Months

Food 101 – The Malaya Restaurant celebrates half a century of Sydney dining

In August 2013, The Malaya Restaurant on King Street Wharf celebrates 50 years of delighting Sydneysiders with its unique Southeast Asian cuisine. This remarkable achievement can be credited to The Malaya’s formula of quality and service that continues to attract new customers while maintaining the loyalty of three generations of Sydney diners.

The Malaya will celebrate this significant milestone throughout the month of August with a variety of events to thank its loyal customers for their ongoing support. Diners will have the opportunity to relive the restaurant’s history with a selection of ‘Through the Decades’ menus. These special anniversary menus have been designed to showcase the variety and development of the restaurant’s exceptional cuisine over the 50 years and are made up of a number of The Malaya’s signature dishes, both past and present. Available on Thursday and Friday nights throughout the anniversary month of August, the set menus will feature nine dishes including the original curry and laksa recipes of 1963, revived culinary highlights from the restaurant’s past, and current favourites such as the salt and pepper scampi.

Other events will include a Cullen Wine Dinner held at the restaurant on August 7 and hosted by Vanya Cullen, one of Australia’s most respected and celebrated winemakers.

Owner Lance Wong said, “We are delighted to be celebrating our 50th year. We are very proud of this achievement and know that it has only been made possible by the support of our loyal customers. We’re thrilled to be continuing the tradition that my father started in 1963.”

The Malaya’s success began in the early 1960’s with the vision of Mr Wong Tai See and his commitment to creating a unique Southeast Asian dining experience. Wong Tai See, a merchant seaman, migrated from China to Sydney in the 1940’s, at which time Southeast Asian and Nonya cuisine had not yet been introduced to the wider Australian dining public. With rented premises at 787 George Street Sydney, The Malaya opened for business in 1963, challenging the then conservative Australian palate with authentic spicy dishes based on traditional Southeast Asian cuisine.

As a pioneer of Southeast Asian cuisine in Sydney, Wong Tai See shipped in numerous spices from Singapore including dried chillies and ground turmeric, chilli and curry powders, which were not available in Australia at the time. His commitment to the cuisine required him to modify and adapt some recipes to work with the limited ingredients available. There are a number of dishes that remain on the menu at The Malaya today that have stayed true to these original recipes, including the iconic laksa which is still made with cow’s milk rather than coconut milk.

A true family business, Wong Tai See’s son, Lance Wong, took over management of the restaurant in the early 1980’s and later bought and renovated the George Street restaurant delivering a more contemporary Malaya to the marketplace.

Chef Mustapa Jaffar joined the restaurant in 1987, taking over as Head Chef in 1996; a position he still holds currently. During the late 1990s the city expanded towards the harbour and in 2001 Lance relocated The Malaya to 39 Lime Street, King Street Wharf.

A unique and tireless member of Sydney’s dining scene, The Malaya has evolved over the years whilst staying true to its roots. 2013 marks 50 years of The Malaya in Sydney and August will be a month of celebrating this momentous milestone.

The Malaya ‘Through the Decades’ special anniversary menus:

Menu 1 – available on Thursday 1st, 8th, 15th and Friday 2nd, 9th, 16th August

Menu 2 – available on Thursday 22nd, 29th and Friday 23rd, 30th August

The Malaya Restaurant

39 Lime Street, King Street Wharf Sydney

Phone: 02 9279 11710

Online: http://www.themalaya.com.au

Twitter: @the_malaya

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/themalayarestaurant

Lunch Hours: 12pm – 2.30pm Monday to Saturday

Dinner Hours: 6pm – 9pm Monday, 6pm – 10pm Tuesday to Saturday, 5pm – 8.30pm Sunday

What’s On: Biggest Vivid Ever

Visitors flocked to the biggest Vivid Sydney ever, which included the largest Vivid Light Walk expanding into North Sydney with the lighting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Darling Harbour showcasing Australia’s first spectacular water show performances.

The Vivid Music program also expanded into new venues and Vivid Ideas featured more than 180 events with over 6,000 tickets sold. Over 40,000 tickets were sold for Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House.

Mr Stoner said, this year, Vivid Sydney achieved record results for NSW, with crowds significantly larger than last year.

