Melbourne's charcoal chicken shops have levelled up: Here are four to try
Today, they endure as a suburban staple, whether independent or part of a chain such as El Jannah (founded in Sydney in 1998 and now boasting 13 Victorian outlets) or Chargrill Charlie's (started by a South African family in 1989).
Now a new generation of Melbourne entrepreneurs is putting a fresh spin on the trusty chook. From Korean-style rotisserie to American-inspired chicken sandwiches, here are four fresh ways to get your fix.
For an American fast-food riff: Chook
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The Age
18 hours ago
- The Age
‘I am done with being hard on myself': Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm at 51
This story is part of the August 3 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories. It's the clichéd British expat dream – to take up residence at Sydney's Bondi Beach – but for one of the UK's most famous exports, Melanie Chisholm, it was a reality for several months this year. The singer formerly known as Sporty Spice, thanks to her pivotal role in '90s pop phenomenon the Spice Girls, never thought she'd call the famous stretch of coastline her second home, but a coaching gig on The Voice and an Aussie boyfriend gave her a chance to reacquaint herself with a city she's always loved. 'Bondi is the health capital of Australia, if not the world,' she says. 'And being Sporty Spice, it feels like I found my spiritual home. It's a very natural spot for me to be in.' It may be nearly three decades since the Spice Girls conquered the charts with their debut single, Wannabe, but Chisholm, 51, still proudly embodies her famous moniker. Dressed in a casual red-and-white-striped T-shirt and sport-luxe pants, she's already been on an early morning walk before her chat with Sunday Life. She's religious about her three days a week strength training but has come to accept exercise-free recovery days are important, too. 'I have been a 'go hard or go home' person for much of my life, and now trying to slow down is actually quite nice,' she says. Joining the Australian version of The Voice was a no-brainer for Chisholm, having been a coach on the UK children's iteration of the show in 2021. She was drawn to the opportunity to encourage new talent, having experienced what it's like to audition in front of a room full of strangers. 'There are many opportunities to sing on reality TV shows, but with The Voice, it's the only one that's very nurturing and is really all about the talent,' she says. 'It's the only show I am interested in being a part of.' Instead of breaking hearts and shattering dreams, Chisholm is mindful with her coaching advice. 'We always try to leave everybody with constructive criticism and give some guidance if they don't get through the competition,' she adds. A meteoric rise to pop-star status, and the inevitable challenges that follow, is a path Chisholm knows well. When the Spice Girls reached international stardom in the '90s, the shift in gears forever changed the lives of its members: Geri 'Ginger' Halliwell, Victoria 'Posh' Adams, Melanie 'Scary' Brown, Emma 'Baby' Bunton and Chisholm. Born in Lancashire, Chisholm's parents split when she was three years old. She spent most of her time with her mother, Joan, and would go on adventurous school holiday trips abroad with her dad, Alan. Her mother sang in bands, and met her new husband Dennis, a bass player at the time, at a pub in Liverpool. They married and have a son Paul. He's six years younger than Chisholm, and found his sister's fame a bit awkward when he was growing up. 'When I think back to the Spice Girls period of my life, it was more incredible than difficult,' Chisholm reflects. 'It was crazy, exhilarating, exhausting – a fairy tale and the ultimate dream when you're a kid. We were all navigating this new world we found ourselves in. 'The big moments, like being at The Brits [awards] in 1997, were a huge highlight. We'd been around the world, conquered it as we always hoped we would, and to come home and be celebrated was incredible. But being on the other side of it now gives us a new perspective.' Overnight success and the pressures that came with fame during peak Spice Girls mania saw Chisholm grapple with depression and eating disorders, revealed in her 2022 tell-all memoir, The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl. 