Latest news with #SamAyoub
The Age
a day ago
- Business
- The Age
Sydney's best dog-friendly venues now serve ‘puppitini' cocktails and pooch-only high teas
Eating out Pet-friendly 'We're BYO human': Cafes are embracing four-legged friends like never before. Previous SlideNext Slide The lunch crowd at St Peters cafe Baba G's are more enthusiastic than most – salivating over the menu, tearing into beef hamburgers and taking off to run laps of the artificial turf. While dog-friendly cafes, bars and restaurants have become commonplace in Sydney, Baba G's is one of a growing number catering specifically to the canine experience. The converted warehouse cafe, opened in December, features a dog-friendly menu with dishes such as Korean fried chicken, cheese pie and strawberry doughnuts. There's a fenced indoor play area stocked with toys, an open-air grooming salon and the capacity to host dog birthday parties (balloon arches optional). 'At our business, dogs come first and humans come second,' says owner-operator Sam Ayoub. But humans are looked after, too. Specialty coffee from Melbourne roastery Zest and whisked-to-order matcha lattes are served in handmade ceramics, alongside a selection of sandwiches and Son of a Baker pastries. At Enfield cafe Paw Haus, it's 'BYO human', says manager Annabelle Harper. Paw Haus opened in October and, like Baba G's, offers grooming services, play areas and food options for both dogs and people. In Sydney, where dogs outnumber children in almost half of the city's council areas, the concept of pet-friendly third spaces is popular among dog owners and enthusiasts alike. Harper says her venue attracts many customers who don't own a pet of their own, but want to spend time playing with free-roaming dogs or feeding fish waffles to the rescue kittens (available for adoption in a separate room). The new spaces join pubs such as The Carrington in Surry Hills and the Courthouse in Newtown, which serve dedicated dog menus. Puppy Tail Cafe in Lane Cove and Cafe Bones in Leichhardt have set up shop beside dog parks, and dogs are now treated to a complimentary 'puppitini' (water in a coupe glass, garnished with prosciutto) at Bar Demo in Enmore. 'When it comes to allowing dogs in cafes and other hospitality venues, it's changing for the better,' Ayoub says. 'Dogs are family, but you only get maybe 10 to 12 years with them, so why not make the most of that time?' 10 of the best dog-friendly venues in Sydney Baba G's Cafe & Grooming Salon, St Peter s Baba G's was born out of Ayoub's love for his Afghan hound Baba Ganoush, and a desire to create a calm, cage-free grooming salon for dogs of all sizes. Dogs are the focus, but Baba G's also functions as an excellent standalone cafe with quality pastries, matcha and specialty coffee. Good to know: Sydney Park is within walking distance. Paw Haus by Pet Us, Enfield A two-storey terrace with an off-leash dog cafe, room to cuddle rescue cats, and a grooming salon. Burgers and wraps are prepared in a food truck in the outdoor garden, and dogs are treated to human-grade treats including salmon and chia cookies and blueberry yoghurt smoothies. Good to know: There's a separate quiet room for timid dogs. 244 Liverpool Road, Enfield, Doglateria, Bondi Junction Take your dog on an ice-cream date at this Bondi gelateria, which serves Italian gelato for humans and lactose-free, human-grade 'dog-lato' ($6.50 per scoop) in flavours such as peanut butter and honey, strawberry and banana, and mango and carrot. Good to know: Want to step it up a notch? Take on the 'doggy high tea' serving two dogs for $42. Puppy Tail Cafe, Lane Cove Dog nutritionist Naoko Okamoto serves organic lamb mince, vegie waffles and 'doggie lattes' at this small Lane Cove outpost, cleverly positioned beside Blackman Park off-leash dog park. For humans, there are Japanese-inspired dishes including tonkatsu pork sandos and onigiri. Good to know: Blackman Park dog park is divided into two separate areas for small and large dogs. Lloyd Rees Drive, Lane Cove West, Cafe Bones, Leichhardt Cafe Bones is located within the Hawthorne Canal Reserve off-leash park, serving solid, simple cafe fare such as toasted sandwiches, bagels and traditional Aussie spiders. It's a great place to meet fellow owners, but it can be difficult to find a car park on weekends. Good to know: Cafe Bones bakes bacon and cheese 'puppfins' for dogs. 1 Canal Road, Leichhardt, Forrester's, Surry Hills Fancy a roast dinner? Forrester's pub serves a $35 roast every night with an oversized Yorkshire pudding, dubbed 'the big Yorkie'. Dogs can now get in on the action with non-alcoholic dog-friendly beers and the $10 'pawkie': a bowl of kibble served with gravy and a miniature Yorkshire pudding. Good to know: Pawkies are free between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesdays for 'yappy hour'. Bar Demo, Enmore Sip martinis with your dog at Bar Demo, the new vinyl-spinning cocktail bar on Enmore Road from two ex-Double Deuce bartenders. The 'puppitini' is complimentary and contains no alcohol, just water garnished with prosciutto (healthier alternatives to come). Good to know: Try the frozen gin-based house martini, or one of 12 natural wines by the glass. 85 Enmore Road, Newtown, The Carrington, Surry Hills Charming corner pub The Carrington is a contender for the best dog-friendly pub in Sydney, welcoming furry friends both inside and outside. The menu includes steak and vegies or beef tartare for dogs, and pub classics (plus some great pastas) for humans. Good to know: Dogs must be on their best behaviour: 'If you bark, to the park!'
Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Business
- Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney's best dog-friendly venues now serve ‘puppitini' cocktails and pooch-only high teas
Eating out Pet-friendly 'We're BYO human': Cafes are embracing four-legged friends like never before. Previous SlideNext Slide The lunch crowd at St Peters cafe Baba G's are more enthusiastic than most – salivating over the menu, tearing into beef hamburgers and taking off to run laps of the artificial turf. While dog-friendly cafes, bars and restaurants have become commonplace in Sydney, Baba G's is one of a growing number catering specifically to the canine experience. The converted warehouse cafe, opened in December, features a dog-friendly menu with dishes such as Korean fried chicken, cheese pie and strawberry doughnuts. There's a fenced indoor play area stocked with toys, an open-air grooming salon and the capacity to host dog birthday parties (balloon arches optional). 'At our business, dogs come first and humans come second,' says owner-operator Sam Ayoub. But humans are looked after, too. Specialty coffee from Melbourne roastery Zest and whisked-to-order matcha lattes are served in handmade ceramics, alongside a selection of sandwiches and Son of a Baker pastries. At Enfield cafe Paw Haus, it's 'BYO human', says manager Annabelle Harper. Paw Haus opened in October and, like Baba G's, offers grooming services, play areas and food options for both dogs and people. In Sydney, where dogs outnumber children in almost half of the city's council areas, the concept of pet-friendly third spaces is popular among dog owners and enthusiasts alike. Harper says her venue attracts many customers who don't own a pet of their own, but want to spend time playing with free-roaming dogs or feeding fish waffles to the rescue kittens (available for adoption in a separate room). The new spaces join pubs such as The Carrington in Surry Hills and the Courthouse in Newtown, which serve dedicated dog menus. Puppy Tail Cafe in Lane Cove and Cafe Bones in Leichhardt have set up shop beside dog parks, and dogs are now treated to a complimentary 'puppitini' (water in a coupe glass, garnished with prosciutto) at Bar Demo in Enmore. 'When it comes to allowing dogs in cafes and other hospitality venues, it's changing for the better,' Ayoub says. 'Dogs are family, but you only get maybe 10 to 12 years with them, so why not make the most of that time?' 10 of the best dog-friendly venues in Sydney Baba G's Cafe & Grooming Salon, St Peter s Baba G's was born out of Ayoub's love for his Afghan hound Baba Ganoush, and a desire to create a calm, cage-free grooming salon for dogs of all sizes. Dogs are the focus, but Baba G's also functions as an excellent standalone cafe with quality pastries, matcha and specialty coffee. Good to know: Sydney Park is within walking distance. Paw Haus by Pet Us, Enfield A two-storey terrace with an off-leash dog cafe, room to cuddle rescue cats, and a grooming salon. Burgers and wraps are prepared in a food truck in the outdoor garden, and dogs are treated to human-grade treats including salmon and chia cookies and blueberry yoghurt smoothies. Good to know: There's a separate quiet room for timid dogs. 244 Liverpool Road, Enfield, Doglateria, Bondi Junction Take your dog on an ice-cream date at this Bondi gelateria, which serves Italian gelato for humans and lactose-free, human-grade 'dog-lato' ($6.50 per scoop) in flavours such as peanut butter and honey, strawberry and banana, and mango and carrot. Good to know: Want to step it up a notch? Take on the 'doggy high tea' serving two dogs for $42. Puppy Tail Cafe, Lane Cove Dog nutritionist Naoko Okamoto serves organic lamb mince, vegie waffles and 'doggie lattes' at this small Lane Cove outpost, cleverly positioned beside Blackman Park off-leash dog park. For humans, there are Japanese-inspired dishes including tonkatsu pork sandos and onigiri. Good to know: Blackman Park dog park is divided into two separate areas for small and large dogs. Lloyd Rees Drive, Lane Cove West, Cafe Bones, Leichhardt Cafe Bones is located within the Hawthorne Canal Reserve off-leash park, serving solid, simple cafe fare such as toasted sandwiches, bagels and traditional Aussie spiders. It's a great place to meet fellow owners, but it can be difficult to find a car park on weekends. Good to know: Cafe Bones bakes bacon and cheese 'puppfins' for dogs. 1 Canal Road, Leichhardt, Forrester's, Surry Hills Fancy a roast dinner? Forrester's pub serves a $35 roast every night with an oversized Yorkshire pudding, dubbed 'the big Yorkie'. Dogs can now get in on the action with non-alcoholic dog-friendly beers and the $10 'pawkie': a bowl of kibble served with gravy and a miniature Yorkshire pudding. Good to know: Pawkies are free between 6pm and 8pm on Tuesdays for 'yappy hour'. Bar Demo, Enmore Sip martinis with your dog at Bar Demo, the new vinyl-spinning cocktail bar on Enmore Road from two ex-Double Deuce bartenders. The 'puppitini' is complimentary and contains no alcohol, just water garnished with prosciutto (healthier alternatives to come). Good to know: Try the frozen gin-based house martini, or one of 12 natural wines by the glass. 85 Enmore Road, Newtown, The Carrington, Surry Hills Charming corner pub The Carrington is a contender for the best dog-friendly pub in Sydney, welcoming furry friends both inside and outside. The menu includes steak and vegies or beef tartare for dogs, and pub classics (plus some great pastas) for humans. Good to know: Dogs must be on their best behaviour: 'If you bark, to the park!'
