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

What set out to be a casual, brief Sunday lunch with good friends ended up as a long, boozy and hilarious culinary extravaganza which crept up on us with sheer stealth.

I suspected the culinary side of things was always going to be enjoyable as I’d heard nothing but glowing reports of the menu at Bar Alto .  What I wasn’t expecting (or perhaps wasn’t prepared for) was a constant stream of energy-fuelled patrons entering the restaurant and bar; banter-filled wait-staff with beaming smiles and slightly flirtatious attitudes; a buzzing kitchen in the public eye for all to see and to top it off a never ending glass of Tin Cows pinot noir from the Yarra Valley ($38 per bottle).

Our table of 6 held prime position in the centre of the venue with a great view of the kitchen, so we could check out the team’s handy work.  We could also see all the action at the bar – these guys know how to pull a crowd.

After much deliberation and debate over which of the mains each of us would decide on we finally made some progress by way of the ciabatta with olive oil and balsamic ($2 per serve), but that was as far as we got for some time….

On his fourth or fifth attempt, our waiter finally got some sense out of us, but not until after he provided some interpretation of the Bar Alto menu items (it would seem that our Italian was a little shabby, but perhaps the wine had something to do with it?).

MM and Aunty both chose exceptional meals of venison-filled parcels in rich mushroom and olive oil sauce ($24); the pasta parcels were thin and light, allowing the flavour of the venison to shine in this dish.

CC had the best-dressed plate of the day with the Venetian style crespelle filled with ricotta, pumpkin and burnt sage butter ($17).  I was jealous – this dish was my second option…how good do these little parcels look?

AJ was feeling fishy, so opted for the pan seared halibut with prawns and wilted spinach in a tomato and seafood bisque ($23).  The fish was cooked perfectly with a nice crispy skin and the bisque was subtle yet flavoursome.

SM took a huge gamble with the squid ink risotto ($23); the dish certainly didn’t have much appeal to look at, but somehow these squishy, inky creatures worked well with the perfectly gluggy rice and greenery on the side.

I chose the strozzapreti with prawns, squid, tomato and black olives ($23).  This was a little disappointing to be honest as there was only scarce pieces of seafood to the dish and it presented as a very large pile of no-frills pasta, with what looked and tasted like bolognaise sauce with a hint of spice.  It was tasty, but nothing outstanding like what my fellow diners had the pleasure of enjoying.

The meals were all very filling but a few of us kept some room in the dessert pocket, mainly to try the chocolate budino with panettone ice-cream ($12) dish that we were witnessing being made by the tray-full.

This dessert is obviously a house specialty as they must’ve put a hundred of these things in to bake while we were there.  The pictures say it all really….

Our lunch was definitely in the long category by now and after such a lovely couple of hours we really weren’t ready to leave, so we moved our little party to the alfresco area.  There is no bar service on the Bar Alto balcony, but it is the best seat in the house, overlooking the river as the sun sets over the waterfront homes on Norman Reach and Bulimba.  By now the line up at the bar was 4 or 5 deep but with the spring time vibe in the air everyone was more than happy to queue up and have a chat.

The food alone makes Bar Alto a winner, but when you add the ambience and the scenery, it makes for a really enjoyable experience and I can’t wait to lock in another Sunday sesh with the crew to do it all again.

• Bar Alto, The Powerhouse, 119 Lamington St, New Farm, +61 7 3358 1063

Coffee Culture is well and truly alive in New Farm and its neighbouring suburbs, if the abundance of coffee shops is of any indication. Amidst this strong competition, Cibo Espresso (New Farm) is doing a vibrant coffee business indeed.

At the centre of the Merthyr Village is an open space not unlike a miniature “piazza”, part of which is enclosed to become the al-fresco section of Cibo. The piazza is always bustling with people and activities. There is no better way to sip your tea or coffee under the cherry red, all-weather umbrellas and watch the world go by. However, if you desire some peace and quiet, there are indoor tables and banquettes. For laptop users, the free wi-fi is a real bonus.

The espresso machine hardly stops at Cibo, starting from seven o’clock in the morning before the rest of the Village wakes up. Undoubtedly, its coffee is consistently excellent (Jetsetting Dad can attest to that). Service is by ordering at the counter, you wait for your name to be called when your drink is ready for pick-up. The system seems to work well. If you happen to be a regular, the friendly staff even remember your name.

Besides beverages, some snacks and light meals are on offer as well. The glass food cabinet displays a range of Italian pastries, cakes and biscuits for the sweet-toothed. We like the ricotta cannoli, in particular. There are also fresh salad, filled pannini, focacce, brioche, etc. One of our favourites is the tuna wrap which makes a satisfying lunch.  The gelati with its variety of flavours are a real treat in the warmer days, too.

