Latest news with #SaintPeter
The Guardian
6 hours ago
- Business
- The Guardian
World's 50 Best Restaurants awards: Sydney's Saint Peter named in the longlist for a second year
For the second year running, only one Australian restaurant has been named in the World's 50 Best Restaurants longlist. Josh and Julie Niland's innovative fish-focused fine diner Saint Peter ranked at 66th place in the annual countdown from 100 to 51. It is a move up the ranks from last year, when Saint Peter placed at number 98. 'What an outstanding achievement,' wrote Josh Niland on Instagram. '[Julie Niland] and I couldn't be more grateful and proud of the superhuman efforts of the entire team … Alongside our own team, we celebrate the long list of suppliers, producers and artisans that make [Saint Peter] the special place it is.' The Paddington fine diner relocated from its original site of eight years at the end of 2024. It is now housed in the Grand National Hotel, a revamped boutique hotel also owned by the Nilands. 'Not every restaurant can legitimately claim to be spearheading a movement,' writes World's 50 Best. 'Yet this uber-cool concept from Josh Niland takes the great Australian seafood tradition to previously unexplored heights.' The extended list features restaurants in 37 cities across the world. It is compiled from votes by 1,120 independent culinary experts, including chefs and food writers. This year marks the first time a New Zealand restaurant has placed in the longlist; Queenstone's Amisfield Restaurant ranked at 99. The highest new entry in the 51 to 100 list is Mexico's Arca in Tulum, coming in at 67. Last month Bundjalung restaurateur and former MasterChef Australia contestant Mindy Woods won the World's 50 Best Restaurants' Champions of Change award for her contribution to community through food. Sign up to Saved for Later Catch up on the fun stuff with Guardian Australia's culture and lifestyle rundown of pop culture, trends and tips after newsletter promotion The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2025 awards ceremony will be held in Italy on 19 June.
Time Out
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time Out
JUST IN: This game-changing Sydney restaurant was just named in the World's 50 Best extended list for 2025
Saint Peter – Josh and Julie Niland's pioneering seafood restaurant, housed in Paddington's Grand National Hotel – has landed at 66th place on the esteemed World's 50 Best extended list for 2025, announced overnight (Thursday, June 5). That's a huge leap from last year's ranking at 98. Saint Peter – which showcases the best local seafood using a scale-to-tail ethos – is the only Australian restaurant to make the global list. I know there are lots of lists and awards flying around – but trust me, the World's 50 Best is the biggie. So: you beauty! The annual extended list of the world's 51–100 finest restaurants is decided by a voting academy made up of more than 1,000 global restaurant critics, chefs and restaurateurs. The top 1–50 list will be announced live from Turin, Piedmont on June 19. Josh wrote on Instagram: "WHAT AN OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT. @julieniland and I couldn't be more grateful & proud of the superhuman efforts of the entire team — not just @saintpeterpaddo but @saintpeterbar @thesaintpeterhotel & @fishbutchery. Alongside our own team, we celebrate the long list of suppliers, producers and artisans that make @saintpeterpaddo the special place it is." In Time Out Sydney's five-star review of Saint Peter, I wrote: "Across nine exquisite courses, Niland celebrates seafood in all its glory, while championing sustainability with each convincing bite." Some of the courses might include: an exquisite and bright fish soup featuring noodles made from the bones of coral trout; a plate of fish charcuterie that turns offcuts into wine-bar delights; fettuccine-like calamari twirled through a bolognese-style tuna 'nduja; and line-caught blue mackerel with a sublime salt and vinegar sauce. As well as a lemon meringue tart of your citrus-laced dreams. View this post on Instagram A post shared by avriltreasure (@avriltreasure) While the set menu at dinner is the best way to experience Saint Peter in all its glory, if you don't have as much cash to splash (it'll set you back $275 per person, plus drinks), you can order à la carte at lunch. Or drop in to the more casual – but equally excellent – Saint Peter Bar (and order the yellowfin tuna cheeseburger). And a huge congratulations to our Kiwi mates: Amisfield Restaurant – located in the picturesque Central Otago region, just 15 minutes from Queenstown – also made the list, coming in at 99th place. It's the first time a restaurant from Aotearoa has made it onto the World's 50 Best. Time Out tip: Amisfield is also home to an excellent winery with some of the most beautiful views I've enjoyed alongside a glass of pinot noir — add it to your next South Island road trip. Congrats to Josh, Julie and the whole team. You can see the full list of restaurants and find out more here. Bring on June 19!
