This week - Wander laughing through vineyards, dream a little Italian dream, enjoy a sky-high cuppa, and off to a seven-course dinner!
Welcome Jamie!
Rowes Arcade is set to be Jamie Oliver's new Brisbane home with a Jamie's Italian Restaurant tipped to open there later this year.It's a big one, with space for up to 240 people across two levels including a bar with seats for up to 80, and will be the largest Jamie's Italian in Australia.
Expect a bit of a stylish fit out with chandeliers contrasting with the original sandstone walls of the heritage-listed Arcade.
Wondering how this will differ from established inner city eatery Vapiano. Anyone able to compare the two? Please share in the comments section below.
Time for a cuppa!
Thumbs up to Virgin Australia for their promise to offer complimentary refreshments on all flights between Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, regardless of the fare type purchased. They say it will be a delicious snack and beverage and I hope that's correct. If I see a paper cup of luke warm water with a tea bag beside it heading my way when I ask for a cup of tea, I shall not be impressed. Just sayin'
I did enjoy a complementary glass of wine on my flight home from Sydney the other night - noice touch Virgin!
Lien Yeomans comes to Lutèce
Fans of the Green Papaya and acclaimed Vietnamese chef Lien Yeomans, will be rushing to their phones to book for a seven-course dinner at Romain Bapst's French restaurant, Lutece Bistro & Wine Bar on 26 February.It's flavour packed menu featuring crab, fish, prawn, lamb, duck and pork. Expect dishes such as grilled tiger prawns marinated in lemon myrtle and lemon myrtle mayonnaise. The combination of Romain Bapst's Alsation-French cuisine and Lien's Vietnamese heritage guarantees an interesting evening.
Wines by Hentley Farm Wines will be matched to each dish.
Bookings $135 per person. Call 3161 1858.
A taste of Plonk
I'm enjoying the new web series Plonk which is a behind the scenes comedy following a television crew as they stumble, glass-in-hand, around New South Wales' wine regions. I've seen enough television crews in action to know it's not all that far from the truth. There are five episodes in the series and all eventually will be online.
Kerry Heaney