Perhaps it is because specialty organic restaurants are not that common, and tend to attract the more discerning diners. Organic eaters, who obviously have a high level of concern about how their food has been grown and nurtured throughout its entire lifecycle, are perhaps more likely to have a sharp eye for how it is prepared and presented. Nothing but perfection for the modern metro-hippie.

Being only simple folk who are not burdened with such high standards, we were impressed. We went on a Friday evening for the Mondo Supper Club, which promised a “lighter menu to enjoy with a cocktail or a wine or two, for bar or street dinning only” (6pm to late, Tuesday to Saturday). Braving the early evening humidity, we happily downed some simple $10 cocktails, and then ordered some tapas to share for a light dinner. The spring zucchini flowers filled with king prawn mousse ($14) were a little less exciting than they sounded, but the washed rind cheese with lavosh crisp bread ($9) and rocket, radicchio, walnut, raisin and vincotto salad ($8.50) were very nice.

The standout, though, was the crunchy potato squares with aioli ($8.50). These little cubes were the most amazing potato-based product we’ve ever tasted – a day in the making, we were informed enthusiastically by our waiter. They had been boiled, mashed, put through some kind of mechanical sifter, mashed again, baked in a tray, cut into cubes and then deep fried. Worth a visit on their own.

The restaurant offers organic everything, of course, as well as gluten free and dairy free for many of the menu items.

All in all, a pleasant evening with no complaints and a few highlights – certainly not worthy of some of the negative reviews I’ve read. Maybe we set the bar too high for organic foods. It’s already good for you and for the environment; maybe we should be happy that the food tastes good, rather than expecting something amazing.

• Mondo Organics Restaurant, 166 Hardgrave Rd, West End +61 7 3844 1132

One of RM’s favourite food discoveries in BNE is CJ’s Pasta, the fresh pasta purveyors located at Centro on James. I’m not exaggerating, every time we visit Brisbane he starts agitating about having their pasta for dinner, specifically their specialty ravioli.

On our most recent visit, we tried the grilled prawn with chilli jam and shallot ravioli ($28/kg) with the Thai yellow curry, corn and pumpkin sauce ($10). This produced four generous serves of perfectly crinkled pasta parcels encasing a solidly packed filling of tender prawn meat – you won’t find your shirt front squirted with pasta water when you bite into these babies. The chunky coconut cream-based sauce continued the fusion flavour theme, and for those who like heat it benefits from a bit of freshly chopped chilli.

CJ’s Pasta is not the cheapest fresh pasta around, but it’s about as far removed from the flacid  Latino Fresh as apples are to zebras. I think it’s well worth the extra money to pay for such quality.

CJ’s Pasta, Centro on James II, Shop 7, 31 James St, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3257 3321

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

April 2010

1) Yves Klein Blue – 17th April, Old Museum Concert Hall, Fortitude Valley

Four guys from Brisbane, recently supporting Franz Ferdinand on tour.  Debut album ‘Ragged & Ecstatic’ was recorded in a 2-room flat in North Hollywood with Kevin Augunas (Cold War Kids), with influences of Elvis Costello, The Replacements, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Weezer.  Be interesting to check them out.  With Cloud Control and Last Dinosaurs.

2) Crayon Fields – 11th April, The Zoo, Fortitude Valley (with Mountain Goats)
Indie pop band from Melbourne – sweet songs reminding me of innocent days…think indie geek and glasses.

3) The Jamfest 2010 – 17th April, RNA Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley
For R&B fans or those just wanting a break for all that indie music, this urban pop tour coming featuring Akon, Kelly Rowland, Pitbull, Keri Hilson, Nino Brown and Chris Sorbello should get you poppin’ and lockin’.

