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Thursday 31 August 2017

Sophie Monk: INTERVIEW 'The Bachelorette' Trailer

Oh, Sophie Monk. How did you manage to make Josie's Juice shed a tear?

Sophie has appeared in her first full length TV ad for 'The Bachelorette', speaking about her dating past, why she's found it so difficult to find the right man, why she has attracted "the wrong guys", and what she wants: "a good man", and "a good father", and "just someone that loves me". She becomes emotional, and dammit, this now means we are even more hooked before the show has even begun. We thought it might be scripted madness, but nope. It's legit, you guys. We may just love Sophie even more now...

“Living in LA for 10 years, I’ve dated actors and rock stars. I think they’ve fallen in love with my image, not with me," says Sophie in the clip.
“Because I’ve played roles that are quite sexy and promiscuous, people think I’m like that. That’s probably why I ­attract the wrong guys too,” she added.
Sophie's ex-boyfriends ­have included an engagement to Good Charlotte’s Benji Madden (he went on to marry actress Cameron Diaz), as well as Jason Statham, Ryan Seacrest, Kevin Connolly and Sam Worthington. 
“I am so awkward, the worst flirt you’ve ever met, I get ­really nervous and it’s just ­embarrassing when I’m on a date,” she adds. “I’m so lucky to do what I do, but the one thing you do sacrifice is a really healthy, good relationship - that’s one thing I regret.
Watch the full clip here:






Louise Hay Dies, Age 90

Louise Hay, the inspirational author, has died age 90.



Louise's publisher Hay House wrote:

Our beloved friend and founder Louise Hay transitioned this morning, August 30, 2017 of natural causes at age 90. She passed peacefully in her sleep.

Louise was an incredible visionary and advocate. Everyone who had the privilege to meet her, either in person or through her words, felt her passion for serving others.

Considered a founder of the self-help movement, Louise was dubbed “the closest thing to a living saint.” She published her first book, Heal Your Body, in 1976 (at age 50) long before it was fashionable to discuss the connection between the mind and body.

Louise started what would become her life’s work in New York City in 1970. She began attending meetings at the Church of Religious Science and then entered a ministerial program. She became a popular speaker at the church, and soon found herself counseling clients. This work quickly blossomed into a full-time career. After several years, Louise compiled a reference guide detailing the mental causes of physical ailments and developed positive thought patterns for reversing illness and creating health. This compilation was the basis for Heal Your Body, also known affectionately as “the little blue book.”

Louise was able to put her philosophies into practice when she was diagnosed with cancer. She considered the alternatives to surgery and drugs, and instead developed an intensive program of affirmations, visualization, nutritional cleansing, and psychotherapy. Within six months, she was completely healed of cancer.

In 1980, Louise began putting her workshop methods on paper. In 1984, her second book, You Can Heal Your Life, was published. In it, Louise explained how our beliefs and ideas about ourselves are often the cause of our emotional problems and physical maladies and how, by using certain tools, we can change our thinking and our lives for the better.

You Can Heal Your Life became a New York Times bestseller and spent 16 weeks on the list. More than 50 million copies of You Can Heal Your Life have been sold throughout the world.

In 1985, Louise began her famous support group, “The Hayride,” with six men diagnosed with AIDS. By 1988, the group had grown to a weekly gathering of 800 people and had moved to an auditorium in West Hollywood. Once again, Louise had started a movement of love and support long before people began to wear red ribbons on their lapels.

In 1987, what began as a small venture in the living room of her home turned into Hay House, Inc.: a successful publishing company that has sold millions of books and products worldwide and now has offices in California, New York, London, Sydney, Johannesburg, and New Delhi. 

“Meeting Louise changed the direction of my life,” said Reid Tracy, President and CEO of Hay House, Inc.

“Her passion for serving others translated into everything she did. Simply by working alongside her, an analytical accountant like me transformed into someone who became aware of the power of affirmations and self-love. Being able to learn from her has been one of my life’s greatest blessings. The beauty of Louise was that you didn’t have to work alongside her to learn from her, you felt like you were there with her with every word you read or heard.”

