Every week, Boss Hunting’s editors spend far too much time scouring the web: in search of the coolest gear, food & drink deals, and destinations worth trekking to across the globe.
In this week’s edition of Good Finds, we’ve got croissant-flavoured gin, Seth Rogen’s highly anticipated new Apple TV+ series, limited-edition Beosound speakers, and much more.
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New Balance 740 ‘Blue Agate’
Another archival release inspired by the kind of Aughties sneaker that is New Balance’s bread & butter, the 740 is an impressive daily wearer – yet also quite capable of being taken into the gym or onto the track at a moment’s notice.
Sneakerheads can expect all the usual New Balance refinements: including light-reflecting overlays and ABZORB cushioning in the midsole.
Porous mesh uppers (a recurring design cue for the 740 range) are executed in over half a dozen variations, and look particularly good – we think – in the ‘Blue Agate’ colourway.
Clarence and V, Sydney
Address: 2/191 Clarence St, Sydney NSW 2000
These days, food journalism in Australia is so inundated with coverage of the citywide dining groups (who often appear more interested in the business of real estate than the business of hospitality) that it was exhilarating to stumble on Clarence and V – an unassuming little hole-in-the-wall at the quieter end of Sydney’s CBD.
A popular spot with the local hospitality set (I overhear the Club Fontana team are fans) everything at this modestly appointed proto-European eatery is prepared with care, warmth, and at the risk of sounding soppy, a touch of humanity.
In the grand tradition of all great neighbourhood haunts, Chef-Owner Vito and his team cook whatever takes their fancy. At under $20, larger plates like the caramelised onion tartlet or (an incredibly rustic) roast beef salad put most of the CBD’s so-called “affordable” lunch spots to shame.
Clarence and V currently doesn’t take weekend bookings but, if you ask Vito nicely, he’s amenable to opening the place up for small-scale private bookings. Again: at a generously affordable price.
The Studio (Streaming March 26th)
It’s been a while since we’ve had a film/TV plug in the digital pages of ‘Good Finds’, but The Studio is as good a recommendation as any to buck that trend.
Recommended by our News Editor Garry, this upcoming streamer (coming to Apple TV+ in March) centres on Matt Remick – a fictional Hollywood studio bigwig, played by Seth Rogen.
Along with main cast members Kathryn Hahn, Catherine O’Hara, and Ike Barinholz, Rogen’s character “must juggle corporate demands with creative ambitions as they try to keep movies alive and relevant.”
The Studio is co-written and co-created by Rogen and longtime creative collaborator Evan Goldberg (Superbad, Pineapple Express, The Interview).
Bang & Olufsen Beosound 2 ‘Gradient’ Collection
Part of the ‘Atelier Editions’ range, these kaleidoscopic takes on Bang & Olufsen’s signature Wi-Fi speaker are being made in 10 limited edition runs (with each consisting of 10 individual pieces).
The Gradient’s visually rich, multi-colour sheen is achieved at B&O’s own Factory 5; where designers apply a unique anodisation process to get the dynamic range of shades they’re looking for. Each is then signed with the brand’s ‘Est. 1925’ logo – marking 100 years of excellence in consumer audio.
Throughout February, the Beosound 2 ‘Gradient’ will be available at B&O flagships in Copenhagen, London, New York, and Seoul. Leftover units will be released online in March: so keep your eyes peeled.
Bulgari x MB&F Serpenti
This sophomore team-up between Bulgari and indie darling MB&F reimagines the former’s ornate Serpenti as an avant-garde, overengineered sculptural form – at home on masculine wrists.
Employing a number of quirks that will be familiar to Max Büsser fans (e.g. the hour and minute ‘domes’; and ‘flying’ balance wheel) this is an unusual reimagining of a beloved design from the Bulgari jewellery universe.
To be sure, it’s not a limited edition that most garden-variety watch enthusiasts are likely to see too much of in the metal. But as an exercise in aligning two brands with polar-opposite perspectives, it’s certainly intriguing.
Four Pillars x Lune Croissant Gin
Basically what it says on the tin. In a team-up between two of Australia’s leading brands (in their respective categories), Four Pillars has joined forces with Melbourne croissanterie Lune for the duo’s first-ever gin.
Rather than building on a preexisting recipe, Sarah Prowse, Four Pillars’ Head Distiller, went back to the drawing board in an attempt to capture the distinctly buttery character of Australia’s most viral croissant.
Along with Lune’s own signature clarified butter, key flavour enhancers include organic oranges, wattleseed, nutmeg, and almonds roasted in the Four Pillars test kitchen. Prowse notes that the result is a rich, silky spirit – ideally suited to making a “brunch-inspired cocktail” or “rich and textural G&Ts.”
Available from February 19th onwards at Four Pillars’ online store and select BWS and Dan Murphy’s outlets.
FTN Motion Streetdog motorbikes
FTN Motion, the Kiwi maker of stylish electric motorbikes, is finally coming to the Australian market. After the success in New Zealand of its Streetdog50 and Streetdog80 models, the company has earmarked another 50 bikes for local buyers – of which 40, we’re informed, have already been sold.
The main difference between the Streetdog50 and Streetdog80, as it turns out, boils down to speed. The Streetdog80 can reach a top pace of 80km/hr with a range (assuming you buy a back-up battery) of 140km. Conversely, the Streetdog50 is a stronger solution for daily commuters: offering an additional 40km of range, with prices starting at $11,260.
If you’re keen to try before you buy, consider visiting FTN Motion’s booth at the ‘Everything Electric’ consumer show in March.
