Hospitality Archives - Karla Dawes Press Office

Meat, Meet Art

Victor Churchill, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Anyone who has encountered Victor Churchill, the acclaimed marble-clad butcher shop in Sydney’s Woollahra, has been dazzled by the audacity of its vision.

Patsy’s Charms North Melbourne

Patsy's, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

We relished the opportunity to introduce the world to the debonaire Patsy’s, a wine bar and meat-free bistro that swung open its doors, opened directly opposite the Queen Victoria Market on the fringe of Melbourne’s CBD late last year.

Chandon Puts the Sparkle in Summer

CHANDON, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

We were fizzing with excitement when leading international wine house Chandon engaged KDPO to assist in promoting its Garden Spritz Summer Sessions pop-up at its stunning Yarra Valley estate.

Garden State goes Italian

Tippy Tay, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Can’t travel to Italy right now? Well, look no further than Sand Hill Road’s flagship CBD venue, Garden State, which mid-last year shifted gears on its flagship Garden Grill.

Grand Slam Souvlaki

Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

It was love-all when Melbourne’s iconic late night souvlaki institution Stalactites joined forces with the highest ranked Greek tennis player in history, Stefanos Tsitsipas – all in the name of raising funds for mental health.

Gone Fishing

The Fishmonger's Son, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

We fell hook, line and sinker for the joys of promoting the North Carlton seafood shop The Fishmonger’s Son.

HER to the Power of Four

Hospitality, Culture Posted by kdpo

It was a red-letter day when HER swung open its multiple doors in early February. Almost six years in the making, the four-level, multi-concept venue on Lonsdale Street in the city became an instant Melbourne landmark and the latest addition to our famous “vertical laneways”. A grand Victorian rescued from neglect by the HQ group…

INDU moves south

Prince Group, Indu Melbourne, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

It was difficult for Melburnians not to feel a little jealous hearing about Sydney-dwelling southern Indian and Sri Lankan restaurant INDU. We’re not just talking the signature lamb raan but the glamorous surroundings, the subcontinental cocktails and the all-round oh la la. So we were doubly thrilled to help launch INDU’s Melbourne chapter in the…

A decade of Chin Chin

Lucas Restaurants, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Anyone who lives in Melbourne knows the city’s restaurant scene can be best understood in terms of BCC (before Chin Chin) and ACC (after Chin Chin). For the past decade it’s been a party disguised as a restaurant – which makes it absolutely no surprise that the 10th birthday of the Flinders Lane lovely was…

Stokehouse by moonlite

Stokehouse Precinct, Hospitality, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

Iconic St Kilda restaurant Stokehouse got into a plate-smashing mood to celebrate Orthodox Easter this year, with a one-off dinner with its Executive Chef Jason Staudt and talented chef Matt Germanchis. Matt is behind Anglesea’s acclaimed Fish By Moonlite, so it should come as no surprise that the night included some amazing seafood in the…

Curiouser and curiouser

Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Melbourne’s most glamorous and mysterious new cocktail bar is Curious by name and curious by nature. Tucked away in a subterranean cocoon in Melbourne’s brand-new W Hotel, it’s the new address for the glitterati – which meant it deserved a suitably exclusive launch party. KDPO pulled together a guest list of movers and shakers from…

Free to feed ready to party

Hospitality, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

KDPO has long been an admirer of social enterprise Free to Feed, which for the past five years has been creating empowering employment opportunities for refugees and asylum seekers while spreading awareness through shared food experiences. So naturally we jumped at the chance to provide pro-bono help in May when FTF launched their fabulous new…

Play it live and play it loud

Coopers, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

Live music is back, baby! While virtual gigs sustained us through 2020, it’s great to get back to experience music IRL (real life… remember that?). Following the phenomenal success of last year’s live stream event Live, Loud and Local, KDPO once again jumped on board with Coopers Brewery and Live Nation Australasia to promote live…

Special delivery

Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

Melbourne loves Providoor, Shane Delia’s premium delivery service that brings food from some of Melbourne’s best restaurants to peoples’ homes. Providoor has always been much more than just another delivery app – as it proved conclusively with a recent series of virtual masterclasses designed to celebrate key dates in the calendar, including Easter and Mothers’…