Hay House has published works by many notable authors in the self-help movement, including Dr. Wayne Dyer, Doreen Virtue, Dr. Christiane Northrup, and Esther and Jerry Hicks, among others.

Louise was very vocal in her belief that age was irrelevant to achieving one’s dreams. To that point, at 81, Louise released her first-ever film on her life and work, You Can Heal Your Life: The Movie.

Hay House will carry on Louise’s legacy and continue to publish products and online learning courses that align with her message of self-improvement and self-love.

Louise Hay’s estate, as well as all future royalties, will be donated to The Hay Foundation, a nonprofit organization established by Louise that financially supports diverse organizations supplying food, shelter, counseling, hospice care, and funds to those in need.

The service in honor of Louise Hay will be a private and intimate event. In lieu of flowers, we welcome your donations to the Hay Foundation. www.hayfoundation.org

Here are some of the most beautiful quotes from Louise Hay. RIP.





















Monday 28 August 2017

MTV VMAs 2017 Red Carpet + Video Highlights

The MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) has just been held at The Forum in Inglewood, California (hosted by the 'California Girl' herself, Katy Perry) and it has the all the usual markers of an epic show: controversy (the world premiere of Taylor Swift's video... is that... a Kim Kardashian diss? Jewels and a gun reference?!), gasp worthy red carpet looks, and those performances, plus awards clean sweeps (Kendrick Lamar, anyone?), and inspirational speeches (P!nk and her acceptance speech of the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award), and the winners of the Moonperson award.

So, here are the most talked about red carpet looks (all photos from Getty, not to be reproduced), and some of the best show highlights.

Let's start with some fave looks for Josie's Juice:

























































Saturday 26 August 2017

Italian Wine + Food Festival: Lara Caraturo Q & A

The Italian Wine + Food Festival is a celebration of the very best elements of Italian culture: the best wines from the north to the south of Italy, and the most delicious food options, as well as activities for all ages: from wine masterclasses to the all new kids' precinct, ensuring Italophiles of all ages are catered for. And for the first time, it will be at Barangaroo.

Josie's Juice has been attending this celebration of all things Italian for several years, and as an Italo-Australian (born in Sydney to Sicilian-born parents who settled in 1966), it's such a pleasure to see so many elements from my heritage not only stay alive but positively flourish and prosper, with the very best aspects of such a respected culture introduced to a whole audience.

Created in 2013 by award-winning sommelier and passionate italophile Lara Caraturo, the Italian Wine + Food Festival celebrates and promotes Italian wine and food culture in Australia.

Produced by Lara and the team at Progetto Panevino, an events company obsessed with all things wine and food, and especially all things Italian, they create events that work with real artisans, quality wineries, renowned chefs and personalities, allowing guests to discover industry icons as well as rising stars, and deepen their love for authentic Italian wine and food. Come to an event and you'll see these are people who not only want to learn all about this world, they positively revel in it and love the social aspect of hanging out with their kinda people who love Italian culture. Look across the room at the festival and you'll see a sea of satisfied faces. It's not your standard wine and food trade show expo caper... it's people converging and wanting to see how things are made, what the latest trends are in Italian food and wine, and sampling and buying morsels of Italian heaven.

If you love Italian wine, you're a luck as it's wine, wine and more wine, and only the best and newest offerings around. All killer, no filler. Red, white, bubbles, spirits, and more. Explore Italian wines region by region, taste food, coffee and beer, plus feast on authentic Italian pizza, pasta and snacks. Just finishing its run for the first time in Melbourne, and coming back to Sydney on Sunday on August 27.

Lara answered some questions about the Italian Wine + Food Festival for Josie's Juice here:

Lara Caraturo: Founder and Director of the Italian Wine + Food Festival
Why is it so important to keep Italian heritage alive in Australia?

Because it is so fabulous and such a part of our own culture in Australia. We have a lot of Italian immigrants living here and everybody eats Italian food as it is easy to cook, inexpensive and always so delicious!

Tell me more about the new kids’ precinct?

We have always been family friendly - kids and family are such a big part of Italian culture. Kids always enter free, but this year we decided to add a kids play area to keep them busy while the parents enjoy themselves, there is giant Jenga, dominoes and Connect 4, plus building blocks and ride-on animals for the little ones. Plus there is pizza acrobatics, gelato and a Nutella Pop-up.

