Jolly good news for lovers of Christmas markets

Christmas markets are hugely popular all over Europe.

In Australia they remain something of a rarity.

You have to be prepared to swap a warming cup of mulled wine for a glass of ice-cold rosé and change the vibe a little.

One Christmas night market that has created a niche for itself is the Le Jolly Market, which will return to Sydney from December 13-22.

It will be taking over Belmore Park next to Central Station and Haymarket to offer visitors a holiday experience complete with wooden huts, artisanal products, gourmet food, fine wines, and live music under the trees and fairy lights.

And the good news is that entry is free.

Over 35 stalls will showcase a selection of hand-made, locally-sourced products with a focus on items priced under $20.

"This year, we’re focused on showcasing the craftsmanship and affordability of local businesses," says event director Vincent Hernandez.

"As event organisers, we see it as our mission to support small artisans and makers who stand out for their quality and creativity, while ensuring a range of price points so that everyone can take home something memorable.”

Food offerings will include lobster rolls, fresh Sydney rock oysters, gingerbread baked on-site, grilled scallops, melty cheese dishes and pasta served in a cheese wheel.

There will be five wine bars and over 40 specialty food vendors.

Le Jolly Market will be open from 5pm to 10:30pm each evening.

Christmas just got even more materialistic

Christmas is supposed to be a time for caring and sharing but for a whole lot of people - particularly in the UK and US -it is all about the cash.

With the cost of living crisis affecting many, the people at MoneyTransfers.com ​did a survey of the most-wanted gifts this Christmas in several different countries.

The key message: Forget your thoughtful presents. Give me money. 

Major findings included:

# 44% of UK and 40% of US respondents reported wanting money as a gift this Christmas.

# Over a third of Polish respondents wanted money or gift vouchers and over two-fifths of Germans said the same.

# The most desired gifts in Italy at 44% are clothing, shoes and accessories.

#Cosmetics, perfume and body care items were the most desired among UK women at 55%.

#33% of US respondents reported gaming consoles to be the hardest gift to find this year.

# Plants (42.4%), beauty items (40%) and liquor (34%) were found to be the least-desired gifts for Christmas this year.

"Clearly, there has been a shift this year from material possessions, with more people placing value on either the independence to buy what they want – or, a need for cash to hand in a world of rising costs across the board,” says Jonathan Merry, CEO of MoneyTransfers.com.

Australia was not among the nations surveyed. 

Here is the link to the full report should you wish to depress yourself: 

https://moneytransfers.com/news/content/cash-takes-the-top-spot-as-most-wanted-christmas-gift-worldwide

Martin Place to be transformed by new Christmas markets

Sydney is to have its own Christmas markets in the centre of the CBD.

The Martin Place Christmas Markets will launch on November 26.

The markets, supported by City of Sydney and operated by Cambridge Markets, will run until Christmas Eve in the pedestrian boulevard with stalls selling fashion items, food, gifts, homewares, candles and festive products.

The markets will run on the Saturday and Sunday of November 26-27, then every Thursday, Friday and Saturday in December until Christmas Eve, from 11am-8pm.



“This market will bring a lot of Christmas joy to the heart of Sydney,” said Cambridge Markets spokesman Madelienne Anderson.

“People will be able to drop in during work hours or after work to do a bit of shopping, get something delicious to eat, or just to socialise and check out what our stallholders have to offer.”

Stallholders attending the market will change daily, but food on offer will include Mexican, Japanese, Israeli, gourmet tacos and more.

There will also be tea, honey, Christmas puddings, gingerbread, and gifts that range from jewellery to candles to Christmas wreaths.

“We have worked very hard to curate a really interesting mix of stalls to bring some truly unique vendors to the city,” Anderson said.

“We are delighted to have the opportunity to showcase our micro retailers to people who work and live in the city. Our vendors are thrilled to have the opportunity to reach a new audience right in the middle of Sydney. And we think the market will bring a very festive feel to the city centre after a few difficult years for the CBD.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the event would demonstrate that Sydney is ready to celebrate the festive season in style once more.

“For the last couple of years, we haven’t been able to celebrate Christmas the way we’d like to - but this year Christmas will return to the city with a bang,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The pandemic had a significant impact on the city, with many working from home, venues closed and travel grinding to a halt. This Christmas we’re excited to welcome everyone back to soak up the festive spirit, with a month-long program of free events to festivities celebrating the unique joy of Christmas in the southern hemisphere.”

