Feature - City Guide

Directions: Los Angeles

It's safe to say LA completely won me over. The sun seemed to shine every single day, the cocktails were always cold, the pool was the perfect escape from the heat, and I found myself constantly inspired by the galleries, architecture and incredible homes tucked away throughout the city. My favourite part, though, was exploring neighbourhood by neighbourhood - finding little coffee shops, wandering independent stores, and slowly starting to feel less like a tourist and more like a local. Here is my guide to LA.

Recipe

Miso Salmon Curry

Adapted from a New York Times recipe with a bit of a Provider twist. This curry is a new favourite, it is quick, easy and packed full of flavour. Great for weeknight cooking or for an impressive meal you can throw together for your friends without spending hours in the kitchen.

Story

Provider House - Saying Goodbye

A letter from Tara dedicated to a very special place. Read about how the house came to be and Tara's reflections on the difficult decision to say goodbye.  

City Guide

Neighbourhood Guide: Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto

Our latest neighbourhood guide takes you to one of our favourite places to spend time in Kyoto. This expansive area (or ward, if you prefer) is packed with great cafés, lively bars, independent boutiques, and charming streets that are a joy to wander through. It's the kind of neighbourhood where the best plan is to simply get lost. Every turn seems to reveal another hidden gem.

Recipe

The Easiest Yuzu Honey & Mustard Salad Dressing

This is one of the quickest and easiest salad dressings you can make. We love using our favourite yuzu honey instead of lemon and honey, which you often see in a traditional honey mustard dressing recipe. This twist adds just that hint of yuzu citrus in all the best ways, plus it uses rice wine vinegar, which gives it a satisfying zing. It's a perfectly balanced dressing that can be used with just lettuce or with all your favourite salad bits. 

Feature - Recipe

Ricotta Gnocchi With Brown Butter, Sage & Anchovy Sauce

As the cooler weather begins to set in, we are craving big bowls of warming food. Step in a dish featuring delicate ricotta gnocchi, salty anchovies, herbaceous sage and rich brown buttery goodness. This recipe is well worth the effort.

City Guide

Community Routes: Kuramae, Tokyo

Tucked just beneath the iconic Asakusa, Kuramae is a charming neighbourhood rich in history and creativity. Once home to warehouses and commercial hubs during the Edo period, it has transformed in recent years into a vibrant centre for artisans, craftspeople, antiques, fashion and really cool cafés. Here is our guide to this cosy little neighbourhood. 

Friends of Provider

A Chat With Akitsu Ryokan Owner Nikita

In celebration of the launch of our collaboration Room Spray with Akitsu Ryokan, we chatted to Nikita, who built and created this beautiful space in Shiga, Japan.  Nikita's story is truly inspiring. After you read this, you will want to quit your job and follow your wildest dreams. 

Travel

A Tokyo Recap From Tara

Hello from Tokyo - or rather, the Shinkansen, as I am just about to leave the city. After a couple of busy days, I wanted to share a brief recap of what I've been up to, along with a few of the places I managed to visit along the way. It's been full, fast-paced and inspiring. It might be worth mentioning: it snowed - a lot. 

City Guide

Neighbourhood Guide: Jimbocho, Tokyo

Jimbocho is a neighbourhood in Chiyoda, Tokyo, renowned for its second-hand bookshops and it did not disappoint. You could easily spend an entire day here getting lost amongst the shelves.

Feature - Recipe

Zucchini & Polenta Fritters With Zesty Yoghurt

These little morsels of joy are a real crowd pleaser. They are crunchy on the outside and fluffy on the inside and perfectly balanced with a delicious yoghurt sauce and a generous dose of cheese. 

Recipe

Yuzu Honey Glazed Ham

A zesty spin on the classic glazed Christmas Ham. This recipe is super simple but has a great subtle flavour that isn't overwhelming like some ham glazes. 

Recipe

Fermented Chilli & Butter Grilled Prawns

Any excuse to take out the Hibachi! This simple recipe only uses a few ingredients but packs a flavour punch. You can either use your hibachi or just grill them on the BBQ. 

