Pavement Whispers: Volume 322 August 24
From news of a brand-new inner-city cocktail bar from the Death and Taxes team to a first-of-its-kind wine emporium from one of Brisbane’s best sommeliers, 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 …
Dr. Gimlette
Attention all cocktail-loving city slickers – get ready to jump for joy because this bit of news is sure to make your day. The crew behind esteemed Burnett Lane drinkery Death and Taxes will soon open Dr. Gimlette, a new cocktail bar currently taking shape inside one of The City’s oldest buildings. Martin and Wiebke Lange and Belinda and Blake Ward have secured a ground-floor tenancy at the base of the old Metro Arts building at 109 Edward Street for their new concept, which draws inspiration from some of the world’s best cocktail bars including the Savoy in London, the Dead Rabbit in New York and Melbourne’s Black Pearl. Dr. Gimlette is named in honour of surgeon Rear-Admiral Sir Thomas Gimlette, who is said to have been the first to add lime cordial to the gin rations of the Royal Navy sailors to fight off scurvy on long voyages (the gimlet cocktail, famously comprised of gin and lime juice, is also inspired by this genius move). The Dr. Gimlette team will once again put its talents towards reinvigorating a heritage space, restoring the high-ceilinged abode back to its original state before installing a 9-m long marble bar and a bunch of cushy Italian-leather booths. Much like its sister venue, Dr. Gimlette will specialise in cocktails, with a list of 30 signature sips made sustainably and ethically using fresh ingredients from local suppliers, while drinkers can also swing through for a boutique wine, beer or a rotating tap spritz. Although there will be a distinct lean towards gin, Dr. Gimlette’s back bar will be stocked with roughly 800 bottles of booze, featuring a jaw-dropping range of spirits, aperitifs and liqueurs. The venue, which will be able to comfortably seat 100 guests once restrictions lift, will offer table service, with two roaming martini carts whipping up every variation imaginable – shaken, stirred, thrown or nitro frozen, and served with a variety of garnishes and gins – right there at your seat. Dr. Gimlette is looking to softly open on Tuesday September 7. Rest assured we will be there (negroni in hand, of course) to give you the scoop.
ESSA
After many months of waiting, we’re finally oh-so-close to the opening date of ESSA – one of the year’s most anticipated dining arrivals. The restaurant will be officially opening its doors to the public this Friday August 27, unveiling its alluring architecturally designed split-level interior, which will blend contemporary industrial materiality (think brass mesh windows, green Verde Alpi stone, exposed brickwork and steel alcoves softened by leather-lined banquettes and a greenery backdrop) with a relaxed and intimate atmosphere. Head chef and co-owner Phil Marchant is flexing his culinary muscle with a menu that embraces ingredients sourced from local farmers, hunters and providores, with raw, pickled, smoked and woodfired dishes a specialty. We’ve been told to expect the likes of wild venison tartare with bergamot, toasted buckwheat and hibiscus, woodfired spatchcock quail with brown butter, caper leaves and salt bush, and organic pork chop served on the bone. As for ESSA’s beverage offering, guests will be able to browse a dynamic wine list and a refined array of progressive and technically impressive cocktails. Bookings are now open! You can snag a spot via the ESSA website. We’ll be taking a look inside shortly – check back soon for our in-depth report!
Wineism
After years curating award-winning wine lists at Aria Brisbane, followed by a role as head honcho of wine for Howard Smith Wharves, celebrated sommelier Ian Trinkle is finally gracing us with a venture of his own. Together with his wife Liz, Ian is currently working on a first-of-its-kind wine experience in the heart of Albion, Wineism. Situated in Albion Fine Trades, Wineism will be a glorified bottle shop – providing what Ian describes will be an “elevated shopping experience” – showcasing a hand-picked selection of local and international winemakers that Ian has grown to know and discover over his years as a sommelier. The retail offering is looking to feature more than 500 labels at time of opening (which will continue to grow), with Ian procuring everything from small artisanal producers through to big international names – Wineism will even be making its own blends with some Queensland winemakers. The store will double as the headquarters of Wineism’s wine ecommerce site, the stock of which will be housed in a custom-built temperature-and-humidity-controlled on-site wine warehouse. In addition to the retail store, Wineism will feature a small in-house bar, where you can sip your wine purchase (or a small rotating selection of wines by the glass), while snacking on bites such as cheese and charcuterie from Saison Salumi. As if this wasn’t enough, Wineism will also host a number of winemaker events and house a classroom to run internationally recognised courses from The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), which specialises in training budding sommeliers in wine, spirit and sake education. Wineism is due to open in November – we’ll have full details for you then!
Ivy Blu Rooftop
Good news for lovers of open-air revelry – the forthcoming onset of warmer temperatures is bringing with it a brand-new rooftop locale in the form of Ivy Blu Rooftop. The exciting opening, which is being brought to life by the team at Luna Group Hospitality (Kenjin, Kenjin After Dark and Su Casa Nightclub), will occupy an indoor-meets-outdoor space in the heart of one of Brisbane’s most iconic nightlife strips, boasting an old-school aesthetic comprised of a pastel colour scheme, industrial statement pieces and plenty of hanging lights. This mysterious hidden gem, which is keeping its exact location under wraps for now, will offer a timeless and classic food and drink menu with some Mediterranean influences – think woodfired pizzas, yiros and an extensive list of alluring cocktails. Ivy Blu Rooftop is on track for a late-September or early-October opening. Stay tuned for more details on this one once the launch date is confirmed!
The Smug Fig
Greenery-laden East Brisbane brunch fixture The Smug Fig is on the move. After six years slinging coffee and chow from its Stanley Street nursery-meets-cafe locale, the cherished noshery is pulling up stumps and relocating to Stones Corner. The Smug Fig 2.0 will be situated on the corner of Jeavons Lane and Cleveland Street, just a hop and a skip from the buzzing Logan Road strip and new-and-improved Hanley Park. The space, located at the base of a newly built eight-storey residence, will be a roomy multifaceted venue boasting banquette seating, perches at the site’s bifold windows, high bars and tables for larger groups, plus a takeaway coffee window and a 12-m feature mural. With a change in location comes a shake-up in direction for The Smug Fig crew, which will be keeping its lauded all-day brunch menu but will also be opening as a bar on Friday and Saturday evenings. Night owls will be able to enjoy share plates and larger mains, local craft beer on tap and a tight wine and spirit selection, with the aim to open four nights a week once the venue has found its rhythm. The Smug Fig is targeting a late-September opening – we’ll have an up-close look at the new digs once it opens.
If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].
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