Urban Bloom is a personal floral delivery service for regular subscribers.  In a nut shell – if you fancy having a lovely bouquet of flowers delivered straight to your home or office on a weekly, fortnightly or even monthly basis at a reasonable price, then this is the service for you.

Whilst I adore having a lovely floral arrangement as a centre piece in our dining room, I’m not fussed on paying premium florist prices for a bouquet and don’t have the time to get to the flower markets to nab them at a good price.  The Urban Bloom service finds a nice mid-waypoint between both options, by providing a convenient delivery service and a lovely floral arrangement bundled together for a reasonable price.

The bouquet provided on this occasion was a lovely, abundant combination of purple and pink roses ($35) and accompanying the delivery was friendly service.

The bouquets available from Urban Bloom range from a small bouquet ($35), medium arrangement ($48 – $65) to an attention seeking ensemble ($85) and deliveries occur on a Friday.

• For more information, check out www.urbanbloom.com.au

Perched on the balcony of the cafe, at the edge of Paddington’s steep and winding La Trobe Tce, it was hard to keep track of my brekky date’s conversation, as I continued to lose myself to the view over the leafy suburbs of Rosalie and Milton.  Such a pleasant distraction…

The Hamptons Home Living breakfast menu created an even bigger distraction for me however and it was lucky I’d done some online research prior to arriving; I had at least formed some sort of short list before I’d even sat down.

My creamy cappuccino gave me the focus and kick I needed to make a decision, and finally I was confident the smoked bacon and corn fritters, tomato relish, salsa verde, poached egg and jamon ($17) would float my proverbial boat.

A little on the pricier side of what I usually like to pay for breakfast, I was so delighted to see the dish arrive with ample portions of fritters, salsa and (so much) jamon.  The egg was poached with perfection, the fritters were full of flavour (not doughy) and the jamon was fresh, tasty and as mentioned, plentiful!

RD had to endure grunts of pleasure from my side of the table however he was having a love affair of his own with the Hamptons full breakfast; double smoked bacon, eggs, rosti, Portobello mushrooms, Roma tomatoes and leavain sourdough ($22).

The mushrooms were a standout – so buttery and lightly salted, also a very generous serve.  The rosti was crispy on the outside with soft potatoey goodness inside and the bacon had good crispy factor, while the scrambled eggs were bright and fluffy.

Other eye catching choices on my short list were the baked eggs, chorizo, slow cooked tomato, Yarra Valley Persian fetta and sourdough ($16) and smashed avocado, sourdough, Yarra Valley Persian fetta and rocket ($14).

After digesting the food and a bit more of the view, we headed inside to check out the home wares side of things at Hamptons Home Living.  The front of the store is packed with a range of home wares including French inspired trinkets, hand creams, lounge furniture, throws and cushions…the list goes on.

The Hamptons Home Living store has a very friendly, cosy feel to it; the staff are lovely and patient, on this occasion reflecting the serenity and peace of the view they get to admire all day long….jealous much?

• Hamptons Home Living – 180 La Trobe Terrace, Paddington +61 7 3367 2002

Not knowing just how popular or roomy it was, I booked a table for my party of 6, which in hindsight was a great idea – although the cafe was empty when we arrived, the people of Paddington took very little time in descending upon and filling the small venue.

The long narrow venue has been converted to (or perhaps already was) your typical QLD workers cottage dining area with high ceilings (ruby red in fact), VJ walls, noisy wooden floors and as promised, sweeping views of the Paddington hillside.

The staff were looking a little tired and perhaps reluctant…it was only two days into the new year after all…but they were pleasant, and mostly attentive.

The breakfast menu was a bit like torture – it all sounded so good, and the thought of missing out on something was painstaking.

In the end, I opted for the bubble and squeak hash cakes, wilted spinach and beetroot leaves, poached eggs and basil hollandaise sauce ($15), with a side of bacon ($4).

This truly was a taste sensation.  The hash cakes were full of chunky, soft potato and sweet potato, shallots, corn and goodness knows what else – they were insanely good.  The bacon was crispy, the eggs poached to my liking and the hollandaise sauce added a nice, subtle tang to the dish.

MM had his standard of scrambled eggs ($9.00); a really creamy, generous pile of eggs atop Ruby Cafe’s peasant sourdough.

T had the chorizo, braised leek and shallot, manchego baked eggs with tomato raisin chutney and ciabatta ($16.00).  Another generous, flavoursome serve and a spicy, creative combination from the Ruby Cafe chef.

The more standard menu items of poached eggs and bacon ($13) were also a hit around the table, with perfectly cooked eggs and crispy, lean bacon.

The coffees were a bit hit and miss, but overall pretty good and they do a mean hot chocolate.  Word on the street is that Ruby Cafe’s blueberry buttermilk pancakes are the bomb, but if you’re a not-so-sweet-tooth like me, do yourself a favour and have the hash cakes.

• Ruby Cafe – 233 Given Terrace, Paddington +61 7 3367 2274

The Brunswick Social, Brisbane welcomes you!

The little snippet (2 cocktails worth) of The Brunswick Social I had late on a Friday evening was enough to impress me and certainly enough to leave me wanting more.

Perhaps it’s the older crowd (and by older, I mean a majority of over 25’s I guess?) that made me feel at home, or the friendly bar staff shaking up some delicious cocktails for me and my sistas?  Notably, the distinct lack of messy teenagers and the presence of happy, friendly people together in one space relaxing into their weekend really did give the place a nice, welcoming atmposphere.

We only sampled a couple of items from the dumpling menu during our short stay.  Both $8 and a quantity of 3 per serve, we had the bbq pork dumplings and the steamed prawn dumplings.  Both were delicious…and I know a good pork bun when I have one!

Strangely enough, the whole cocktail and dumpling thing worked really well.  I like the idea of having yummy, warm, progressive tasty bites over a few gentle drinks with friends.  And with the tunes, the overall vibe and the space (you can find all sorts of cosy little alcoves to hide), The Brunswick Social has got the late night social scene all stitched up.

• The Brunswick Social – 367 Brunswick ST, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3252 3234

At La Cocina de Birdees, there is heaps of potential for an awesome night of tunes, food, booze and cute young things to look at and play with.  The alfresco bar (and pool!) area at Birdees is decked out with bench seating, huge bird cage-type lounges, heaps of cool decor and a very chilled vibe.  The only thing missing?  A decent feed…

MM and I pulled up a bench at La Cocina de Birdeeson a Friday evening chasing some easy Mexican to close out an average week at the office.  To their credit, the staff were really friendly and attentive.  They didn’t know much at all about the menu, but I suspect that’s due to the transient nature of the employees, which is fair enough.

We started things with a couple of tacos.  I had the La Gamba taco with spicy pan seared prawns and pico de gallo ($5).  Now, the waitress couldn’t tell me what pico de gallo was, so I consulted my friends at Google – a fresh, uncooked condiment made from chopped tomato, onion and chilli…a type of salsa essentially.  It was kind of hard to tell what was on the taco really…I know there were definitely a couple of prawns, but they weren’t particularly spicy or salsa-y.  There were however very rubbery, and they were accompanied by a whole lot of dry, shredded iceberg lettuce.  The taco itself was somewhere in between hard and soft, with a little bit of chewy thrown in as well.

 MM had the El Pollo taco with pulled chicken and guacamole ($5) which fit the same description above, with the inclusion of chicken instead of prawns.

Not particularly wowed at this point, but with the care factor reduced by our yummy jug of red wine sangria, we people watched while waiting for our mains.  Refer to previous comment of pretty, cute young things to look at….

We both decided on the crispy Mexican pork belly ($23) with polenta, guacamole, ensalada de col, grilled lime and tortilla for our mains.  What arrived was a very bland, baron looking plate of super fatty, anaemic pork belly pieces, accompanied by more dry, shredded iceberg lettuce (not quite the coleslaw that was promised), a corn inspired patty of polenta and a dollop of guacamole.

The meaty part of the pig was pretty much non-existent…I think the only part of the animal we were served was a thick layer of flavourless fat, covered in another layer of fat, all held and bound together by a salty, thin and crispy skin.  Unimpressed much?  Pushing my helping of lard to the side, I sampled the polenta but didn’t get far with that either.  Dry, crumbly, bland…with the occasional piece of corn…call in the forensic team – the polenta died of boredom and was quite possibly days old.  And the shredded lettuce…well…what more can I say?

