From news of a champagne-fuelled springtime pop-up to an opening date for The Valley's new coffee spot, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know (while also supporting our local hospitality industry). When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more
No shade to the 1:00 am burger, pizza slice or kebab (you've saved our butts many a time), but sometimes we wish we had a bit more of a culinary selection to choose from when it comes to our post-party feed. Arriving on Friday September 25, Uh Oh Spaghettio is a neon-lit late-night pasta parlour that's committed to keeping our stomachs lined all night long, serving up cacio e pepe, Peroni-infused mac'n'cheese, bolognese-topped chips, new-wave wines and signature cocktails until the wee hours. more
The Spring Hill-end of Brunswick Street has long been a neglected part of the busy promenade, a peculiarly quiet zone despite sitting just a few hundred metres away from the entertainment precinct. Committed to bolstering the area's fun quota is UltraViolet Coffee – an eye-catching hole-in-the-wall dispensary that's injecting some colour into Fortitude Valley's fringe. more
So, let's talk about seltzers. In particular, hard seltzers. It's pretty much being dubbed the unofficial drink of summer, but what the heck is a seltzer? It's pretty simple. It's boozy, fizzy water and it's starting to dominate the normally sugar-heavy and calorie-laden RTD market. Seltzers have been big business in America for a while, and it's now making waves in Australia, with a bunch of breweries and booze makers (from the big players to the local outfits) jumping on board to create their version of the carbonated sort-of-healthy sip. Traditionally, seltzers are 'brewed', kind of like beer, with fermented grain or rice creating the booziness – or there are some brands simply adding alcohol to fizzy water. Either way, these gluten-free, low-calorie, not-too-sweet sips are gathering steam, and it looks like they are here to stay. To help you navigate, we've popped together… more
Whether it's for breakfast or a snack, granita and brioche is the epitome of a summer treat. As the granita melts, the cream and coffee merge to make a kind of slush, which is every bit as delicious as it sounds. This must-try recipe from Julia Busuttil Nishimura is featured within the pages of her new book A Year of Simple Family Food and is an ode to summer holidays in Sicily, where there are no rules and granita with whipped cream and brioche becomes a perfectly acceptable breakfast. Tip, you may need to start the brioche the day before you want to eat it so you can let the dough prove overnight in the fridge. more
No matter what genre of treats your particular sweet tooth craves, it is a universally acknowledged truth that freshly baked cookies are amongst the God tier. An oozing chocolate chip (or perfectly plump raisin if you swing that way), chewy middle and slightly crisp outside are all of the elements required for total mouth bliss. If you’re a total sucker for the dopamine hit that can only come from a perfectly crafted disc of doughy goodness, we’re going to let you in on a secret – there’s a Brisbane-based cookie subscription that will soon be sending monthly parcels of baked goods direct to your destination. more
As many hospitality operators adapt to the demands of pandemic life, many restaurants, bars and cafes are evolving to meet the new normal. Fortunately for us foodies, many of these moves have produced incredibly tasty results. The venue formerly known as The Boom Boom Room has been given a new direction and a (slightly) different name. Introducing Boom Boom Room Izakaya – a concept blending Japanese-inspired morsels and cocktails with a luxurious jazz-bar aesthetic. more
From news of a brand-new brewpub opening in Woolloongabba to an impressive retail strip in the works in Windsor, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know (while also supporting our local hospitality industry). When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more
For many hungry festival goers and ravenous street-food seekers, the sight of Mac From Way Back's vibrant yellow food truck was enough to induce rapturous joy. The wagon built a huge following thanks primarily to its menu of creamy mac'n'cheese and juicy smash burgers, but now Mac From Way Back is shifting gears, or rather, coming to a stop. In the coming weeks Mac From Way Back will open a bricks-and-mortar eatery in the heart of Woolloongabba – creating a dedicated home for baked mac, cheesy burgs, loaded fries, mind-boggling desserts and ice-cold beers. We've got a look at the goods ahead of the official opening but be careful, because this feast is not for the faint of heart or full of stomach. more
Few things tickle a carb-lover's fancy like pulling apart a buttery, flaky croissant. You don't have to be a pastry aficionado to appreciate a good one, and it's easy to tell when you've got a croissant that's sublime or sub-par. If we took a survey of Brisbane's best croissants, we're certain many of you would pinpoint Chouquette as a sure-fire winner and it's easy to see why. The popular boulangerie and patisserie has long been a go-to for traditional French pastries, authentic baguettes and eye-catching cakes – now residents of Brisbane's west can get their fix quicker with Chouquette's brand-new shop in Graceville. Here is the need-to-know info on this big-ticket arrival ... more
