Feel-Good Friday: 21 February – A Meal to Die For

Want to start this weekend off on the right foot? Well, as Hulkamania used to say before he lost his mind, brotha, you came to the right place. With another working week drawing to a close and the Friday feels creeping up slowly, it’s time we celebrated those doing good for their community. From charitable endeavours to free gifts for friends, here are the stories we want to shine a light on in this week’s Feel-Good Friday.

A Cannibal-Inspired Fine Dining Experience is Coming to Sydney

If you have been looking for a dinner to die for, acclaimed chef Nelly Robinson has got you sorted. The visionary culinary master behind the NEL Restaurant, not to mention the sold-out KFC degustation menu, has teamed up with Paramount+ for a truly unforgettable dining experience. To celebrate the season three launch of the Emmy-nominated series Yellowjackets, Paramount+ Australia and Nelly are unveiling a ‘first-of-its-kind’ feast inspired by the series’ dark and primal world.

Across three enchanting hours, the 11-course ‘Eat Your Heart Out’ menu will take guests on an eery culinary journey, encouraging them to scavenge for their survival. According to Louise Crompton, VP of marketing and growth at Paramount+ Australia, you can expect twists, turns and even a few edible body parts.

“To bring to life such an iconic scene in Yellowjackets and invite fans of the show to really feel immersed in something they never anticipated having the chance to be a part of, felt like the best way to celebrate the launch of Season Three on Paramount+.,” Crompton said. “We wanted to transport fans straight to the heart of the wilderness and Nelly felt like the perfect partner to bring the idea of such a divisive menu to life. Through this partnership, we have been able to create something that shocks diners, while also producing a breathtakingly delicious menu. Making it a free experience has meant anyone can get involved and enjoy what is such a sensory disruptive experience.”

The highly anticipated third season of Yellowjackets landed exclusively on Paramount+ on Friday, 14 February. Equal parts survival epic, psychological horror story and coming-of-age drama, the series chronicles their descent from a complicated but thriving team to savage clans, while also tracking the lives they’ve attempted to piece back together nearly 25 years later, proving that the past is never really past and what began out in the wilderness is far from over.

For your chance to secure an exclusive free seat for you and a friend at the table, you’ll need to head to NEL Restaurant’s website and enter the competition. www.nelrestaurant.com.au/eatyourheartout to enter the competition. Terms and Conditions apply, including winners needing to travel to NEL Restaurant in Sydney at their own expense where the culinary journey commences.

Squealing Pig Throws Support Behind LGBTQIA+ Communities

Australia’s favourite feel-good wine brand, Squealing Pig, is throwing its support behind LGBTQIA+ communities once again. The iconic label is set to return as the major sponsor and partner of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras for the fourth year running, and in 2025, the Pig has a lot in-store.

As part of the sponsorship, Squealing Pig’s limited-edition Pride Labels are back—bigger and better than ever. The unique activation, which first kicked off in 2023, saw every 750ml bottle of Squealing Pig Rosé across the country fitted with a limited-edition label that featured cheeky rhymes celebrating each letter of the LGBTQIA+ acronym and its allies. This time around, Squealing Pig has extended the initiative, adding the Pride labels to the Pig’s Prosecco, Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc ranges.

Additionally, through Endeavour Group’s Loud & Proud initiative, every participating product of Squealing Pig sold at either BWS or Dan Murphy’s between 5 February and 11 March 2025 will see Endeavour donate $1 to Pride Foundation Australia (PFA). The national philanthropic foundation is dedicated to addressing the systemic disadvantages faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals and communities across the country.

With a focus on meaningful impact, PFA uses funds raised through the Loud & Proud initiative to support life-changing programs targeting some of the most pressing challenges in the community. So, if you’re thinking of cracking into a bottle of vino next weekend, make sure it’s a Squealing Pig and help support the community!

Domino’s For Good Day Returns!

In case you need any further reason to order pizza today, international fast-casual chain Domino’s is putting positive vibes on the menu. On Friday, 21 February, stores across Australia and New Zealand will officially fly open in honour of the fourth annual Domino’s For Good Day. The charity drive day aims to raise a whopping $400,000 for youth mental health and disaster relief, and all you have to do to support is buy a pizza.

Working in conjunction with Domino’s registered charity, Minds & Meal, Domino’s for Good Day is the largest annual fundraiser for the pizza franchise. The yearly event helps to raise vital funds to support young people’s mental health and provide comfort during times of disaster. This time around, more than 900 stores across Australia and New Zealand will donate $1 from every pizza and 10c from every drink purchased directly to Minds & Meals.

