We’re in no shortage of stuff. Or things. There is new stuff and many new things launching on a weekly—and often daily—basis, all with a hefty dose of marketing gaff touting it as the next “must have” or proclaiming it “fills the gap” in an already overstuffed market. We know this because a vast majority of these are delivered to our inbox at an alarming rate, most of them—regrettably, but rightfully—almost instantaneously deposited into the trash.
Now, we’re not saying job of a luxury journo is a tough gig. Between launch luncheons, cocktail parties, and enough champagne openings to get an elephant drunk, it’s a relatively charmed life. But while we may be #blessed, it’s easy to get cynical when on the receiving end of the deluge of new—but by no means groundbreaking—products on the market.
That said, there’s still good times to be had; whether in the form of beautiful experiences, good design, a nifty bit of gear, cool reads, or an opening that actually impresses. From moisturiser worthy of your valuable skincare real estate and products that simply work to esoteric fragrance recommendations and maybe even some (non-preachy!) lifestyle advice.
Welcome to The Dispatch, a new weekly series. Delivered straight from the silk-lined trenches, The Dispatch is a roundup of the things that captured—and held!—our editors’ and writers’ interests this week.
A tale of two teas — from Korea to Japan
Tanisha Angel, editor
I recently paid a visit to the Montblanc flagship in Sydney to check out the maison’s new high artistry releases. In response to the server’s polite enquiry as to whether I’d like something to drink, I requested an espresso due to the earliness of the hour and was bafflingly met with a “how about a sparkling Japanese tea instead?” Uhh, sir? Is this some kind of a sick take on the ole “is Pepsi Max ok?” (also not ok) refrain?? As my mind waged an internal battle, I externally acquised to the server’s suggestion (he was rather handsome, after all). The iced tea in question, Saicho’s Sparkling Hojicha, was lovely — an earthy, umami sparkling roasted green tea with just the slightest hint of sweetness courtesy of white grape juice. Oh, and worry not, I did get my espresso in the end.
Explore Sparkling Hojicha via Saicho.
Despite my shock at being proffered tea in place of espresso, I am actually something of a tea aficionado. I’ve previously sought out the tea gardens of Darjeeling and Sikkim and regularly make it a point to try all the teas and tissanes when visiting new destinations. Last month, I visited South Korea for the first time — while many of the major luxury hotels and establishments opted for the French TWG Tea, there was ample experimentation to be had in the local supermarkets. Among the teas I tried were roasted barley tea (technically a tissane, but I digress), green tea with brown rice, corn silk tea, and red ginseng tea. However the standouts were Solomon’s seal tea and omija tea. The former blends the root of the Solomon’s seal plant with roasted brown rice to create a cannine-free nutty, earthy tea that can be sipped hot or cold like water, while the latter sees Schisandra chinensis (or omija) berries steeped in hot water with some honey mixed in for a sweet and sour tea that’s said to be good for the skin.
Bar Bruno
Tanisha Angel, editor
Between the closure of Quay and Oncore and the imminent shutdown of Bentley outpost after two decades later this month, Sydney CBD dining is having a rough time. It’s not hard to see why the scene isn’t thriving though — without enviable real estate and a harbour view, which both Quay and Oncore had, it’s difficult to cultivate that sense of escapism from the minutiae of everyday life pivotal to a successful fine dining establishment. The omnipresent feeling of corporate dread surrounding the CBD has led to the constant cycle of opening and shuttering new restaurants, not to mention the closure of old favourites, while the city’s dining scene continues to spread outwards to the surrounding inner-city suburbs of Surry Hills, Paddington, and Darlinghurst.
A Sydney CBD restaurant that does escapism well is an anomaly. Helmed by Odd Culture Group (Razz Room, The Duke of Enmore), Bar Bruno holds court in an enviably large piece of real estate on York Street, with exposed brick walls and hardwood floors warmed up by banquette seating and layered lighting. Visiting two days after opening, it already boasted a convivial, unhurried atmosphere.
We popped in for a quick bite after work and somehow ended up ordering a multi-course meal. The one-page menu is consise but thorough, with Italian-style dishes designed to be shared. Nuanced yet unfussy, the menu puts a regional spin on Italian dishes, with highlights including the mussels with fennel and fagioli giganti (giant beans), the Bruno Caesar which swaps romaine lettuce for mixed leaves and tempers the saltiness of the anchovies with chilli pangratto, and the eggplant parmigiana with vodka sauce. Where the food menu shows restraint, the 15-page wine menu spreads out, with Bar Bruno’s sommeliers happy to offer a pairing recommendation (on the other hand, my recommendation is to order the Bruno Martini).
