Ling Ling’s
Heya Bar’s closure late last year left many punters bereft of a late-night snack option they could count on, but now there’s a new player set to take over the space and fill that void with Asian-inspired snacks, drinks and karaoke. Ling Ling’s – softly opening on Brunswick Street on Wednesday February 12 – will be delivering a lively take on the hustle and bustle of South Asian street-food markets. The venue’s interior boasts plush gold-trimmed booths, hanging red Chinese lanterns, arcade games, a pool table and an eye-catching mural feature wall, while the kitchen will be open late serving contemporary pan-Asian street eats (think basket after basket of dumplings). Ling Ling’s bar will be amply stocked with a range of thirst-quenching libations – we’re hearing word of soup-bowl and tea-pot cocktails, craft beers and even bottle service for those seeking a deluxe experience. Stay tuned for a closer look at Ling Ling’s soon!

Joedy’s Cafe
New Farm locals will be blessed with a new brunch haunt soon when forthcoming eatery Joedy’s Cafe springs up on Sydney Street in mid-to-late March. The cafe is the brainchild of 11-year hospitality veteran Joedy Kyle, who has worked across several casual and fine-dining institutions (including Blackbird Bar & Grill and Black Hide by Gambaro) since moving to Brisbane in 2012. With a deep-seated passion for providing memorable food experiences and making people happy, Joedy elected to strike out on his own and open a community-oriented cafe in New Farm, one where guests were treated to a customised experience based around fare made from top-notch local ingredients. Joedy is currently refitting a cafe space (formerly home of The Frond) conveniently situated across the road from New Farm Park. The food offering will span breakfast, brunch and lunch, with elevated classic options featuring alongside signatures such as home-style savoury mince, banana-and-oat waffles with white chocolate, coconut cream and fresh fruit, and breakfast panna cotta with blueberry cream cheese. Fonzie Abbott has been selected as Joedy’s coffee supplier, with espresso-based coffee available alongside specialty brew methods such as batch brew, V60 and cold-brew coffee. A retail portion of the cafe will serve home-brew coffee kits, lovingly crafted ceramic coffee cups, chutneys and jams, Joedy’s Cafe-branded apparel, and even picnic hampers for folks looking to make use of New Farm Park. We’ll have more details for you when Joedy’s Cafe opens next month.

Cinnabon
Be still our beating hearts – Cinnabon will make Valentine’s Day extra special this year when it opens its second Brisbane location at Westfield Garden City. Yes, this Friday February 14 will see the baked-goods giant expand to Brisbane’s south, following hot on the heels of its high-profile debut at Toombul late last year. Much like its Nundah sibling, Cinnabon Garden City will sell the brand’s coveted signature cinnamon rolls, Chocobons and caramel Pecanbons, as well as specialty-grade coffee and cinnamon-roll Chillattas. Be sure to get in quick – these goodies will sell out in record time!

Snack Man’s Winemaker Series
Love a riesling? If so, you’ll love what Snack Man has got in store for its riesling night on Tuesday February 18. The ticketed event will give attendees the chance to sample a range of drops from Mosel (Germany) and Clare Valley in South Australia, alongside a range of bites from Snack Man’s kitchen. Boutique winemakers Ernie Loosen from Dr. Loosen and Sam Barry from clos Clare will be showcasing wines from their respective ranges, as well as unveiling two collaborative drops – a Clare-style wine made from Mosel fruit and a Grosses Gewächs-style made from Clare fruit. Tickets cost $98 per person – get more details and make a purchase here.

SK Steak & Oyster’s Lobster menu
A plummet in overseas demand has created a tough situation for our local lobster industry. In an effort to support our fisheries during this period, Ada Lane’s SK Steak & Oyster has purchased more than 200 kgs of live Tasmanian rock lobsters for a week-long lobster-centric celebration. From now until Friday, guests will be able to devour a five-course lobster menu for just $85, which will include the likes of raw lobster tartar with organic soy sauce, yuzu and jalapeno, a classic lobster cocktail with Marie Rose sauce, lobster risotto, and butter-baked lobster served with lobster mash and lobster salad. Bookings are strongly recommended – give the SK Steak & Oyster team a call on 07 3252 1857 to make a reservation.

Coffee & Comedy
The Brisbane Comedy Festival is fast approaching, which means pretty soon Brisbane will be inundated with droves of some of the world’s best comedians. For two weeks bridging February and March, some of these hot-shot jokesters will be popping into a different Brisbane City cafe each day to perform free stand-up for Coffee & Comedy – Brisbane’s funniest happy hour. On weekdays from Friday February 21 to Thursday March 5 between 2:00–3:00 pm, participating cafes will give the first 100 visitors a free coffee while a hand-picked comedian will try their darnedest to make them chortle. On Friday February 21, head to Aquila Coffee on Eagle Street to catch Taboo’s Harley Breen, while Craig Quartermaine will be heading to John Mills Himself on Monday March 2 to tickle funny bones. Keen on free coffee and comedy? Head to our Event Guide to find the list of confirmed venues!

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].