Food News
Cheers to South Bank – eat, drink and picnic to your heart's content at the riverside precinct
Food & Drink

Cheers to South Bank – eat, drink and picnic to your heart’s content at the riverside precinct

16 Jul 2020

Brisbane is back and thriving and so is our insatiable thirst for fun! Ready to welcome back visitors, Brisbane's dining and cultural hotspot South Bank is waiting for you with idyllic river views to bask in, world-class waterfront restaurants to dine in, bars to hop from and plenty of green space to play. To celebrate life starting to return to (new) normal, South Bank is welcoming us back with delicious dining offers, family-friendly fun and charming facilities. So pack a picnic basket, make a dinner reservation and raise a glass – it's time to get out and about and rediscover this vibrant riverside precinct. more

Best of Brisbane
Proof BBQ & Booze | Brisbane's best American barbecue
Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best American barbecue restaurants

15 Jul 2020

Apologies in advance to all plant-based eaters out there – this round-up is strictly for the carnivores. This time around, we’re checking out the finest hunks of meat available around town. No, we’re not talking about Aussie Thunder Male Revue. We’re talking about barbecue – American barbecue, to be precise. Brisket, pulled pork, ribs, sausages – if it’s smoky, saucy and meaty, it’s exactly what we’re after. We’ve assembled a list of some of the best bricks-and-mortar barbecue locations in Brisbane. Be wary of reading while hungry – this list will get the salivation glands working overtime. more

Food News
No more long lines – grab your favourite Ekka showbags from your local IGA
Food & Drink

No more long lines – grab your favourite Ekka showbags from your local IGA

15 Jul 2020

Listen up, confectionary lovers! Despite the cancellation of the this year's Ekka, we have been blessed with some very sweet news that is sure to cheer up kids and kids-at-heart. Bringing the fun fair to you, Bensons Showbags has teamed up with IGA, so we can now get our hot little hands on a huge range of iconic confectionary and novelty showbags without a trip to the showgrounds. Curly Wurlys, here we come! more

Food News
Sunny sips – the Stone & Wood team is shaking things up with sparkling new creation Sunly Seltzer
Food & Drink

Sunny sips – the Stone & Wood team is shaking things up with sparkling new creation Sunly Seltzer

13 Jul 2020

Although we are in the midst of winter's chilliest weeks, we can still daydream of summer days spent taking relaxing ocean dips, sun-baking on the sand and Sunday pub sessions. So we can start living our best summer lives right now, the beer-making brainiacs behind Stone & Wood have launched a refreshing sparkling sip that is sure to satisfy. The best part? This refreshing imbibe is gluten free, vegan and boasts less than three grams of sugar. Say hello to Sunly Seltzer – your new (and heathier) boozy buddy to take on all of your sun-filled adventures. more

Food News
Brisbane's restaurants and cafes reopening for dine-in service
Food & Drink

Brisbane’s restaurants and cafes reopening for dine-in service

13 Jul 2020

After months of lockdowns and takeaway-only feasts, it seems like going out for dinner is finally back on the menu. The first stage of easing the federal and state restrictions has commenced, meaning that restaurants and cafes can slowly start to welcome diners back in groups of ten from Saturday May 16. If you're not up to date on the government's three stage plan to reopen, you can catch up here, but essentially there will be a gradual removal of restrictions until venues are back to serving at full capacity. As great as this news is, it's important to remember that we're not out of the woods yet, so it's crucial that restaurants and diners adhere to safety measures otherwise we'll be back at square one in no time. If you're keen to dine out, make sure you book – nearly all restaurants and cafes will be implementing strict reservation-only policies, so be sure to check in with the… more

Food News
Bangin' news – Bunnings sausage sizzles will return later this month
Food & Drink

Bangin’ news – Bunnings sausage sizzles will return later this month

10 Jul 2020

The enticing smell of caramelised onions, the difficult decision of what sauce will top off your sausage sandwich (always a tomato-mustard combo) and the feel-good factor that your gold coins are going towards charity – oh, how we have missed Bunnings sausage sizzles. A community staple for 26 years, Bunnings' banger-filled barbecues were forced to stop cooking in March due to COVID-19. Following too many months of sizzle withdrawals, the home-improvement heroes are firing up the barbecues again and the much-anticipated return of this charity cook-up will be here sooner than you think ... more

Bars
Eleven Rooftop Bar transforms into open-air Mexican restaurant MAYA
Food & Drink

Eleven Rooftop Bar transforms into open-air Mexican restaurant MAYA

09 Jul 2020

The year so far has been unpredictable, to say the least. When it comes to weathering the storm from a hospitality standpoint, many operators believe the best response is to be unpredictable in turn. Local restaurateurs Jason and Katie Coates count themselves among this group. The duo has utilised the lockdown to initiate change on a significant scale, completely overhauling Eleven Rooftop Bar – one of The Valley's most beloved nightspots – and transforming it into MAYA Mexican. The venue will open officially on Saturday July 11, here's what you can expect ... more