Cibo Espresso is a franchised business originating in Adelaide. Its philosophy is to provide traditional Italian food in Australia, in a relaxed and casual atmosphere. Their shop in New Farm is doing just that, with friendliness and a smile.

• Cibo Espresso (New Farm), 4/85 Methyr Road, New Farm, +61 7 3358 4359

Jetsetting Dad and I have been going to Vue Lounge for years, occasionally when we were still living on the other side of the city and regularly now that we are locals. There must be good reasons that we keep returning.

Vue Lounge is a busy cafe in the Methyr Village (inside Coles complex) serving good coffee and a wide range of light as well as substantial meals. Its atmosphere is relaxed and casual, its service friendly and quick-paced and its food excellent. Come mealtime and it is always bustling with diners, very often spilling out to the tables on the walkway outside. In between these busy hours, the place is frequented by locals dropping in for a drink to read their newspapers and magazines leisurely or meeting up with some pals for a chat.

Breakfast is a “big” thing at Vue Lounge. It’s “big” on its menu—you’ll need 21 mornings to try each item listed on it, and that’s before you create your own combinations or add on the extras from the long list of accompaniments. It’s “big” on patronage, especially on the weekends, you’ll be lucky to find a table if you come too late. Another “big” is the serving size which is always generous.

On this morning of our visit, I ordered field mushrooms w/haloumi, wilted spinach, pesto and pistachio &walnut sourdough ($13.90). The field mushrooms came plump and juicy, the 2 slices of haloumi were grilled/pan-fried until slightly golden on both sides. The sourdough bread was so good that I had to ask the waitress where they got it from.

JD ordered his usual favourite which is poached eggs with roasted tomato, beetroot relish, aioli and toasted corn bread ($13.50). The 2 eggs arrived soft and runny, as requested. The roasted Roma tomato was juicy and the beetroot relish gave a hint of sweetness and colour to the whole dish.

To finish off, I ordered a hot chocolate ($3.40), requesting “very hot” (I do it whenever I place my order these days, in every eatery, after drinking quite a lot of the disgustingly tepid “hot” chocolate). It didn’t disappoint this time, the chocolate was frothy and hot and the sweetness spot-on.  A top mark goes to the barista. JD ordered his cappuccino ($3.40). It’s thumbs up, as usual.

Vue Lounge also offers an extensive lunch menu, everything from sandwiches and wraps to pizza and pasta to salads. There is a $12 pizza and pasta offer from Tuesday to Saturday, starting from 3pm. A few more substantial dishes are also on the menu in the evening. It is licensed.

With such good food and good price, little wonder that Vue Lounge is so popular with the locals and the non-locals alike.

• Vue Lounge, 83 Methyr Road, New Farm, +61 7 3358 6511

The hunt for the perfect, tell-your-mates-about-it wood fired pizza continues….only this time I had 7 friends in tow, so I could sample various offerings on the menu over a few glasses of red, yum!

Vespa Pizza is one of those pokey little places I’ve always wanted to go to, but never have for some stupid reason. I spend so much time around the New Farm area and must have driven past the place a cozillion times…thank goodness for Miss A deciding to hold our most recent monthly reunion at Vespa Pizza, as it was without a doubt the best pizza experience I’ve had in Brisbane.

I’ve mentioned pokey already and that really is the best word to describe Vespa Pizza. There are some tables on the sidewalk which boast plenty of room, but if you’re seated inside or out in the courtyard, be prepared for an intimate evening if there are more than two of you at the table! Don’t get me wrong though – it’s a lovely, romantically lit setting, it’s just very small. Our party of eight was originally seated in the courtyard to the side, but with every kiss and hug as we greeted each other, came another spillage or breakage, so they promptly relocated us to the spacious wooden table setting out the back of the kitchen – which was probably a good thing because before too long we became quite rowdy.

We started proceedings with 2 serves of the garlic and three cheese pizza breads ($8) to share. This didn’t get far as the boys got a little greedy, but we got at least one pizza-slice sized piece each, which was enough for most of us at the table.

After much debate, we finally agreed on ordering 7 pizzas to share (some weren’t so happy with this and seemed unfamiliar with the term share!) and the menu made it impossible to choose because they all sounded so mouthwateringly good. 20-30 minutes (and several glasses of red wine) later, our order of pizzas arrived simultaneously (BIG tick in the box!) and it didn’t take long before the conversation stopped and the devouring began.

The absolute stand outs were the streaky bacon and red current pizza with camembert ($19); the sesame chicken with mango chutney and organic yoghurt ($19.50); salami, bacon, pepperoni with mushrooms, tomato and mozzarella (also known as 3 little piggies, $19.50); and finally the cinnamon roast butternut pumpkin with dried chilli, sage and fetta ($18.50). Three of us actually fought over the last piece of streaky bacon pizza – lucky me, I won!