'I was reluctant to write an autobiography for many years, and the reason was that I needed to be honest and open,' she says. 'There were certain parts of my experience that were difficult for me to unzip. On reflection, it was important to do that, and to know I can be a source of comfort for people who went through similar things. That certainly felt like a good thing to do, even if it was hard. 'It's almost like closing a chapter in my life. It's acknowledging the past – the good and the bad - and looking forward to the next phase of life.' When the Spice Girls called it quits in 2000, Chisholm focused on her solo career. She's released eight albums since 1999 and is in the process of adding the final touches to an album she's been working on for the last two years with English producer Richard 'Biff' Stannard, who's written many songs for Kylie Minogue. 'My new album has been a real labour of love,' says Chisholm. 'It's uplifting and I've had a lot of fun in the dance genre. I am leaning into the club world and my sporty side, which taps into different aspects of my personality.' Chisholm has relished watching Kylie's career boom as the Aussie singer has traversed her 50s, hence her decision to team with Stannard for her own club renaissance. 'Biff helped push Kylie even further into the stratosphere – it's been amazing to see,' she says. It's clear that Chisholm is embracing what Victoria Beckham, now an internationally renowned fashion designer, refers to as 'living life from the fifth floor'. 'When I turned 50 last year, I didn't feel concerned about it too much,' says Chisholm. 'And now, a year on, I've embraced all the positive things about getting older. The physical negatives of being this age are that you wake up with more aches in the morning, but having wisdom and feeling blessed to be alive is such a gift. I am focusing on that. I spent a lot of time being hard on myself, and I'm done with that.' As the 30th anniversary looms for Spice, the band's 1996 debut album, so does the talk of a reunion. The album sold more than 23 million copies worldwide and Wannabe reached No.1 in 37 countries, so the pressure is on to mark the occasion. The band has reunited several times in recent years, including for the closing ceremony at the 2012 London Olympics. And in 2019 there was a tour of the UK and Ireland, though without Victoria Beckham due to her fashion commitments. The five members discuss band matters regularly via a private WhatsApp group, figuring what might be possible for the milestone. 'And there are subgroups within the group,' says Chisholm, laughing. 'I definitely know there is a chat group that doesn't contain me, but somewhere else we keep Ginger or Posh out. Like all friendship groups, we have many ways of communicating.' Chisholm is reunion-ready, still holding onto some of those iconic outfits from the '90s in her mother's attic. 'I wish I had kept more, but I am not a hoarder,' she says. Loading There's also talk of a fashion collaboration next year, but for now she's focusing on new music and leaning into the pleasure of finding love again. 'I have enjoyed getting to know my boyfriend's family and friends – it feels like an extended family to me,' she says. Her Australian boyfriend, Bondi-based model and filmmaker Chris Dingwall, is also giving her a new perspective. (Chisholm has a 16-year-old daughter, Scarlett, with a previous partner, property developer Thomas Starr; they split in 2012.) It took meeting Dingwall, and spending time with him in the Aussie sun, to slow down from her busy pace. 'I am a bit of a workaholic,' she says. 'I decided last year, when I met my boyfriend, that I do have an incredible life. My work enables me to travel and I love what I do. It used to be all work and not a lot of play. I am changing that. 'I saw Barbra Streisand interviewed about her book recently, and the interviewer asked her, 'What is there left to do?' She said, 'I want to live more.' And at that moment, I thought, 'Yes, I want that, too.''