Bars
Neighbourhood favourite Suburban Social expands with its brand-new Holland Park local
Food & Drink

Neighbourhood favourite Suburban Social expands with its brand-new Holland Park local

09 Jul 2020

When it comes to nailing a neighbourhood pub in 2020, one must pay attention to all of the details. It's not enough to have a cracking beer selection – a good bar should also boast a warm atmosphere, outgoing and attentive staff, and a food selection that sits a few notches above what could be considered standard. The crew behind Chapel Hill haunt Suburban Social have been delivering on all counts since opening the bar in 2016, but now the team is looking to elevate their game considerably with their second venue, which opened over the weekend in Holland Park. more

Bars
The round-up: Brisbane's best new restaurant and cafe openings of the year (so far)
Food & Drink

The round-up: Brisbane’s best new restaurant and cafe openings of the year (so far)

09 Jul 2020

Look, we get it. Since March there has been a lot happening at home and abroad that has understandably required our attention and shifted our priorities. It's been easy to miss things such as new foodie arrivals, especially when we've been forced to stay inside as much as possible. Seeing that restrictions have eased somewhat, now is a great time to acquaint yourself with these newcomers. We've compiled a handy list of some of the best new restaurant and cafe openings that have occurred over the past few months. more

Food News
Devour tantalising Thai, brunchtime bites and Asian-fusion delights courtesy of the Pawpaw crew
Food & Drink

Devour tantalising Thai, brunchtime bites and Asian-fusion delights courtesy of the Pawpaw crew

09 Jul 2020

When food cravings take over, there's nothing else you can think about. Whether you're thirsting for a morning brew, have a hankering for some pad Thai or you're yearning for freshly made spring rolls – the saying is true that the heart wants what the heart wants, and the stomach deserves what the stomach craves. Thankfully for us, The Venzin Group – the hospitality collective behind Pawpaw, PawPaw Asian Kitchen, Mons Thai and Monocle Coffee – have sprinkled their culinary goodness across town, so no matter what suburb you call home, there's tasty tucker just waiting to be devoured right around the corner. more

Food News
Get a box of cheesy goodness delivered to your door thanks to Mould Cheese Collective
Food & Drink

Get a box of cheesy goodness delivered to your door thanks to Mould Cheese Collective

09 Jul 2020

Okay, we'll come right out and say it – we love cheese. In fact, we spend a disproportionate amount of our days thinking about, talking about and eating cheese. Whether it's a bitey blue, a creamy camembert or a gooey goat's cheese – it's all gouda (sorry, couldn't resist). If you too possess a deep love for cheesy goodness, we're willing to go out on a limb and suggest you might also appreciate the Mould Cheese Collective – a monthly delivery of happiness to your door.  more

Food News
Sip responsibly and hangover-free with zero-alcohol gin from Banks & Burbidge
Food & Drink

Sip responsibly and hangover-free with zero-alcohol gin from Banks & Burbidge

09 Jul 2020

There are a plethora of reasons why you might be keen to give booze the boot – two-day hangovers, general health, financial gains and saving yourself from post-party remorse, just to name a few. Regardless of your 'why', up until fairly recently, non-alcoholic alternatives have, well, kind of sucked. Thankfully, as Bob Dylan once mused, the times they are a changin' and non-drinkers are no longer relegated to sipping sugary soft-drinks or bland beverages. The past few years have seen some excellent alcohol-free alternatives pop up on the market. One such option is Banks & Burbidge's alcohol-free gin, which looks and tastes like the real deal minus the drama. more

Best of Brisbane
It's Mirchi Healthy Indian – Brisbane's best Indian restaurants
Food & Drink

The round–up: spice things up with some of Brisbane’s best Indian restaurants

09 Jul 2020

Quintessential Indian cuisine is arguably one of the most satisfying foods one can possibly enjoy – endless variations, aromas and tastes, backed up by a great range of unique dishes. Brisbane is stacked when it comes to top-notch Indian eateries, offering tastes from the country’s various regions. If you like curry, naan or tandoori, we suggest you cast your eye over this spicy list of eateries. more

Food News
We've got the scoop – Ekka’s famous strawberry sundaes are hitting the streets
Food & Drink