The staff must be commended on their efforts as this place turns over a lot of patronage in a very small space and manages to keep it together at the same time (another tick in the box). They are bright and bubbly and happy to converse with their clientele and take the time to make recommendations and talk you through the menu.

The final tick of approval came when the bill arrived – for 8 people to consume a total of 9 pizzas, one bottle of purchased wine and three bottles of BYO wine we paid only $25 per head. Outstanding! I can’t wait to go back to Vespa Pizza and I have a strange feeling that my hunt for Brisbane’s best wood fired pizza is over!

If you live on the other side of the river, Vespa Pizza has just opened another store at 617 Stanley St Woolloongabba, 3391 4300. Both stores do home delivery for an additional charge.

• Vespa Pizza, 148 Merthyr Rd, New Farm +61 7 3358 4100

I must admit I do pity the venues that have to contend with our often 20+ strong crowd.    On this drizzly night the punters arrived with intent as the poor traffic conditions had kept most of us from getting to the pre-dinner watering hole in time.  We were wet, thirsty, and most of all hungry.  The look of fear in the eyes of the Agra staff was slightly amusing to most of us, but in a random act of kindness we played nice and gave them time to compose themselves before making our demands.

As we generally do curry once a month, I like to mix my choices up a bit and look for different menu items to what I might have sampled the previous time.  It’s always nice to see new and creative dishes in Indian restaurants and Agra came through with the goods.

For an entrée I opted for the Kashmiri prawns and shared them with MM.  They were quite pricey ($18) but that’s not out of the ordinary when it comes to seafood dishes.  The prawns were shelled except for the heads and tails and they looked to have been baked in the mildly spicy and creamy Kashmiri marinade and they really were delicious.  MM and I were a little disappointed however as there were only 5 prawns to share; a couple more might have been a nice touch.

To my left was something new – E was devouring his entrée choice of Kaveri Kekra – shallow fried soft shell crabs in a lightly spicy batter ($18).  The little crab legs didn’t stand a chance and somehow I managed to get his approval to sample the goods.  The batter was nice and light and the spices were perfectly balanced with the tasty flesh of the sand crab.

My main meal was another new one which didn’t disappoint.  The Kadai Murgh (served medium) is grilled chicken sautéed with cumin, coriander and a rich red masala, cooked in a classic Indian wok (the Kadai).  This dish ($16) wasn’t heavy at all (which appealed to my sensitive stomach) and the combination of flavours was pleasant.  Perhaps not greatly varied from the familiar flavours in a Tikka dish, but it held its own and I enjoyed dipping my sizeable Peshawari naan ($5) in the left over sauce.

MM had the Chicken Makni ($16) which makes a regular appearance on the menus around town.  This dish consists of boneless chicken pieces marinated and half baked in the Tandoor then cooked in a cream and butter sauce with hints of fenugreek.  No complaints from the other side of the table and I wasn’t quick enough to get a taste.

The service at Agra was a little on the slow side – but I suspect for a party of 4 or so it would’ve been very attentive.  They did exceptionally well to cater to the needs of the 22 curry fanatics and they kept the smiles on their faces throughout the whole ordeal.

• Agra Indian Cuisine, 79 James St, New Farm +61 7 3358 6968

On my latest count, in the suburbs of Fortitude Valley and New Farm, there are five Indian eateries along Brunswick Street alone (the 3 to 4 km strip from Ann Street to the New Farm Park), then there’s one on Methyr Road, plus another one on James Street. No sooner had Mehfil Indian Restaurant closed its door than Rangla Punjab opened theirs on the same site. Just a little overwhelming!

I must admit that I have only poor knowledge of the geography of the Indian subcontinent. So when I saw the name “Punjab”, I took it that the cuisine would be a little different. However, a look at the extensive menu showed that the dishes on offer are predominantly the usual fare found in other Indian eateries. So JD and I pored over the menu searching for something “Punjabi”.

Our first choice was Amritsari Goat, mild (prepared on the bone, a tasty and traditional rural Punjab dish $16.00) as we don’t get to eat goat often. The sauce was spicy enough, albeit a little oily, and the goat meat was tender and came off the bone easily. As a matter of fact, it tasted even better after we had drained off the oil and ate the leftovers the next day.

Punjab Dal, mild ($13.00) was a creamy and flavoursome mashed red lentil curry. The Tandoori Chicken (full $15.00) was a little bland, though the meat was tender and juicy without being overcooked as happens commonly. Both curries came with a tub of cooked saffron basmati rice.

Overall, Rangla Punjab is a place to go for some decent Indian food of good value. It provides home delivery for $5.00 and good news for the locals is that delivery is free in New Farm.  There are other Rangla Punjab restaurants in McDowall, Newmarket and Taigum.

