The Jägermeister Hunting Lodge officially opened on Tuesday 10 January as part of Sydney Festival 2012’s Honda Festival Garden, with an exclusive performance by singer and musician Tim Finn.

The distinctive pop-up bar hosted 250 guests at the VIP event, which kicked off an electric program of FREE music performances running until 29 January. Guests included director siblings Lorin and Daniel Askill, TV presenter Casey Burgess, actors Bojana Novakovic, Alice Parkinson and Dan Wyllie, Channel Nine’s Tom Steinfort, X-Factor finalist India Rose Madderom among other Sydney faces. Guests kicked back with ice-cold Jägermeister ginger beers, as well as the specially created Jager Infusion cocktail. No one left hungry after enjoying tuna tacos, buttermilk chicken, caramelised ocean trout, popcorn prawns, pulled pork burgers and Philly cheese steak rolls.

The Jägermeister Hunting Lodge is a nod to the premium liqueur’s German heritage (Jägermeister means ‘Hunting Master’), bringing to life the legacy of the brand, which has been around since 1935. The rustic and enchanting lodge is made entirely of logs, complete with a wooden deck, timber floor, stone fireplace and 12 metre long bar.

Located next to the famous Spiegeltent in the Honda Festival Garden, Hyde Park North, corner College and Park Streets, Sydney, the Hunting Lodge is open from 10-29 January 2012 (closed January 9, 16, 23). Festival Garden is an over 18s venue from 5pm until 2am.

Details of the events can be found at: www.facebook.com/jagermeisterAustralia

Parfums Gourmands, the Fragrance Foundation Australia’s annual gala dinner, raised more than $4,200 in a live raffle for the Cancer Patients Foundation charity Look Good…Feel Better on Thursday 17 November.

Held at Sydney’s iconic harbourside restaurant Catalina, the 2011 Parfurms Gourmands was a celebratory dinner of the senses with fragrant wine and food. Associate editor of marie claire magazine, Emily Taylor, hosted the event.

Inspired by the essence of the water fragrance family, 90 guests enjoyed a unique three-course seafood menu created by head chef Mark Axisa, with head sommelier, Paul Heath matching aromatic wines to each course. Mr Heath also spoke on the unique olfactory experience between fragrance, food and wine.

Michel-Henri Carriol, president of the Fragrance Foundation Australia and Trimex, praised his industry colleagues for their generosity in supporting the cause:

“Parfums Gourmands is a highlight in the fragrance industry’s social calendar. We all enjoy the opportunity to come together, suppliers, retailers, media supporters and friends and celebrate fragrant wine and food in such a spectacular Sydney venue like Catalina, and of course raise funds for our industry charity Look Good…Feel Better, through the Cancer Patient Foundation,” said Mr Carriol.

Money was raised through a raffle of luxury personal and travel items donated by Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, Bally, donna hay, ghd, Moët & Chandon, Dior and Catalina Restaurant. All aspects of the event were organised and managed by Stellar* Concepts.

Michel-Henri Carriol, president of the Fragrance Foundation Australia and Trimex, with the evening’s host Emily Taylor, Associate editor of marie claire

Kevin McCloud, host of the Grand Designs television show, opened the inaugural Grand Designs Australia LIVE to a heaving crowd of fans on Friday 21 October at the Sydney Exhibition and Convention Centre.

On his first visit to Australia, Kevin McCloud was the star attraction speaking one-on-one to fans and packing out all of his sessions in the Grand Theatre. Peter Maddison, host of Grand Designs Australia TV show also presented to a full house when the two discussed the highs and lows of big renovations and grand designs. The theatre also featured presenters from some of The LifeStyle Channel’s most popular lifestyle shows including Selling Houses Australia and Relocation, Relocation Australia, with the crowd hanging on their every word of expertise.

Among the 197 quality exhibitors, Philip’s House of the Future was a popular attraction, showcasing the latest in advanced technology, design and innovation for home entertainment systems and lighting. The crowd also snapped up culinary delights prepared by Matt Stone, Australian Gourmet Traveller’s prestigious Best New Talent 2011 winner, in the Miele Kitchen Theatre.

Grand Designs Australia Live will be returning to both Sydney and Melbourne in 2012. www.granddesignslive.com.au

The excited hosts ahead of the media launch at Tusculum House – Kevin McCloud and Peter Maddison

Sydney had its first taste of how the world’s favourite Italian liqueur, Disaronno, likes to celebrate on Thursday 29 September.

Following in the stylish footsteps of Milan and New York, Stellar* Concepts organised Disaronno’s – first super sleek Contemporary Terrace event in Australia at Mezzaluna, Potts Point in Sydney. As the young and the gorgeous swept (or teetered) down the staircase into the transformed space exuding quintessential Italian style, they were greeted by bartenders looking as if they had just disembarked from a yacht on the Amalfi Coast.

The glamour of the evening was accentuated with guests sipping a selection of four Disaronno cocktails against Sydney’s stunning city skyline as they flocked around the laden anti-pasti table featuring huge blocks of Parmesan, char grilled vegetables, prosciutto and crusty bread. The array of cocktails included Disaronno Sour, Disaronno Dry and Fresh Lime and the ever popular Disaronno Rocks with Fresh Orange.

Stellar* Concept’s invited guests included Masterchef’s Hayden Quinn and Justine Schofield, Tom Steinfort and Alison Piotrowski from Channel Nine, TV personality Sami Lukis, Channel 10′s Frank Colletta, model and presenter Laura Andon and Sydney faces Sara Leonardi (wife of Glen McGrath), Trish Nicol, Christian Lomas, Sue di Chio, Elena Antoniou and James McCullagh.
Italian singer Carlotta Centanni set the Italian bar just a little bit higher with a sensational cameo appearance while Myall High Club played three sets of their contemporary soulful grooves, accompanied by their iconic harp. Meanwhile, DJ Dan Rowntree added to the cruisey Italian mood with relaxed tunes as guests lingered and longed for a Roman Holiday.