1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:03,119 Speaker 1: You know I love a good luxA. I love food 2 00:00:03,160 --> 00:00:06,600 Speaker 1: more generally, and I certainly love the luxA muffins that 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:08,640 Speaker 1: I've been eating a bit off actually over the last 4 00:00:08,640 --> 00:00:12,040 Speaker 1: few weeks, along with many of other Luxa's. But the 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:15,400 Speaker 1: winners have been announced for the Darwin Luxe Festival and 6 00:00:15,480 --> 00:00:19,159 Speaker 1: for the first time, Jewel Golden bowls were handed to 7 00:00:19,200 --> 00:00:22,920 Speaker 1: local restaurants, The Bamboo Lounge and Chow. It was also 8 00:00:22,960 --> 00:00:26,000 Speaker 1: the first time that the Bamboo Lounge, located in Tipperary 9 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:29,240 Speaker 1: Waters has taken out the title, with Chow retaining the 10 00:00:29,280 --> 00:00:34,280 Speaker 1: title from last year and becoming a three time winner. Now. 11 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: In some of the other award categories, well, one of 12 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: my favorites, copy Stop, won the People's Choice Best luxA, 13 00:00:41,120 --> 00:00:45,360 Speaker 1: while McCarn stop won the People's Choice Best Inspired by 14 00:00:45,479 --> 00:00:50,159 Speaker 1: Dish for its luxA muffins. Now I can smell the 15 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,240 Speaker 1: beautiful luxA muffins in the air right now, my mouth 16 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:57,280 Speaker 1: is watering, and joining me in the studio is copy 17 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 1: Stop and McCarn stop owner Jewels Mow for the Well Jewels, 18 00:01:01,640 --> 00:01:05,200 Speaker 1: you took out the People's Choice balls. Good morning to you, 19 00:01:05,720 --> 00:01:07,880 Speaker 1: Good morning key. Let me make sure I've got the 20 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:12,680 Speaker 1: right one. On Good Morning again. Good morning Katie, and 21 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:16,479 Speaker 1: we've also got activate Darwin's executive director Joe Smaller Coom. 22 00:01:16,560 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: Good morning to you. 23 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 2: Joe, Morning Katie. 24 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 1: How are you both feeling? Are your sweating luxA? You've 25 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,280 Speaker 1: been eating a lot and cooking a lot of Fluxa 26 00:01:23,319 --> 00:01:24,679 Speaker 1: over the last couple of weeks. 27 00:01:24,720 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 3: We have definitely been cooking a lot of luxA, tasting 28 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:30,840 Speaker 3: lots and lots of luxA, making sure that unequality and 29 00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:32,759 Speaker 3: inconsistency is there for our customers. 30 00:01:33,440 --> 00:01:36,160 Speaker 1: Jewels, I love your luxA. You know that I'm in 31 00:01:36,200 --> 00:01:39,839 Speaker 1: there quite regularly to eat your luxA, your wantons on Wednesday, 32 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:44,479 Speaker 1: your luxA muffins. Now you have taken out, well two 33 00:01:44,520 --> 00:01:47,280 Speaker 1: of your venues have taken out the People's Choice Awards. 34 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: How did you come up with the idea for the 35 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: luxA muffin. 36 00:01:52,200 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 3: We've had We just put our audi ideas. We had 37 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,120 Speaker 3: about ten and then we just started crossing some of 38 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,880 Speaker 3: them off and we decided, you know, let's let's give 39 00:02:00,920 --> 00:02:04,480 Speaker 3: it a go. And and yeah, like we knew straight 40 00:02:04,520 --> 00:02:05,680 Speaker 3: away it was going to be your winner. 41 00:02:06,760 --> 00:02:09,799 Speaker 1: Honestly, it is delicious. The luxem often is delicious. So 42 00:02:09,840 --> 00:02:12,560 Speaker 1: I was literally just talking about on Friday last week 43 00:02:12,600 --> 00:02:14,679 Speaker 1: and then you messaged me and said that someone came 44 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: in looking for one. 45 00:02:16,000 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 3: Yes, and then I had to send him to Markenstock 46 00:02:18,360 --> 00:02:21,960 Speaker 3: because copy stot was closed. But but yeah, no, I'm 47 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,680 Speaker 3: really happy with the results. I'm so hap that you know, 48 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,000 Speaker 3: many many people are really liking it and raving about it. 49 00:02:28,200 --> 00:02:31,040 Speaker 1: How nice is it to be to win the People's 50 00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: Choice Awards because that means like that people are actually 51 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: going and they're voting for you. 52 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 3: Correct. I think it really really means a lot to 53 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:42,480 Speaker 3: us that the people are voting for us, that they're 54 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:46,360 Speaker 3: lofa luxA, that they're you know, rating it, they're coming 55 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:50,639 Speaker 3: back again and again, and it's really it's a nice 56 00:02:50,639 --> 00:02:52,079 Speaker 3: feeling for the whole team. 57 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,959 Speaker 1: And what's the reaction then, for from your customers as well, 58 00:02:54,960 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: because a lot of them are very loyal. 