“Vivid also reached audiences in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide through extensive media coverage. I am confident Vivid Sydney will have delivered this year well in excess of the estimated $10 million in economic impact,” Mr Stoner said.

“Vivid has huge appeal and has been successful in attracting visitors not only from this State and across Australia – where domestic travel packages were up 8% – but also internationally, with over 11,000 travel packages sold, including 7,200 from China.

“Bringing so many visitors into Sydney for this festival also delivered terrific results for local retailers who all embraced Vivid. Some of the waterfront restaurants at The Rocks saw a 300% increase in diners, with reports of their capacity last seen during the Olympics. Many Darling Harbour restaurants also experienced similar growth.”

The Southern Hemisphere’s biggest annual festival of light, music and ideas is a signature event in the NSW Events Calendar, owned and managed by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

Destination NSW CEO Sandra Chipchase said the most successful Vivid Sydney yet was great testimony to the way the festival has been embraced by Sydneysiders and visitors alike, and the creative services industry.

“So much enthusiasm and passion is invested in making Vivid Sydney a wonderful winter event by not only the creative practitioners involved in the Festival itself, but the hundreds of thousands of people who attended. To be able to hold an event which attracts so many visitors, not only domestically but also from all over the world is very special, and of course is an important contributor to the goal of doubling overnight expenditure by 2020. During Vivid Sydney we hosted 76 media and 284 international travel buyers,” Ms Chipchase said.

“There has been excellent collaboration with key partners and sponsors as well as hundreds of local businesses and communities to make Vivid Sydney a success, and something that is looked forward to every year. It’s a hallmark event for Sydney and Australia, and is also increasing its fan base internationally.”

Vivid Sydney also saw success digitally, with almost 40,000 downloads of the free Vivid Sydney, more than 1 million people visit the vividsydney.com website since 1 May, a 200% growth in Vivid Sydney Facebook fans and a huge 2,800% growth of Vivid Ideas fans.

Vivid Sydney 2013 Highlights

Stepping into the history books with Sydney Harbour Bridge: the western façade was lit for the first time by Vivid Sydney partner Intel Australia and 32 Hundred Lighting, with North Sydney Council. It captured the imagination of everyone and even supported the NSW Blues ahead of the first State of Origin Game when Minister for Tourism and Major Events, George Souris, turned the bridge blue with NSW State of Origin vice-captain Robbie Farah.

Extending into Darling Harbour for the first time: more than 200,000 people enjoyed the dancing water fountains and dazzling light and water shows. The show was created especially for Vivid by French artists Aquatique Show International, and staged in collaboration with Destination NSW, the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Darling Harbour Alliance. The event was supported by Citibank, which hosted customers at its Pop-Up Bar.

The celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the world’s most iconic space traveller, Doctor Who: legions of costumed fans attend the one night only 3D-mapped projections on the façade of Customs House on Saturday 1 June. The projections, created by Sydney’s own The Spinifex Group, saw Doctor Who travel through space and time, pursued by some of his greatest enemies. The Spinifex Group also created the projections on the Sydney Opera House called Play, and Collaboration #3 with renowned artist Gemma Smith at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.

Vivid Ideas cemented its position as a champion of Sydney and Australia’s creative industries: it showcased Sydney as the place to collaborate, foster business connections and showcase new ideas. Headquartered on the sixth floor of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia with events at more than 25 venues across Sydney, Vivid Ideas grew in 2013 from 100 to 122 unique events and boasted a wealth of creative local and international talent including keynote talks by UK artist and Turner Prize nominee David Shrigley; IDEO’s chief creative officer Paul Bennett; street wear entrepreneur Johnny Cupcakes and big data artist Jonathan Harris.

More than 6,000 people attended 18 days of talks, workshops, panels and meet-ups at the Vivid Ideas Exchange with thousands more attending key creative industry events as part of Vivid Ideas including Semi-Permanent, AMPlify, Australian International Design Festival, Reportage Photography Festival, ISEA 2013, SPARC International Lighting Event, Mumbrella360, X|Media|Lab and more.

