Australia Day long weekend dining in Brisbane





Whole roast possum, emu patties, lamb and vegemite sausages, crocodile kebabs and barbecued wallaby - where can you get it on the Australia Day weekend?

I have no qualms about eating kangaroo. The meat is lean and well flavoured and, carefully cooked, it is moist and tender.  I've eaten many other native animals, from emu to crocodile and even snake but possum is just a little hard.  I have visions of those cute critters that sometimes sit outside my window. And whole possum, well that's another world.

Anyhow,  here’s some top spots and inventive menus so you can stretch your Australia Day legs.


Constance Street Australia Day Weekend

Two of Brisbane’s hottest party venues, Limes Hotel and Alfred & Constance, have decided that one day is not enough and will be throwing their doors open for a four-day spree with free BBQs, Australian fare and live music from local artist, Sons of Midnight.

Take advantage of the public holiday and wrap up your Australia Day long weekend with dinner at A&C on Monday night. Order pavlova for dessert before heading up to Limes’ roof top for a cinema under the stars of the Southern Cross.


When: Friday 25th – Monday 28th January from noon at Alfred& Constance, various times at Limes Hotel 

Where: Alfred & Constance and Limes Hotel, Constance Street, Fortitude Valley  



Room with Roses

Parmesan crumbed lamb cutlets with potato bake, steamed greens and mint jus or herb-crusted barramundi with roast chat potatoes, steamed greens, hollandaise sauce and lemon -  this sounds like the sort of comfort food you wish mum would make!

Finish with a mini palova or an Australia Day petit four selection that includes cherry ripe slice, mini lamington, Anzac biscuits and passionfruit slice.

When: Until Saturday, Jan 26
Where: Room with Roses


Regatta Hotel Australia Day Weekend

Slip off your shoes and sink into a courtyard of lush green grass brought in especially for the weekend. The ever-popular Hottest 100 Countdown playing in the background, superb lamb roast on the spit and there’s a fabulous cocktail pitcher menu designed by internationally recognised bartender, Krystal Hart.

The Boatshed has some real Aussie favourites including mouth-watering lamb cutlets, a traditional pavlova plus custom-made lamb and vegemite sausages 



Coat of Arms burger

In celebration of Australia Day,  Grill’d has created a unique blend of kangaroo and emu - giving hungry Australians the opportunity to eat their national emblem in a Coat of Arms burger.

They have combined a lean kangaroo and emu pattie with award winning Meredith Dairy goats cheese, beetroot, juicy quandongs, tasty bush tomato relish, native
thyme mayo and caramelised onion..

All this is brought together with citrus-fresh thyme mayo and tangy relish made with bush tomatoes - a favourite with Aboriginal people for thousands of years

The Coat of Arms burgers will be available from selected Grill’d restaurants across the country between January until 31 – but burger lovers have to be quick, as only 50 will be made available per restaurant each day.

Where: Grill'd


The Dayboro Deli


Head out to country Dayboro for a three course Aussie feast on Saturday 26th January  with  crocodile kebabs, coat of arms steak, barbequed prawns, warm bush potatoes, damper, mango cheesecake with an Anzac bickie base and pavlova cream.

On Monday the menu will be full of steak, lamb, prawns and other ‘strayaday favourites. Call to reserve a table 3425 1510.




Bitter Suite


On Saturday Bittersuite’s chef is doing a special menu including whole roasted possum, smoked emu sausage, barbecued wallaby and spiced crocodile tail!

Where: Bitter Suite, Cnr of Lamington and Welsby Streets, New Farm



Bacchus

Poolside at Bacchus could be the place to be this Australia Day long weekend. On offer on 26 January is a luxury brunch, lunch or afternoon drinks poolside with an extraordinary line up of live entertainment featuring Sons of Midnight, supported by Cutloose, Gavin Boyd, Shariff D (live on Sax) and Japanese born, Californian raised DJ Kaku. The menu includes an oyster and champagne station, spicy prawn skewers, gourmet sausage rolls, tempura fish, lamb lollipops plus traditional scones and pavlova. Doors open at 11.30am. General admission is $70 per person or $25 from 2.00pm.


Where: Bacchus, Podium Level, Rydges South Bank

Disclaimer:  This is not a paid post.