Wandering Cooks
West End food incubator Wandering Cooks has not only been the launching point for many grassroots food businesses, but it’s also become a beloved go-to for locals to devour fare made using ingredients sourced from small farmers and producers. After eight years of trade, the long-running destination will be moving on from its warehouse location on the corner of Fish Lane and Cordelia Street, transferring its operations to a new site at 63 Vulture Street before mid-year. The crew won’t be moving every aspect around the corner all at once – Wandering Cooks will be undertaking the transition gradually, beginning with its weekly farm-gate market. As of Saturday February 27, the markets will take place at the new Vulture Street locale, stocked as it always is with a plethora of farm-fresh fruit and vegetables. Stay tuned for more details on the incubator’s big move!

Cheeky Poké Bar
Back in February 2020, we revealed details of some big expansion plans from the Cheeky Poké Bar crew. October marked the completion of stage one of the expansion when Cheeky Poké opened a brand-new location at Westfield Garden City, and now the group’s next step is set to be unveiled. The Cheeky crew will celebrate the official opening of its Ulster Lane location this Thursday February 18, bringing the brand’s total tally of sites to five (its express site in West End is currently being renovated and will reopen in May). To mark the occasion, next week Cheeky Poké will be hosting some opening celebrations in the form of a pop-up in Queen Street Mall on Thursday 25 and Friday 26. The team will be setting up a Cheeky Wheel of Fortune in the mall, giving inner-city workers and residents the chance to spin to win an assortment of prizes. The wheel will offer spinners a shot at nabbing $10 poke bowls, $5 tacos and free starters, all of which will be redeemable at Cheeky Poké Ulster Lane. What’s more, roaming Cheeky team members will be handing out discounts and special offers nearby – so keep an eye out for them and keep an eye on The Weekend Edition this Thursday for an up-close look at Cheeky Poké’s Ulster Lane locale!

TheFork Festival
Online restaurant reservation site TheFork is giving its user base access to some incredible dining deals, with TheFork Festival offering discounted food bills at a selection of participating restaurants until Sunday March 28. For the next six weeks, you can get half-off your meal at local outlets including Albion’s Nutmeg Indian Cuisine, inner-city laneway bar and eatery Miss Demeanour, comfort food go-to Big Roddy’s Rippin’ Rib Shack’s Fortitude Valley and South Brisbane destinations, laid-back Asian-fusion spot Baos Pop Bistro in South Brisbane, and more. TheFork Festival’s discount’s go as high as 50-percent off, so if you’ve got baller taste but are on a tight budget, these bargains are too good to pass up.

Naga Thai’s Regional Nights series
Since opening in Eagle Street Pier in October, Thai party palace Naga has quickly earned a following thanks to its bright and fresh Thai eats. Chef Suwisa Phoonsang and her kitchen team will be taking a closer look at some of Thailand’s regional flavours with Naga’s Regional Nights dinner series. The restaurant will be hosting its first Regional Nights dinner next Monday February 22, with a menu centred around the tastes of southern Thailand. This six-course feast will include dishes such as braised baby squid with sticky rice, chargrilled Mount Tamborine chicken skewers with red-chilli paste, free-range Borrowdale pork belly, oven-baked Skull Island tiger prawns and fried tempura jackfruit coated in cinnamon-spiced sugar. We hear that chef Suwisa will be leaning into the cuisine’s spice-intensive character, so be prepared to experience a bit of a kick with these dishes. Bookings are available between 5:30–8:30 pm – you can check out all the details on the Naga website.

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