Dining out at fancy restaurants should always be expected to come with a rather hefty bill at the end of the night. Such experiences are often saved for special occasions. The ones where it feels right to treat yourself, your partner or your family to a well-deserved meal prepared by some of the finest chefs around.

In the case of Salt Bae‘s restaurants, however, there is a good chance you’ll end up paying for the sheer fact you can say you’ve been served a perfectly-cooked steak with a special sprinkling of salt. We’ve previously discussed the $6228.05 bill diners were handed at Salt Bae’s Miami restaurant, but more recently, a receipt given to a party of four at Salt Bae’s London restaurant revealed a huge £37,000 bill.

While the diners may have spent £850 on one of the Turkish butcher’s famed golden tomahawk steaks and just over £4,000 on the service charge, the real culprit of the expensive bill was two bottles of 2003 Pétrus, setting the diners back just shy of £20,000. But why would someone spend nearly an entire year’s salary on a few glasses of wine?

The truth is, anyone who knows about wine will likely know that Pétrus command a high price tag, since the wine produced by the estate is often considered as the most outstanding of its appellation, in Pomerol. Pétrus doesn’t make a second wine, instead, producing just a single red wine each year, and due to their quality, are ranked as the sixth-most expensive wine in the world.

Indeed, sommelier Sean McManus told DMARGE, “Pétrus is the only estate in Pomerol (on the right bank of Bordeaux) that has its entire vineyard planted with Merlot on iron-rich clay soil.”

“Blue clay veins run throughout the vineyard, adding to the extreme complexity of the site. The grapes at Pétrus are therefore able to ripen to a higher degree and gain more complexity with the help of good water drainage.”

“In warm and dry vintage, the clay plays a key role in acting as a sponge and slowly releasing very small amounts of water to the roots of the vines, preventing them from going into shock.”

As for why the 2003 vintage purchased by the diners at Salt Bae’s restaurant was so expensive, Sean says, “the 2003 Pétrus was a difficult vintage for Pomerol, it was hot, hot hot. This is when its famed blue clay soils worked their magic, giving an advantage over other domains due to its natural tendency to retain moisture.”

He adds that there likely wouldn’t have been a particularly big mark up on the wines either, as can sometimes be the case.

“Generally speaking, these wines have the least amount of mark up in restaurants. Most wines work out to be roughly 30% cost of goods, but for some wines, generally, the go to by the glass can be as low as 10% cost of goods, meaning that it’s high profit margin and high turn over, which makes bank for the wine program.”

“In turn, this wine sold by the masses helps fund the big purchases, such as expensive wines from Bordeaux. But buying a bottle for $10,000 or $20,000 doesn’t simply mean you can apply the same mark up.”

“Most restaurants may only add 30%, 40% or 50%, otherwise there is a high chance they will just sit on a list forever. The goal is to sell the wine, but not too quickly!”

“And of course, it should be sold to the right person. Although the mark up is smaller, the cash injection from the bottle sale is high. Which is why sommeliers love selling unicorn wines, so we can taste them too!”

“A lot of these promo wines are under allocation only, meaning you need to be selected to purchase them, or to be in the club of some sorts. Generally, an importer will offer them to their best clients throughout the year, along with the most famous restaurants where they will be appreciated and look great on award-winning wine lists.”

“Other than that, the secondary market is a huge deal. Auction houses, which can consist of wines from collectors and sometimes bankrupt businesses can play a key role for punters to get their hands on a bottle, a high risk of course.”

A quick search for the 2003 Pétrus online reveals it can be bought from resellers from AU$4,000/£2,100 excluding sales tax, with some prices reaching AU$13,000.

Read Next

• The Truth About Why French Wine Is ‘Always Better’
• Our Expert’s Scoop On The Best Australian Wines To Buy Right Now

The post Why A Good Bottle Of Wine Costs $10,000 At Salt Bae’s London Restaurant appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

As we come out of this pandemic, though some of us are ready to flit about the world like characters from an overwrought Shakespeare play, others are worried about health and safety.

