We’re inching closer to Halloween with every week, as well as a nice summer break, but that doesn’t mean we’re not enjoying ourselves in the here and now. This week, we’ve tried out some delicious gin, eaten a bunch of ugly vegetables, and watched a whole lot of football. So, as we head into another beautiful weekend, put your feet up, relax, and check out Man of Many’s Staff Favourites for the week.
Breville Aboriginal Culinary Journey Range
Harry Parsons – Senior Branded Content Manager
I’ve taken a page out of the baby boomer’s book and decided to break up with overpriced coffees and avo on toast at cafés (editor’s note: traitor). Over the past few weeks, I’ve been trying out the Barista Pro coffee machine and Juice Fountain Cold XL from Breville’s new Aboriginal Culinary Journey Range, and my home has transformed into a thriving café (albeit with a customer base consisting of just my partner and me, but that’s beside the point).
Initially, the coffee machine was a bit fiddly, but it’s now consistently producing great coffee if I don’t say so myself. Once you’ve mastered the coffee ground thickness and grinding time, you’re off and running, with a golden crema to be proud of. The steam wand creates impressive microfoam milk, which greatly assists with latte art (confession: I’ve yet to produce anything better than a blob design, but at least the Barista Pro is doing its part). This appliance makes it easy to learn how to make your own coffee, with its clear and informative display showing ground levels and extraction pressure, along with an auto grind and dose feature and user-friendly steam wand. It’s a solid purchase for any budding barista.
As for the Juice Fountain, it’s already proven its value by saving me money on weekend morning juices. Having recently battled the man flu, I’ve been making orange and ginger juice a regular part of my morning routine, and the Breville Juice Fountain makes this an absolute breeze. What surprised me the most was how little noise it makes. After experiencing cafés where the juicer’s blaring drowns out conversation, this was a very welcome surprise.
Not only have these appliances elevated my morning rituals, but they’ve also given me great pride in what they represent, sparking conversations that raise awareness among friends and family. Breville’s appliances are proudly designed and engineered at their headquarters in Alexandria, Sydney, located on Gadigal Country, where the Gadigal People, as well as the Gamayngal, Bideagal, and Gweagal, have lived for millennia. This heritage is beautifully showcased across each appliance, featuring designs by First Nations artists. The Barista Pro depicts women’s ceremonies associated with Marrapinti, west of the Kiwirrkurra Community and the Pollock Hills in Western Australia, while the Juice Fountain portrays the Kampurarrpa Dreaming at Ngami, inspired by the kampurarrpa (desert raisin), a staple food of Indigenous people in Central Australia for thousands of years.
The best part? Breville is donating 100% of the profits from the sale of the ‘Aboriginal Culinary Journey’ range to create opportunities for Indigenous Australians! For the budding barista and café frequenter, perhaps it’s time to create a wholesome home café and bring ancestral Australian art and food culture into your kitchen.
Under Armour Slip Speed Mega
John Guanzon – Head of Social
If you’re anything like me, you appreciate a shoe that doesn’t overcomplicate things—especially when you’re feeling a little lazy. Enter the Under Armour SlipSpeed Mega shoes. These kicks are perfect for anyone who loves the ease of slipping into their shoes without the fuss of laces. I mean who has time to sit down and do shoe laces these days? You can literally just slide these on, and you’re out the door. But there’s more to them than just convenience.
The UA SlipSpeed Mega has a convertible heel that lets you switch from ‘run mode’ to ‘recover mode’ effortlessly—think of it as the sneaker version of Crocs (but with a touch more style). The supersized UA Flow cushioning gives you unmatched comfort, perfect for long airport walks, while the breathable ripstop upper keeps things cool. And then once you’re on the plane, you can easily convert them into slipper mode. The BOA Fit System’s 12-point lockdown also makes sure you’re snug with just a couple of turns and a click. Don’t know about you but I’m all about the simple, slip-on shoes this summer.
Favourite Article of the Week: Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation Review
23rd Distillery Raspberry & Finger Lime Gin
Dayna Aspite – Branded Content Associate
I was fortunate this week to be able to try 23rd Distillery’s Raspberry and Finger Lime Gin. This summer ready gin was super easy to enjoy on ice and in cocktails. It’s sweeter than I expected with a hint of rose that sneaks in at the end. With how sweet it is, it’s super enjoyable to sip with soda, fresh mint and lime juice, almost like a mojito vibe.
While I am typically a fan of funky flavoured gins, I was pleasantly surprised when my anti-gin family were able to polish off the bottle! 23rd Street Distillery have made it even easier to enjoy this gin as it comes in premixed cans with soda and/or tonic. Safe to say it will be finding its way as a staple on my bar for those who always say ‘surprise me’ when you offer them a drink and you’re wanting to impress.
Favourite Article of the Week: Best Horror TV Shows to Watch This October
Farmer’s Pick
Dean Blake – Entertainment and Technology Journalist
If you’re like me, you’re probably getting a bit sick of how much everything costs right now – especially fresh fruit and vegetables. It’s hard to justify eating well when a cucumber costs as much as a whole family meal at McDonald’s does sometimes, but there is always a better way.
My partner and I have been using a service called Farmer’s Pick for the past few weeks, and I actually can’t really believe how good the value is. For around $50 a week, you get an absolutely chockablock box of fruit and vegetables delivered to your doorstep each week, which pretty much negates the need for us to buy vegetables at all from the supermarket. You can decide the kinds of food you do and don’t want (my partner doesn’t like melon, for example, and we just never get it sent), and the only catch is that the fruit they deliver is ‘ugly’.
Honestly, I couldn’t care less how it looks when it tastes as good as it does.
Favourite Article of the Week: Inside Netflix and Tasha Huo’s ‘Bonkers’ ‘Tomb Raider: The Legend of Lara Croft’ Anime