Slip Inn to Summer Hawaiian Luau, CBD Sydney (12 Nov 2010)

111 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.merivale.com

Slip Inn to Free!

Time: From 5.30 pm

Dates: Wednesday 17 Nov 2010

What: Free drinks and BBQ Hawaiian style

I'm hoping some Hawaiian cocktails will be on offer with plenty of pineapple. Having recently come back from hawaii I'm looking forward to soaking up more sun, sea and surf in summer and what better way to get in the mood than another free event at Slip Inn — these guys sure know how to put on a great party.

Other free events at Slip Inn:

• 18 Nov 2010 -

Slip Inn to Summer

• 12 Nov 2010 - Slip Inn to Summer (promotion)

• 23 June 2010 - End of Financial Year Drinks (promotion)

• 10 June 2010 - Winter Wonderland

• 3 June 2010 - Winter Wonderland (promotion)

• 27 May 2010 - Singha Beer Full Moon Party
• 11 Feb 2010 - Anti Valentine's Day Party

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free drinks and food, music and party atmosphere, No RSVP required

CONS: It’s a Wednesday, Usually gets very crowded

MUST TRY: Free drinks and food on offer, Wearing a lei

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Malaysia Festival 2010: Sunday 26 Sept, Darling Harbour (24 Sept 2010)

Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.malaysiafest.com.au

All things Malaysian

Date: Sunday, 26 September 2010
Time: 10 am – 5 pm
Venue: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

Being the 20th year running this event is organised solely by Malaysian university students from University of New South Wales, University of Sydney, University of Technology Sydney and Macquarie University with guidance from the Malaysian Students Department Australia. Multicultural performances, raffle prizes, food and drink stalls will showcase the Malaysia and its traditions to the public. It could very well be the place to discover Sydney's best laksa, char kway teow or the hard to find popiah.

LIST OF FOOD STALLS:

Abang Sam Restaurant (Halal)

Satay, roti canai + chicken curry, beef murtabak, nasi lemak, curry puff, spring rolls, fried chicken wings

ASEANA Food Village

Rojak, Laksa noodles, nasi lemak, chicken curry, beef rendang, mua chee, milo dinosaur, saluda (drink)

Café Kasturi (Halal)

Fried noodles, satay, curry veggies, Malay sweets and cakes, teh tarik

Chinta Ria

Nasi lemak, mee hoon sambal, roti + chicken curry, sugar cane juice

Hometown Recipe

Apam balik, cincau, waffles, popiah

Jackie M Malaysian Cuisine

Char koay teow, chai tow kway, nasi lemak, curry puff, otak-otak

Jimmy’s Recipe

Seafood laksa, chicken laksa, nasi lemak, roti + kaya, roti + curry, satay chicken, otak-otak, curry puff, bubur cha cha

Kaki Lima

Nasi lemak, fried noodles (Siam/Pasembor), satay, curry puff

Mamak

Roti canai, roti telur, satay chicken, nasi lemak, teh tarik, teh ais

Penang Hawker

Stir fried radish cake, curry chicken rice, Penang char koay teow

Sydney Kopitiam Restaurant

Satay, rojak, roti canai, curry chicken, Malacca cendol, lime juice

Wan’s Ayam Percik

Nasi kerabu + ayam percik, roti jala, chicken curry, Malay sweets and cakes, sirap bandung (drink)

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free entertainment, Malaysian food and drink stalls

CONS: Weather pending, Crowds

MUST TRY: All things Malaysian

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Blog reviews:

• Street Food

• Food, booze and shoes

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Carr's Naked Butlers: Best Cracker of a Joke, Martin Place (14 Sept 2010)

http://www.australiasbestcracker.com

Serving up a cracker

Advertised in Nine-To-Five magazine as:
“Naked Butlers! 14 September, 8:15 am – 10:15 am, Martin Place & Elizabeth Streets, Sydney. Sydney commuters are sure to have an early morning wake up call when butlers in nothing but a black apron covering their crown jewels and a bow tie, will be distributing free Carr’s crackers on silver platters.”

As I arrive at Martin Place at 9:55 am the muscle toned half-naked butlers are still in fine form serving up Carr's crackers to pedestrians walking past outside the Channel 7 News. The Nine-To-Five promotional photo had the guys with no undies behind those black aprons but apparently the police had firm words earlier in the morning to tell them it was illegal. So I guess they needed to cover their cracks up for one of a better word. Promotional flyers were given out advertising the chance to win $5000 by submitting your best joke online and of course to promote Carr's crackers. I tried the Carr's Melts Cheese which were really nice — I'd happily eat them again, very buttery and melt-in-your-mouth.