The desserts were interesting – not exactly good but not exactly bad.  I had the deep fried ice cream – fairly standard, but the batter was kind of thick and had a rather crumbed and fried chicken smell and look to it.  I ate it, so there’s an indication of how it stacked up to the other items on the menu I sampled.

MM had the churros.  Much to his disappointment, they were cold.  Stone cold.  Not even a tiny hit in the microwave – just straight from the freezer for a quick thaw out, before being plonked on a plate with some strangely flavoured dipping sauces (not even chocolate!).  It was at this point that MM’s face and heart finally sank…we had been defeated and deflated by the La Cocina de Birdees menu.

We threw back what was left of our sangria (which was definitely lacking in alcohol content), payed our bill and parted ways with the growing crowd of young things looking for a big night out.  I hate to think what myriad of sins occurred at the premises later that evening….

Needless to say, we won’t be returning for dinner to La Cocina de Birdees, but I won’t rule out a cool beverage or two by the pool on a hot summer’s day – that’s got a whole lot more fun written all over it.

• La Cocina de Birdees, 608 Ann St, Fortitude Valley +61 1800 682 865

In a carnivorous mood but with an empty fridge we decided to head to the The Steakhouse at The Piney for a steak as opposed to our usual choice of the Breakfast Creek Hotel which is a substantially longer drive from our home.

A fairly new-ish renovation and addition to the historical Pineapple Hotel, The Steakhouse is a fresh, roomy and pleasant area to dine, with your typical cold cabinet display of red meat, cut any which way you like it – with the standard process of lining up to order at the counter and taking a number.

The restaurant was fairly quiet on this occasion and our waitress was super friendly and attentive, making sure we were well hydrated and comfortable throughout our dinner.  Unfortunately, whilst the ambience and staff were nothing to fault, the food at The Steakhouse was a real let down.

To be fair, my Thai beef salad with coriander, bean sprouts, carrot, onion tatsoi, cashews and Thai dressing ($18) was ok – it was reasonable in serving size, and the beef was very tender, cooked to my liking and I was pretty happy with the price.  However, the salad itself was well off the
mark with the dressing very tart and too tangy with a very strong presence of sweet chilli sauce from the bottle and not much else by way of Thai flavours.  I pretty much ate the beef off the top and left the rest for the rabbits.

MM chose the 200g MSA eye fillet described as short loin, classic thick sliced, lean and tender with pepper sauce, chips and salad ($32.00).
Expecting a nicely rounded, thick fillet of juicy beef, MM was presented with a large, thin, messy, who-knows-what-cut of cow, laced with fat, over cooked and chewy.  Unimpressed, MM made the comparison of his meal with a cheap cut of meat from a local supermarket – which he’d be happy to eat if he’d only paid 5 bucks for it.

Unable and uninterested in finishing his meal, we wrapped things up pretty quickly at The Steakhouse and headed home to sulk in our state of dissatisfaction.
We’d sooner drive the distance to the Breakfast Creek Hotel, or the Normal Hotel to spend the same, or even more money on an eye fillet and come away very happy, full and satisfied.

• The Steakhouse, Pineapple Hotel – 706 Main St, Kangaroo Point.

In the past, the Rosalie cafe scene hasn’t really been my cup of tea – much like Park Rd Milton, a little over rated and over priced with a bit too much attitude.  My recent lunch at Salt however saw no signs of pretence and whilst I wouldn’t rave about it, it was a pleasant and tasty experience.

From a cosmetic point of view, Salt has a warm, friendly feel to it with modern decor and a nice alfresco dining area overlooking Nash St and the surrounding area.  The staff were very friendly and attentive and helpful with any queries we had regarding the menu.

There is a range of enticing options on the lunch time menu, including interesting salad combinations, gourmet pizzas and burgers, as well as tasting plates.  With only half an appetite following a large, late breakfast I opted for the warm pork salad ($20.90) with pork medallions, roast pumpkin, fetta, pine nuts and balsamic mixed leaves.  The presentation of the dish was lovely and although the pork was slightly dry and overcooked, the flavours of the salad including the balsamic were exceptional – I really was pleasantly surprised.

JPC decided on the pan fried salt and pepper squid with a Spanish inspired salad ($19.90).  It’s always a gamble with squid and calamari – who knows if it’s going to arrive battered (to death), over-fried and chewy? To be honest, I think JPC would’ve been happier with the greasy option, but what arrived were lovely strips of seasoned and slightly charred squid – no crumbs, batter or chewiness in sight – a top a fresh, green salad with roasted peppers and red onion.

Princess also went for a healthy option of the Salt Salad with thyme and lime chicken breast, Tom Thumb tomatoes, fetta, seasoned avocado salsa and wild rocket ($19.90).  The chicken was super tender and plentiful, atop a beautiful fresh bed of salad. The avocado salsa was so divine you could eat it by the spoonful. 

Whilst we really enjoyed our meals I can’t help but think the menu at Salt is slightly over priced by a couple of bucks per item – in my opinion, 20 bucks for a salad is a little hard to swallow.  The helpings weren’t small, but they weren’t exactly huge and I know how much green stuff I can buy at the markets for $20 – it would feed a small army.  Even so, we did have a pleasant and otherwise faultless experience at Salt.

Salt is also open for breakfast and dinner, both of which I’ve heard great things.  If you’ve tried the breakfast menu at Salt, we’d be pleased to hear your thoughts!

• Salt – 5 Nash St, Rosalie +61 7 3367 0775

To be honest I had always assumed Satay Hut boasted a Thai menu, which they do, however they also have very comprehensive Malaysian and Chinese menus as well, with noodles and stir fry dishes pretty much any way you can think of.

The ambience and decor at Satay Hut is fresh, friendly and relaxing with a very large and very well sheltered outdoor dining area.  My party of four was chomping at the bit to get stuck into the Malaysian menu.  As far as choices go, the Malaysian entrees are generally always same-same no matter where you go, so we once again kicked things off with the standards of satay beef skewers ($12.90), chicken, potato, pea and carrot curry puffs ($9.50) and roti canai served with peanut satay sauce and Malaysian curry sauce ($10.90).

 With our Malaysian feasting thus far, the roti canai is always the dish that I like to keep a close eye on.  Whilst most of the roti breads you get are very similar, there are really subtle differences that can make or break one’s roti experience!  Satay Hut’s roti was good – but it wasn’t great.  Now I’m no expert, but this roti was a little dry and flat, lacking the crispy, flaky outer shell and the fluffy, moist, doughy middle that can set a roti apart and take you to true roti heaven.  The accompanying sauces were nothing to rave about, but not unpleasant either.

The satay skewers and curry puffs were not particularly remarkable and if anything the pastry around the curry puffs was a little thick and dry, and the beef skewers a little over cooked which was disappointing.

For mains we began with the Malaysian chicken curry ($20.90), another good bench mark dish for getting a feel for Malaysian kitchen quality.  Satay Hut’s Malaysian chicken had a nice flavour, but the chicken meat seemed overcooked and a little like what you’d see from a fast food or bain marie type kitchen.

The combination laksa noodle soup ($19.90) with chicken, prawns, squid, fish cakes, tofu, beans, eggplant, beansprouts, coconut cream, hokkein noodles and rice vermicelli was pretty good and full to the brim with a strange yet compelling mix of textures.  The coconut cream factor was pleasantly present.

The prawn char kwai teow ($22.90) was another dish from Satay Hut that was fairly pedestrian, with a distinct lack of that smoky, chilli infused flavour that we’ve been spoilt with at other Malaysian venues.  The prawn element was generous, but this didn’t really make up for what was otherwise a lack lustre attempt this famous flat rice noodle dish.

The Nasi Goreng ($19.90) with onion, capsicum, tofu, egg, prawns, fish cakes, squid and fried rice was once again a very generous dish, sporting all sorts of elements.  This dish was mildly spicy and had a nice flavour, but the addition of everything but the kitchen sink was almost too much!

The serving sizes of the Malaysian menu at Satay Hut are really generous, so whilst the price tags seem a little high, you won’t go hungry.  

