New Melbourne hotel promises "best of both worlds"

If you want to stay close to Melbourne CBD - but not in the centre - then a new hotel opening might be of interest. 

Radisson Hotel Group has just debuted the Park Inn by Radisson Melbourne Carlton.

The city-fringe hotel sits adjacent to next Princes Park, opposite the Carlton AFL Club’s grounds, and is only 4 kilometers from Melbourne’s CBD.

The hotel features 89 rooms with views of Princes Park and the hotel’s outdoor pool. 

The interiors reflect Park Inn by Radisson's upbeat design ethos, creating a space where guests can relax and recharge. Families and small groups can enjoy the convenience of connecting rooms to stay together.

The new hotel is minutes from Lygon Street, Melbourne’s original Little Italy, with its many cafes, trattorias, pizza joints and gelato bars. 

Melbourne Zoo is a short 10-minute walk, with leading medical institutions, including the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, are within one kilometre.

The location is connected to tram routes, the University of Melbourne and city attractions. 

“We’re proud to introduce Park Inn by Radisson to Australia from a spot that feels authentically Melbourne," says GM Kathy Zha. 

"Our guests get the best of both worlds, the city’s energy within minutes and the calm of Princes Park right outside. 

"Whether here for meetings, medical visits, game day, or a weekend on Lygon Street, we’ll keep things easy, comfortable, and uplifting for guests.”

The outdoor swimming pool is now available and a new wellness hub is in development featuring an infrared and steam sauna, as well as a cold plunge experience.

The hotel runs up to 80% solar-powered energy, uses high-efficiency showerheads and taps. It features drought-tolerant native landscaping that needs minimal irrigation.

A multilingual team, speaking more than 10 languages, caters for international visitors. 

Kane and Able: Making an impact in the cocktail space

Danny Kane has a long history in the wine business, having held senior roles at Yarra Valley producers Oakridge, Mandala and Levantine Hill. 

But he and his wife Rebecca Grey, who are co-owners of Luton Wine Bar in Hawthorn, are today making waves in the cocktail space. 

Two year ago the couple wondered if there could there be a natural, plant-based way to give cocktails a silky foam finish with no egg whites required.

They decided to find out and created Aquafab. 

It has been 12 months since Aquafab hit the market and it gone national, being used over in 700 venues across Australia. Over 400,000 cocktails have been mixed, shaken, and sipped using Aquafab, which has just gained global reach through the cruise ship industry. 

A container will soon land in Miami as Aquafab joins the drinks lists aboard cruise lines Seabourn, Princess, Disney, Holland America, Celebrity Cruises, and Royal Caribbean.

Aquafab is made from 100% Victorian fava beans (also known as faba beans) -  grown in the Wimmera region in western Victoria. 

“We just wanted to make life easier behind the bar,” says Kane. 

Darren Burton, the bar manager of Adelaide restaurant Kiin, says: “When I sat down with a representative carrying Aquafab I was delighted to see an expression of egg white alternative which has a long shelf life and imparts minimal flavour while creating a wonderful texture. 

"Ever since, I have endeavoured to utilise Aquafab as a component of many of my cocktails, especially for dessert and non-alc uses. 

"It's always great to be able to reassure anybody with allergies or dietary preferences that all of our foamy cocktails are safe for them!”

See https://aquafab.au/

A 500ml Aquafab has an RRP of $19.99. 

Images: Andersen Studios and Bonnie Savage

It’s a wonderful story and I’ve attached the press kit - with pics, a cocktail recipe and the press release here. 

Popular Hunter wine festival off the menu for 2026

 

Lovedale Long Lunch, one of the most popular food and wine festivals on the Hunter Valley calendar, will go into a hiatus next year. 

 

After 31 years, the event is being reimagined and will return with a new format in 2027. 

The Lovedale Long Lunch is the Hunter’s longest running food and wine event. 

It is a progressive lunch that sees some of the Hunter’s leading chefs team up with six of Lovedale’s best wineries to offer guests wine, food, and live entertainment. The 2025 in May event attracted more than 10,000 people.

Wineries including Allandale, Emma’s Cottage, Gartelmann, Tatler, Sandalyn Estate, Saltire Estate, and Wandin have hosted thirsty and hungry festivalgoers over the years. 

This decision comes as part of a strategic re-engineering process to align the event with evolving consumer trends. The organisers are taking an opportunity to re-think and refresh the experience. 

“We are incredibly proud of the legacy of the Lovedale Long Lunch and grateful for the amazing support from our community, sponsors, and visitors over the past three decades,” said Matt Dillow from Gartelmann Wines. 

“While the event will not take place in 2026, we are excited about the opportunity to develop a new format that better meets the changing tastes and expectations of our audience.”

Organisers acknowledge this news may disappoint many loyal guests who have made the Lovedale Long Lunch part of their annual calendar. 

Attendees are encouraged to stay connected via the event’s website and social media channels for the latest updates as plans for the re-imagined experience unfold.