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
RecipeTin Eats founder Nagi Maehashi in tears over a stranger's handwritten note: 'Something weird happened'
Australia's beloved food blogger Nagi Maehashi was left stunned by a stranger's random act of kindness at a restaurant - a surprise gesture that brought her to tears. The RecipeTin Eats founder was dining at the acclaimed seafood restaurant Saint Peter in Sydney with a friend when a nearby patron quietly footed the bill for their meals on Thursday night. Maehashi only discovered her bill had been taken care of when she went to pay, and was surprised when staff gave her a handwritten note from the kind stranger. 'So something really weird, incredible and amazing just happened. Someone actually picked up the bill for us,' she said in a video posted on her Instagram. 'Nothing like this has ever happened to me before. I don't even know who it was because it's anonymous. Kind donors paid for our dinner. 'Whoever my dinner fairy was... thank you.' The note read: 'Nagi, we acknowledge you're not taking donations for RecipeTin Meals. Keep up the great work.' The act of kindness has struck a chord with fans of Maehashi, many of whom have followed her recipes for years - and more recently, admired her for her commitment to charity. Through her not-for-profit food bank RecipeTin Meals, Maehashi funds and prepares over 500 meals every day for vulnerable individuals and families across Sydney. She does not accept public donations and instead funds the initiative herself, using profits from her popular website and best-selling cookbooks. 'I have tears in my eyes because Nagi is generous with her time and money with her food bank and yet when someone can do a small gesture like this for her to acknowledge all she does it brings tears to her eyes,' one fan said. 'Why am I crying?! How beautiful,' another shared. 'Absolutely love this random act of kindness for you Nagi. So many people see the incredible work you do. You're a national treasure,' one shared. 'So many people see the incredible work you do, Nagi. You're a national treasure,' another added. Even culinary royalty had their say, with Nigella Lawson calling the stranger's gesture as 'so lovely, and so deserved.' The heartwarming moment comes just weeks after Maehashi made global headlines by accusing TikTok star and fellow cookbook author Brooke Bellamy of plagiarism. In a post shared on her website and social media, Maehashi claimed Bellamy's debut cookbook Bake With Brooki featured two recipes that closely resembled her own: caramel slice and baklava. The heartwarming moment comes just weeks after Maehashi made global headlines by accusing TikTok star and fellow cookbook author Brooke Bellamy (right) of plagiarism Maehashi alleged Penguin Australia, the publisher of Bellamy's cookbook, had 'exploited' her work without permission. 'To me, the similarities are so specific and detailed that calling these a coincidence feels disingenuous,' Maehashi claimed. 'There are also recipes from other authors… where the similarities are so extensive, dismissing it as coincidence would be absurd (in my opinion).' Maehashi said she felt compelled to speak out against the publishing giant. 'Staying silent protects this kind of behaviour,' she said. Bellamy has since responded on Instagram to vehemently deny the accusations. Despite the stress of the ongoing controversy, the unexpected kindness from a pair of anonymous diners served as a moment of gratitude - and a reminder of how much Maehashi's work means to everyday Australians. 'That's so classy and thoughtful,' one fan wrote. 'You deserve all the kindness that comes your way,' another shared. 'Good things always come around to good people,' one added.
ABC News
18-05-2025
- Politics
- ABC News
How the Catholic Church ended up with its own sovereign state
On Sunday May 18, world leaders and high-profile clergy attended the inaugural mass of Pope Leo XIV in Vatican City. Catholics around the world watched the proceedings, which were televised live. After a formal procession, the new pope was presented with the pallium — a special garment reserved for the highest clergy — and the papal ring to mark the beginning of his pontificate. There has been much speculation about how Pope Leo will lead the church and address pressing issues like climate change, global conflict and social politics. He has already spoken out about "lasting peace" in Gaza and Ukraine, and warned of the dangers of AI. But he isn't just the leader of the Catholic Church. He's also the head of the Holy See, the central governing body of Vatican City. The territory is home to almost 900 people and covers 0.5 square kilometres. But the world's tiniest sovereign state may have a significant role to play in years to come. According to Catholic belief, in the first century AD, the apostle Peter was martyred and buried at Vatican Hill, a small hill on the west bank of the Tiber river. After Christianity was legalised in the Roman Empire in 313 AD, a shrine and a church were built to honour Saint Peter and it became a site of worship and pilgrimage for early Christians. Following the fall of the Roman Empire in the fifth century, Christian clergy started to amass power and influence. This led to the formation of the Papal States, a group of territories on the Italian peninsula, which were governed by the pope of the day. "That situation lasted more or less from about 800 AD until about 1870, which is when Italy became a united nation for the first time," explains Shaun Blanchard, a lecturer in theology at the University of Notre Dame. In its quest for unification, the state of Italy wasn't too comfortable with an independent political nation in its midst. War ensued until the Kingdom of Italy prevailed and named Rome as its capital. "From about 1870 until 1929, the pope was known as 'the prisoner in the Vatican'," Dr Blanchard says. "This was a bit melodramatic because he wasn't really a prisoner, but he was very, very upset about this new political reality." In 1929, Pope Pius XI negotiated with the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III, and Prime Minister Benito Mussolini to recognise the Vatican's independent sovereignty. The pope is the ruler of both the Vatican city state and the Holy