Satay Hut isn’t quite on the money as other more authentic and home-style Malaysian venues around town, but they do a pretty good job at it and provide a huge amount of variety when it comes to menu choices.

• Satay Hut - Shop 3 Little Stanley St, Southbank +61 7 3846 6600

Swiss food, like its people, is largely influenced by its neighbouring countries with the exception of course, of fondue which the Swiss can credit themselves for.   The menu at Des Alpes mostly takes on German and French style cuisine combined with traditional Swiss flavours and at the helm of the kitchen is a chef who can pump out a variety of eye fillet steaks at a rate of knots, always seemingly cooked to the customer’s specifications.

On our recent visit to Des Alpes we thought it would be remiss to not indulge in some fondue action, so for an entree the four of us shared a Swiss cheese fondue ($10.50pp).  The hot pot of melted Swiss cheese prepared with garlic, white wine and kirsch (brandy) was so rich, but so, so more-ish.

Maybe it’s just me, but there’s something fun and child-like about being able to stab pieces of bread with a skewer and swish it around in a gooey pit of cheese….

We also shared a small pot of the escargot, out of the shell served with mushroom sauce and a pastry top ($12.50).  I’m not a huge fan of snails, but at the same time I don’t dislike them; I guess the most noteworthy thing about the Des Alpes snails is that they weren’t overpowered with garlic, which was a nice change.

After practically licking the pot of cheese clean it was always going to be a struggle with mains – a word of warning, go easy on the fondue, and make sure you wash it down with white wine or Coke to help with digestion.

I decided to have the Zurich geschnetzeltes ($26.50); sliced veal in mushroom cream sauce served with Swiss rosti potatoes and salad.  The veal was tender and the mushroom sauce full of flavour and thankfully not too salty.  The rosti potatoes were like a little piece of hash brown heaven!

MM had the prime eye fillet steak with homemade Bernaise sauce ($27.50) also served with rosti potatoes.  The tender steak fillet was cooked medium rare as requested and the Bernaise was delicious.

PM, although with much deliberation, opted for the eye fillet steak Chasseur with sautéed bacon, mushrooms and shallot ($27.50).

CM tried his luck with the eye fillet steak Provencal with tomatoes, herbs and garlic butter ($27.50).

Again, the steaks were both cooked to perfection and the subtle addition of traditional sauce/toppings makes each dish slightly different but equally delightful.

Somehow we managed to squeeze in dessert.  CM & PM shared the parfait flambé Grand Marnier ($12.50).  The home made orange and Grand-Marnier ice cream was chocolate coated and flambé with cognac – another novelty dish for the evening – what is it about flames and food that makes an evening so exciting?!

MM and I shared a serving of the creamy profiteroles ($8.50) drizzled in smooth chocolate sauce.

The Des Alpes experience was yet another exercise in over indulgence, which of course we thoroughly enjoyed.  The staff are friendly and you can tell they are considered an extension of the owners’ family as there is such a warm and caring vibe about this restaurant.  The meals, whilst not the prettiest, are honest and home made with love.

Des Alpes is open for dinner Tuesday to Sunday and lunch Friday to Sunday.  On market days they are open for breakfast and lunch.

• Des Alpes Swiss Restaurant – 47 Blackwood St, Mitchelton +61 7 3355 9627

Ole’s opening week couldn’t be timelier – smack bang in the middle of Brisbane Festival 2011 where the crowds around Southbank are at a peak, on top of the fact it’s also school holidays.  Pretty smart! 

MM and his siblings decided there was no better way to spend a sunny spring Saturday than over a few cool beers and progressive tasty tapas, so off to Ole we went.

The waiter had me picked before I even took a seat – with a quick exchange of knowing glances he promptly bought me a glass of the Ole red sangria, while the boys went with the authentic Spanish beer Estrella, uncannily pronounced ‘a-stray-ya’…

We decided to select a heap of items from both the Tapas and Racione (slightly more substantial than tapas) menus – there were plenty to choose from, all sounding equally as delightful as each other, making the decision somewhat tricky.

The chilli and garlic prawns were exceptional – not too hot, and not too garlicky – just right.

The chorizo and squid with cherry tomatoes – I love it when the chorizo is elegantly sliced like this and the squid was cooked to perfection, although the little creature’s suckers kept sticking to my tongue….eek!

The jamon was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, although the portion was tiny compared to the price – watch out for this one, it really was the only one I was a little taken back with on price and portion.

The ‘patatas’ were thick and chunky and drizzled on top was a tasty, mildly spicy sauce.

Also around the table was chicken skewers with fragrant safron rice;

Battered chickpea balls with spicy dipping sauce

Chorizo and beef meatballs

A little too wrapped up in my sangrias and the conversation, my attention to detail on the menu item names and prices fell mostly by the way side.  I guess all you really need to know is that the prices are fairly standard as far as tapas goes – you know, kind of pricey at first glance for small morsels (anywhere from $8 – $16), but worth it for the flavour sensations, relaxing atmosphere, friendly staff and authentic tapas experience.

• Ole Restaurant, Shop B12 Little Stanley St, Southbank +61 7 3846 1201

A few interesting facts:  Ipoh, pronounced ‘ee-poh’ is a town in the State of Perak in Malaysia with the highest population of Chinese immigrants than any other Malaysian state, due to the influx during the gold rush era.  In conjunction with Malaysian and Chinese flavours, Ipoh cuisine was largely influenced by the British and Portuguese presence as well. 

Each of us around the table at Ipoh Laksa was fairly inexperienced when it came to Malaysian menu knowledge, so we really didn’t know what to choose.  As such, random selection prevailed. 

For entrees we pretty much sampled one of everything on the menu:

Samosas, or vegetarian curry puffs, $4.80 for 4 pieces.

Vegetarian spring rolls, $4.80 for 4 pieces. 

Skewered satay chicken sticks, $7.60 for 4 pieces and skewered satay beef sticks, $7.60 for 4 pieces. 

In all honesty, the entrees at Ipoh Laksa were pretty standard and nothing to write home about – the samosa expert at the table wasn’t particularly impressed, even suggesting these and the spring rolls may have spent some time in the freezer. 

Thankfully, the main dishes were a completely different story – whether we just got lucky with the selection we made, or if all the Ipoh Laksa dishes are this good, who knows?  Either way, we hit the jackpot in a big way. 

The char keow teow ($13.90) was one of the faves, with wok tossed flat rice noodles, prawns, chicken, fish cakes, Chinese sausage, egg, bean sprouts and chilli.

Also worth a mention, and well worth returning for was the sambal prawn stir fry ($18.20).  Spicy, but not unbearably, this dish was smoky, fresh and so flavoursome.

We struggled our way through the Ipoh curry Laksa ($12.00) with coconut curry stock, vermicelli noodles, Hokkien noodles, fish cake, fish balls, egg, chicken, bean curd and bean sprout.  This dish was probably the least impressive – I didn’t see too much in the way of fish cakes, fish balls or chicken – it was mostly noodles, noodles, and more noodles, with a very overwhelming coconut flavour.

The beef rendang ($12.80) was delicious – unlike many dry and stringy beef rendang I’ve tried in the past, Ipoh Ipoh Laksa‘s rendang meat was tender, moist and full of flavour in a generous sauce to mop up with more roti.

Whilst tasty, with a great combination of flavours and textures, the Nasi goreng ($12.80) was your stock-standard blend of spicy fried rice with prawns, chicken, egg, bean curd and vegies (no pic for this one, sorry).  The roti canai with curried chicken ($12.80) was insanely good – I have no idea if the bread was made fresh or pulled from the freezer, but it was doughy in the middle and crispy at the edges and when drowned in the curry sauce it was groan worthy.

We finished things off with some deep fried ice cream and as the last of the staff lingered, waiting for us to down spoons and leave, we pretty much had to be rolled from the restaurant.

Ipoh Laksa is a family owned and operated restaurant, by ex-pats of Ipoh, so one can only imagine the cuisine is authentic and consistent with that found in Malaysia itself.  In any case, it’s no fuss, delicious, fresh and flavoursome cuisine and well worth a visit.  Open 7 days for lunch and dinner, they also do takeaway and allow BYO wine.  