We’ve got the scoop – Ekka’s famous strawberry sundaes are hitting the streets

06 Jul 2020

When we heard the disheartening news that Ekka was cancelled due to COVID-19, you could say we were more than just a little bit disappointed. Our dreams of fireworks shows, cutest cat competitions, Ferris wheel trips and licking those deliciously creamy strawberry sundaes were all put on hold. Thankfully, Ekka has revealed its plans to continue its celebrations online, as well as the exciting news that it's bringing its famous mouth-watering strawberry sundaes to the streets of Brisbane. more

Bakeries
Get your primo pastry fix at Sprout Artistan Bakery's James Street pop-up
Food & Drink

Get your primo pastry fix at Sprout Artistan Bakery’s James Street pop-up

02 Jul 2020

Those of you who picked up baking as a lockdown pastime can attest that making sourdough from scratch is something of an art form. Every time our attempts resulted in lumpy inedible bricks, our respect for bakers went up several notches. The team behind Sprout Artisan Bakery have not only nailed the art of bread making, but have the golden touch when it comes to just about any form of baked goods. Fans of Sprout's covetable croissants, divine danishes, tantalising tarts and spot-on sourdough loaves will be stoked to hear that the crew has just opened a new pop-up retail location on James Street – handy for carb-loving folks who feel baking is best left to the professionals. more

Pavement Whispers
Pavement Whispers: Alanna Sapwell to transform Wasabi into pop-up restaurant Esmay
Food & Drink

Pavement Whispers: Alanna Sapwell to transform Wasabi into pop-up restaurant Esmay

02 Jul 2020

When ARC Dining announced its closure at the start of the year we were crestfallen. While Brisbane locals might not have ARC's superstar chef Alanna Sapwell's cooking out our fingertips, the culinary wiz isn't staying idle. On Wednesday July 15 Alanna will be taking over the kitchen at acclaimed Noosa Heads icon Wasabi Restaurant & Bar for a three-month period to run a pop-up restaurant called Esmay. Here's what we know ... more

Cafes
Fresh catch – Potato Boy and Northside Coffee Brewers arrive on King Street
Food & Drink

Fresh catch – Potato Boy and Northside Coffee Brewers arrive on King Street

02 Jul 2020

If we were to definitively rank our favourite comfort foods, fish and chips would have to slot in somewhere at the top of our lists. The combination of crunchy golden chips and crispy fish is an all-time winning tandem, and when you throw snacks such as potato scallops and calamari into the mix it's hard to refute its status at the top. Those of you that vibe with our fish-and-chip assessment will be stoked to hear that a new source of the battered bounty arrived in Bowen Hills yesterday along with a top-notch coffee spot right next door. Potato Boy and Northside Coffee Brewers is a handy one-two punch for lunch seekers and caffeine sippers – cast a line and see what's good ... more

Restaurants
Jumbo | Brisbane's best Thai | The Weekend Edition
Food & Drink

The round-up: tantalise your tastebuds at Brisbane’s best Thai restaurants

02 Jul 2020

Any cuisine that can plate up fiery curries, saucy noodle dishes and zesty salads has our immediate vote, so you can only imagine how much we love Thai cuisine. Give it to us takeaway, or sit us down for a dine-in experience – either way we’re always ready to take on some Thai. Brisbane is flush with incredible Thai eateries, from flash restaurants to hole-in-the-wall neighbourhood joints. Everyone has their preferred spot, but we’ve endeavoured to collate as many as we can into a list of what we hear is the best. If you’re reading this on an empty stomach, be prepared to pick up an unshakable craving for Thai right about now … more

Food News
The Stores Grocer unveils Queensland's first refillable wine dispensary
Food & Drink

The Stores Grocer unveils Queensland’s first refillable wine dispensary

02 Jul 2020

The Stores Grocer in West End was already the stuff of turophile's sweet, delicious dreams thanks to a dedicated cheese room crammed with over 150 different blocks, chocks and wheels sitting pretty alongside delightfully fresh seafood, artisanal cured meat and no less than 20 different varieties of olives. What more could you ask for? Well, foodie friends, the fine folk at The Stores Grocer have upped the ante on sustainability and convenience, unveiling a refillable wine bottle station so now it truly is a one-stop shop. Go ahead, take all of our monies. more

Food News
In good spirits – Hennessy treats hard-working hospo heroes to dinner and drinks
Food & Drink

In good spirits – Hennessy treats hard-working hospo heroes to dinner and drinks

29 Jun 2020

A regular fixture on bar shelves around the world, luxe liquor Hennessy has long been a favourite tipple among seasoned swiggers. In 1992, hip-hop icon Tupac even dedicated a whole song to his love of the brown bottle. To help reciprocate the love, Hennessy is extending a helping hand to the bartenders, waiters and restaurateurs that faithfully serve its spirit. The cognac giant has revealed its hospitality recovery initiative, which is set to provide struggling hospo workers with a free dinner and drinks on them. Now, that's sure to go down a treat. more