Also check out:

Deep Purple – 27th April, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane
Stereophonics – 19th April, The Hi-Fi, West End
Eddy Current Suppresion Ring (I went see this band years ago back in Melbourne!) – 8th The Zoo, Fortitude Valley

May 2010

1) Vampire Weekend – 11th May, The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley
This band is HOT, and their second album Contra is HOT! The direction of the new album is less ‘try hard afro-pop’ (or whatever it was in their first album), and now has a lot more pop with a hint of the 80’s in it.  Favourites are ‘Giving Up The Gun’, ‘Horchata’ and ‘I Think UR a Contra’.

Vampire Weekend has just released the video for ‘Giving Up the Gun’ (which can be seen on their MySpace page) – I’ve been trying to figure out the meaning of this track…the lyrics are very ‘Japanese Shogun’. But after the watching the video (there’s even a samurai in there!), my take on the meaning of this song is that you are own worst enemy, and no matter how good you are, you often lose sight of this and beat yourself up over things.  But the force is within you, don’t give up and just go on, go on, go on.  Something like that anyway!

The video shows a tennis match, with a variety of different players (including HOT Jake Gyllenhaal, who rips his pants off and gets drunk while playing tennis).  There’s even pyrotechnics and milk involved. HOT video for a HOT song. Check it out.

2) Tegan and Sara – 3rd & 4th May, The Tivoli, Fortitude Valley
These two sisters have been recording music since their high school days. I saw them at Koko here in London, HOT gig (although there were a lot of butch-looking girls in flannel shirts there who kept looking at me in a slightly uncomfortable way…). Great hairstyles, catchy tunes and very apt lyrics over the spectrum of relationship issues. Emo? No, not quite. But they did have Hunter from AFI play with them in The Con.  Favourite songs: Hell (..when you get up, over it, and over them) and The Con (….a million hours left, i think of you, i think of that). Tegan and Sara lyrics, always gets to me.

3) Creamfields 2010 – 3rd May, Eagle Farm Racecourse, Ascot
Ok dance music fans, this one is for you. Creamfields, an international dance festival, is coming to Australia for the first time. So get your camping gear and don’t forget to bring the glow sticks. Line up so far:

The Bloody Beetroots Death Crew 77 (6 piece band)
Steve Angello
MSTRKRFT
Ferry Corsten
LMFAO (6 piece band)
Dave Clarke
Marco V
Green Velvet
Dirty South
Kid Sister (4 piece band)
Joris Voorn
Lifelike
Riva Starr
Tommie Sunshine
Bingo Players
Zoo Brazil
Filo & Peri
Oh Snap!!

June 2010:

Gig listings are currently a bit sparse for June.  I will provide an update for June gigs once I get more info.  So watch this space…

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

CC’s HOT Mixtape

1. Sweet Disposition – The Temper Trap
2. Giving Up The Gun – Vampire Weekend
3. Hollywood – Marina and the Diamonds
4. If – Janet Jackson
5. Photographs – Rihanna (featuring Will.i.am)
6. Telephone – Lady GaGa (featuring Beyonce)
7. Walking On A Dream – Empire of the Sun
8. Wide Eyes – Local Natives
9. Hero – Regina Spektor
10. Hopelessly Wasted – Shrag

It’s been about four years since my last cocktail at Hotel Bravo, and I’m pleased to say it seems to have maintained its flare for fruity, sexy cocktails made with love, and great customer service.  Females aren’t easy to handle even in small groups, so when my hens all descended upon the Hotel Bravo bar and restaurant recently, I was concerned we’d be too much for this bustling venue in the very popular Brunswick Central complex.

For most of us, the evening started with strawberry and watermelon champagne Bellinis and I can’t say how many in total I had, but they were a real treat on this balmy evening that called for nothing but fruitiliciousness.  After the usual pre-dinner banter, the wait staff somehow managed to heard us into a united group and seat us for dinner.  Our meals were attended to promptly; however I suspect we were too busy gas-bagging to even have noticed if they hadn’t….

