Tuesday, 15 March 2016

Effie The Virgin Bride: Dates and Details

If you're a fan of the irrepressible, funny, a-little-rude-but-gets-away-with-it Effie, you should start to break out the wedding confetti and make room in the bomboniere cabinet because Effie is getting married!

And guess what...? Youse are all invited.

Josie's Juice interviewed her last year and she was very, very funny. Read the whole interview here.

Effie’s - touted as the 'original Bachelorette', see video below - is "gonna gain a husband and lose a cherry, all in one night."

Effie – The Virgin Bride extravaganza awaits your RSVPs - and there promises to be heaps of music, dancing, multi-media and audience interaction like youse’ve never seen before.

Frontier Touring presents a very special evening with Australia’s favourite Greek virgin goddess (yes, apparently she can still wear white!) in what will be her biggest, most outlandish mega-tour production to date – visiting Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Sydney in February/March 2016.

Here's what the critics say:

‘Crass, domineering, groin-obsessed and egotistical, Effie is also irresistibly lovable’ – The Age

‘Effie can still wow an audience … she will never be a wog out of work’ – ★★★★, Herald Sun

‘Coustas mines her much-loved character's catchphrases much to the crowd’s delight … bringing a freshness and modern relevance to her creation’ – Sydney Morning Herald

‘How good am I? Please. And modest.’ – Effie

Adored by Aussie audiences, Effie is the creation of Mary Coustas, a Logie award-winning, AFI nominated writer and performer, who first came to our attention with Effie, a character written for the smash hit theatre production “Wogs Out Of Work”.

In 1993 Effie earned Coustas a Logie for Most Popular Comedy Personality. She landed a Top 20 single with her duet alongside comedy legend Norman Gunston, and toured the country in the record-breaking theatre shows “Wogs Out Of Work” and “Wog A Rama”. Her one woman shows are equally as acclaimed: “Waiting For Effie”, “Effie X-Posed”, and “A Date With Effie”. On TV screens we’ve loved Effie for two decades now, in “Acropolis Now”, “Effie Just Quietly” and “Greeks on The Roof”. In 2015 Effie even got a record deal, releasing Effie’s Classic 90s Hits.

Monday, 14 March 2016

'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix [ANZ]

The new 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt' season 2 trailer is here!

Just published on the Netflix [ANZ] YouTube page, here is the blurb:

She's making the world a #hashbrown Kimmier place. Watch Season 2 on Netflix 15 April.

Ellie Kemper stars as Kimmy Schmidt, a woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and starts life over in New York. After living in a cult for fifteen years, Kimmy decides to reclaim her life and start over in New York City. Armed with just a backpack, light-up sneakers, and a couple of way-past-due library books, she’s ready to take on a world she didn’t even think existed anymore. Wide-eyed but resilient, nothing is going to stand in her way.

Created by Tina Fey (30 Rock) and Robert Carlock (30 Rock), who serve as executive producers with Jeff Richmond (30 Rock), Jack Burditt (30 Rock, The Mindy Project) and David Miner (30 Rock, Brooklyn Nine-Nine).

A Netflix Original Series.

Feast your eyes on this fabulous madness:

Thursday, 10 March 2016

Jon English Dies Age 66

Jon English has died, age 66.

He died overnight from complications due to surgery.

He is survived by his wife Carmen and four children Jessamin, Josephine, Jonnie and Julian.

A star of stage and music, he was also famous for his role for four years on the hit TV show 'All Together Now', alongside Rebecca Gibney and Steve Jacobs, who is now the weatherman on 'Today' show.

He shot to fame in the early 1970s in his role as Judas in the Australian version of stage musical 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.

He won a Logie Award for best new talent in 1979 for his starring role in Australian TV series 'Against the Wind', and became renowned for his roles in 'Gilbert and Sullivan' operettas.

RIP Jon English.

Monday, 7 March 2016

Kerri-Anne Kennerley's Husband John in Coma

John Kennerley, the husband of TV's Kerri-Anne Kennerley, has been rushed to hospital following a serious fall.

The longtime married couple were staying at Bonville Golf Resort, which is near Coffs Harbour, when John fell from a balcony and suffered a serious neck injury.

He was airlifted from the resort and is now at Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital where he is in an induced coma.