Hygiene is a big issue on a lot of people’s minds.

Many travellers are thinking harder than ever about the countries they visit, and the accommodation they stay in, as they seek to avoid contracting COVID-19 (or being disrupted by policies designed to combat it).

With this in mind, now is as good a time as ever to drag the following ‘subtle sign’ that your hotel bed sheets might not have been properly cleaned back to the top of your newsfeed (as it was for us this morning).

The sign? A lack of creases in your sheets. That’s right: even though you might think creases in your sheets signal a lack of professionalism (or a lack of care about presentation), they are actually a good sign (especially in budget hotels or accommodation), because they suggest your sheets have come straight (or, folded) out of the linen cupboard.

That’s as opposed to being left on the bed from the previous guest. As a flight attendant with 19 years’ experience once told Business Insider, “Don’t sleep on hotel sheets that don’t have creases from being folded; someone slept on them already.”

A motel cleaner named Dan allegedly confirmed this to The Sun. He said: “I could have 20 beds to change in a day – it’s back-breaking work.”

“So, if I see a bed that’s been used but it’s not been messed completely, I’ll just pull the sheets really tight and hope no one notices. It’s worked for me so far.”

Other frequent travellers say peeking inside the Kettle is another way to tell if your hotel has high standards of cleanliness (or not).

Read Next

• Man’s ‘Divisive’ Hotel Check Out Act Sparks Hotel Etiquette Debate 
• Man’s Controversial In-Flight Act Sparks Air Travel Debate

The post How To Tell If Your Hotel Bed Sheets Have Really Been Cleaned appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Being into cars is an expensive hobby.

Not only are cars themselves expensive to buy outright, but in between running costs, insurance, maintenance and servicing loans (if you have your car on finance), you can end up spending a good chunk of your yearly income on your ride.

According to the US Department of Labor, the average vehicle costs US$10,742 per year to own and operate. When you consider that the average salary in the United States is $56,310, that’s a lot of money.

But what about vehicles that are above average? Performance cars, offroaders, luxury or vintage vehicles… How much do you need to be making if you want to afford your dream car?

Humphrey Yang, a former Merrill Lynch financial adviser whose matter-of-fact money videos have earned him viral success on social media platforms like TikTok (where he has over 2.6 million followers) has broken it down, using the new BMW M3 as an example, assuming you’re getting the car on finance and using a clever financial trick called the ’20/4/10 rule’. [Watch below]

In case you missed it, the 20/4/10 rule works like this:

• Put down at least 20%
• Finance the vehicle for no more than 4 years and
• Keep your total monthly vehicle expense – including principal, interest and insurance – under 10% of your gross income.

For a $69,900 car, $181,740 seems excessively prudent – and hard to achieve – but it’s worth remembering that 1) the BMW M3 is a high-end performance car, they’re not meant to be cheap and 2) the whole point of the 20/4/10 rule is to give yourself contingency (and ultimately save you money in the process).

RELATED: The Simple Solution To BMW’s Big Grille Problem

As Lifehacker puts it, “having at least 20% saved up beforehand lets you pay off the car sooner, and with more manageable payments. Keeping your financing term short limits the amount of interest you’ll pay, and allows you to drop costly comprehensive insurance coverage sooner.”

“Finally, keeping your monthly expenses at less than 10 per cent of your income gives you a little more flexibility if you’re hit with an unexpected bill or lose your job.”

Of course, Yang’s video assumes you have no savings. If you’re making $181,740 a year, you can probably afford to set some savings aside and just buy your dream car outright after only a few years of saving – which is ultimately a less risky or complicated option.

Read Next

• Luxury Vehicle Owners Missing Out On Important Australian Electric Car Tax Rebate
• ‘Affordable’ Toyota SUVs Fast Becoming Perfect Alternative To Skyrocketing Land Rover Defender Prices

The post How Much You Need To Earn To Buy The Car Of Your Dreams appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’ve all been there. We know we have to hit the gym at some point in our day, especially if we’ve had a very relaxed weekend on the beers or junk food, but actually getting out of your house and onto the weights can sometimes feel like too tough a task.

