While MasterChef Australia is heating up, Julia Jenkins is hard at work trying to get the edge over her fellow contestants. Julia takes a hard earned break and chats with Two Flat Whites. She is obsessed with food, and it wasn’t until she was in her late teens, Julia confesses that she was an extremely fussy eater and could never have imagined herself becoming a cook. The race to the finals is only week’s away, check out more right here .

Where did you grow up & where do you hang your hat?

I grew up in Perth, Western Australia but moved to Melbourne almost two years ago.

In your own words, what did you do before MasterChef Australia?

Before Masterchef I was working as a Marketing Assistant at a cinema company. It was a great job and a fantastic company, but ultimately it wasn’t where I wanted to be. Basically, it wasn’t food.

How did you become involved with MasterChef Australia & was it a lengthy process?

I resigned from my job at the beginning of the year and was in the thick of deciding what I wanted to do with my life and how I wanted to get into the food industry when I heard whispers that Masterchef was coming to Australia. I applied, managed to get through the lengthy audition process, and the Top 50 week, and here I am. I don’t think I ever expected to even get the first call back, let alone get through to the finals!

What has inspired you to become a chef?

I adore food. I love cooking it, reading about it, tasting it, eating it, cooking it, and talking about it. I have met so many passionate and knowledgeable people in the industry and they have really inspired me to follow this path.

(more…)

Cut & Paste is a global design competition for the most creative minds in design across the world. The competition was launched in Sydney in 2007 when over 1000 people packed into the Metro Theatre to watch the live creative design process. This years’ Cut&Paste in partnership with Autodesk and Wacom is going to be even better with designers battlin’ to given themes and time limits live on stage! Their work will be web cast globally and projected in real-time for the live Cut&Paste audience.

This years’ event features a hat trick of 2D, 3D, and Motion Design competitions in sixteen cities worldwide,  across North America, Europe and Asia Pacific: Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York City, Portland, San Francisco, Toronto, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, London, Milan, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Tokyo and we want you involved! The 2009 tour takes Cut&Paste over, across, and around the world in just over a hundred days, then flying back to New York for the grand finale, the debut of an international showdown between champions.

This years Cut&Paste is back at the Metro Theatre on Saturday, June 6.

Get your tickets here.

If authentic Thai cuisine is what you’re after, then do not look past Chat Thai . This quaint little Thai restaurant in the heart of the city is one of Sydney’s little gems. It’s always busy for lunch & dinner, although you can book ahead.

The restaurant is opposite the Capitol Theatre & dare not to blink as you may miss it. You enter through the front door & the smells & fragrances tickle your senses & force the hair on the back of your neck to stand, like a well drilled marching band. Your eyes light up with the décor of wooden tables & chairs & the colours & art on the walls. You’re greeted by a friendly face & a smile.

The menu has it all. From your jungle, green & red curries, to your Pad Thai, stir fry’s with just the right mix of chilli, Tiger Beef & Curry Puffs. The prices are very reasonable & you can enjoy a feast. The professional & friendly staff add to this dining experience.

Whether you want to take that someone special for a romantic evening before a show or enjoy the company of friends & family, Chat Thai caters for you. Two Flat Whites rates this Thai restaurant as the best we have dined at in Sydney to date. This place is something special & should not be missed!

Article written by Liam Gibbs

Chat Thai
20 Campbell Street
Haymarket NSW 2000
Tel:
Fax:
www.chatthai.com.au

Jordan Clarke is finally back on the web with her new website!

You can read more about her and also purchase some of her awesome work, check it out here

The Ray Mann Three are out again this time putting together they’re 2nd album. The Ray Mann Three is recording they’re live show . Fresh off the road from they’re very first tour and straight… onto tape. Every Wednesday in November at The Mac, they’re playing the same songs (but differently each night) and documenting the entire process. So that means audio and video – recording to tape (literally) via vintage microphones and reel-to-reel magnetic tape machines, and shooting the whole thing on video to boot. And, of course, you’re invited to come down and be a part of it all. Make some noise and be immortalized!

The Ray Mann Three is those guys in the corner: sitting, jamming, sketching with soulful strokes; inhabiting a world of their own, but inviting you to visit – and maybe stay awhile… Vintage threads and stripped-back sounds: The Ray Mann Three’s sound whispers its love of folks like D’angelo, Al Green and The Beatles – but listen a little closer: it hints at so many others too…

Singer/guitarist Ray Mann (ex-lead guitarist with Sydney band Kid Confucius), drummer Bart Denaro (who continues to play in Kid Confucius), and bassist Byron Luiters (who also plays with pretty much everyone else in town) have created a special place together in The Ray Mann Three: a space where their collective musical style is boldy minimal yet surprisingly full, startlingly dynamic yet warmly intimate.