As soon as I saw the yellow fin tuna on the menu, I knew I’d found my match.  Served rare with hot and sour salad and café de Paris butter ($30) it was absolutely, hands down, the best tuna dish I’ve ever eaten.  The fish was ultra fresh and tender, seared perfectly on the outside and raw as you like in the middle.  The combination of flavours in the salad was balanced nicely, with some tangy citrus slices and some hints of sugar.  At this time I was onto a glass of Craggy Range sauvignon blanc ($11) and it complimented the tuna to perfection.

The hens to my right were indulging in the risotto with chicken, pumpkin, lemon and crisp sage leaves ($22).  They were deep in conversation and didn’t notice me sneak a taste.  The arborio rice was cooked perfectly – not too hard, not too gluggy and the flavour of the pumpkin throughout was strong but not overbearing.  This dish really was delicious.

Some hens across from me were sampling some morsels from the tapas menu and seemed pleased with their selections from the extensive list.  Their fare consisted of Persian fetta, double smoked bacon and leaf spinach tart, river prawn and arborio croquettes with smoked tomato chutney, and the honey glazed seafood dumplings ($25 for three tapas dishes).  All racked nicely on your typical tapas tower, the tasty treats didn’t last long.

From there the night is a little blurry, strangely enough.  More cocktails mixed to perfection were consumed and there were smiles all round.  Even the people who weren’t with our party were beaming.

Hotel Bravo has a great vibe and the bustling venue no doubt keeps the punters coming back due to the great service and crafty work behind the bar.  It’s so hot right now.

• Hotel Bravo, Brunswick Central, 455 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3852 3533

However, I was cruising the strip last week and noticed that there are a few new kids on the block, trying their luck in the big Euro-inspired smoke.  Bistro Alegria took my fancy, so I popped in for a quick lunch with the girls to see if it could cut the mustard.

The first tick in the box for Mediterranean inspired Alegria was the fact that it was air conditioned.  Many of the cafes on Park Rd are alfresco style, which makes for a fairly sweaty experience at this time of year…particularly if you’ve just hiked your hungry self up the hill to get there.  We were greeted at the door by a friendly waitress and seated towards the front of the restaurant which is decorated very elegantly.  It’s obvious the owners have invested a fair amount of time and money in making the interior ‘just right’ – they haven’t cut a single corner with the fit out and decorating.

The restaurant was very busy and as I did my usual scan of the room I noticed a mixed contingency of patrons, all seemingly enjoying themselves and creating quite a loud banter over the Italian inspired tunes playing (a little too loudly) from the wall mounted speakers.

The staff were prompt in attending to our drinks orders, however were a little slow to deliver and as I looked towards the bar/kitchen area things seemed a little out of order and clumsy.  Things soon got back on track though and we were given the tough job of choosing between the tapas or the a la carte menu.  If we had more time for a lazy lunch we would have chosen the tapas as the choices sounded mouthwatering and flavoursome.  However, we were on a tight time schedule so chose a light lunch of lightly grilled bread with roasted garlic to share, as well as the marinated grilled chicken skewers on a capsicum bruschetta.  Unfortunately the three of us chose the same main dish, which doesn’t make for great feedback on how other menu items fared.

The bread and roasted garlic starter was a winner and in fact I’ve never seen garlic presented this way – my companion JA smothered her lightly grilled and oiled bread with the warm, gooey garlic (obviously didn’t have any meetings to attend for the afternoon!) and made gentle grunts of satisfaction as she devoured her share.  I was a little more reserved on the garlic and the grunting, but enjoyed it all the same.

The chicken skewers arrived shortly after we inhaled our starter.  Two skewers of plump, juicy chicken pieces elegantly rested over a large piece of grilled sourdough, piled high with roasted capsicum, red onion and basil leaves drizzled with olive oil.  At first glance it didn’t look adequate enough to fill our ravenous tummies, but as we piled our forks high with the deliciously light and tangy combination of Mediterranean flavours over and over again, it was obvious that our hunger would be satisfied.   The chicken was grilled to perfection and slid off the skewers with minimal effort and the elements of the bruschetta were balanced well, with no overpowering onion flavours.