We’ve previously looked at the various ways the true gym junkies of this world overcome such a mental barrier, such as The Rock suggesting you use curse words against yourself, or those who have undergone surgery telling themselves to not let any problem get in their way of making some serious gains.

And of course, we have comedian and podcast host Joe Rogan telling us we have to silence our inner lazy voice in order to get the job done. But, just in case you haven’t yet taken any of that advice on board and are still struggling to get back into a regular workout routine (especially in a post-lockdown era) Joe has once again provided some words of workout wisdom.

Taking to Instagram following some “hard rounds on the [punching] bag”, Joe claims:

He adds, “Today was hard rounds on the bag, and it was brutal. But it’s over, and now I feel f*****g awesome.”

The takeaway? You get out what you put in, and once you do manage to drag yourself to the gym and complete a workout, you will probably feel better, thanks to a release of dopamine.

The Dana Foundation explains this perfectly: “When you exercise, your body releases chemicals such as dopamine and endorphins, which make you feel happy. Not only is your brain dumping out feel-good chemicals, but exercise also helps your brain get rid of chemicals that make you feel stressed and anxious.”

RELATED: The Key To Keeping Your Brain Sharp Could Be Right Under Your Nose

If you don’t go to the gym or workout at home, or only perform a few measly bicep curls twice a week, you can’t expect to make any real gains. And, even if you do go to the gym on a regular basis, or run several times a week, you can’t expect those gains to happen overnight. It’s all about consistency.

Unsurprisingly, Joe’s post has received plenty of support, with comments including “#BangOn”, “Agreed”, “Yes mate – stay sharp” and “Beast mode.”

Read Next

• Joe Rogan Introduces Followers To Brand New Form Of Fitness Torture
• Joe Rogan’s ‘Heavy’ Mental Health Insight We Can All Learn From

The post Joe Rogan Shares Workout Advice To Make You Feel F**king Awesome appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Chris Hemsworth is currently in LA for the filming of Thor 4 and Extraction II. Last week he showed off an eye-popping cheat meal of two family size pizzas, 12 chicken wings and a pint of beer. Now he’s busting his gut again, this time by battering the hell out of a boxing bag.The Australian film star also claimed that it was helping him get over his jetlag.He wrote on Instagram: “Punching my way through jet lag thanks to @centrfit with some High Intensity Training. Nothing gets you over a long trip like a punchy workout.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth)

Cristian Prieto, a filmmaker, who appears to have taken the photos, wrote: “boom how was that timing.” He also posted the photos to his own Instagram account, writing: “That’s all it really takes, pressure and time.”Sportsperson Jorge Blanco, who was tagged in Hemsworth’s post, wrote: “No pillows.”Michael Olajide Jr. was the third person tagged in Hemsworth’s post. Michael, according to his website is, “fitness’s single most influential trainer having ushered in the age of the boxer.” It appears Hemsworth is training in good company, then.Many of Hemsworth’s followers loved the glimpse of Hemsworth beating jetlag via training. Insatgram user @rowdy_ravi_21 wrote: “Thorr” with a love heart emoji.Another wrote: “the mighty thor.”Further comments included: “ARE YOU KIDDING” and “Sumptuously.”Sumptuous indeed. Would you just look at those arms.Want to get ripped like Hemsworth? Check out his bodyweight Extraction II workout below. 

Read Next

• The Ultimate Chris Hemsowrth Workout Guide

The post Chris Hemsworth Smashes Bags In Preparation For Extraction 2 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

We’ve seen big dollars exchange hands for some weird and unusual properties this year.

From this $3.2 million tin shack on New South Wales‘ North Coast to this Brisbane car lover’s mansion that smashed sales records, it seems that if you want to make a motza selling your house these days, you need something strange about it. A unique, killer feature that’ll attract eyeballs and open wallets.

Well, how about this: fancy your own personal cyclone shelter? That’s exactly what this property in Far North Queensland offers – although it’s perhaps less ‘strange’ and more ‘prudent’, all things considered.