Wednesdays in November @ The Macquarie Hotel
42 Wentworth St Sydney, 8pm-11pm.

Funnyman & well-known television, radio and stand-up comedian, Wil Anderson , performed one of his hilarious stand-up comedy shows at the Roxbury Hotel in Glebe last night. Two Flat Whites caught the show & enjoyed the entertainment including the four comedians leading up to the main event.

The Roxbury Hotel is a wonderful establishment with a diverse cool crowd. They often hold functions, have plenty of space to chill, have a few drinks, kick up your heels & enjoy a wonderful meal.

Wil is a stand up first and foremost, touring Australia and the world at every opportunity, performing more than a hundred shows a year, currently in his show titled BeWILdered . You can hear him on the nations airwaves on Triple M’s national Drive Show, “Wil and  Lehmo” in Melbourne & he is probably best known for hosting ABC-TVs AFI Award winning program, The Glass House , which was on screen for many years.

We have always enjoyed Wil’s quick wit. Seeing him live for the first time though was an experience in itself. He not only brings people together to make them laugh, he is also very professional, obviously really enjoys what he does & brings messages about issues we face in the world today to his act & he does it in a humorous & intelligent way.

Catch Wil Anderson when he performs near you. He will make you laugh & when you leave the show you will want to come back for more. And remember, laughter feeds the soul!

Article by Robbie Ryan

The Hardware Gallery has expanded. Everyone who has witnessed the mayhem over the last 2 years and for those slackers who have not – now is your chance to see how the Enmore Kr3w gets down. There have been a number of changes including: –

Expanded gallery – doubling the floor space of the gallery with new displays for current stock and larger more ambitious exhibitions.

Record Room – thousands of used vinyl records for sale at awesome prices inside the coolest custom built room of all time.

Bar – the most impressive place to rest between hectic art viewing and dazzling conversation with the 3nmor3 Kr3w.

Art services – all of our existing art services remain. Sydney’s finest, friendliest and organised framing, canvas stretching and art installation service.

The beer garden – will remain open for the members of the 3nmor3 Kr3w.

The Hard Core exhibition has kicked off the festivities with both galleries filled with fresh new work by 12 of the finest young local artists. You will see work from Seth Birchall, Nicholas Fintan, Ray Firth, Philip Hannaford, David Hickson, Keith Looby, Rodney Monk, Andrew McNeill, Josonia Palaitis, David Perry, Sandi Rigby & Yuri Shimmyo.

The exhibition is now on & runs through October 2008. Why not check out some art, have a beer, buy a record & support some of our up & coming Sydney artists. Tell them Two Flat Whites sent you!

Article written by Anita Gallant

The skies of Bondi will be all a quiver with hundreds of kites of varying shape, size and description sailing about as gracefully as airborne sharks. International guests will show off their unique flying creations alongside the Australian Kite Flyers Society members who will be showcasing their own designs.

And it’s not just the pros showing off their kiting skills: anyone can join the glorious sky-bound spectacle by whipping up your own creation at the kite-making workshop. If you would rather spectate, kick back with a picnic or fare from the food stalls (or fish ‘n’ chips from a Bondi vendor) and daydream as this unconventional ballet unfurls before you.

If you’re more energetic, skip along to the Pavilion Courtyard Amphitheatre for free dance and music workshops and a plethora of other entertainment – face painting, wandering minstrels, jugglers, stilt walkers, puppeteers, clowns and craft workshops.

Art lovers are even catered for at the Bondi Pavilion Gallery, which will be hosting a spectacular aerial art exhibition, or rather views from the kite’s perspective.

The Festival of The Winds is at Bondi Beach on Sun 14 September, 11am to 4pm.

The Sydney Underground Film Festival is dedicated to nurturing an alternative film culture through the promotion of independent and experimental films. The festival seeks to support filmmakers who operate outside established film industry infrastructures, by providing a platform for exhibition, exposure and critical discussion.

Founded in 2007 by filmmaking team Stefan Popescu and Katherine Berger and assisted by a dedicated team of volunteers, the Sydney Underground Film Festival achieved vast success in its first year with a sell out opening night and with weekend crowds of around 2000 guests. The 2008 festival takes place from 11th – 14th September at The Factory Theatre, Enmore.

The Sidewayz Art Exhibition 2008 features works on skateboards and snowboards by more than 50 artists from all over the country. Artists have donated their pieces which will all be auctioned off with all proceeds going to the CHILL australia program . Sidewayz opens at MTV Gallery, Yurong Street, East Sydney, with opening night on Wednesday 20th August from 7pm. The show continues until the 27th August 2008. For more information and online bidding go to www.balmoralboards.com.au .