Seeing as my party of three wasn’t too adventurous with the menu selection, I made a conscious effort to subtly catch a glance at the fare at our neighboring tables.  On one side the plate of mussels looked and smelled slightly spicy with tomato based aromas and unfortunately were just out of arm’s reach…surely they wouldn’t have noticed.  Their plate of grilled octopus looked pretty tasty too.  On my other side, was a very generous helping of the quesadilla and salad.

As we fixed up the bill, it looked like the wait staff had lapsed back into their clumsy, flustered pattern that we’d experience earlier. In fairness, they have only been open for two weeks and I suspect at lunch rush hour they’re still trying to find their feet.

We walked away with tummies content and for about $18 each we hadn’t broken the budget – and we were in and out well within our 1hour time limit.

• Bistro Alegria, Shop 11, 20 Park Rd, Milton +61 7 3369 7775

The first foray of Tom Ford, uber-fashion designer, into film is an intense and elegiac work about the nature of love, loneliness, repression and the small poignant moments in life. In A Single Man Firth plays an English professor living in Los Angeles who is trying to cope with the death of Jim, his partner of sixteen years. Jim’s family were not going to tell George of the death and did not permit him to attend the funeral, and George’s inability to publicly mourn his terrible broken heart leads him to decide to kill himself.

Based on Christopher Isherwood’s novel of the same name, the story starts from as the morning alarm goes off in his immaculate designer home, which provides no joy or comfort. We then watch as George gets his affairs in order before his planned suicide that evening. He says goodbye to his flighty friend Charley (played to perfection by Julianne Moore with a rich and indolent English accent), withdraws his insurance papers from his safety deposit box, makes an effort to compliment his secretary and housekeeper and lays out instructions as to what he will wear in his coffin.

These activities are all shadowed by a bleached-out shade of grey and his brief encounters with various people over the course of the day, including his intense student Kenny Potter (Nicholas Hoult of Skins fame), the pretty child next door and a Spanish gigolo are the only events that bring colour, literally, to his life.

Tom Ford’s background as a fashion designer particularly suited this film I thought because it is all about the nuances of details. Besides the distinctive use or lack of colour to mark sadness and light, Ford seemed particularly fond of extreme close-ups – of eyes, mouths, hands, cigarette ends. I guess all the little details that become distinct and noteworthy when you know you’re about to die.

[Spoiler alert] Not having read the book I didn’t know how the film would conclude but for some reason I didn’t expect the ending – I guess I was hoping that new love might relieve George from his grief and loneliness. As it was I came out of the cinema hugging RM tightly and being grateful that I was not alone.

• Avenue Q, Playhouse, QPAC, Southbank

But because of its popularity I believe many establishments think it’s a licence to print money and they cut corners in doing so.  I’ve sampled both 1 out of 10, and 10 out of 10 sushi-style venues in Brisbane over recent years and I’m glad to say that one of the newest around town, Hanabishi at The Barracks, is definitely closer to 10 than 1.

The Barracks on Petrie Terrace is home to Brisbane’s second Palace Cinemas (James Street being the first) and is a funky new complex that is going to flourish in this very central locale, with very stylish people.  Like James Street, it’s a bit like the place you can go to be seen.  Nestled in amongst the Cinemas, boutique stores and other dining venues is Hanabishi Japanese Restaurant, a sushi train-type venue.

Upon entering, MM and I were greeted with smiles and Japanese salutations that welcomed us to take a seat at the busy sushi bar.  We were promptly offered green tea and other beverages (the premises are licensed) as we settled in to see what the train had to offer.   As the train passed around for our first helping, the plates looked typical of any other sushi train – nigiri, nori rolls, tokoyaki balls etc.  It was nice to see some variations on the usual themes however, and without a doubt the fish was as fresh as you like. I also noticed the preparation area was very clean and tidy which is always nice.