Hunted + Gathered + slathered

Hunted+Gathered, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

We at KDPO are firmly in the pro-chocolate camp, so it was a thrill to launch Hunted + Gathered’s new chocolate spread range, along with the retail release of their cooking chocolate. You’ve probably already heard of these cool kids on the chocolate block, but by way of backstory, Hunted + Gathered was started in…

The Westin sets sail

Westin Melbourne, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

The Westin Hotel has brought a nautical theme to its legendary High Tea. In collaboration with Four Pillars Gin, the boozy, seafood-themed experience is called High Seas and includes gin-based cocktails (like the 50/50, a mix of Four Pillars Rare Dry Gin, Lillet Blanc and orange bitters) and delicate and delicious finger food like curried…

Ticking the box

Stokehouse Precinct, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Want a great example of successful pivoting during lockdown? Look no further than the successful collaboration between Melbourne bayside restaurant icon Stokehouse and legendary seafood wholesaler Clamms. Stokehouse chef Jason Staudt joined up with the Clamms folk to put together three boxes of premium seafood and BBQ goodies that could be enjoyed at home, on…

Tasty collaborations

Maker & Monger, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

The beginning of 2021 has already seen some of our favourite clients presenting exciting new initiatives. Prahran Market cheese gurus Maker & Monger have collaborated with former MasterChef winner Diana Chan on a deliciously fiery toastie called the Sambal Hae Bee. Inspired by Malaysian dried shrimp sambal, the toastie has shrimp, shallots, lemongrass, galangal, chillies…

Bird in Hand pops a cork

Bird In Hand, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

We were beside ourselves with post-COVID excitement when we finally got to host our first in real life event for South Australian winery Bird in Hand. Birds of a feather flocked together at our equally lovely client Stokehouse’s elegant private events space, the Palm Room. Enjoying stunning St Kilda beach views, fabulous food from executive…

Johnny’s Green Room salutes the sun

Johnny's Green Room, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

The festive season was a little bit different last year, for obvious reasons, but we have become expert practitioners in the art of the pivot. Case in point: our annual Start of Summer lunch, which is held every year on the first Friday of December at Johnny’s Green Room. In pre-pandemic times, Johnny’s rooftop with…

Down Mejico way

Mejico, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

It was born in Sydney in 2013, but the opening of Mejico in Melbourne in December represented a homecoming of sorts. Ian Hicks, the Hicks Hospitality Group Director, is a proud Melburnian, so to bring the hugely popular Mexican restaurant and tequila bar to his hometown was a deservedly proud moment and KDPO was happy…

Aussie beach house on the Yarra

Arbory, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

It’s not really summer until Arbory Afloat, the much-loved floating bar and restaurant anchored next to Flinders Street Station each year, announces its décor and flavour theme for the coming season. In previous years there’s been a Euro beach club vibe but this year, like the rest of us, they’re sticking a little closer to…

Lakeside lovelies

Lakeside at Carousel, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

The place to be this summer has been lakeside in Albert Park. KDPO helped the teams behind South Melbourne diner Half Acre and catering creatives food&desire establish a pop-up urban retreat that makes the picnic rug a chic accoutrement indeed. Lakeside at Carousel was all about giving event-starved Melburnians the chance to grab a COVID-19…

A cookbook for good: Brunch in Melbourne

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

While everyone in Melbourne was bummed about not being able to frequent their fave brunch spots on the weekend when we went into our first lockdown in March, little did we know that Australian charity OnePlate would come to our rescue. In May this year, Australian charity OnePlate launched its first-ever cookbook “Brunch in Melbourne”…

Pivot is Cookes Food’s middle name

Cookes Food, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Cookes Food is a premium and multifaceted events and catering company that has been no stranger to a pivot in 2020. After a calendar full of events and functions were cleared overnight for Cookes founder Sophie Storen in late March when COVID-19 hit our shores, Sophie and her team put their thinking caps on and started…

Let them eat gelato cake: Pidapipo enlists artist Beci Orpin to lift the mood

Pidapipo, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Everyone’s favourite gelateria Pidapipo decided to combine forces with much loved Melbourne artist Beci Orpin to lift the spirits the only way they knew how; with art and gelato cakes. In late July, Pidapipo owner Lisa Valmorbida worked her magic and came up with three different mini gelato cakes all with puff pastry bases and…

Babajan transforms into a Turkish takeaway delight

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Carlton North café Babajan has been winning over locals, tourists and foodies alike with their delicious Turkish and Middle Eastern creations for years. Due to its cosy nature, it wasn’t too COVID-19 friendly, so owner Kirsty Chiaplias decided to make the leap into transforming Babajan into a takeaway and provedore heaven in August 2020. The…

The future of wine

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Now in its 14th year, Young Gun of Wine had to mix it up a little in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Cheers to free beers

Stomping Ground, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

It would take a stronger person than us to get through this whole pandemic thing without a few beers. Collingwood brewery Stomping Ground was happy to keep brewing beer during the shutdown but was also sad about all those COVID-shuttered pubs across the city so they decided to do something.

