Food & Drink | The Weekend Edition | What's on in Brisbane

The Greca team opens its Japanese-izakaya sibling Yoko at Howard Smith Wharves

21 Nov 2019

It's been just under a year since the Howard Smith Wharves precinct officially launched to the public, but now the final gaps in its dining array are being filled. Today marks the opening of one of the most anticipated restaurants of the year – the brand-new Japanese-inspired bar and eatery from acclaimed restaurateur Jonathan Barthelmess. Taking cues from Japanese izakayas, Yoko specialises in fun dining, not fine dining. Officially opening today, Thursday November 21, Yoko artfully pairs a delightfully offbeat aesthetic with a menu of mouth-watering morsels and a drinks list that'll be the envy of all but the most well-equipped bars. more

Food & Drink

Release the hounds – BrewDog officially opens its Brisbane brewery

21 Nov 2019

Picture Brisbane's craft-beer brewing scene as a dog park, and every pooch within it represents a local brewery. If you look around, you'll notice there are dogs of every shape and size marking their territory, from grizzled veterans with greying muzzles to hyperactive newcomers eager to play. Tomorrow, Thursday November 21, BrewDog opens its first (and highly anticipated) Australian brewery and taproom, marking a the arrival of a new big dog on the scene. With a reach spanning continents and 94 bars (yes, you read that right) to its name, you'd think a hound of this size would be an intimidating arrival. Not so! This canine is shaping up to be an incredibly friendly addition to the park, eager to be a constructive and supportive contributor to Brisbane's thriving craft-beer market. BrewDog is officially off the leash, and it wants to get to know you. more

Food & Drink

Food Collective touches down at Brisbane Airport’s Domestic Terminal

21 Nov 2019

It's been a banner year for Brisbane Airport's dining scene, especially at the Domestic Terminal! Following hot on the heels of the arrival of The Lord Lamington, Brisbane Airport Corporation has linked up with seasoned food and beverage operator SSP Group to open and operate Food Collective down at the terminal's northern end. This food hall-style dining hub is a first-of-its-kind operation in Australia, with five styles of cuisine represented for travellers seeking some variety in their pre-flight fuel-up. more

Food & Drink

Ehden Bar & Kitchen brings a taste of Lebanon to West End

21 Nov 2019

Simon Barakat grew up in the kitchen. Long before he was opening restaurants of his own around Brisbane, Simon was assisting his father Sayed at Hamilton's iconic Gino’s Italian, learning the trade from the tender age of 13. After years cooking sublime Italian fare, Simon is returning to his Middle Eastern roots, opening Ehden Bar & Kitchen on Montague Road in West End. Inspired by his father's tales of his childhood in Lebanon, Simon is shining a light on the Middle Eastern cuisine, paying homage to his familial and cultural roots while also creating a gathering place for others to make fond memories of their own. more

Food & Drink

Brisbane bottled – Australian Distilling Co release new gin inspired by the river city

21 Nov 2019

Many an iconic city has been immortalised in beverage form – think Long Island iced tea and the Moscow mule. No doubt inspired by these drinks, Australian Distilling Co have taken a crack at bottling Brisbane. Yes, the essence of Brissy can now be mixed with tonic or added to your next negroni with the arrival of Australian Distilling Co’s Brisbane Gin. How does our hometown taste? You’ll have to head to your local bar or bottle shop to find out. more

Food & Drink

Katsu, congee and coffee – West End nook The Garner covers all the bases

21 Nov 2019

Ethan Dou has already made his mark on Brisbane's coffee scene with his respected boutique brew nook Street Lab Specialty Coffee, but the avowed foodie craved the chance to try his hand at a cafe-style concept. After linking up with friend and chef Jerry Huang, the tandem snagged an ideal spot on the leafy West End strip of Browning Street. The duo's new cafe The Garner pairs Ethan's coffee nous with Jerry's menu of nourishing nosh, serving up delectable brew and brunch fare imbued with Asian-inspired quirks. more