Kerri-Anne, the former 'Mornings' and 'Midday Show' host, posted a pic of the pair to her Instagram account over the weekend, before this awful accident happened:

I hope everyone had a fabulous time at #mardigras 🍭🎉🌈 #mardigras2016 @bonvillegolfresort

A photo posted by Kak 💁 (@kerriannekennerley) on Mar 5, 2016 at 3:43pm PST

Read more at http://www.973fm.com.au/newsroom/tragedy-strikes-for-tv-favourite-kerri-anne-kennerley/#BVAZ9yu7htq0iXtB.99

Kim Kardashian Nude Photo. Again.

Another month, another nude Kim Kardashian photo?

Well, yes.

Kim has just posted a nude selfie of her - with the private bits blacked out - on her Instagram account.

Here is the photo:

And how it appeared on Instagram:

When you're like I have nothing to wear LOL

A photo posted by Kim Kardashian West (@kimkardashian) on Mar 7, 2016 at 12:07am PST

The Hill Eatery, North Bondi: REVIEW

The Hill Eatery, at North Bondi, is definitely a on-the-newbie-side Bondi fave haunt.

First, the location: as the moniker suggests, atop a hill, the North Bondi hill... the precinct of stores and eateries cradling the northern end of Bondi Beach.

Insider tip: catch the Bondi breeze and request a table outside, grab an espresso martini or a 'Fresh Paloma' (tequila, Capi pink grapefruit, fresh lime, agave), while devouring the large plates to share. Think:

SEARED ALBACORE TUNA LOIN - $28
Sweet potato & coconut puree, coriander & lime oil,
toasted coconut chips.

BLUE SWIMMER CRAB $29.5
Tomato, pepita & chilli sauce

JERK CHICKEN $28
1/2 Chicken, charred corn, sweet peppers & onion salad

BUTTER MILK FRIED CHICKEN $29.5
Kohlrabi, chipotle mayo

SPICED LAMB RUMP
Plantain, red pepper and papaya jam, pickled green papaya

FLAT IRON STEAK $29.5
Orange, cumin mojo dressing

FLANK STEAK $26
Served with Chimichurri

DRY AGED RIB EYE 500G $66
Selection of condiments.

Or the small plates to share. Feast your eyes on these options:

MARINATED OLIVES $7.5

Orange, chilli, confit garlic, rosemary.

OYSTERS 1/2 doz $25

ROASTED SPLIT QLD PRAWNS $19.50

Pebre, lemon, crispy ecshallot, baby herbs
.
SUGAR CURED KINGFISH TIRADITO $19
Ruby grapefruit, jalapeño, lime & ginger dressing, habanero oil, baby herbs.

SEARED HERVEY BAY SCALLOPS $18.50
Grilled pineapple salsa, cucumber, jicama

BLACK-EYED BEAN FRITTERS $14.50
Mango & ginger chutney

HAY VALLEY LAMB SHORT RIBS $7 each
Chickpea puree, spice salt, lime

PORK BELLY $16.50
Rum, coconut & pineapple glaze, shallots chilli

But on the day Josie's Juice was invited to come share the food love at The Hill Eatery it was Valentine's Day. And I took some mini Valentines with me.

There was a set menu, though there was flexibility with the kids' meals, which was a welcome part of our dining experience, given I had one fussy eater in tow. They chose naked burgers, and fish and chips, and more.

While a set menu isn't for everyone, indeed some eager loved up patrons looked like they declined on the oysters but stayed for a drink and some bar food (that's what I love about this place... it's several places in one: bar, hang out places, Friday drinks fave, solo quick bite, or couple catch up haunt), on this day it was $70 per person, and was a seven course degustation menu, which included a complimentary drink on arrival, and a special menu including fresh-as dishes like the ocean trout ceviche and oysters with lime, shallot and caramelised red wine vinegar dressing, and more. See the delicious pics below, of the amorous V Day menu of the day:

We started with this:

Oysters eschallot, caramelised red wine vinegar and lime dressing:

The black eye bean and cauliflower fritters with coriander yoghurt:

The market fish with coconut white polenta, green mango pico de gallo. Delicious crispy skin, and an interesting take on traditional polenta:

Grass fed skirt steak with chimichurri :

The ocean trout ceviche with ginger, horseradish, lime and ruby red grapefruit, baby herb garnish:

Shaved zucchini and tomato salad, with mint, shaved piave cheese, lemon, and almonds:

The finale: coconut chia seed pudding with lime and ginger syrup, summer fruits, and basil:

All in all, the lunch at The Hill Eatery was a divine spot for lovers and friends and family and food. Service was attentive and very friendly. Portions were decent, and satisfying for a small to medium eater. Men with big appetites: perhaps order more. But for a light and lovely Valentine's Day lunch by the sea - it fits the bill beautifully.