218 Junction Road, Mungalli seems to be your average semi-rural acreage upon first glance: 5.1 hectares with two cozy bungalows and a garage. But unlike most properties, this one features its very own purpose-built cyclone (or nuclear war) shelter/bunker within spitting distance of the main dwelling.

Take a closer look at the property’s bizarre bunker below.

The odd feature clearly interested buyers. After receiving plenty of interest, 218 Junction Road sold for just shy of $650,000 – a particularly punchy price for the area. First National Real Estate agent Brendan Williams told The Townsville Bulletin the sale price was well above what he thought the property could go for.

“The cyclone shelter was designed and signed off by the University of Queensland, and is made from kevlar and concrete,” he explains.

“There is not much going on inside, just a concrete slab where you can stand and have a cup of tea until the worst of the weather blows over.”

It might seem basic, but it’s no gimmick. Far North Queensland has been ravaged by tropical storms over the last few years, such as the devastating Cyclone Yasi in 2011. Considering how isolated and exposed the Mungalli property is, it could literally be a lifesaver.

Or, if shit really hits the fan (2021’s not over yet – who knows what could happen?), you could wait out the apocalypse in your kevlar cubbyhole. Might need more than just one cup of tea…

RELATED: Melbourne Man Finds Genius ‘Loophole’ That Outsmarts Australia’s Brutal Housing Market

That said, Williams doesn’t think the bunker was why the property sold for such a high price, instead suggesting it was its two houses that attracted the most interest: “[the bunker] was more of an added bonus, a novelty, and was not central to the huge interest in the property.”

Read Next

• ‘$15 Million Profit In 5 Years’: Sydney House Sale Leaves Locals Stunned
• Forget Melbourne: This Coastal Spot Is Victoria’s Next Top Property Market

The post Queensland Property Ready For World War III Is An Unexpected Sales Success appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Australia’s international borders may now finally be open, and interstate borders may finally be opening (imagine reading that sentence 5 years ago…), but that doesn’t mean everyone is ready to travel.

A travel sentiments survey of 1,000 Australians, following the government’s announcement to reopen borders, shows many Australians remain fearful of overseas travel.

The survey was conducted by Savvy.com.au – a website that calls itself, “a one-stop financial partner for a range of products such as car loans, bike loans, marine and much more.”

The headline finding of the study is that 2/3 Australians (of those in the study) are “positive” about the border reopening. It wasn’t all good feelings though. The survey found quite a lot of anxiety in Australians about how the new policies designed to limit the spread of COVID-19 would impact their next trip overseas.

47% of Australians said they were worried about being stranded – more so than catching COVID-19. That’s a big one. 64% said they would be uncomfortable boarding a flight with unvaccinated passengers. 4 in 5 said “international travel COVID-19 policy will influence destination choice.”

Cost is another factor on Australians minds at the moment. PCR tests, at present, add quite a cost to any trip overseas, especially if you plan on going to multiple destinations.

On top of that, 36% said they were “not confident” quarantine changes (for instance, the removal of the need to quarantine in NSW for fully vaccinated travellers) will maintain safety after travel resumes.

 

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Luxury All Over The Place ♛ (@luxurymasters_)

The survey also found N.Z and the Pacific was the top travel destination ahead of Asia and the E.U.

“But overwhelmingly, Australians are eager to travel once again. They’ve been waiting a long time.”

Read Next

• How To Score A $27,000 First Class Seat For $600, According To A Points Hacker 
• Flight Attendant Reveals Booking Hack To Travel The World For Free

The post Forget COVID-19: This Is What Scares Australians About Travel appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Every single Bitcoin transaction – even just buying a Flat White – consumes at least $100 worth of electricity, a new report has found.

The study, which was conducted by MoneySuperMarket worked out the kWh cost per transaction for various cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum 2.0, Cardano, Dogecoin and XRP. 

The most sobering part of the study (for those that reckon Bitcoin could be useful in the future as a transaction tool), was as follows: even small transactions, like buying a chocolate bar, or paying for lunch at a cafe, require a substantial amount of electricity. 