Q. What's the best way to enjoy a Carr's cracker?

A. One that's served by a Buttler!

You can vote for my joke at this link:

http://www.australiasbestcracker.com/comp/201

Be sure to tell your friends to vote for me too if you love reading my blog :-)

Half-naked butlers serving up Carr's cracker samples

Carr's Melts Cheese — actually very yummy :-)

Promotional flyer

Promotional website http://www.australiasbestcracker.com

Ben & Jerry's Free Scoop Fridays in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane (10 Sept 2010)

http://www.benandjerry.com.au

Plenty of free ice cream

While walking past Customs House at Circular Quay on Friday I accidently came across the Ben & Jerry's Free Scoop Fridays promotion marked with their brightly coloured kombi vans. Apparently it's running for eight weeks through September and October in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane and it's absolutely FREE! To find out where they'll be just follow them on twitter or facebook. I tried the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough although I wasn't a fan of the cookie dough in it but I enjoyed the ice cream and chocolate part of it. I could have lined up for me and there were different flavours to try and you could also win small tubs.

Do you have a favourite Ben & Jerry's flavour?

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free ice cream samples

CONS: Gotta walk it off

MUST TRY: As much as possible during Sept-Oct

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Free Event: Establishment's 10th Birthday Party (6 Sept 2010)

252 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.xmarksthe.com.au

Free drinks and canapés

For anyone that's been to a free event at Establishment you'll know it will be hugely popular but for those who make their way in will be rewarded with plenty of free drinks and food. Bring your friends, grab a possy and enjoy a free night out on Merivale.

Date: Wednesday, 8 September 2010

Time: 6 – 9 pm

Place: Establishment Main Bar

Cost: Free

Dress: Red

Other Merivale events:
• 8 Sept 2010 - Establishment's 10th Birthday 2010

• 6 Sept 2010 - Establishment's 10th Birthday Promotion

• 9 June 2010 - A Feast for the Senses Launch Party 2010

• 4 June 2010 - A Feast for the Senses Launch Party Promotion

• 16 March 2010 - March into Merivale Launch Party 2010

• 16 June 2009 - Winter Feasts Launch Party 2009

• 3 March 2009 - March into Merivale Launch Party 2009

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: FREE drinks and canapés, Party atmosphere, No RSVP required

CONS: VERY popular & crowded — TAKE NO PRISONERS!

MUST TRY: Getting there early and grabbing a table

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Establishment's 10th Birthday: I found Marilyn Monroe, Sydney (24 Aug 2010)

252 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.xmarksthe.com.au

http://twitter.com/FindMarilyn

Establishment turning 10

When a blonde comes up to you in a white dress it's wise not to refuse her advances — especially when she's offering a $10,000 Establishment Experience. It seems Establishment is turning 10 or X if you love your roman numerals and if you're lucky enough to grab a unique code from one of the Marilyn Monroe look-a-likes you'll have the chance to win an amazing prize including 3 nights in the Establishment's Penthouse Suite, Breakfast daily and Dinner at est. and tickets to the invite-only Hemmesphere 10th Birthday party.

If you're not lucky enough to find a Marilyn Monroe between 16-27 August then visit the thexmarksthe website and sign up for Establishment updates and you can go into the draw to win one of 10 double invitations to the Exclusive Hemmesphere Party on 1 September 2010. Actually Marilyn found me while I was passing the corner of Hunter and Pitt Street after lunch.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Got to be in it to win in, Fabulous prize up for grabs

CONS: You won't be the only one in the draw :-(

MUST TRY: Winning a double pass *fingers crossed*

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Wellington NZ's pop up restaurant 'WLG' coming to Sydney (23 Aug 2010)

32 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross NSW 2011
http://www.wellingtonnz.com
14-26 September 2010

Wellington coming to Sydney

It looks like the next pop up restaurant to create a feeding frenzy in Sydney will be 'WLG' which TimeOutSydney reports. The restaurant is aims to promote some of the best chefs from Wellington including food, wines, baristas and waiters. Basically it will be $29 per person for entree share platter, main course, dessert and coffee — sounds like a bargain to me. I'm sure it will be very popular and if the New Zealand Stand at the Taste of Sydney 2010 is anything to go by I'm really looking forward to sampling the quality of what New Zealand has to offer. I'm glad this event isn't as secretive as the King's Vault Pop Up Bar and more honest about its intention than the Hidden Pizza in Melbourne.

Restaurant
Set price meal is $29 for 3 courses including coffee. Glasses of wine $7. Sittings from 6 pm each day. Walk-up customers are welcome although booking is advised.

Wine bar
From 5 pm weekdays, 3 pm on Saturday and Sunday. Wine bar price is $15 for the three most popular mini-burgers from the Burger Wellington competition, which is held annually in Wellington as part of the Wellington on a Plate festival, plus matching wine. Walk up customers are welcome.

