Gerard’s Bistro
As each week passes, we get ever more excited for the reopening of Fortitude Valley award-winning standout, Gerard’s Bistro. Last week the Gerard’s team announced the appointment of Scottish-born talent Jimmy Richardson as its new executive chef, who is stepping into the role vacated earlier this year by Adam Wolfers. Jimmy has previously worked as head chef of Gerard’s in addition to senior roles at Leonard’s Bar & Bistro, Shangri-La Sydney’s Altitude Restaurant, The Bridge Room, Café Paci and Annata, among others. Jimmy is expected to further Gerard’s highly regarded exploration of Middle Eastern and Levantine-inspired cuisine – an approach that melds age-old traditional recipes with modern, innovative techniques. “Jimmy is very confident and articulate when it comes to food,” says Gerard’s Bistro owner, Johnny Moubarak. “Bringing a brilliant balance between traditional and creative and progressive cuisine, Jimmy has an amazing way of letting food speak for itself.” Jimmy’s new menu will be unveiled when Gerard’s Bistro reopens in the coming months – stay tuned for more info!

Tapri
Indian street food will take centre stage at Tapri, a soon-to-launch diner opening on Baroona Road in Rosalie later this month. The concept comes from the crew behind Old Monk Modern Indian, a fast-rising restaurant that’s made waves in the past year thanks to its Indian Fried Chicken, Himchali goat and lamb shank korma. Tapri will see the team delve into the realm of casual-style dining, shining a light on iconic dishes from across India. The menu will start with a selection of dosa, available alongside kulcha (flatbread stuffed with an assortment of fillings), vada pav, panipuri and Indian-style grilled sandwiches. While Tapri won’t be licensed, it will have a sturdy beverage menu led by chai and other imported teas, plus lassi and mocktails. Tapri is expected to open before the month is out. Be sure to keep an eye on Tapri’s Instagram page for an official opening date announcement later this week.

And if you missed the news last week …

Mini
If you haven’t had a chance to try the flavour-packed fare at Nice Thai by Kid Curry, we have some sad news for you. Nice Thai called time on its tenure on East Street over the weekend but, in more heartening news, soon it will be replaced by an equally alluring concept. Mini, a pop-up specialising in French-inspired bistro classics, will be launching in the old Kid Curry space next to Happy Boy and Snack Man this weekend. Helming the concept will be head chef Aubrey Courtel, who will be overseeing a menu featuring small plates like Chinois prawn dumplings in prawn bisque and prawn oil, and beef tartare with egg yolk, anchovy and mustard, as well as large plates of cordon bleu crispy chicken, pan-fried fish in brown butter, caper and anchovy sauce, and eye fillet with house jus. Restaurant manager Paige Sparks will be overseeing the floor, as well as pouring Mini’s excellent array of vino from a one-page list comprised of predominantly French wine (as well as a savoury red from Italy, a German riesling and a New Zealand cabernet). While Mini is a stand-alone concept with a solid personality at its core, the restaurant is also doubling as a testing group of ideas for the Happy Boy team’s next opening – French-inspired wine and small plates bar, Petite, which is slated to open early next year (more on that soon). Mini is expected to run until February, with the East Street Dining crew eager to use the Kid Curry site as a hub for creative pop-up concepts and collabs moving forward. Read more about Mini over here.

Butter
The brains behind one of Brisbane’s best cafes is expanding its interests to the northside. Daniel Bowles – owner of Sister in Hawthorne (as well as the founder of Little Loco and Miss Jones in New Farm) – is linking up with Chih-Wei ‘Tiger’ Hsu to open Butter Cafe in Gaythorne next month. Tucked away behind a roller door off Samford Road, this hole-in-the-wall dispensary will be tapping into a more informal style of cafe service, serving light brunch bites and silky specialty coffee. Once open, guests can expect a tight roster of deli-style toasties, avocado toast, crumpets and banana bread lathered in various butters. The morning fare will also feature a Japanese-style sausage muffin boasting a pork-and-fennel sausage patty, melted American cheese, gooey egg, and a dollop of Tiger’s special sauce. Brew from Single O will course through Butter’s coffee machine, available alongside Hrvst St juices and Strangelove sodas. Butter will open in early October – get more info about Daniel and Tiger’s plans here!

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Image credit: Gerard’s Bistro image shot by Lyndon Mechielsen