escape to luxury

Art Series Hotel Group are set to open a new property in Bendigo, recently announcing Mark Schaller as the namesake artist. The hotel's official name is 'The Schaller Studio' and is due to open in May 2014.

Schaller, a well-respected Melbourne based artist, was a founding member of the ROAR studios in Melbourne; a bold group of artists united by their interests in Expressionism and Primitivism. He works fluently across a variety of art forms including sculpture, ceramics, and painting.

As a dynamic, mid-career contemporary artist, Schaller has exhibited broadly in Australia and has represented Australia in exhibitions at the Australian embassies in Singapore and in Tokyo. His work is held in key state collections at the National Gallery of Australia and the National Gallery of Victoria as well as numerous private collections.

Schaller’s work will manifest in many forms throughout the hotel, from original paintings in each room, wooden, steel and bronze sculptures throughout the garden and an eight meter high mosaic on the entrance wall to the hotel. Many of the works will draw inspiration from Bendigo town and the surrounding region.

The Schaller Studio will be the first Art Series Studio hotel launched by the Art Series Hotel Group.  Art Series Studios are a unique art inspired hotel experience in a compact affordable format. 

Mark Schaller has been closely involved in the design process of The Schaller Studio, each workspace receiving a special Schaller touch.

Beyond their workspaces, guests will be treated to edgy communal spaces including book shelves filled with art journals, books and art utensils, as well as individual spaces for quiet reflection and creative work. The Pantry will offer an in house dining experience focusing on regional fare, offering food for thought and grazing type meals.  For guests looking to venture further afield, yellow classic Dutch Lekker bicycles, scooters and Smart Cars will be available for hire.

Staff at The Schaller Studio will be fully trained by Art Series Hotel Group’s art curator and be able to offer informative tours of the hotel while offering the best insights to cultural experiences available in the city’s centre. Art classes will be available on site, regular artisan markets will be held, public art displays will feature and interactive art experiences highlighting Bendigo and Melbourne’s creative works will be on constant offer.

As a highlight of the Melbourne Food & Wine Festival regional events on Sunday 16^th March 2014, Terminus the One Hatted restaurant at Flinders Hotel will be hosting a Moroccan-inspired food & wine adventure - Feast of the Full Moon. This will be followed by a horse and carriage ride to the beach to learn more about bio-dynamic wines under the light of the silvery full moon.

A 6 course meal of shared plates from the kitchen of Flinders Hotel Executive Chef, Pierre Khodja will be served alongside bio-dynamic wines from Prancing Horse Estate from 7pm.

Tables of 10 are available and pre-booking is essential on 03 5989 0201 at $140 per person. Accommodation at Flinders Hotel is available from $275 for the ultimate gourmet getaway.

We love Bells at Killcare and a stay at this chic retreat just got hotter with the news that the soul of South East Asia is coming to Bells! Manfredi at Bells presents a very special guest chef event with Louis Tikaram, Head Chef of Longrain Sydney and winner of the esteemed title as the 2014 Josephine Pignolet Best Young Chef.

On Friday 21 March, Louis and Manfredi at Bells’ Head Chef Cameron Cansdell, will collaborate to delight guests with a menu inspired by Longrain’s communal eating philosophy of the Asian table.

The menu will be a selection of Longrain favourites, made up of ingredients sourced to produce the fresh, zingy flavours carefully balanced with wines and cocktails.

Guests are invited to share the award winning hospitality of Brian and Karina Barry, proprietors of Bells at Killcare, and enjoy the change of pace and dine with pioneers of the Australian restaurant industry Stefano Manfredi, Julie Manfredi Hughes, Damien Pignolet and Sam Christie as they recognise Louis as one of Sydney’s most promising young chefs.

The Josephine Pignolet award was initiated in 1989 by Damien Pignolet as part of the SMH Good Food Guide Awards publication. Judged by a panel of industry experts including Damien, Simon Johnson, Janni Kyritsis and Neil Perry, the winning chef is given the opportunity to be flown overseas to train in a restaurant of their choosing.

The Manfredi’s celebrated 30 years of service to the Australian food industry last November and as part of this service, made a donation and an ongoing commitment to the Josephine Pignolet Best Young Chef Award, to help young chefs realise their dreams.

Manfredi says, “The Josephine Pignolet Award is a great achievement and provides an up-and-coming chef with opportunities he or she may not have been able to do alone. Supporting this is our way of giving back to the industry and to those who will one day take the restaurant industry to a new level.”

Louis completed his apprenticeship to Longrain founding-chef, Martin Boetz at Longrain Sydney.  He then joined the opening team at The Bentley restaurant and went on to hone his skills at Tetsuya’s.  Louis’ love for food began in Fiji where his Fijian-Chinese grandmother taught him the flavours of the South Pacific as they fished and foraged, which can now be seen throughout his South East Asian cuisine at Longrain.

Dont miss out on your place at our table. Seats are limited.

$135 per person

Friday 21 March 2014, 7pm, for 7:30pm

Bookings essential 02 4349 7000

If you’re visiting Sydney, sun worshippers will want to head to their mecca of Bondi Beach. But you don’t want to fall into the tourist traps of obvious eateries along Campbell Parade. Experience the best this beach side suburb has to offer and live like a local with our roundup of hidden gems, local haunts and just plain amazing breakfast spots at iconic Bondi Beach.

Strictly Ballroom tangoed its way into our hearts in the early 90’s with its truckload of sequins, feathers, spangly catsuits (and that was just the male dancers!) and an endearing soundtrack including “Love is in the Air”. It is credited with inspiring the Strictly Come Dancing and Dancing with the Stars juggernauts and now it’s back, Strictly Ballroom the Musical.

During a coffee catchup, a friend reveals that while her recent camping holiday was fun, the whole tent setup extravaganza was bothersome, tedious and tiring and perhaps they should have stayed longer to make the effort worthwhile. Days later, I was off to the Granite Belt to experience “glamping”, the answer for those looking for some outdoors action, but without the fuss.