KatsuCo Coorparoo
Brisbane’s finest purveyor of premium katsu-based dishes is expanding. KatsuCo – the brainchild of talented chef Louis Seo – has gained a stranglehold on the city’s tastebuds since first bursting onto the scene a few short years ago, going on to open numerous locations opening across Brisbane and the Gold Coast in a brief timespan. Louis will unveil his latest addition – a new 60-seat KatsuCo location at Coorparoo Marketplace, just near Woolworths – on Monday July 1. Like its sibling locations, KatsuCo Coorparoo will specialise in contemporary Japanese-style fare elevated with French cooking techniques and top-tier ingredients, with a keen focus on crispy katsu dishes. Leading the offering will be a selection of katsu sets, which sees the likes of pork tomahawk katsu, mozzarella-filled pork katsu, chicken, prawn and tofu katsu served alongside rice, cabbage salad, katsu sauce and miso soup. Other highlights of the menu include salmon donbui, katsu curry donburi, soba noodle dishes and udon dishes. Keep your eyes peeled for an up-close look at KatsuCo Coorparoo early next month.

Single O
Last September, Brisbane’s specialty coffee scene warmly welcomed Single O to its midst. The acclaimed roaster’s 16-seat coffee bar and distribution and training facility – tucked away on Austin Street in Newstead – quickly became a go-to spot for those seeking phenomenal flat whites, primo pour-overs and self-serve oat iced lattes. Seeing a spike in interest from locals, the Single O crew has decided to expand its Newstead outpost, transforming a portion of its warehouse home to add more dine-in seating, while also bolstering its food menu. Renovation works have doubled Single O’s capacity to 29, adding a new standing bar and banquette seating as well as a skylight. The roaster’s sustainable approach applies to the new fixtures (designed by Luchetti Krelle and built by Gibson Building Group), which have been wrought from FSC and PETC-certified wood, responsibly harvested and manufactured cork, metal pipe structure made from hydraulic manufacturing waste, and a one-of-a-kind wallpaper artwork created from Single O coffee bags. In the kitchen, new dine-in menu items include the Boris chickpea cilbir (poached eggs with tomato-and-harissa-braised chickpeas, whipped-feta labneh, zhoug, chilli oil and sourdough), a grazing plate (lemon and dill kraut with gravlax, boiled egg, avocado, dill creme fraiche and rye from Agnes Bakery), and the Reservoir Dog (LP’s pork sausage with caramelised onion, smoked ketchup, parmesan and dill pickle). The team has also implemented a loan-a-mug system to encourage guests to drink on site and reduce single-use waste. What’s more, Single O Newstead is now trading seven days a week.

Jake Kellie x Ben Williamson at Agnes
Two titans of woodfire cooking are teaming up for a one-night-only culinary collaboration on Tuesday July 23. In partnership with Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Ben Williamson of esteemed ember-centric institution Agnes is hosting Jake Kellie of Adelaide restaurant arkhé for a night of heat and smoke. The duo will be drawing influence from the unique flavours of Laphroaig – think peat, salt and fire – crafting a four-course menu of share-style fare caressed by flame. Each course will be accompanied by a Laphroaig-infused cocktail, with a guided tasting flight experience (featuring Laphroaig 10 Year Old, Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Cask and Laphroaig 10 Year Old Cask Strength – Batch 16) led by a Laphroaig ambassador also on the cards. Two sittings are available, the first from 5:00–8:00 pm, and from 8:30 pm onwards. Tickets are $220 per person – click here to snag a seat.

Landers Pocket
There are some exciting concepts coming in to land at Brisbane Airport this year. Following hot on the heels of the news surrounding The Independent’s forthcoming opening at the domestic terminal, the Brisbane Airport – alongside the Green Beacon Brewing Company and Golf Central – has also announced the development of a new one-of-a-kind entertainment destination coming to the Skygate hub. Landers Pocket is a multi-faceted precinct boasting a brewery and distillery, a state-of-the-art golf driving range, a mini golf course, padel tennis courts, multiple function and event spaces, a beer garden, and an outdoor amphitheater. Landers Pocket is expected to open in early 2025 – read more about the news here.

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