Ma Pa Me
Every cuisine has guilty pleasures. Indonesian-born chef Alfan ‘Alfie’ Musthafa will be shining a spotlight on the decadent culinary gems found within Asian home-style cooking at Ma Pa Me – a new restaurant opening in late October on Little Stanley Street in South Bank. Alfie, a classically trained chef with Michelin experience, will be blending finely honed techniques with a liberal dash of nostalgia at Ma Pa Me, which is inspired by (and named in ode to) his grandparents, who helped instil a love for the culinary arts and entertaining when Alfie was young. Indonesian, Thai, Chinese and Japanese influences will be evident across Ma Pa Me’s menu of family-approved recipes, which will include slow-cooked lamb ribs, prawn toast with gochu mayo, lamb shoulder red curry, tender beef rump with house-made XO sauce, charcoal-grilled spatchcock chicken, melt-in-your-mouth char siu pork and Alfie’s own take on nasi goreng. A well-stocked cocktail bar will serve a range of beverages that will quench thirsts and get parties started. Ma Pa Me is also backed by the team at popular dumpling brand Harajuku Gyoza, so you know the execution will be on point. Check in soon for an in-depth look at Ma Pa Me when it opens in a few weeks.

Willow Neighbourhood Bar
Residents of Brighton in Brisbane’s far north will soon have a cosy sipping spot to call their own when the crew behind beloved 4017 cafe Willow Coffee + Pantry opens its recently announced after-dark extension, Willow Neighbourhood Bar, in October. Owners Megan and Sheree have taken over the cafe’s neighbouring space and are currently in the process of amalgamating both sites into one, increasing the seating capacity and back-of-house areas to better cater for both day and night clientele. The majority of Willow’s major building works have been completed, with soft finishes and furniture remaining. Megan and Sheree are ensuring Willow’s established light and breezy style – with natural textures and blue tones – is being translated across the new addition, with sheer curtains helping encase the space and transform it into an intimate nightspot once the sun sets. When it comes to the nighttime menu, the Willow team is eager to offer something outside the norm while staying true to its local roots. Last year the Willow team expanded its daytime offering with a range of gourmet deli and pantry goods made by local artisans. Guests can expect this range to increase with the addition of ingredients like cheeses and dried fruits, which will also be showcased across a range of grazing boards and share-style tapas plates. Willow’s drinks list will include established and new-wave wines, craft and mainstream beers, spirits and a seasonally evolving selection of cocktails. Stay tuned for a closer look at Willow Neighbourhood Bar later this month!

Spread
Attention Camp Hill locals! Here’s a slice of good news – soon you’ll score a brand-new neighbourhood pizzeria by the name of Spread. The concept is the brainchild of Zoe Johnstone – head honcho of Say Cheese, a hugely popular delivery service that has cultivated thousands of followers thanks to its range of cheese-and-meat-packed grazing tables and platter boxes. Although initially obtained as a base to help expand Say Cheese’s operational scope, Zoe’s cosy tenancy on Bennetts Road (next to New Order Coffee Co.) offered room to do more. With plenty of small goods on hand, Zoe decided to maximise the venue’s potential by opening it at night as a 35-seat casual pizza joint. Once open, Spread will serve a concise menu of hand-stretched pizzas, with ten options available alongside two-to-three pasta dishes and build-your-own grazing spreads featuring an assortment of Say Cheese’s provisions. A punchy selection of beer and wine will also be available, making Spread – with its rustic and minimal aesthetic – the perfect go-to for convivial chow and cheer. Spread is slated to open in early October – keep your eyes peeled for more soon.

Whisky Whisky
How long has it been since you attended a good old-fashioned block party? If the answer is too long, then you might want to read on. On Saturday November 13, Fish Lane will play host to Whisky Whisky – a brand-new event from the creators of Brisbane-born whisky society Supping Club that promises to be a special blend of whisky appreciation. Disregard any preconceptions you may have about traditional whisky shows – there won’t be any tweed coats or peated arguments here. Instead, Whisky Whisky encourages the curious, the adventurous and the long-time lovers to gather together over a shared love of its namesake golden elixir. To the soundtrack of fresh summertime beats, attendees will be treated to drams from the likes of Bladnoch, Lark Distillery, WhistlePig, Kilchoman Distillery and The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, as well as fun activations, frozen whisky sours and delectable Pan-Asian-inspired nosh from Hello Please. There will be more than 30 whiskies to sample, plus ticket holders will receive a dream-dram token, allowing them to choose one premium whisky pour on the day. Tickets are on sale now – for full event and ticketing details, head to our Event Guide.

Billykart West End
There are some changes afoot at West End institution, Billykart. Earlier this year Ben and Dee O’Donoghue sold Billykart’s long-running Annerley location and are now following up with a raft of changes to West End’s focus and operation model. Ben stepped back into the kitchen in September, engineering a pivot away from breakfast and cafe service in order to deliver a European-inspired bistro-style offering for lunch, dinner and bar trade. The menu will change regularly, with Ben spotlighting great produce at its seasonal peak from suppliers like John Dee Beef, Noosa Scallops, White Pyrenees Lamb and Suncoast Fresh. French and Italian influences will shape the offering, which currently includes house-made gnocchi Genovese, chilli crab spaghetti, half-shell Noosa scallops pangrattato and rib-eye steaks with café de Paris butter. Billykart’s beverage menu will also be improved, with a punchy list of vino highlighting Australia’s best regions alongside select wines from France, Italy and New Zealand bolstered by a clutch of aperitif cocktails and frozen concoctions. Fans of Billykart brunch needn’t fear being left high and dry – the venue will still offer brunch service on Saturdays and Sundays, featuring a menu of Billykart classics (like the Aussie Asian Eggs and corn fritters) and some brand-new additions to fall in love with. Oh, don’t forget mimosas, bloody Marys and other boozy brunch staples.

Banc Brasserie & Wine Bar
In case you missed the news last week, one of The City’s most attractive heritage landmarks – the Bank of New South Wales building on the corner of Queen Street Mall and George Street – will soon have a new resident, one serving European-inspired brasserie classics and silky wines. Banc Brasserie & Wine Bar will open in November and will boast an upscale restaurant, casual bistro and lively bar, with a combined capacity of 150 guests. The kitchen will serve French and Italian-style fare in an opulent interior designed by Hogg & Lamb – we’ve been told to expect colours inspired by bank notes in homage to the building’s history as a financial institution). French influences will manifest via a dedicated frites menu, encompassing the brasserie classic streak frites (as well as options that exchange beef for mussels, chicken and duck), which will be available alongside pasta dishes and share-style mains. Banc’s wine bar will be amply stocked by a worldly assortment of vino (including high-end Coravin drops) as well as a batch of cocktails. Rest assured we’ll have a more in-depth look for you next month.

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