The report found that each Bitcoin transaction guzzles 1,173-kilowatt hours of electricity. To put this into perspective, that amount of energy could power the typical UK home for more than three months at a cost of roughly £125 ($173), based on a fixed cost of £0.11 ($0.148) per kWh, the study’s authors claim.

Likewise, in the U.S, “it would equate to roughly 6 weeks of electricity based on an average household electricity usage of 877 kWh per month (U.S Energy Information Administration),” the authors add. 

“Based on the number of Bitcoin transactions that took place over a 12 month period, we estimate that the total energy usage to be roughly 123 Terawatt Hours (TWh) or 123 billion kWh. This means that Bitcoin alone uses more energy than 185 countries and is comparable to the annual energy consumption of Norway.”

Watch Elon Musk & Mark Cuban discuss the potential applications of Dogecoin

There you have it: yet more evidence that Bitcoin is likely to be used as a store of value and a hedge against inflation (much like gold) in the years ahead – but probably not a daily transaction tool.

It certainly has its place in the crypto market as the Grand Daddy, but faster, less energy-intensive coins like Cardano and Ripple (or if Elon Musk and Mark Cuban have their way, Dogecoin), or new coins that even beat the aforementioned sustainable coins at their own game, are likely to be the ones used for transaction/currency purposes. 

Read Next

• I Bought $1,000 Worth Of Cryptocurrency. It Was A Huge Mistake
• This Month’s 3 Best Cryptocurrencies To Buy Right Now

The post New Report Shows Why Bitcoin Will Probably Never Be A Viable Form Of Currency appeared first on DMARGE.

Much of what separates those who are hyper-successful and those who aren’t, is whether or not you’re able to get over mental barriers. If you tell yourself you can do anything, then chances are you’re going to make far more progress than someone who constantly asks themselves “what’s the point?”.

A prime example of how overcoming mental blockages can see you back to your winning ways comes from Conor McGregor. The Irish MMA fighter suffered a horrendous leg break during the first round of his most recent fight with Dustin Poirier on July 10 2021. He fractured his tibia and fibula.

Many believed it signalled the end of McGregor’s career, but we can all agree the face of UFC has an undeniable fighting spirit and competitive edge, and so we shouldn’t be surprised to see him make a return. And, while he’s perhaps not quite in a fighting fit state right now, he recently hit the pads for the first time since his surgery – and made a huge claim in the process, which he shared with fans.

Seemingly unbothered by an injury that some others would have taken as a sign to hang up the gloves, Conor confidently claimed “I’ll be back, b*****s!”, while also thanking his “doctors and my team for getting me this far so soon after surgery!” in the caption of a recent Instagram video.

“There is work to be done but doing work is what I’m known for. “

In a separate video, also showing him sparring with his coach, Conor adds, “2 more months I am able to kick, grapple and run again. Ecstatic and grateful at my position current.”

“8 weeks left this calendar year. Perfect to get a head start on 22’. You think a broke[n] bone stop me?”

In one of the videos, Conor also makes a rather huge claim. He says, “Strap yourselves in for the greatest comeback in sports history!”

We have to give McGregor credit. Just over three months after his ankle break, he’s back on his feet and back into training. According to MMAFighting.com McGregor underwent a three-hour surgery the day after he broke himself, with Dr Neal ElAttrache, who had previously performed an ACL replacement on the fighter’s knee in 2013.

Conor has sustained damage to both the tibia and fibula in his leg, which meant he had to have “an intramedullary rod inserted in the tibia with screws and plates attached to the fibula, to stabilise the leg.”

Whether he’ll be back to his winning ways upon his return to the octagon, remains to be seen.

Read Next

• 6 Things Conor McGregor Claims Will Make You Infinitely Stronger
• Conor McGregor Proves There’s Never An Excuse To Miss A Workout

The post ‘I’ll Be Back’: Conor McGregor Returns To Training With Huge Claim appeared first on DMARGE.