AcquaFresca by Pilu: REVIEW

If you're a fan of the famed Pilu restaurant at Newport, you will ADORE this new offering at the all new Harbord Diggers by Sardinian-born chef Giovanni Pilu called AcquaFresca by Pilu.

AcquaFresca by Pilu is a casual Italian trattoria brought to you by this renowned Italian chef, and its intention is to resemble a beachside trattoria on the coast of Italy, where guests can drink in a unique Italian experience. And they have done that! All the elements are here: from the attentive yet relaxed service, to the prosciutto carvery, to the exceptional Italian food.

The menu includes all your Italian favourites, done beautifully: simple, tasty dishes using, fresh, seasonal ingredients, divided into an extensive antipasti list, pasta, secondi (mains), dolci (desserts) and pizza.

Many of the dishes are share plates style, tapping into the true and authentic way to eat Italian food with la famiglia e gli amici.

AcquaFresca by Pilu offers a range of Italian and local wines, plenty by the glass and a great selection of Italian cocktails and aperitivi. We're talking your classic negroni and a list of the popular Italian spritz, along with local and artisan beers. The menu represents affordability and Italian authenticity, tapping into the simplicity and quality of fresh Italian ingredients.  

Fresh pasta is rolled out on a daily basis, and the baking of their focaccia and grissini and prove our pizza dough made from organic flour for 48 hours.

See the full delicious menu HERE.

Open for lunch and dinner seven days a week. AcquaFresca is suitable for groups of 2-50 and reservations are accepted for lunch and dinner.

For more than 10 years Pilu has brought the very best of Italian cuisine to his seaside restaurant called Pilu, and has become an award winning venue in the process.

The new Harbord Diggers development - wow! You guys, you simply must visit.

The concept comes from the Mounties Group, opening in mid-2018, and has given locals a whole new dining and lifestyle offering.

(Just a little disclaimer - I am counting down the days until I am 55, when I can officially move into the luxe new residence spaces above Harbord Diggers. I keep imagining having happy hour drinks and delicious meals in the restaurants below, or takeaway, several times a week).

"It is Italy on a plate," said Harbord Diggers General Manager, Dale Hunt.

The Harbord Diggers redevelopment has seen Pilu take a relaxed and casual approach, with the restaurant boasting an understated elegance, sitting perfectly within the environment.

“The food component of this world first development is crucial to the club’s ongoing success,” says Mr Hunt.

"Giovanni and Marilyn’s fresh contemporary new take on dining will be perfectly suited to ournew intergenerational venue. With the superb food and ideal location it is not hard to close your eyes for a moment and, briefly, picture yourself on the Italian Riviera," he added.

“The view is, quite simply, arguably the most breathtaking in Australia as it overlooks thestunning eastern seaboard of Australia. Top that with food that is elegant and bountiful and diners set off on a journey from Lombardy in Italy's north to Campania in the south andeverywhere in between, without leaving God’s country on the Northern Beaches,” says Mr Hunt.

Stage 1 of the new Harbord Diggers opened in 2018 starting with 'Explore & Develop Freshwater' and 'Watermark Freshwater', followed by the new club hospitality precinct expected in mid-2018. Stage 2, which includes the fitness and aquatic centre and remaining residences, is planned for completion in late 2019.

More foodie photos we took during our visit to drool over:

For more information on the new Harbord Diggers or to view the Harbord Diggers 3D Animation video visit harborddiggers.com.au or view on the Mounties Group YouTube here.

Angie Kent: 'Bachelorette' 2019 confirmed

The sweet as Angie Kent (who is clever, witty, and gorgeous) is the new 'Bachelorette' for 2019.

As the announcement post says: "From the couch to the jungle, she’s ready to find love."

Channel Ten has officially confirmed that Australia’s next Bachelorette is Angie Kent, who you'd know as one half of the very popular Gogglebox duo Angie & Yvie. (We also REALLY heart Yvie, after years of seeing her on said 'Gogglebox' and meeting her on 'Studio 10'.

Here is the socials announcement:

View this post on Instagram

Introducing our lovable Bachelorette for 2019, Angie. From the couch to the jungle, she’s ready to find love.❤️ #BacheloretteAU

A post shared by The Bachelorette Australia (@bacheloretteau) on Mar 28, 2019 at 9:36pm PDT

And... check out Angie's Twitter follow as at today. Watch that rise...

Amy Schumer's Husband: Autistic Diagnosis - Netflix Show 'Growing'

Amy Schumer told Seth Meyers on his show 'Late Night' the reason she revealed her husband Chris Fischer's autism diagnosis, as seen in Amy's new Netflix comedy special 'Growing'.

"We both wanted to talk about it because it's been totally positive," Amy said, who is pregnant with her first child with Chris.

"I think some people resist getting diagnosed… because of the stigma that comes along with it," she said. "But the tools we've been given have made his life so much better and our marriage and our life so much more manageable."

