Top cuts - only the best bits from Brisbane's food news



Here it is, just the most interesting Brisbane focussed food and travel items that have come across my desk this week. Plenty of fodder for lunch table conversation.

If you like your food fresh and local, take a second to enter my $150 Farmer's Market Spending Spree competition  You could be wandering around a Jan Powers Farmers Market with a $150 voucher burning a hole in your pocket.  Sounds like fun to me!



Hitting the street

Street Food Australia's first bike is now actually on the street selling their delicious dumplings.  You'll find them on the corner of William and Queen's Wharf Road in the city, just opposite the casino near the start of the Victoria Bridge.  Be careful crossing the road now!

Follow them on Facebook for weekly updates.



Marmalashes win

Maybe it's all that great olive oil they consume out at Bunnyconnellen at Crows Nest but something inspired them to enter their 'Honest Pete's' marmalade in 'The World's Original Marmalade Awards' held at Dalemain Mansion, in Cumbria, UK.

In a field of  1,800 jars of marmalade entered, Bunnyconnellen's effort won a silver medal.

Want to taste it?  Call 07 4697 955 to order a jar.



The bunny is coming


If the sight of this huge bunny isn't enough warning, I have to tell you that Easter is coming. This means you are going to have to eat chocolate and join the $170 million Easter chocolate spending spree.

My best tip is to eat the best, and you can start at Mayfield Chocolates at The Barracks, and get in before the expected 800 per cent increase in sales happens in the week leading up to Easter.

Mayfield Chocolates make all their Easter chocolates in Brisbane so if you'd like to keep your money circulating locally, here's a good place to start.

Be warned - Handsome Harry, the big bunny above, stands over one metre tall.  That's a lot of chocolate on Easter Sunday.




Easter lamb roast



Mouth drooling already at the thought of the perfect lamb roast? Join Spring’s skilled chefs in the Cooking School on Tuesday, 26 March and they will show you how to do it just right,  as well as all the seasonings and accompaniments to please the crowd.

Best thing about this class is that you also get to enjoy an early Easter celebration by sitting down as a group to tuck in. The Perfect Easter Lamb class runs from 6 – 9pm and is $100 per person, including dinner.  
Bookings www.spring.com.au.


A night in Pugliese


Join celeb chef Dominique Rizzo and Chef Rocco Cartia for an Italian night and a Pugliese Banquet on Sunday night.  Dom is whipping up some of her favourite dishes from the region of Puglia ahead of her next tour there in October.

It's a banquet dinner with wine and costs $79 per person.  The venue is the oh-so-Italian Del'Ugo in New Farm.  I'll be there.  Book here




Dining in South Japan

Brisbane dining options are certainly becoming more sophisticated.  Now we have regional Japanese dining dinners planned for 2013 courtesy of Sake Restaurant & Bar  at Eagle Street Pier and it's delightful Head Chef Shinichi Maeda.

First off is South Japan with a menu that includes thinly sliced snapper sashimi, island-style tofu three ways, slow braised pork belly and jasmine panna cotta with fresh mango salsa.

The South Japan dinner will be held on Thursday 21st March from 6:30pm. Tickets are $149pp for a 5-course dinner matched with traditional Japanese beverages including sake, shochu, and amawori





Makeover for Sofitel

 

The French do it well and the Sofitel's new makeover is no exception.  They've taken a great hotel and given it a fresh update some how combining French elegance with Brisbane's local heritage. And then there's those comfortable beds, the sensor operated LED reading lamps and Parisian landscapes alongside iconic Brisbane landmarks.

I haven't been in the Opera Suite, which takes up the whole of level 28, but I hear it has a grand ensuite incorporating a stone bath and vanity basins, rain head showers and the dressing area offers the finest in imported European finishes by Arper and Fantini, with tapware created by famed Japanese designer Naoto Fukusawa. There's state of the art surround sound, iPod and iPad connectivity and intelligent lighting, AV interface controls and electronic black out blinds ensure the tech savvy are simply a click away from their IT needs. Ooh la la! More


Luxury High Tea

 

I like the style of the folk at Restaurant Manx.  They've decided there's enough live bands and drink specials on Sunday afternoons and have decided to offer a Luxury High Tea instead.  While there's nothing wrong with drinks and music, an of afternoon delights including macaroons, finger sandwiches, scones, petit fours and savoury bites with a glass of sparkling wine certainly has attractions.  Available between 2 and 5 pm on Sunday but you have to book before Saturday - that's so they can make enough cakes.  Call 3216 4999.



Autumn at Kooroomba



Kooroomba is excited by the return of Executive Chef, Mark Naoum bringing with him extensive experience in Europe and top Brisbane restaurants. Mark's new autumn menu includes venison cutlets with truffle mousse, saddle of rabbit with mushrooms and serrano ham, and loin of pork with calvados apple and sage. Kooroomba's own lavender icecream with berries is always a great finale. Find out more

Kerry Heaney

Disclaimer:  Simply spreading food news