Joe Rogan is no stranger to trying wild fitness hacks. Whether it’s popping some nootropic pills every morning, dining on some liver or actually working out, he’s not afraid to try anything, it seems. He’s also a champion of proper recovery, such as taking ice baths or spending some time in a sauna. Speaking of which: his latest steamy antics have Instagram getting scorching hot.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the podcaster, comedian and UFC commentator shared his sauna thoughts once again. This time he really turned things up to 11.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan)

How so?

As Joe explains, “One of the wildest feelings you can experience is when you do 20 minutes in a hot sauna and then 2 [minutes] in a cold plunge, and then back to the sauna.”

The dramatic change in temperature is no doubt tough on the body, and as Joe adds, it can make for a pretty intoxicating experience.

“When I’m heating back up in the sauna again, and I have my eyes closed, it’s like I’m on a wild roller coaster. I feel like I’m flying. Like my consciousness is barely contained in my head,” he explains.

“It’s fucking weird, because when I open my eyes everything goes right back to normal, but when my eyes are closed I can barely stand it.”

“It’s so overwhelming. I almost feel scared to relax and give into it, but it feels amazing at the same time.”

He then goes on to admit that his recovery tactics are likely a form of torture: “There’s also the very real though while it’s happening where I’m like, ‘you know, there’s a strong possibility that this is bad for you’. It really feels amazing though. I look forward to it everytime.”

His post has, as expected, received plenty of comments, from supportive ones, such as actor Josh Brolin saying, “There are very few things I love more on a health level than this. Been doing it for 15 years. Best high out there,” to others than suggest some concern.

“Scared tf out of me dude”, “This man will die in a sauna”, and, “That’s your blood pressure and it’s definitely dangerous,” were all remarks made by various concerned commenters/followers.

That last comment received replies itself, with other cautious users adding, “Yeah thermal shock is no joke. But I guess if it’s a controlled environment it should be fine.” Although, another user comes to Joe’s defence, claiming: “It’s a shock to your nervous system, yes. But it isn’t nerve damage. It’s good for the circulatory system and can improve your mental health.”

How Stuff Works states: “The hot to cold spa treatment is growing in popularity among sauna lovers and celebrities across North America.”

The website cites Dr Mark Timmerman, a sports medicine specialist from Wisconsin claiming there are indeed benefits to the routine. “As your skin temperature increases, sauna-goers experience a ‘fight or flight’ response, resulting in a heightened sense of alertness, reduced pain perception and an elevated mood.”

“When you follow up a sauna with a plunge in cold water or snow, your adrenaline raises as well.” The medicine specialist is also quoted as saying a plunge in a cold pool can “improve pain and inflammation from rheumatoid arthritis,” and that it can boost circulation and release toxins.

Naturally, there are some risks involved, and these are said to focus mainly around the “cold receptors in the face and scalp”, which “respond to the quick drop in temperature,” How Stuff Works adds. “This stimulates a ‘diving reflex’, a complex cardiorespiratory reaction. It can cause shortness of breath, decreased cardiac output and rapid decrease in pulse.”

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The post ‘Wild’ Joe Rogan Workout Has Some Fans Worried For His Health appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We might be able to get high-speed thrills from coupes, or enjoy an elevated driving position in a range of SUVs, but there are few driving experiences quite like having the wind blowing through your hair as you bomb it around some winding coastal roads in a convertible. The cost of insurance might be higher, since there’s a significantly higher chance of being decapitated should you find yourself in an accident, but the risk is worth it.

The vast majority of convertibles are going to be sports cars, or at least, going to be cars that can pick up some real speed, although they don’t just have to have two seats. There is a large number of four-seater convertibles, such as drop-top versions of popular sedan models, meaning the whole family, or you and a group of friends, can enjoy the summer sun without a roof.

You also have a choice between hard top and soft top convertible roofs, and with the quality of soft tops improving over the years, and now being more leak-proof that ever in the rain, can make a totally viable year-round cruiser.

We’ve compiled this list of what we consider to be the 10 best convertibles available in the country right now, from the luxury rollers all the way down to the wallet-friendly sports cars that offer serious driving thrills.