Recipe

Dutch Carrot Tart With Ricotta & Feta

Nothing like a good tart, and this one has everything you could want, earthy carrots, creamy feta & ricotta, lots of herbs and of course a spicy kick to round it out. This Tart is great because it can be served hot, cold or even room temp so it's easy to make ahead and a real crowd pleaser. 

Recipe

A Tokyo Collins Recipe From Bar Demo

Cool off this summer with this delicious, citrussy delight from our friends at Bar Demo in Newtown. We dropped by Bar Demo one balmy Sydney afternoon to chat with Claudia and Olly about opening Bar Demo, vinyl, cocktails and more as they whipped us up this drink perfect for summer. 

Feature - Friends of Provider

A Chat With Clinton From Five Leaves Left Hobart

If you are down in Tassie staying at Provider House or hanging around Hobart, this is a must-stop. It's like Five Leaves Left was made for us; it blends great books with delicious wine, which in our opinion is the ultimate combo. Owner Clinton, is an absolute legend and in this chat we talk about what drew him down to Hobart and, of course, a few books you can now add to your to-be-read pile.

City Guide

Directions: Sydney

It felt like it was about time that we do a guide to our hometown of Sydney. There are endless places to eat, drink, see and plenty of things to do, these are some of our favourites.

Recipe

Homemade Tartar Sauce Recipe By My Zakaya

My Zakaya is a little spot that serves some seriously good Japanese food. Chef Nobu Maruyama cooks with a deep love for flavour and that resonates through all the dishes he creates. He was kind enough to let us into his kitchen and take us through the homemade Tartar sauce that tops Namban Snapper. You can also find our chat with Nobu where we chat all things food at the end of the recipe too!

What's On

First Edition Pop-Up At Provider Store

Head to Provider Store from 18th-20th of July and come explore a collection of rare books ranging from Japanese architecture, furniture photography, fashion, art and design thanks to our pals at First Edition.

Recipe

Smashed Chickpea Sandwich Recipe From Recess

We feel very lucky that Recess is just around the corner from Provider Studio in Surry Hills. Mainly because we don't have to go far for a delicious sando and a packet of chips but also because Clark & Paddy are absolute legends. We popped by a couple of weeks ago for a good chat and of course a recipe. Get the recipe for this super easy sandwich and read on for a little interview with the team.

Feature - Recipe

Onigiri Three Ways

Onigiri also known as a Japanese rice ball, is a popular portable Japanese snack that dates back over 2,000 years. If you have ever been to Japan you would have seen these at every train station and convenience store. They are one of our favourite treats to grab-and-go when we are travelling to markets or before we hope on the Shinkansen. We rounded up three of our favourite fillings that you can replicate at home. 

City Guide

Tara's Favourite Bookshops In Australia & Beyond

Tara is a real bibliophile; she loves collecting books and spending hours wandering through every bookshop she comes across. If you have been lucky enough to visit Provider House, you would have noticed that the house is stacked full of books and magazines and even has a designated reading room. So trust us when we say she knows all the best book shops. Here are some of her favourite places to pick up a book from Australia and beyond.

Makers

A Chat With Architect & Artist Nigel Peake

We first discovered Peake's work a while back and were delighted when we came across his book of Hotel Drawings on our travels through book stores in Tokyo earlier this year. We were so delighted to be able to not only offer some of his limited edition works and our fav Hotel Drawing collection but Nigel also kindly took some time to chat with us about his architectural background, art and his connection to Japan. 

Recipe

Yuzu Citrus Polenta Cake and Chat with Bella Thomas

Bella is a beloved, long time supporter of Provider, inspiring us since she first shopped in our store many years ago. Upon finding yuzu at her local farmer's market, she created this delicious recipe we wanted to share with you. Deliciously sweet and tangy, we know you'll love it!

