With a focus on succulent steaks paired with crisp local wines, Cut Steakhouse & Tapas is the latest establishment from the Gambaro family. From the family’s first fish and chip shop on Petrie Terrace in 1953, the Gambaro foodie empire has surpassed the seafood lifeblood, homing in on the cattle end of surf and turf at the newly opened Caxton Street steakhouse. more
Coffee purists tend to take their coffee black, across a variety of different intricate brewing methods. While to the average cappuccino drinker, a cafe that serves only milk-less coffee may seem bizarre, it’s a model that’s finding a place in the Australian cafe scene. more
Valencia Street was relatively quiet when Jeremy Tooker moved Four Barrel Coffee into the Mission District of San Francisco in 2008. The local independent coffee roastery is serious about its coffee, with the showpiece cafe seeing a Chemex brewing bar at one side, espresso machines in the centre and roasting equipment at the back. The roastery cafe draws a crowd with local punters happy to queue up for a perfect cup, serviced by two espresso machines constantly on the go, the baristas facing inwards. The eye-catching space melds raw woods and metals with plenty of natural light throughout the airy, cavernous cafe. Jeremy has also just opened The Mill – a collaboration with local Josey Baker Bread – pairing the simplicity of Four Barrel Coffee with a delectable bread station. Check out Four Barrel Coffee on The Street Photographer. more
Just like scarves and mittens, soups and winter go hand in hand. The hearty concoction of vegetables and spices (or meat for carnivores) is a delicious way to warm up on a cool eve. Our soup base utilises carrots and sweet potatoes to comfort grumbling stomachs, but can easily incorporate the flavours of other vegetables including potatoes and cauliflower. To finish, sprinkle with a dash of cumin to make the healthy dish really pop. more
Beloved by society, chocolate should perhaps have its own food group. With so many different varieties of chocolate out there, it can be overwhelming to decipher what means what, especially with the emergence of raw chocolate delights. more
Italian eatery Popolo has extended its trading hours to weekend mornings with the launch of its brunch menu. Taking advantage of its setting by the Brisbane River, and the soft light that floods into the restaurant of a morning, Popolo has decided to begin breakfast trade from 8:00 am on Saturdays and Sundays. The restaurant has been quietly trialling its menu for the past few weeks, and the green eggs and ham – a serve of ham and poached eggs on ciabatta topped with a dollop of pesto – has proven to be a popular choice. There’s also a selection of breakfast cocktails such as bloody marys and Italian mimosas to kickstart the weekend. more
If you are a self-confessed cinephile, but aren’t familiar with the ‘noodle western’ film genre, begin your education with a viewing of the 1985 film, Tampopo. The genre, created specifically for Japanese comedy, marked a play on the idea of ‘spaghetti western’ films. The film follows a widow who runs a withering noodle restaurant. Little does she know that the secret to her success will be learning to cook the perfect bowl of noodles, until a truck driver named Goro enters her restaurant and delivers the harsh news that her noodles are unpalatable. As the pair embarks on a quest to cook the perfect bowl of noodles, several characters and plots are woven into the story, with many of the tales being told through the characters’ relationships with food. Image via Nikon Cine Art. more
Popular Fortitude Valley haunt Alfred & Constance has a new neighbour also open late into the evening – Alfredo’s Pizzeria. The Italian eatery and bar joins Limes Hotel and Alfred & Constance, forming the latest piece of Damian Griffiths’ plan to renew a forgotten pocket of Fortitude Valley. more
New palaeolithic (paleo) cafe Primal Pantry opens in Teneriffe today, providing Brisbane dwellers with a taste of the diet that is becoming increasingly popular. more
Opening in the space formerly occupied by Milk Espresso Bar and Tea House, Boutique Espresso is a new cafe by local coffee purveyor Di Bella Coffee. more
Australia’s homeless population exists quietly, but organisations such as StreetSmart help to ensure the issue of homelessness remains on the public agenda. This Friday, June 7, marks the return of CafeSmart, with $1 from every coffee purchased at participating cafes being donated to StreetSmart. more
Spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and tossed with yoghurt and berries, this breakfast is a sweeter take on the traditional pilaf. We have opted to use quinoa as the base for this morning meal, but couscous, brown rice, barley or a mixture of your favourite grains will also work nicely. The base can be prepared in advance, and then you’ll just need to add yoghurt, fruit and almonds before serving your breakfast pilaf. more
A mix of nuts and spices, dukkah has immigrated from Middle Eastern cuisine to become a darling addition to the dip trays and cheese boards of Australians. more
Unless you know the way to Le Comptoir Général, hidden away off the banks of the canal in Paris’ 10th arrondissement, there’s a good chance you could spend your entire life oblivious to its existence. But then that would be a shame, as this rustic tipple joint and self-proclaimed ‘temple of ghetto culture’ is an adventure in itself. A ghetto museum by day, home to curiously named sections such as La Petite Boutique des Horreurs (The Little Shop of Horrors), Le Cabinet de Sorcellerie (The Witchcraft Cabinet) and Le Centre des Objets Perdu (The Centre for Lost Property), the locale begins to swell with stylish revellers sipping on jungle punch and African beers as the sun begins to fade, when it takes on its other identity as a bar. The concept behind Le Comptoir Général is a tribute to the creativity that springs up in poor or marginalised places all over the… more
The riverside setting of River Quay transforms into a cosy haven when you are tucked under a warm heater with a delicious meal in front of you. To entice Brisbanites to emerge from their winter slumber, River Quay’s restaurants have teamed up to create a menu of weekday lunchtime specials for winter. All five restaurants – Popolo, Stokehouse Q, Aquitaine Brasserie, Cove Bar and Dining, and The Jetty – have their own deals running, with lunchtime packages starting from $25. more
Culture is an incredibly fascinating and somewhat nebulous term that differs between time and place. Set in the culturally ubiquitous setting of a cafe, Café Regular, Cairo is a short film that eavesdrops on a couple discussing a very taboo topic in a very public setting. As the couple begins to chat about their private life over a coffee, the film not only examines Egyptian culture, but also the strength of a relationship. The endearing film has screened at more than 40 film festivals across the globe, and was followed by director Ritesh Batra’s latest output, The Lunchbox, which won the Viewer’s Choice Award at the recent Cannes Film Festival. Image via Labkultr. more
The research required for some ventures is often enviable, which is the case for new Woolloongabba cafe, Moose & Gibson. While refining the concept for their new cafe, Danielle and Malcom Watts of Tarragindi’s Leaf Espresso Bar, along with business partner Scott Higginbotham, tripped south to Melbourne to spend their mornings in the city’s many clandestine cafes. more
The culinary offerings in Rosalie Village now include those of Japanese origin with the opening of new restaurant and sushi train, Moga Izakaya & Sushi. more
The stream of hungry city dwellers flowing through the doors of CBD eatery Public now begins at 7:00 am, with the restaurant opening for breakfast on weekdays. more
Food lovers Joe Lafauce and Viv Datta met while Viv was working at his former post as a barista, and the two instantly connected on all things food and coffee. Upon discovering an empty shipping container in front of Grand Ideas near Northgate train station, the pieces for their new locale, The Grande Caffé, swiftly fell into place. more