K&G goes back to the future

King & Godfree, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Past and present came together in an unexpected but ultimately comforting way at King & Godfree recently. K&G, a licensed grocery store operating since 1884, has been owned and operated by the Valmorbida family since 1955 and was recently renovated. And then COVID-19 arrived to spoil the party.

Live, Loud and in your Lounge Room

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Live music is one of the things we’ve missed the most in lockdown, so KDPO was completely on board when Coopers Brewery engaged us to promote their virtual entertainment series, Live, Loud & Local, nationally.

Johnny turned one and boy did we celebrate

Johnny's Green Room, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

To celebrate one year of good times at Johnny’s Green Room, we threw an exuberant birthday party on Thursday 5 December with 200 of our closest friends, family, media and industry faces.

We fell hook line and sinker for Fishbowl

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

When we saw three young Bondi guys making waves and changing the fast-food scene in Sydney with Fishbowl we were excited to find out that they were making their way down to our beloved Melbourne.

Arbory Afloat re-berths for the longest summer

Arbory, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

For the third year in a row, Arbory Afloat sailed up the Yarra and moored itself beside Flinders St Station for another epic Melbourne summer. Following on from a recent overseas work research trip, the team at Arbory decided to focus on a Miami theme this year to encapsulate the cultural diversity of the vibrant American city.

Maker & Monger gets permanent

Maker & Monger, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Our fave cheese guy, Anthony Femia, has had a serious upgrade in his lodgings, swapping his cute but humble antique cheese cart for a bells-and-whistles permanent stall at the Prahran Market.

Charity burgers

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Melbourne food truck king and owner of Brunswick’s Beatbox Kitchen, Raph Rashid staged a 24-hour burger flipping marathon for charity in August to raise money for the Youth Support + Advocacy Service (YSAS).

Raes & Perrier-Jouët get arty

Raes on Wategos, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Travel, Culture Posted by kdpo

Byron Bay’s iconic luxury boutique, spa and restaurant Raes added another string to its bow this year when it kicked off its inaugural Artist in Residence program with artist Stanislas Piechaczek.

The Westin (feat. Willy Wonka)

Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

The Westin Melbourne loves a collaboration. Last time around it was all about the cheese when the hotel joined forces with our favourite cheese shop and toastie technicians Maker & Monger. Now they’ve joined forces with crazy dessert alchemists Burch & Purchese.

Chin Chin celebrates dads (and their sneakers)

Lucas Restaurants, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Modern Thai juggernaut Chin Chin celebrated Melbourne dads on Fathers’ Day this year with a special ‘Feed Me’ menu, featuring a roll call of Chin Chin classics for just $69.50 per head. But this is Chin Chin so the fun didn’t stop there.

Trunk transforms into the Italo-American place of your dreams

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Pepe’s Italian & Liquor opened its doors revealing the epic transformation from the original Trunk Restaurant & Bar on Exhibition Street. Owner Nick Kutcher drew inspiration for the Italian-American style menu from his time living in New York, which celebrates Italian immigrant cuisine, starring classic pizza and pasta dishes, as well as family-style shared mains.

Yoga afloat

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Arbory Afloat, Melbourne’s hottest (and longest) floating restaurant and bar swapped spritz and pizza for Namaste and downward dog when it hosted Yoga On The Yarra for International Women’s Day.

Party like Peroni

Asahi Premium Beverages, Hospitality, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

Peroni has climbed aboard the party train to celebrate its first significant global brand overhaul in more than a decade.

Boozy buffet brunch

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Boozy, buffet and brunch are three words we can all get behind. Put them all together and they’re even better as Adam Wright-Smith is currently proving at Half Acre, his bar, eatery and events space in South Melbourne.