Recipe

Chicken Kara-age With Daikon Oroshi Recipe By CIBI

When we were down in Melbourne last year we had to absolute privilege of join managing director Meg at the CIBI Melbourne cafe/retail space where she cooked us up some of the best Chicken Kara-age we have ever eaten. This quick and easy recipe is best enjoyed hot, fresh and with a nice cold beer. 

Feature - Friends of Provider

A Good Chat With Danielle Gay

We have known Dani for many, many years now; she is a dating mentor to all, a brilliant writer and the kind of person you could just talk to for hours on end about anything and everything. We feel so lucky to have been able to sit down with her and chat about books, love and life.

Travel

Guide to Hobart: What to do in Tassie this Autumn

We're often asked, when is the best time to stay at The Provider House? The colder months are upon us, and while Tassie is beautiful all year round, we particularly love all it has to offer in the month of May. 

Story

Product feature: A.M Matcha

Those who have tried A.M matcha, know just how special it is. A.M's supreme quality ceremonial grade green tea is as vibrant as it is delicious. Australia based, Kyushu grown, we've interviewed Maddie, half of the founding duo to learn a little more about the brand. 

City Guide

Directions: Nagoya

There are only a few reasons why you would make a stop by Nagoya when visiting Japan. You either scored a booking at Ghibli Park, you are staying there to hike the Nakasendo Trail or, like us, are there for business. Nagoya reminds me of Ginza in Tokyo. It’s big, clean and has a lot of designer fashion stores. Nonetheless, if you just dig a little deeper, you start to find your footing, and by footing that means wine, coffee, food and a knickknack or two.

Recipe

Spicy Salmon Crispy Rice by Duck Sauce Yum

A delicious recipe with thanks to Shan @Ducksauceyum, enjoy creamy umami notes from the salmon that pairs perfectly with the crispy rice texture. Topped with a spicy citrus Yuzu Koshu, enjoy a burst of complex flavour perfect to enjoy yourself or to impress your friends when entertaining!

Feature - City Guide

Community Routes: Secondhand Book Shops - Kyoto

What draws us into secondhand bookshops is the sense of discovery. You go in not looking for anything in particular but stumble across titles that you wouldn't find anywhere else. We love that each store has its own unique collection of curated titles. By flipping through the tomes, you gain an insight into the interests of the owner and their unique passions. We wanted to share a guide to a few of our favourite secondhand bookshops in Kyoto.

City Guide

Directions: Kanazawa

We took a little detour from the busy streets of Tokyo to take a little break in Kanazawa. We spent a few days exploring gardens, museums and galleries and ate and drank some of the best food ever! Here are some of favourite spots from our trip to Kanazawa. 

City Guide

Neighbourhood Guide: Nishihara, Tokyo

Nishihara is a cool little neighbourhood that I always find myself in by accident. I always stumble across so many gems here and would highly recommend a visit. Whether you like homewares and vintage clothing, or natural wine and an izakaya, this might be the place for you. 

Recipe

Bibimbap Recipe From Sáng

Walking into Sáng, you feel like you are part of the family. It's a welcoming and cosy hole in the wall space nestled in the streets of Surry Hills. Oh, and it also does some seriously good Korean food. We were so excited to head into the Sang kitchen for this delicious Bibimbap recipe, even more excited to feast upon it at the end.

Story

How To Reuse Your Provider Candle Vessels

Reuse and sustainability is an integral part of our provider ethos, and in the many years we've been selling our ceramic candles, the candle vessel has been reused in various contexts. To answer one of our most asked questions: "How do you reuse your candle vessels?", we compiled a list of ways staff have reused the ceramic cup in their everyday lives. From tea cup to pot plant holder, the vessel's ability to adapt to many forms is endless!

Feature - Recipe

Yuzu Lemon Myrtle Iced Green Tea

This Yuzu Lemon Myrtle Iced Green Tea is the perfect tangy and refreshing summer beverage. Including naturopath blended Sophron notes tea, this brew is carefully crafted to provide a calm and balanced mental boost, perfect for early summer mornings or an afternoon pick me up!