Sydney Morning Herald
18 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I am done with being hard on myself': Sporty Spice Melanie Chisholm at 51
This story is part of the August 3 edition of Sunday Life. See all 13 stories. It's the clichéd British expat dream – to take up residence at Sydney's Bondi Beach – but for one of the UK's most famous exports, Melanie Chisholm, it was a reality for several months this year. The singer formerly known as Sporty Spice, thanks to her pivotal role in '90s pop phenomenon the Spice Girls, never thought she'd call the famous stretch of coastline her second home, but a coaching gig on The Voice and an Aussie boyfriend gave her a chance to reacquaint herself with a city she's always loved. 'Bondi is the health capital of Australia, if not the world,' she says. 'And being Sporty Spice, it feels like I found my spiritual home. It's a very natural spot for me to be in.' It may be nearly three decades since the Spice Girls conquered the charts with their debut single, Wannabe, but Chisholm, 51, still proudly embodies her famous moniker. Dressed in a casual red-and-white-striped T-shirt and sport-luxe pants, she's already been on an early morning walk before her chat with Sunday Life. She's religious about her three days a week strength training but has come to accept exercise-free recovery days are important, too. 'I have been a 'go hard or go home' person for much of my life, and now trying to slow down is actually quite nice,' she says. Joining the Australian version of The Voice was a no-brainer for Chisholm, having been a coach on the UK children's iteration of the show in 2021. She was drawn to the opportunity to encourage new talent, having experienced what it's like to audition in front of a room full of strangers. 'There are many opportunities to sing on reality TV shows, but with The Voice, it's the only one that's very nurturing and is really all about the talent,' she says. 'It's the only show I am interested in being a part of.' Instead of breaking hearts and shattering dreams, Chisholm is mindful with her coaching advice. 'We always try to leave everybody with constructive criticism and give some guidance if they don't get through the competition,' she adds. A meteoric rise to pop-star status, and the inevitable challenges that follow, is a path Chisholm knows well. When the Spice Girls reached international stardom in the '90s, the shift in gears forever changed the lives of its members: Geri 'Ginger' Halliwell, Victoria 'Posh' Adams, Melanie 'Scary' Brown, Emma 'Baby' Bunton and Chisholm. Born in Lancashire, Chisholm's parents split when she was three years old. She spent most of her time with her mother, Joan, and would go on adventurous school holiday trips abroad with her dad, Alan. Her mother sang in bands, and met her new husband Dennis, a bass player at the time, at a pub in Liverpool. They married and have a son Paul. He's six years younger than Chisholm, and found his sister's fame a bit awkward when he was growing up. 'When I think back to the Spice Girls period of my life, it was more incredible than difficult,' Chisholm reflects. 'It was crazy, exhilarating, exhausting – a fairy tale and the ultimate dream when you're a kid. We were all navigating this new world we found ourselves in. 'The big moments, like being at The Brits [awards] in 1997, were a huge highlight. We'd been around the world, conquered it as we always hoped we would, and to come home and be celebrated was incredible. But being on the other side of it now gives us a new perspective.' Overnight success and the pressures that came with fame during peak Spice Girls mania saw Chisholm grapple with depression and eating disorders, revealed in her 2022 tell-all memoir, The Sporty One: My Life as a Spice Girl. 'I was reluctant to write an autobiography for many years, and the reason was that I needed to be honest and open,' she says. 'There were certain parts of my experience that were difficult for me to unzip. On reflection, it was important to do that, and to know I can be a source of comfort for people who went through similar things. That certainly felt like a good thing to do, even if it was hard. 'It's almost like closing a chapter in my life. It's acknowledging the past – the good and the bad - and looking forward to the next phase of life.' When the Spice Girls called it quits in 2000, Chisholm focused on her solo career. She's released eight albums since 1999 and is in the process of adding the final touches to an album she's been working on for the last two years with English producer Richard 'Biff' Stannard, who's written many songs for Kylie Minogue. 'My new album has been a real labour of love,' says Chisholm. 'It's uplifting and I've had a lot of fun in the dance genre. I am leaning into the club world and my sporty side, which taps into different aspects of my personality.' Chisholm has relished watching Kylie's career boom as the Aussie singer has traversed her 50s, hence her decision to team with Stannard for her own club renaissance. 