On Our Table & On The Radar
Food that sings, fashion that disrupts, and culture that deserves a rebrand.
For the tart around town check out the new Negroni Bar.
On Our Table & On The Radar
Set the Table
Everyone knows how to make a Penne Arrabbiata but here’s the list of what it takes to make it really sing.
In order of using them: Chilli oil, extra virgin olive oil, fresh chilli, chilli flakes, garlic, basil stalks, parsley stalks, chopped parsley, tomato purée, Italian tomatoes, ground Aleppo chilli pepper, Murray River salt, and cracked black pepper.
“this isn’t no chump fucking dinner is it”
Four elements of chilli give a hum to the dish bringing heat that sings not zings.
Hot To Trot
For the tart around town check out the new Conte Negroni Bar & Italian Restaurant in Clarence Street Sydney.
Without Jack we have leftovers.
With Jack off to Western Australia, there’s a void in the house, but not in the fridge.
When we FaceTime, I can see a twinkle in his eye and hear the excitement of his new adventure in his voice.
At 23, he might seem like a fully grown man, but when they’re your kid and still at home, they take up just as much space in your life as they did when they were babies.
I miss Jack. I miss caring for him. But maybe that’s exactly why leaving home is so good for him.
Podcast Pick: How To Have A Great Sex Life: The Secrets We Are Never Told!
Listen to Cindy Gallop, the powerhouse behind Make Love Not Porn. In the first five minutes alone, she has Davina McCall tongue-tied, emotional, scrambling for a pen to take notes, and in tears laughing. Gallop says, “Everyone’s dying to talk about sex,” and she’s unapologetically leading the charge.
Their conversation made me rethink the word Cougar. Why has it been used as a dig instead of a badge of power, agency, and admiration? Time for a rebrand? I think so.
Cougars Know Exactly Who They Are.
They’re confident. They know their values, what they want, and exactly how they want to live.
Cindy Gallop redefined sex positivity. Vivienne Westwood built a fashion empire, rewrote the rules of rebellion, and married a man 25 years her junior. CEO. Punk. Visionary. Activist. Artist.
These women are the trailblazers - the perfect ambassadors for the V2 Cougar.
So why is Cougar still thrown around like an insult? Why are we conditioned to side-eye a woman who enjoys herself on her own terms?
Last week, a young woman I know said, “I’m not going into that bar, it’s full of Cougars.” In the moment, I didn’t know what to say, but I’ve been thinking about it ever since.
Now, after listening to this podcast and reflecting on what she might have meant, I’m ready for the next time. I’ll ask: why?
Is it disdain? Judgment? Because if something isn’t landing right, it means the positioning is off. The term doesn’t reflect reality. It’s outdated, misaligned with today’s culture, and in desperate need of a refresh.
And that’s exactly the problem with Cougar. The messaging is stuck in an old narrative that no longer fits. Hence the rebrand idea.
The truth? Cougars aren’t competition. They’re role models. They’re cultural disruptors, smart women who don’t wait for permission to have a good time. The kind of women you might actually learn from if she took a second to say hi at the bar.
And that’s where the rebranding comes in. I can’t lecture young women or tell them how to think. I’ve been trying for years it doesn’t work. Instead, I’m shifting the conversation. I’m reframing what it means to be a Cougar, as a symbol of confidence, agency, and choice.
By questioning the narratives we’ve been handed and offering a different perspective, let’s help young women see that they don’t have to follow the script. They can define success, relationships, and pleasure on their own terms.
What do you think? ps I’m older than James.
Listen to the podcast. Watch on YouTube. Let’s talk.
Fashion News, but make it Uncut.
This is Uncut recruiting. I saw their ad on LinkedIn. It’s cocky, bold, and unapologetically disruptive. Who do they think they are? Well, they know. They run the world. Tech experts are the new rock stars. This add cuts through the bs and says it like it is, I get it. I like it.
This is Uncut, the team behind H&M's AI models. Tech has replaced the entire traditional photo shoot crew - photographers, stylists, hair & makeup artists, you name it. They're all out. Fashion’s aghast. And rightly so.
They've created digital clones of models for H&M to use across social media advertising. These models’ likenesses are now their digital twins. Holy shit! I can’t decide if this is exciting or terrifying.
As our feeds fill with more AI-generated content, businesses need to put a real human face to their brand. Showing up as a real person across all social platforms, like I'm doing on TikTok, is how you truly connect with your audience/customer.
Give me bad grammar and good advice over someone reading a script with polite hellos any day. At least I know you’re human.
Be yourself, make it real, and you’ll remain irreplaceable. Maybe.
The $50 Shopping Mistake I’ll Probably Make Again
Choose collecting over shopping. Always. It’s the key to never facing that “what am I going to wear?” moment before an “occasion”. We’ve talked about this, I’ve shared the wisdom but I’m a slow learner.
Just said goodbye to the vintage bolero, I love it, but if I’m honest its a tight fit now (what after 30 years!) and was teetering on the costume-y side.
Had my classic Zara change room showdown. There I was, sweating trying to squeeze out of a stretch bodice top that nearly became my personal prison. Should I call for help or risk breaking the zipper? Managed to wiggle out (thankfully), but still took it home. Cost me $50. I tell myself I’ll wear it on date night under a blazer, but will I? No I bloody well won’t I’ll wear something comfortable no doubt.
I’ve done it again, I talk a good game but still make shopping mistakes.
“Want more personal musings on fashion, life and all things delicious? Paid subscribers get a back-seat pass to the side show. It's where I take you behind the scenes with exclusive thoughts and real-time reflections”
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Lisa’s Substack to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.