This week - which Qld restaurants make the national top 50?, quirky high tea, new farmers market, Good Food Month in Brisbane as well as Sydney and a great organic home delivery option.
Queenslanders in the Top 50
Congratulations to the Queensland restaurants that made the Weekend Australian Magazines Hot 50 Restaurants 2013 list compiled by John Lethlean and Necia Wilden.
Here’s who they are and what you ‘must try’ when dining there according to John and Necia –
- Urbane, Brisbane – squid, roasted onion, onion and ginger consommé
- Gerard’s Bistro, Fortitude Valley (pictured above) – kibbeh nayeh, Gerard’s style
- Ortiga, Brisbane – suquet emulsion with scampi and sea grapes
- The Fish House, Burleigh Heads – thin spaghetti with bug meat
- The Long Apron, Montville – Wagyu tartare
- Wasabi, Noosa – Hotate – wild Hervey Bay scallops served in the half shell, with steamed spanner crab, kombu, ayu fish sauce and spicy masago roe
- Equire/Esq, Brisbane – curds and whey ice cream
And, just a small request to the authors, maybe it’s time to get over prejudices against Brisbane’s food culture? Is it really just a coincidence that Brisbane and the Gold Coast both deserved a smack on the hand – Brisbane for being a town ‘that doesn’t much seem to support unique, or at least discordant voices’ and the Gold Coast for being a region ‘not exactly known for interesting restaurants’.
Yes, the Brisbane food scene is different to Sydney or Melbourne, we like it that way and, here’s a heads up John and Necia, the Gold Coast is pumping out some amazing food and has for a while. You might like to check the 2013 Brisbane Times Good Food Guide. www.goodfood.com.au
Quirky high tea
It’s not about tea and sympathy at the ulTEAmate High Tea at Fleet Street (Pig ‘N’ Whistle Indooroopilly) on Wednesday October 9, 2013 at 10.30am.
Instead, one of Australia’s only cerTEAfied tea specialists, May King Tsang (pictured above), has worked with executive chef Deniz Coskun (former head chef of Brett’s Wharf) to create a paired four course high tea where the food and different selections of tea complement each other.
May King Tsang, one of the top 50 speakers of tea in the world, will share her wisdom on the origin of the teas, the difference between High Tea and Afternoon Tea, and talk about the pairings to each course of the experience.
“Fleet Street was one of the first venues in Brisbane to serve proper high teas around 12 years ago,” May King says.
“From collecting the most beautiful China tea cups, to research trips to Raffles in Singapore to developing an extensive and strong tea menu (pages upon pages of tea to choose from), I thought it was a great partnership between myself and Fleet Street to put on such a tea appreciation session.”
“There is a saying ‘you can’t buy happiness but you can buy tea and that’s kind of the same thing’ and with this kind of event I hope we can bring a little morning of happiness for all of our regulars and our new guests who love our iconic high teas,” Fleet Street Functions and Marketing Manager Sarah Knopke says.
“We’ve become renowned for our delicious high teas over the years and we thought this was a great way to celebrate that and also hold a special event for local residents with a quirky point of difference.
Tickets are $45 per person and include four courses, teas and a talk from May King.
To book visit www.trybooking.com/DJVA or call 3878 8899.
New Albion Farmers Market
Move over supermarkets, there’s another new farmer’s market in Brisbane.
Jan Power Farmers Markets will operate at the heritage flour mill site which is in the process of becoming Albion Mill Village from September 22.
Find it on Hudson Road, Albion from 7.30am to 2pm on the second and fourth Sunday of every month.
"Our aim for Albion is to provide a great balance between farm-fresh produce and delicious, ready-to-eat goodies so that a visit on a Sunday can include shopping for the week ahead, as well as something a little bit wonderful to eat and enjoy with family and friends," Jan Power says.
“For the first time in our markets history, the Albion Mill Village markets will include a sit down café under the Heritage building, providing people with the opportunity to sit and soak up the atmosphere of the markets and surrounds.”
Located Hudson Road beside the Albion Train Station, access to this market is easy. www.janpowersfarmersmarkets.com.au
Good Food Month in Sydney
Good Food Month, Australia’s largest food festival, hits Sydney this October and brings with it some of the country’s best chefs, restaurants, farmers, wine experts and artisan food producers across more than 500 events.
Capturing taste buds around the country, the program for The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Month presented by Citi, includes annual favourites such as the Night Noodle Markets, Let’s Do Lunch and Hats Off Dinners, along with new exciting events including Breakfast Club, Supper Club and Good Dinners Under $30.
My Sydney picks
* Night Noodle Markets (October 9-12, 14-19, 21-16) – Sydney’s best loved Asian hawker style food market has been extended to 16 nights this year, now including Saturdays.
* Surprise Saturday Lunch (throughout October) – once-only menus and out-of-the-box experiences from the likes of Ms G’s, 4Fourteen, Cafe Sydney and Rubyos.
* Bar Hop (throughout October) – Sydney’s star mixologists shake it up in style this month with a series of Tanqueray gin-inspired cocktails matched with a bar snack for $20.
Find out more at goodfood.com.au.
Good Food Month in Brisbane
For the first time Good Food Month has expanded to include Brisbane events. The lunch options are a little light on at this stage but I’m intrigued by some of the Hats Off dinner events.
- Esquire doing street food?
- Medieval Dinner at The Euro? (pictured above)
- Game of Rhones – Blood and Bones at Vintaged?
All sounds rather interesting. Get the full details here - http://brisbane.goodfoodmonth.com/hatsoff
This week I’m liking – Daintree Organics
I’m a believer. I’ve seen the light, tasted the goodness and know the health benefits, but, and it’s a big but, I’m busy and strapped for time.
That’s why this week I’m liking the box of fruit and veggies that arrived on my doorstep from Daintree Organics. I like the crunch of the beans that I stole from the paper packet on the way to the fridge, I liked that even after a few days, the baby spinach was fresh and good to use, and I liked the way it arrived in a recyclable cardboard box with insulation (see the box above).
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| My $53 organic fruit and veg box contents. |
Even better the folk at Daintree Organics tell me that stock I order on Sunday night arrives from the farm on Monday morning and that my entire order is picked, packed and processed order in a fridge - their 6 degree cool room - so it never gets hot which is so important in our Queensland climate.
Daintree is owned by Martin Meek, who was one of the founding partners in Flannerys.
Oh, and their prices seem exceptionally competitive, but you should check those yourself at www.daintreeorganics.com
Disclaimer: Ed+bK was gifted a Daintree Organics fruit and veg box.
Kerry Heaney