• Ipoh Laksa Malaysian Kitchen – 738 Main St, Kangaroo Point +61 7 3891 2777

One of the many performances on the agenda for Brisbane Festival 2011 is Beautiful Noise, playing at the purpose built QUT festival theatre at the Brisbane Powerhouse, from now until the 10^th September.

A brilliant, awe-inspiring and breathtaking show of tap dancing, acrobatics, contortionism, grace, strength and pure athleticism is one not to be missed! 

The outdoor arena intimately surrounds the imposing, external facade of the Powerhouse which becomes the backdrop for projected images, and a platform for some wicked horizontal, gravity defying tap dancing and amazing abseiling-inspired acrobatics.

Tickets to the event will set you back $40; the hour long show will keep you on the edge of your seat and wanting more.  For more information on Beautiful Noise and all the events on the calendar for Brisbane Festival 2011, check out visitbrisbane.com.au 

• Beautiful Noise (Brisbane Festival 2011) – Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

 Whilst I’m personally not 100% sold on the concept, it certainly seems to work pretty well if the constant line up of people was anything to go by.  One hand, the lovely boutique-style, beachside inspired decor, sweeping river views and intimate design details of Jude lend it to being somewhere you’d settle in for a long boozy lunch with the ladies of leisure. 

In contrast on the other hand, you order and pay at the counter from a selection of pre-made meals that get heated up and then you’re issued with a buzzer which goes crazy when your meal is ready to collect.  And to top it off – it all arrives to the counter in a brown cardboard box of sorts.

 My party of three were a bit perplexed by the whole process to be honest, but the customers kept on coming, so I’m thinking the owners might be onto a winner.  The pre-made meals all look pretty damn tasty – there’s a great selection of daily salads, risotto balls, lamb balls, rice balls – balls of all sorts ready to be thrown into the microwave and then sidled up next to a salad.  There are also gourmet pies, fish and chips, quiches, lasagnes, paninis and more.

Richo had the Jude curry special of the day – bite sized pieces of lightly fried pork atop a bed of satay rice ($12.90).  Not my cup of tea – too much fried stuff, but Richo thought it was flavoursome and filling.

SS had the Thai chicken balls with salad and rice ($15.90), which looked pretty good.  The generous clumps of chicken pattie and rice were in a nice Thai style sauce, accompanied by the Thai style salad of the day.

The menu boasts the ‘best burgers ever’ so without much contemplation I decided to take Jude up on the challenge.  I’ve had some good burgers in my time and I suspected their claim to be a little bold.  I chose the satay chicken burger with chips and salad ($17.90).  The chicken pattie was pretty good – nice creamy satay flavour, good peanut sauce and some pleasant greenery on top.  Was it the best burger ever?  Errr…Nope.

We enjoyed our meals from our funny little cardboard boxes outside in the alfresco area which would’ve been lovely if it weren’t one of Brisbane’s coldest, windiest days this Winter – there’s no cat-swinging inside at Jude, so beware on cooler days and perhaps try to book ahead if you’ve got more than 2 or 3 people with you.

•  Jude – 9/1 Eagle St, Brisbane CBD +61 7 3220 2201

MM and I were on a very exciting mid-week double date with R & B who like us enjoy a big honest feed accompanied by a modest helping of wine and good comany.  The menu at Campo Dei Fiori certainly appealed to us all, with a great range of pizzas, pastas and typical Italian mains/secondi.  A specials board thrown in the mix made it all a very hard decision.

We decided to skip entrees as the serving sizes coming out from the kitchen looked very generous and we all felt it necessary to leave plenty of room for some dessert.  Whilst scanning the menu, we opened ourselves a bottle of red, fresh from R & B’s cellar.  The service at Campo Dei Fiori was a little vague and careless and the staff seemed particularly disinterested in taking our orders.  Eventually we got there, making a small ruckus to get their attention.

MM chose the gnocchi al pomodoro, home made with Napoli sauce and parmesan cheese ($20).  What arrived was a very large plate of big, round gnocchi lumps that were stodgy and gluggy, lacking any interesting flavour and looked to be re-heated in the microwave.  Enough said.

I opted for the fettuccini and spicy chorizo special in Napoli sauce with parmesan and olives ($24).  Again, a very large, inelegant helping arrived; the sausage chunks were too big and the Napoli sauce whilst perfectly spicy was otherwise bland.

R chose the other special of the day, the fettuccini with grilled Moreton Bay bugs in a Napoli marinara sauce with parmesan ($24).  The bugs were (thankfully) cooked well and had a nice sweet tasty flesh.  The Napoli sauce was obviously from the same pot out of which the previous two dishes came and toned down what could’ve been a delicious, punchy marinara dish.

B was the only one who chose from the extensive pizza menu, having the quattro stagioni with ham, salami, mushrooms, olive, tomato, mozzarella and cheese ($20.50).  The fluffy crusted, crispy based pizza was pretty nice, perhaps a little dry – lacking much in the way of sauce, but the flavours were nice and the toppings generous.

For dessert we all shared a blueberry panacotta and the lemocello ice cream (both $7).  I don’t like panacotta, but there was a general ‘meh’ from the table with regards to how this one stacked up.  The lemoncello (lemon sorbet coated in white chocolate) was in fact a hit – I’d almost go back for that alone, particularly on a hot summery day.

There’s something to be said for traditional home style, mamma’s kitchen type Italian cooking and I think that’s what we were expecting from Campo Dei Fiori.  We weren’t looking for dainty, mouse sized, perfectly presented meals but something with a little more authenticity, flavour and perhaps even a little love.

• Campo Dei Fiori – 278 Junction Rd, Clayfield +61 7 3857 3893

The road may be busy and you can just hear the trains, but that doesn’t seem to matter once you step inside the tastefully decorated Montra Thai Day Spa.  The owner, I gather her name is Mon by the newsclipping proudly displayed by the entrance, is a lovely gentle soul who greets you with a seat, a smile and camomile tea. After some form filling, it was not long before I was taken into a  comfortable, clean private room, which was set at a warm balmy temperature, just right for me, but may be a bit warm for some.

I’ve had my fair share (or should that be unfair share?) of massages and this was certainly up there with the best. I was lucky enough to get Mon herself and she certainly knew what she was doing. I had 60 minutes of the traditional Thai message with oil. I was told that without oil, the massage targets pressure points and is a bit harder, whereas with oil is more for relaxation. Best of all, I was completely at ease with Mon and felt I could let her know if I thought the massage was too hard or too soft (it was neither). And there was none of the “hmmm, not too sure about this, that’s my spine, ooh, spinal cord…” which I have experienced in the past. I felt I was in safe hands.

After being given the full hour, and then some, I came out of my room to a small tray with a glass of water, more tea and two crispy spring rolls. I’m not too sure if the spring rolls come standard as it was lunch time, but it’s these small inexpensive touches which always impress me. 

Montra Thai Day Spa does a range of massage types (including for pregnancy), body scrubs, facials and reflexology starting from $90. Full details are on their informative website. They are having a special at the moment: $99 for 1.5hrs including traditional thai massage with oil, hydrating facial, foot spa ritual and light Thai meal. Not sure when that special ends.

Montra Thai Day Spa is open 9am to 9pm, 7 days a week. It’s not clear to me when Mon sleeps, but I will definitely be back and send friends and rellies her way.  Sorry, no pics for this one!

• Montra Thai Day Spa – 117 Annerley Rd, Dutton Park

Regulars to the Logan Rd precinct across from the Gabba (with the occasional tipple at nearby Canvas), Bistrot Bistro was a chance encounter for MM and I recently, even though we’d had our eyes on it for quite some time.

In an effort to take care of our hip pockets as well as our waistlines, we decided to keep it a low key affair, ordering only some bread to share, a main each and a dessert to share (as opposed to the usual bottle or two of French wine, bread, starters, mains and desserts – read: minimal sharing!).

The Bistrot Bistro restaurant itself is a beautifully restored and decorated warehouse with high ceilings, beautiful fittings, lovely art work, a gorgeous comptoir and romantic mood lighting.  The waiters were prompt, attentive and friendly – not too snobby but not too casual.