See, the supreme body of government of the Catholic Church. Beneath him is the Secretary of State, who holds an important political and administrative role. Since 2013, this role has been held by Italian cardinal and a reported papal frontrunner Pietro Parolin. Day-to-day governance is handled by a central administrative body called the Roman Curia, divided into dicasteries, which are "kind of like the pope's cabinet". "[Dicasteries] are various offices that oversee different elements of the church's spiritual, humanitarian and political mission," explains Dr Blanchard. The pope's involvement in the Holy See has varied over the past century, depending on his interests and experience. Pope Francis, for example, prioritised evangelisation — spreading the message of Jesus around the world — whereas his predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI was more interested in the traditional doctrines of the church. Upon the death or resignation of a pope, all heads of dicasteries must resign, with the exception of those essential to regular operations of the Vatican. It remains to be seen how Pope Leo will organise his cabinet and who he will appoint to key roles. The Vatican has its own telephone system, post office, gardens, astronomical observatory, radio station, banking system and pharmacy. Home to iconic architecture, museums and archives, it attracts pilgrims and tourists from around the world, especially during jubilee years. In 2023, the Vatican Museums welcomed 6.8 million visitors. The state is defended by the world's smallest army: the Swiss Guard, an elite unit of Swiss soldiers responsible for the pope's safety. Famous for their Renaissance-era ceremonial garb, the guards are employed by the Roman Catholic Church and serve as escorts to the pope, watchmen for the city and protectors of the College of Cardinals during conclaves. Vatican City also has a police guard, charged with overall security of the state, and hosts Italian police to secure St Peter's Square. A tax haven, the Vatican's economy relies upon investments, tourism, and the voluntary contributions of Catholics worldwide. Almost all supplies, including food, water and electricity, must be imported into the tiny state. The Vatican's complex history makes it unique among sovereign nations. "[It's gone] from being a shrine to a church to a kingdom to a state to now a very small state," says Daniel Thompson, associate professor of religious studies at the University of Dayton, USA. In the past two centuries, the separation of church and state has become a foundational principle of many nations – but not the Vatican. "Even though we have this clear distinction between church and state, between spiritual and political, it is actually very messy [within the Holy See]", Dr Thompson says. "Most of the people who serve in the Vatican's diplomatic service or who run the state are also officials, bishops, archbishops or cardinals in the Catholic Church, so there's an overlap of religious and political roles. "There's this unique relationship where the Vatican has not just religious influence, but it also has diplomats." Despite its diminutive size, the Holy See has a seat at the world's diplomatic tables. Its own envoys to other countries — usually archbishops — are called nuncios. More than 180 countries have formal diplomatic relationships with the Holy See, and of those, 89 maintain embassies in Rome. Australia first established diplomatic relations with the Holy See in 1973 and appointed its first resident ambassador in 2008. "It's just this little tourist-sized nation, but yet it has the diplomatic apparatus of a modern state," Dr Thompson says. "In some ways, it can actually function as a diplomatic and international broker, in ways that other states, which are larger and have different kinds of economic, political and military interests, cannot." The Holy See has held permanent observer status in the United Nations since 1964, meaning it can attend most meetings but cannot vote, object or introduce proposals. "The Vatican, because it has this sort of dual identity, can function as an intermediary — people recognise it as another diplomatic agent," Dr Thompson says. Under Pope Francis, the Vatican was vocal in calling for peace in South Sudan, and has attempted to address ongoing wars in Gaza and Ukraine. The late pontiff also made high-profile symbolic gestures to send political messages. Given his early appeal for "no more war", Pope Leo has indicated he will continue to broker peace in his role as head of state. Dr Blanchard says that for the Catholic faithful, the Vatican is "like the centre of the spoke of a wheel". "In an increasingly fragmented world, where people can feel adrift … it does feel a bit like an anchor," he says. "It feels like a tangible symbol that we all share, and that makes this massive, scary world feel a little bit safer and like we have a really powerful community."
Fox News
18-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Pope Leo XIV celebrates inaugural debut with televised mass before world leaders
incoming update… Pope Leo XIV's inaugural mass will take place on Sunday May 18 at 4AM ET (10AM Rome time) in St. Peter's Basilica and is a solemn ceremony steeped in ritual and symbolism in a direct tribute to the first Pope of Rome, the Apostle Peter. The Petrine Ministry will begin in the Basilica with the new pontiff descending to the chapel of the Tomb of Saint Peter, where Pope Leo will first pause for prayer and then incense the site – signifying the direct link of the pope to the apostle. While Pope Leo joins the procession, a litany hymn known as 'Laudes Regiae' will be sung to invoke the 'intercession' of the holy Pontiffs, martyrs, and saints of the Roman Church, according to Vatican News. Following the procession the pope is expected to be presented with 'ancient episcopal insignia' associated with Saint Peter, including the Pallium, which is a liturgical vestment made of lamb wool and is a nod to the Good Shepard, and the Ring of the Fisherman, which signifies Peter's faith in Jesus. Both items serve as a symbol of Pope Leo XIV having assumed the role of the papacy. World leaders are again expected to be among the 250,000 people expected to attend the Mass. Live Coverage begins here
