JUK x Elementi
While we love the comfort of our favourite dishes at longstanding eateries, sometimes it’s the experimental flavours of a pop-up that leave the most lasting memories. If you’re keen to start the new year with new bites, we suggest you book yourself a seat at the latest instalment of JUK, a pop-up restaurant helmed by Oliver Tao Wei Chia. From Thursday January 11 to Sunday January 14, Oliver – who usually works at Joy Restaurant – is teaming up with the Elementi team to create a unique dining experience. Over two sittings each evening, Oliver will guide diners through a seven-course Chinese Malay set menu, taking palates on a journey through his heritage and the diversity of Chinese Malay cuisine. Elementi’s own Stefano Spataro will be assisting Oliver each night, and the Elementi team has carefully selected an array of beverages to enhance the dining experience. Diners can opt for the set menu on its own, or upgrade to the pairing, which includes an aperitivo on arrival, three half glasses of wine (two of which are premium), one full glass to match the main course, one ‘three-sip’ cocktail and a dessert wine to finish off the evening. Bookings for JUK x Elementi are essential – for more information head to our Event Guide.

Chalong
Chapel Hill is soon to welcome a new neighbourhood eatery, specialising in Thai and Southeast Asian cuisine. Chalong is the brainchild of Thai natives Nail Saengin and Garfield Pachnoi who, after spending years in the local hospitality scene, are embarking on their first joint venture. Garfield will be taking the reins in the kitchen (following stints at the likes of Ping Pong and Short Grain), creating a vibrant menu of modern Thai and Southeast Asian delights. Southern Thai dishes will be a speciality, such as gai gor lae (red-curry-basted barbecue chicken skewers), southern Thai yellow curry fish, and Chalong’s unique herbed fritters, which will see betel-leaf fritters topped with fried chilli and crispy herbs. Garfield and her team will be crafting almost everything in house, including all of the flavour-packed curry pastes. With a name that translates to ‘celebrate’ in Thai, the vibes are set to be high at Chalong. Keep an eye on The Weekend Edition for a closer look soon.

Sons of Napoli
If you found yourself in Queen Street Mall over the last few weeks of 2023, it’s safe to say you noticed some changes. The newly decluttered mall is undergoing an exciting transformation as part of Brisbane City Council’s ‘City to South Bank Vision’, creating vibrant new spaces that Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says has opened up opportunities for local businesses. “Our plans to revitalise Queen Street Mall will pave the way for new activations to pop up around peak seasonal dates or when major events come to town, delivering further economic benefits for Brisbane,” says the Lord Mayor. The first pop-up experience is Sons of Napoli, a vintage farm truck serving delectable Italian fare. Located at the Edward Street entrance of Queen Street Mall (opposite QueensPlaza and Wintergarden), the pop-up is serving woodfired pizzas until early February, which hungry city dwellers can take away or enjoy in the 60-pax open-air seating area. Afterwards you can work your way up to the George Street end of the mall, where you can reward yourself at the Gelato à Go Go or Fonzie Abbott coffee pop-ups. We’ll keep you posted with more activations as they … well … pop up!

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

Image one: Millie Tang