I ordered a vegetable tempura to share with MM and 2 minutes later we were handed a fresh basket of lightly battered mixed veggies which were done to perfection.  We then wasted no time plucking more plates from the train, including MM’s favourites – chicken norimaki rolls smothered in mayonnaise (two thumbs up), tuna nigiri (groan of satisfaction) and salmon nigiri (more groans).

One thing that threw me a little was a definite absence of the wasabi dot on the salmon and tuna nigiri – it occurred to me that perhaps us westerners, who are more and more frequenting these Japanese venues, aren’t too fussed on this green paste that can put hairs on your chest…but they’re weak I say!  Unfortunately I didn’t get to sample my favourite fare – a sashimi platter – on this occasion, but I’m looking forward to doing so next time.

I can’t say that Hanabishi stands above and beyond any of my other regular sushi haunts in Brisbane, but it’s up there.  The fish is fresh, the portions are tidy and the prices are on par with the competition.

• Hanabishi Japanese Restaurant, The Barracks, Petrie Terrace, Paddington +61 7 3367 3889

“Oh no” I thought as I bit into my choc top and the blood splattered on screen, “It’s going to be two hours of grim prison violence”. Fortunately, Jacques Audiard’s film is more than that – it’s a fascinating study into the ability of an entrepreneurial spirit to find opportunities everywhere, even inside prison walls.

Malik el Djebena (Tahar Rahim) is a 19-year old of North African origin who is chosen by Cesar Luciani (Niels Arestrup), the head honcho of the prison’s reigning Corsican mafia, to kill a another prisoner who is going to testifying against the mob. In fear of retribution, Malik commits the murder, and as a result is rewarded with Luciani’s favour by becoming a lackey for the Corsican gang with special privileges.

While in prison the illiterate Malik not only learns to read French but secretly teaches himself Corsican to learn about the workings of the prison mafia. When Luciani arranges periods of leave for Malik so that he can conduct various criminal missions and meetings, Malik takes the opportunity to do some work on the side by setting up a drugs business with his friend on the outside.

While pretty much all of the characters are unsavoury criminals, in Malik Audiard has given us an anti-hero who I found myself admiring for his ambition, mental toughness and street-smart intelligence. That, combined with the realistic performances and intriguing relationships between the main characters, makes The Prophet a compelling film.

The Prophet (Un prophete)

I try not to get sucked into the gratuitous marketing ploys from retailers and restaurateurs that Valentine’s Day often encourages…but as V-Day fell on a Sunday (a night that I refuse to get in the kitchen) I insisted that MM take me out for a romantic meal and a nice end to our hectic weekend of socialising.

I’ve had the pleasure of breakfasting at Vagelis before, as it’s a hot spot on Racecourse Road during the Winter Racing Carnival in Brisbane, with a flurry of suits and fascinators dropping in for breakfast/brunch on their way to nearby Eagle Farm race track.

As I’d enjoyed my previous experience at Vagelis, I suggested to MM that we stop in and sample the night time menu, to have a quiet meal together for Valentine’s Day.

The dining area at Vagelis is all alfresco, and is a lovely dining spot for a balmy evening out.  The tables were scattered with rose petals and candles to set the mood for the romantics which was a nice touch.

We were served promptly, however, it did take almost half an hour for our meals to arrive.  I suspect they may have forgotten our order, as people who were seated long after us received their meals before us.  This was a little disappointing, but we were quite content to wait as we had nowhere else to be, and were too tired to bother causing a stir.

MM ordered the rib eye fillet with roasted veggies and red wine jus ($33), whilst I chose the Cajun chicken risotto with baby spinach ($21).  I didn’t sneak a taste of the steak, but I did eat the zucchini and corn pieces that MM pushed to one side.  They were buttery and slightly crunchy – just the way I like my veggies.  The steak was cooked medium-rare as requested and it was devoured with the usual level of elegance!

The risotto was ok – a little dry and lacked the creaminess that I would expect from a chicken risotto.  The Cajun spice was well balanced and not too overpowering and the baby spinach wasn’t over-wilted.  All in all it was pleasant.  Our meals were accompanied by a side of thick cut chips which were pretty good as far as chips go.

