Regional Flavours
Attention all gourmands, bon vivants, connoisseurs and foodies – a fresh spin on South Bank’s signature food and drink festival, Regional Flavours, is coming to the parklands from May 13–15. This epicurean extravaganza will see some of Australia’s renowned chefs, local producers, winemakers, brewers and distillers descending on Brisbane for a sumptuous showcase, with 2022’s iteration using the concept of an ultimate grazing table as its theme. While details of the full Regional Flavours program are being kept under wraps for a little while longer, we can confirm that several mainstay events will be returning for this year’s festival. Little Stanley Street will once again be transformed into The Marketplace, a hub filled with an assortment of stalls selling local produce, artisanal pantry stuffers, cheeses, craft spirits, chocolates and morsels from regional restaurants. The festival’s main stage will be the spot to catch educational masterclasses hosted by nationally renowned chefs, while the Greenhouse Stage will see local culinary talent and producers celebrate regionality, seasonality and sustainability with an assortment of cooking demonstrations, Meet The Maker sessions and more. When it comes to entertainment, you’ll be in for a treat – this year Regional Flavours will spotlight sweet sounds across three live-music stages. The Live at South Bank stage will host a line-up of local and emerging talent, River Quay’s River Lounge will pair cocktails with tunes from a loaded roster of DJs, while the Live Beats Stage will be keeping vibes relaxed with sets from blues-inspired and indie-folk artists. That’s not all – the rest of the Regional Flavours program will feature other activities including paint-and-sip classes, food and drink pairing sessions, and kid-friendly craft zones. Follow Regional Flavours on Instagram to be the first to see the full program when it launches on Monday April 11!

D&W Republic
The food and drink scene in bayside suburbs Wynnum and Manly looks to be entering a golden age. Forthcoming bar and party spot D&W Republic will open later this year on Edith Street in Wynnum, bolstering the neighbourhood bar and restaurant scene (which already includes the likes of Manly Boathouse, The Arsonist, Hudson Brewing, Cedar & Pine, Mr Hibachi and The Fat Duck) and giving locals a close-to-home alternative to the nightlife of the inner city. D&W’s owner Grant Long is hoping to establish a venue that will offer something for all comers, be it a satisfying feed, a top-notch tipple or a place to cut loose until the wee hours. Best described as a lounge bar, D&W will fill 200 sqm of usable space with mixed seating (think cushy couches and high-top tables), a bar and a dance floor, with a chic modern-industrial aesthetic giving the space a contemporary feel. D&W Republic’s beverage offering will skew a little bit outside of the mainstream, with boutique beers and spirits expected to be on offer alongside a cocktail list comprised of house classics and specialties. While the venue won’t boast a kitchen of its own, Grant is enlisting the help of a nearby dark kitchen to assemble and deliver a range of eats ordered via QR code menus – we’re talking hearty burgers and smashable serves of chicken wings. D&W Republic is targeting a late-June or early-July opening. We’ll have more details on this as they emerge.

Evita does weekend lunch
Fortitude Valley’s smokin’-hot Argentinian eatery Evita hit the ground running when it opened in late-November last year, but now the restaurant is really hitting its stride. Last month Evita launched two weekend lunch offerings – one bottomless lunch on Saturdays and an asado family feast on Sundays. Evita’s Saturday lunch sees the kitchen churning out a salivation-worthy selection of asado dishes, which are paired with unlimited house wine, sangria, and beer, for $90 per person. Every Saturday until the end of May, guests will be able to enjoy three hours of delights, with a rolling bi-weekly menu featuring the likes of empanadas, beef tartare, plantain chips with salsa criolla, pulled meat and parmesan cheese, grilled beef ribs with chimichurri, parmesan-crumbed chicken breast, and traditional Argentinian rice pudding. On Sunday, groups will be able to partake in a four-hour set-menu feast that can be paired with unlimited Spanish cava, house wine and beer. This gargantuan repast ($49 per person or $108 with the beverage package) will include drool-worthy options including jamon serrano, black pudding with salsa criolla, Argentinian chorizo, lemon and herbed chicken skewers, traditional pulled pork, fried chat potatoes and much more.

Stone & Wood
Here’s some good news for the frothie-craving crowd, Stone & Wood’s Fortitude Valley brewery is now open seven days a week! Yep, the beloved beer spot is now an all-week option for post-work sips and weekend revelry. In addition to the expansion of trading hours, Stone & Wood Brisbane has also announced a raft of weekly happenings, including hospo nights on Mondays, taco Tuesdays, trivia nights on Wednesdays and the weekly release (and tastings) of new pilot batch beers on Thursdays. Also, live music will be also be happening every night so, no matter when in the week you arrive, the vibes will be on point.

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