Daily Mail
15-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Video proves what REALLY happened when footy icon turned Channel Nine star was accused of getting drunk in a casino and then throwing his crutches at a car
The long-time manager of footy legend Johnathan Thurston has revealed how CCTV and hiring a private investigator saved the champion halfback's career at the North Queensland Cowboys when he was almost sacked over a scandalous night out. It followed an incident in September of 2010 where Thurston was arrested by police outside the Treasury Casino in Brisbane. After spending the night in lock-up, Thurston flew straight to Townsville for a crisis meeting with the Cowboys board. They voted for his sacking - but then veteran player agent Sam Ayoub got involved. 'I spent $4000 to hire a private investigator (PI) to prove they had it all wrong with JT,' Ayoub told News Corp. 'At the time, JT was accused of being drunk at the casino and on the p*ss with his crutches. 'He was accused of throwing his crutch at a car while his mates were skylarking.' A subsequent investigation from the PI found Thurston was innocent and virtually sober, having not finished the one bourbon and coke he purchased at the casino over three and a half hours. His mates were also the ones carrying on - and Thurston had swung his crutch at a friend in a bid to settle him down. Ayoub then knew he had an ace up his sleeve as the Cowboys looked to move Thurston on from the club. After viewing the footage, Thurston was handed another chance. It proved to be a good outcome for all parties, with Thurston famously guiding North Queensland to the 2015 NRL premiership after his golden point field goal against the Broncos. Thurston was highly embarrassed following the incident - and a chat at the time with now Bulldogs supremo Phil Gould proved to be life-changing. 'He (Gould) asked me how I wanted to be remembered,' Thurston said. 'If you look at all the great players who were coming to the end of their careers, that's what they were remembered for, playing their best footy at the end. 'Freddy (Brad Fittler), Locky (Darren Lockyer, Joey (Andrew Johns)....those types of blokes had outstanding careers.
News.com.au
14-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Casino CCTV, private investigator that saved Johnathan Thurston's career
They are the rugby league deal makers who hold $200 million worth of playing talent in their hands. And for the first time, CODE Sports has lifted the lid on NRL player agents, with a full list of who manages your favourite players, the faceless puppet masters running the game, and the untold stories from the men who do more than just sign contracts. In a new investigation, some of the biggest scandals in NRL history have been reopened, with new detail provided from those involved. In 2010, Johnathan Thurston's NRL career was hanging by a thread after the star player was arrested outside a Brisbane casino — enter long-time manager Sam Ayoub. Few NRL players faced the furnace of scrutiny like Cowboys legend Thurston, who turned to Ayoub for help as he faced the sack. By then a Queensland and Test star, Thurston was allegedly kicked out of Brisbane's Treasury Casino before being arrested by police after being accused of skylarking on the street outside the casino. Thurston spent the night locked up in a Brisbane watch-house. Upon release the next day, he flew to Townsville for a crisis meeting with the Cowboys board, which had voted to sack him. That's when Ayoub took matters into his own hands, hiring a private investigator to look into the scandal. 'I spent $4000 to hire a private investigator to prove they had it all wrong with JT,' Ayoub said. 'The Cowboys had voted to sack him. 'At the time, JT was accused of being drunk and on the piss with his crutches. 'He was accused of throwing his crutch at a car while his mates were skylarking. They said he was drunk at Brisbane casino. 'I got the PI to investigate it. He went through the casino footage. 'It was found that JT had one bourbon and coke and he didn't even finish that drink in the three-and-a-half hours he was there. 'The street cameras then picked up JT outside the casino and the footage showed his mates were carrying on. 'JT swung his crutch at one of his mates to tell him to calm down. 'The Cowboys were worried about the media outrage and fallout. That's when I presented this file to the board and after seeing it, they decided to give him another chance. 'JT was deeply embarrassed and that was a turning point in his life given what was said that wasn't true. 'Fortunately, the casino and street cameras had the evidence and that saved him.' It was not the only issue Ayoub confronted — he also worked with the Cowboys to address explosive sex rumours that had engulfed the club. Ayoub's managerial peers have scores of similar stories of helping players in their darkest hours.