Over 40,000 tickets were sold to the 10-day music celebration Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House: audiences were attracted by a stellar line-up that included the world premiere of Empire of the Sun’s highly anticipated second album, Ice on the Dune, in addition to the eight sell-out Kraftwerk retrospective 3D shows, The Catalogue 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8, and the Australian debut of r’n’b soul legend Bobby Womack.

Vivid Music, a new addition to Vivid Sydney sold more than 5,400 tickets for a program that featured leading-edge electronic dance and house music at the Overseas Passenger Terminal, a two-day program of innovative and experimental music at the Seymour Centre, dance music at The Argyle and the sold out performance of datamatics 2.0 by Japanese artist Ryoji Ikdea at Carriageworks for ISEA 2013.

2,000 people danced in front of Customs House to Move your Building: while thousands watched wild horses run across buildings and engines rev out of walls at the Audi installation Speed of Light, the Spinifex Group transformed the historic façade of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company building into a feast of light, colour and speed. Creative light sculptures and installations were selected from around the world, including artists from Germany, England, Italy, France, USA, Korea, Malaysia and New Zealand. Australian light artists featured from Sydney, Queensland, Victoria and regional NSW including Nowra, Wagga Wagga and Tuggerah.

Vivid Sydney’s Illuminating Quick Facts

• Over 800,000 cumulative attendees
• More than 200,000 attendees to Darling Harbour
• Media coverage in over 200 countries
• Over 40,000 tickets sold for Vivid LIVE
• More than 6,000 people attended Vivid IDEAS
• Over 5,400 tickets sold for Vivid Music
• 11,304 international packages sold*
• 7,200 of these international packages from China*
• 8% increase of domestic package sales
• 284 international trade familiarisation visitors (205% increase on last year)
• 40,000 people downloaded the Vivid app
• More than 1 million visitors to http://www.vividsydney.com
• 200% growth on Vivid Sydney Facebook page
• 2,800% growth on Vivid Ideas Facebook page
*Package sales over the Vivid period generated via JTG

Movie 101** THE WOLF OF WALL STREET IS COMING TO SYDNEY

There’s nothing more satisfying than getting into and finishing a good book ( well there is, but for the sake of this post there’s not, ok?!). We especially love it when we find out that said book is being made into a film!

One of the best books that I have read in the past five years has to be ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, so imagine my excitement when I found out it was goi g to be made into a film (VERY EXCITING)!

Directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Matthew McConaughey, Jonah Hill and Australia’s Margot Robbie, the film follows a New York stockbroker who refuses to cooperate in a large securities fraud case involving corruption on Wall Street, corporate banking world and mob infiltration.

THE WOLF OF WALL STREET is scheduled to be released in Australian cinemas on December 12, 2013. You know what… We can’t wait!

Movie 101 – MAN OF STEEL™’S HENRY CAVILL, RUSSELL CROWE AND ZACK SNYDER FLY TO SYDNEY

We’re very excited about this one… We recon its going to be up there as the movie of the year…

Henry Cavill, who plays Superman/Clark Kent and Russell Crowe, who plays Jor-El, along with director Zack Snyder will visit Sydney for the Man Of Steel (3D) Australian Premiere on Monday the 24th of June at Event Cinemas, George Street.

The group will also complete a press junket during the Aussie leg of their international tour to promote the highly anticipated film.

MAN OF STEEL (3D) will release in Australian cinemas on the 27th June 2013

From Warner Bros. Pictures and Legendary Pictures comes “Man of Steel,” starring Henry Cavill (“Immortals,” TV’s “The Tudors”) in the role of Clark Kent/Superman, under the direction of Zack Snyder (“300,” “Watchmen”).

A young boy learns that he has extraordinary powers and is not of this Earth. As a young man, he journeys to discover where he came from and what he was sent here to do. But the hero in him must emerge if he is to save the world from annihilation and become the symbol of hope for all mankind.

The film also stars four-time Oscar® nominee Amy Adams (“The Master”) as Daily Planet journalist Lois Lane. Starring as Clark Kent’s adoptive parents, Martha and Jonathan Kent, are Oscar® nominee Diane Lane (“Unfaithful”) and Academy Award® winner Kevin Costner (“Dances with Wolves”) and Superman’s father, Jor-El, portrayed by Academy Award® winner Russell Crowe (“Gladiator”).