Mazda MX-5 (ND)

Fuel Economy: 6.2 – 6.9L/100km
Price: From $40,015 Drive Away

The Mazda MX-5 isn’t just one of the most iconic convertibles of all time (although it most certainly is) but it’s also one of the most iconic cars of all time, full stop. First launched way back in 1989, the MX-5 has always embodied the same ethos over the decades: to be a fun, lightweight sports-car, and one that is also affordable.

While it’s starting price may have increased over the years, Mazda does give you more for your money to justify the price hike, such as wireless Apple CarPlay, rain-sensing wipers, LED headlights, sat-nav and a six-speaker sound system. Available as either a manually-operate soft-top or a powered hard-top (dubbed ‘RF’) the MX-5 is most definitely a minimal sports car.

That’s evident when you take a seat inside, with barely a storage compartment in sight (there’s not even a glove box). Instead, you’ll find yourself sitting low-down behind a lovely leather-coated steering wheel and with easy access to the infotainment system. You’re not going to want to be distracted by in-cabin antics though, as you’re buying an MX-5 for the way it drives, chiefly, the way it handles. No matter which trim level you go for (there are 3), the MX-5 will hold on throughout corners, no matter how flat your right foot is to the floor.

Power comes from either a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated 4-cylinder in the unnamed base model soft-top and hard-tops, producing 97kW, or a 2.0-litre unit in both the GT and GT RS. All are available with a manual gearbox, or an automatic can be chosen for the base model and GT. The GT RS is manual-only, and what a manual gear box it is. If you don’t have kids, or you’re able to get yourself a second car to use away from the family, the MX-5 should feature on the list of contenders. It’s one of the best convertibles around, is stupidly good fun and will allow you to just enjoy driving.

Porsche Boxster (718)

Fuel Economy: 7.5 – 11L/100km
Price: From $131,372

Sharing its chassis with the 718 Cayman, the Porsche Boxster is teed up to be a smile-inducing sports car with great handling and excellent powertrain options. Available in three trims: the vanilla Boxster; Boxster S and Boxster GTS 4.0, there’s good depth to choose from, although with the range-topping GTS costing just shy of $200,000, you’ve got to really want a two-seater sports car to part with that kind of money – although it’s 4.0-litre naturally-aspirated flat-six engine and manual gearbox do make it incredibly tempting. However, even the base model is incredibly fun to drive and responds well to any and all twists and turns of the steering wheel, enough to inspire confidence when attacking bends.

Inside is a little uninspiring considering the price you’re paying, with a generous use of plastic where you’d expect leather (you can add leather accents for a small fee). You also don’t get a huge amount of interior storage, although this is a commonality across two-seater convertibles, but you do get Apple CarPlay as standard. Porsche even gives you the option of a wi-fi hotspot for on-the-go streaming.

Overall, however, it’s a comfortable place to find yourself, and with the soft-top lowered, and your right foot depressed, there aren’t going to many driving positions that are going to be as enjoyable.

BMW Z4 (G29)

Fuel Economy: 6.5 – 7.5L/100km
Price: From $96,301 Drive Away

While the Munich-based company might not admit it, it seems BMW is going after the Porsche Boxster with the latest generation Z4. In similar fashion, you have the option of two models with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder, or a range-topper with a 3.0-litre flat-six, and boy is it a beauty. It gives the Z4 some serious power to play with, which can result in a large smile appearing across your face, although don’t for a second think that the other two models in the range are underpowered, in fact, far from it. The mid-range 30i gets a tweaked version of the twin-turbo 4-cylinder, giving it 45 extra kW of power, which could be the sweet spot for many prospective buyers.

Inside, the Z4 almost runs away with the crown for best convertible interior. Because it’s the same width as a 5-series, BMW has a lot of room to play with, and while most of that space is given to wide seats with plenty of arm room, you do get a few storage compartments, including a glove box, along with a wireless charger for your phone. You also get two 10.25-inch displays, one for infotainment and one for the digital instrument cluster. It’s thoughtfully laid out and easily one of the best cabins in the class, although some may feel a little cornered into their seat due to the large steering wheel that has been borrowed from the X5.

