Bakeries
Highly anticipated restaurant Agnes opens … as Agnes Street Bakery Pop-Up + Bottle Shop
Food & Drink

Highly anticipated restaurant Agnes opens … as Agnes Street Bakery Pop-Up + Bottle Shop

09 Apr 2020

Imagine spending years working on a concept of a venue. You find the perfect space. You begin to build the ideal team. You work towards a date. You get ready to open. Then a worldwide pandemic and government-mandated hospitality shutdown stops you right in your tracks. This was the reality for highly anticipated restaurant Agnes in Fortitude Valley, which was due to open in late March. So, like basically every other restaurant, bar and cafe still open, the team had to make some serious changes to the concept – and Agnes Street Pop-Up Bakery + Bottle Shop was conceived. more

Bakeries
Mica Brasserie breathes new French-inspired life into Breakfast Creek Wharf
Food & Drink

Mica Brasserie breathes new French-inspired life into Breakfast Creek Wharf

09 Apr 2020

It seems – quite clearly – that Shannon Kellam isn't one to rest on his laurels. The award-winning chef and restaurateur, together with his wife Clare, is behind Bowen Hills favourites Montrachet and King Street Bakery, and this year is set to see a huge expansion for the family-owned business. The duo – and its powerhouse team – has taken over culinary operations at the new Breakfast Creek Lifestyle Precinct (the home for LSH Auto Australia’s Mercedes-Benz Brisbane dealership and Queensland’s Sotheby’s International Realty), with a multifaceted plan to roll out over the year (government restrictions permitting). One of the first stages is casual riverside eatery MICA Brasserie, a patisserie, bar and bistro set to bring the once-tired Breakfast Creek Wharf back to life. more

Restaurants
The round-up: hatted hospitality at home – the fine-dining restaurants offering takeaway fare
Food & Drink

The round-up: hatted hospitality at home – the fine-dining restaurants offering takeaway fare

09 Apr 2020

If you're anything like us, this period of social distancing and self isolation has led to a slip in our standards. Before coronavirus, we dressed up to go out to dine – now if we bother to put on pants we feel accomplished. One thing we refuse to allow is the degradation of our tastes, especially when it comes to food. While Brisbane's hospitality scene adapts in the wake of dining restrictions, many eateries are transitioning to a takeaway-oriented service – including our hatted and fine-dining institutions. This week, consider treating yourself to some of the best cuisine (and booze) to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. The best part, you still don't need to wear pants! more

Food News
The round-up: the restaurants ready to feed you (at home) this Easter weekend in Brisbane
Food & Drink

The round-up: the restaurants ready to feed you (at home) this Easter weekend in Brisbane

09 Apr 2020

It's wild to think it's Easter this weekend, right? In light of everything going on, plus self-isolating, it's easy to lose track of the dates. With holidays deemed non-essential and unnecessary travel advised against, it's safe to say most of us (as we should be), will be staying at home this extra-long weekend. But that doesn't mean we can't still have a good (Friday) time! Instead of our traditional 'what's open this Easter' round-up, we have put together a list of places that want to make sure your Easter feasting is still extra special at home with their seafood and takeaway offerings. Be sure to get in quick – some venues require pre-orders to ensure you get your spread in time! more

Food News
Save our Supply launches to help us show our support and save local hospitality
Food & Drink

Save our Supply launches to help us show our support and save local hospitality

09 Apr 2020

We all know that right now our hospitality industry, and its suppliers, are in need of some serious support. As a community we have already come out in force, ordering takeaway from our favourites to help them continue to trade through these tough times. With the landscape changing so rapidly around us, however, it can be easy to forget to spread the love, and also to throw some to the much-loved venues that have been forced to temporarily close. Save Our Supply has launched to help remind us, providing a 'status report' on how we can support our favourite restaurants and cafes during the coronavirus crisis. more

Beloved culinary queen Maggie Beer is here to elevate isolation with wholesome online cooking classes
Food & Drink

Beloved culinary queen Maggie Beer is here to elevate isolation with wholesome online cooking classes

09 Apr 2020

It only takes a quick one-minute scroll through Instagram to realise that everyone is suddenly living their best iso lives in the kitchen. Cookies, muffins, bread, pasta sauces and pickles – so many people are giving it a red-hot crack and we are absolutely here for it. Do you know what we're not here for? Burnt and soul-crushingly inedible banana bread. Making rock-hard cookies that resemble golf balls. Oh, and not being able to poach eggs like our favourite cafe down the road. Everything is going to be a-okay, though – because sweet angel Maggie Beer is here to get those of us who simply do not excel in the kitchen through these trying times. more

Food News
Whip up some quarantine cookies with Bakers Box DIY baking kits
Food & Drink