It's spot on for lovers of a clean, little-tampered-with food, where fresh produce is king, and a respect for simple food shines through in the menu.

To top it off: head to North Bondi beach, so pack those togs. It's a beautiful way to end the day.

For more on The Hill Eatery, go here: http://www.thehilleatery.com.au/

Their Instagram handle is https://www.instagram.com/thehilleatery/ and hashtag is #thehilleatery. Check it out to see what their all about.

See all of the menus, including drinks, right here.

They also do catering. For that, click here.

Want to gift someone the gift of eating at The Hill Eatery? Here you go.

Functions and group bookings. Click here.

All the contact and opening hour details:

Open 7 days, 7am - late.

Shop 5, 39-53 Campbell Parade North Bondi Sydney Australia

Phone: 02 9130 2200

Email: info@thehilleatery.com.au

Josie's Juice blog was an invited guest of The Hill Eatery.

Tuesday, 1 March 2016

Criniti's Lunch: REVIEW

Criniti's, in case you don't know by now, is quite the Italian casual dining institution in Australia.

You may have also heard about the kind of Italian fare served up at all the Criniti's restaurants - there are eight in total, across two Australian states (NSW and VIC).

It's the place you go when you want an authentic Italian feed, consistent each time, no matter which of the Criniti's you dine at.

Josie's Juice was invited to dine at the Woolloomooloo venue, and if you like a lazy, long lunch overlooking a water view, or a cozy dinner to languish over (winter and summer), this is the Criniti's to head to.

Says the PR blurb:

Frank Criniti, the brainchild behind the success that is Criniti’s today, was born to humble immigrant parents that landed on Sydney’s shores by boat in the early ‘60s.

Frank grew up eating traditional Italian food prepared by his Mamma Rosa where the ingredients were mainly dictated by the vegetables growing in his dad’s garden, his pride & joy, of which he dedicated so much time cultivating. An excess of tomatoes meant there was always plenty of produce for the napoletana sauce prepared daily. His earliest childhood memories include the smell of simmering garlic, olive oil & fresh tomatoes being cooked in a saucepan. Not to mention the annual backyard rituals of making tomato sauce, salami & homemade vino - traditions still practiced today by the Criniti family.

Food preparation & preservation is central to the Criniti way of life & is where his dreams to establish a traditional Italian eatery stems from, affording people the opportunity to experience authentic Southern Italian food in a restaurant environment.

One of the most enduring lessons learnt through his vision is that food & eating is an experience. Like most Italians, Calabrians live to eat. The experience of sharing food with family & friends is one that is very sacred & should be cherished & remembered, which is why at Criniti’s we say, “when you’re here, you’re family...salute!”
“The hospitality of the south & the genuineness of its cuisine are for us restaurateurs, even sacred...” Frank Criniti

Josie's Juice has dined at Criniti's several times, and each time it has consistently served the same level of Italian food and service.

When my dining partner and I enjoyed a lunch there recently, the food was even better than the last time I dined there (PS: they do really great breakfasts there. An extensive menu... see that list here).

And now, the Criniti's lunch. Feast your eyes:

We dined at Criniti's Woolloomooloo - the Josie's Juice pick for the full experience. On a glorious sunny day... look at that view and ambience:

Then... dessert. Take our recommendation: order the dessert share plate. Here it is. It is SO good:

Close up of one of the sweet offerings:

Now, this is a cool way to order dessert - you're handed an iPad and off you go:

Here we are: the chocolate covered bigne (profiterole) with a delicious chantilly cream centre. So, so good we had to make it EXTRA LARGE:

For more info on Criniti's, click here.

For all the menus, click here.

Want to order online and pick up at your nearest Criniti? You can do that here!

More!

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