The Grocer
Heaps Normal and Who Gives a Crap introduce the Cheeky IPA – a non-alcoholic do-good brew
Food & Drink

Heaps Normal and Who Gives a Crap introduce the Cheeky IPA – a non-alcoholic do-good brew

Whether you’re taking the night off or the rest of your life off the sauce, Sydney-based brewing company Heaps Normal has dedicated themselves to brewing alcohol-free beers that don’t flush away the flavour of a cracking open a cold one. Now they’ve partnered up with eco-friendly toilet paper brand Who Gives A Crap to create the Cheeky IPA – a limited-edition non-alcoholic beer that helps you multitask tackling world-wide sanitation crises while having a piss-up. more

The Grocer
The round-up: the best Australian-made limoncello to zest up your next picnic or pool party
Food & Drink

The round-up: the best Australian-made limoncello to zest up your next picnic or pool party

We're calling it now – this will be the summer of limoncello. Long regarded as little more than an after-dinner digestivo, this lemony libation is perfect for summertime sipping, either in a spritz or served over ice with a splash of soda. We've rounded up a number of booze makers concocting some of the finest citrus-laced liqueurs on the market, so clear some space on your cocktail cart! more

The Grocer
Classy casks – Gonzo Vino unveils a sustainable and sophisticated collection of boxed wines
Food & Drink

Classy casks – Gonzo Vino unveils a sustainable and sophisticated collection of boxed wines

Let's be honest, when most of us think about wine in a box we picture a silver sack that is most likely strung from a Hills Hoist in someone's backyard. While you may have graduated from goon, Melbourne-based winery Gonzo Vino is on a mission to bring it back, reshaping perceptions on cask wine and leading the sustainability charge in an industry dominated by glass bottles. more

The Grocer
Do your gut a favour and swap the soft drink for Gold Coast-born Biotica Water
Food & Drink

Do your gut a favour and swap the soft drink for Gold Coast-born Biotica Water

When it comes to overall gut health, we know that pre-, pro- and postbiotics are important, because people much smarter than ourselves tell us so. Deciphering the difference, however, well that's a whole other rabbit hole, Alice. Thankfully, there's a Gold Coast-based company called Bio-az that's here to save you from endless hours trying to sort fact from fiction, as it's dedicated years to researching and developing what is being hailed the world's most advanced synbiotic water that brings all three together into one tasty beverage. Biotica Water contains a perfect balance probiotics, prebiotics and postbiotics to get your gut health in tip-top condition. more

The Grocer
Give hangxiety the boot with Byron-born Bittersweet Aperitivo by Etota
Food & Drink

Give hangxiety the boot with Byron-born Bittersweet Aperitivo by Etota

There are plenty of reasons why you might be stepping away from the sauce, but for Kate Forrester, it was a stint in rehab for an eating disorder and alcoholism at 28 that provided the ultimate motivation to bin the booze. Fast forward a decade and Kate has created what is being hailed Australia's first circular, 100-percent natural non-alcoholic drink. If you're sober curious or are adopting a more mindful approach to drinking, this could very well be your new favourite beverage. more

The Grocer
No hangovers here – Byron Bay welcomes booze-free bottle-o Sunnyboy Cellars
Food & Drink

No hangovers here – Byron Bay welcomes booze-free bottle-o Sunnyboy Cellars

Whether you're alcohol-free for good or you're shifting towards a less-is-more mentality, when it comes to the drink, the sober truth is that more and more people are saying "thanks but no thanks" and seeking quality alternatives to booze. That's where Sunnyboy Cellars comes in. Sunnyboy Cellars is a booze-free bottle-o that's on a mission to prove that zero alcohol doesn't mean zero taste, quite the opposite, in fact. more

The Grocer
Stirred, not shaken – you can now get your hands on Saturday Night Pasta's dirty martini sauce
Food & Drink

Stirred, not shaken – you can now get your hands on Saturday Night Pasta’s dirty martini sauce

When you're hungry for a hearty bowl of pasta but the ol' spag bowl simply won't do, it's hard to resist swiping on the food delivery apps for a quick fix. Thankfully another carby contender has entered the arena, and it's both positively simple to make and absolutely scrumptious. Introducing the Saturday Night Pasta range – a dirty martini pasta sauce and pasta created by culinary wizard Elizabeth Hewson. Read on to discover how you can dig in to this mouth-watering combo ... more

The Grocer
Jones and Co
Food & Drink

Fill your trolley with fresh produce for less at the brand-new Jones & Co Grocer 

As much as we love eating out, there is something about coming home to a fully-stocked fridge and cooking up a storm in your kitchen that feels incredibly wholesome. Bonus points if you're using fresh, local produce that didn't break the bank when you bought it. As the cost of living goes up, many families and Gold Coast locals are on the hunt for supermarkets and retailers that offer high-quality produce and goods at affordable prices. Jones & Co Grocer has heard the call of frustrated shoppers and is opening its flagship supermarket at the new Queen Street Village precinct in Southport on Wednesday October 19. With a walk-in fromagerie, sushi station, gourmet butcher and dedicated health and wellness department, we have a feeling it will be your new go-to for the weekly shop. more


The Locals Next week:

The Grocer
Tugun Market Co has had a glow-up to include a gourmet grocer, cafe, fromagerie and butcher
Food & Drink

Tugun Market Co has had a glow-up to include a gourmet grocer, cafe, fromagerie and butcher

Wandering around the farmer's markets with a coffee in hand is undoubtedly one of our favourite ways to fill our fridge and pantry. Sometimes, though, life gets in the way, or you make impromptu plans to have people over for dinner and need to pick up a few extra nibbles. In news that will excite local-produce procurers, gourmands and turophiles (fanciers of cheese), the family-owned-and-operated Tugun Market Co has recently unveiled a seriously impressive renovation. Take a peek ... more