Why is wine education - via wine masterclasses and wine vendors - so important to the festival?

Because people to love to connect to what their drinking, they love the story behind the product. Education is key with Italian wines, as there are so many regions, so many grape varieties (over 2000) and this can be overwhelming for people, but younger Australians are really into trying new things and being more experimental, so Italy offers a lot of excitement for them.

The Franciacorta bar is a new addition. Is this an indicator that guests are savvy to fresh new varieties of bubbles?

Yes, everyone loves Prosecco, but nobody really knows about Franciacorta, and we want top change that. It's a very different product to Prosecco, being made in the same method with the same grapes as French Champagne. Franciacorta is a real special occasion sparkling that can also be consumed during the meal, not just before. Australians need to know more about and drink more Franciacorta!

What do you see as the strongest trend in drinks?

The new, different, weird and unusual - this is why Italian wines are growing in popularity, there is no country with a wine scene that is so diverse and fascinating.

The Italian Wine + Food Festival is a one day only event, held at Barangaroo (at the Cutaway, enter via Hickson Road), from 11am - 9pm.

For more information, click HERE.

For ticketing info, click HERE.

There are three sessions:

Session A (11am-4pm)  $75

Session B (4pm-9pm)  $75

Evening (6pm-9pm)  $45

All Day (11am-9pm)  $100

VIP (10.30am-9pm)  $140

Wednesday 23 August 2017

Italian Food + Wine Festival 2017: WIN TICKETS

Have you been to the Italian Wine + Food Festival?

It's in its FIFTH year this year, and promises to be bigger and better than ever.

For starters, it's at the all new Sydney precinct at Barangaroo.

After four successful years the festival has outgrown its space and now stationed at Barangaroo, at The Cutaway. It's on from 11am to 9pm on Sunday 27 August.



Here is a little clip to give you an idea of what it's all about, the vibe, the wine, the food, the people:


Josie's Juice is a big fan of the event, because (full disclosure!) we collab with The Wog With The Grog, and man the brand's PR, and have been for the past few years. This brand's big brother - Euro Concepts - will be showing off its new big Italian reds and delicious bubbles at this Sunday's event. Think: Pinot Grigio DOC, Friulano DOC, Sauvignon DOC, Pinot Nero DOC, Prosecco, Soave DOC, Valpolicella DOC, Amarone DOC, Franciacorta, and the stars of the Nardini brand including Acqua Di Cedro, Ginepro, and 5 year old Grappa Riserva.

Personally: thrilled there is now, for the first time, a Franciacorta bar. Having just visited the actual Franciacorta region in Northern Italy earlier this year, and seeing the way this unique and utterly delicious bubbles are made, the breathtaking neighbourhood where it's all made, and the beautiful and passionate people in this region, it's wonderful to see this area and drink be recognised.

Other highlights of the Italian Wine and Food Festival? Masterclasses all day, tasting 200 wines by the region, chef and producer cooking demonstrations, pop-up restaurants by Salt Meats Cheese, Otto, Lot. 1 Sydney, Big Poppa’s, Balla, and Lucio Pizzeria, and Sydney’s first taste of Marta, the 'new' Popolo.






The wine masterclasses are hosted by Huon Hooke, and presented by Gourmet Traveller WINE. The ever popular Italian marketplace will be brimming with Italian specialties and local produce, and Big Poppa’s Aperitivi Bar will be serving up classic Italian cocktails.









Sydney’s top Italian chefs will be coming at you:

Giovanni Pilu (Pilu at Freshwater), Lucio Galletto (Lucio’s), Federico Zanellato (LuMi), Stefano Manfredi and Gianluca Donzelli (Pizzaperta), Nino Zoccali (Pendolino), Richard Ptacnik (Otto Ristorante), Gabriele Taddeucci (Balla), Lucio de Falco (Lucio Pizzeria) and Youssef Touati (Salt Meats Cheese).

Plus there’ll be cooking demonstrations with chefs and providores on the Smeg Main Stage.