Whip up some quarantine cookies with Bakers Box DIY baking kits

08 Apr 2020

For those of us stuck at home with little to do, quarantine baking has become the new self-care and a (more or less) healthy hobby that helps to banish boredom. If your baking skills are a bit lacklustre or your pantry stock is dwindling, then maybe it's time for some professional help – in the form of a baking kit, we mean. Making the at-home baking process easier and tastier than ever, Bakers Box is a range of DIY baking kits that will have you doling out cafe-quality cabin-fever cookies in no time. more

Bars
How to support the local Brisbane hospitality scene during the coronavirus threat
Food & Drink

How to support the local Brisbane hospitality scene during the coronavirus threat

06 Apr 2020

UPDATE March 23, 2020: We told you we'd be regularly updating this, as the coronavirus situation is rapidly evolving. As of midday Monday March 23, the federal Government has forced the closure of all pubs, clubs, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor places of worship, gyms and indoor sporting venues. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to operate, but only to offer takeaway and delivery services. Currently hotels can operate in an accommodation-only capacity, and supermarkets, convenience stores, banks, petrol stations, pharmacies, food delivery services, bottle shops, hairdressers, beauticians and freight and logistics services can continue to operate. COVID-19 is a serious virus, which means we need to take serious steps to overcome it. As you can see from the latest Government protocol, this usually comes at the expense of small businesses – especially our bars, cafes and… more

The Locals Next week: A BRISBANE LOCAL

Michael Tassis
Brisbane is now becoming famous for its variety of food, which is amazing for our industry ... ~ Michael Tassis more
Current Events
Feel-good funding – support medical and hospo staff with new Brisbane initiative Feed the Frontline
Food & Drink

Feel-good funding – support medical and hospo staff with new Brisbane initiative Feed the Frontline

02 Apr 2020

There's a lot of chaos out there at the moment, but from the depths of this global crisis, some truly incredible things are being born. We're seeing groups of individuals band together to offer their support to others in the most innovative of ways – one, of which, has just launched in Brisbane. Feed the Frontline allows everyday people to send a meal to a frontline worker from a participating restaurant, providing support to both our tireless medical workers and the struggling hospitality industry. more

Food News
New food-ordering platform Dine At Home connects Brisbane restaurants with diners (minus the hefty fees)
Food & Drink

New food-ordering platform Dine At Home connects Brisbane restaurants with diners (minus the hefty fees)

02 Apr 2020

While the country's hospitality industry has been completely flipped on its head, many restaurant and cafe operators have been quick to develop ideas and implement changes to adjust to this new (albeit temporary) world. With take-home meals currently the new dining out, we’re having to rely more heavily on ordering platforms that often come with hefty fees. Amid all of the uncertainty has come a new operator, Dine At Home, which promises to alleviate commissions by acting as a free, one-stop online platform for venues to promote their takeaway offering. more

The Grocer
Four Pillars fast-tracks the release of its Changing Seasons Gin in collaboration with Japan's Kyoto Distillery
Food & Drink

Four Pillars fast-tracks the release of its Changing Seasons Gin in collaboration with Japan’s Kyoto Distillery

01 Apr 2020

The temporary closure of our favourite pubs and watering holes means that we're now forced to (responsibly) enjoy tipples from the comfort of our couch. It also means that our home liquor supplies are drying out at a faster rate than usual – though, here's some great news to counter the sad state of your bar cart. Yarra Valley distillery Four Pillars has fast-tracked the third release in its exclusive Distiller Series – introducing Changing Seasons Gin, a new Japanese-inspired sip created for 'times that are changing faster than any of us can keep up with'. more

Food News
The round-up: savour some well-deserved sweetness with these Easter treats
Food & Drink

The round-up: savour some well-deserved sweetness with these Easter treats

01 Apr 2020

Although this Easter might be a bit different to every other year, tucking into sweet treats whether they be in the form of hot cross buns, chocolate bunnies or cookie dough-filled eggs is well and truly still on the cards. We've put together a list of all of the places around Brisbane that are hawking indulgent chocolate goodies and artisan sweet treats so you can treat yourself this Easter. Now, hop to it! more

Current Events
Dissecting SCOMO – helping you understand what closures, rules and announcements actually apply to Queensland now
Food & Drink

Dissecting SCOMO – helping you understand what closures, rules and announcements actually apply to Queensland now

01 Apr 2020

On the evening of Sunday March 29, Prime Minister Scott Morrison addressed the nation to outline further (tougher) restrictions to help curb the spread of coronavirus. The new rules cut any social gatherings to just two people – this applies for indoor and outdoor gatherings, as well as those on private properties. All people over the age of 70, those over 60 with a chronic illness and Indigenous people over 50 are all strongly advised to stay home. These new measures are in addition to the closures and announcements that have already been placed over the last two weeks. We’ll keep updating as more announcements come to light but here’s what you need to know now … more

