From news of a new Brisbane distillery and tasting room from a coastal spirit crew to a pop-up Peruvian cevicheria by the flavour pimps at Mongrel, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food 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
We’re just going to put it right out there – there are many things we want to celebrate about Australia (especially after such a difficult start to 2020), but January 26 doesn’t represent an inclusive day for everyone. The Weekend Edition team fully supports changing the date of Australia Day to a day that every Australian can enjoy, bringing us together in a celebration of the mateship, unity and multiculturalism that make our country great. We hope that this change will take place in the not too distant future, but until then we kindly ask that you remember to take a moment this weekend to acknowledge the significance of this date for Indigenous Australians, the Traditional Owners of the land. Several eateries will be operating on the public holiday – here's a handy list to help you plan your day ahead of time. If you care to use your public holiday to get a better… 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
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
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
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
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
In Australia we are really blessed with some excellent and unique seafood, and we are lucky to have great access to that at the restaurant ...~ Thomas Mumford 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
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
You've assembled the charcuterie board, found a spot in the shade and you're ready to watch the sun slowly fall behind the mountains – this is livin', Barry! But wait – you've forgotten to pour yourself a drink. Not to worry old sport, because the tipple-loving team at Aperol Spritz has got you covered and have taken the hassle out of happy hour by bottling your favourite cocktail. Introducing Aperol Spritz Ready to Serve bottles. more
Spiked seltzers have taken Australia by storm this summer and it looks like these tasty tipples are here to stay. A fresh-faced addition to this selection of sips is VACAY, a guilt-free alcoholic seltzer that's giving back to the community in a big way. more
Since 1906, Australians have paired tea-time with the treasured pink-fondant-topped treat otherwise known as Iced Vovos. With its unshakeable status as a pantry staple more than 100 years strong, we struggle to imagine what could possibly make this sweet snack even better. Thankfully, the clever creatives at Gelato Messina have put on their thinking caps and have done the hard yards for us – working their magic to churn together a gelato flavour that is inspired by Arnott's iconic biscuit. The raspberry on top? You can order a tub for yourself right now. more
From news of a new Italian restaurant and aperitivo bar for James Street to a degustation-style eatery's relocation to New Farm, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food 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
Look, we know it's not going to be particularly hard for this year to be better than 2020, but 2021 is already shaping up to be a benchmark year for Brisbane's food and drink scene. Over the past few months, we've heard whispers of several noteworthy arrivals that will ensure 2021 is a year to remember. From world-renowned croissanteries to new concepts from established local powerhouses, here are some of the restaurant, bar and cafe openings to get excited about this year. more
If we had enough pull to influence the writing of the history books, we'd emphasise the role sweet treats and baked goods had on getting us through 2020. When lockdowns made us crazy, croissants helped. When restrictions had us down in the dumps, we turned to doughnuts. Even though a new year has started, we're not expecting our dependence on carbs to lessen, which is good, because newly opened Bulimba bakery and patisserie Darvella has some treats that are too irresistible to ignore. This European-inspired dispensary is slinging gooey Nutella-filled doughnuts, Swiss-chocolate infused croissants and heavenly cakes by the score. Read on to see why this arrival is the perfect sweet start to 2021 ... more
Apologies to any of you that have sworn off deep-fried foods as part of your New Year's resolutions – this next feature might be testing for your resolve. In mid December, West End's dining scene grew by one with the arrival of FryDays Bar & Kitchen. Occupying a street-front bar space on Boundary Street, this casual eatery and drinking spot is bringing together two of our favourite things – fried chicken and beer. That's not all, though – the FryDays menu bridges eastern and western hemispheres for a varied and malleable offering that's all about evoking that Friday feeling every day of the week. more
Much like how every cup of coffee boasts its own complexity and uniqueness, so too does every cafe. As last year came to a close, a brand-new one-of-one coffee joint sprouted up off Montague Road in West End. Lonely's Bar is a singular concept that looks to bring together caffeine and creativity under one roof, with a slick industrial interior comprised of skilfully repurposed materials, an ever-changing selection of specialty filter coffee and DJs spinning tunes on Sunday mornings. Curious? You should be. Here's the lowdown ... more
There's no doubt that the Sunshine Coast is blessed when it comes to drinking destinations – from craft-beer breweries to lively gin distilleries and everything boozy in between. Adding a bit of flavour into the mix is 20 20 Distillery, Cooroy's boutique spirits haven that has just swung open the doors of its tasting room for lovers of libation – whether that be gin, whisky or cold ones. more
There ain't nothin' like a roadtrip, especially when the destinations are this delicious. Now that the silly season is over, we're buckling up and heading south – join us on a journey through the Northern Rivers' must-visit venues for your eating and drinking pleasure. more
