Opal
We’ve been waiting with bated breath for the details of Josue Lopez’s signature restaurant at Emporium Hotel South Bank – and that moment has finally arrived. This morning Josue has revealed that Opal will open in early August, its name a nod to the contemporary Australian approach the restaurant will take, with the uniqueness of our national gemstone reflecting the inventive dishes to feature on the menu. Similar to his award-winning approach at GOMA Restaurant, Josue will celebrate native ingredients through innovative cooking, with the restaurant offering express degustation and a la carte experiences for lunch, and dinner on select nights during the week. Josue has become renowned for the stories behind each dish he creates and the menu at Opal will be no different. The seafood-centric Minnjeribah, for example, will focus on Moreton Bay’s ecology, plated on a handmade ceramic inspired by the shoreline, while the signature dessert will reflect on the indigenous translation of opal, Fire of the Desert, presenting a physical interpretation of the multifaceted stone.

Swill
Welcome to Bowen Hills’ dedicated gin bar, Swill, has announced it will be officially opening this Friday May 4. Gin lovers, rejoice! The bar will feature approximately 115 gins from both Australia and overseas, including the likes of Adelaide Hills Distillery’s Green Ant Gin, Patient Wolf gin, Animus Distillery’s Ambrosian gin and Kew Organic Gin by the London Distillery Company. The space, designed by Alexander Lotersztain’s Derlot, features a moody, booth-filled interior plus an outdoor space, catering for up to 150 patrons. Look out on The Weekend Edition this Friday for full details!

Arctic by Customs House
Fancy snuggling up in an igloo this winter? From Thursday May 10 you can, when Belevedere Vodka presents Arctic by Customs House. Every Thursday to Sunday, Customs House’s riverside outdoor terrace will be transformed into a winter wonderland, complete with fur-draped furnishings, winter-inspired cocktails, a Polish-themed menu and transparent heated igloos that will keep you nice and cosy. Bites of baked brie with garlic and thyme, baby kransky with sauerkraut and smoked salmon on rye will feature on the menu, alongside cocktails including the espresso martini-inspired Henspresso, the Popcorn Martini and the Belvedere Apple Strudel. Head to our Event Guide for full details.

salt.
Brisbane is set to welcome a new coffee roaster when salt. launches in the coming weeks. For the last six months, the salt. team has been experimenting and perfecting its roasts, and is preparing to launch its wholesale and retail website in May. Rather than focusing on the origins of beans and technical coffee jargon (although, we’re assured it certainly hasn’t been overlooked), the fun and quirky brand will instead focus on the lifestyle surrounding coffee, presenting itself as ‘coffee for the modern-day explorer’. Once the website is launched, salt. will be opening its roasting headquarters in the Newstead/Teneriffe area, which will feature a store and on-site cafe.

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