• Rangla Punjab Indian Restaurant, 938 Brunswick Street, New Farm +61 7 3254 4888

I am partial to Thai massage and it’s always on my “must-do” list every time I visit Thailand or transit through. Therefore, I could hardly contain my excitement when Northern Style Thai Massage Spa opened its doors a short while ago. That means I can have a Thai massage any time I want to without having to go to Thailand.

I would describe Thai massage as an “active” massage as the recipient has to work with the therapist to get the benefits. It involves continuous deep tissue rubbing and pressing, body stretching and joint manipulation. No oil is used. So there is no way you can lie down and sleep through it like a normal relaxation massage.

In order to find out if their massage techniques are “authentic’ Thai, I phoned to book for a one-hour appointment (normally $80, opening special $69). The spa is located on a quiet and leafy strip of Lamington Street. The inside area is quite small. There are three treatment rooms closed by sliding doors together with a waiting area. The simple decor and the soft lighting gives a relaxing and tranquil atmosphere. A glass of cold water is offered to the waiting clients and then a hot cup of lemongrass tea is offered after the massage.

I was led into a massage room with 2 mats on the floor and was given a clean set of pyjamas to change into. The therapist then softly walked in. She told me to lie stomach down and put my head on the big soft pillow. Next she wrapped my foot with a hot towel and start massaging them by acupressure, blissful…..

For the whole hour, the therapist worked on my tense muscles, pulled and stretched my limbs and torso, it was like having a massage as well as a good stretch exercise. At the end of it, I felt so much “lighter”. That’s what a Thai massage should be like.

Northern Style Thai Massage Spa also offers a range of other treatments as well. It’s worth paying them a visit for a good Thai experience.

• Northern Style Thai Massage Spa, Shop 6, 27 Lamington St, New Farm

The Suitcase Royale are a trio of rag ‘n’ bone musicians whose style I would term ‘Louisiana swampy blues’ and their theatrical performances combine their song-writing skills with comedy, slapstick, shadow images and puppetry. The Ballad of Backbone Joe was a dime novel mystery about a boxing match, a dodgy abattoir owner, a girl in a red dress with a sexy voice and a private eye in disguise. The action was all around a single set which served to represent a boxing ring, a dingy hotel room, a lonely bridge and the outback.

The group’s junkyard aesthetic didn’t translate to a ramshackle performance – it was clear that that production had been well-rehearsed, although their ability to improvise when things went wrong were probably the funniest moments in the show. One woman in front room cackled hysterically for the whole hour!

• The Ballad of Backbone Joe, World Theatre Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, 119 Lamington St, New Farm

Today’s guest post comes from the Jetsetting Parents, this time sampling the new casual cafe/restaurant Coco Bella Espresso in New Farm.

This eatery site in New Farm has seen quite a few changes of ownership over the last several years, from the “founder” East-West to New Farm Bistro, Bacchus, then The Hutch to the newly-opened Coco Bella. One can’t help wondering—it’s in a good location in the midst of a fairly affluent neighbourhood, is something amiss??

Coco Bella Expresso seems determined to change this around. First of all, the whole place has been smartened up, both indoors and outdoors, to give it a stylish and airy feel. The name Coco Bella sounds contemporary and catchy, too. Now, can the food and service match up?  That’s what Jetsetting Dad and I decided to find out one weekend evening.

We were promptly greeted and seated as we stepped into the cafe. Glasses of water were offered immediately with a drinking straw for the lady, a small touch well-appreciated.  I’m glad to point out that such good service was consistent throughout the evening.

The two page menu is fairly simple with light lunch and tapas on one page and entree and main courses on the other. The food is basically Italian but some Asian fusion dishes are available as well. On the weekend of our visit , two specials were on offer.

For entree, JD and I ordered grilled calamari stuffed with salmon, herb, roasted breadcrumbs on rocket, avocado and salsa ($16.50). The calamari was grilled whole and cut into 3 pieces. It was quite a generous serve, best to be shared. Despite its size, the calamari was tender and easy to cut; the stuffing soft and moist. While the bed of rocket, avo and salsa tasted good, personally I would prefer to leave out the avo pieces as I found the soft texture of an over-ripened avo just didn’t go well with the quite similar texture of the stuffing.

For the main course, I chose house-made ricotta gnocchi with buttered tomato sauce ($19.50). It is a simple dish but the trickiest part is to get the texture of the gnocchi right. I’ve eaten mushy ones, stodgy ones, grainy ones, dry ones…before. Fortunately for me this time, the gnocchi was spot-on. The butter tomato sauce topped with ricotta cheese (instead of the usual parmasean) was well- balanced with a subtle hint of butter. (Note: I’d requested reduced quantity of butter.)