In 'Growing', Amy talks about her marriage and her pregnancy, the fact that Fischer recently found out he has high-functioning autism, aka Asperger's syndrome.

"I just wanted to encourage people to not be afraid of that stigma," Amy told Meyers. "I think a lot of people with autism who go undiagnosed when I think their life could be better if they got those tools."

Amy also added the same sentiments she shared in her stand-up special when she said it was because of Chris's personality quirks possibly stemming from him being autistic, that she fell in love with him in the first place.

"And I wouldn't trade him in for anybody," Amy said, with a heartfelt smile.

Here is a clip with Seth:



Josie's Juice has just finished watching the Netflix special and we highly recommend it!

Plus: we love people with autism, young and old.

Watch 'Growing' now on Netflix.

Trailer below:

The Prodigy's Keith Flint dies, aged 49

Keith Flint, frontman of the 1990s electronic band The Prodigy, has died aged 49 at his home.

Police were called to the singer's home in Dunmow, Essex at around 8am this morning (UK time) following what they called 'concerns for his welfare'.

Flint was found dead inside the property and police say they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Flint became one of the faces of the Britpop genre in the 1990s with his full on style and punk hair.

The band's hit 'Breathe' is STILL one of the best songs - huge fan here.

RIP Keith.

'Married At First Sight' APPLY for 2020 season: LINK HERE

'Married At First Sight' fan? Single? Ready to... be the topic of discussion in Australian households?

Then this is your chance to apply for #MAFS right now!

Some of the parameters?

Says the info on the application website:


This is not a competition and there is no cash prize up for grabs. Instead, you could walk away with the most valuable prize of all… true love.
 
If you are genuine about finding love and can commit up to 4 months of your life to the experiment, then apply now!


The rules of entry and instructions are as follows:

1. You must be over 25 years of age on the day of application.

2. You must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident for at least 2 years to participate.

3. You must be single and genuinely looking for love.

4. You will be required to provide proof of identity (driver’s license or passport or extract of birth certificate).

5. Please be honest with your answers and complete the form to the best of your ability.

6. Ensure you read the terms and conditions on the application form.

 

7. If selected for the show you will need to be available for filming from August to December 2019. 

Want more and you're ready to apply?

CLICK HERE.

Jordyn Woods: FULL INTERVIEW - VIDEO

Forgive me if I took my time in writing this piece while I brought myself up to speed on this whole Jordyn Woods / Khloe Kardashian / Tristan Thompson saga... I am usually up on the whole Kardash / Jenner situazione but this one threw me because 1) I have other things happening in my life, and 2) I was researching that whole Momo Challenge thing... (you can read about that HERE).

ICYMI, Kylie Jenner’s former BFF Jordyn Woods (yes, that's right - try to keep up here) finally shared her side of the story - that is, that she moved in on her BFF's sister's partner (have I lost you yet?).

Sitting down with Jada Pinkett-Smith on her show Red Table Talk, Jordyn broke her silence on the Tristan Thompson cheating scandal. That hyper link right there is the WHOLE interview in case you want to watch it.

Approx, oh, 28 minutes after it aired, Khloe Kardashian hit Twitter, smashing Jordyn’s story to smithereens.

Here is that Tweet:

Why are you lying @jordynwoods ?? If you’re going to try and save yourself by going public, INSTEAD OF CALLING ME PRIVATELY TO APOLOGIZE FIRST, at least be HONEST about your story. BTW, You ARE the reason my family broke up!

— Khloé (@khloekardashian) March 1, 2019

 

Khloe went hard, accusing Jordyn of “lying” and berated her for going public as a way to “save yourself”.

Despite Khloe’s insistence that Jordyn hadn’t reached out privately to apologise to her, Jordyn told Jada the two actually had spoken.

“I did as much apologising as I could do over the phone, over text. Until I get the opportunity to apologise face-to-face,” she said.

Khloe disagreed: “You’re the reason my family broke up!”

But the model is adamant that’s not the case.

“I know I’m not the reason Tristan and Khloe are not together,” she told Jada during the Facebook Watch show. “This situation may have made it harder for her to want to be with him, and I understand that, but I know I’m not the reason.”

Khloe HAD been keeping quiet on social media since the scandal broke, but she quickly posted a second Tweet after fans questioned why she wasn’t savaging her partner and father of her child — Tristan Thomspon — on social media too. Then, she said:

Tristan is equally to blame but Tristan is the father of my child. Regardless of what he does to me I won’t do that to my daughter. He has been addressing this situation PRIVATELY. If Tristan were to lie publicly about what conspired,then yes I would address him publicly as well

— Khloé (@khloekardashian) March 1, 2019

 

In case you wanna know the details, Jordyn claims Thompson kissed her as she was leaving his house, but there was “no passion” and “no tongue” involved. She also denies spending the night with Thompson.

Adding to all the drama, makeup mogul and YouTube star Jeffree Star Tweeted his reaction to the interview with a video about “these idiots”, alleging that Jordyn and Tristan have been together for months.