A restaurant worth lingering in — no water view necessary.
Address: 18-20 York St, Sydney, NSW, Australia
Explore and book Bar Bruno via Odd Culture Group.
Toyo Steel Y-350 Toolbox
Theo Rosen, journalist
Sometimes the best products aren’t those that reinvent the wheel, but the ones that simply do what they say on the tin. Or on the heavy-duty steel box, as the case may be. Between the odd home reno and tinkering with my new (to me, but in actuality quite old) Defender, I’ve found myself carrying around a fair few tools lately.
While most of my kit lives in the garage, I traded out the old tackle box housing my car kit for Toyo Steel’s Y-350 Cambertop Toolbox. Despite its sleek, relatively compact appearance, it holds an impressive amount of gear thanks to the domed top. Crafted from hardwearing steel, it’s able to tolerate me flinging my pliers in without denting. The brand also makes larger cantilevered toolboxes for those who like more compartments for organisation, but I find I’m content pairing the streamlined Y-350 with a few smaller tins for miscellaneous bits.
Toyo Steel has gained favour with the collecting community of late, with TikTokers showing off how they use their toolboxes to store pen collections and craft supplies. I’m not mad about it — after all, it’s resulted in the brand releasing some pretty cool colourways. However, it’s good to know that the products still hold up to their original purpose — namely, lugging around a bunch of tools.
Explore the Y-350 Cambertop via Toyo Steel or Japanese Tools Australia.
Future Country, NGV
John Decard, publisher
During a recent trip to Melbourne, I paid a visit to the NGV (National Gallery of Victoria). I was there to check out the Cartier exhibit but ended up also visiting Future Country, a free exhibition that runs until the 13th of September. Part of a program that pairs emerging First Nations artists with established Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander creatives, the multidisciplinary works on display explore ancestral memory, storytelling, and country.
Explore Future Country via NGV.
Mad Labs Skincare
Henry Blake, journalist
Despite long being clued in on the benefits of having a consistent skincare routine, I still struggle to do much more than wash my face and occasionally moisturise. Fortunately, I’ve since found I don’t actually have to do much more than that. At the behest of Arabella, our beauty editor, I’ve been trying Mad Labs, a men’s skincare brand that bases a routine on just three products; a face wash, moisturiser, and exfoliant. I’ve been using the face wash and moisturiser twice a day (with Avene’s Sunscreen Fluid SPF 50+ over the top during the day) and the exfoliant a couple times a week. The moisturiser feels light on the skin—thicker textures are often what stop me from using a product—and it sits well under sunscreen.
I’ve noticed my skin looks more even, I don’t get any little bumps around my chin, and while I’d stop short of describing my face as ‘glowy’, there’s definitely a noticeable radiance. The routine feels manageable and like something I can continue to commit to.
Explore The Routine via Mad Labs Skincare.
Veneziano Coffee Roasters Crave Blend
Esmé Duggan, journalist
Like the rest of the AR team, I take my coffee pretty seriously. While I have a few go-to beans for espressos and long blacks, I’ve recently been getting into latte art (it’s a work in progress!) but have been struggling to find beans that don’t get overpowered by soy milk but still have nuanced flavours (i.e. not an aggressive hit of generic robusta). Among the beans I’ve been testing, the Crave blend from Veneziano Coffee Roasters, a Melbourne-based outfit, have stood out. A blend of Brazilian and Colombian washed beans and Indian robusta, it manages to be rich and dark while still having a clean taste. There’s virtually no acidity and it holds its own in a latte or flat white.
Explore Crave Blend via Veneziano Coffee Roasters.
Comme des Garçons Zagorsk
Arabella Johnson, beauty & fashion editor
I’ve been trying to break out of my fragrance repertoire lately and try some more out-of-the box, less conventionally ‘pretty’ scents. Our editor Tanisha has recommended a few and while some have been a miss (I’m looking at you, Orto Parisi Stercus), I’ve found myself continuing to revisit Comme des Garçons Zagorsk this winter. With notes of incense, pine, birch woods, and hinoki, it’s cool, dark, and a little serious. Pairs well with a big coat and a sombre mood.
Explore Zagorsk via Comme des Garçons.
Words by Theo Rosen