Advance bookings
• WLG will be open from Tue 14 to Sun 26 Sep
• 8 seating times per day - 6 pm, 6.15, 6.30, 6.45 and 8 pm, 8.15, 8.30 and 8.45
• Maximum 6 persons per booking
• If you do not arrive within 15 minutes of your booking, your table will be released
• Walk up places, first come first served, have been kept for each day and for the wine bar from 3 pm on Saturdays and Sundays

More information

http://www.wellingtonnz.com/australian_visitors/what_is_wlg

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Lebanon and Beyond: Lebanese empire expanding, Randwick (9 July 2010)

187 Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031

http://lebanonandbeyond.com.au

More Lebanon and Beyond

It looks like the Lebanon and Beyond restaurant is expanding their empire and are in the process of renovating the two shops next to them on Alison Road in Randwick. It won't be long before they'll be opening and will be quite a large restaurant in total. I've tried their yummy cheap take-away rolls of quality shish kebab, garlic chicken and falafel but I've yet to try their main dishes. They're always popular so they must be doing something right. Hope to have a sit down meal there one day and see how their falafel compares to Jasmin's in Punchbowl which I consider one of Sydney's best places for falafel.

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One Six Nine Cafe: Sydney's Best Cafe Opening Soon, Randwick (18 June 2010)

169 Alison Road, Randwick NSW 2031

http://www.onesixninecafe.com.au - COMING SOON

New cafe on the way

It's a bold statement to claim "Sydney's Best Cafe" but time will tell for this new cafe in the making still to be opened, located right next door to Tum's Thai — perhaps in Randwick to start with. The owner is aspiring to have a quality cafe with great food and staff serving the local community with an emphasis on sustainability ie 'paddock to plate' promoting quality, traceability and freshness. There'll also be fair-trade organic coffee and free range eggs. The proposed opening is around late July to early August if all goes well. I look forward to seeing what prevails and I hope they make a good big breakfast with some decent hash browns like Baffi & Mo Espresso, coffee like Pigeon and hot chocolate like Caffé Due Mondi so I don't have to travel so far.

Other visits to One Six Nine Cafe:

• 30 April 2011 - Mixed berry smoothie, Hot chocolate, Omelette with

goats cheese and basil,

Royal Apple pancakes

• 25 Sept 2010 - Chicken Club Sandwich, Eggs & Toast with Bacon and Haloumi, Fresh juice

• 19 August 2010 - Cafe opens

• 18 June 2010 - Promotion

Hiring notice

Located next to Tum's Thai

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Slip Inn: End of Financial Year free drinks, CBD Sydney (23 June 2010)

111 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.merivale.com

Free Drinks

Time: 5.30 – 6.30 pm

Dates: Mon–Wed, 28–30 June

What: Free drinks!

It hasn't been that long since Slip Inn were providing free drinks and they're already got another event in the pipeline to celebrate the End of Financial Year. If you're finding work a bit too taxing at the moment and you're in need a tax-free break then head down to Slip Inn for a free drink on them.

Other free events at Slip Inn:

• 18 Nov 2010 -

Slip Inn to Summer

• 12 Nov 2010 - Slip Inn to Summer (promotion)

• 23 June 2010 - End of Financial Year Drinks (promotion)

• 10 June 2010 - Winter Wonderland

• 3 June 2010 - Winter Wonderland (promotion)

• 27 May 2010 - Singha Beer Full Moon Party
• 11 Feb 2010 - Anti Valentine's Day Party

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free drinks

CONS: Could get crowded, Only between 5.30 - 6.30 pm

MUST TRY: Remembering to do my tax

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Malaysian PappaRoti buns is opening in Kogarah, Australia (7 June 2010)

144 Railway Parade, Kogarah NSW 2217
http://www.papparoti.com.au

http://www.facebook.com/PappaRotiAus

Papparoti's first Aussie store

PappaRoti is a Malaysian franchise commonly found in Asia (Singapore, Shanghai, Seoul and more) and PappaRoti Kogarah will be the first branch of the franchise to be opened in Australia. To mark this occasion, they are giving away FREE buns to all customers on Grand Opening Day (limit one per customer, but they said you can line up again). Throughout the Grand Opening Week, there will be a BUY ONE FREE ONE promotion. The PappaRoti bun is described as a ‘Crispy, fluffy, fragrant coffee-cream coated bun with a buttery filling’. The first and only time I've tried one of these was back in Malaysia in April 2007. They remind me of Puffy Bubble Tea in Campsie.

Grand Opening Day:

15 June 2010

7 am - 7 pm
ALL BUNS FREE!

Grand Opening Week:

16 – 20 June 2010

Monday – Friday: 7 am - 7 pm

Sunday: 10 am - 4 pm
Buy ONE Get ONE FREE!