Overall it’s a comfortable place to find yourself for longer distances, and it doesn’t suffer from the same gripes that can be said of other sports cars. The ride ins’t super firm, although it’s by no means soft and supple, but it feels as though BMW has played to its strengths in the corporate space. The Z4 is a car for driving leisurely to business meetings as opposed to a hooligans best friend, although, drop your right foot and you’ll find you can still have some fun.

Fiat 500C

Fuel Economy: 4.9L/100KM
Price: From $26,872 Drive Away

Ok ok, we’re aware of the dramatic shift from German powerhouses to small Italian ‘hairdresser’s cars’, but the Fiat 500C is rather niche in what it offers. Coupled with the low price, that makes it one of the best convertibles for those on a budget.

In some other countries such as the UK, Fiat has made the jump to electric power for its iconic 500, along with the 500c cabriolet. Australia, however, retains a 1.2-litre 51kW petrol powered engine instead.  Whether or not you agree with that will come down to personal preference, and we’re still waiting to hear if FCA Australia will import the car to our shores. So, petrol power for now it is, and just one trim level to choose from: Dolcevita. This gives you alloy wheels, automatic headlights and a 7-inch touchscreen multimedia display which includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, among other features.

Of course, the Fiat 500c was never designed to win the power stakes, and it still doesn’t, but for a diminutive city car it’s perfectly capable. And, while the drop-top doesn’t quite ‘drop’ in the same way as other convertibles – the roof bars and side pillars remain – it adds some extra airflow to the cabin that can completely change the driving experience. Although, in terms of ride, not a lot changes because not a lot of roof is removed, so the 500c remains feeling stable. It’s an agile thing, responding well to steering inputs, which means it certainly deserves a place on this list, especially when you consider how affordable the thing is too.

Rolls Royce Dawn

Fuel Economy: 14.4L/100km
Price: From $710,000 Drive Away

Rolls-Royce vehicles are unlike pretty much anything else on the road, save from perhaps Bentley or the Mercedes Maybach, as they’re cars that, let’s face it, are designed to be driven by your personal chauffeur.

So often the pinnacle of luxury vehicle design, Rolls-Royce’s are fitted with incredible engines and are made to the absolute finest detail, and fortunately, they also drive rather well. The Dawn is the only convertible in the manufactures current line up, and is based on the company’s Ghost coupé, itself based on the Phantom.

Under the incredibly long hood you’ll find a twin-turbo 6.6-litre V12 producing 419kW, the very same as the engine found in the Ghost. Acceleration isn’t necessarily ‘fling you back into your seat’ quick – partly due to the sheer size and weight of the Dawn – but you really do feel the power you have control of. It’s something you can only understand by experiencing it, rather than being told about it, but it’s also worth noting just how quiet everything is inside the cabin. It’s rather remarkable.

A full four-seater convertible, Rolls-Royce has been able to employ some design tricks to ensure you’re left virtually undisturbed by wind when then roof is down. That’s because the company understands how rich you’re likely to be to even consider owning one of their cars, so if you do find yourself taking ownership, you’re going to expect the very best, and that’s exactly what you receive.

Ford Mustang

Fuel Economy: 9.6 – 12.7L/100km
Price: From $60,990 Drive Away

The Ford Mustang also made our list of best coupes to buy in Australia, so it may come as no surprise to find the convertible version being one of the better drop-tops out there to buy as well. There are two variants to choose from, the High Performance with a 2.3-litre turbocharged 4-cylinder engine, or the one we reckon most people want to go for, the 5.0-litre V8. After all, if you’re going to have the roof down a fair bit, then you’re going to want to be met with the dulcet tones produced by those eight cylinders.

It’s a car you’re going to want to have fun in, and for the most part, it allows you to do that. With plenty of power underneath your right foot (in the V8 at least), you’ll be getting up to some serious speeds in not a lot of time, at least when you’re going in a straight line. Present it with some corners, and there is some body roll – expected in convertibles, of course – and while a manual gearbox wouldn’t go amiss – the 10-speed auto can be a bit troublesome – the driving experience overall is a pleasant one.

