This week's top food news - winners are grinners, bonus for beef lovers, two new openings, craft cocktail science master classes, Japan food tour, some great foodie events and more.
Entrée -
Take a bow
Eat the beast
Asian twist
First birthday
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| The Bakers Arms |
Hot baker
Brisbane’s worst vegetarian restaurant
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| il locale at Rosalie |
Just open
Main course
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| Francis and Marilyn Domenech |
Au revoir
One Brisbane's oldest restaurants, Baguette Bistrot, is up for sale. After 37 years Francis and Marilyn Domenech have listed their Racecourse Road Ascot restaurant for sale and are hanging up their aprons.
“While Racecourse Road is just on the verge of a new resurgence, we have run out of puff and want to take time travelling and to be with our family,” says Marilyn Domenech. The decision to sell was difficult because the restaurant is so busy at the moment, but we are happy to leave future growth for the new owners.”
Hospitality business broker Hugo Martin of ABS Business Sales is managing the sale and is expecting huge interest.
Craft Cocktail Science Master-classes
We can thank a French doctor for bringing us Absinthe, a Dutch doctor for introducing us to gin and bakers in the Middle East for giving us beer, but it takes a scientist to truly master the cocktail in all of its complex glory.
In the hidden depths of Brisbane’s favourite speakeasy, the Walrus Club’s own mad scientist is getting ready for this year’s National Science Week mixing up his very own cocktail science master-classes for those brave enough to enrol.
Andrew Cameron and the team at the Walrus Club will next week fling open the doors to showcase some of the more fanciful, startling and downright fascinating aspects of cocktail design over three free ‘Craft Cocktail Science Master-classes’, courtesy of Angostura Rum.
Kicking off at 5pm across the 15th, 16th and 17th of August, the sessions are open to anyone over the age of 18 who is interested in learning the science behind what has long been considered an art-form.
Tickets are free but limited. Find out more at the Walrus Club
Hello Japan
Sally Lynch from Taste Trekkers and Jane Lawson, former Kyoto resident and author of the cook book Zenbu Zen, are heading to the Kumamoto Prefecture of Japan in October and you are invited.
Their 11 day trip begins in Osaka and ends in Kyoto, the old imperial capital. Well off the usual food tourist trail, they will visit farmers living and working the land in an ancient volcanic crater, witness the intricacies of ramen making and lunch at a wagyu beef farm. There’s a visit to a small factory, that for centuries specialises in making made samurai swords and now makes acclaimed chef’s knives, a tea ceremony in a tea house dating from 1688, a demonstration of how a tofu skin is made and visit a family run sake brewery. Local experts at each stop will introduce the group to their towns, restaurants and inns and even their families, giving a deep entre into the Japanese culture.
Find out more here
This week I’m liking -
Boscastle family meat pie
I’m always on the lookout for easy family meals that don’t break the budget. At around $20 this generously-sized family pie ticks those boxes and also comes up high on flavour and ingredients. There’s nothing on the ingredient list that rings alarm bells and the filling looks and tastes just like a meat pie should and the pastry comes up golden and flakey. They are made in Melbourne by a family company who have been baking for generations. I would definitely have some of these in the freezer for those nights when it’s all too hard. Find it at good delis. Bostcastle
Cibo Cucina Lemon, Pine Nut & Vanilla Crumble Gelato
The South Australian based founders of the Cibo Espresso stores have branched out with a range of gelato made by two brothers from Florence who have trained at some of great artisan gelato shops in Italy. The Torta Della Nonna gelato is derived from a traditional Tuscan cake, generally made by a nonna or grandmother, and made using the same ingredients used by Italian grandmothers Italy. It’s a lemon and pine-nut custard tart in the form of creamy and smooth gelato. Totally delicious and great served with fresh strawberries. Cibo Cucina
Disclaimer: Ed+bK was supplied with these products
What’s on
A big welcome to Granite Belt winemaker Steve Messiter of Girraween Estate who will be in Brisbane on August 21 for a meet the winemaker event at Green Beacon. Tickets $45. Bookings at Green Beacon bookings@greenbeacon.com.au
Is this the first ever gig in a chocolate shop? Steve Sheldon of Monty’s Chocolates invites you to a free evening of original acoustic music by Brisbane folk musician Hannah Rosa, combining great original music and world class chocolate on Friday August 9. Monty’s renowned Italian hot chocolate, coffee, and other beverages will be available on the night. Monty’s Chocolates on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/montyschocolatespage
Kerry Heaney