59 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,320 Speaker 3: They are I think everybody's really excited. They put their 60 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,880 Speaker 3: votes in and you know, they've seen the results, so 61 00:03:02,919 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 3: they're really really happy for us. All the messages are 62 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:10,520 Speaker 3: pouring in seeing congratulations and yeah, it's not just for myself, 63 00:03:10,560 --> 00:03:13,560 Speaker 3: you know, for the whole team. I think they deserve 64 00:03:13,639 --> 00:03:14,359 Speaker 3: a big shout out. 65 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:17,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, it is wonderful and I love seeing Northern Territory 66 00:03:17,560 --> 00:03:20,839 Speaker 1: businesses really recognized in this way. And that's something that's 67 00:03:20,880 --> 00:03:23,360 Speaker 1: so great about the Luxe Festival, isn't it, Joe, That 68 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,480 Speaker 1: you know, we've got so many incredible businesses that are 69 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:30,840 Speaker 1: making luxes. It's like a proper territory. Well it's you know, 70 00:03:30,919 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: it obviously didn't originate in the Northern Territory, but we're 71 00:03:33,639 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: literally claiming it. 72 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:35,160 Speaker 2: As our own. 73 00:03:35,520 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: I think we absolutely are. 74 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,960 Speaker 2: It's pretty much in the DNA of territorians. I think 75 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:42,200 Speaker 2: luxA and I think that what we've seen over the 76 00:03:42,240 --> 00:03:44,880 Speaker 2: past month is a demonstration of that. You know, record 77 00:03:44,960 --> 00:03:48,800 Speaker 2: numbers of participating businesses from right across the territory, our Springs, 78 00:03:48,880 --> 00:03:52,240 Speaker 2: Catherine and then of course a huge number here in Darwin. 79 00:03:53,120 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 2: And you know, the creativity has been extraordinary in the 80 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,000 Speaker 2: lux of inspired category. I will say I was saying 81 00:03:59,000 --> 00:04:01,880 Speaker 2: to Jills earlier that one of my colleagues mentioned that 82 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:04,360 Speaker 2: he and his partner had been back seven times for 83 00:04:04,400 --> 00:04:05,680 Speaker 2: the Luxe of Muffet because. 84 00:04:05,480 --> 00:04:08,680 Speaker 1: They loved it so much. So that tells you a lot. 85 00:04:09,280 --> 00:04:12,840 Speaker 1: It truly does. It is like it's honestly, it's delicious 86 00:04:12,840 --> 00:04:16,120 Speaker 1: and I'm I'm so excited right now that you've bought 87 00:04:16,120 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: some in Jaws. 88 00:04:17,279 --> 00:04:19,920 Speaker 3: And I'm scared right now, and the chef is busy 89 00:04:20,000 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 3: making a lot more. 90 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:23,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, is it gonna what are you gonna do? 91 00:04:23,520 --> 00:04:24,880 Speaker 1: Is it gonna stay on the menu? 92 00:04:25,440 --> 00:04:27,320 Speaker 3: Eric, Well, I reckon it's going to stay on the 93 00:04:27,360 --> 00:04:29,400 Speaker 3: menu for a while. There's a lot of people who 94 00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 3: probably won to try it now. Yes, so, yeah, it's 95 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,640 Speaker 3: definitely going to stay on the menufour while. 96 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,480 Speaker 1: That's a good idea. Now, Joe talk us through some 97 00:04:37,560 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: of the winners, some of the other winners as well 98 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:40,240 Speaker 1: this year. 99 00:04:40,640 --> 00:04:44,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, so we, like I said, we had some fantastic 100 00:04:44,279 --> 00:04:47,960 Speaker 2: entries from regional areas. We had in Alice Springs, the 101 00:04:48,080 --> 00:04:52,359 Speaker 2: people's choice Best inspired by Dish the regional category was 102 00:04:52,480 --> 00:04:55,840 Speaker 2: Luxe en Panadas from Yayi's Cafe, which is out there 103 00:04:55,839 --> 00:04:58,520 Speaker 2: at the Araluan Center. So I haven't tried that yet, 104 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:00,000 Speaker 2: but I'm hoping that they keep it on the menu 105 00:05:00,120 --> 00:05:03,279 Speaker 2: for my next trip to our spring because it sounds amazing. 