Hi baby angels,
What’s goss today?
I don’t know about you, but my attention span has endured a brutal circumcision of late. As I write this, I’m pressing next, next, next on every song I listen to before they get to the minute mark. Enough of that one, onto the next. In the words on Crazy Frog, w-w-w-what’s going on?!
I’m currently ripping my way through the entire Crowded House discography. It’s frankly offensive, the lack of respect I’m showing classic hits such as ‘Weather With You’ and ‘Four Season In One Day’.
It’s a good intro for tonight’s newsletter but. I’ll be sharing CEO-approved recommendations on everything from audio, visual, audiovisuals and edibles. Australian ones, mostly.
Without further ado – here are my TOP HAT TIPS.
CROWDED HOUSE
A few weeks ago I found myself immersed in this article – it’s a back-and-forth between the band’s Neil Finn and Nick Seymour. They’re recounting one of the most iconic live performances in our country’s music history.
In 1996, the band decided to call it quits, but not before an epic farewell performance at Sydney Opera House. It drew a 150,000-strong crowd. The way they describe the hours leading up to the performance (Neil says he bought that shirt on a whim on Oxford St before the concert) is so rich with detail, it’s a real pleasure to read. The whole set is on Spotify; the roar of the crowd in the opening chords of ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ made my bumhole hairs stand to attention.
PAVLOVA
Froom loves a good dessert. I have little time for delicate, fruit-based ones – I like moreish ones, chocolate-y, textural, glutenous. For these reasons, I typically avoid pavlovas. But not last weekend.
It’s been muggier than Paris Hilton in a police station here in Sydney, and with only a few weeks left of summer, I thought I’d try my hand at a cheeky pav.
Naturally, I headed straight to Recipe Tin Eats to see how Nagi makes hers. It was obscenely cheap and easy, with my chosen toppings in season and on sale.
I speak for all who indulged that night when I say this was a good pav. The men in particular made their approval known by coming back for seconds, some thirds. Do with that information what you will – but if you’re a SWF looking to reel a straight mans, this may be the ticket. Bellissimo!
SONG
Before my attention span up and left, I was listening to one song on repeat. It’s a lovely one by queer Pakistani-Australian artist, ZAN. It’s called ‘Tu’ and it is simply gorgeous.
It’s delicate, melodic, layered, with soft piano and beautiful breathy vocals. The beat bit comes in around the one minute mark, passing my ‘skip this’ test with flying colours. This is a weird comparison, but his tone reminds me a bit of Kevin Little, the guy who sings ‘Turn Me On’ (00s banger). But it probably more closely resembles Billie Eilish’s ‘Ocean Eyes’.
At the tail end of the song, it turns into dialogue – a conversation between an older man and a younger, asthmatic one, warning him of the dangers of sleeping on carpet.
I messaged ZAN totally out of the blue because I needed to know for certain that what I was hearing was real:
Beautiful stuff.
MOVIE AT DA CINEMA
There are limited reasons to go to a cinema. And this week I discovered two of them.
One, it’s usually the only place to see indie/international cinema before it’s released on some obscure platform like SBS movies (no shade there, love SBS, the selection of film and TV on their app is underrated!). Two, it’s a great way for NSW residents like thineself to take advantage of your Dine & Discover vouchers before they expire on June 30. I can’t have that money flying back into Dom Perrignon’s pocket!
I went and saw ‘The Worst Person In The World’ – it’s a Norwegian film about the trials and tribulations of a largely directionless woman in her late 20s. It’s been wildly critically acclaimed, with a 99% Rotten Tomatoes rating, and countless reviews celebrating the performance by the lead, Renate Reinsve.
I loved it, I was plugged in the entire time, I felt like I was in her little world. And Reinsve is so watchable, omg! It’s hard to believe it’s her first big movie role because it’s so perfect.
RESTAURANT
I went to Ester for the first time ever last month.
Google describes Ester as “Trendy restaurant executing eclectic dishes in a concrete-walled space with a wood-fired oven”. I’d say it’s in the same league as FW favourite Hubert and the most intimidating restaurant in Paddington, 10 William St.
A trend I’m really loving in proper fine restaurant land is the focus of bread. I remember years ago (2015-ish) it was very asian-fusion areas, very much sashimi, very much lots of sauce. And if bread did get a look it, it would typically be brioche or something else melt-y and short-lived.
Ester is modern and doubles down on bread. They’ve got blood sausage in the softest, fluffiest white slice with the crusts cut off. It’s like a Bunnings snag for King Henry VIII. Then theres the ‘fermented potato bread’ – a dense bun, in the best way. You spread this dip thing over it, made from kefir and dashi, and topped with trout roe – all ingredients with which I’m sorely unfamiliar. It tasted so good though. Great, friendly service too and a real sexy vibe.
I can’t wait until somebody replies to this email and pays for us to go on a date there! Coughshanecough.
POTATO CHIPS
The best thing I’ve read in 2022 is this article in the New York Times by a writer called Sam Anderson.
It’s an essay on the transcendental experience that is eating chips. It’s so clever, funny, pointed and hopeful. Really enjoyed it.
Naturally I got into a wormhole reading his other articles. He also wrote this fantastic profile on “Weird Al” Yankovich. As a fellow fan, I appreciated Anderson’s clear reverence for Weird Al’s specific brand of comedy. And like the chippies article, I clicked out of the browser feeling light and inspired.
OK LAST ONE
Ok ok so I fully finished the newsletter and went and made myself an instant coffee. Jump on insta for a little scroll. Up comes a story posted by Vita Carbone.
Vita is an actor and creator of two instantly classic mockumentaries – ‘Real Bloggers of Sydney’ and ‘Northsiders’.
I’ve followed and admired Vita for years now, and we finally met on New Years Eve in the most Real-Blogger-Of-Sydney-Goes-Northside situation possible – waiting in line for a natty wine at Hope St Radio. Also gave each other COVID 💔 iconic.
Anyway, seeing her story reminded me to go and rewatch Northsiders on YouTube… and it’s so obscenely perfect it actually hurts me to watch it. It’s Chris Lilley-level comedy for the 2020s, and her ability to create and maintain a laugh-out-loud storyline for 30 minutes straight is c i n e m a:
Big fan.
Now that’s enough TOP HAT TIPS from me! Let me know if you read/listen/eat any of the tips… we here at FW love consumer feedback.
Have a great week,
Me xx