Bubbling sourdough pizzas brimming with local produce, plates of pork, peppers and pickles, punchy salads and hoagie sandwiches lovingly layered with fine slices of mortadella. There's a lot of comfort and joy to be found on the menu at Casuarina's new neighbourhood eatery, Jordy's – a fun new restaurant venture from the talented team behind nearby cafe Tucker. more
Although we are in the midst of winter's chilliest weeks, we can still daydream of summer days spent taking relaxing ocean dips, sun-baking on the sand and Sunday pub sessions. So we can start living our best summer lives right now, the beer-making brainiacs behind Stone & Wood have launched a refreshing sparkling sip that is sure to satisfy. The best part? This refreshing imbibe is gluten free, vegan and boasts only three grams of sugar. Say hello to Sunly Seltzer – your new (and heathier) boozy buddy to take on all of your sun-filled adventures. more
Award-winning Miami distillery Granddad Jack's is opening its doors to share its 90-year-old recipes and lift the lid on age-old distilling secrets – and you're invited to go along for the gin-filled journey. While the Lemana Lane distillery and tasting room is a popular spot to stock up on spirits and sip cocktails, father-and-son founders David and Luke Ridden are looking to share the Granddad Jack's story and their collective passion for craft spirits with keen locals, launching a new series of exclusive gin-making masterclasses and distillery tours. more
It was a sad day indeed when news broke that this year's Ekka as well as virtually every other mass-gathering of people was cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future. The very small sugar-coated silver lining is that we have been blessed with some very sweet news that is sure to cheer up kids and kids-at-heart. Bringing the fun fair to you, Bensons Showbags has teamed up with IGA, so we can now get our hot little hands on a huge range of iconic confectionary and novelty showbags without a trip to the showgrounds. Curly Wurlys, here we come! more
Big news, bakery fiends! The owners of the iconic Burleigh Baker, which is renowned for its artisan sourdough, high-quality fermented breads and delicious baked goods, have announced they are just days away from opening a second Gold Coast location. If you live on the northern end, you'll no longer need to make the pilgrimage south for your bread fix – Burleigh Baker is coming your way. more
The enticing smell of caramelised onions, the difficult decision of what sauce will top off your sausage sandwich (always a tomato-mustard combo) and the feel-good factor that your gold coins are going towards charity – oh, how we have missed Bunnings sausage sizzles. A community staple for 26 years, Bunnings' banger-filled barbecues were forced to stop cooking in March due to COVID-19. Following too many months of sizzle withdrawals, the home-improvement heroes are firing up the barbecues again and the much-anticipated return of this charity cook-up will be here sooner than you think ... more
When fish-and-chip eatery Hunky Dory first opened in Melbourne in 2004, its intention was to offer healthier, Greek Islands-inspired seafood options alongside classic fish and chips, while shifting away from the traditional 'takeaway food' model to encourage locals to dine in with a glass of wine or beer. Clearly it's a concept that resonated with southern folk – there are now 14 locations dotted across Melbourne and greater Victoria. Now, it's our turn. more
Much like coffee and wine, choosing higher-quality small-batch chocolate really does make a difference. If your sweet tooth is a little more refined – meaning that $1 choccie block on special at the servo just won't cut it – then it's high time you got acquainted with Little Cocoa, a Gold Coast-based online chocolateria bringing the treats of your dreams to your door. more
Okay, we'll come right out and say it – we love cheese. In fact, we spend a disproportionate amount of our days thinking about, talking about and eating cheese. Whether it's a bitey blue, a creamy camembert or a gooey goat's cheese – it's all gouda (sorry, couldn't resist). If you too possess a deep love for cheesy goodness, we're willing to go out on a limb and suggest you might also appreciate the Mould Cheese Collective – a monthly delivery of happiness to your door. more
Back when we were all bunkering down in isolation, things were far from quiet over at the former Hellenika site in Nobby Beach. For the past few months, the two-storey venue has been undergoing major transformative works – and just last week, the hoarding came down to reveal the Gold Coast's newest Asian-inspired dining hotspot and rooftop bar, Miss Mee. Dripping in neon lights, layered with hot-pink decor and packed with personality, the colourful new arrival is bringing a dose of fun to the Nobby Beach dining strip – think mouth-banging banquets, live DJ beats and booze-spiked bubble tea. more