JD ordered Moroccan lamb with chickpeas and lentils, rocket salad and yogurt. ($24.50) The spicy lamb pieces were flavoursome and moist. Although they were crumbed and deep-fried, they didn’t look or taste greasy at all. The chickpeas and lentils were nice and creamy. The coriander and mint in the rocket salad gave a refreshing taste to the dish.

There were also a good range of house-made desserts in the cabinet. One of the waiting staff took the trouble to explain each item to us. In the end, we decided to give them a miss while making a mental note to come back for them next time.

With good, well-priced food and excellent service, I think Coco Bella hits the right notes.

• Coco Bella Expresso, Cnr Lamington and Welsby Streets, New Farm +61 7 3254 4426

In colour theory, red is the colour that’s supposed to stimulate the appetite. So it makes sense that Miss India has chosen to deck out its chain of ‘instant Indian takeaway’ stores in bright swathes of red and yellow – and if that’s not enough, the long bain marie counter of vibrant curry hues will definitely stimulate your tastebuds.

Their takeaway pamphlet boasts “We have been told many times that we have Brisbane’s best butter chicken’. As the health-conscious Jetsetting Parents are wary of anything declaring openly that it contains butter, we decided to sample some other dishes – a chicken vindaloo, lamb rogan josh, chickpea and potato curry and tandoori chicken pieces, accompanied by rotis ($1.95) and an extra large steamed saffron rice ($3). The serving size system is pretty easy – small curries cost $9.95, large $12.95 and extra-large $18.95.

Unfortunately, the colourful visual feast didn’t translate into equally stimulating flavours. The seasoning was all over the place – the vindaloo was way too salty, the rogan josh was ok and the chickpea and potato curry was bland. In addition, the rogan josh contained unappetising lumps of overcooked meat and the chickpeas were mostly undercooked. On the chilli heat scale, even the vindaloo veered towards the conservative.

On the plus side, the roti was well-risen and not oily and the tandoori chicken was juicy and well-seasoned. Maybe it has to do with the fact that these items are cooked in public – in the front window of the store is a stainless steel table for rolling out dough and a sturdy tandoori oven.

Basically, Miss India serves up convenient, passable Indian takeaway. It’s not terrible – but given the number of Indian restaurants/takeaways in the vicinity of its New Farm store, I can’t say that I’d particularly recommend it.

If you’re looking for other takeaway in the area, try Thai Charms.

Miss India New Farm, 620 Brunswick St, New Farm +61 7 3358 1532 (also Ashgrove, Aspley, Carindale, Coorparoo, Daisy Hill, Eagle Junction, Greenslopes, Kelvin Grove, Morningside and Stafford Heights)

Having received a tip-off from Jetsetting Joyce that Grasshopper was offering 25% off takeaway for a limited time, I couldn’t wait to download their menu and make a choice of dishes for dinner.

I would like to point out that since it was just a takeaway order, I’ll not be able to comment on the ambience, service and food presentation that could only be experienced when dining-in. So this review is all about the taste of the food from this restaurant.

Jestsetting Dad and I are partial to both Vietnamese and Thai food, so we chose a bit of both from the menu. We started off with the green papaya salad with carrots, herbs and nahm jim dressing ($15). The strong presence of mint leaves and coriander , together with some crushed peanuts in a tangy and salty dressing gave the salad a refreshing taste which was good for the sticky summer weather.

However, the pad thai with chicken ($17) was a disappointment. It was just some stir-fry soft noodles with chicken, bean sprouts, a few egg strips and crushed peanuts and pak-choy(!). The chicken pieces were char-grilled and the smoky taste totally overrode what should be the subtle sweet, sour and salty taste of an authentic pad thai.

We ate the Thai green chicken curry with chicken and asian herbs and vegetables ($17) with a small serve of jasmine rice ($3). The curry sauce was some dark liquid which could probably indicate a heavy-hand with the soy sauce.  I thought I could detect a hint of coconut taste but wasn’t sure as there was none of the creamy coconut milk normally found in a traditional Thai green curry.  The few chicken pieces were moist but the veggies weren’t worth mentioning (the downside of takeaway food, veggies turn yellow and soggy). Overall, the curry was quite spicy but generally too sweet, leaving the mouth with an unpleasant sugary after-taste.

I’m open to Asian food with a modern twist but the original basic elements like flavour and ingredients have to be retained. The dish has to taste good too, irrespective of its “re-incarnation”. As Grasshopper is offering only takeaway dishes this week (dining-in returns at the weekend), I have a suspicion that the head-chef is on holidays, hence the sub-standard fare we had. Perhaps I will dine-in one day in the future to find out if the food is any better.