To start, we decided to be a little adventurous by choosing the duck liver pate, red wine jelly and baguette to share.  The baguette, which I suspect was baked onsite, was divinely doughy and the red wine jelly was so good that the normally non-red wine-jelly-eating MM even enjoyed it.  As for the foie gras – it’s official, we’re not fans.  The big, plump quenelle of pate was pretty much untouched, much to the waiter’s dismay; however, I’m sure to the trained palette, this pate would’ve been tantalising.

For a main I couldn’t go past the seafood bouillabaisse ($32), perfectly warming on a cold winter’s night.  Unlike other bouillabaisse I’ve tried in the past, Bistrot Bistro’s was not based on a thick tomatoey soup, but rather a light, fragrant broth with the odd minted pea sprinkled throughout.  The bugs, mussels, prawns and other fishy pieces were fresh and flavoursome, cooked to perfection and left me wanting more, however I was adequately full.

MM decided on the filet mignon, rare, on a bed of potato mash and red wine jus ($38).  Cooked to perfection, this was probably the best filet mignon we’d sampled in years – and that’s a big call from such regular carnivores as ourselves.  The red wine jus was light and the potato creamy and lump-less.

For dessert we shared the home made profiteroles with vanilla ice cream ($15).  Needless to say this were the perfect end to a lovely meal at Bistrot Bistro.

Our only regret is not ordering entrees in order to sample more of the beautiful, modern French cuisine on offer at Bistrot Bistro.

• Bistrot Bistro – 14 Logan Rd, Woolloongabba +61 7 3162 1185

Biagio is essentially a fine dining Italian restaurant, complete with the white linen tablecloths and service to match, but with modern and elegant decor and a relaxed, casual feel to it.  The price list isn’t exactly inexpensive, but the dining experience at Biagio is well and truly an exercise in value for money.

The menu is no less than exceptional, with almost too many items to choose from and unfortunately for my waistline, a hard-to-go-past Italian feast – a seriously delicious and creative 11 dishes.  This was a birthday celebration for yours truly, so we decided to lash out a little….okay, a lot…by choosing the Italian feast ($89 per head) and an accompanying few bottles of Cape Mentelle Sauvignon Blanc ($39 – Biagio is also BYO wine, which we were unaware of at the time).

The feast started with a lovely, onion free tomato and olive oil bruschetta.

The share plates that followed were plentiful but not too filling, rich in flavour (but not too overbearing) and contained the freshest produce, including seafood and meat, salad and vegetables.  I can’t remember an Italian meal so thoroughly enjoyed unanimously by a group of people in my presence!

First up – whole, local calamari grilled and served with a Sicilian salmoriglio of extra virgin olive oil, lemon and fresh herbs.

Cozze Sute – blacklip mussels served in a light tomato sauce with a touch of white wine, extra virgin olive oil and fresh herbs.

Gamberi Sute – large Queensland banana prawns sautéed with extra virgin olive oil, white wine, a touch of tomato, chilli and garlic.

Capesante – grilled half shell Queensland scallops served with salmoriglio.

Moreton Bay bugs grilled and served with salmoriglio.

Gnocchetti con Polpa di Granchio – petite (we’re talking small here, I feel for the chef who had to make these tiny morsels with their bare hands!) potato gnocchi served with fresh crab meat, tomato, extra virgin olive oil, chilli and coriander.

Costolette di Agnello all Griglia – sovereign 5 star lamb cutlets chargrilled and served with salmoriglio.and seasonal green vegetables.

Scaloppine al Ragu di Funghi Porcini – grass fed tender veal medallions panfried and served with slow cooked porcini mushroom ragu.

For dessert, we received a large share plate with selections of Biagio’s decadent homemade desserts including cannoli, pannacotta with strawberries, profiteroles, chocolate mud cake…the list goes on.

I couldn’t fault a single dish in the Italian feast at Biagio and I can’t even pick a favourite – they were all exceptional, well presented and generously portioned.  The flavours were authentic and passionate, as was the service.  I’ll be returning to Biagio in no time to sample some of the other items from the a la carte menu.

• Biagio Restaurant – 191 Musgrave Rd, Red Hill +61 7 3369 7417

The girls and I booked a table at The Villager Hotel for a quick lunch break mid-week and found everything from the service, the food and the ambience to be what we collectively described as ‘meh’.  Only a scattering of tables were occupied in the cosy, rustic dining area, however the service was blasé and pretty much non-existent, as our waitress had no interest in taking our order, or even acknowledging our presence…

After making a small scene just to get noticed and our orders taken, we started with the tomato, basil and fetta bruschetta ($11) to share from the tapas menu.  The kitchen was a little slow to deliver, but once it arrived we were pretty impressed with our starter.  The generous pile of tiny diced tomato pieces was drizzled with balsamic and delicate strands of basil, random chunks of fetta and to my delight there was a distinct absence of diced onion.

The mains weren’t too slow in arriving which was a welcome relief.  Princess had the garlic and prawn risotto with congnac cream ($25).  Although not much to look at with its brown, sloppy appearance, the risotto was cooked well and the prawny chunks were fresh and flavoursome.  The cognac cream however was too rich, overbearing and too salty.

I opted for a pasta dish too, having the confit salmon fettuccine with sugar snaps, shaved pecorino and champagne cream ($24).  The serving wasn’t perhaps as generous as I would’ve expected, however once again too salty, too rich and as such I couldn’t finish it anyway.  The salmon pieces were cooked nicely but overpowered by the creamy sauce.

JA had some success with her choice of the wagyu beef burger with hand cut chips and salad ($16).  The patty was nice and plump, cooked well and had a nice big gooey blob of cheese on top, all nestled in a cosy, crusty roll.  And the chips were pretty much spot on.

The menu at The Villager Hotel has some really nice options on it and I suspect a slight attitude adjustment from the staff may see a shift towards a pleasant dining experience.

Whilst I won’t rush back for lunch, I wouldn’t mind spending some time on the tapas menu, with a cocktail or fish-bowl size glass of red wine in one hand.  The Villager Hotel has that feel to it like it wants to go off (in a good way!), but it hasn’t quite figured out how.

Maybe it’s the supper club experience which makes The Villager Hotel shine?

• The Villager Hotel (Gastrobar) – 185 George St Brisbane CBD +61 7 3211 1300

King George Square has been converted into a mini Alpine village with food and beverage stalls lining the concourse outside Town Hall; from churros and donuts to Gluhwein and chai lattes, this little village doesn’t quite match that of those you’ll find in the Swiss Alps, but it’s a enough of a taste to make you feel like you haven’t totally missed out on the magical winter experience that our European mountain dwelling counterparts get to enjoy for 4 months on the calendar.

Following a rather disheartening false start on opening day (with a blown chiller valve), things at Alpine Winter Festival were soon back on track as the temps around Brisbane hit some all time lows – perfect timing!

MM and I took a burn around the ice on the long weekend after summonsing up some Dutch courage with a mug full of Gluhwein, included in our ticket for skating and skate hire ($35pp).  The open air ice rink sure is a novelty and it’s the first time Brisbane-ites have seen anything like it in their own town.  Perched in the middle of King George square under the towering clock of Town Hall, the ice rink is such a spectacle it’s practically stopping traffic on Ann St.

The skating experience is an act in survival of the fittest, as kids, adults, kids in adult bodies and small orange plastic seal pups scuffle around in fits of hysteria and unorganised chaos for 45 minutes.  MM stuck close by the barriers, white knuckles glowing and a look of sheer terror on his face as the weekend warriors blazed past him.  Showing my skating prowess I ducked and weaved amongst the other wanna-be queens of the ice and twirled with finesse unsurpassed by my fellow skaters….no, really, that’s how it went….

With a sigh of relief that we’d survived the skating experience, we ditched our hire skates and wondered the alpine inspired village in search of some winter treats.  MM and I can’t go past the German Sausage Hut (no matter what the season), so we stopped in there for a kransky and bread ($7), accompanied by an ice cold beer as we did some serious winter wonderland people-watching.

The Alpine Winter Festival has brought young, old and in betweeners out of the woodwork this winter and added a buzz in the city which you don’t usually see this time of year.  Don’t expect it all to be smooth sailing however – the skate hire and cloak room processes could do with some refinement and the skating itself is a mess….but I think it’s all worth it for a touch of winter magic.