Sparkling MIFF lunch

Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Yarra Valley-based winery Chandon celebrated their sponsorship at this year’s Melbourne International Film Festival with a lunch in August at one of KDPO’s second homes, Agostino Wine Bar in Carlton.

Time to live large on the big barge

Arbory, Hospitality, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

We helped spread the word about the latest Arbory Live sessions – a 10-week long music and experiential art program that ran from early November into the New Year.

Introducing Light Years Burleigh Heads

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Off the back of the success of its Byron Bay and Noosa restaurants, Light Years opened a third outpost in the always sunny Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.

Chin Chin Melbourne event space

Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Following the phenomenal success of Chin Chin Sydney’s underground event space Chii Town, the Melbourne Chin Chin mothership now has its own dedicated space.

Content comes alive at the Broadsheet Kitchen launch

Broadsheet, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

By now most diners and restaurateurs would be familiar with the ‘Broadsheet Effect’. Get on the publication’s radar and suddenly people are lining up out the doors to try what you’ve got. So it’s no surprise that their new Kitchen project was an eagerly anticipated affair.

Johnny’s Green Room is wide open for business

King & Godfree, Johnny's Green Room, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

It was time to celebrate the opening of King & Godfree’s new rooftop bar, and launch, we did.

Long live the King on Lygon

King & Godfree, Hospitality, Culture Posted by kdpo

The deli owners at King & Godfree helped bring Italian culture to Melbourne in the 1880s. After years of planning and renovations, it’s back doing what it does best… only better.

Why not go the full Half Acre?

Half Acre, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

They say those in glasshouses shouldn’t throw stones. Maybe they should instead follow Half Acre’s example and throw get-togethers in a large, light-filled dining space.

Going deep at Raes on Wategos

Raes on Wategos, Hospitality, Travel, Culture Posted by kdpo

We figured it was our duty to pack the sandals and linens and head north again to check out the new additions to our favourite beachside destination.

When life gives you lemons, demand ceviche

Citrico, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Did you guys know Argentina boasts the world’s best steak? Or that Chilean’s fish from one of the longest coastlines on Earth? If not, it’s time for a hands-on (napkins tucked) education at Citrico Cocina.

Say cheese. It’s time for tea

Westin Melbourne, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

High Cheese is a contemporary take on English high tea with a much, much greater emphasis on cheese. So, really, they should’ve thought of it centuries ago.

An Englishman and an Indian walk into a bar…

The Rochey, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Picture the Rochey, a long-standing neighbourhood pub in Fitzroy that had undergone a facelift and reputation change just over three years ago, doing its bit for the foodies and drinkers of the inner north of Melbourne. Craft beers, innovative cocktails and rock ‘n’ roll

Turkish delight into the night

Babajan, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

Babajan already gives the Carlton North breakfast crowd a spicy antidote to smashed avocado and eggs benedict. Trouble is, you used to have to get there before nightfall. Until now.

Going straight to the salty source of it all

CAPI, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events, Travel, Culture Posted by kdpo

This year CAPI’s bullet-shaped bottles shot to number one, taking out Best Tonic Water at the 2017/18 World Beverage Competition (it’s just one of their 12 prestigious awards to-date). So when they were set to launch their new Native Tonic, we thought it best to host it somewhere that felt worlds apart from the competition.

Bucha, a cut above the rest

Bucha of Byron, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

When you wake up with your brain rinsed into the size and texture of a dry sponge, it’s easy to start hatching clean living plans (that start tomorrow). We’ve embraced a simple way to improve our health and doesn’t involve broken promises.

Did someone say free scoops?

Pidapipo, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Culture Posted by kdpo

In April 2018 Pidapipo opened their new gelateria on Degraves Street. This officially meant a Pidapipo now exists on each side of the river and in the middle of Melbourne’s CBD. It’s a well-tested strategy really: divide and conquer.

Pidapipo’s first recipe book brought the sugar rush to summer

Pidapipo, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

You know something tastes good when it inspires lines out the door. And you know something tastes darn good when people can’t handle waiting and start demanding their own recipe book.

We set the stage for sweetness, you did the rest

Pidapipo, Hospitality, Lifestyle Posted by kdpo

On February 14 we matched Pidapipo with one of Australia’s most sought-after illustrators, Alice Oehr. Her style always manages to imbue the every day with idiosyncrasy and a little bit of wonder, which is what you need (especially on Valentine’s Day).