“Man of Steel” is produced by Charles Roven, Christopher Nolan, Emma Thomas and Deborah Snyder. The screenplay was written by David S. Goyer from a story by Goyer & Nolan, based upon Superman characters created by Jerry Siegel & Joe Shuster and published by DC Entertainment. Thomas Tull, Lloyd Phillips and Jon Peters served as executive producers.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Zack Snyder Film, “Man of Steel.” The film will be released in 2D and 3D in select theaters and IMAX®, and will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.

Website – http://manofsteel.warnerbros.com/index.html

Movie 101 – Great Gatsby Review

Over a year ago there was a great buzz going around Sydney that Leo was here filming. He would been seen popping up from time to time but no one really new where he was. This was very much like the person he was portraying in The Great Gatsby. The film is set in the roaring 20′s where everyone has their money invested in the stock markets and is spending it on fancy clothes and cars.

The film starts out with Toby Maguire (Nick Carraway) explaining his story of how he met Gatsby. Were told that Gatsby would put on extravagant parties where everyone was invited but no one knew who or where he was.

Leonardo DiCaprio (Jay Gatsby) is outstanding and it is hard to imagine anyone else in the role. There is something mysterious about Gatsby as he seems to know everyone important and is respected by everyone. However it becomes clear that he does have a hidden agenda which comes out fairly early in the film.

Not to be outdone, the film also stars Carey Mulligan (Daisy Buchanan) and Joel Edgerton (Tom Buchanan) as the millionaire couple who Nick has been long time friends with. All four main characters work really well together and I can see a possible couple of oscar nominations coming up. Especially for Toby Maguire.

The cinematography in the film was incredible. All the vibrant colours within the environment really stood out. I have to say that it was great to see this in 3D and a real must if you are to get the best out of the film. It was nice to see a normal film for a change in 3D rather than an action or sci-fi.

The soundtrack was excellent and very different from what I expected. I was expecting to hear songs from way before my time but it was given a modern touch, as it was executively produced by none other than Jay-Z, who was also an executive producer of the film. The rnb touches are fantastic and well placed in the movie. Emeli Sande’s 20s version of Beyonce’s Crazy In Love is one of the outstanding songs in the film.

All in all I thought this film was highly enjoyable and well worth seeing in the cinema if you get the chance. Definitely a film to take the girlfriend to.

SydneySocial101 give ‘The Great Gatsby’ 8/10.

The screening was attended and reviewed by Syrus Wynne, Sydney Social’s movie reporter.

Vivid 101 – Vivid Sydney set to sparkle this long weekend

The annual festival of light, music and ideas is set to attract tens of thousands to the illuminated harbour foreshore of Circular Quay, Walsh Bay, Darling Harbour and North Sydney, and to music venues across The Rocks and the Inner West, for the final days of Vivid Sydney this long weekend.

Darling Harbour’s Vivid Aquatique show has already captivated over 110,000 people across the first week of Vivid Sydney, and due to its growing popularity has now been extended to include more lights, new full-colour lasers and three new water jets to delight crowds, doubling its size and filling Darling Harbour.

With shows on the hour ever hour from 6pm until midnight, audiences will also be treated to new additional dazzling fireworks at more shows over the long weekend including three shows on Saturday night (at 7pm, 8.30pm and 10pm) and two shows on Thursday, Friday and Sunday nights (at 7pm and 9pm). Full schedule below.

Aquatique Show International has developed and installed choreographed water and light shows for the public entertainment for more than 30 years, and has amazed audiences in over 52 countries. The four different shows playing on rotation at Darling Harbour were designed especially for the Sydney public.

What’s On: HIGH TEA FIT FOR A QUEEN

Sheraton on the Park is celebrating the Queen’s Birthday with a special Royal High Tea menu, we’re BIG fans of high tea so what’s not to love hey?!

Sydney’s luxurious five star hotel overlooking Hyde Park, Sheraton on the Parkas has unveiled a Royal High Tea menu in the hotel’s The Gallery Tea Lounge, featuring some of Her Majesty’s renowned favourite treats in celebration of the Queen’s Birthday long weekend next month.