Normally I’d be hard pressed giving a HOT to a restaurant if the main meals are forgotten – my criteria for getting this bit right are usually pretty black and white.  But the service at Vagelis was friendly, the ambience was pleasant and the Mediterranean menu is reasonably priced with a lot of variety – the meals being delivered to tables around us (particularly the Meze share plate) looked exceptional.

Past experience tells me that Vagelis’ worth going back to.  Worth a shot.

• Vagelis, Shop 2, 30 Racecourse Road, Ascot +61 7 3268 4293

Mark, tell me a bit more about your background and how you came to become a professional photographer?

My interest in photography probably started when I was about 5, when my older sister said her dream in life was to become a photographer.  Soon came Christmas and she received a red plastic 35mm camera as a present.  With that camera, still unable to grab the concept, I apparently took my first photograph by pointing it at the ground and snapping someone’s shoe.

Since then, whether it is through art, music or design, I’ve always been involved in creating something.  After high school, I made an odd decision to pursue studies in IT, and soon enough landed a job writing software and letting my creativity fade away.  By my 2^nd year, I could feel the weight of the corporate world crushing my soul and I realised it definitely wasn’t for me.  I started looking for an escape and a change.  That change came through turning my love of photography into a sustainable business.

So I quit my job and I haven’t looked back!

How would you describe your photographic style?

I have a diverse range of styles that I like to shoot in, but I really like to push a ‘candid’ or ‘natural’ approach when working with people.  To me, photography is a projection of who a person really is, rather than how they want to be perceived.  I love to work outdoors or on site with someone in their own environment, capturing a comfortable natural portrait and telling a story.

Your current project is simply called BNE. What is it about?

The BNE project was initially designed to capture the portraits and tell the stories of those that sparked my own interest and inspiration.  During the first exhibit of the images in a café, I realised that connections could be drawn between each of the subjects in the series.

I was fascinated by this visual illustration of ’six degrees of separation’, witnessed by the residents of Brisbane almost far too often, and decided to let the project evolve and develop into something more ambitious.  Rather than just focusing on capturing portraits of my own personal inspirations, I asked each of my subjects to select the people who spurred them to greater creativity, allowing for the inclusion of not only those that inspired myself, but others too.

Through the BNE project I hope to combine a strong visual style with inspirational content and a message that we are all human and we are all connected.

Have you faced any challenges getting the project off the ground?

As the direction of the shoot moves towards people I don’t know directly, reflecting their character in a photo becomes a real challenge.  I don’t want to just shoot a portrait in a space and claim it’s full of meaning; I want to tell a story about the person.  As hard as this can be initially, I enjoy the process of meeting someone new and learning about what they love and what drives them.  I find this challenge to be one of the greatest things about the project.

What are your next plans for BNE?

I want BNE to be more than just a photographic series.  Although the photographic part of the project is still in progress, I intend on incorporating another passion of mine into the project. Through the use of social media and digital storytelling, I hope to experiment with the combination of photography, audio and video to form short six minute “digital stories”.

Each “story” will include a key set of interview questions revolving around the themes of “inspiration” and “being human”.  Video and audio documenting the life or passions of the individual will also help illustrate each piece. The project will continue for 6 rounds or “degrees” focussing on creating 2 portraits for each subject as well as the digital story to accompany it.  I’m currently researching ways to exhibit the series as an interactive exhibition, both on and offline.

What other future projects or ideas have you got in mind?

I always have a few projects going at any point in time! I recently started a new project called VonVintage.  Put simply, it stands for Vintage on Vintage, which is exactly how I intend to shoot it: Vintage content, shot on a Vintage camera.  Through its use in preservation and storytelling, photography can be a powerful tool.  Coupled with an artistic approach, I hope VonVintage can help bring back some value to beautiful vintage design, film photography and the keepsakes of the past.

I currently have a collection of Von Vintage photography shot by both myself and others on a blog at: www.vonvintage.com/scrapbook .

