It’s been a week of remarkable confusion. With Donald Trump waging war against Taylor Swift, the Mini MOKE seemingly rising from the dead and a mass nude event planned for Brisbane’s historic Story Bridge, we’re not really sure what to make of the last seven days. Nevertheless, we’re putting our flummoxed brains to rest and stepping calmly and quietly into the weekend. With that in mind, let’s kick it off right with a little Man of Many Staff Favourites action.
L’Occitane Immortelle Reset Serum
Nick Hall – Editor-in-Chief
As anyone who has had the great misfortune of meeting me in person would know, I am a huge Francophile. Not a conversation goes by that I don’t somehow devolve into chats about how good croissants are or why French provisional architecture doesn’t get the love that it deserves. So naturally, if I had to choose a skincare brand to show patronage to, it would be L’Occitane en Provence.
The French luxury brand exudes that classic je ne sais quoi that I so very much adore and this week, the brand did me a solid, sending me the new Immortelle Reset Serum. According to the skincare company, the serum’s new formula arrives enriched with 3,000 delicate golden bubbles which (somehow) revitalise and smooth the skin. Best of all, it comes infused with the Immortelle flower, known for its potent antioxidants and exceptional endurance, along with Immortelle Essential Oil and its SAP-like Extract. Rich and golden, this new serum is an absolute dream and while it has yet to make me look 25 again, it has certainly indulged my French fixation.
Favourite Article of the Week: ‘No Modern Gadgets, No Shortcuts’: Inside Lennox Hastie’s World of Fire and Brimstone
HelloFresh “Skill Up” Range
John Guanzon – Head of Social
At home, I look after all the cooking and meal prep for my family, mostly because no one else knows how to cook and also, I actually enjoy it. This month has been a particularly busy month for me, so I decided to make things more convenient by organizing a couple of weeks’ worth of HelloFresh boxes – saving all the hassle and guesswork of doing weekly grocery shops and meal planning. We’ve subscribed to HelloFresh many times before and what I love about it is that they’re regularly refreshing their menu and meal selections. O
ne new thing I noticed this time around was an addition of “Skill Up” recipes which are meant to help you level up your cooking. What I like about the “Skill Up” range is that it goes beyond just providing ingredients. Each meal comes with a bit of a cooking challenge, teaching techniques that I wouldn’t usually attempt on a busy weeknight. It’s still easy to follow, but it gives you that extra satisfaction of learning something new, like getting the perfect sear on a steak or mastering a simple sauce that could easily impress guests. Sadly, my school-aged housemates (aka children) weren’t that phased.
Two standout dishes for me were the Lamb Ragu with Fresh Pappardelle, where I learned how to simmer a rich, hearty sauce that tasted like it had been slow-cooked for hours. The fresh pasta was a great touch, too. Another winner was the Chicken Schnitzel with Creamy Potato Salad—getting the schnitzel breading just right was a challenge, but once you nail it, the result is crispy perfection. I guess you can consider me the final boss of weeknight cooking.
Favourite Article of the Week: 10 Best Hotels in the World for 2024 Revealed
Into the Fire
Dean Blake – Journalist – Tech, Entertainment and Features
This week, in my eternal quest for the perfect documentary, my partner and I sat down to watch Into the Fire: The Lost Daughter on Netflix. It’s a two-part series, though each episode is over an hour long, and follows a number of stomach churning stories centering on a girl that went missing in 1989.
From there, we follow her biological mother’s quest to find out what happened to the little girl she gave up for adoption 35 years prior, as well as the people whose lives were touched by her short life and others who, thankfully, avoided her fate. Again, like most things I end up talking about here, it’s not an easy watch and touches on some real world no-nos, but the end result is a fascinating look at how cold cases can be solved years later with new technology and a bit of elbow grease.
Favourite Article of the Week: Why the Tesla Cybertruck is Not Coming to Australia Anytime Soon
Bunsters Green & Gold Hot Sauce
A classic salsa verde from a classic Aussie company – Bunsters Green and Gold Hot Sauce is a must-try for anyone who loves a perfect balance of flavour and heat. Made with Australian-grown ingredients like jalapeños and lime, it adds a fresh, tangy kick to any dish without overpowering it. The spice level is just right (7/10 on the Bunsters heat scale or about 1,400 Scoville for the chilli enthusiasts), offering a bold taste that enhances everything from eggs to tacos. Ideal for both hot sauce fans and newcomers, this sauce brings flavour and versatility to every meal.
Favourite Article of the Week: Best Pale Ale Beers to Crack Open
Uber One x HOYTS
Dayna Aspite – Branded Content Associate
Two legends have teamed up to offer the greatest movie experience of all time. Uber One members can now expect some exclusive benefits on their next trip to the movies, like discounted tickets and unlimited popcorn refills! Saving a buck or two can go a long way which is why getting my hands on discounted Lux tickets has elevated my night outs without having to break the bank. As someone who loves a trip or two to the movies, this has been game changing! I am also very guilty of eating all the popcorn during the pre-movie ads so getting free refills is next level. If you’re an Uber stan and have been contemplating Uber One, this is your push to upgrade!
Favourite Article of the Week: Best Online Games to Play With Friends
Partida Roble Fino Añejo
Jacob Osborn – Staff Writer
Sherry-seasoned cask maturation is all the rage with whiskey these days, but what about tequila? Enter Partida’s Roble Fino Añejo, which aged the brand’s acclaimed Añejo expression for 18 months in ex-bourbon barrels and then an additional five months in ex-single malt, sherry-seasoned casks. Already a terrific sipper, the spirit takes on all the more complexity as a result of the extra maturation.
The standout of its respective range, Roble Fino Añejo delivers notes of mango, oak, chocolate, black pepper, coffee, spice, and sweet agave. Medium-bodied, dry, and effortlessly drinkable, the tequila reveals layers of nuance with every successive pour. One might expect an overt sweetness, but what we get instead are subtle sherry accents that round out an otherwise traditional (and superb) profile. Fantastic!
Favourite Article of the Week: 10 Best Hotels in the World for 2024 Revealed