The Martin Place Markets will be the second CBD event being run this year by Cambridge Markets, which is also operating the Quay Quarter Lanes Markets monthly in front of Customs House. See https://cambridgemarkets.com.au/

Artisan gins offer a point of difference

Australia has an ever-increasing number of artisan distillers producing a dazzling array of styles but the public also has a wide range of imports from which to choose - many of them with interesting points of difference. 

    
If Mum is a gin lover and keen on the sustainability vibe, then she might enjoy a Silent Pool Gin, the UK’s No.1 super-premium gin, on Mother's Day. 

A recent arrival in the Australian market, Silent Pool is notable for a mix of 24-botanicals and an eye-catching glass bottle design. 

I thought it was a delightful floral and juniper- driven drop; as delicious on its own as in a G+T.

Emanating from Surrey, Silent Pool Gin has a sustainable distillery, committed to using local ingredients, recycled machinery, and renewable power sources. All waste is used to create electricity or as fertiliser.

Silent Pool is available at Dan Murphy’s or BWS for $79.99.

Another Mother's Day option is Mirabeau Dry Rosé Gin (above), inspired by the botanicals of the French Riviera. So Frenchy. So chic.

This one also has a distinctive bottle that Mum might like - and is distilled with a touch of rosé wine. 

Mirabeau has used grape spirit, made from upcycled grape skins after they have been pressed during the winemaking process, as its base. It is dry, gluten free and vegan friendly. 

I haven't tried this one yet, but will let you know when I do. Also at Dan Murphy’s and BWS for $79.99. 

Late but great Father's Day gift ideas

Whether Dad enjoys sitting back with a glass of wine, a weekend away or clever gadgets, here are some great Father’s Day gift choices that are far better than a dodgy bottle of port, or a pair of socks he'll never wear. 

Nifty Knife

Tiny, trendy, fun and diverse:  I’ve already found several occasions to use my new Classic Colours Collection knife by Victorinox.

With names like Smashed Avocado, Tropical Surf and Cotton Candy, these 30 small pocket knives are both colourful and an easy addition to Dad’s key ring. Just 58mm long, the small pocket knives feature a blade, a nail file, a screwdriver, scissors and a key ring. All Cellidor models also include tweezers and a toothpick.

Both functional and stylish, there are also matching accessories in the form of five different leather pouches or, as a special highlight, five fun silicone cases.

The Classic Colours Collection Cellidor Swiss Army Knife costs $47.95. Available now at www.victorinox.com.au

                                                                  The real thing

If Dad likes a good whisky but is also keen on the environment, Glengoyne - with a history dating back to 1833 - are the first whisky producers to announce a 100% recyclable and smart re-usable packaging solution.

With Loch Lomond in the distance, the Glengoyne Distillery is just 25km north of Glasgow and all the new packaging materials have been sourced close to their home base and are sustainability approved.

Glengoyne, available at Dan Murphy's and BSW stores in Australia, boasts it is Scotland's slowest distilled malt whisky. Each whisky is matured for a minimum off six years in custom-made oak casks.

Glengoyne's range includes 10, 12-, 21-, 25- and 30-Year-Olds, plus the highly awarded special releases including Cask Strength and Legacy Series. See www.glengoyne.com

                                                     Oaks Hotels weekends away

How about treating Dad to a weekend away as a special Father’s Day gift?

Oaks Hotels has 55 destinations across Australia and New Zealand and offers e-gift cards for a future getaway or a meal to remember at one of Oaks’ restaurants, cafes or bars.

Destinations close to Sydney range from Oaks Cypress Lakes in the Hunter Valley to Oaks The Entrance Waterfront Suites on the Central Coast or The Oaks Port Stephens Pacific Blue Resort.

Options further afield for post lockdown include Cable Beach in West Australia and Glenelg Beach in South Australia.

Guests can also rest assured that bookings can be cancelled free of charge thanks to a flexible booking policy. www.oakshotels.com/en/fathers-day

                                                             Coravin Pivot

Coravin is the company that pioneered wine preservation tools and its new slim-line Pivot model promises to keep still wine fresh for up to four weeks.