Inside you get a mixture of retro-style design touches, owing to the Mustang’s history, with plenty of mod-cons such as digital displays, Apple CarPlay and a selection of driver assistance and safety aids. If you like your convertibles loud and brash and don’t necessarily care about having the absolute best handling vehicle out there, you can’t really go wrong with the Mustang.

McLaren 570S Spider

Fuel Economy: 11.1L/100km
Price: From $435,750 Drive Away

Finding a great drop-top supercar isn’t exactly the hardest job in the world. With so many options to choose from, from the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Aston Martin, not to mention the number of high-powered Mercedes-Benz convertibles available, the choice is almost endless. So, you may wonder why we’ve picked out a McLaren as being virtually our sole convertible supercar on this list.

Well, it’s partly because it’s bloody fantastic. Based on the coupé version, unsurprisingly, the convertible doesn’t suffer from any instability issues faced by other cars that have their hard-top lopped off in favour of some fabric, thanks to a MonoCell tub construction. This means you’re able to get to 100km/h in 3.2-seconds. Quick, then.

Don’t let the speed strike fear into you however, as McLaren has done a stellar job at making the 570S Spider incredibly easy to drive, with precise steering, a smooth as butter gearbox, and a variety of driving modes, including Comfort and Sport, that really do what they say they’re meant to.

As for the interior, there isn’t a great deal to say other than it’s rather minimal, with a vertically-mounted touchscreen display being the main point of focus. You get a lot of carbon and Alcantara littered about the cabin, and it can pay to select some of the interior package options.

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The post Best Convertible Cars Australia 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

If you haven’t met the love of your life on the road, then said goodbye to them 48 hours later, have you even travelled?

Though that’s a big fat cliche, some travellers believe there’s some truth to it. In fact, they absolutely love these little moments of human connection, even if it does lead to some low-key heartbreak.

Then you have those that believe you aren’t truly ‘travelling’ unless you’re barefoot hiking the Pyrenees, or whipping yourself while marching the Camino de Santiago. Solo, of course. And while it’s true you do probably get more personal growth solo backpacking South America than you do splashing around in Mykonos with a long term partner, we’d argue many solo travel junkies overstate the importance of hiking (and suffering).

LATE NIGHT THOUGHTS:

Stop dating while you’re healing.
Heal first, then date.

— AGAR and 99 others (@travelling_afro) May 1, 2019

Which brings us to the following jumble of pixels and audio. In the video you’re about to watch, TikTok user @kittystarchild, also known as Catherine, takes (polite) aim at a TikTok trend which basically says you shouldn’t date while you travel.

In response to a video making said claim, Catherine says: “I strongly disagree. No hate to the creator – not everyone has impeccable compartmentalization skills like I do… But I love going on dates when I’m travelling because they’re so non-committal.”

She continues: “You literally just go, you hang out with people that you think are cool and then if you get their contact information then alright maybe you hang out again in the future.”

“But most of the time you don’t and it’s just like these small moments of human interaction that I love. I absolutely love. So do go on dates when you’re travelling. I highly recommend it.”

Twitter is also full of travellers’ thoughts on this conundrum, some of which you can read below.

pro to dating while travelling: you can literally just leave their country when u break up and then u never have to deal w them again
con: sometimes you want to have to deal with them again

— vanilla spice (@kyathecreator) March 28, 2020

Need a confidence boost?

Switch on your dating apps while travelling via national train and just let people ping n msg u and then delete it afterwards.

It doesn’t need to get much more complicated than that. Plus, you’re STI free. pic.twitter.com/3vpljsovz9

— James Joseph Boyle (he/him) (@jamesjoeboyle) July 19, 2019

Using Tinder to ask for directions and recommendations while travelling is my new favourite thing! #AznEsc2k14

— Brandon Sousa (@brandon_sousa) March 14, 2014

On other internet forums too, like Reddit and Quora, you can find plenty of people who happily explain why ‘I love going on dates while I’m travelling.’

Further tips for dating while you are travelling include smiling at people, taking day trips, going to trendy bars, taking cooking classes, asking for directions, finding expat groups on Facebook, using dating apps and going on walking tours. In other words: more or less the same things you might do to try and meet people in your home city.