Update: After this review, the owner of Grasshopper contacted us. Ariane responded to our comments in an extremely positive manner, apologising for the poor experience and letting us know that our feedback was valued and had been passed onto the kitchen. She also offered us a voucher so that we could try the dining-in experience. Ariane’s proactive and genuine wish to satisfy customers should be commended and rates a HOT from us.

• Grasshopper Asian Kitchen, Shop 6, 36 Vernon Terrace, Teneriffe +61 7 3252 8622

There’s a little strip of shops across the road from Merthyr Village where it seems restaurants have difficulty in keeping business. In the few years that the Jetsetting Parents have become New Farm locals, the location has variously housed a Vietnamese restaurant, a South American restaurant and who knows what before that.

Don’t let the same fate happen to Thai Charms.

There’s a lot of slapdash Thai food to be found in our cities, I think mainly because it’s replaced the local Chinese as the takeaway of choice. But Thai food is not just about chucking in some meat and veg with a whole bunch of chillies and a can of coconut milk – the cuisine is marked by a delicate harmony between the competing flavours of sour, sweet and salt, with a good dose of heat to stimulate the appetite in tropical conditions.

Thai Charms was recommended to the Jetsetting Parents by my Mum’s massage therapist, who had lived in Thailand for many years. The fit out is basic and functional – wipe-down plastic over the tables, paper napkins, chipped concrete floors. The plastic menu contains a list of Thai food’s greatest hits – nothing surprising or unfamiliar. Nevertheless, I think the kitchen (manned by two chirpy middle-aged Thai women) produces dishes which are step above your average suburban Thai.

We tried the Num Tok (spiced beef salad with red onion and coriander) ($16.50), green curry chicken ($16.50) and a chilli and basil stir fry of tofu and vegetables ($13.50). We specifically asked for everything to be cooked ‘Thai hot’ – no insipid Western style dishes for us! What came out were generously proportioned dishes containing roughly chopped ingredients doused with a good amount of sweat-inducing chilli. Everything was full of robust flavours and nicely seasoned, with the most unexpected dish being the Num Tok due to the meat being covered in some sort of fishy smelling paste. This led to much speculation around the table (fish sauce? shrimp paste? crushed dried shrimp?) before the waiter told us it was crushed deep fried rice. Well, I’ve done some research on the internet and can’t find any mention of such a seasoning/paste in Thai dishes, so maybe I misheard him or he misunderstood me. If you’d can enlighten me I’d be really grateful!

Regardless, I can recommend Thai Charms if you want above-average Thai food. If you can bear the heat, ask for the dishes to be served Thai hot – it’ll bring out a much more authentic flavour to your meal.

For another great Thai restaurant in Brisbane, try Mons Ban Sabai in Camp Hill.

Thai Charms Restaurant, 1/92 Merthyr Rd, New Farm +61 7 3254 0636

CC’s HOT Gig List – HOT gigs for the next 3 months

January 2010

Yeah Yeah Yeahs (US) – 7 Jan, Sunset Sounds
No one could be HOTTER than Karen O with amazing vocals and crazy outfits! The latest album, ‘It’s Blitz‘, has clever, yet heartfelt lyrics and melodies in the league of Maps, perhaps even better.

The Horrors – 17 Jan, Big Day Out
Moody, yet melodic bass lines and guitar distortions. Primary Colours – one of the HOTTEST albums released this year. Swoon to Scarlet Fields.

Passion Pit – 17 Jan, Big Day Out
Uplifting, bubblegummy, fun, electro band from US. It was mentioned somewhere that the songs were originally written as a present for the girlfriend. ‘Sleepyhead’ was on my MySpace for quite some time.

The xx – 29 Jan, St Jerome Laneway Festival
The xx are four young teenagers from south west London, who released their HOT debut album this year, and have now had sold out shows all over London. The album is sad, yet uplifting and inspiring at the same time.

Florence and the Machine – 29 Jan, St Jerome Laneway Festival
Listed as “one of the breakthrough acts in the UK for 2009″. Fronted by 23 year old Florence Welch, who has been compared to the likes of Kate Bush, PJ Harvey and even Fergie (the Duchess, not the one from Black Eyed Peas). She used to sing at funerals too. Expect angry lyrics and maybe some harp playing.

Also check out:

Andrew Bird – 7 Jan, Sunset Sounds
Grizzly Bear – 7 Jan, Sunset Sounds
Peaches – 18 Jan, The Hifi
Calvin Harris (with Lily Allen) – 19 Jan, Brisbane Riverstage

February 2010

The Cribs – 16 Feb, The Zoo
Awesome band (which Jetsetting Joyce and I saw twice in London!). The 3 Jarman brothers now have a new addition, guitartist Johnny Marr (of The Smiths and Modest Mouse).  Watch out for the crazy antics of Ryan Jarman.