Check out their Facebook page for more photos of the store and buns http://www.facebook.com/PappaRotiAus

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free buns, they look tasty and different

CONS: All the way out at Kogarah :-(

MUST TRY: Getting off work early to get out there in time for free bun

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Merivale: A Feast for the Senses Launch Party 9 June, Sydney (4 June 2010)

Establishment Bar, 252 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.merivale.com/whatson

Date: Wed 9 June 2010

Time: 6 – 8 pm

Free Feasting Party

Here's a heads up for the next free launch party event at Merivale which I'm sure will keep you warm for winter. Merivale's Feast for the Senses is a whole season full of lunch and dinner offers for $39 comprising of 1, 2 or even 5 courses, with a glass of wine or beer. Starting on the Monday, 7 June and is available Monday to Friday 12 - 2 pm and 6 - 8 pm. Restaurants include:

MAD COW
2 courses, including a glass of wine or beer for $39

SUSHI CHOO
5 courses, including a glass of wine or beer for $39

UCCELLO
2 courses, including a glass of wine or beer for $39

ASH STREET CELLAR
2 courses, including a glass of wine or beer for $39

SUSHI E
2 courses, including a glass of wine or beer for $39

BISTRO CBD
2 courses, including a glass of wine or beer for $39

Other Merivale events:
• 8 Sept 2010 - Establishment's 10th Birthday 2010

• 6 Sept 2010 - Establishment's 10th Birthday Promotion

• 9 June 2010 - A Feast for the Senses Launch Party 2010

• 4 June 2010 - A Feast for the Senses Launch Party Promotion

• 16 March 2010 - March into Merivale Launch Party 2010

• 16 June 2009 - Winter Feasts Launch Party 2009

• 3 March 2009 - March into Merivale Launch Party 2009

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Complimentary drinks and winter delights, No RSVP required

CONS: Very popular, Very crowded, Long lineup, Arrive early, It's on a Wednesday :-(

MUST TRY: Everything as quickly possible

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Slip Inn: Winter Wonderland free event on 10 June, Sydney (3 June 2010)

111 Sussex Street, Sydney NSW 2000

http://www.merivale.com

Slip Inn to Winter

If you're a lover of free drinks and food with a party atmosphere then you'll probably love this event. Merivale always seem to know how to put on a party and with free flowing drinks it'll surely help the crowd relax and unwind. Apparently the garden will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland and there'll be a spit roast to fill the bellies with what I hope will include pork crackling.

When: From 5:30 pm
Complimentary drinks from 5:30 pm - 7 pm & Spit Roast.

Other free events at Slip Inn:

• 18 Nov 2010 -

Slip Inn to Summer

• 12 Nov 2010 - Slip Inn to Summer (promotion)

• 23 June 2010 - End of Financial Year Drinks (promotion)

• 10 June 2010 - Winter Wonderland

• 3 June 2010 - Winter Wonderland (promotion)

• 27 May 2010 - Singha Beer Full Moon Party
• 11 Feb 2010 - Anti Valentine's Day Party

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Free drinks, spit roast, music and party atmosphere

CONS: Wet weather permitting, It's a Thursday

MUST TRY: Checking it out as early as possible before it gets too crowded

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Free VIP Shopping Night 2 June 2010, Chifley Plaza, Sydney (24 May 2010)

2 Chifley Square, Sydney NSW 2000
http://www.chifleyplaza.com.au

Shopping with bubbles

Date: Wednesday 2 June 2010

Time: 5.30 pm – 8.30 pm

If you're a shopaholic and generally love bubbles, fashion and japanese canapés then this will be your type of event. I'm thinking it might be a little bit like a Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Night in terms of the atmosphere, bubbles and fashion. Sign up to the Chifley Plaza's VIP Club to be the first to find out future special events, offers and discounts.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: Complimentary (I assume) bubbles and canapes, No RSVP required, Special offers, Akira Isogawa fashion exhibition

CONS: Will be crowded and popular

MUST TRY: Canapés by Azuma

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Ben & Jerry's: Free Cone Day 20 April 1-8 pm, Manly (15 Apr 2010)

25-27 South Steyne, Manly NSW 2095

http://www.benandjerry.com.au

Free ice cream day!!!

Time: 1 - 8 pm

Date: Tuesday, 20 April 2010

Cost: Free

This will be one of those times when I wish I lived closer to Manly. Looks like Ben & Jerry's is having their annual Free Cone Day on Tuesday 20 April with 18 flavours to choose from. It sounds like you can have as many as you like but I'm assuming you'll have to line up each time. I've yet to try this brand of ice cream but have heard it's pretty yummy — I'd love to try all the flavours, especially if they're for free.

I'm putting a food challenge out there to see who can successfully try all 18 flavours on the day for free.

SNAPSHOT REVIEW:

PROS: It's FREE!

CONS: Only available on the day in Manly, Could add to your waistline

MUST TRY: All flavours

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