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The post ‘Why I Love Going On Dates While I’m Travelling’ appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Colin Kaepernick remains one of the most intriguing, influential and polarising figures in the United States, even in 2021.

The former NFL quarterback turned civil rights activist’s life changed forever after he started kneeling during the US national anthem at games in 2016 to protest racial injustice and police brutality, sparking an unprecedented national reckoning and debate about civil rights the likes of which have rarely been seen in America.

Despite being shunned by the NFL – Kaepernick remains unsigned as of 2021, despite his sporting talents – he’s inspired countless young Americans and become a huge enemy of the conservative establishment, including former President Donald Trump. He remains one of the most prominent activists in America: running seminars, founding a publishing company, and now, producing his own documentary.

Colin in Black & White, a six-part limited series that premiered on Netflix at the end of October, is a semi-fictionalized autobiographical journey through Kaepernick’s teenage years. and the experiences that led him to become an activist. It’s a touching, no holds barred at the reality of growing up as an adopted, biracial boy in a society that struggles to deal with both those issues.

We’re not here to review the series – we recommend you watch it yourself. What we’d like to talk about is how polarised its critical reception has been, and what it tells us about America (and the world) in 2021.

Just take one look at the IMDb page for Colin in Black & White and you’ll see that the user ratings paint a grim story. It’s basically all 10s and 1s, with a lot more 1s outweighing the 10s. It’s not hard to see what’s going on here: you have a lot of conservatives marking the series down, and a lot of progressives coming in and giving it high marks to balance it out.

It shows just how polarised Kaepernick remains, as well as how vast the political (and racial) divide in America remains. It’s the same old talking points from the conservative commenters: Kaepernick’s just playing the victim despite being so wealthy, this is the ‘woke’ mainstream media forcing an agenda, it’s reverse racism, etcetera etcetera.

Let’s not pretend as if this political and cultural polarisation is unique to this show or that it exists only in America, either. It’s something that Australia and other countries also need to reckon with, too.

RELATED: Jeremy Clarkson Takes Aim At Lewis Hamilton With ‘Anti-Woke’ Rant

As an aside, this points out a fundamental weakness with crowdsourced movie/TV review suits like IMDb, namely that it’s really easy for overly biased reviews and bad actors to affect a show’s rating in such a drastic way. Kaepernick fans and progressives ‘review bombing’ is just as bad as prejudiced conservatives doing the same.

Another problem with IMDb is that it prioritises user reviews over professional critics. Ultimately, it’s the consumer – as well as the public discourse, when it comes to non-fictional or politicised works like Colin in Black & White – that loses out in all this, as it’s hard to figure out how good something really is.

A more reliable litmus test for the quality of Colin in Black & White can be found in Rotten Tomatoes‘ Critics Consensus, which relates that “Black & White‘s clunky format fumbles the fundamentals of storytelling, but this hybrid series nonetheless scores a touchdown in conveying Colin Kaepernick’s truth.”

But as if to illustrate our point, there’s a huge divide between the critics and audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, too: 73% vs. 37%…

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The post Colin Kaepernick ‘Black & White’: Why Is Nobody Talking About Its IMDb Rating? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Movember, the fundraising event that asks guys to support the conversation around men’s health by growing moustaches, has made a huge impact this year with the help of menswear brand Politix. A menswear brand and a men’s health charity make perfect partners, we’re sure you’ll agree. And, while Politix has been supporting the Movember movement for the past four years, this year, they’ve doubled down on their efforts to create a two-piece suit made entirely of moustache hair.

The mo-hair suit has been made in collaboration with Melbourne-based visual artist Pamela Kleeman-Passi. Pamela has a particular reason for developing such a suit, as her husband passed away from prostate and colorectal cancer in 2016.

To create the fabric used for the suit, Passi said she was sent packages in the mail containing moustache hair from men all around Australia. Sustainable Salons – an Australian-based salon recycling program, which recycles hair and other waste from supporting salons – heard about Passi’s project, and provided her with all the moustache hair she needed to complete her fabric.