Unlike other Coravin devices, this innovative tool uses a stopper to seal the bottle and is compatible with all still wine closure types and bottle shapes.

Coravin’s award-winning patented technology replaces poured wine with the same food-grade argon gas used in the bottling process, preventing oxidation and preserving wine quality from the first pour to the last sip.

The Coravin Pivot is easy to use and is priced from $184.95. See www.coravin.com.au

                                                             A special cocktail

If Dad enjoys a gin and tonic after work, then he’ll probably enjoy trying some cocktails inspired by Warner’s Distillery in England.

Perhaps a Breakfast Martini, a twisted negroni, or maybe a rhubarb strudel with a toffee apple kick.

Ingredients: 50ml Warner’s Rhubarb Gin, 50ml cloudy apple juice. 25ml lemon juice, 20ml toffee sauce. Method: Shake all ingredients vigorously in a cocktail shaker with ice to create a foam and then strain into a coupe glass; garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg and a slice of apple.

Warner’s Rhubarb Gin is $79.99 and Warner’s London Dry Gin is $69.99. Both are available exclusively from Dan Murphy’s stores or at www.danmurphys.com.au  

                                                             Something different

Spoil dad with a roast from The Duke of Clarence, throw in a British grocery treat, bottled cocktails or some unique grooming gifts from The Barber Shop. 

The Duke’s award-winning Sunday roasts include beef, pork, lamb, chicken and even a vegetarian-friendly pumpkin dish, all served in the traditional English style. You can add pigs-in-a-blanket as an extra treat; plus, there’s puddings, wines and beers.

Check out the brand-new British Grocery Store - purveying hard-to-find fresh produce, including gammon steaks, pork pies, pork sausages and even haggis, black pudding and white pudding for more gastronomic fathers.

Bottled cocktails include the Jasmine Tea Punch, a Chocolate Old Fashioned, a classic Negroni, and Irish Coffees, to cater to even the most discerning of drinkers.

 Or how about some home pampering from the venue co-owner’s bespoke range of Enright’s Original Gin-Scented Grooming Products. Check out https://thedukeofclarence.com/fathers-day-gifting-ideas

                                                 A wine trip

If Dad loves his wines, then how about buying him a special treat with a behind-the-scenes winery experience, masterclass, or gastronomic adventure in one of Australia’s world-class wine regions.

Or treat Dad to an unforgettable weekend away with food foraging to blending experiences at one of the premium wineries within the Ultimate Wineries Australia collection.

New South Wales options for after lockdown include three of the Hunter Valley’s most iconic vineyards, Audrey Wilkinson, Brokenwood and Tyrrell’s as they team up to provide a memorable Hunter wine experience called Icons of the Hunter.

Or in Orange, treat Dad to a discovery of the secrets behind méthode traditionnelle Swift Sparkling at Printhie Wines.

The Sparkling Masterclass includes a private tasting of the Swift Sparkling range where you’ll taste 10-year-old sparkling wines and enjoy a three-course al fresco lunch.

For details see www.ultimatewineryexperiences.com.au

# This is an edited version of a story originally filed for Ciao Magazine in Sydney  

A taste of Tasmania for Father's Day

Tasmania’s Lark Distilling Co. has unveiled a collection of bespoke gift sets, just in time for Father’s Day.

Whether Dad is a seasoned whisky-drinker, looking to experience something new or just a lover of Tasmanian tastes, there is a wide range of choices for Sunday, September 5. The collections start from $59.99.

Founded in 1992 by pioneer Bill Lark, next year Lark Distilling Co. will be celebrating its 30th anniversary. 

Lark Distilling houses a range of spirits headlined by its single malt whiskies, including the Classic Cask 43% and Cask Strength 58% and its unique blended-malt whisky, SYMPHONY No.1 (they are shouting, not me).

The distillery also produces a range of Fort Spotted gins and hand-crafted Tasmanian spirits and liqueurs. 

Earlier this year, Lark Distillery was named Australia’s first carbon-neutral distillery under the Australian Government’s Climate Active Program, meaning the activities associated with running Tasmania’s first distillery have no net negative impact on the climate.

Gift boxes will include a number of flagship and special-edition releases presented alongside a Glencairn whisky glass with a laser-etched Lark insignia.

 

Lark Distilling Co. gift sets are now available from larkdistillery.com/collections/gifts.