Food & Drink

Love Can is on a mission to redeem the premixed drink

21 Nov 2019

Few beverages have as shaky a reputation as the premixed drink. It’s the troubled young star of spirits, associated with poor decisions and sickly sweet flavours. Pour one out at a party over the age of 25 and and risk raising a few brows. Where others saw a lost cause, Sydney distillery Poor Toms and Melbourne soft drink maker StrangeLove saw potential, so they came together to do the impossible – make a premixed drink that actually tastes good. The result is Love Can, which launched with an elegant trio of beverages that will make you rethink your premixed prejudices. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best Greek restaurants

21 Nov 2019

Opa! Greek food is – without a doubt – one of the most inventive and flavoursome cuisines in the world. Succulent souvlakis, delicious dolmades, crispy calamari, helpings of haloumi – these are some all-time favourites, but they are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Greek feasts. Brisbane boasts a mighty fine selection of Greek restaurants to choose from, so we figured we’d save you the hassle of looking and list our picks right here, right now. more

The Locals Next week: A BRISBANE LOCAL

To be a chef you have to love it, you need to do it for passion, not for fame and glory ... ~ Matt Moran more

Food & Drink

Festive feasts – the best spots for you and your crew to eat and drink this Christmas

19 Nov 2019

Apart from the joy of giving, the next-best part of Christmas is obviously the abundance of amazing food that we get to fill our bellies with. The silly season is the perfect time to indulge in all of your culinary desires, as well as the perfect excuse to gather your friends and family for some quality time around the table. Whether you’re plotting a boozy girls lunch, planning a feast fit for the fussiest family members or you’ve been tasked with finding the office Christmas party spot, we’ve got you covered – here are the best places to eat and drink in Brisbane this festive season. more

Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Volume 249 November 19

19 Nov 2019

From news of a new brewery in Brisbane's north to an inner-city move for Jocelyn's Provisions, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more

Food & Drink

Step right up – Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq opens at UPSTAIRS at Toombul

14 Nov 2019

It's hard not to succumb to the allure of a carnival – the bright lights, adrenaline-fuelled attractions and covetable prizes make for an exhilarating experience. That being said, carnivals are typically transient, with various roaming operations popping up for a few nights of fun before moving on. Aside from the EKKA, it's hard to know exactly when you'll be able to savour convivial funfair delights again. Well, until now. Today, Thursday November 14, marks the arrival of Archie Brothers Cirque Electriq – a modern interpretation of the classic carnival spectacular. This all-in-one entertainment concept is bringing the dazzling spectacle of the fairground to Toombul's new dining playground UPSTAIRS, from its cutting-edge arcade games, sideshow thrill rides and menu of eye-popping eats and drinks – on offer seven days a week. more

Food & Drink

Top Thai – the LONgTIME crew opens sAme sAme on Ada Lane

14 Nov 2019

It takes a lot of guts to close a beloved restaurant – especially one that was as immensely successful as LONgTIME. When the brains behind the beloved Thai restaurant announced that the eatery would be wrapping up service after five years of rave reviews, the collective outpouring of emotion was unlike anything Brisbane had seen before. The heartache was quickly tempered, however, by the follow-up reveal that a successor restaurant was already in the works on The Calile's Ada Lane strip. sAme sAme is LONgTIME's heir – an artfully designed dining destination dishing up a familiar take on Thai fare with some undeniably impressive enhancements. more

Food & Drink

Sip from the source – Aether Brewing opens its Northgate taproom

14 Nov 2019

Brisbane's craft-beer brewing scene continues to expand at a cracking pace, with new outfits sprouting up across town while veterans of the scene grow to cater to the city's insatiable demand. Aether Brewing has evolved into one of Brisbane's preeminent brewing operations since launching in Milton three years ago. Late last year, the Aether crew opened a sizeable new brewhouse in Northgate, upping its production capabilities far beyond its Milton home. Now, the team are letting folks come in and sample freshly brewed pours at its brand-new taproom. If you're an OG Aether fan (or are a northside local looking for a new weekend haunt), this is the spot to get a taste of the brewery's heralded product. more