The Brisbane Alpine Winter Festival runs until June 26^th; you can buy tickets online or at the ticket office in the alpine village.

• Alpine Winter Festival Brisbane – King George Square, Brisbane CBD info@winterfestival.com.au

My work buddies and I are regulars at My Thai Kitchen due to its proximity to the office and the fact they serve super quick meals that are great value and delicious.

This cosy little establishment has just enough room to swing the proverbial cat and a great range of Asian groceries to peruse while you wait for your meal.  There are all sorts of curry pastes for 2 bucks a pop, packets of noodles in all shapes and sizes, cooking utensils and more.

We usually kick things off with a serve of the Thai spring rolls ($6.00 for 4) filled with shredded cabbage leaves, carrots, glass noodles and fresh herbs.

My favourite main is the pad prik king ($12.50) with beef, bamboo shoots, Thai basil, red capsicum all stir fried with curry paste, thinly sliced kaffir lime leaves and a touch of coconut cream.  It’s a mildly spicy dish and because it’s not drowned in heavy sauce and coconut cream I find it much easier to avoid that drowsy feeling you get after a hot meal at lunch.

Princess sticks to her usual of chicken and cashew nut stir fry ($12.50) with garlic, chilli, onions, red capsicum and shallots with chilli jam and roasted cashew nuts.  Although they always pack it full of too much onion, the flavour of this dish is delicious and not insipid like some of the other chicken and cashew you might find around town.

DAP always has the yellow chicken curry ($12.50) made with a delicate paste of turmeric, galangal, kaffir limes, lemongrass, garlic and chillies with coconut cream, potatoes, tomatoes and coriander leaves.  My Thai Kitchen’s yellow curry is very mild but manages to maintain a lovely strong flavour and is the best option if you’re not a fan of too much chilli.

The lunch time meals are no frills, no fuss – all served in plastic takeaway dishes, even if you’re hanging at the huge share-table to dine in.  What they lack in presentation, the dishes make up for in flavour and size – they’re huge!!

My Thai Kitchen’s lunch time menu runs Wednesday through to Friday from 12 – 2pm and is a cut down version of their dinner menu, at a reduced rate as well.  It’s well worth a visit.

Has anyone tried My Thai Kitchen’s cooking classes?  We’d be chuffed to hear your thoughts….

• My Thai Kitchen – Shop 18, 36 Baroona Rd, Milton +61 7 3369 8555

One of the participating retailers is the ultra cool and seriously original Stone and Metal Contemporary Jewellery.  Located just off James St, Stone and Metal is an almost hidden treasure and well worth a visit if original, chunky, raw, delicate, how-did-they-do-that pieces are your kind of thing.

The Stone and Metal gallery beautifully displays contemporary jewellery from around the world as well as hand crafted pieces from Australian designers.  Just my luck, the beautiful sterling silver bracelet bundle I had my eye on was a little (ok, a lot) outside my price range but there are plenty of affordable designs as well, of all shapes and sizes.

Combinations of sterling silver pieces with pretty gemstones, chunky aquamarine, amethyst and other rocks of beauty (ok, geology’s not my strong point!) feature in the beautiful display cases.

Owner and super-goldsmith Samantha showcases her own handcrafted pieces which are a perfect balance of strength, delicacy and femininity.

The Art on James program will bring a new, fresh vibe to the already fashionable James St precinct and it’s so refreshing to see Brisbane embracing these sorts of initiatives.  The retailers such as Stone and Metal are putting on bubbles, tunes, nibbles and more to flaunt their wares as well doing their bit to support local contemporary artists.

• Stone and Metal – Shop 3/60 James St (Cnr Arthur St), Fortitude Valley +61 7 3254 4454

I’ve being hearing ‘Egg this’ and ‘Egg that’ in every local rag, and unfortunately our first two attempts to get a table at this little hot spot in East Brisbane were foiled; they don’t appear to cater for walk ins on the weekend (much to MM’s disgust – everyone knows you’re supposed to allow at least 10% for walk ins….).

We’re not fans of having to book a time for breakfast (sure, for parties of 6 or more, I’m ok with it..), afterall it’s so nice to get up on a Sunday at your leisure and go exploring for a nice coffee and brekky spot.  However, my interest in Egg Bistro got the better of me so I conceded defeat and booked a table for 2 at 8.30am on a Sunday (I tried to book for 4 so friends could join us, but they insisted they couldn’t possibly cater for another couple).

Seated in a quiet-ish corner to the rear of the dining area we had the perfect view of the bustling venue.  Egg Bistro is a beautifully decorated cottage style restaurant with French bistro influences throughout, from the gorgeous dark wood comptoir and bar stools, to the mocha coloured surrounds including beautiful wall hangings.  The restaurant was buzzing with banter from a not-quite-capacity crowd, however seemed almost over run with staff (all young, vague, pretty things) who didn’t quite know if they were coming or going and spent a lot of time waiting on the kitchen (as did we…our meals were a long time in the making).  I also noticed two tables for four were vacant….

To the food – our cafe lattes were perfectly creamy and it was clear the resident Egg Bistro barista knew exactly how to drive her coffee machine; she pumped out coffee varieties and hot chocolates with pure finesse.  That may have well been where the good stuff stopped though.

The menu itself wasn’t as impressive as I was expecting.  With a name like Egg Bistro, I had anticipated a myriad of egg related choices, any which way you can think of, plus those you’ve never heard of before.  Unfortunately, it was pretty standard breakfast fare – so much so, that MM and both opted for our default fallback of bacon, eggs and toast ($15.50).  MM had his eggs scrambled, with a home-made hash brown ($3.50 for a side).

I had my eggs poached, and a side of haloumi (also $3.50)

To their credit, the Egg Bistro eggs were delicious and clearly organic, with huge, bright orange yolks.  The bacon however was cut way too thick and had not been trimmed of its fat at all.  As MM so delicately quipped “this bacon’s like a Mac truck….no matter which way you look at it, there’s nothing elegant about it at all”.  The lovely thick baguette style toast slice was doughy and fresh, however so thick that we couldn’t cut through the crust without a fight and with the thick bacon, it was all just a little too hard.

MM finished up with a banana and honey smoothie which definitely deserves a mention; no banana syrup in sight, it was good to see they made it with fresh, real ingredients with the right amount of honey and cinnamon too.

So why weren’t we impressed with Egg Bistro?

Was it the fact that people kept getting turned away – even though those lonely tables for four (and others) were never occupied in the hour that we dined?  There resistance to accept walk-ins bears quite a bug with us both personally…is this a reasonable gripe?

Was it perhaps the fact that I wanted a table for four when I booked, and then two tables for four remained unoccupied for the duration of our visit?  I have been known to hold a grudge….

Maybe it was the lack of egg-citing options on the menu and high eggspectations?  Sorry, couldn’t help myself….

Egg Bistro has the look, the vibe and the high profile and it’s only slightly over priced for my liking.  When I’m sitting on the fence like this, or struggling to make the hot vs not call, I often ask myself “based on my experience, would I go back to this place?”…………and there you have it.

• Egg Bistro – 989 Stanley St, East Brisbane +61 7 3891 1675

The Stamford Plaza is a great location for the Brisbane arm of Moo Moo’s (after all most of the real estate down on Eagle St Pier is taken).  There is something very grand and sophisticated about the Moo Moo’s decor and overall feel, which I think matches the similar qualities of the Stamford Plaza Hotel.

My party of 3 sat overlooking Edward St and the Port Office Hotel, which was quite a nice people watching spot and a lovely area to sip crisp white wine, tucked away from the bulk of the lunch goers.  We all agreed that both entrees and mains were a must have, in order to get a full appreciation of the Moo Moo’s menu, which was very, very impressive.

Big Phil decided to have the sea scallops with confit pork belly, wasabi cream corn and soy poached quail egg ($26).  A really well plated combination, the black sesame encrusted scallops were cooked perfectly and the pork was tender with just the right amount of crackling.

Knowing I wouldn’t have steak for a main, I figured I should have the peppered carpaccio of beef tenderloin with caper berries, pecorino, apple, curry oil emulsion and watercress ($25).  The slivers of beef were smooth and rich…every component of the dish worked.  However, it was a little on the dry side.

