Make yourself comfy now, lots of interesting food bits follow.
Need to know
A must for top of town city workers - Fresh off winning a hat in the Brisbane Times Good Food Award, Public in George Street, CBD (pictured above) is now serving breakfast Monday to Friday from 7am to 11am. Expect fresh coffee and juices plus modern takes on classics. Public
Keep in the loop
Like to get your news in one easy digest? Top-rated news app NewsLoop has launched in Australia, delivering over 400 sources of information across 30 news and lifestyle categories including Eat,drink+beKerry. The app brings together local content from familiar names complemented with internationally renowned news sources such as Reuters, Bloomberg and ESPN to users, all in a single elegant app. Check out the full list of publishers
A play about food
Well they told me it was all about food as its title says but I think ‘Food’ by Steve Rodgers, playing at La Boite, Kelvin Grove until April 27 is more about relationships. Sure, some of the audience gets to eat minestrone that the actors hand out (I only scored bread so can’t comment on the flavour) but the real fascination is how the actors draw you in with their performances and the questions raised about growing up in a country town, delinquent parents, sibling rivalry and the dance of love. It’s all enhanced by very clever lighting. I enjoyed this performance.
Chilli what?
This rogues gallery is the force behind the closing of the Valley’s Barsoma and its new replacement, the Mexican cantina themed Chilliwow. Barsoma owner Nick Braban has joined with Adrian Mezzina and Steven Papas, Directors of The Arcade Creative (owners of Oh Hello! nightclub) for the venture which will be fitted out by award-winning interior designer, Alexa Nice. Stay tuned for the opening date.
Connected traveller update
Always on the hunt for free wi fi? Might be time to join the IHG Rewards Club. InterContinental Hotels Group has announced that free internet access will soon be added to the list of benefits of being a member of its loyalty program, IHG Rewards Club from July. Find out more here
Bargain of the week
More duck for your buck! Starting this Monday and every Monday, Sichuan Bang Bang at Kenmore is offering ten buck Peking duck from 5pm - late (or until they run out), dine in and take out. The deconstructed 1/4 Peking duck, cucumber, spring onions and hoi sin and five pancakes is regularly $18.
Sichuan Bang Bang
Granite Belt Food and Wine Dinner
Forget the car, this Granite Belt dinner showcasing the best of the region’s food and wine is right here in Brisbane. Katrina and Mark Ryan from The Golden Pig Cooking School and Michael Ellis aka The Wine Punter have joined forces for this dinner. Joining them will be winemakers from Ballandean Estate, Ridgemill Estate, Witches Falls and Hidden Creek for canapes and a three course sit down dinner featuring Mallow Organic Lamb, Inglewood Organic Chicken and seasonal produce direct from the growers, all to the cool tunes of the fabulous Dan Quigley Jazz Trio. And the price? A bargain $99 per person. Menu and more details here
Not quite 50 ways with coffee
You start with an espresso martini and canapés, followed by a three course coffee-inspired menu designed in collaboration between Lavazza and Mark Tognini. Think house cured king salmon with coffee caviar, succulent espresso-infused roasted venison with baby beets + celeriac, finishing with a dark chocolate crusted tart filled with espresso mousse. Each course is matched with wine. Thursday 2nd May from 6.30pm-9 pm, Tognini’s Trattoria Spring Hill $95 per person. Book here
Aussie cuisine for travellers
Add some cooking expertise to your take home travel list with a cooking class in Aussie classics at Spring Food & Wine in Brisbane's CBD. Their new weekly cooking classes, available from May 8, will focus on gourmet Aussie favourites such as Damper, Kangaroo and Beer Meat Pie and Pavlova. Classes are $65 per person and will be held on Wednesdays from 3 – 6pm, or by special arrangement.
Spring
The next big thing – Japanese whisky
Forbes Whisky Writer Larry Olmsted has tipped fine whiskey from Japan as the next big thing. It’s news to me but evidently Japan has been making whisky for over a century. You know you want to try it so head to The Laneway bar team and for their exclusive Japanese Whisky Flights.
The Laneway is featuring Fights of the famous 10, 12 and 15 year old Yoichi Whiskys (20 ml each) for $30 per person. The second Flight features the Suntory whiskys – 12 year old Yamazaki, 12 year old, Hakushu and 17 year old Hibiki for $26 per person.
Find the Laneway at 181 Mary Street, Brisbane CBD.
This week I like – Wiltshire SmartStack
Don’t know about you, but keeping my pots and pans draw under control is a battle. Here I’m pointing fingers at the helpful folk who participate in household chores by unloading the dishwasher but can’t seem to put things away neatly.
I’m hopeful that this trio of sacking/nesting pots from Wilshire might do the trick. Silly me was surprised when the new set of pots I bought recently didn’t do this, despite fitting into a very small box. They are suitable for all cooktops, including induction. Find them at Big W for $99 rrp.
Sydney food shopping update
Here’s a new Sydney food shop to add to your list - Gourmet Life in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs is stocking products used by such names as Quay's Peter Gilmore, Est.'s Peter Doyle and Aria's Matt Moran. Brainchild of importer Josh Rea, Gourmet Life is an Aladdin's cave of culinary and gourmet delights set to change the scope of the city's food scene.
Josh has unearthed more than 1000 unique products to grace his store, from Rome's oldest coffee to Europe's most sought-after fresh almonds and hazelnuts that burst with genuine flavour. But his piece de resistance are his ranges of the world's finest black caviar, truffles and wild mushrooms - each the largest of any in Australia and available only through his newly opened outlet. Prices are affordable, too, ranging from well under $10. Black caviar costs from $4.50 a gram.
Find it Gourmet Life 52-60 New South Head Rd, Edgecliff.
Kerry Heaney
Disclaimer: This is not a paid post.