Food & Drink

Portside Wharf welcomes chic wine bar @ Mr and Mrs Jones

14 Nov 2019

It's a crime to have to travel far for a good drop – if you ask us, every suburb deserves a quality wine bar to call its own. We're fairly certain Karen Phillips – the owner of new Portside wine bar @ Mr and Mrs Jones – would agree. This classy wine-diner boasts a stellar array of vino to sip, but it isn't simply a one-dimensional pit-stop for those looking to wet their whistle. @ Mr and Mrs Jones is also dishing up divine plates conceived and cooked by a hatted chef, meaning that if you simply have to travel to get your wine fix, @ Mr and Mrs Jones is worth making tracks for. more

Food & Drink

Barbecue Mafia sets down roots with Chelmer restaurant

14 Nov 2019

Like any restaurant with a little experience under its belt, there comes a time when even a pop-up seeks to settle down. After dozens of sell out appearances across town, American-style barbecue purveyor Barbecue Mafia has brought its signature slow and smoky flavours to a permanent restaurant in Chelmer. more

Food & Drink

We’ll drink to that – Empirical Spirits is bringing a taste of Copenhagen to Australia

14 Nov 2019

Copenhagen is a kind of utopia where 62-percent of commuters ride bicycles, parental leave is 52 weeks long and interiors are so cosy they invented a new word to describe it – Hygge. It’s no surprise then, that this city is also home to Empirical Spirits, a company leading the spirits pack in flavour innovation. If Copenhagen is a little far to travel for your next knock-off drink, you needn’t worry. From Sunday December 1, Empirical Spirits will be available in bars, restaurants and retailers across Australia. more

Food & Drink

Get merry with 12 Wines of Christmas Advent Calendar from Good Pair Days

14 Nov 2019

When it comes to Christmas, there are two kinds of people. There's the kind that bust out Mariah and Buble and put the tree up mid-November because it's the most wonderful time of year (there's no shame, you're amongst friends here), and then there's the other kind that refuse to acknowledge its existence until the week of and then grumble about the crammed carparks. No matter which camp you fall into, the 12 Wines of Christmas Advent Calendar from Good Pair Days is guaranteed to give you (or a special someone) a little festive cheer. more

Food & Drink

The round-up: the best BYO spots in Brisbane

14 Nov 2019

Everyone agrees that any BYO restaurant is a great way to enjoy a bit of extra value while dining out, but many don’t know how many spots around town allow customers to bring their own drop. Not only are there plenty of restaurants where BYO is acceptable, but also several bars encourage patrons to BYO food and other eateries welcome patrons to bring their own drop on special nights of the week. We’ve compiled a handy list to help you make a choice of where to take that special bottle of pinot this weekend. more

Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Volume 248 November 12

12 Nov 2019

From news of a new rooftop bar inspired by coastal Italy to a massive bake sale for charity, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out … more

Food & Drink

Howard Smith Wharves celebrates the arrival of Cantonese-style restaurant Stanley

07 Nov 2019

Just under a year ago, the Howard Smith Wharves precinct opened and irrevocably changed Brisbane's dining landscape. In a matter of weeks, the riverside hub had established itself as one of Brisbane's preeminent dining strips, with several incredible restaurants and bars luring in guests by the hundred. Amidst all this initial buzz was the promise of more to come – more incredible fare, more buzzy atmosphere and more top-flight culinary talent. On Friday November 1, Howard Smith Wharves welcomed one of its highly anticipated newcomers, Stanley. Inspired by the lively waterfront of Hong Kong's Stanley Bay, this two level restaurant blends the intoxicating aromas and tastes of traditional Cantonese cooking with moody aesthetics and Brisbane's own maritime heritage, creating a world-class dining experience that is singularly memorable. more