Also check out:

The Pains of Being Pure at heart – 20 Feb, The Zoo

March 2010

1) The Big Pink – 4th Mar, The Hifi
Definitely HOT gig pick for March.  An excellent debut album was released in 2009, “A Brief History of Love”, for this electro rock band.

2) Lady GaGa – 26 Mar, Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Now, this lady, she’s HOT! Check out her new tattoos and new video clip for Bad Romance. I’ve been learning those dance moves, and someone please dare me to get inked with the cursive text of some random philosophical quote on my arm.

3) La Roux – 25 Mar, Barcadi Express atTivoli
Weird hair, weird look but catchy songs!

Need tickets for gigs in Brisbane? Check out the BrisbaneTix Posse store.

Australia’s adopted son, comedian Arj Barker, has just completed his tour of duty in Brisbane on the Turbine Platform at the Powerhouse.  I’m sorry to say his final show was Sunday December 13^th and now he’s moved to Canberra, which isn’t much help for the Brisbanites who didn’t know he was here.  Keep an eye on his schedule for next year because if he returns, it’ll be well worth the wait.

Stand-up comedy doesn’t usually appeal to me and I wouldn’t normally suggest an outing to the local venues to endure that uneasy, cringe-worthy feeling you get when the comedian cracks a joke and no one finds it funny.  But Arj Barker has made a name for himself here and his stints on Flight of the Conchords are really entertaining.  When I saw that he was coming to the Powerhouse this month I thought this would be a great idea for my company’s end of year party to which we also invited our valued customers.

We started the night with a few drinks and nibbles down at Watt Modern Dining, a great venue with spectacular views of the river.  The show kicked off at 7.00pm with the support act who did a great job of warming the crowd up.  Enter Arj Barker and the roof lifted.  For the first 25 minutes of his hour-long show I could not put a stop to my hysterical laughter.  Don’t ask me what was so funny…he’s a little like Seinfeld – it was really a show about nothing.  Maybe that’s what was so appealing to me – it didn’t sound scripted and it flowed well.  There were no uncomfortable silences and I suspect most people in the audience could relate to his ill-fated experiences and took pleasure in laughing at them.

The second half of the show dipped a little on the laughter scale but it was still thoroughly enjoyable.  The tickets were reasonably priced at 40 bucks a pop and my guests were chuffed to have been invited to an event that wasn’t stuffy and didn’t involve having to make too much small talk with people they didn’t know.  If you’ve not witnessed any of Arj Barker’s material, I’d recommend a DVD purchase, whether it be his stand up stuff or Flight of the Conchords.

• Arj Barker, Original Style Bits ‘n’ Pieces, Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

Just a reminder that Eco Fashionista’s first Brisbane trunk show will be held at Red Sea Gallery, New Farm, on Thursday 26 November 5-8pm in conjunction with the award-winning New Farm day spa Outshine.

Check out clothing and accessories brands such as Good Society, Sublet Courtney, Beyond Skin, Minna, Fifi Bijoux and Ashley Watson, many of which are not available in Australia.

To get into the Christmas spirit, 10% of the profits from all sales through Outshine and Eco Fashionista on the night will go to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

If you’d like to attend the free event, RSVP at info@ecofashionista.com.au and just mention that BNE: HOT OR NOT sent you.

Check out the review and pictures from Eco Fashionista’s recent trunk show in Melbourne here.

Pintxo (pronounced Pincho) Spanish Taperia in New Farm combines an old concept (thanks to our Japanese friends at Sushi Train) with a new style of Spanish cuisine. The net result is a cool new gastronomical experience that takes me back to balmy, boozy nights on La Rambla in Barcelona.

I had to consult Google to understand what a Pintxo was, as well as how to pronounce it – now that I’m worded up, I can pass on the good news!  Pintxo is the name given to snacks (similar to tapas) typically eaten amongst friends in the bars of Basque area of Northern Spain.  This food-to-share concept is the epitome of the Spanish social life via relaxed, progressive consumption of tasty morsels accompanied by relaxed, progressive consumption of alcohol – usually in the form of sangria.  This is exactly the vibe that Pintxo in New Farm offers.

Pintxo has a sit down menu, a Tapas Train menu and a take-away service.  If you’re a fan of the conveyor bet concept you’ll love the Tapas Train.  It caters for about 30 patrons comfortably seated at a beautifully built wooden bar, overlooking the main restaurant area.  The conveyor belt however doesn’t run through the kitchen, so the staff have to come out to the dining bar to replenish the Pintxo supplies.  This is no show stopper – it’s just a little inconvenient and clumsy.

