Lucio’s Marina
Some good news has filtered down to us from the Sunshine Coast this morning, with the overnight announcement that seafood trattoria and bar Lucio’s Marina will be opening at Noosa Marina in Tewantin this November. The concept comes from Matteo Galletto, his wife Dieuwke Albertsma and his sister Michela Galletto – members of the family behind storied Italian fine diner Lucio’s, which operated in Paddington in Sydney for 40 years before closing in January. Seeking a suitable location to continue the family’s hospitality legacy in a new and interesting way, Matteo and Dieuwke have looked to Southeast Queensland’s bountiful Sunshine Coast region, securing a waterfront site overlooking the Noosa River for the concept. The venue, which boasts high bifold doors that open onto a deck running the length of the restaurant, will feature a 70-seat trattoria and a 50-seat all-day aperitivo bar, with a Riviera-inspired makeover courtesy of Noosa-based Zest Design. At Lucio’s Marina, produce will be the star – think freshly caught local seafood and produce sourced from farms nestled within the Noosa hinterland and surrounding regions. Guests will be able to nibble on sharable stuzzichini (snacks) and antipasti, as well as handmade pastas (including Lucio’s lauded tagliolini alla granseola), fresh seafood (think Mooloolaba prawns, Hervey Bay scallops and Moreton Bay bugs), seafood salumi (made by Dieuwke), a selection of dry-aged whole fish (filleted and served tableside), steaks, and morsels from an on-site oyster and raw seafood bar. Lucio himself will also have some input into the menu, providing concepts for some of the restaurant’s bar snacks and panini. Stay tuned for more info on this one as November approaches.

Hey Chica!
Earlier this year we shared the news that Hey Chica! was bringing the lively energy and excitement of Havana, Cuba to Fortitude Valley – today we are psyched to reveal even more. The Latin American-style social club, owned and operated by Hallmark Group (Lefty’s Music Hall, Retro’s Cocktail Lounge, Finn McCool’s) will be officially opening to the public on Friday September 17, injecting neighbourhood-street-party vibes straight into the heart of Brunswick Street Mall. The interior will blend the old-world charm of a quintessential Havana bar with a kaleidoscope of colour courtesy of some vivid decor and ambient lighting, with DJs (accompanied by live trumpets, bongos and percussion) creating a scintillating atmosphere from open to close. Cocktails will be a big focus at Hey Chica!, with beverage list stand-outs including the Zacapa rum old fashioned, the Smokey Cuban (featuring Joven Mezcal and cinnamon), the Havana Colada, watermelon-and-basil sours, frosè, and, of course, mojitos – the iconic Cuba-born sip. Hey Chica!’s food menu will showcase an array of similarly bold Latin American-inspired flavours across a range of simple tapas (pork belly bites with sofrito mayo, spicy beef empanadas, chilli prawn lime skewers and croqueta de jamon) and heartier eats (charcoal-cooked striploin, nachos, Cuban sandwiches and Cuban bowls loaded with black beans, charred corn, plantain chips and salsa). If you’re eager to mark Friday September 17 in your calendars, be sure to also check in next week when we take an up-close look at Hey Chica!’s interior and offering.

Ichiban Sushi
If you go crazy for katsu, nuts for nigri or gaga for gyoza, then you’ll be amped by the news that Ichiban Sushi is officially unveiling its new West Village location tomorrow. Opening to the public on Wednesday September 1, Ichiban Sushi will be celebrating its first week of trade with seven days of $3-plate specials. Once the venue’s built-in sushi train starts moving, it will be ferrying all kinds of Japanese bites (think seared salmon aburi, chicken teriyaki rolls, tempura prawn tamaki rolls and lobster salad ships), while the a la carte menu features Ichiban’s signature sushi rolls, side dishes (deep-fried gyoza, chicken karaage, okonomiyaki and agedashi tofu), curries, donburi bowls, bento boxes, salads and set meals. A new and extended liquor licence means Ichiban Sushi West Village will also serve Japanese and local brews. Stuck for lunch plans this week? Not anymore! Bookmark Ichiban Sushi’s Stumble Guide entry for the important details.

Brisbane Night Noodle Markets
It seems like 2021, much like its predecessor, isn’t a great year for large-scale food events. After some initial delays pushed the Brisbane Night Noodle Markets to late September and early October, the ongoing border closures preventing many stallholders from entering Queensland have forced the organisational team to make the tough call to postpone the event until 2022. In an Instagram post uploaded to the Good Food Month profile, the team emphasised that the health and safety of the community and event stakeholders is the highest priority. Those that have registered for the event are encouraged to hold onto them, as the Brisbane Night Noodle Market team will get in touch when new dates are solidified.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].