106 00:05:04,040 --> 00:05:06,719 Speaker 2: And the outback luxA by the meeting place in Catherine 107 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,719 Speaker 2: was the people's choice best luxA for the regional area 108 00:05:10,600 --> 00:05:13,599 Speaker 2: and then of course here in dah And we saw 109 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:17,360 Speaker 2: the dual Golden Bowl for the first time, and you 110 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:20,520 Speaker 2: wouldn't think, given how rigorous the judging process is, that 111 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,839 Speaker 2: you could end up with a tied score. But it 112 00:05:22,960 --> 00:05:24,240 Speaker 2: was so close this year. 113 00:05:24,279 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 1: It was amazing. 114 00:05:25,080 --> 00:05:25,640 Speaker 2: How cool. 115 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:27,680 Speaker 1: I actually think that's you know, like it's a nice thing. 116 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,320 Speaker 1: And I'm sure that neither of those two venues minds 117 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:32,960 Speaker 1: sharing because they both be pumped that they've won. 118 00:05:33,120 --> 00:05:34,920 Speaker 2: Right, Oh look, I think so. And I think what 119 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,200 Speaker 2: it also says to everyone in Australia and around the 120 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,200 Speaker 2: world is that it pretty much doesn't matter where you 121 00:05:40,279 --> 00:05:42,800 Speaker 2: go in Darwin, you're not going to get a bad luxA. Yeah, 122 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:45,880 Speaker 2: everyone knows what they're doing. There's lots of different styles, 123 00:05:45,920 --> 00:05:49,040 Speaker 2: but all the venues pour their heart and soul into it, 124 00:05:49,080 --> 00:05:52,080 Speaker 2: and the quality of luxA that we get is just exceptional. 125 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,000 Speaker 1: It is. It is absolutely exceptional, and sometimes I don't 126 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:57,200 Speaker 1: think you realize just how good it is until you 127 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,880 Speaker 1: go to another state or you go to another country 128 00:06:00,400 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: it's not an Asian country and things like luxA are 129 00:06:02,880 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 1: on the menu and you go, oh, this doesn't quite 130 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 1: taste as good as what I'm used to having. Him 131 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:13,040 Speaker 1: Dune or that's not a luxA exactly. You've become very 132 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:15,720 Speaker 1: used to it, and we've got such a high quality 133 00:06:16,040 --> 00:06:19,120 Speaker 1: of luxA. I mean, are you are you surprised and 134 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,719 Speaker 1: also really proud to see the way in which these 135 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,760 Speaker 1: you know, the way in which this event has grown 136 00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:26,200 Speaker 1: as well over the years. 137 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,640 Speaker 2: Absolutely so when we were reflecting the other day, this 138 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:32,480 Speaker 2: is the sixth year that we've run it, and you know, 139 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 2: in year one we had thirty three businesses participating, so 140 00:06:35,800 --> 00:06:38,480 Speaker 2: thirty three luxes effectively, and here we are this year 141 00:06:38,480 --> 00:06:41,640 Speaker 2: we had one hundred and eighty different dishes between the 142 00:06:41,720 --> 00:06:45,520 Speaker 2: luxA and Luxer Inspired. That's just such a huge growth. 143 00:06:46,480 --> 00:06:49,040 Speaker 2: And then seeing you know, some fabulous sponsors come on board. 144 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 2: You know, I am Brand this year came on board 145 00:06:50,960 --> 00:06:53,080 Speaker 2: for the first time as a sponsor and that also 146 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:55,680 Speaker 2: says a lot to me about the reach of this 147 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 2: festival and you know how much potential it's got as well. 148 00:06:58,960 --> 00:07:01,359 Speaker 1: I think it's wonderful. It's a really great thing to 149 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:03,680 Speaker 1: do in what is I guess traditionally a bit of 150 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:06,040 Speaker 1: a shouldersease and I suppose for Darwin too, to get 151 00:07:06,040 --> 00:07:07,480 Speaker 1: people here, that's. 152 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:09,400 Speaker 2: Right, and I think, you know, helping people to discover 153 00:07:09,520 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 2: places that they haven't been before as well. That's been 154 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:15,880 Speaker 2: one of the really big wins for hopefully everyone. You know, 155 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:17,680 Speaker 2: there are a lot of places out there that you 156 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,240 Speaker 2: don't know about or you maybe you haven't been to. 157 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: And you know, if you're playing the Luxe League and 158 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:23,920 Speaker 2: you want to get the points, you think, oh, I'm 159 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: going to try this place or that place, and then 160 00:07:26,000 --> 00:07:28,520 Speaker 2: actually you might turn into a loyal customer of theirs 161 00:07:28,520 --> 00:07:30,520 Speaker 2: for a whole range of things all year round as well. 162 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:32,400 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that's a great like, that's a great thing 163 00:07:32,440 --> 00:07:34,960 Speaker 1: for businesses. Jills, have you found that that's happened? You know, 164 00:07:35,000 --> 00:07:36,960 Speaker 1: I've had quite a few people come up. Absolutely. 