Starting the day on a positive note is important, even if it's something simple like getting a good breakfast or making the train with time to spare. A good cup of coffee also does wonders for our morning mood, especially if it's accompanied by a smile. Buenos Dias Con Cafe is the kind of coffee spot where smiles come free with every cup. This genial nook has cultivated a huge outpouring of community love – and it’s only been open three weeks. Read on to see why folks are making a visit to this Stones Corner cafe a morning priority ... more
It only takes a quick glance at the shelves of any independent bottle shop to realise Australia's craft-spirits scene is in the best shape of its life. Our burgeoning distillery industry is producing world-beating tipples at a rapid clip, proving the potency of our country's botanical bounty. Looking to match the quality of our spirits is Long Rays – an independent beverage brand born under the Queensland sun that is designing distillery-vetted and bartender-approved mixers that eschew synthetic additives in favour of home-grown ingredients – elevating and enhancing vodka sodas and gin and tonics forever. more
There’s something undeniably charming about the classic Australian snack landscape. A combination of nostalgia, simplicity and straight-up deliciousness has cemented some truly incredible culinary creations into our country’s treats canon. Show us an Aussie that doesn’t go gaga for a Gaytime, loopy for a lamington or wacky for a Wagon Wheel and we will eat our collective hats! It is within this timeless selection of sweets that beloved artisan chocolatier Koko Black has found its latest inspiration, launching a limited-edition Australian Classics collection that will delight your tastebuds while igniting some serious throwback feels. more
In this, the year of Our Lord, 2020, there are no more surprises – just facts. Some of the purely insane things we have had to endure have been horrific and freakish, but there’s some kind of metaphor here about doors closing and windows opening. In any case (and biblical themes aside), sometimes the cruel world throws you a bone and gifts you with something you never knew you needed – enter Ben & Jerry’s Dough-Licious Pizza. What the heck is this? Why is this a thing? Read on for the answers you seek, young padawan. more
From news of a 70s-inspired Thai party palace to a new life for a heritage-listed Valley hotel, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know (while also supporting our local hospitality industry). When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more
Following the huge success of its previous sell-out release, the fine folks over at Gelato Messina realised they were onto something special and decided (very wisely) to revive the beloved red-velvet cookie pie. In even better news, the bake-at-home favourite has had a small-face lift and it's now even more delicious. more
If the recent coronavirus-related lockdowns were good for anything, it was for innovation – especially in our hospitality scene. Among the pandemic-inspired experiments to emerge from the first half of the year, Bao Bar's pop-up concept was far and away one of the most popular. When dine-in restrictions eased, the brains behind the idea figured continuing Bao Bar with its own standalone location was a no-brainer. This Sunday September 13, Bao Bar will unveil its new bricks-and-mortar joint in South Brisbane – showcasing a beefed-up selection of fusion-inspired baos plus ice-cold beers to wash down the goodness. more
Brisbane City's specialty coffee scene is positively percolating right now, more so than ever thanks to the long-awaited arrival of The Maillard Project. The anticipated concept from the brains behind Coffee Anthology officially opened on Charlotte Street last week, unveiling a holistic offering that encompasses good coffee (naturally), toothsome fare and enlightening education opportunities. This isn't your run-of-the-mill decoction destination – The Maillard Project is a welcoming social hub for coffee lovers, coffee roasters and coffee brewers. more
If we had things our way, we'd place a top-notch coffee joint on every street corner. Much to every city planner's relief, we're not in charge – but Brisbane's coffee scene is growing at such a rate that we're almost convinced we're manifesting new caffeine dispensaries in every direction. Cups on Wellington is East Brisbane's newest brew spot – a charming pitstop that not only ticks all of the boxes when it comes to specialty coffee, but also delivers the goods with its mouth-watering eats. more
Peter Gabriel's 1986 smash-hit single 'Sledgehammer' is a quintessential example of the quirky, maximalist fun that was commonplace in the late 1980s. More than 30 years on from its release, the song's influence is still manifesting in unexpected ways. Commercial Road Public Bar is a soon-to-open drinkery shaped and inspired by the bold aesthetic of the decade's music, art and fashion scenes – think New York Fashion Week circa 1989, SMPTE colour bars and tasteful splashes on neon. Combine that with a contemporaneous selection of natural wines and a menu of Italian-inspired bar food and you've got a singularly stylish spot for serendipitous sipping. We were lucky enough to get a sneak peek inside CRPB ahead of its official opening on Wednesday September 9 – here's what you can expect ... more
