is currently executive chef of ESCA’s Itō and Jōji. 

At Amé, Ortolani draws will draw inspiration from the rich culinary tradition born from more than 130 years of Japanese immigration to Peru.

“I’ve always loved Nikkei cuisine - it’s incredibly vibrant, layered and exciting, yet it still feels underrepresented in Sydney,” says Ibrahim Moubadder, co-founder and creative director of ESCA Group. 

“Sydney is one of the greatest dining cities because we don’t just replicate cuisines, our chefs interpret them through the way this city eats, and I don’t think Nikkei has had that moment here yet. That’s what excites us about Amé.”

“Erik has such a strong foundation in Japanese cooking, and after travelling through Peru and immersing himself in its food and culture, he’s bringing those two worlds together through his own perspective. 

"We want Amé to be some of ESCA’s best work yet, a restaurant that makes people fall in love with Nikkei cuisine and shows what it can become in Sydney. I can’t wait to open the doors this October and share what we’ve created.”

Amé - which joins Callao Barangaroo as the second Nikkei offering in Sydney - will form part of Oxford & Foley, the Darlinghurst precinct also home to the recently opened Mecca Coffee and Aenza, with Soho House set to open next door in 2028. 

The opening of Amé follows the recent launches of ESCA venues AALIA Wine Room in Martin Place and Besa in Bondi. 

Amé will open seven days a week for dinner, and for lunch Wednesday-Sunday, from October 2026.

Image: Eric Ortolani and Ibby Moubadder. Provided.

Farewell Manly Pacific, hello Elysium Manly

Elysium Manly is now open, marking the arrival in Sydney of Australian luxury hotel brand Elysium Hotels.

Formerly known as Manly Pacific, the 213-room beachfront hotel has transitioned to Elysium Manly, joining Elysium Noosa as the brand's second Australian property. 

The re-branding to Elysium follows a $40 million investment in the property, including a $30 million

refurbishment of rooms and suites by Coco Republic. 

Elysium aims to bring its "distinct expression of contemporary luxury" to one of Sydney's most iconic beachside destinations.

The hotel's new persona brings together "contemporary design, destination dining, intuitive service and integrated wellbeing", with new experiences introduced as part of the Elysium offering. 

Elysium Manly general manager Dylan Cole said the official transition marked the

culmination of several years of investment in the property, while introducing a new level of

service and experience not previously available at the hotel:

"Elysium is about looking at every part of the guest experience and asking what more we can

give, from the way we welcome people and anticipate what they might need, to the quality of the

amenities in their room and the details they encounter throughout their stay," he said. 

"We have an extraordinary location in Manly and the ambition is to create a hotel experience that genuinely lives up to it.

“There is a generosity to Elysium that goes beyond the physical hotel. 

"It’s the freedom to have breakfast brought to your suite after a sauna, knowing your favourite bottle is waiting in the wine fridge, having your dining reservations taken care of, or simply being recognised and looked after by someone who understands how you want to spend your time with us.”

Six ocean-view Wellness Suites feature private infra-red barrel saunas alongside wellness amenities and rituals, while Coastal Two-Bedroom Suites offer "generous living spaces and residential-style comfort".

The pinnacle Elysium Suite offers an elevated stay with an expansive terrace and infra-read sauna overlooking Manly Beach.

Guests can enjoy the rooftop magnesium mineral pool with Pacific Ocean views and dining across hatted Italian restaurant Cibaria, 55 North and Bistro Manly - all just an exhilarating  ferry ride away from Sydney's CBD.

See elysiumhotels.com

Floriade to blossom for 39th year

Spring in Canberra is synonymous with the much-loved Floriade festival.

Australia's biggest celebration of the change of seasons returns to the Australian capital this month for its 39th year, with over one million blooms set to reach peak brilliance across Commonwealth Park.

This year's theme - "a Feast of Flowers" - introduces a focus on seasonal food, edible gardens, and shared experiences, complementing Floriade's iconic floral displays, which remain at the heart of the festival.

The programming reflects the connection between gardens, growing, and the table.

The event runs from September 12 to October 11 and entry is free.

See https://floriadeaustralia.com/

Held in conjunction with Floriade in the national capital is Nightfest, on October 1-4.

This is a ticketed event which costs $31.50 for children and $41.50 for adult.

Nightfest sees Commonwealth Park transformed into an after-dark "wonderland" filled with vibrant horticultural illuminations, food and drink stalls, and a packed program of live entertainment.

A standout live music line-up features a different headline act each night, including Tim Finn, Busby Marou, Christine Anu, Pacific Avenue and The Temper Trap.

See https://floriadeaustralia.com/nightfest/ 

Image: Events ACT