Few things can brighten our day quite like a gluten-free doughnut from Nodo and nothing makes our week like hearing that Nodo is opening a brand-new cafe in Hawthorne! The perennially popular baked-goods dispenser and bang-on brunch provider will be unveiling its new location in April – here's what we know ... more
Over its eight-year lifespan, Botanica has grown from a cruciferous curiosity to a bona fide salad-slinging superstar. These days, Botanica's signature blue boxes are a ubiquitous sight at dinner parties, barbecues and in workplace fridges, and it's not uncommon to frequently see a line of salad seekers slithering its way out of one of Botanica's three established locations. If you regularly find yourself in one of those lines, here's some great news – Botanica is opening a brand-new outlet in Hawthorne on Monday January 25. So, if you've got a craving for Israeli couscous or are keen for some kale and croutons, this salad bar should be your first port of call. more
While the name Salt Meats Cheese doesn't exactly scream 'vegan friendly', the team behind the popular stable of Italian restaurants (which boasts locations across Brisbane and on the Gold Coast) is actually well known for its expansive plant-based food offering. This February, SMC's popular all-vegan feasting event – aptly named Soul Meets Cheers – is returning to bring you the ultimate plant-based Italian banquet, for one night only. more
The Australian tradition of popping over to Bunnings on the weekend for a cheeky saus never gets old. The mix of barbecued meat, caramelised onion and your choice of sauce (we won't get into this debate now) on a beautiful base of white bread is a winning combination that we never thought could be recreated with justice. But perhaps we have judged too soon as the clever sausages at Domino's have whipped up a new doughy concoction – a Sausage Sizzle Pizza. Be still our beating hearts. more
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed a surge in craft-beer breweries opening around Brisbane. Over the past three to four years, Brisbane has seen a huge influx of froth-soaked newcomers, with loads of independent brewers opening tipple temples to great acclaim. There’s never been a better time to be a beer fan in Brisbane, so if you’re keen to tick a few names off this summer, we’ve assembled a list of Brisbane's best craft-beer brewery crawls to give you a sample of the plethora of Brisbane's top-notch breweries. more
Question – what kind of bear is best? The correct answer is a friendly one that dispenses specialty coffee and mouth-watering brunch eats. Such a thing doesn't exist, you say? False. Bear Boy Espresso at Colwill Place does exactly that. After clocking up acclaim with its first cafe on the Gold Coast, the Bear Boy crew has brought its special brand of hospitality north. This newcomer is matching style with substance in the most delicious way possible. Read on to get to know this grizzly grub spot! more
In these uncertain times where we keep yo-yo-ing back and forth between freedom and confinement, the opportunity to get outside for some precious nature time is one that we should grab with both hands. To celebrate some of our state’s best natural resources (and to encourage everyone to embrace being allowed outside), we’ve rounded up some of the best hikes around Brisbane and the Gold Coast so that you can get your state-sanctioned dose of fresh air. Are you ready, boots? Start walking! more
The Gold Coast's picture-perfect beaches, scenic waterways and sandy stretches offer a wide variety of water-based activities. There's surfing, kayaking, swimming and for the folks that just like to relax, cat-napping in the sun. If you're searching for something a little bit different to get up to during your free time, we have found one recreational enterprise that will blow your socks off (quite literally, because you won't need them) – glow-in-the-dark SUP tours. more
Few cafes in Brisbane’s dining scene boast as sterling a reputation as The Gunshop Cafe. The West End-born eatery is a veritable culinary institution (we’re not kidding – it won Best Institution Cafe in 2018’s EAT/drink Awards) and continues to be a popular fixture of the local brunch circuit. After a decade and a half of operation, the long-running cafe is spreading its wings, opening a second location just a short stroll from Toowong Village. Same comfortably rustic interior? Check. Same delightfully delicious coffee? Double check. Same mouth-watering potato-and-fetta hash cakes? Triple check! more
In the midst of chaos that consumed us all in March 2020, Brisbane City's beloved negroni-slinging, pizzetta-dispensing and spuntino-hawking bar and eatery COPPA closed the doors of its Creek Street locale. While we mourned what we assumed was a casualty of COVID, the COPPA crew was quietly biding its time until things settled before rising like a phoenix once more. The team emerged from hibernation in late 2020 to announce its surprise relocation to Eagle Street Pier, a move that saw it take over the space formerly home to Il Centro. COPPA 2.0 opened on Thursday January 14 after a whirlwind of activity, showing off a slick coastal-Italian aesthetic as well as a menu of delectable fare and a drinks list featuring negroni slushies, spritzes and, of course, plenty of wine. Take a look inside ... more
Speaking for ourselves, we can't wait for the weekend. While we watch the clock fervently, we have also found the time to hand-pick some fun activities happening around our city. Read on for a few ideas on what you can get up to during your free time this weekend ... more
December 2020's blockbuster double-header arrival of La Costa Bar and Cielo Rooftop Bar finished a tough year on a resounding high note. A collaborative effort of Eterna and Salt Meats Cheese head honchos Stefano di Blasi and Edoardo Perlo, and Stefano Catino, Vince Lombardo and Andrea Gualdi of lauded Sydney bar Maybe Sammy, the transformation of Foresters Hall was touted from the outset as a multi-stage overhaul. Today, Friday January 15, marks the completion of the group's next phase. La Valle is La Costa and Cielo's wine bar and bottle-shop sibling – a corking and colourful homage to Italian apertivo bars boasting an impeccable selection of wines, pre-made cocktails and bar snacks. more
When Queenslanders were first instructed to stay inside earlier this year, it didn't take us long to pine for the freedom of adventure. Travelling adventures like campfires with loved ones, treks through lush rainforests and taking a dip in faraway lakes – the backyard experiences we almost took for granted became things we yearned for. Those tense months are now (thankfully) in our rear-view mirror and, though the reverberations of the ongoing pandemic continue to ripple around the country, the option of exploring our own backyard is open to us. Whether you're wanting to take a summer getaway to the coast or prefer to retreat inland, Queensland has so much to offer. To inspire some wanderlust and help give you some ideas as to where on the map you should drop your pin, we’ve rounded up five hidden Queensland tourism gems for you to discover, from disappearing lakes and crystal-clear… more
Growing up in an environment where music and performance were celebrated meant I had the freedom and support to explore my wild creative urges from a young age.~ Emma Dean more
My doctor told me I had to stop throwing intimate dinners for four unless there are three other people~ Orson Welles