Recipe

Fried Spring Rolls With Chicken, Shiitake & Bimackle From Toco, Japan

Toco has been one of our top spots to visit while we are in Tokyo. It is an amazing wine bar that offers some truly delicious snacks, it was one of the best meals we had on our last trip to Tokyo. We were so pumped the team shared one of their recipes with us so we can make it and feel like we are back at Toco in Tokyo.

Recipe

Pumpkin Agedashi Tofu From Future Future

A special recipe from the team at Future Future in Melbourne. 

City Guide

Directions: Melbourne With Nick Hughes Of Keoma Store

Whenever I go away I always ask Tara her advice, and check these Provider guides so really happy to contribute my favourite places in Melbourne. I do think its important to mentioned, I’m a real creature of habit, and only really spend time in the Inner North and the West.

Friends of Provider

In The Studio With Tania Gnecchi From RUUSK

Tania and Tara have known each other for well over a decade bonding over their love of slow made, meaningfully made pieces and making things by hand. We are so excited to have been able to collaborate on a very special candle that launched this December between Tania's jewellery brand RUUSK and Provider Store. We sat down with Tania to chat all things Jewellery and her unique side hobbies in this interview.

Feature - Gifting

Provider Gift Shop

The Provider gift shop is officially open! We've curated a collection of gifts to meet the needs of all the different people in your life, from the entertainer to the outdoorsy types. 

Travel

Best Coffee: Kyoto

Knowing Japan has some of the best coffee in the world, on a recent trip to Kyoto, we made it our mission to find the best brew around. Upon review, here are some of our favourite coffee shops in Kyoto:

Recipe

In The Kitchen With Trophy Room Hobart

We first discovered Trophy Room a few years back on our many travels down to Hobart to build Provider House. It became one of our go-to spots for a bite to eat so we were so chuffed to not only do a cheeky interview Rose & James but they also shared a recipe for one of our favourite dishes we had on one of our many visits.

Travel

Off Duty - Melbourne

Last week we ventured to Melbourne to teach a candle making workshop at Keoma Store. Not only were we chuffed that it sold out, we were also excited to be able to bring a little bit of Provider Store to Victoria. A big thank you to the wonderful staff at Keoma and everyone who came, plus to those who dropped off their candles for refilling. While a big part of our trip was work, we did get some play. Here is what we got up to when we weren’t making candles.

Friends of Provider

A Tea With Diana From Sophron Notes

Diana has been a friend of Provider for many years now. Not only is Di a lovely human she also created Sophron Notes tea, and we are so pumped to be serving and selling Sophron Notes tea at Maido and the shop. Read a little more about the creative mastermind behind Sophron notes in this little interview we did with Di.

Feature - Story

Provider Ten Year Timeline

A lot has happened over the past ten years, this is a brief glimpse of the highlights of our journey so far. 

Story

Provider Store Surry Hills | The Journey

Continuing on our sentimental 10 year journey, this time I thought we would talk about our little “hole in the wall”…the Surry Hills store. From finding the shop, opening and then renovating the space to turn it into the store you know today.

Story

Creating Provider House | The Journey

Creating Provider House is probably the biggest and best thing we have achieved as a brand over the last decade. It was something that started as just a dream and after many years became a reality. It has since been a second home to not only the Provider team but so many of you. 

Story

DIY: Creating Maido

Did you know that Provider Store turns 10 next month?! 10! What an expedition it has been! While reflecting on some of the bigger things that took place over the last decade, I started to go down a bit of a rabbit hole of memories.I thought I would start sharing some of these moments with you so you can follow our journey so far. One I wanted to share was when I renovated Provider Studio, which has now become Maido.

Story

Ceremonial Vs Culinary Grade Matcha: What's The Difference?

We get asked a lot at Maido about the difference between ceremonial grade matcha and culinary grade so we put together a little run down of the differences as well as some tips on making your own matcha at home.