'Biff helped push Kylie even further into the stratosphere – it's been amazing to see,' she says. It's clear that Chisholm is embracing what Victoria Beckham, now an internationally renowned fashion designer, refers to as 'living life from the fifth floor'. 'When I turned 50 last year, I didn't feel concerned about it too much,' says Chisholm. 'And now, a year on, I've embraced all the positive things about getting older. The physical negatives of being this age are that you wake up with more aches in the morning, but having wisdom and feeling blessed to be alive is such a gift. I am focusing on that. I spent a lot of time being hard on myself, and I'm done with that.' As the 30th anniversary looms for Spice, the band's 1996 debut album, so does the talk of a reunion. The album sold more than 23 million copies worldwide and Wannabe reached No.1 in 37 countries, so the pressure is on to mark the occasion. The band has reunited several times in recent years, including for the closing ceremony at the 2012 London Olympics. And in 2019 there was a tour of the UK and Ireland, though without Victoria Beckham due to her fashion commitments. The five members discuss band matters regularly via a private WhatsApp group, figuring what might be possible for the milestone. 'And there are subgroups within the group,' says Chisholm, laughing. 'I definitely know there is a chat group that doesn't contain me, but somewhere else we keep Ginger or Posh out. Like all friendship groups, we have many ways of communicating.' Chisholm is reunion-ready, still holding onto some of those iconic outfits from the '90s in her mother's attic. 'I wish I had kept more, but I am not a hoarder,' she says. Loading There's also talk of a fashion collaboration next year, but for now she's focusing on new music and leaning into the pleasure of finding love again. 'I have enjoyed getting to know my boyfriend's family and friends – it feels like an extended family to me,' she says. Her Australian boyfriend, Bondi-based model and filmmaker Chris Dingwall, is also giving her a new perspective. (Chisholm has a 16-year-old daughter, Scarlett, with a previous partner, property developer Thomas Starr; they split in 2012.) It took meeting Dingwall, and spending time with him in the Aussie sun, to slow down from her busy pace. 'I am a bit of a workaholic,' she says. 'I decided last year, when I met my boyfriend, that I do have an incredible life. My work enables me to travel and I love what I do. It used to be all work and not a lot of play. I am changing that. 'I saw Barbra Streisand interviewed about her book recently, and the interviewer asked her, 'What is there left to do?' She said, 'I want to live more.' And at that moment, I thought, 'Yes, I want that, too.''
Courier-Mail
2 days ago
- Courier-Mail
I cruised Europe's glamour cities on the Riviera, this surprised me
Don't miss out on the headlines from Lifestyle. Followed categories will be added to My News. A row of timber fishing boats bobs gently in the harbour, schools of small sardines darting between their hulls. Siblings toss pinches of bread in from the dock, squealing in delight as the fish snap up their offerings with theatrical splashes. It's a wholesome Mediterranean scene, but here in Cannes, something about it feels a little off. It clicks in an instant; this tiny snippet of local life is almost jarring among the sea of colossal superyachts. Affluence and excessiveness are more the norm at this French Riviera harbour than a duo of excited fish-feeding children. 'Yachtsman's Harbors' is the theme of our seven-day Windstar Cruise through the French and Italian Rivieras from Barcelona to Rome, sailing aboard Wind Surf and stopping in at harboured destinations of varying populations and riches. Cannes sits somewhere near the top of the scale, with the Promenade de la Croisette's Belle Epoque buildings home to the kind of luxury global fashion brands that so casually hang from the elbows of superyacht-goers. In the warmth of the spring sunshine, I stroll from one end of the promenade to the other, window shopping and people watching along the way. My own purse remains unopened until I venture a few streets back to Rue d'Antibes. Here, quirky gift stores and local labels sit among the usual high street suspects, and a wine enjoyed in the sun at an al fresco table costs a more respectable €7 per glass. Rue d'Antibes is known as Cannes' shopping street. A morning cappuccino at Cafe de Paris sets me back the same amount. But it's the price I'm willing to pay for unrivalled views of Monaco's poster child, Place du Casino. Architecturally, it's spectacular, and it's considered the beating heart of the principality's action. A slow procession of Rolls-Royces, Aston