FuFu
Just when we thought Bonita Bonita and Bon Bon owner Morgan Walsh was having a breather after opening Poké Poké in March this year, she shakes things up and announces a new venue. The latest notch in Morgan’s culinary belt is FuFu, a casual American-style Chinese eatery, which is due to open in an undisclosed location in Mermaid Beach early next year. We’re told FuFu will be cheeky and cheerful, offering casual dining that won’t break the bank – right in line with Morgan’s ethos of creating venues that are more accessible to the everyday person on a regular basis. Unlike it’s health-conscious sibling Poké Poké, FuFu’s menu will be a little more indulgent with old-school Chinese favourites like sweet and sour pork, beef and black bean, egg foo yong (a Chinese-American omelette) and crispy chicken wings. Plus, in true style, you’ll find dishes with a twist like cheeseburger spring rolls and Moreton Bay bug baos. FuFu will shift away from share-style dining, with the menu to be based around creating Chinese ‘meal packs’ for one – perfect for dining in with a glass of vino or taking away. Keep your eyes on The Weekend Edition in the new year – we’ll have all the details for you when FuFu opens its doors.

Barrio Eatery and Bar
When the owners of Harvest in Newrybar announce a new project, people will always stop and pay attention. Barrio Eatery and Bar is the latest venture from Tristan and Kassia Grier (who also own Sparrow Coffee alongside Harvest), who have teamed up with Dan Wyllie (of New York City establishments Flinders Lane and Saxon + Parole) and renowned chef Francisco Smoje (from Byron Bay pop-up restaurant Francisco’s Table). Yep, this is the probably one of the most credentialed culinary collabs we’ve seen in a while. Barrio, which means ‘neighbourhood’ in Spanish, is located in the newly developed Habitat community on Byron’s northern end. The 80-seat restaurant will deliver a menu heavily influenced by wood-fired ovens and charcoal grills, and will lean toward ‘conscious eating’ by adopting a nose-to-tail and root-to-stem approach. Wooden communal tables will create an informal communal atmosphere, alongside a handful of smaller settings for intimate dining. Barrio will open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and there will be daytime takeaway options like toasties, salads, cold-pressed juices and kombucha. It’s expected to open to the public on December 21 – we’ll have all the details for you then.

Pinky’s
The Nobby Beach corner that sadly went up in flames is slowly coming back to life. One of the additions to the high-traffic corner is Pinky’s, a New York-inspired contemporary diner. Details are being kept under wraps for now, but we’re told not to expect a traditional diner with chequered floors and red booths – it’ll be a little more contemporary – but we can well and truly expect ‘diner’ food. We’re talking deli-style sandwiches piled high, bagels, and hearty burgers. The 76-seat Pinky’s will be serving an American-style breakfast and lunch to start, with a dinner trade to follow down the track. It’s due to open in early January, so we’ll have all the info for you then.

Feed the Earthlings Burleigh
The plant-based love is spreading far and wide! Feed the Earthlings, the popular all-vegan burger joint and pizzeria that opened in Broadbeach late last year, is expanding. The new venue, which will mirror the Broadbeach operation, will be located at Treetops Plaza in Burleigh Waters. If you live south-side, then you’ll be delighted to know that Feed the Earthling’s plant-based goodness will soon be well within reach. Owners Teaki Page and Phil Hancock expect to open the new Burleigh space before Christmas, though a few minor setbacks could push the opening into the new year. We’ll keep you posted and will have all the delicious details when the doors open.

Image courtesy of Barrio.