Author: Sarah Kemp

A Lone Diner in Melbourne: Gensuke

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Where Gensuke, Hawthorn   Experience Gensuke doesn’t do much for my longing to go to Japan. Having popped into work to take a few snaps of a beer tasting on Thursday night, I decided that going home to cook my solitary aubergine just wasn’t going to cut it. I was going to try a new pizza joint, but as I approached I stopped in my tracks, turned around and headed to my car. I had remembered my friend telling me about an amazing Hawthorn ramen shop on Glenferrie Road, so I whipped out my phone and with a minute had tapped the address of Gensuke into my sat nav. The first thing that struck me about Gensuke was the lighting; the glow was so bright that I could see it from where I parked my car a good 50 meters away. Undeterred, I ventured through the door and was greeted by a chorus of Japanese waiters and chefs communicating to each other in harmony. A smile emerged across my face and I knew I had …

Table for one? A Solo Diner in Melbourne

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He’s back, I thought to myself as I saw Omar being seated at the kitchen bar. The last time I saw him, he was about to embark on a five week work/fun trip around Asia. Little did he know that during his time away, a series of solo dinners were taking place and a blog series idea was bubbling away, all inspired by him. When I told my friend who worked at the restaurant before my time that I was inspired by a guy that comes in on his own most weeks, he knew exactly who I was talking about. Our conversation reinforced the fact that I had developed a soft spot for Omar’s style. And I wanted in. Most of the friends I have made since arriving in Melbourne work in hospitality, which means that evening rendezvous are usually out. It was only when I started working full time in PR that I was able to hold the knife and fork to eat with again, rather than to polish, and rather than wait around …

Dr Oetker – As Cold as Ice

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Well this is a little bit of fun. Pretty much the only frozen pizza brand that I can trust (that margherita with deicious green pesto!!) recently created a PR stunt unlike any other. A pizzeria made from four tonnes of ice opened, for one day only, outside Liverpool Street station. Crafted from 34 huge blocks of ice and using 3,400 litres of water, the stunt kicked off activity to promote Dr. Oetker Ristorante’s #freshnessfrozen campaign which is also being supported by its £2million marketing campaign consisting of the brand’s first ever money back guarantee on-pack promotion and heavy weight TV advertising. Each block of ice contained the essential ingredients of classic pizzas suspended within its frozen walls, which passers-by could watch in awe as they melted.

Meat Based Cocktails? Yes, Really!

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It’s no secret that I’m a huge pizza fan. Those who know me well will be aware that over the last year, I spent many a weekend nursing a hangover with a pizza from my local takeaway. I’m not proud of waking up some mornings with pizza crumbs lingering on my mattress (those days are over), but at the time it was oh so satisfying. But as much as I love pizza, I was gobsmacked when I received an email a couple of months ago from a London bar to say that they had partnered with my favourite pizza takeaway to create a meaty cocktail. What?! I couldn’t get my head around it; meat and cocktails just shouldn’t mix, I thought. I quickly hit the ‘trash’ button and dismissed the idea. It was only when I arrived in Melbourne that I came across another meat based cocktail. This time I tried it and it opened my eyes to a whole new world of deliciousness! If you happen to be reading from Melbourne, then I urge …