“Domino’s For Good Day is one of the most important days of the year for our team members and community, with youth mental health being a cause that is close to our hearts,” Domino’s Mind & Meals general manager, Christine Bryant said. “As one of the largest employers of young people across the country, we recognise the importance of our amazing charity network’s resources in providing support when it’s needed most. Thanks to the help of pizza lovers across the country, in 2024 alone we were able to fund more than 67,000 digital support sessions for young people across Australia experiencing mental ill-health and over 20,000 hours in the field helping disaster recovery, in response to the devastating storms in Far North Queensland in early 2024. With our new and existing charity partners on board, we can’t wait to see the impact we have in 2025.”

To get involved, visit your local Domino’s store or order online this Friday, February 21st. Customers can also choose to round up any order to the nearest dollar online and in-store to help support Minds & Meals all year round.

W Sydney Announces Queer Lit

Luxury hotel destination W Sydney is championing the LGBTQI+ community this Mardi Gras, announcing a curated programme of inclusive experiences. Dubbed ‘Queer Lit’, the new activation is set to take over W Sydney’s Living Room ‘Secret Space’ from Monday 24 February to Sunday 2 March. The pop-up library and welcoming space allow guests to explore a selection of Queer stories curated by Jordan Turner, co-owner of Gertrude & Alice Café Bookstore and former book club host. Queer Lit celebrates diverse storytelling and creative expression, with guests invited to browse and purchase books during their stay.

“I’m honoured to be working with W Sydney to shine the light on some of my favourite Queer literary stories. The books I’ve chosen to highlight in our Queer Lit pop-up are some of many that have opened up my world. I hope people spend some time with these books and discover the many characters and lives that exist in our incredibly colourful world,” Turner said. “I’m looking forward to being in conversation with Shannon Molloy about his deeply relatable coming-of-age memoir. It’s a story similar to many gay men in Australia. One that moves through the adversities of shame and isolation into one of joy as Shannon discovers the euphoria of being yourself.”

As part of Queer Lit, an intimate evening of storytelling and connection titled Between the Covers will take place on Tuesday, 25 February. The public event will bring together influential voices, celebrated authors, and the creative community with guests to enjoy complimentary light bites and beverages inspired by literary themes. Starting at 7pm, the 45-minute experience is complimentary with limited spaces available by reservation.

Breast Cancer Trials is Hosting its First Q&A of the Year

Leading research organisation Breast Cancer Trials is inviting Australians to contribute to the evolving conversation around patient care with its first Q&A session of the year. Held on Wednesday, 19 March from 5pm-6:3 pm, the free online session will see a panel of experts discuss key research areas that are transforming the domestic care landscape.

Moderated by author and journalist Annabel Crabb, the panel will discuss key research themes including Treatment Optimisation, Immunotherapy, Metastatic Breast Cancer Research, Breast Cancer in Young Women and Genomic Testing. Tune in, and you’ll learn a little more about the organisation’s cutting-edge research, the specific needs of younger patients, and what’s next for the future of treatment. To register for the event, follow the link below and discover more about where Breast Cancer Trials’ valuable research is heading into the future.

Maxibon Opens World-First Freezer Bakery with 10,000 Free Goodies

Maxibon, Australia’s biggest and most popular ice cream sandwich has thrown down the gauntlet to Paris and Switzerland. The classic iced dessert is opening its own bakery in Sydney and to celebrate, it’s launching two new bons, fresh from the freezer, Maxibon Vanilla Slice and Maxibon Hedgehog Slice.

The former features a custard slab sandwiched between two golden Maxibon biccies on one end and dipped in icing with flaky wafers on the other. The latter includes a rich chocolate-flavoured slab packed with salty cookie crumbs, sandwiched between two golden Maxibon biccies on one end, dipped in milk chocolate and loaded with more crunchy cookie crumbs on the other.

The delicious new additions will be available to test out at the world’s first Maxi- Bakery and the first 10,000 people to head down won’t have to pay a cent….provided you can figure out where it is. From February 24 to 26, eagle-eyed Maxibon fans are encouraged to look out for a freezer door that will appear at June’s Shoppe in Sydney’s CBD. Make your way through the secret door and you’ll find yourself in a world where bakery treats meet the icy world of Maxibon.

“We’re a nation of snackers, and nothing hits quite like childhood favourites. As a brand that’s been shaking up Aussie snack time for over 20 years, Maxibon wanted to take nostalgia and turn it on its head,” Peters Ice Cream head of marketing, Andrea Hamori. said. ” We’ve reimagined iconic, beloved baked goods by bringing them to life with Australia’s favourite ice cream sandwich brand – Maxibon – because doing the unexpected is what we do best.”

Maxi-Balery Event Details

• Location: June Shoppe, 60 Carrington St, Sydney
• Dates/Time:
  • Monday 24th February, 1:30pm – 6pm
  • Tuesday 25th February, 11am – 6pm
  • Wednesday 26th February, 11am – 2pm