Play catch-up with me every fortnight as I give you a taste of what you’ve missed and what’s to come in Brisbane’s Food+Drink scene.
1. Good Food Month is here!
Pony Dining Cocoa and Vino event for Good Food Month
Good Food Month returns to Brisbane for its third year with the best program to date. The month will be full of pop-ups, celebrity chef dinners, workshops, degustations and crowd favourites such as the Night Noodle Markets. Check out the wrap-up of our foodie favourites here.
2. Danish-flare Dining
House of Hygge in West End is the new go-to for a cosy and comfortable café experience. In fact, the word “hygge” is Danish for “comfort”. The café offers classic menu items alongside Danish-inspired breakfast and lunch dishes with light refreshments and cake for those wanting a quick catch-up with friends. It’s been open a month and is definitely flying under the radar, but we think everyone needs to hear about this West End secret. And if you pay them a visit, they might even tell you how to pronounce their name!
3. All-day eats and bar
Image: British Colonial Co. Facebook
From brekky to a cheeky bevvie, the new Hawthorne restaurant and bar British Colonial Co. promises adventure and modern refinement in its safari-style setting. The alfresco dining and lounge bar is situated near the Hawthorne Cineplex and will serve plenty of share plates and tapas options for those wanting a social hangout pre- or post-movie. Or, y’know, just trade the big screen for an epic cheese and charcuterie board with cocktails. That’s definitely an option.
4. Moreish Café
From savoury breakfasts to sweet red velvet pancakes and brioche French toast, this is one secret Stones Corner café we want you to know about. They combine wholesome eats with all of our foodie favourites and have an all-day winter breakfast menu. Because no one wants to leave the comfort of the bed before at least 11.30am. Or is that just me?
5. Freestyle Tout Revival!
Image: Groovy Dessert Bar
Were you sad when Freestyle Tout closed down? SO WERE WE. Finally, we have something to turn that frown upside down: the three chefs behind the Brisbane sensation have opened Groovy Dessert Bar in Stones Corner. Not only can you expect decadent desserts, but they’ll also serve gourmet savoury meals, share plates and a fully-stocked bar.
6. The Priory Kitchen
Image: The Priory Kitchen
From the founders of New Farm’s Pablo Café comes Priory Café & Restaurant. Opening in August in the vibrant Woolloongabba Trafalgar Lane Precinct, the café will serve delicious seasonal and quirky dishes with a focus on local produce. Some of the dishes you can expect: a winter fruit salad with homemade rhubarb ice cream and crumble, chai cream and banana bread; a gin-cured salmon with creamed corn and seasonal verjuice pickled vegetables and herb crumbed egg; and a pea purée bruschetta with sobrasada.
7. Do an Irish Jig
Image: Finn McCools, The Causeway
Brisbane’s newest Irish pub, Finn McCool’s, has recently launched a funky offshoot laneway bar in the Valley called The Causeway. The venue has Guinness and Kilkenny on top (because Irish) but also combines the outdoor, relaxed dining precinct with an atmosphere perfect for entertainment. The Causeway is open for barista-made coffee and breakfasts in the AM, right through to traditional Irish food, beers and entertainment in the PM.
8. Big Phat Feeds
Finding a top-notch CBD eatery with a difference AND reasonably-priced fare can be quite difficult. New Thai bar and restaurant Phat Elephant offers a solution with casual and modern authentic Thai street food dishes, as well as bar items you may not find elsewhere in the city, such as Singha and Asahi on tap and Thailand’s SangSom rum.
9. For The Chocoholics
Have you ever wondered what your signature chocolate would look and taste like? Well, now there’s a way to create your very own customisable box of chocolates! 31 Degrees Custom Chocolates in Woolloongabba doesn’t just create your perfect box; they also stock plenty of handmade goodies and sweets, as well as tea, coffee and hot chocolate.
EVENTS
Young Chefs’ Dinner | Wednesday, July 17 at 6.30pm
Image: ARIA Brisbane
The highlight of the Brisbane Times Good Food Month, this year’s Young Chefs’ Dinner is hosted by one of Brisbane’s premier restaurants, Aria. This one-off event sees five of the state's most talented and promising young chefs from restaurants such as Esquire, Otto Ristorante and The Wolfe demonstrating their considerable talents in the kitchen. Tickets are $170pp for the six-course menu. More info here.
Night Noodle Markets | Wednesday, July 20 to Sunday, July 31
Tempting tastebuds and making jeans uncomfortably tight for hungry patrons across the city, the Night Noodle Markets will be back at South Bank from July 20 to July 31. You’ll discover 30 delicious food stalls from everyone’s fave local eateries (and even some from afar), dishing up oodles of noodles for two whole weeks. We can’t wait! More info here.
James St Food and Wine Festival | Saturday, July 30 and Sunday, July 31
Image: James St Food and Wine Trail
The fifth annual James St Food and Wine Trail returns on the last weekend of July and they’re closing the street for the ultimate weekend foodie experience. They’ll have an urban James St picnic, live music and pop-up kitchen demonstration stage and two new series to keep an eye out for: James Lane Takeover and Signature Series. More info here.
Missed out on your taste of previous food news? Catch up here.
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