Passi took this hair and weaved it together with cotton to create the fabric, which Politix then took hold of and cut into a two-piece suit. To avoid any itchiness, Politix lined the suit and printed several men’s health conversation starters, which come from men who have been directly affected by various men’s health issues.

Pamela adds her reasoning for creating a suit out of moustache hair is because “when hair is on your head, it looks really beautiful. But when it’s off the body it immediately becomes disgusting, repulsive, it really creeps people out.”

“I’m interested in the polarity between what’s really voluptuous and what’s really repulsive.”

While you can’t actually buy the Politix Mo-Hair suit, if it’s tickled your fancy, then Politix has also announced it will be launching limited editions blazers through November with various conversation starters printed on them, including “We Need To Talk”, “I Cry Like A Boss”, and “Grab Cancer By The Balls”.

Throughout November, Politix will also be donating $10 from every pair of chinos sold to the Movember charity, and will also be rounding up every purchase to the nearest dollar and donating the difference.

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The post Australian Fashion Designer Creates Most Hideous Suit Ever For A Very Good Cause appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australians are known as a laid back bunch. And who knows: maybe compared to America’s 4am rising CEOs we are. But when it comes to our domestic airlines, we’re picky. This is because we haven’t had as much of a race to the bottom as America, and we are used to having things pretty comfortable. For years we’ve had Qantas and Virgin Australia as our comfortable airlines, and TigerAir, Jetstar and Rex as our cheap airlines.

After COVID smashed the industry like a wrecking ball, however, the landscape changed. Virgin Australia went into voluntary administration, then was reborn with a middle-market focus. Meanwhile, Qantas has been making some cutbacks of its own, and some of the cheap alternatives like TigerAir have disappeared altogether.

The picture has changed.

Judging by some of the aggrieved comments on a recent video of a prototype of Virgin Australia’s new seats, however, not everyone’s expectations have changed in accordance with this new (cost cutting) landscape. Some people seem to be furious, in fact, that things are changing.

Enter: the following video. Posted this morning by Virgin Australia’s official TikTok account, the clip shows Virgin Australia’s new interior, as Virgin Australia put it, “coming in hot.”

@virginaustralia New seat prototype. That’s my type. #airline #fyp #avgeek #aviation ♬ Team work (60 seconds) – TimTaj

“New seat prototype. That’s my type.”

“Unboxing our shiny new seats,” the video begins. It then shows the seats being loaded onto the plane and buckled in and tightened up. The video ends with the caption: “ready for take-off.”

So far so fluffy. But this is where the blowback begins. Australian followers of Virgin Australia on TikTok quickly started complaining in the comments – which gave Virgin Australia’s social media team the perfect opportunity to throw a little shade.

TikTok user Todd Brownsey wrote: “Fixed pitch, no recline, less padding, less comfort, more expensive tickets costs! Great work.”

Virgin Australia hit back at this with: “So much recline and so much squish. 10/10 would sit.’

Another TikTok user wrote: “They have recline and are far more efficient. Also their mean ticket price has reduced thanks to an adaptive business model.”

Another follower asked: “Will there be a new J class.” Virgin Australia responded to this: “With leg rests and everything.”

TikTok user John James Edward Johnson II wrote: “Those look uncomfortable.” Virgin Australia responded simply to this accusation: “no.”

TikTok user Steven Luce wasn’t super impressed by the video either, writing: “Those seats look like HELL.” Another TikTok user, called Julian, asked if Virgin Australia could place the seats 10-15 centimetres further apart.

TikTok account Aviation Airline encouraged the airline to “keep the old ones.” This may be because Virgin Australia’s old business class offering was known among many to be the best domestic business class product in the world, and so naturally would be hard to beat.

Times move on though.

A TikTok user called Sam, further down in the comments, quipped: “Is this just because you don’t want Rex to have the same type of seats?”

Virgin Australia sassily responded to this: “Who?”

The Virgin Australia social media team also appeared to confirm there would be no first class, writing: “We get straight down. to business” when asked “No first class?”

Further sassy comments Virgin Australia had to fend off included: “So you copied United’s seats” and “no tv’s, how cheap.”

“Probably closer together and smaller.”

“These seats are atrocious.”

