Guillaume is back in Sydney - for four days only

Calling lovers of classic French cooking.

Star chef Guillaume Brahimi will bring his much-loved elevated bistro classics back to Sydney for four nights only this August, taking over Double Bay’s Baker Bleu from August 6-9.

For the first time in six years, Sydney diners will have the chance to revisit the dishes associated with the larger-than life chef’s cooking, from onion soup and cheese soufflé to roast chicken with tarragon jus, steak au poivre, profiteroles and lemon tart. 

Bookings open Thursday July 2, with reservations set to be available by phone only. How very old fashioned. 

“The dishes on this menu are my most highly requested bistro dishes, and are ones I love to cook,” Brahimi says. 

“I have missed cooking them for Sydney. Six years is a long time. To bring them back, in a room this intimate and with a team this passionate about what they do, is something I have been looking forward to."

The takeover will see Baker Bleu transform from neighbourhood bakery by day to intimate bistro by night.

Across the four-night residency, Brahimi will be in the kitchen, serving a four-course menu of elevated bistro classics. The press release says th menu “will bring together the signatures, favourites and generous French cooking that have defined his restaurants for more than two decades”.

Many of the dishes are featured in his recent book Plat du Tour, released in April this year. The experience will be strictly limited, with just nine tables available per service for seven sittings.

The four-course menu ($190pp) will include bread, a snack, entrée, main, dessert, petit fours and sides. 

Entrée choices include onion soup and cheese soufflé, while mains include roast chicken with tarragon jus and steak au poivre. Sides will include Paris mash, frites and green salad, with desserts including profiteroles, passion fruit soufflé and lemon tart. A tight wine list will reflect Guillaume’s personal favourites, available by the glass or bottle. 

The former Guillaume at Bennelong chef patron is currently operating his flagship Bistro Guillaume in Melbourne while continuing his role as a culinary ambassador for Crown Sydney. He concluded a 14-year run at Bistro Guillaume Perth in April.

Co-founder of Baker Bleu, Mike Russell, said: “Baker Bleu is a neighbourhood spot at heart, and there’s something special about opening it up at night and watching it transform into this intimate French style bistro experience. Guillaume has been a long-time champion of our bread, and we are so thrilled to host him. I’m looking forward to seeing the community come together around the table to enjoy our bread with some beautiful French food.”

Call 0458 400 327 from Thursday to book.

Are AI images misleading travellers?

Are you being lied to by accommodation operators using Artificial Intelligence? 

One in five hotel photos on major booking platforms show indicators of being AI-generated or AI-enhanced, a new survey in Europe shows.

An analysis of 25,550 images used by hotels to advertise their rooms, facilities, restaurants and amenities reveals mass deception.

The study was conducted by Berlin-based marketing agency ABCD Agency in partnership with German forensic AI verification provider ContentGuard.me.

Hotel photos are one of the most decisive factors when booking accommodation online. But the report indicates  that the imagery travellers rely on is no longer just traditionally retouched but increasingly created or altered using artificial intelligence.

In a sample of 100 randomly selected hotels each across seven destinations a total of 25,550 hotel photos were analysed in May 2026. Among those popular European summer holiday destinations like Crete, Mallorca, Sicily and Alanya.

The result: approximately 19% of all images - a total of 4,778 photos - contained at least one signal typically associated with AI generation or AI editing.

These signals can appear in technical markers such as file metadata, or as visual anomalies within the image itself - including inconsistencies, irregular pixel patterns or detail errors.

When hotel photos are AI-optimised or AI-generated, expectations can be distorted in critical ways: including room size, furnishings and views. 

These enhanced images set expectations that reality often cannot meet. The result: disappointment on arrival, complaints and a long-term erosion of trust in both platforms and hotels that depend on credible visual content.

Jens Kramosch, deepfake expert and founder of ContentGuard.me explains: “Hotel photos have always been retouched to some degree. But AI takes this to a completely different level. When images are no longer just polished but fundamentally altered, it risks crossing the line from marketing into deception. Travellers need to look more closely and platforms need to start labeling AI-edited content transparently.”

Robin Wilfert, founder of ABCD Agency, warns: “When you book a trip, you're buying a promise. The photos that travelleds use to choose a hotel are the most important part of that promise. AI must not be allowed to create a gap between what's shown and what's real.”

Vinexpo hangs its hat in Hong Kong

Hong Kong has beaten Singapore to be the permanent host city for major wine trade fair Vinexpo Asia. 

Event organisers Vinexposium announced that Vinexpo Asia will return to Hong Kong in 2027 from June 8-10 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC).

The move ends the alternating Hong Kong-Singapore format introduced after the Covid pandemic.

The event will now be held annually in Hong Kong, establishing a single, consistent meeting point for the wine and spirits industry in Asia and marking a new strategic cycle for Vinexpo Asia in the region.

"Hong Kong has been part of Vinexpo Asia's history since 1998 and remains one of the most relevant gateways to Asian markets for the wine and spirits industry,” says Rodolphe Lameyse, CEO of Comexposium's Food & Beverage Division

“Establishing Vinexpo Asia as an annual event in Hong Kong reflects Vinexposium's confidence in the city and supports Comexposium's broader food and beverage strategy in Asia.”

Building on nearly three decades of activity in Asia, Vinexposium says it is reinforcing its role in the region by providing the wine and spirits industry with a stable annual meeting point in Hong Kong. 

This evolution aims to offer greater continuity for international producers, buyers, importers, distributors and industry stakeholders across Asia.

