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Ante up, champions. The weekend is just a few short hours away and we’ve got a prime spot in the pool with our name on it. Yep, the Sydney weather has heated up again, and with two sweet days of summer fun on the cards, we could think of no better way to spend it than by soaking up the rays outdoors. Before we do, however, there is work to be done. Here’s Feel-Good-Friday for this week.
Petit Loulou to Launch Five-Day Croissant Giveaway
Milsons Point’s favourite boulangerie is making its way to the CBD. Loulou, the fabled French-inspired bakery from hospitality group Etymon, is set to open a second location in Martin Place. On Monday, February 10, Petit Loulou will officially open its doors with a monster five-day croissant giveaway, bringing a delicious taste of Paris to the bustling city centre.
Located at 1 Elizabeth Street above Martin Place metro, Petit Loulou will follow a familiar format, dishing up a smattering of signature freshly baked French butter croissants and viennoiseries daily. From petite tarts to rotisserie chicken baguettes, Niçoise salads to sausage rolls, the new boulangerie is covering all bases, and it’s got city-dwellers licking their lips.
“We wanted to offer Sydney locals an authentic French experience, whether they’re returning guests or visiting us for the first time,” Brendon Woodward, Loulou head baker said. “Our ethos is to share the joy of traditional French baking with the city, and what better way to celebrate the opening of our new CBD location than by introducing them to the essence of Loulou through our signature croissants.”
Best of all, to celebrate the grand opening, Petit Loulou will treat Sydneysiders to a five-day croissant giveaway from February 10 to February 14, offering a taste of their signature viennoiseries. With a limit of one croissant per person, starting at 6:30am each morning, until sold out, the bakery will be gifting freshly baked croissants free with any coffee purchase, showcasing the flavours of authentic French pastry. If you want a slice of Paris to kickstart your morning, Petit Loulou is where you’ll find it.
Felicity Aston’s Before It’s Gone (B.I.G.) Arctic Research Expedition
British explorer Felicity Aston, famous for leading all-female novice teams on data collection expeditions to locations across the North Pole, Iceland, and Greenland, is embarking on a bold new adventure. The inspiring activist and researcher is launching the Before It’s Gone (B.I.G.) Arctic Research Expedition—an initiative that shines a spotlight on the instability of Arctic regions.
Supported by the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, the project is designed to serve as an urgent call to reach and record sea ice data. Aston believes that collecting this information will help humans better understand and ultimately protect the world’s rapidly changing geographies.
The Polar explorer explained that her 2015 research project off the North Siberian coast opened her eyes to the scarcity of information related to ice data. When the readings were added to an open database at the National Snow and Ice Data Center based in Denver, Colorado, it was discovered that the project’s data was the only entry for the year from the central Arctic Basin; an area estimated to have lost 85 per cent of the thickest multiyear sea ice by 2018.
“You can collect some data from space, but there’s certain information you can only get from being there on the ground, and it really struck me that we were running out of time to access this geography in order to collect information,” Aston said.
In response, Aston launched the B.I.G. Expedition, an all-female team of citizen scientists tasked with skiing to the Geographic North Pole to record ice data. Three years later, the expedition has captured an extraordinary quantity of snow and ice samples, all transported by human-powered sledge. The samples will be studied for evidence of microplastics and black carbon, which could help explain why we are seeing the impacts of climate change in the Arctic three times faster than anywhere else in the world.
Aston’s work, as supported by the Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative, is proving the power of personal responsibility. The Polar explorer’s quest to identify and help solve some of the most pressing environmental issues on earth is a testament to the drive of human nature.
Modo Mio Brings Michelin-Level Italian Cuisine to the Suburbs
Turns out you don’t have to travel to Paris, London or New York to enjoy Michelin-level cuisine. Castle Hill institution Modo Mio is bringing refined Italian cuisine to the suburbs, blending time-honoured traditions with modern culinary techniques. It’s all thanks to head chef Stefano Bozza.
A Roman-trained cuisine expert, Bozza honed his skills under the mentorship of the legendary three-Michelin-star chef Niko Romito, a partnership that led him to the acclaimed Reale in Casadonna. From there, Bozza travelled the world, pioneering restaurants in Beijing and Milano before settling in New South Wales, where he created a stunning encapsulation of luxury Italian fare. With a menu that boasts coastal seafood dishes, regional handmade pasta specialities and a host more, Modo Mio is an ode to the old country in the best possible way.
“Every dish starts with purpose; whether it’s sourcing the right ingredients or applying techniques that bring out their best qualities,” Bozza. “The menu reflects a deeper connection to the craft, ensuring every plate feels intentional and every flavour has a reason to be there.”
Modo Mio is located at 1/33 Terminus St, Castle Hill NSW 2154 and is open Tuesday to Sunday from 5:30pm and Sunday from midday.