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The post Virgin Australia’s Sassy Social Media Team Puts Disgruntled Customers In Their Place appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

No matter how reliant we are on delivery apps and soft, cuddly mattresses, deep down in every man’s heart is a burning desire to prove he could live like his ancestors if the world went to sh*t.

Enter: steak. Particularly here in Australia, our love of steak is comparative with Britons’ love of whinging about the weather. And, while current exports of Australian beef might be in a slight decline due to a rise in the Australian dollar, it just means there’s more beef kept in the country for us to enjoy.

But, to really enjoy a steak, you need to factor in two key ingredients: first, the quality of the meat you source. Sure, you can pick up a decent piece of steak from your local supermarket. But if it’s absolute perfection you’re after, you’ll want to check out your local butcher instead. Second, you need to make sure you cook it perfectly. Different cuts of beef require varying amounts of time, and some are best-had medium-rare, while others flourish when they’re just seared through to a rare level.

However, according to Australian chef Neil Perry, who currently works the grill at Margeret, a fine-dining restaurant in Sydney’s Double Bay, you should also aim to cook it over fire, if you can.

Taking to Instagram a couple of months ago, Neil took followers through how to cook ribeye, sirloin wagyu and fillet steaks (and adds you can get the very same delivered to your door if you live in Greater Sydney). But, aside from learning how to let them cook for a few minutes, and to turn them 90-degrees on a grill, Neil says his favourite way to cook steaks is over a fire.

RELATED: This Australian BBQ Will Change The Way You Cook Steak Forever

Of course, he has access to a fancy firepit in the kitchen of his restaurant, and he understands you’re unlikely to have one of those at home yourself. So, for similar culinary benefits, Neil says we can cook our steaks on a barbeque or over some hot charcoals.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neil Perry (@chefneilperry)

“I promise, if you light a charcoal fire or a wood fire, and you cook meat, you really won’t go back any other way,” he claims.

He adds that you can still get beautiful results from pan-searing steaks since it provides “a really nice crust,” or even from an electric, or gas barbeque, but “once you’ve [cooked over a fire] with that beautiful smokiness, you’ll never go back.”

So, cooking medium taken care of, how do you get the absolute best flavour from your slabs of meat? Neil stresses the importance of seasoning, something we should already know well enough. But, you may be surprised to learn just how much salt you should be sprinkling on your steaks. “If you think you’ve salted it enough, salt it a bit more,” says Neil. “That’s the difference between professional chefs and home cooks.”

He further adds you should apply oil to the steak itself, and not the pan or the grill you’re cooking on. “You do not oil the grill, or you do not oil the pan, you always oil the steak, and put it into a searing hot pan, or on a beautiful grill.”

Neil then reminds us that we shouldn’t “overcook dry-aged beef.” This is because dry-aged steaks, as their moniker implies, are dryer pieces of meat, so naturally, a lot of the juiciness would have gone. Overcooking a dry-aged steak will take away even more, and you’ll just end up with a chewy, horrible mess.

Read Next

• Celebrity Chef Tobie Puttock Shares Surprising Truth About Steak Every Australian Should Know
• Super Luxurious New Type Of Beef Now Being Served In Aussie Restaurants

The post ‘Beef & Fire’: The Savage Steak Cooking Technique Every Man Should Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The following article was produced in partnership with Bulgari.

After being cooped up in lockdown for most of 2021, Australian men have discovered a newfound appreciation for self-care – especially grooming. We’ve been keen to experiment, whether that’s meant a new hairstyle or discovering a new fragrance to wear, now that we’re finally allowed out.

But when it comes to the latter, that’s easier said than done. A fragrance is a deeply personal, individual thing: despite the stereotype, men don’t just want to throw on any old stink, we want something that reflects our character, personality and energy. Near enough is simply not good enough. We want something a bit different.

That’s why the new BVLGARI MAN Collection is such a breath of fresh air. Encompassing four new fragrances and crafted by acclaimed master perfumer Alberto Morillas, this innovative new collection from the legendary Italian luxury house is refreshing, natural and modern – eminently agreeable and perfect for all different types of men.