The Grocer
Gold Coast label Wine Not the Brand is here to challenge perceptions of wine in a bag
Food & Drink

Gold Coast label Wine Not the Brand is here to challenge perceptions of wine in a bag

Let's not beat around the bush, when you think of wine in a bag, it's pretty likely your mind immediately pictures a bloated silver goon sack that may or may not be strung up from a clothesline. Gold Coast-based start-up Wine Not the Brand is here to challenge the stigma associated with wine in a bag with its revolutionary and vegan-friendly wine pouches. A lightweight, durable, and perhaps most importantly, quality solution to traditional bottles of wine.  more

The Grocer
Enjoy fare from Brisbane's top eateries at home with restaurant delivery service Providoor
Food & Drink

Enjoy fare from Brisbane’s top eateries at home with restaurant delivery service Providoor

When Australia's hospitality industry pirouetted towards pandemic-proof operation models, it changed the game in terms of accessibility. In Melbourne, acclaimed chef Shane Delia of Maha founded Providoor – a delivery service that allowed locals to enjoy lauded fare from Maha, Entrecote, Tipo 00 and Supernormal in the comfort of their own home. Providoor expanded to Sydney soon after, cultivating a roster that includes Chiswick, China Doll, Golden Century and The Apollo. This week the service will officially launch in Queensland – it already boasts a cadre of appetising all-stars including Southside, NOTA and Siffredi's. Bust out the tablecloths and the fancy cutlery – Providoor is making fine dining a homebound affair. more

The Grocer
Pet-nat, preserves and plenty of cheese – say hello to Burleigh's Flor Wine and Grocer
Food & Drink

Pet-nat, preserves and plenty of cheese – say hello to Burleigh’s Flor Wine and Grocer

What do you get when a wine guy, a restauranter and an award-wining bartender join forces? Amazing things, that's what. Flor Wine and Grocer is the realisation of a collective dream for Peter Rogers from Naked Bunch, Jarome Smith from Palm Beach's popular burger-slinger Burgster and Randy Shaw, who eagle-eyed locals may recognise from various watering holes around town including Rosella's and Apres Surf. The talented trio got to chatting and decided to pool their individual expertise and got to work finding the perfect spot. Fast-forward a year and a half, and we've got our first taste of Flor Wine and Grocer. If you list wine, cheese and assorted chilli-based condiments as some of your favourite things, go ahead and get acquainted with Burleigh's new purveyor of gourmet provisions. more

The Grocer
Get on the beers – Heaps Normal redefines the pot of gold with a zero-alcohol lager
Food & Drink

Get on the beers – Heaps Normal redefines the pot of gold with a zero-alcohol lager

Australians, on the whole, can be a thirsty bunch. When it comes to alcohol, however, the tide may be turning with many Australians opting to cut back on the booze or kick it to the curb, for good. Once upon a time, non-drinkers were left with a choice between soft drinks, juice or mocktails. Thankfully, the shift in consumer behaviour has inspired some really excellent craft breweries and distilleries to pursue low- and no-alcohol options that can go head-to-head with its full-strength peers in terms of taste and flavour profiles. One such player that has made some serious waves on the scene is Heaps Normal, which just this week unveiled its second non-alcoholic brew, Another Lager. more

The Grocer
Forget empty supermarket shelves – the best fruit, veg and meat boxes to get delivered
Food & Drink

Forget empty supermarket shelves – the best fruit, veg and meat boxes to get delivered

It's pretty safe to assume that by now you're well aware of the situation at your local supermarket, so let's not rehash the details. The good news is that there is an alternative. If you're keen to spare yourself from the chaos (or disgruntlement at empty shelves) while also supporting local farmers in the process, we've rounded up a few places that are delivering fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and more to your door. more

The Grocer
Dinner is easy with these Toowoomba-made woodsmoked bites from Darling Fresh Smoke Haus
Food & Drink

Dinner is easy with these Toowoomba-made woodsmoked bites from Darling Fresh Smoke Haus

Smoked fare is having a resurgence in the culinary scene as of late – recent additions in Brisbane's culinary scene prove this point – and for good reason, as smoked bites pack a sensational flavour punch! Not all of us are so lucky to have a smoker at home (if you do, haven't you done well ) but do not worry friends, as that's where Toowoomba-based business Darling Fresh Smoke Haus comes in. Boasting a bevy of smoked meats and plant-based deliciousness, these vacuum-sealed packets are ready to go in mere minutes. more

The Grocer
Gin-gle all the way – 20 20 Distillery's spirited Christmas gifts are well worth sliding under the tree
Food & Drink

Gin-gle all the way – 20 20 Distillery’s spirited Christmas gifts are well worth sliding under the tree

When it comes to gifting this Christmas, we are taking it upon ourselves to kill two birds with one stone – put some killer presents from Queensland-born businesses under the tree and support local. One homegrown business that is worth putting on your radar is 20 20 Distillery, Cooroy's boutique spirits haven that swung open its doors in December 2020. This year, the distillery is helping clueless gift-givers get their pressies in order with a few spirited picks ... more

The Grocer
But first, tequila – Margarita Margarita launches a classic margarita mix
Food & Drink

But first, tequila – Margarita Margarita launches a classic margarita mix

When Friday rolls around and we're waiting for the sun to set, there's no better drink (in our humble opinion) to welcome in the weekend than a classic margarita. The folks behind Australia's only mobile marg bar, Margarita Margarita, wholeheartedly agree with us and have whipped up a classic marg mix to make our at-home cocktail shaking a little easier – and a whole lot tastier. more