And so, tickets!

Well, you can get them here (and save money, based on usual at the door entry price):

http://www.italianwinefoodfestival.com.au/sydney/sydney-tickets/

Or, try your hand at winning them here!

Here is all you have to do:

All you need to do is:

- 'Like' the Josie's Juice Facebook page - click HERE

- Share this post on your Facebook page

- Share the Instagram posted on @josiegags on your Instagram page (if you have an account)
- Comment below or email us at: josiegags@optusnet.com.au and tell us why you'd like to win a double pass

There is ONE all-day double pass up for grabs.
Competition drawn Friday August 25, 2017.
   
Here's what you need to know about ticket prices:

Buy online and save up to $30 on the door price.


TICKET PRICES – PRE PURCHASE

Session A (11am-4pm)  $75

Session B (4pm-9pm)  $75

Evening (6pm-9pm)  $45

All Day (11am-9pm)  $100

VIP (10.30am-9pm)  $140

Vino Grande Masterclass Pass (11am-9pm)  $175

Wine Masterclasses (entry not included)  $50

Pre Purchase ticket prices are only available before 27th August


TICKET PRICES – FESTIVAL DAY / AT THE DOOR

Session A (11am-4pm)  $85

Session B (4pm-9pm)  $85

Evening (6pm-9pm)  $50

All Day (11am-9pm)  $110

VIP (10.30am-9pm)  $170

Vino Grande Masterclass Pass (11am-9pm)  $175

Wine Masterclasses (entry not included)  $50


Tickets will only be available at the door if not sold out prior – check Italian Food + Wine Festival website and Facebook pages for regular ticketing updates.

  

TICKET INCLUSIONS

General Admission

Festival Entry

All Wine Tasting (No Tokens)

Plumm Wine Glass to use for Tasting

Food Sampling in Marketplace

Espresso di Manfredi Coffee

Italian Mineral Water

Cooking Demonstrations

Entertainment (including pizza throwing!)

Kids enter free

Meals not included (prices range from $5 - $15)


VIP Entry

Pre-Festival Entry from 10.30am

VIP Wine Glass to Keep

All Wine Tasting

Food Sampling in Marketplace

Exclusive VIP Garden with Sommelier Service

Glass of Italian Wine

Negroni Cocktail

Espresso di Manfredi Coffee

Italian Mineral Water

Festival Tote with Goodies

Cooking Demonstrations

Italian Entertainment

Kids enter free


Meals not included (prices range from $5 - $15)


Details:

Event: Italian Wine + Food Festival, Sydney
Date: Sunday 27 August, 2017
Location: The Cutaway, Barangaroo - Hickson Road Entrance
Time: 11am - 9pm

Here's more info for you!

The Marketplace is full to the brim with:

salumi, cheese, pasta, bread, coffee, olive oil, pastries and gelato featuring Vannella Cheese, Salumi Australia, Dust Bakery, Berkelo, Dolcettini, Zippoli, Buon Ricordo Olive Oil, Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma, Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano, Goose on the Loose, Luca Ciano Sauces, Salt Meats Cheese, Arancini Art, Molecola, Truffle Traders, Rivareno Gelato, Drink in Style, Cellar V, Vinotopia, Botella, plus a Nutella Pop-up!

Explore over 200 Italian wines by the region, plus Italian-centric Aussie wines. Meet winemakers and importers, learn more about the grape varieties, the regions and best of all, how good they taste. The Barolo Bar and Franciacorta Bar with sommeliers pouring, vertical tastings and information about these unique wines. There’s coffee from Espresso di Manfredi’s baristas, Moretti Beer on tap, or sip on an authentic Italian aperitivi from Big Poppa’s bar team, serving up the ever popular Negroni, Venetian Spritz and Americano all day! 

Far more family friendly this year, kids enter free so you bring the whole famiglia, plus there’s a kids games area and Pizza Acrobatics by Italian World Master Pizza Chef and Australia's Got Talent star Youssef Touati from Salt Meats Cheese. Melbourne band Santa Taranta will be performing traditional music from southern Italy in the Wine Garden. All presented by Smeg.

Use the #italiansdoitbetter hashtag and follow the social media conversation.