The Royal High Tea menu reflects the Queen’s distinguished preference for simple food. Dainty portions served on an elegant three tiered cake stand include freshly baked scones, benedicks bittermints, crown shortbreads, mini Victoria sponge cake, battenburg petit fours, chocolate biscuit cake and jam ring cookies.

A selection of petite sandwiches – without the crusts just as Her Majesty likes them – come in a variety of delectable fillings including, roast beef and horseradish, cucumber and cream cheese, smoked salmon, as well as baked ham and English mustard.

The array of deliciously alluring sweet and savoury treats are accompanied by a choice of Vittoria espresso coffee, fragrant Twinnings fine-leaf tea, Penelope Sach organic herbal tea or decadent hot chocolate.

Guests will enjoy the Royal High Tea at Sheraton on the Park’s beautifully appointed The Gallery Tea Lounge, an elegant space located in the hotel’s lobby, which welcomes visitors with a contemporary setting and views of the magnificent Hyde Park.

The Royal High Tea is a twist on Sheraton on the Park’s popular Traditional High Tea that is available all-year round.

Sheraton on the Park’s “Royal High Tea” costs $58 for two people, and is available throughout June from 11:30am to 5:00pm daily.

For further information and to book Sheraton on the Park’s “Royal High Tea”, please call reservations on 02 9286 6000.

For further information on the Sheraton on the Park, please visit http://www.sheratonontheparksydney.com.

Theatre 101 – Cavalia Extends its Stay on Sydney

Sydney audiences and critics alike are in love with Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse. As the equestrian extravaganza continues to trot into the hearts of spectators of all ages, Cavalia extends yet again its season in New South Wales. To meet the outstanding demand, the impressive cast of 47 horses and 36 artists from all over the world will now be performing under the White Big Top, on The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park, until June 26, 2013.

After a successful season in Brisbane, the second Australian leg for the multi-disciplinary spectacular created by Normand Latourelle – one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil – kicked off last month with a star-studded audience. Following Sydney, the Canadian-based troupe will travel to Melbourne, where opening night is scheduled for July 24 at The Docklands.

TICKETS – For its exclusive season in Sydney, Cavalia will be presented under its signature White Big Top on The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park. Tickets are priced from $44.00 to $164.00 + applicable taxes and fees. For guests who desire an extraordinary outing, the show can be customized for an extended experience from $154.00 to $305.00, including a Horse Lovers Package that lets patrons tour Cavalia’s stables after the show, and the VIP Rendez-Vous Package that includes a post-show tour of the stables, a cocktail/dinner reception and much more. Special pricing is also available for children (2-12), juniors (13-17), senior citizens (65+) and for groups.

ABOUT CAVALIA INC. – Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Cavalia Inc. operates two separate touring shows, Cavalia and Odysseo, both of which marry the equestrian arts, stage arts and high-tech theatrical effects at never-before-seen levels. Cavalia, seen by some 4 million people across North America and Europe since its 2003 debut, celebrates the relationship between humans and horses by loosely recounting the evolution of this bond. Odysseo, which premiered in autumn 2011, takes the next step, leading viewers on a journey through some of the breathtaking landscapes horses have helped humans discover around the globe. Follow Cavalia Inc.’s latest developments at http://www.twitter.com/cavalia or http://www.facebook.com/cavalia.

FOR CALENDAR EDITORS
WHAT: Cavalia: A Magical Encounter Between Human and Horse
WHEN: Matinees and evenings shows scheduled through June 26, 2013
WHERE: Under the White Big Top, on The Showring at the Entertainment Quarter in Moore Park

TICKETS: Available at http://www.cavalia.com.au or by calling 1800-765-955. $44.00 to $305.00 + applicable taxes and fees. Special pricing and packages also available for groups, children (2-12), juniors (13-17) and seniors (65+)

INFO: http://www.cavalia.com.au

Beauty Spy** LUMINIERE Clinic’s Exquisite Launch in Double Bay

Sydney Social 101 had the absolute pleasure of being invited to the launch of LUMINIERE’s Double Bay skin clinic.

LUMINIERE launched its Double Bay skin clinic last night, the 5th June 2013, to an array of Sydney’s beauty elite, firmly positioning itself as THE beauty destination for all Sydney’s Eastern Suburbanites.