Oh, how we've missed being able to jump in the car to explore and eat our way through Northern New South Wales. From Friday July 10, when the border reopens, we're officially free! While you'll surely be making a beeline for all of your southern favourites, allow us to pop something else on your radar – a new banh-mi bar in Pottsville called Mr Trinh's. more
Buttery croissants, delicate macarons in all of the colours of the rainbow, too-pretty-to-eat petit fours, indulgent croque monsieur, freshly baked baguettes and crunchy French batards – if that line-up of Parisian perfection has your mouth watering, then you'll want to get your sweet self acquainted with the coast's newest patisserie and boulangerie, Le Bon Choix. more
A regular fixture on bar shelves around the world, luxe liquor Hennessy has long been a favourite tipple among seasoned swiggers. In 1992, hip-hop icon Tupac even dedicated a whole song to his love of the brown bottle. To help reciprocate the love, Hennessy is extending a helping hand to the bartenders, waiters and restaurateurs that faithfully serve its spirit. The cognac giant has revealed its hospitality recovery initiative, which is set to provide struggling hospo workers with a free dinner and drinks on them. Now, that's sure to go down a treat. more
Whether you're a certified whisk(e)y connoisseur, are a wannabe whisky drinker trying to navigate the game or you fall neatly in between the two categories, Mudgeeraba's new home of drams, nips and top drops – a hidden bar named Whisky Lounge – will take you on a personalised sipping journey across the globe. more
Way back in early March, we gave you a hot tip-off that the former Burleigh Co-Op site (the original Burleigh Social premises, up from Paddock Bakery) would soon be home to a leafy new brunch spot called Common Ground. Well, 'soon' it was not. COVID reared its ugly head and pushed the opening back a few months but here we are, in July, finally bringing you the thrilling news that Common Ground is officially open! more
We're just going to claim it – 2020 is the year of the Dogg. In April, we revealed the news that Snoop Dogg had teamed up with Aussie winemakers 19 Crimes to launch his own vino. Now, the hip-hop doggfather is linking up with the takeaway titans at Menulog to share with us some super-munchable recipes from his homestyle cookbook. Welcome to Dogg’s Diner, where you can tuck into some of Snoop Dogg’s favourite West Coast dishes from now until Friday July 3. As the saying goes, it's a dog-eat-dogg world. more
While we're certainly not out of the woods yet, the easing of federal and state restrictions has created a window of opportunity for Gold Coast cafes and restaurants to reopen to dine-in customers. We've put together a rolling list – which we're constantly updating – of Gold Coast venues that are reopening for dine-in customers and the operating hours. Hot tip – you're required to book ahead at most spots, so be sure to check in with the venue before visiting. This is new territory for everyone, so be patient, stay safe and enjoy sipping your coffee from a porcelain cup! more
After a pandemic-induced hiatus, popular Kirra restaurant and bar Baskk is back – but not as you know it. While the seaside dining spot has been well known for its modern-Australian fare, towering seafood platters and fine cocktails since it opened in mid-2017, owners Steve and Donna Archdeacon (also behind popular hill-top Cafe Dbar) decided to launch into the post-COVID phase with a completely different concept. Introducing the Kirra-Coolangatta area's newest pizza, pasta and insalata-slinging eatery, Baskk Italian. more
Bubbles make everything better – parties, baths, champagne, water. If you're sipping still drinks like a sucker, make haste to your nearest Aldi on Saturday June 20 and nab yourself a SodaStream Spirit Machine for just 70 dollar bucks. The soda maker is part of the brand's Special Buys and if you've never experienced an Aldi run on drop day, well, you're in for a treat. more
With our neighbourhood watering holes just beginning to reopen, it's still not as easy as it was to stop in for a cheeky post-work cocktail. Bookings must be made well in advance and the casual activity of meeting up for drinks just isn't quite the same (yet). If you've been missing knocking back your signature sip from your most-loved drinkery, then we've got some good news for you! Whether you favour negronis, old fashioneds or salt-rimmed margaritas, these bad boys and more can now be ordered from the comfort of your home with help from Campari’s Shaken Not Broken initiative. more