Where do you turn for art and photography inspiration?

Apart from the people of the BNE project, the internet is probably my biggest source of inspiration.  It’s nerdy, but true.  Websites like flickr, ffffound, vimeo and even twitter, with the ability to connect and learn from photographers all around the world, makes it an unlimited source of inspiration for me.

Finally, what is your tip for what’s HOT in Brisbane?

I love going to breakfast at the Cottage Garden Nursery (999 Stanley St, East Brisbane +61 7 3891 7999).  I recommend the French toast!

On entry, the colourful mountain range of gelati flavours in Gelatissimo provides a visual feast. Unfortunately, the product from this national chain is not really up to scratch.

Nocciola is one of the few words I can say in Italian (along with ‘gelati’) and I’ve never been disappointed with hazelnut gelato. Unfortunately, Gelatissimo’s version is about as bland as gelato can get – the mere hint of hazelnut and utterly forgettable. Hoping to find a redeeming flavour, I asked for a tub of caramelised fig. This had the opposite effect on my taste buds, as it contained a massive hit of teeth-aching sugar, which then petered out into a non-descript creamy nothingness. Frankly, wasted calories.

Gelatissimo, Shop 3 The Pavillion, Cnr Albert & Queen Streets, Brisbane

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

Sometimes the binary rating system of HOT or NOT really puts me in a pickle; there’s no half way mark which really does my head in… but if there was, I’d probably put Jost 154 in the kinda-hot bucket.  These guys still have their training wheels on, so I need the Kinda prefix to this otherwise HOT establishment.

MM and I were invited to attend a friend’s surprise 35^th Birthday party on a Saturday evening to be held at Jost 154.  We had never seen or heard of the place, but being in West End we assumed it would be a funky, pokey little bar.  Oops.  Good thing we wore our fancy shoes!  Jost 154 is located below one of the new office blocks in Melbourne Street, teetering between South Brisbane and West End.  The floor to ceiling glass frontage makes for an impressive entry way and from there you are confronted by a very long L-shaped timber and stainless steel bar with funky pod chairs and bar stools.  Towards the rear of the venue is an elevated platform area which on this occasion housed the dining tables.  I suspect our private function threw their usual dining layout into disarray, but nonetheless the décor worked well.

The bar staff were friendly, however, a little clumsy with their service.  They didn’t have a good grasp of their wine list and were a little slow – I’m certain that once they have a few runs under their belts and tweak their processes a little this will change for the better.  The canapés were ample and flavoursome and delivered with a smile. I don’t know how the chefs cram so much flavour into such tiny little shells of pastry, but they did it and they did it well.  The tasty canapes included caramelized onion with warm goats cheese, beef bourguignon, smoked salmon and crème fraiche and mushroom risotto arancini balls.

Jost 154 is located in a perfect position to cater for the corporate types that flood this area for lunch, so I suspect they’ll do well.  They also do breakfast and takeaway coffee and pastries for the morning rush.  The décor is modern and funky and it provides a fresh vibe as soon as you walk in.  I can’t comment on their dining menus or prices, but if you’re looking for a venue to hold a private party I would recommend Jost 154, it’s kinda-hot.

• Jost 154 , 154 Melbourne St South Brisbane +61 7 3846 1154

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

Bamboo Basket is new addition to the increasingly vibrant and unapologetically modern South Bank precinct. Located at the eastern end of Grey St, there was always the danger that when this Chinese restaurant opened a few months ago it would be a little far from the action. But it hasn’t taken long for it to create its own.

It is a restaurant that oozes confidence even from the outside, making a feature of their steamy kitchen, filled with professional chefs and (you guessed it) lots of bamboo baskets. The interior is sleek, full of striking reds and blacks, but maybe a little showy.

