Model and actor Christian Wilkins and author/podcaster Bridget Hustwaite will host the ARIA Red Carpet Diamond Edition by Toblerone tomorrow night at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. They’re set to bring exclusive moments and fashion highlights starting at 1.30pm on @ARIA_Official YouTube channel. Make sure you’re streaming early!
The Write Drop spoke to Christian Wilkins and Bridget Hustwaite ahead of the music industry’s night of nights – to talk their favourite drink and food destinations, the best hangover cures and a drink that best describes them.
CHRISTIAN WILKINS
MY CITY
Sydney – driving over the Cahill Expressway makes me fall in love all over again. It’s just such a beautiful place to get to call home.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
BBQing at my mum’s house. We’re Greek, so food for us equals love, we love nothing more than getting together, trying new recipes and cooking.
FAVOURITE BAR MEMORY
The bar at my family home, it’s industrial sized and has many stories to tell! I just love how comfortable people are sitting at the bar and telling stories.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
Champagne, it’s bubbly, it’s light, it’s celebratory and bright, a little dipsy, served skinny and tall.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Watermelon and the mini M&Ms and then a hardcore workout to sweat out the left over toxins.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
Supernormal (technically a restaurant) but always a lychee martini.
BEST DRINK NEWCOMER
Not that new anymore, but I love Moet Ice.
NEXT DESTINATION
I now live there part-time. I love the energy and passion for the entertainment industry there that exists in the collective consciousness.
FAVE AUSSIE ARTIST
I mean between listening to Troye Sivan and Kylie Minogue’s new albums there’s barely time in the day to do much else.
A SURPRISE YOU’D LOVE TO SEE AT THE ARIAS
“If I see Dolly Parton at the ARIAs I may just scream and cry.”
AT THE BAR WITH: BRIDGET HUSTWAITE
MY CITY
Melbourne. It’s the capital of everything, right? Fashion, music, sport, food. Sure, we may cop four seasons in a day, but there’s beauty in never knowing what you’re going to get! I feel like I’m always discovering something new in Melbourne and am never bored.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
This might be random, but I will never forget the first time I ate the spaghetti bolognese from the room service at Crown Towers! It was so fresh and hearty, I basically inhaled it. The next time I stayed there, I insisted to my partner that we eat in and he wasn’t so sure but upon his first mouthful of the pasta dish, he could definitely taste the hype!
FAVOURITE BAR MEMORY
My favourite bar memory is from the night of my 30th birthday at the Shady Lady bar on Johnston St in Fitzroy. Whilst the Pickleback shot ultimately sealed my fate (and one of the worst hangovers of my life), the bar staff went above and beyond to help celebrate my new decade of life, even bringing out a pot glass full of sparklers and making everyone sing me Happy Birthday. It’s a super sassy dive bar full of tassel lampshades, disco balls and very good drink deals.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
I would probably consider myself a red wine because I feel like I’m a bit of an old soul who would opt for a more relaxed night out with dinner as opposed to a busy club. A red wine doesn’t feel rushed and I like to take my time and enjoy things.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Bulk chicken nuggets, or Vegemite toast. Honestly, both.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
Sonny Wine Bar in Hobart. They don’t take bookings and there’s always a line stretching down the street as soon as doors open, and for good reason! It’s so cosy and chill with the most delicious dishes made right in front of you and a carefully curated wine selection to match. I drank a glass of 2021 Wine By Baby Pinot Meunier.
BEST DRINK NEWCOMER
I found a new premix recently at a bottle shop in Brunswick West called Subtle Tea. It’s basically iced tea with vodka and real fruit for a nice flavour, plus no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. It’s super light and easy to drink. My favourite flavours would be Apple but the Watermelon and Mint was also very fresh.
NEXT DESTINATION
I just got back from Fiji which was absolute bliss, and I’m actually moving to Perth in the New Year as my partner has just signed a two year contract with Fremantle Football Club, so across the Nullabor I go.
FAVE AUSSIE ARTISTS
I’m a big fan of Darcie Haven’s new single Fallen For, she’s an upcoming singer-songwriter from Perth and is crafting a super sweet indie pop sound with beautiful acoustic textures. For fans of Clairo, Holly Humberstone and Phoebe Bridgers.
Troye Sivan’s new album Something To Give Each Other is shaping up to be my Australian record of the year. I’ve been a huge fan since Wild and the club/dance arrangements across this record capture such an epic evolution in sound for Troye. My personal favourite song would be What’s The Time Where You Are?, it’s a perfectly horny banger.
- Live from 1.30pm AEDT: Red Carpet on @ARIA.official YouTube channel
- Live from 5.00pm AEDT: The 2023 ARIA Awards in full, only on Stan. The full show will also be available on demand on Stan following the official live stream.
- 7.30pm AEDT: A 2023 ARIA Awards special presentation on Channel 9 and streamed o