Martins and Bugattis rumbles around the bend, passing Hôtel De Paris and the growing crowd of camera-wielding tourists outside Casino de Monte-Carlo. It's a spectacle of wealth that, perhaps, only the vessels docked in the harbour can rival. Just a few hundred metres from Wind Surf's berth is a high-speed Lamborghini yacht, impossible to miss with its sprawling, ultra-modern deck, and rumoured to retail at a cool $7 million. Luxury yachts at Monte Carlo, Monaco. Like Cannes, Monaco isn't all luxury and big budgets. After wandering Place du Casino, I follow the Formula One street track down through the famous hairpin of Mirabeau corner, past the new Mareterra district – built out into the Mediterranean Sea on reclaimed land – and through the tunnel. I wind up in Quartier du Port, where local breweries, brasseries, and boutiques are a glimpse into everyday Monégasque life. Steaming ricotta and chard-filled barbagiuan pastries and chickpea flour socca in the open hall of Marché de la Condamine sate my growing appetite, fuelling me for an afternoon perusing classic Fiats and early F1 cars at the Private Cars Collection of HSH Prince of Monaco. Portofino in the quiet of early morning. Picture: Monique Ceccato A morning spent on the tree-lined trails of Parco Nazionale di Portofino is a welcome antidote to the dense urbanity of the principality of Monaco. It's day five of the Yachtsman's Harbors of the Rivieras cruise, and we're docked just off the shores of the idyllic coastal town for the day. There's barely a soul to be seen when we set off on our shore excursion at 8am, just a handful of earlybirds sipping their espressos at one of the few open cafes, and some avid sailors prepping their yachts for the afternoon's regatta. Without the midmorning swarms of tourists, the true beauty of the ex-fishing village is revealed. But nothing outshines the beauty of Portofino and surrounds from above, a view only those willing to climb the steep trails towards Paraggi beach are privy to. It's a clear day, and the blue of the sky matches that of the ocean, the Apennine Mountains acting as a buffer between the two in the distance. The picturesque port of Portofino. Our final destination is the bustling commune of Santa Margherita Ligure, a three-and-a-half-hour walk from our starting point in Portofino. We pass olive groves and scrubby bushlands en route, stopping only for the occasional informative chat with our tour leader Giulia and a speedy espresso at a hidden hillside mill-turned-cafe. But, it's a glass of wine we all reach for at the end of the adventure, served with a healthy side of aperitivo hour snacks and glowing pride at having conquered the hike as a team. Portoferraio harbour on the island of Elba. Picture: Monique Ceccato Strolling the cobbled streets of Portoferraio on Elba island the following day – our last port of call before disembarkation in Rome's Civitavecchia – is a gentle warmdown for the legs. We're docked just a few minutes from the town centre, studded with sun-drenched cafes and stores selling locally made products. The harbour here is, in the truest sense, a 'yachtsman's port', with substantially more classic sailboats and cruisers moored along its arching seawall than any of the more built-up towns and cities we've been to. The absence of big-boat energy has a ripple effect throughout the town, with not a high-end storefront or fine dining restaurant to be seen. It's authentic coastal Italy at its finest. I've been tipped off about one of Portoferraio's culinary specialties, schiaccia briaca, a wine-infused, dried fruit and walnut-topped flatbread 'legacy' from the pirates that pillaged the town in the 13th and 16th centuries. Some pasticcerias still sell the ancient unyeasted pastry, and I find mine at Pasticceria Dolce Vita. The cafe oozes Italy, with locals milling around the counter holding their espressos and spritzes in hand, wild, gesticulating conversation going on between them. I soak up the atmosphere before packaging up my schiaccia briaca and strolling back to Wind Surf. Monique Ceccato aboard Wind Surf in Monaco. On the back deck in the warm afternoon sun, I tuck into the dense, bready delicacy. It's sweet and Christmas cake-like, the perfect match for the day's final espresso. We're minutes from departure, and guests are filing upstairs, crowding the railings for their last glimpses of Elba before we're en route to Civitavecchia. As we pull away from port, Wind Surf's sails unfurl for one last time. It's a poignant moment, the canvas waving back at Portoferraio in the breeze and bidding our Riviera journey farewell. The author was a guest of Windstar Cruises. Windstar's seven-day Yachtsman's Harbors of the Rivieras cruise starts from $4640 per person for a double occupancy cabin. It runs almost year-round. Originally published as I cruised Europe's glamour cities on the Riviera, this surprised me
