Boss Hunting’s Favourite Things: January 2023

Each and every month in the Boss Hunting office we’re lucky enough to sample, find, taste, explore, and curate some of the coolest stuff the world has to offer. From hotels and sneakers to restaurants and tropical islands, these are Boss Hunting’s favourite things for January 2023.

Curated by Nick Kenyon, Randy Lai, Nick Mayor, John McMahon, Garry Lu, Chris Singh, and Oscar Green

RELATED: Boss Hunting’s Favourite Things Of 2022

Atlantis The Royal / Beyonce’s Private Concert

I was invited to the grand opening weekend of Dubai’s new billion-dollar resort, Atlantis The Royal. Who would say no to a private concert by Beyonce followed by an afterparty from Swedish House Mafia? I’m glad I didn’t as it was absolutely one of the biggest and most extravagant events I’ve been to in my career. Beyonce’s multi-disciplinary performance was insanely good, and it was surrounded by great drinking and dining experiences. Heston’s first-ever cocktail bar was my go-to spot at the end of each night, and rooftop bar Cloud 22 is something everyone needs to put on their list next time they’re in Dubai. – Chris

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New Balance BB480

I’ve been searching for the perfect everyday white sneaker for a while now. Looking for versatility, an attractive price point and, most importantly, comfort. Enter New Balance BB480. A tribute to the brands’ 1980’s basketball shoes, the BB480 (I opted for triple white) offers a casual class with ultimate comfort, thanks to the Ortholite sole. It’s this Ortholite sole, moulding to my sole, that enables me to wear these sneakers day-to-day with ease. A simple shoe executed to perfection – it really is a joy to put these on every morning. – Nick Mayor

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Ploos Restaurant

Earlier this year, I had the pleasure of dining at Ploos – a restaurant nestled within the heritage-listed Campbell’s Cove warehouse. Brought to life by chef Peter Conistis of Alpha Omega fame, here, you’ll find a showcase of top-notch South Agean cuisine that I’m almost willing to call the finest available in all of Sydney; paired with the backdrop of iconic harbour views as if it were another course + wine on the menu.

Here’s a quick run-through of the delectable delights I sampled until my stomach was practically pressed up against the table:

• Sourdough Pita w/ black olive oil & wild oregano
• Kataifi Tart w/ whipped feta, pastourmas, & candied eggplant
• Seared Tuna Dolmades w/ almonds, sesame wafer, & finger lime
• Abrolhos Octopus w/ carob, taramosalata, & caper shoots
• Manti-filled Spanakopita w/ dill yogurt & burnt butter
• Roast Eggplant w/ imam bayildi, lentils, & graviera
• Grilled Organic Chicken w/ biber salcasi & almond skordalia
• Braised Peas & Potatoes Tsakistes

Next date night sorted. – Garry Lu

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Pandoro from CUÍT HK

As anybody within a multi-kilometre radius of our office well knows, over the past fortnight I’ve been raving about my recent jaunt back to Hong Kong for the Christmas holidays. (Indeed, I felt so strongly about how much the +852 still has to offer that I penned an entire travel guide on the subject – covering retailers, restaurants and swish hotels in the region I remain assiduously fond of.) But I’m getting sidetracked.

Point being, somewhere along the way, I managed to sneak in a casual dinner among friends; wherein I was introduced to Tiffany Tse – baker and co-founder behind Cuít, Hong Kong’s answer to premium establishments in the style of Falco Melbourne or Sydney’s A.P. Bakery. Granted, I understand how counterintuitive this might sound – plugging a baker located in East Asia to Aussie readers – but if you’re the sort of dashing Asia hand who has family and friends residing in the +852, Cuít’s range of handcrafted small-batch morsels make for beautiful gifts all year-round.

Considering Cuít’s name – which borrows from the French cookery term, bien cuit – one shouldn’t be surprised that the flagship thing to order is the sourdough: a juxtaposition between the golden shard-like crust and fragrant, almost custardy interior. Available in a range of flavours (ranging from classic ‘country white’ to the fully loaded ‘potato and cheese’), these loaves hardly require me to give you the proverbial hard sell. Rather, what I was most impressed by was the pandoro (~$70): a kind of Veronese sweet bread, distinct from the much better-known panettone, that is popular in Italy during festive holidays.

One slice of this thing is proof enough to convince you of Tse’s bona fides (she also cut her teeth working the pastry section at 2-Michelin-starred Ta Vie). Eggy and ethereally fluffy when fresh, it’s made using AOP-designated French butter; farm-fresh eggs from countryside Hong Kong; and Mitsui Johakuto – a killer formulation of white sugar that’s popular in Japan, known for its mild and textural flavour. Presented in an embossed green-and-gold box – more akin to what you’d see at your local Bottega Veneta – it can be stored in the freezer for up to one month. Notwithstanding Australia’s stringent biosecurity laws, I’d have brought half a dozen of these delicious little blighters back. – Randy

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N5 Saigon

I’ve recently made the move to live in Ho Chi Minh City and as much as I love living in Melbourne (I’ll be back, don’t worry), moving to the largest city in Vietnam has reminded me just how much fun you can have exploring unfamiliar streets and the hidden gems you can stumble across. One such gem is N5 Saigon, which I was introduced to by a friend and was immediately impressed by how masterfully lit it was (it’s almost pitch black, but somehow you can still see everything).

The next thing that impressed me was the quality of the cocktail making, which is already high in Saigon, but the bartender’s mastery of their ingredients and the precision of their presentation left an impression. I enjoyed my Sour Apple (Hakuto Premium Gin, Tanqueray Gin, Dolin Dry, Midori, Orange Bitter & Apple Cordial) which was N5 Saigon’s take on an apple martini and if you ever find yourself in Ho Chi Minh City, it’s a must-visit. – Nick Kenyon

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Oakley Latch Prizm Sunglasses

I’ve always struggled to find a pair of sunglasses that I both like and find comfortable, that was until I found the Oakley Latch Prizm Sunglasses. As a fresh pair from the trailblazers of style, this design features a classic keyhole bridge and the curves of rounded lens orbitals and is engineered with the convenience of an interior kick-up feature that lets you clip it to your shirt. – Oscar

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QT Perth

My second stay at the QT’s west-coast flagship hotel was no different from the first. Warm, bountiful, and scrumptious on every level. I spent almost a week here over the break (a long time to spend at any hotel, to be fair), and the novelty just refused to wear off. Starting from the top down, the QT Rooftop is about as good as it gets for views, drinks, and eats in the heart of Murray Street and loves to pack out on a sunny Friday or Saturday evening.

The Santini Bar and Grill was just as delectable as my first experience a few years ago. It was great to see the momentum for this Italian cucina hadn’t slowed despite the slight hiccup of a global pandemic in between drinks. As for the room itself? Our high floor and supremely well-appointed Deluxe King room had ample amount of space for two people to enjoy an extended stay, as I’ve come to expect in all their locations around the country. Big thanks to the QT Perth team for the love. – John