Tommo chose his hand very well and I had to hold myself back from stealing his entree from under his nose.  The Moo Moo’s Szechuan glazed Mooloolaba tiger prawns with fennel angel hair pasta ($26) was indeed the pick of the lot; it was fragrant, fresh and right up my alley….

Onto the mains and as predicted, both my companions chose from the long list of beef options.  All sorts of ‘x’ aged and ‘something’ fed varieties were on the list and the gents were very torn over which to choose.  I didn’t mimic their enthusiasm and although I love a good steak, I had no desire for it on this occasion and I tuned out a little when they made their decisions (sorry!).

What I can tell you is their choices of steak (both around $50) were both cooked as requested, and presented beautifully, the t-bone on its very own chopping board with gravy and roasted roma tomatoes.

I chose the yellow King Fish curry with prawns, spiced pear chutney, jasmine rice and yoghurt ($39).  The flavour was exceptional – very Thai, very fragrant, pleasantly spicy and the sweet flesh of the seafood bits and pieces made a perfect match.

The slow, lazy lunch was memorable and I’d return in a heart beat to Moo Moo’s.  The staff are friendly and helpful, with intimate knowledge of the menu and cuts of beef available.  I can’t comment on whether the Moo Moo’s steaks are worth the big bucks, but if their other fine menu options are any indication, then the steaks will surely be a cut above the rest.

• Moo Moo (The Wine Bar & Grill) – Stamford Plaza, Edward St, Brisbane +61 7 3236 4500

With the help of local trade, friends and family, the memories are starting to fade and the scars are pretty much gone as Andavanth reopens their doors, much to the excitement of the surrounding businesses who have sorely missed their regular coffee jaunt. 

Although the extent of the flood damage meant a total rebuild, with the exception of the supporting walls, Andavanth has kept its casual, fresh and breezy Mediterranean feel.  In similar fashion, the Greek inspired menu has had a face lift and boasts an even greater range of breakfasts, lunches and light meals, inlcuding some grab n go sandwich selections and yummy desserts.

With the best coffee in the area and certainly the friendliest service, Andavanth have saved many a local by way of that essential caffeine hit at those crucial times of the day!  Now it’s time for us to return the favour….if you’re in the Milton area, head down to Andavanth to show your support and welcome the team back.

Check out this one from the archives…Andavanth was one of our first blog posts!!  http://www.bnehotornot.com/hot-andavanth-46-douglas-st-milton/

• Andavanth – 46 Douglas St, Milton, +61 7 3367 1794

Upon arrival at Sticks for a Sunday breakfast with MM’s family, we were greeted by friendly wait and pretty much had our pick of the floor as there were very few diners (hmmm….alarm bells ringing?!).

The waiter took our coffee orders immediately but instead of writing down the 6 items, he insisted he’d be ok to remember them all.  Needless to say, a few of us were drinking flat whites instead of lattes.  No big deal I guess, but for most people the first coffee of the day is kind of important…

As we mulled over the Sticks menu, which involved the usual suspects plus some nice variations, only another two or three small parties took a seat to try the Sticks breakfast.  Knowing this, it greatly troubled me that it took the waiter 20minutes to take our order.  I was about to take it upon myself to present our orders on a napkin to the kitchen, when a waiter scrambled his way to our table, full of apologies.

Unfortunately things didn’t get much better from there.  As the clocked ticked on past another 20 minute wait for our food, we didn’t even get offered more coffees or drinks.  The empty cups from the first and only round of coffees we were offered were still taking up space on our table.  Good thing MM’s family enjoys each others’ company, we certainly exercised our vocal chords in the absence of food.

Finally the meals arrived (after I had just chewed my left arm off) and to the kitchen’s credit the meals were presented well and tasted pretty good too.  I suspect they sat under the warmers for a while before being brought to us, however overall they were well done.

JAG’s breakfast pizza ($16.00) with bacon, egg, avocado and tomato salsa looked great and although a little dry and crispy round the edges he was pretty happy with it.

Chook’s omelette ($14) with chorizo and haloumi looked a little on the small side, but she gave it a thumbs up.

MM as usual had the poached eggs and bacon ($16) and I had the field mushrooms with poached eggs, hash brown, haloumi and hollandaise sauce ($18).

The banana pancakes ($12) with maple syrup and maple ice cream were too doughy and sweet for KF, she only managed to pick her way through one of them before going into a sugar induced coma.

We wrapped things up pretty quickly; we had after all exhausted ourselves of all conversation while waiting for our meals.  And while the food was probably a 7 out of 10, the poor service and attention we received well and truly overshadowed the quality of the food and I couldn’t get out of there fast enough.

• Sticks Restaurant – Chalk Hotel, 735 Stanley St, Woolloongabba +61 7 3896 6565

Green Papaya has good genes; the owners are those responsible for the very popular Mons Sabai Thai in Camp Hill. The elegantly mood-lit Green Papaya dining area is spacious and open-plan with a direct line of sight to the hard working geniuses in the kitchen.

Upon being seated, MM was granted the privilege of selecting a bottle of white for our party of three to sip on, as we feverishly studied the menu containing both Thai and Balinese dishes.  Steering mostly towards the Thai influences for starters, we shared a few plates of your standard Thai entrees, however there was nothing standard about them. The curry puffs with minced chicken, potato and onion ($7.90) were light and fluffy on the outside with a delicious, mildly spicy filling.

The sate madura, or chicken satay skewers, ($13.90) were made with fresh, lean chicken pieces with a home-made satay sauce with the perfect balance of peanut chunks, tang and spice, without too much clag factor.

One of the entrée specials for the evening was the duck spring rolls (sorry, no price); tender cooked pieces of duck meat drizzled with hoisin, wrapped in a crispy spring roll case. Beautifully presented in a Villaroy & Boch coffee cup, the duck wraps were delightful, however my favourite was the sate madura.

The mains were definitely a tough decision, with so many delicious Balinese and Thai options to choose from including old favourites, but so many new and innovative combinations as well. Without a second thought I chose the island duck curry ($19.90); roast duck in red curry sauce with coconut milk, pineapple, lychee and tomato – served in a half-pineapple shell! Duck curries are my Achilles’ heel at the moment and Green Papaya delivered a hands-down winner with this dish.

Under the Balinese banner, the beautifully presented tamarind snapper – crispy fried and topped with crispy ginger and tamarind sauce ($25.90) was perfectly cooked and the flesh gently infused with fragrant ginger and hints of chilli.

Another item from the specials board, the boys decided the barbequed Kangaroo with papaya salad and dark dipping sauce was a must-have. This was a fresh, modern approach and an exceptional example of how kangaroo meat should be cooked.

Compliments of the manager, we were lucky enough to be treated to one of Green Papaya’s signature dishes – the Penang king prawns ($21.90) with local, king sized prawns in a creamy and peanut sauce. Without a doubt, this was the best Penang sauce I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting and the boys had a fight on their hands to even get a taste.

The array of beauty that lay on our table was almost overwhelming…..every dish was beautifully presented with fresh garnishes good enough to eat (but almost too perfect to touch!), and dipping sauces that you could lick straight from the spoon. The sauces in which the meat dishes bathed were full of flavour, not heavy and not one bit boring.

To me, Green Papaya is Brisbane’s answer to the Spirit House in Yandina (minus the lake and water dragons of course…) with regards to their quality of taste, preparation, creation and ingenuity. The modern menu demonstrates their passion for delivering high quality, creative yet traditional food and they certainly have that WOW factor I’ve been looking for.

Thanks to the staff and management at Green Papaya for inviting us to sample what could possibly be Brisbane’s best Thai!

• Green Papaya – 898 Stanley Rd, Woolloongabba +61 7 3891 5000

Friends of ours had recommended The Lido for the superb wood fired pizzas and it was with much anticipation of some crispy based, cheesy coated Italian love that we set off on our random adventure to the other side of the river.

The spacious yet cosy restaurant was a-buzz with diners and an animated kitchen upon our arrival.  Once seated and settled with a nice (and reasonably-priced) glass of red, MM and I took to studying the menu.  Expecting to see a serious list of pizzas and other Italian fare, I was surprised when confronted with an extensive choice of mish-mash cuisines and fare which were more representative of Mexico than Italy.  Not that it was a problem – a sizzling dish of chicken fajitas came whizzing past, leaving in its wake a few sore necks and initiated some well enjoyed sensory stimulation.

