Something new at The Zoo
Iconic Fortitude Valley live-music venue The Zoo has been a stalwart of good times and loud tunes for decades, enduring as a hub for punters to catch local and international acts on a weekly basis. The team behind the long-running venue is looking to make some exciting moves this year, recently lodging development applications that could result in two new concepts being added in Winn Lane. If approved, the old headquarters of QMusic and APRA AMCOS will transform into a cocktail-oriented bar, while the shopfront formerly home to Tym Guitars will be reconfigured into a bottle shop. The Zoo team is keeping extra details a secret while they await approvals, but we have been told to keep an eye on the venue’s social media channels in the coming days for an exciting food-related announcement pertaining to The Zoo itself – we’ll have more for you on that soon!

Oyster Frenzy at One Fish Two Fish
Be honest, how many oysters could you put away in one sitting? A half-dozen? A full dozen? Two dozen? If your love for oysters knows no bounds, then you’ll flip when you hear that One Fish Two Fish’s Oyster Frenzy celebration is back for 2022. The Kangaroo Point seafood restaurant will be dishing up a six-course feast centred around oysters from January 14–16. The menu will feature oysters topped with the likes of  champagne jelly and caviar, pepperberry and chardonnay mignonette, and cucumber and lychee, while cocktail-inspired oyster shooters (think Bloody Mary, gin and tonic, and dirty martini variations) will also be available for $12 each. Two sittings will be available each day of Oyster Frenzy’s duration – click here to make a booking.

City Winery’s three-course wine dinner
It goes without saying that times are a little weird right now. With the new COVID strain running rampant across town, many folks are (understandably) choosing or needing to stay indoors. As such, Brisbane’s hospitality sector is taking a bit of a beating, forcing venues to once again morph their offerings to match the circumstances. In shades of March and April 2020, takeaway and delivery pivots are becoming commonplace across the dining scene. City Winery – an entity that’s never been afraid to switch gears when needed – is looking to cater to folks in isolation or avoiding going out with its new three-course at-home wine dinner packs. These dinners, which cater to two people, boasts a three-course meal (simply reheat and eat) and two bottles of Gerler Wine to enjoy in the comfort of your own home. The menu for this week includes a grazing board (complete with house-made terrine, smoked trout rilette, pastrami and roast-cauliflower pate), smoked free-range pork collar and sides, and a selection of Australian cheeses, burnt apple puree, pickled raisin, almond and lavosh, to finish. As for the wine, all orders will come with a bottle of 2019 ‘Rej’ and 2021 pinot gris – some sublime sips to see you through iso. To place an order, simply head to the City Winery website.

Dandelion & Driftwood’s high tea at home
The recent swing back to at-home dining experiences is going beyond intimate wine dinners. Beloved Hendra brunch spot Dandelion & Driftwood is soothing our surge-induced woes with a delivery and takeaway service specialising in deluxe high teas and lavish lunches. Although the eatery is remaining open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, the team is still keen to cater to those that are a little crowd averse. Want to get fancy at home? You can order one of Dandelion & Driftwood’s high-tea boxes, which come filled with ribbon sandwiches, assorted mini savouries, lemon curd and caramel tarts, specialty cupcakes, and fluffy scones served with gourmet raspberry jam and double cream. The boxes also come with your choice of barista-brewed tea or coffee, and can be further boosted with an add-on bottle of prosecco, Cremant rosé or Collet Art Deco champagne. Dandelion & Driftwood’s full breakfast, lunch, cocktail and coffee/tea menu is also available for those living within a 5-kilometre delivery radius. Delivery is free if you spend more than $40. Click here to find out more about Dandelion & Driftwood’s high teas, or give the cafe a call on 07 3667 8388.

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