165 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 3: I think lots of people knowing that we're doing luxas 166 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 3: and especially you know, seven days a week or even 167 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:47,400 Speaker 3: for breakfast as early as seven o'clock. I think people 168 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 3: coming in to try for the first time or second 169 00:07:49,880 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 3: or a ten time. Like you know, it's just, yeah, 170 00:07:52,960 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 3: you just create that atmosphere. 171 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: We had the hilarious Sushi Mango Boys in last week, 172 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:01,840 Speaker 1: the comedians, and they they had said, I was like, 173 00:08:01,880 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: what are you up to for the day, and they said, 174 00:08:03,400 --> 00:08:05,640 Speaker 1: We're going to get some Darwin Noodles meaning a lux 175 00:08:07,480 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 1: I thought, how cool you know that you've got people 176 00:08:09,480 --> 00:08:12,440 Speaker 1: traveling from other parts of Australia and they know exactly 177 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: what a luxe is yep, and giving it their own nickname. Yeah. 178 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 2: No, that's excellent. And look, we know that people are 179 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,720 Speaker 2: traveling for the Luxe Festival. It's difficult to measure because 180 00:08:21,760 --> 00:08:24,320 Speaker 2: it's a free event, but we know that people are 181 00:08:24,360 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 2: coming specifically for it, and that's great for territory tourism. 182 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 2: But it's also great for locals because you know, then 183 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:31,560 Speaker 2: they get to spread the love about all the other 184 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 2: things they love about the Northern Territory as well. 185 00:08:33,679 --> 00:08:37,079 Speaker 1: So true, Hey, Joe who won the luxA League. 186 00:08:37,720 --> 00:08:40,920 Speaker 2: So one of our competitors by the name of James 187 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:44,600 Speaker 2: took that out and now James scored over one hundred 188 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,840 Speaker 2: thousand points, which is pretty amazing. And I'm just looking 189 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 2: through my notes here. He had more than seventy five 190 00:08:52,400 --> 00:08:56,200 Speaker 2: dishes through the month. Oh, James, James, he had a spreadsheet. 191 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,400 Speaker 2: I was talking to him last night. He had a 192 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,320 Speaker 2: spreadsheet where he had mapped it all out. There were 193 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:03,560 Speaker 2: days where he had five dinners. He really got out 194 00:09:03,559 --> 00:09:06,079 Speaker 2: there and tried everything you just wonder. 195 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:07,680 Speaker 1: Like, do you reckon you get to the point where 196 00:09:07,679 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 1: you go, oh, I think I've had enough luxues now 197 00:09:09,640 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 1: for the month, or whether you're still hungry for it 198 00:09:12,040 --> 00:09:12,720 Speaker 1: after the month. 199 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:14,560 Speaker 2: Well look, I asked him that last night and he 200 00:09:14,679 --> 00:09:16,520 Speaker 2: was literally sitting there eating and lusters. 201 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:22,079 Speaker 1: So apparently not what a legend. That's territory tough. 202 00:09:24,400 --> 00:09:24,559 Speaker 3: Oh. 203 00:09:24,640 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: The biggest congratulations obviously to both of you. I mean, Joe, 204 00:09:28,040 --> 00:09:30,960 Speaker 1: it's been a wonderful event and Jules, I love your work. 205 00:09:31,000 --> 00:09:32,880 Speaker 1: I think you do an incredible job and I'm really 206 00:09:33,120 --> 00:09:35,880 Speaker 1: pleased to see copy and MC can't stop recognized as 207 00:09:35,880 --> 00:09:37,000 Speaker 1: the People's Choice winners. 208 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:38,760 Speaker 3: Thank you, Katie, Yeah, good on you. 209 00:09:38,840 --> 00:09:41,280 Speaker 1: Thank you both so much for your time. Lovely to 210 00:09:41,280 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: catch up with you.