See https://www.lovedalelonglunch.com.au

A 10-day pilgrimage enjoying some of France's best food and drink

Every region of France has its own food and drink specialities, and they can be enjoyed guilt free when you walk off each day's excesses. 

 

Just launched is a new pilgrimage through some of France's greatest gourmet regions: from the great red wines of Cahors, to the Armagnac estates of Gascony, each valley, village and vineyard has its own gourmet story. 

UTracks’ French Food Lover’s Le Puy Camino offers walkers the opportunity to experience the full Le Puy route from Le Puy-en-Velay to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, savouring local flavours and traditions that make each region unique.

Over 10 days, travellers walk some of the most beautiful sections of the French Way of St James (Camino de Santiago), aided by a dedicated group vehicle that makes it possible to traverse this Camino route in one scrumptious journey.

Beginning in Le Puy-en-Velay, the pilgrimage route winds south-west through French countyside, finishing in the Basque foothills near the Spanish border. 

Along the way, walkers can enjoy the scent of wild thyme in the hills above Saugues and a creamy aligot (watch the kilos pile on) served in a stone buron on the Aubrac Plateau.

In Cahors, travellers enjoy a château tasting of the local malbec, and a Michelin-starred dinner, while in Gascony, it is all about Armagnac, hosted by a family who have tended their vineyards and stills for generations.



The tour is supported by both a walking guide and a vehicle, meaning travellers spend each evening in a comfortable hotel. Walks average 10–15 kilometres per day, balancing active exploration with time to meet winemakers, visit local markets and enjoy the slow pace of village life.

“There is so much magic in this trip,” says UTracks guide Jaclyn Beagley, who leads the French Food Lover’s departures each May and September. 

“You really get a feel for how the landscape changes day by day, for the countryside, the architecture, and what’s on the local regional menus. It is such a beautiful way to travel.”

French Food Lover’s Le Puy Camino is a guided walk with culinary experiences and comfortable accommodation. 

For more info see https://www.utracks.com/France/Guided-Walking/French-Food-Lovers-Le-Puy-Camino

Budget airline rakes in the cash

 

Ryanair is the European budget airline that a lot of people love to hate.

They dislike the fact that you pay extra for almost everything other than your seat. They hate the fact that Ryanair enforces luggage limits, and will gouge you at every opportunity.

That said, Ryanair is laughing all the way to the bank.

The airline this week reported a big jump in first-half year profits by more than 40% to €2.54 billion, travel news hub Travel Mole reported.

It cited a strong Easter period and saw passenger traffic grew 3% to a record 119 million people.

Revenues over the first six months of the year were up 13% to €9.82 billion

Ryanair Group CEO Michael O’Leary, said: “Fares benefitted from having the full Easter holiday in Q1 and we achieved a full recovery of the 7% fare decline we suffered in last year's Q2.

"Ancillary revenue was solid, rising 6% to €2.91 billion.”

The airline said operating costs rose 4% to €6.96 billion.

Ryanair now has 204 Boeing 737 Max aircraft in its 641-strong fleet.

From a backyard venture to global success: Calabria Wines marks 80 years

What began 80 years ago as a migrant family's backyard hobby is now a global wine success story.

Calabria Family Wines, formerly known as Westend, is celebrating 80 years of winemaking, honouring four generations of family legacy and innovation dating back to 1945.

With vineyards from the Riverina to the Barossa, the Calabria family has launched a commemorative digital story, featuring family patriarch Bill Calabria and his granddaughter Sophie, sharing their journey. Watch the video.

The story begins in Griffith, home to many Italian migrant families, but Francesco and Elisabetta Calabria’s hobby has grown into one of Australia’s leading family-owned wine businesses.

Bill Calabria AM (below), second-generation winemaker, director, and one-time professional boxer. reflects on the journey.

“We’ve come a long way from my parents’ backyard winery," he says. "What hasn’t changed is our commitment to quality, our love for the land, curiosity, and the belief that wine brings people together. That’s what drives us forward.”

The Calabrias now have state-of-the-art winemaking facilities with third and fourth generations now actively involved.

Calabria, Richland and Three Bridges are among the family's high-profile label, with the addition of new brands like Calabria BELENA, and premium wines including Iconic and Saint Petri.

The 80th birthday sees the family focusing on the future, as well as supporting national charities through the Bill Calabria Foundation.

“We’re not just making wine, we’re building something that lasts," says Andrew Calabria, third-generation sales and marketing director.

"That means listening to our customers, investing in our people, and protecting the land that gives us so much.”

To mark this milestone, the Calabria family has unveiled the Calabria 80th Anniversary Limited Edition Durif VP.

“We’re proud of our history, and reaching 80 years is a significant milestone; it definitely is a time to reflect,” says Bill Calabria. 

“Having Sophie retell our story makes it even more special. But we’re not just looking back; we’re firmly focused on the road ahead. Calabria Family Wines is here for the long haul.”

Calabria wines are today exported to over 40 countries and are known for offering excellent value.

For more information about Calabria Family Wines see www.calabriawines.com.au.