Jeffree Star said: “Now what Khloe and Tristan need to do is shut the f*ck up, turn your iPhones off, and focus on coparenting.”

Whoa.

Learn to co-parent on a healthy level and stop acting like your man isn’t trash either… thank you, now shut the fuck up. - The World https://t.co/dHqVgQzs0N

— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) March 1, 2019

 

And then:

I don't need to say "allegedly" because I only speak facts.

— Jeffree Star (@JeffreeStar) March 1, 2019

 

Thoughts?

Momo Challenge: what's it all about?

What THE HELL is this Momo Challenge?

I first heard about it, like many, about 48 hours ago. Since then, the headlines on this ridiculousness have escalated, and have now reached fever pitch.

I, in a ROUNDABOUT way, tried to ask my 11 year old daughter if she'd heard about... but didn't want to tell her TOO much.

And just tonight she said:

"Mum, I want to warn you about something... but it's something you probably want to warn ME about it..."

Immediately, I knew she was referring to the Momo Challenge.

I swiftly proceeded to tell her how crazy and stupid the whole thing is (natural protective defence mechanism in play), and told her the original photos came from random posts about a weird cartoonish but scary figure developed by a Japanese special effects company, and in its full length version it's a half bulging eye woman, half chicken feet arty thing.

And then... news that our beloved Peppa Pig was also implicated in this madness? YES!

Plus, suddenly: children watching Peppa Pig at risk of self harm? How can this be so?

Earlier this week a Twitter user warned parents around the world that “a thing called ‘Momo’” was instructing children to kill themselves and others.

In a tweet shared on Wednesday, claims were made that the scary figure appearing during kid’s videos was inciting kids them to self harm or commit violence against their family.

It alleged games and Youtube videos were being hacked and harmful messages transmitted to kids.

However, experts are arguing the Momo Challenge is nothing but a viral hoax perpetuated by frightened parents AND news outlets.

As news of the Momo Challenge spreads, parents have actually shared videos of their terrified children and called into radio stations, claiming the videos are real and the Momo figure is causing some real issues right inside their homes.

“Parents please be aware and very cautious of what your child watches on YouTube and KIDS YOUTUBE,” the tweet warned.

“There is a thing called ‘Momo’ that’s instructing kids to kill themselves, turn on stoves while everyone is sleep (sic) and even threatening to tell their parents.

“It doesn’t come on instantly so it’s almost as if it waits for you to leave the room then comes on in mid show.

But, what's actually happening is...

The Momo Challenge is a cyberbullying trend prevalent on platforms like WhatsApp, through which children receive anonymous threatening messages tied to pictures of Momo.

But there is no evidence to suggest the phenomenon actually exists.

Even mental health groups in the UK are labelling it as "fake news" with a "moral panic" actually spread by adults.

Police in Northern Ireland have even suggested the challenge could be part of a wider phishing scam "by hackers who are looking for personal info".

There is in fact very little evidence to suggest the viral trend is anything more than unsubstantiated rumours fuelled by media coverage. Yep, like this. But we hope THIS story instead dispels the myths.

Even reports the Momo thing was embedding itself into YouTube videos on Fortnite and Peppa Pig are unfounded.

The claim (which originated on Facebook) was picked up super quick by social media users, with Kim Kardashian even picking it up, warning parents of the threat on Instagram.

YouTube was forced to respond to these controversial claims, noting it had been paying "close attention to these reports".

"Despite press reports of this challenge surfacing, we haven't had any recent links flagged or shared with us from YouTube."

The Office of the eSafety Commissioner believes parents should be keeping tabs on their child's viewing habits all the same.

"Active parental engagement and oversight of a child's online activities is critical from the start, to help ensure they are prepared for what they may encounter," it said.

Here is a Tweet warning parents:

IMPORTANT: we are aware that some nasty challenges (Momo challenge) are hacking into children's programmes Challenges appear midway through Kids YouTube, Fortnight, Peppa pig to avoid detection by adults. Please be vigilant with your child using IT, images are very disturbing

— Northcott School Hull (@NorthcottSchool) February 26, 2019

 

We actually starting hearing about it two days ago on the Kyle and Jackie O show.

Here is that clip.

One mum claimed her six-year-old daughter was convinced to turn on the stove in her home by the 'online monster'.

Another mother said her child could no longer sleep in her own bed without crying.

“It got to the point that she couldn’t be at home, in her own home, to feel safe,” said another.

The numerous stories led to Kyle and Jackie O to deem this a “sick maniac” behind the challenge, and to be locked up.

Despite the news of “child suicide” and “self-harm”, actual verified incidences of self harm are yet to be confirmed.

“Contrary to press reports, we have not received any evidence of videos showing or promoting the Momo challenge on YouTube,” a spokesperson said.

“Content of this kind would be in violation of our policies and removed immediately.”

The Momo Challenge actually started to get attention in August 2018 but has suddenly regained its popularity after being posted online.

If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

Support services are available for children and teens at Kids Help Line on 1800 55 1800.