Are you in need of some retail therapy but can’t afford a brand-new McLaren or a $190,000 Louis Vuitton Golf Trunk? Fear not, for we have plenty of goodies that we’ve been testing this week to satisfy your product cravings. So go ahead, kick back and relax on the couch and indulge your senses with this week’s Staff Favourites. Don’t worry, you won’t have to sell your soul for any of these items, but you might want to keep your credit card handy just in case.
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Man of Many’s Staff Favourites – 22 April 2023
Wanko Soba Noodles Challenge
Scott Purcell – Co-Founder
I’ve just returned from a trip to Japan with Grand Seiko (more coming on that in future weeks) and dove right into our Man of Many 10-Year Birthday Event. But it’s not the party I am recovering from, it’s the Wanko-Soba Noodle challenge that I ate in the Iwate district while I was away. Wanko-Soba Noodles is an all-you-can-eat soba dish, which is famous for its soba noodles as an Omotenashi meal. Basically, you’re given a medium-sized bowl, a small selection of condiments in front of you (none of which you have time to even touch) and the waiters stand over you with a tray of smaller red bowls of soba noodles. Each contains about two mouthfuls of noodles. Then the fun begins.
The waiters quickly pour the noodles (and broth) into your bowl and before you’ve had a chance to slurp up the first mouthful with your chopsticks, they’ve poured in another lot of noodles for you. As the procession goes on, you occasionally have to pour out excess broth so you don’t splash everyone on the table (yes, everyone is wearing bibs). I got through about 80 bowls but the veterans at the table next to us did around 150. The only way to get them to stop serving you is to place the lid over your original bowl (unbeknownst to me which meant I was put in a soba-noodle coma until I couldn’t take it anymore). The venue is quite famous and only a short 2-hour shinkansen away from Tokyo. A strong recommendation.
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Burgers Anonymous
Claudette Sampang – Sales Executive
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The Tattooist of Auschwitz
Jack Boulding – Sales Executive
This week for my staff favourites I wanted to cover a book I finished reading called The Tattooist of Auschwitz. For those that aren’t aware this book was published in 2018 and received a number of awards at the time. I personally found the book to be an easy read that lured me in with the turn of each page. The story shares a first-hand account on what it is like to endure World War 2 in a concentration camp as a Jewish male and sheds light on the horrendous accounts of mistreatment that took place at Auschwitz. I know by now we have all heard of these nightmares but it is another experience to hear it told through the eyes of Lale (Main Protagonist). What has stuck with me since reading the book was Lale’s optimistic view of the world and what lessons that can be learnt from such a dark time in human history.
Hyatt Regency Sydney
John Guanzon – Head of Social
Sydney is certainly spoiled for choice when it comes to luxury CBD hotels, but not every hotel will give you world-class service, premium facilities and a stunning view of Darling Harbour. Last weekend, I stayed a night at Darling Harbour’s Hyatt Regency and was pleasantly surprised at how well oiled the mammoth 878-room machine ran. Coincidentally, I stayed the same weekend as the International Wagyu Festival, so the place was buzzing with live produce professionals and meat enthusiasts. And where usually you’d expect most hotels to be sweating under the pump on a busy weekend, everything about my stay was seamless and the staff at the Hyatt Regency were running the ship effortlessly like any other weekend.
The rooms were beautifully furnished with a great view of Darling Harbour. They’ve also just opened a newly renovated gym on Level 12, which is spacious, thoughtfully furnished and well-stocked with every machine, weight or gym equipment you’ll need to work off your dinner from the big night out in the city. The crown in the jewel though is the iconic rooftop bar, Zephyr. The open air cocktail bar is shaped like a ship and boasts panoramic, open air views of the harbour – perfect for sunset drinks and nibbles. (Ask for their giant cocktail served in a disco ball!)
Overall, Hyatt Sydney shows off its versatility in the range of services and experiences it offers – catering to everyone from a Wagyu Conference delegate from the States, to a busy business traveller, to a tourist looking to be close to the heart of the city or even just a Sydney-sider like me who’s after a carefree, relaxing 5-star stay in the city.
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Ginworth GW001 Gin
Rob Edwards – Branded Content Writer
While we spend a lot of time talking about whisky around these parts, we’re also big fans of gin. For me, this particular small batch release has been an absolute find and the fact that it’s Australian-made (coming out of Tasmania and using local-made copper pot stills in the distilling process) is all the better. Ginworth describes the GW001 as “a contemporary take on a classic London dry.” Whatever it is, it’s delicious, serving up a complex mix of citrus and spice with floral notes and a hint of grapefruit. However you take your gin, this delightful local spin on the classic spirit is well worth a try.
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Aesop Gloam Eau de Parfum
Richie Hall – Video Producer
My favourite fragrance release of last year was Aesop’s Eidesis. It was the fourth release in their unissex Otertopia’s collection following the success of Miraceti, Karst and Erémia. Hot on Eidesis’ very pleasant smelling trail is their latest release Gloam. Again co-created with long-term collaborator Barnabe Fillio, Gloam fits seamlessly as the fifth fragrance in the collection. There’s a lovely familiarity with its Othertopia kin and the DNA of the wider Aesop world runs deep, lovers of the Coriander Seed Body Cleanser and the very popular Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm will pick up similar notes. Having said that, Gloam stands confidently on its own and I haven’t smelt anything quite like it. Green, floral and spicy it combines saffron, pink pepper and cardamom with floral notes from neroli, orange flower and mimosa before settling in patchouli and sandalwood. Take a moment from the busyness of the everyday to visit your local Aesop store to spray this one on, walk away and you very well might find yourself coming back.
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Man of Many’s Staff Favourites – 6 April 2023