Hong Kong's central position in Asia, as a gateway to mainland China and a platform closely connected to south-east Asia and the wider Asia-Pacific region, makes it a natural base from which to bring together the full spectrum of Asian markets, Vinexposium said in a media release.

Grace Ghazalé, International Events Director at Vinexposium, says the new annual format responds to the industry's need for greater stability, momentum and visibility in Asia. 

By establishing Vinexpo Asia in Hong Kong on a yearly basis, Vinexposium aims to offer exhibitors and visitors a clearer framework to build long-term relationships, plan their participation more effectively and support the continued development of trade across the region.

Fancy a little more leg rooom?

Fancy some extra leg space and other benefits next time you fly?

Virgin Australia is giving travellers a chance at an upgraded experience starting from $8.

The airline has launched a flash sale offering premium extra legroom Economy X seating, with upgrades from just $8 per person, per sector, across its domestic network. That's 30% off the regular starting upgrade price.

Virgin Australia Chief Marketing and Customer Operations Officer, Libby Minogue, said the sale offers exceptional value for travellers looking to add extra comfort to their journey.

“We know Australians are looking for great value, and this sale delivers exactly that,” said Minogue.

“From as low as $8 per person, guests can upgrade to Economy X and enjoy extra legroom, priority boarding and dedicated overhead locker space on their next Virgin Australia flight.

“For many guests, a little extra space can make a big difference, particularly on longer journeys, and we're pleased to make that experience available from just $8.

“As the first airline in Australia to introduce a dedicated extra-legroom Economy X product, we're proud to continue giving travellers more choice, comfort and value every time they fly,” she said.

Just a word on that "dedicated overhead locker space". On a lot sectors I have flown, the air crew usurp this Economy X lockers as their own personal baggage space. Call them out on it. 

Join the Cellar Dwellers over winter

Winter is when Coonawarra comes out to party.

This July, Coonawarra's annual Cellar Dwellers celebration returns with a month-long program of rare museum wines, intimate cellar door experiences and a collection of fireside, after-dark and seasonal experiences designed to showcase the South Australian region.

Running throughout July, Cellar Dwellers invites visitors to slow down, rug up and experience a different side of Coonawarra, where crackling fires, hearty regional fare, warm hospitality and aged wines combine. 

From vertical tastings and museum wine releases to long-table dinners, stargazing beneath some of
Australia's clearest night skies, mulled wine by the fire and family-friendly experiences, the 2026 program offers more than 40 reasons to visit.

While Coonawarra is internationally recognised for producing classic cabernets, Cellar Dwellers celebrates the ageing potential of the region's full range of red and white wines. 

Coonawarra Vignerons events and marketing officer, Heidi Guyett, said Cellar Dwellers continues to evolve while remaining true to its original purpose - celebrating wines that reward patience.

"Cellar Dwellers has always been about championing wines from the cellar and inviting guests to experience and discover just how well Coonawarra’s wines age, when given the time," she said.

"This year we've expanded that concept with Winter Embrace - inviting guests not only to discover beautifully aged wines, but to immerse themselves in everything that makes winter in Coonawarra so memorable."

One of the program's signature events remains the Cellar Dwellers Back Vintage Tasting, returning to Parker Coonawarra Estate on Friday, July 17.

The walk-around tasting brings together a dozen Coonawarra producers under one roof, offering event attendees the opportunity to compare museum and back-vintage wines from across the region in a single evening.

“What makes this event so appealing is the diversity - it's not just about one wine variety or one winery," said Guyett. 

"You’ll experience the collective story of Coonawarra’s winemaking talent and the remarkable ageing potential of our wines, not limited to its reds. Plus, the warmth and hospitality of the region shine through in every conversation and every pour.”

Another of the events with potential to turn heads (skyward) this year is Constellations and Cluny presented by Zema Estate. 

The full program, event bookings and downloadable guide are available at: 
https://coonawarra.org/cellar-dwellers-2026/

Cheers as whiskey distilling brothers hit jackpot

When brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling opened the first distillery in Dublin for 125 years they could not have imagined they’d hit a financial jackpot.

Fourteen years on from starting their business the Teeling brothers this week completed a deal to sell their entire operation to global drinks giant Bacardi Limited.

The Teeling brothers will, however, remain a part of the brand, shaping its future and driving growth for the long term as strategic advisors.

Bacardi acquired a minority stake in the Dublin-based whiskey company in 2017 and subsequently increased its stake to become the majority shareholder in 2022. The latest deal was worth an additional US $30 million.

“Teeling is the perfect fit for Bacardi,” says Mahesh Madhavan, Chief Executive Officer for Bacardi Limited.

“The brand stands for quality, craftsmanship and a fearless approach to the category with fresh ideas and innovative new whiskeys. The hundreds of awards it’s received say everything about its success.

“There is so much long-term potential for the Irish whiskey category globally and with Teeling we are perfectly positioned to take advantage of every opportunity.”

Teeling whiskey is now exported to more than 80 markets around the world.

“My brother and I both know that at Bacardi, Teeling is in the best possible hands,” says Jack Teeling.

“Working closely with the Bacardi team over the last nine years has proven to us that as a family-owned company, Bacardi appreciates the value of everything the Teeling brand stands for and its commitment to raising the bar for Irish whiskey.”

Bacardi Limited is the largest privately held international spirits company in the world with over 200 brands including Barcardi rum, Patron Tequila, Grey Goose vodka and Bombay Saffire gin. www.bacardilimited.com