March into Merivale - a festival of the senses 2015

2014 March into Merivale launch party

Back for its seventh year, March into Merivale brings together food, wine, adventure and surprise for a total of 50 events over five weeks. While past years have focussed solely on food and drink, this year’s festival aims to create a holistic Merivale experience, beyond just what’s on your plate – or in your glass. Think detox yoga sessions, pastry master classes and dining with off-duty chefs. “This year, we’ve upped the ante to deliver a jam-packed five week festival of the senses,” says Merivale CEO Justin Hemmes. “I cannot wait.”

There’s plenty to do all week, with a different event offered every day. But if you can only make it to one this year, make it the Launch Party. It’s the crème de la crème of the festival, with over 20 featured venues, including Ms.G’s, Papi Chulo and Coogee Pavilion, set to take over ivy for one unmissable night.

Excitement is also building for the inaugural Coogee Foreshore Festival, set at Merivale’s newest venue, Coogee Pavilion. With a big focus on the local community, Merivale is gathering some of its biggest and best venues for a seaside celebration that will spill out onto the promenade. In the same way Coogee Pavilion prides itself on being accessible to all, games, market stalls and roaming entertainment will ensure there’s something for everyone at the Coogee Foreshore Festival.

If planning ahead isn’t your thing, book you and your friends in for a three-course Mystery Dinner. Running Monday to Saturday every week of the festival, adventurous diners won’t know which Merivale restaurant they’re going to until the morning of. But with venues including est. and Mr Wong on the cards, it’s bound to be a good surprise.

With all these events plus many more, you’re sure to find something that whets your appetite. In past years events have regularly sold out, so book ahead to avoid disappointment.

• Official website and tickets: www.marchintomerivale.com.au
• Full event schedule PDF: http://marchintomerivale.com.au/assets/files/MarchintoMerivale_2015_calendar.pdf
• View full event schedule image: see below

Interview with Dan Hong, Exec chef of Mr Wong:

We chat to Executive Chef Dan Hong about food, hangovers and his top picks for the festival.

M: What do you have in store for the Ms.G’s and Mr Wong stalls at the Launch Party?
DH: We’re making really delicious, tasty dishes that are perfect for standing up at a party – we want each dish to explode with flavour in your mouth. Our menu for the launch is really reflective of the food we serve in our restaurants, so there are some of our signature dishes on there. For Ms.G’s we have the lamb ribs and for Mr Wong the lamb cutlets because they’re just so popular, but there’ll be new things to try as well.

M: Which Launch Party stalls will you be heading to first?
DH: I’ll definitely be going straight for Papi Chulo. I think they’re doing their hot smoked wings… They’re like the best wings in Sydney. I’m also excited to see what Danielle Alvarez has in store [for the Paddington Arms stall]. And Jordan Toft [at Coogee Pavilion] too.

M: What March into Merivale event are you most looking forward to?
DH: I’m really looking forward to my event [At Home with Dan Hong] where I get to cook for 22 people. I’m excited to meet and chat with all the guests. I’ll be keeping it really fun, putting all the food on the table so everybody can just help themselves.

M: We’re pretty excited for the Hangover’s Delight! brunch at Ms.G’s. What’s your fail-safe hangover cure? 
DH: I’d probably go down to Bankstown and smash down a bowl of pho, the Vietnamese noodle soup.

M: Where do you get your cooking inspiration from?
DH: I get inspiration from everywhere really – from travelling overseas, eating something off the street or going to another restaurant. I could be inspired by something I eat in a Chinatown food court, or just by an ingredient itself. I actually just came back from New Zealand where I ate loads of fresh local seafood, and I’m already thinking about how I can use it.


March into Merivale full event schedule: http://marchintomerivale.com.au/assets/files/MarchintoMerivale_2015_calendar.pdf

23 February to 29 March 2015

Sydney and NSW to shine at AIME 201

Off the back of its award-winning presence in 2014, Destination Sydney will return bigger than ever to Asia Pacific’s premier annual trade show – the 23rd Asia-Pacific Incentives and Meetings Expo (AIME 2015) in Melbourne.


With 15 co-exhibitors by its side, Business Events Sydney (BESydney) will be out to show the 3,000 meetings industry professionals why Sydney and New South Wales (NSW) shine as the best places on earth to meet.  


“It’s an electrifying time with cranes creating a new skyline for Sydney. This is not the Sydney we knew a decade ago – or even a year ago,” said BESydney CEO Lyn Lewis-Smith. “ICC Sydney is just part of around A$60 billion in major infrastructure investments that will transform Sydney now and into the future.”

And, with this week’s commitment by the NSW Government to provide a $123.35 million or 25 per cent boost to the sector, the future for the State is even brighter. NSW is already home to an exceptional calendar of major events. There’ll be even more activities from Sydney to the regions for visitors to participate in and experience.

“The NSW Government’s commitment to growing the visitor economy is undisputed. In addition to its $1.1 billion capital investment in new convention, exhibition and entertainment facilities, the government is investing in a host of programs and projects to ensure the harbour city continues to be a globally attractive place to live, work and visit,” said Ms Lewis-Smith.

“The Government also understands the role that business events play in helping it to achieve broader economic development goals and BESydney is proud to be recognised by its government as contributing to both the knowledge and visitor economy.”

While at AIME this year, Ms Lewis-Smith will also represent the Association of Australian Convention Bureaux (AACB) in her role as President to champion a new Federal Government agreement and explain what it means for the industry. Recently, the Australian Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon. Andrew Robb AO MP, recognised international business events as an integral part of the government’s economic diplomacy agenda and announced an historic new framework – Attracting Business Events to Australia: Role of Government Agencies.

“Engagement across all levels of government is strong. And, while we’re counting down the months until our cutting-edge convention and exhibition facilities are complete, rest assured that Sydney is well and truly open for business in the lead up to this milestone,” added Ms Lewis-Smith.

“Last year, Sydney hosted 78 international conferences, conventions and incentive events, including some of the largest ever to be staged in Australia, breaking records along the way. Both the 105th Rotary International Convention and 6th IUCN World Parks Congress exceeded organiser expectations, attracting more than 2,000 participants above forecasts, and record country attendance.”

BESydney’s co-exhibitors include the Australian Technology Park Sydney; Australian Turf Club; InterContinental Sydney; InterContinental Sydney Double Bay; Destination Wollongong; Sofitel Sydney Wentworth; The Menzies Sydney, Novotel Rooty Hill & Novotel Rockford; Accor NSW Golf, Valley & Vines; Mercure Sydney and Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour; Accor Hotels Sydney; Accor NSW Regional Coastal Hotels; Australian National Maritime Museum; Blue Mountains, Lithgow and Oberon Tourism; BridgeClimb Sydney and Explore Sailing; and Shangri-La Hotel Sydney.

Source: http://www.incentivetravel.co.uk/news/australia/25051-sydney-and-nsw-to-shine-at-aime-201