POP-UP RESTAURANT MENUS

Bacco Osteria e Espresso 11am-9pm
Salsiccia e Lenticchie alla Toscana: Sausage + warm lentil salad  $10
Piccoli Panini:  Mini rolls with salsa verde + artichoke or anchovy butter  2 for $6 

Balla 11am-4pm
Ribollita Fiorentina: Twice cooked Tuscan vegetable + bread soup  $7
Osso Buco Maccheroncini: Beef osso buco ragu with pasta  $12
Porchetta alla Toscana:  Slow roasted pork loin, with crackling, jus + bread  $6 or $12

Big Poppa’s 4pm-9pm
Big Poppa’s Caprese: Vannella burrata, heirloom tomatoes, fig vino cotto, toasted farro + smoked salt  $8
Wagyu Bresaola with guindilla peppers  $10
Fregola con Guanciale: Pork cheeks with Sardinian couscous, barley, rainbow chard, preserved lemon + pecorino romano  $12

Lot 1. Sydney  11am-9pm
Crostini di Polenta: Polenta chips with truffle pecorino + aioli   $10
Cavatelli alla Norma:  Eggplant with tomato + goats cheese  $10
Costine di Manzo:  Beef short rib with sticky Averna glaze + pickled kohlrabi  $10

MARTA 11am-9pm
Supplì alla Romana:  Croquettes with rice, mince + mozzarella  $5
Agnello Porchettato:  Rolled lamb with lamb jus + Roman lettuce on focaccia  $12

Otto Ristorante  11am-9pm
Gnocchi:  Potato gnocchi with pecorino, hazelnut, porcini crumb + truffle oil  $10
Cinghiale Gnocchetti Sardi:  Shell pasta with wild boar + sangiovese ragu, pecorino  $12
Tiramisu:  Marsala mascarpone, coffee soaked savoiardi biscuits + chocolate  $8

Salt Meats Cheese 11am-9pm
Pasta al Cacio e Pepe: Pepper + cheese pasta tossed in Parmigiano Reggiano wheel  $10
Pasta al Tartufo:  Creamy pasta tossed in a wheel of truffle pecorino $12

Lucio Pizzeria 11am-9pm
Pizza Margherita $12
Pizza Cotto with ham $12
Pizza Diavola with spicy salami $12
Bombolone di Nutella $5


In the Festival Marketplace:

Arancini Art
Traditional Italian-filled rice balls

Berkelo
Artisan sourdough bread from the Northern Beaches

Botella
Designer olive oil + balsamic vinegar bottles

Buon Ricordo Olive Oil
Extra virgin olive oil + Italian preserves from their Lower Hunter Valley farm

Cellar V
Unique Australia handcrafted wine racks made from recycled timber

Consorzio del Parmigiano Reggiano
Taste 24 + 36 month old wheels + learn from the experts

Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma
Prosciutto tasting, information + prosciutto cones

Dolcettini 
Italian donuts + traditional biscuits

Drink in Style
Italian-made portable wine bottle + glass holder

Dust Bakery
Italian baked treats + traditional breads

Espresso di Manfredi
Espresso coffee, made to order - free all day!

Galluzzo Deli + Fruiterers
Family-run fresh produce + Italian delicacies

Goose on the Loose
Locally-made, premium cold cuts + small goods

Premium pasta sauces made in Australia - natural, preservative + gluten free

Molecola
Italian cola

Nutella Pop-up
Italian crepes + waffles plus personalised jars of Nutella

Rivareno Gelato
Authentic Italian gelato

Travel Managers
Personal travel managers curating trips as unique and individual as you are 

Truffle Traders
Expert fresh truffle suppliers of Australian + white Italian truffles

Salumi Australia
Artisan smallgoods manufactured in the beautiful Northern Rivers of NSW

Salt Meats Cheese
Family-owned purveyor of gourmet Italian produce with a modern Australian twist

Vannella Cheese
Fresh handmade cheese + mozzarella bar

Vinotopia
Original designer gifts for wine lovers

#italiansdoitbetter
Official festival merchandise, including t-shirts, shopping bags, aprons + tea towels