The Michelin star equivalent of Uber Eats

Romu, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

What do you do when you want to impress people at home with a dining experience that’s très déliicieux and artfully prepared but you’d rather not dedicate your entire life to learning how to be a top chef? Romu Oudeyer and his partner Liz have the answer.

Cocktails and brunch? It’s only natural

CAPI, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

CAPI released a new range of carbonated beverages that are completely free of artificial flavours and sweeteners. In other words, they’re good for you. Some might say cocktails for breakfast are bad for you. But if you make those cocktails using natural cucumber or lemongrass & ginger-infused CAPI then everything evens out. Probably.

The city that never sleeps just got extra caffeinated

Bluestone Lane, Hospitality, Travel Posted by kdpo

Any stroll down Swan Street (or Brunswick Street, or Gertrude Street, Glenferrie Road, or Chapel Street or… the list goes on) will prove that Melbourne loves American style dining. But you’re unlikely to see a Starbucks unless you’re en route to the airport because we need our Melbourne coffee (goshdarnit!).

Bringing a fresh meaning to effervescence

CAPI, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events, Travel, Culture Posted by kdpo

If the fizzy stuff saves your life from time to time, you’ll know no one does it better than CAPI. They’ve remained a family-owned, family-run business since they started out in 2012. But there’s only so much growing you can do before you need to upgrade your office.

Keeping things buoyant all summer long at Arbory Afloat

Arbory, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

Arbory Bar & Eatery has been so popular that they’ve had to extend service onto the water over the warmer months. And when they asked us to help relaunch their Arbory Afloat concept again for summer 2017 we were more than happy to jump aboard.

Teaming up with the legend gang at The Lucas Group

Lucas Restaurants, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events Posted by kdpo

People tend to queue outside The Lucas Group venues with patient, barely contained excitement; it’s like they’re waiting for tickets to the Rolling Stones final tour (supported by Beyoncé, Jay Z and Harry Styles).

Shooting from the hip and loving every drop

Young Gun of Wine, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

Unlike a lot of wine labels, this is the kind of thing that actually fulfils its ostentatious promises. It’s the Young Gun of Wine awards, a chance for the very best up-and-comers in the wine scene to show off their best drops and compete for glory.

Riding the rising tides at Arbory Bar & Eatery

Arbory, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

The Yarra-side fence line at Flinders Street Station used to attract old chip packets and fare evaders. But since Arbory Eatery & Bar took over in 2015, the spot’s been transformed into an idyllic drinking nook; perfect for winding down in the shade and watching the city drift by.

A ray of sunshine at Raes on Wategos

Raes on Wategos, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Travel Posted by kdpo

Byron Bay. Turquoise seas, tropical rainforests and sand so fine it dimples like silk under your toes. It’s perfect. And Rae’s on Wategos is the perfect place to make the most of it.

Out of the gates and into a Sauvignon Blanc…

Catalina Sounds, Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

When the spring air finally floats through the sky, you want to be in the most comfortable spot possible. At the Caulfield Cup we came in with the winning trifecta.

Grab the sweetest Plumm by the stem

Plumm, Hospitality Posted by kdpo

*Sung in an Ed Sheeran voice*, “I’m in love with the shape of you, ohh wah, ohhwah ooh,” that’s what wine sings as it splashes down into Plumm Glassware, settles and aerates.

Finally, a rum that doesn’t feel like it was designed by pirates

Asahi Premium Beverages, Hospitality, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

Some of the best stories remain untold and some of the best rum cocktails remain unmixed. That’s why Asahi Premium Beverages expanded its liquor range to include a 2 to 3-year aged golden Caribbean rum made specifically for mixing.

Adding an extra shine to a sun-dappled square

Hospitality, Lifestyle, Events, Culture Posted by kdpo

The square at Melbourne University used to be just known as the place to skip lectures, watch sparrows and let the collegial atmosphere enrich your sense of significance. Until now.

We were there for the best of the best

Asahi Premium Beverages, Hospitality, Events Posted by kdpo

Bringing different chefs and food-lovers together is an event. Gathering the world’s best chefs under one roof? That’s a congress. London did it, Miami did it when it was Melbourne’s turn to hold the Estrella Damm World’s 50 Best & Gastronomy Congress, we helped the event shine bright like a (Michelin) star.