Providore
Scoot on through – Emporium Hotel South Bank offers drive-through takeaway meals and grocery service
Food & Drink

Scoot on through – Emporium Hotel South Bank offers drive-through takeaway meals and grocery service

01 Apr 2020

With the majority of us self-isolating and spending our time confined to the indoors due to the coronavirus pandemic, our weekly trips to the grocery store can be a little anxiety inducing. Boutique hotel (and Queensland owned-and-operated business) Emporium Hotel has come to the rescue with the launch of Emporium Market – a to-go grocery service available for drive-through pick up or delivery. Not in the mood for cooking? Emporium Foods will look after you with its take-home ready-made meals, or you can enjoy in-suite dining from the comfort (and safety) of your own home. All you have to do is place an order, journey on down to Emporium Hotel's driveway and your goodies will be handed to you through your window by concierge. more

Food News
A helping hand – these Australian distilleries are pivoting from booze to hand-sanitiser production
Food & Drink

A helping hand – these Australian distilleries are pivoting from booze to hand-sanitiser production

31 Mar 2020

While we know and love them for making our favourite gins, whiskies, rums and vodkas, a bunch of Australian craft distilleries are pivoting away from spirits and toward the production of arguably one of the most valuable, highly demanded products in the world right now. No, it's not toilet paper – we're talking about alcohol-based hand sanitiser. By stepping in, repurposing and adapting to meet demand in these unforeseen circumstances, distilleries have found a new revenue stream in keeping your hands clean – and it also allows them to stay open (for now) and keep their staff employed. So, if your local supermarket has run out of precious sani', don't stress – these booze makers have got your back, as always. more

Cafes
Welcome Savour Cafe – a New Farm mainstay gets a new lease on life
Food & Drink

Welcome Savour Cafe – a New Farm mainstay gets a new lease on life

26 Mar 2020

UPDATE: In the wake of government-mandated restrictions on dining, Savour Cafe's dine-in component is currently suspended. Thankfully, the cafe is serving plenty of goodness to take away, which means you can still get a taste of the venue's fare – we're talking the full cafe menu, cabinet treats and take-home meals! Since its inception, New Farm's Vue Lounge has been a pillar of the suburb's cafe scene, and owners Matt and Dan Jefferis are chiefly responsible for the cafe's success. After taking over Vue in 2005, the brothers have established the eatery as a reliable go-to spot for coffee, brunch and drinks, but now the team is starting a new chapter. Earlier this month, Matt and Dan revealed the results of a recent rebranding, renovation and repositioning of the Vue space. Savour Cafe is Vue evolved – expect the same welcoming community spirit with some tasty tweaks that'll have… more

Bakeries
A taste of Tassie – Banjo's Bakery opens new full-service cafe and drive through
Food & Drink

A taste of Tassie – Banjo’s Bakery opens new full-service cafe and drive through

26 Mar 2020

Although the current travel restrictions mean we won't be able to take a trip to Tasmania any time soon, thankfully we don't have to go far at all to snag a signature slice of the state. Storied bakery and cafe chain Banjo's is opening its first Brisbane location in Darra today, Wednesday March 25, bringing the western suburbs a plethora of buttery baked goods, freshly made sandwiches and ready-to-eat meals. The concept also boasts a drive-through, which makes it a handy go-to spot in this period of social distancing! more

Providore
The round-up: stock up the pantry at Brisbane's supermarket alternatives
Food & Drink

The round-up: stock up the pantry at Brisbane’s supermarket alternatives

26 Mar 2020

If you haven't been to Coles, Woolworths or Aldi lately, then you might not be aware of the state our supermarkets are in. Across Brisbane, barren shelves are depleted of pasta, rice, meat and tinned food, leaving our dinner plans in the lurch. Thankfully there is an alternative for those looking to stock up on important consumables – here is a list of Brisbane's supermarket alternatives (delis, butchers, bulk-food stores and international grocers) that still have plenty of foodstuffs available. more

Bars
The round-up: venues that are temporarily closing during the COVID-19 outbreak
Food & Drink

The round-up: venues that are temporarily closing during the COVID-19 outbreak

26 Mar 2020

As of midday Monday March 23, the federal Government has forced the closure of all pubs, clubs, cinemas, casinos, nightclubs, indoor places of worship, gyms and indoor sporting venues. Restaurants and cafes will be allowed to operate, but only to offer takeaway and delivery services. That doesn't mean that every local business you know and love is going to magically switch to takeaway and delivery – for some, this is not feasible. The following is a list of Brisbane venues that will be shutting doors entirely for an indefinite period of time during the COVID-19 outbreak. We will be updating this list as much a possible to convey the closures as we hear of them. For more information on these listed closures, including a projected timeframe for how long they might last, be sure to visit the venue's website and socials. more