COOKING DEMONSTRATIONS 
WHERE:  SMEG MAIN STAGE

11.30am:  Giovanni Pilu (Pilu at Freshwater) with Con Nemistas (Southern Fresh)
‘Sardinian Bottarga - Made in Australia’ hosted by Roberta Muir

12.15pm:  Stefano Manfredi + Gianluca Donzelli (PizzaPerta) with Massimo Scalas (Salumi Australia)
‘Roman-style Pizza with Calabrian-style Salumi’ hosted by Roberta Muir

12.45pm:  Pizza Acrobatics by Youssef Touati (Salt Meats Cheese)

1.00pm:  Lucio Galletto (Lucio’s) with Luca Ciano (Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma)
‘Classic Saltimbocca - Prosciutto Masterclass’ hosted by Roberta Muir

1.45pm:  Richard Ptacnik (Otto Ristorante) + Will Brunker (Joto)
‘Spaghetti gets a Luxury Rocklobster Makeover’ hosted by Roberta Muir

2.30pm:  Nino Zoccali (Pendolino) with Westerly Isbaih (Alto Olives)
‘Ancient Ingredients - Garum and Olive Oil’ hosted by Joanna Savill

3.00pm:  Pizza Acrobatics by Youssef Touati (Salt Meats Cheese)

3.15pm:  Cristuan Jordaan (Popolo) with Daniele Pirotta (Campari)
‘Campari: Good Enough to Eat’ hosted by Joanna Savill

4.00pm:  Andrew Cibej + Scott Williams (Bacco Osteria e Espresso) with Phil Lavers (Moonacres Farm)
‘Gnocchi Masterclass’ hosted by Pat Nourse

4.30pm:  Pizza Acrobatics by Youssef Touati (Salt Meats Cheese)

4.45pm:  Federico Zanellato (LuMi) with Vito + Giuseppe Minoi (Vannella Cheese) 
‘Italy Meets Japan’ hosted by Pat Nourse

5.30pm:  Francesco Spataro (Aperitivo) with Mimmo Lubrano (Mutti)
‘Pizza Fritta Two Ways’ hosted by Pat Nourse

6.00pm:  Pizza Acrobatics by Youssef Touati (Salt Meats Cheese)

6.15pm:  Negroni Spectacular with Daniele Pirotta (Campari)

8.30pm:  Marketplace Closes


WINE MASTERCLASSES presented by GOURMET TRAVELLER WINE
WHERE:  WINE MASTERCLASS ROOM

11.30am:  ‘Buongiorno!.. Guten Morgen!’ Alto Adige Wine Masterclass 
Hosted by Huon Hooke

1.30am:  ‘It’s Written in the Stars’ Gambero Rosso Wine Masterclass 
Hosted by Huon Hooke

3.30pm:  ‘Always The Bridesmaid, Never The Bride’ Barbaresco Wine Masterclass 
Hosted by Huon Hooke

5.30pm:  ‘Fiasco To Triumph’ Sangiovese Wine Masterclass 
Hosted by Huon Hooke


MUSIC
 WHERE:  WINE GARDEN

10.30am-11.30pm:  Gino Pengue on Guitar
‘Italian Jazz + Folk Music’

12.00pm-12.45pm:  Santa Taranta
‘Music from the South of Italy’

1.30pm-1.45pm:  Nadia Piave with Gino Pengue
‘Italian Opera’

2.00pm-3.00pm:  Gino Pengue on Guitar
‘Italian Jazz + Folk Music’

4.45pm-5.45pm:  Gino Pengue on Guitar
‘Italian Jazz + Folk Music’

6.30pm:  Santa Taranta
‘Music from the South of Italy’


The Italian Wine + Food Festival is produced by Progetto Panevino, an events company obsessed with all things wine and food, and especially all things Italian. Created in 2013 by sommelier and passionate italophile Lara Caraturo, the Festival celebrates and promotes Italian wine and food culture in Australia.  


Venue:  the Cutaway, Barangaroo Reserve - Hickson Road Entrance, Sydney 

facebook + instagram: @ItalianWineFoodFestival | twitter: @ItaWineFoodFest