Discover the BVLGARI MAN Collection

Man Terrae Essence

Let’s start with the newest addition to the BVLGARI MAN Collection: Man Terrae Essence. Inspired by the fertile, lush landscapes of Tuscany, Man Terrae Essence is warm, rich and instinctive. A vetiver-based scent with top notes of citrus; smoky, floral heart notes and leathery, earthy base notes, it’s a natural, highly masculine fragrance perfect for a man who’s in touch with his roots – literally as well as figuratively.

Man Glacial Essence

Man Glacial Essence, however, is a totally different sensation. Fresh, sparkling and spicy, it’s the perfect scent for a man of action: juniper berry and ginger clash with notes of Australian sandalwood and Alaskan cedarwood in a blend that’s at once both grounded yet invigorating and aspirational.

Man Wood Essence

For the man about town, there’s Man Wood Essence. As the name implies, it’s a woody yet fresh fragrance with inspired notes of cypress and coriander making it stand out from the crowd. Bold yet soft and sweet, it’s perfect for the office (or drinks after work) – a modern urban native.

Man in Black

The final fragrance in the BVLGARI MAN Collection, Man in Black, is best described as sexy. Featuring a fierce and fiery blend of spicy tobacco and leather, this is a fragrance that celebrates indomitable strength and irresistible magnetism. Talk about getting hot under the collar…

With both summer and Christmas on the horizon, now’s the perfect time to help a man in your life discover a new fragrance. And there’s no better place to look for a gift than the BVLGARI MAN Collection. No matter which fragrance you choose, you’re on to a winner.

Discover the amazing array of men’s fragrances that is the BVLGARI MAN Collection here.

The post BVLGARI MAN’s Newest Cologne Collection Is The Perfect Gift For Any Man In Your Life appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Blancpain, the world’s oldest surviving watch brand and part of the upper echelon of Swiss luxury watchmaking, is perhaps best known for its dive watches – having invented the world’s first modern dive watch, the famous Fifty Fathoms.

But Blancpain isn’t a one-trick pony. In its 286-year-long history, Blancpain has produced everything from ultra-flat pocket watches to field watches to some of the most refined dress watches on the market. Another type of timepiece you can add to that list is pilot’s watches… Such as the legendary Air Command.

In the 1950s, the US Air Force commissioned a small number of Blancpain Air Commands – no more than a handful – examples of which these days are incredibly rare and command stratospheric prices (if you’ll pardon the pun). Back in 2019, Blancpain caused a stir by reviving the Air Command with a short limited edition model run, which were all quickly snapped up by collectors, leaving many watch fans high and dry.

Thankfully, in 2021, Blancpain has decided to bring back the Air Command collection for good, launching its revival with the handsome Air Command Flyback Chronograph: a stunning watch that’s a faithful tribute to those desirable 50s models, but with a few crucial twists.

The first twist is that unlike the original 50s models (or the 2019 limited edition), the Air Command now comes in grade 23 titanium as standard – a high-end variety of the metal rarely used in watchmaking. Titanium, of course, is tougher yet lighter than steel, making it the perfect material for a tool watch such as the Air Command. For even more luxury, it’s also now available in red gold, too.

The second twist is what’s under the hood. The Blancpain Manufacture F388B movement, with its free-sprung silicon balance, not only resists magnetic fields plus is more accurate and hardy than the original’s movement but also features a superior 50-hour power reserve. That’s to say nothing of its flyback chronograph feature – a valuable complication for pilots. It might look old-school but it’s a thoroughly modern mechanical watch.

RELATED: IWC Schaffhausen Puts On Remarkable Display With Latest Limited Edition Pilot’s Watch

The new Air Command Flyback Chronograph comes in at AU$26,500 for the titanium model and AU$42,500 for the red gold model. They’re not cheap, but they’re a damn sight cheaper than a 50s example – and a whole lot of watch for the money. Find out more at Blancpain’s website here.

Read Next

• Blancpain Invoke The Nuclear Option With Latest Dive Watch
• Blancpain Fund Ambitious Program To Protect Every Divers’ Nemesis

The post Blancpain Revives One Of The World’s Rarest Pilot’s Watches appeared first on DMARGE Australia.