The Write Drop catches up with bon vivant and PayPal Melbourne Fashion Festival Head of Partnerships Shiva Singam who shares his city’s highlights and drink faves.
Why Melbourne
What’s not to love…..wonderful multicultural city, Artistic, sophisticated, edgy and cool at its core, Melbourne is a dream city with its incredible and varied food and lifestyle offerings including world-class, galleries, museums, theatres, events and not forgetting our wonderful gardens, parks and treasure trove of laneways in the heart of the city.
Favourite Food Memory
Peking Duck Pancakes at Flower Drum – crispy skinned with melting meat, it evokes memories of decadence and spirited celebrations.
Favourite Bar
Cookie. The cocktail offering is beyond incredible and the venue boasts a great wine list whilst still remaining approachable, unfussy and ultra-cool. I love this place for the many happy memories I have created there with friends, often late into the night or early morn.
Drink that describes your personality
Champagne: effervescent, bubbly, joyous.
Best Hangover Cure
Oh dear…nothing beats KFC. For all the reasons others will tell you. KFC possesses magical restorative powers.
Best Overseas Bar
Jaipur’s Bar Palladio. I would consider this bar amongst the most opulent in the world and the service and offering is unbelievably good. Palladio always makes me feel like I have stepped back in time to the grand days of the Raj. A must do for the style conoscenti and travel afficionado. Be prepared to run into royalty, nobles, stars and power brokers.
Best Interstate Bar
Love, Tilly, Devine in Darlinghurst. It’s cosy, friendly and lots of fun and offers a well curated and extensive wine list of Australia’s and the world’s best.
Drink of Choice
2018 ‘Combe Bazin’ Saint-Romain White Burgundy – unctuousness and nectar of the God’s in a bottle.
Favourite winery
As a self-confessed chardonnay lover, nothing beats the Giaconda Chardonnay from Giaconda in Beechworth. This is a wine that rivals any offering of similar wines from France or elsewhere in the world. Rare and hard to get but worth every penny.
Best Newcomer
Apollo Inn, Flinders Lane. If you have never been to this new bijoux treasure, it’s a must go. Melbourne at its very best.
A Wine You Didn’t Expect to Love
Pétillant-Naturel (natural sparkling) better known as ‘Pet-Nat’ wines. Low sugar and generally always tasty and easy to drink.
A Friends in Fashion Hang-out
My home away from home – Lucas Group’s Grill Americano, Flinders Lane. Terrific food, service, atmosphere and the people watching is unrivalled.