The skin clinic successfully revealed its stylish and elegant interior to guests, who thoroughly enjoyed being educated on the treatments and product information whilst mingling amongst the vibrant atmosphere. The recently opened LUMINIERE will offer the ultimate in skin therapies, with an array of treatments and services on offer using only top-quality cosmaceuticals and
state-of-the-art technology.

LUMINIERE presents a full range of services and treatments, all of which executed by their highly-trained therapists who are passionate about healthy, radiant skin. Advanced and effective techniques are used to rejuvenate the skin and prevent or reverse the effects of ageing and skin conditions, with the necessary advice to achieve and maintain their vibrant glow. Other treatments available at LUMINIERE include the nourishing and cleansing facials and the revitalizing face peels.

LUMINIERE provided sleek and stylish guests with a premium experience relishing in the offers, discounts and giveaways that were exclusively available on the night. All event guests also received a Luminiere voucher for a Luminiere consultation, $50 off peel, $50 off light therapy and three skin care samples tailored to their skin type. Guests enjoyed the Champagne, Rekorderlig Cider and a delicious selection of Miss Chu canapés that were on offer. The talented and suave saxophone player also added a fun atmosphere to the already lively event, playing popular tunes to accompany a back beat.

“It was extremely encouraging to receive some great support from our clients, partners and the broader community in helping us celebrate the unveiling of Luminiere as a brand and our Double Bay clinic”. Managing Director of LUMINIERE, Cameron Fancourt

LUMINIERE is the ultimate skin clinic destination, as proven last night at the opening launch event. Double Bay is the perfect home for the LUMINIERE clinic, where guests can relax and enjoy each and every top-quality treatment and leave feeling rejuvenated and revitalized.

LUMINIERE is situated right in the midst of Double Bay, with easy access via two entrances – 2A Cross Street and 412 New South Head Road. A car park is located behind the building giving patients easy access to the clinic.

http://www.luminiere.com.au

The ground floor of the clinic showcased the extensive range of innovative products stocked at LUMINIERE, consisting of the fundamental elements designed to correct and protect healthy skin, including Gatineau, PRIORI, Aspect and SkinCeuticals. These products are now available to purchase from the clinic.

Social Spy** Miss Peaches invites y’all down, y’hear?

4 June 2013, Miss Peaches , Newtown

Last night, Sydney Social was invited to the media launch of Newtown’s latest addition, Miss Peaches. Now let me tell you, there ain’t no foolin’ a southern girl when it comes to a fine southern establishment, and Miss Peaches did not disappoint!

Miss Peaches is a blues infused bar with music to match, southern classics as cocktails and an soul kitchen to churn out homemade, filled with love, comfort food. Miss Peaches lures you in with neon florescent lighting, just like a night critter. From gumbo, to ‘Purple Drank’ and holy mother of mac n’ cheese sliders, I practically could have died and gone to deep-fried heaven. It’s the closest you’re going to get to yo mamma’s cookin’ this side of the Mississippi, and in this hemisphere for that matter!

Guests can expect DJ sets by Jack Shit, Soup, Yo Gritto DJs (FBI’s Dusty Fingers/Straight Arrows/Kill City Creeps), DJ Flash Back and Hot Grits DJs (Mr. Gramaphone Man/Tackle Shack).

It takes a brave soul to recreate “real” grits outside the bible belt, but much to the delight of my tastebuds—they were finger lickin’ good. In the nature of true southern hospitality, they even offer some vegan dishes, so no excuses!

Miss Peaches is the latest establishment by creative hospitality team Richie Haines, Marty Routledge and Luke Della Santa and features Head Chef Ernie Priestley and Bar Manager Jimmy Snelgrove. The team is well known for their offbeat and authentic approach to hospitality that includes venues The Vic and The Projects Enmore.

You can check out the new venue from Wednesday June 5, 5pm – Midnight.
Miss Peaches, Level 1, 201 Missenden Road, Newtown NSW 2042

Betsy Oyler is a contributing writer for SydneySocial. She hails from the bluegrass state of Kentucky and can talk Bourbon and baked beans for days.