From the ‘light but right’ section of the menu, MM and I chose the gourmet bruschetta ($11.90) to share.  After a lengthy but apologetic wait, we were greeted with a man-sized slice of sourdough topped with diced tomato, red onion, avocado and feta chunks, delicately drizzled with balsamic vinegar.  MM isn’t the biggest bruschetta fan, but even he was well impressed with the creative ensemble, especially the inclusion of avocado.

Somehow the pizzas (our reason for heading to The Lido in the first place) were overlooked as the ‘marvellous mains’ section of the menu took our fancy.  Being a rib lover and an IT boffin, the dish labelled ‘bite to the bone v.2’ ($28.90) covered all the bases for MM, with a Flinstones-esk presentation of smoky, sticky, pork spare ribs atop a bed of chunky potato chips and a sweet chilli dipping sauce.  The meat fell delicately off the bone and the sticky sauce truly was finger-licking good (to borrow the words from a famous Colonel…).

Demonstrating typical Gemini behaviour switching between pasta, pizza and salad options for my main, I finally decided on the Spanish flair ($16.80 half serve); a fiery penne dish, with Spanish chorizo, olives, roasted capsicum and fresh chilli in a thick Napoli sauce.  To be honest the chilli was too over the top for me, and I can handle my birds-eyes pretty well.  But this was too much and unfortunately the flavour of the chorizo and Napoli sauce was spoiled a little, which was a shame as it otherwise had all the callings of a superb dish.

With no room to spare for even looking at the dessert options, MM and I waddled to the car in post-gluttonous bliss, marvelling at the unique and quirky menu options, and already discussing what we’d have next time we come to The Lido.  Maybe the pizzas will have a chance to impress….

• The Lido – 120 Racecourse Rd, Ascot +61 7 3268 7400

Truth be told, for a Thursday night it was a little quiet at Caffe Di Vita with less than half the tables occupied.  Meanwhile, the neighbouring venues were echoing laughter and chinking glassware.

The first disappointing moment of the evening was the limited selection of wines by the glass.  From a long list of local and reasonably priced bottles, there were unfortunately only 3 by-the-glass options of red and much the same for the white.  We both chose the cab-sav from South Australia and went on to study the menu.

For an Italian inspired venue I was once again surprised by the limited menu choices, particularly for pizza and pasta meals.  The choices were certainly attractive in their description, but limited none-the-less.

After much deliberation, EM decided on the gnocchi with sausage and mushroom ragu, tomato and cream ($18.90).  The dish was quite rich in its creamy tomato base but the flavour was pleasant enough.  The Italian sausage didn’t do much for the overall elegance of the dish and I think we were both expecting tasty little morsels of chorizo, as opposed to large chunks of possibly-pork…it was hard to tell and there was way too much of it.  In the end, there were globs of meat being pushed around EM’s plate and not much gnocchi to be found in the mix.

The garlic prawn linguini with chorizo, capers, chilli, fresh basil and olive oil took my fancy ($23.90).  The serving size was generous and its appearance quite impressive.  Unfortunately the linguini was dry and bland with mild, constant burning the only discernable flavour on my lips – too much chilli on top of the already spicy chorizo.  The olive oil was non-existent and I suspect the prawns were pulled straight from a packet in the freezer.

We were both left less than impressed with our meal at Caffe Di Vita and although their breakfast service comes highly recommended by EM, I have to say I wouldn’t return for a dinner seating by choice.  There are a lot of appealing alternatives in the Wilston village area and on my next North side excursion I’ll be interested to see how they compare to Caffe Di Vita.  If you have any recommendations, be sure to let us know!

• Caffe Di Vita – Shop 3, 1 Macgregor St, Wilston +61 7 3352 7155

As SS was running a little late, I waited in the bar area of the Morrison Hotel and had the pleasure of having a random, older man gawking at me from the next table, as I nursed a pint of Extra Dry and tried to avoid all eye contact. Clearly a regular at the bar, I shouldn’t have been worried but I couldn’t shake his piercing glare and was tempted to have a word…or run away – either way things weren’t exactly off to a good start for me!

A very hasty three-quarters of a pint down, my lunch-date finally arrived and I encouraged him to hold off for a drink ‘til we were seated in the restaurant, so I could remove myself from old mate’s line of sight. We hadn’t booked a table (hmmm, not so well planned, turns out this place is pretty popular on a Friday at lunchtime) and to my delight the staff were very accommodating and after some trickery with their booking sheet found a table for two tucked away in a nice quiet corner.

I was ravenous so insisted SS share an entrée with me to prevent me chewing an arm off. I couldn’t look past the grilled haloumi with prosciutto-wrapped fresh asparagus drizzled with balsamic ($12). What a great way to get the palette ready for action; if only I was talented enough to replicate this dish at home – the perfectly seasoned haloumi was still warm, the wrapped asparagus cool, crunchy and fresh, the balsamic with the perfect amount of zing to balance it all out.

Over a few more beers we entertained ourselves with some light banter with the staff and engaged in some serious people watching as herds of people came through the doors, filled their bellies and departed for their sleepy afternoon back at the office.

For mains I was hoping for something light but filling, so opted for the Asian beef salad ($24). Although pleasantly surprised by the generous helping of sliced tender beef fillet resting atop a huge bed of mixed leaves (and the usual suspects as far as vegies go), I wasn’t so impressed with the sauce which was gluggy, thick and tart. Let’s face it, the dressing can make or break a salad – using a sauce or dressing predominantly from a bottle is an epic fail in my book, especially when you’re paying gourmet prices for what is glorified rabbit food. Even so, I munched through what was a generally satisfying dish but I was disappointed, especially considering the great start with the haloumi entrée.

SS gave the steak a miss and went for the chicken parmigiana with side salad and thick cut seasoned potato wedges ($29). This was a meal made for a man, with most of the plate catering for the chicken, which had a wad of gooey ham and cheese oozing from a little pocket of goodness, in the middle of the perfectly cooked breast meat. On top, a warming layer of chunky tomato topping. This dish looked and tasted like one worth returning for in the cooler months.

I can’t pass judgement on their claim of serving Brisbane’s best steaks (I suspect their signage is quite dated however!), but throughout the meal, the staff were very friendly, despite the consistent turnover of patrons and although the salad didn’t impress, I’d be pleased to return to Fiasco’s for another crack at their menu and maybe make nice with the regulars in the bar!

• Fiasco’s Steakhouse, The Morrison Hotel, 640 Stanley St Woolloogabba +617 3391 1413

Although a little clinical in appearance and feel, the setting at La Via is pleasant with ample seating in doors and on the sidewalk area, with a lovely view of Southbank and all it’s passers by (read: great people watching spot).  The staff greeted us with smiling faces and were very accommodating as we ummed and ahhed over what to have – every single pizza option sounded delicious.

After much deliberation I finally chose the prawn, sage, prosciutto and asagio (Italian cheese) pizza ($22.50).  It’s not often I can put away a whole pizza to myself, but the base was super thin allowing plenty of room for the tasty topping, which had just the right amount of fresh, meaty ingredients with a generous smothering of asagio which was definitely present, but not overpowering.

Princess kept things simple with the margherita classica ($18.50); it looked a little plain to me with the balance of tomato and cheese leaning very much towards the cheesy side of things, but Princess was pleased with it.

CB bucked the system and opted for the fish special of the day; sword fish wrapped in prosciutto on a bed of beetroot and pea risotto ($25).  A little on the salty side, the dish was otherwise delicious with a delicate balance of flavours and the fish wrapped up in the prosciutto was something different and a nice touch from a presentation point of view too.  The risotto itself was cooked  to a nice consistency although they can leave the peas in the kitchen next time!

We kept things pretty short and sweet as weren’t at liberty to turn this into a long boozy lunch (for a change!) and the staff were pretty receptive to this.  They were attentive and sharp and our meals were quick out of the kitchen, however it was fairly quiet on the patronage front.  Great pizzas – definitely worth coming back for and I’m keen to check out what’s on offer from a pasta perspective next time.

• La Via – 6 Little Stanley St, Southbank +61 73844 3460