If you’re in the mood to settle in for a long progressive dinner over a few glasses of sangria, I’d recommend booking a table in the main dining area.  It’s only small, so you’ll need to book in advance, or take a later seating if you leave it too late.  The sit down menu is extensive, with an abundance of share plates to choose from, or a set banquet if you can’t make up your mind.  I’m pretty fussy when it comes to this sort of dining – there’s always that doubt that there’ll be enough to fill your belly.  My visit to Pintxo was lengthy, with several rounds of sangria – the great thing was that in the spirit of progressive dining we were able to order more share plates as we went.  The stand-outs were the empanadas, scallops ceviche, classic croquettas and pintxos marunos.

The service, although a tad patchy at times, was pleasant and the Spanish staff give the place a very authentic feel.  The venue is decked out in modern, vibrant décor and is a great size for creating a buzzing atmosphere over the frequent chink of sangria glasses.  Salud!

• Pintxo Spanish Taperia, 561 Brunswick St, New Farm +61 7 3333 2231

Over a soy latte Alex chatted to me about fashion, living eco-conscious and being a business-owner with a young toddler.

Alex, how did Eco Fashionista come about?

Eco Fashionista was launched almost a year to the day my son Max was born. Max’s arrival (and the huge sense of responsibility that arrived with him) was the catalyst for me to make a bigger commitment to being “green” – and, ever the keen shopper and fashionista, I realised the “greening” needed to extend to my wardrobe!

As I began to explore whether there was such a thing as “designer eco fashion”, I became so excited about the amazing labels I was unearthing – many of which weren’t available in Australia and in the one shopping destination. If I was going to seek out these chic pieces for myself, then why not share the love and let others in on my discoveries? I believe most people want to be eco-conscious about their lifestyle, but they also don’t want to give up the things that matter – such as style, quality and individuality. And that’s where Eco Fashionista comes in….

With so many fashion designers out there, how do you select the stock for Eco Fashionista?

A lot of brand research lies behind Eco Fashionista’s collection and the designers must demonstrate serious design and eco credentials.  How they achieve their “eco fashion” mission differs – from using organic, sustainable or vintage fabrics,  eco-friendly production, making small quantities to order or by hand and ensuring fair work conditions. We have given ”eco attributes” to each piece in our collection with these symbols.

Where do you turn for eco-fashion inspiration?

I’ve always devoured fashion magazines, and it’s wonderful to see titles like Vogue, Madison and Marie Claire now turning out green glamour and eco chic issues. I also read the stylish Australian eco fashion magazine Peppermint, and inspiring eco fashion blogs -  Eco Stiletto and Green Lashes and Fashion just to name two. For high-end designers with a conscience, it’s hard to go past Philip Lim (who launched his “Go Green Go” line in 2008) and Stella McCartney.

What advice would you give to someone starting their own business?

Three words have guided me over the last few months  – patience, perseverance and perspective. Having a clear vision of your business and its direction is essential, but equally important is the flexibility to adapt to the challenges that will be inevitably thrown at you. I’ve also had to learn that sometimes I am not the best person for the job! You need to concentrate your energies on your strengths, and in areas where you lack experience or skills – delegate or outsource if /where you can.

What are you wearing at the moment?

I’m wearing one variation of my “home with Max” uniform - Good Society jeans, Sublet Courtney top and  Beyond Skin Tilly floral ballet flats. It’s all about comfortable style these days.

I do love to dress up when I get the chance though! My fiancé and I have a rare dinner date tonight, and I’m looking forward to wearing my Minna Maria vintage print dress, accessorised with a pendant from fair trade jeweller Fifi Bijoux and Ashley Watson’s super-soft recycled leather oriole clutch.

Eco Fashionista’s first Brisbane trunk show will be held at Red Sea Gallery, New Farm, on Thursday 26 November 5-8pm in conjunction with the award-winning New Farm day spa Outshine. Even better, 10% of the profits from all sales through Outshine and Eco Fashionista on the night will go to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.

If you’d like to attend the free event, RSVP at info@ecofashionista.com.au and just mention that BNE: HOT OR NOT sent you.

Check out the review and pictures from Eco Fashionista’s recent trunk show in Melbourne here.

Theatre trio post described the work was exploring the construction of experience and the power of manipulation, including the world of political imagery. As they said ‘it seems that sometimes the truth in a promise ceases to matter – as long as it makes you feel good at the time’. So at various times during the next hour the girls jumped in unison to a thumping dance track while slowly bleeding at the mouth and spraying their white shirts with water, discussed what was every day real vs really real vs kind of what its like to be real and conducted bizarre conversations about implanting microchips into people’s brains then going to www.chiphead.com to check out what people were thinking.

Even if some of the links between what was happening on stage and the deeper message were not always clear to me, it was an amusing and unexpected piece of theatre.