The stand-out performer at Bamboo Basket is definitely the noodles. They are made fresh, very fresh – practically right in front of you – making for some delicious noodle soups and awesome dumplings. We tried two of their very reasonably priced lunch specials ($10.90). The wonton noodle soup was delicious and the BBQ pork disappeared very quickly. Definitely worth fighting over! They are certainly not complicated meals, just simple and good.

Chinese restaurants in Brisbane have really had to improve since the dingy suburban takeaways of the 90s. Sweet and sour pork and black bean beef just doesn’t cut it any more. Bamboo Basket is certainly a cut above those greasy memories of my childhood, and well worth a visit.

[Editor: Bamboo Basket is so popular that the Jetsetting Parents also visited recently. Here's their take on the restaurant.]

There was a continuous stream of onlookers on the foot-path, peering through a big glass window into the open kitchen of Bamboo Basket Chinese Restaurant. They were watching with interest (and probably salivating at the same time) at the dexterous skills demonstrated by the chefs inside who were busy rolling out dough, filling and pinching up dumplings, making noodles by repeated “pull, loop, pull” action, etc.

Inside the restaurant, all tables were either filled up or reserved by 12 noon, half-an-hour after opening , with the staff moving briskly around taking orders and delivering dishes. A small queue was always waiting at the entrance despite the fairly quick turnover of the tables. This set the tone for the lunch for Jetsetting Dad and myself.

The decor of the restaurant is simple yet stylish with a touch of red for a Chinese flair. From its extensive menu, we chose a few which we thought would be indicative of the skills of the dumplings and noodle chefs.

The four xiao lung bao (steamed pork dumplings, S7.90) arrived at our table in a bamboo basket. They were outstanding. The abundant soup/juice simply burst out in our mouth when we bit into it. It’s amazing how the delicate skin could hold up the weight of the soup and meat without breaking even when the dumpling was lifted out of the basket by chopsticks. I reckon the recipe for the dough and the rolling technique must have to be perfect.

Next we had pan-fried pork dumplings (6 for $11.90). From our experience, a good one has to have a juicy meat filling with a nice crispy bottom while the rest of the skin is thin and soft. So these were the qualities we were looking for in our order and happily, we were not disappointed, though I would still prefer a crisper base.

The hot and sour soup ($ 8.90) was a thickened soup with strips of pork, woody fungus, tofu, bamboo shoots and eggs. It was authentic but quite ordinary in taste – I even found it a bit too vinegary.

A big bowl of Langzhou pull-noodles in soup with beef ($17.90) was another outstanding dish. The fresh noodles were thick and al-dente (borrowing the Italian description). Again, it demands a good dough as well as some well-practiced pull and loop skills from the chef. The soup was tasty, too, without being greasy.

When we complimented on the food at the end of our meal, we were told that the chefs are mostly recruited from Shanghai.  Bamboo Basket is the restaurant we have been waiting for and I hope that the chefs will stick to their successful recipes and continue to offer us authentic and good-quality dumplings and noodles.

• Bamboo Basket, 190 Grey St, South Brisbane

Melbourne is renowned for its utilisation of the funky laneways that branch from main streets of the CBD: bars, cafes, boutique shops…you name it, in the laneways down there they’ve got it.

Brisbane, however, has been a little slow on the uptake.  We have plenty of laneways, but there’s not much doing aside from rubbish bins and maybe a few groggy party goers late on a Friday night.

So I was driving down Margaret Street a few weeks ago when to my surprise I noticed a street sign labelled The Laneway.  I did a lap of the block and came back to see that Spencer Lane (across from the Stamford Plaza) has indeed been Laneway-ed!!  Sure, there are the alleyway rubbish bins, but beyond that is a funky new entrance, giving way to a cool, very Melbourne-esque bar (The Laneway), bistro (The Euro) and exclusive restaurant (Urbane).

I had heard rave reviews about Urbane, so decided to sample the goods on a balmy Saturday evening with my other half and another couple.  Designed by local architects Arkhefield, the features of the long, narrow Urbane dining area are very modern with clean lines and simple, classic colours amongst the timber floor, shelving and entry way.

When MM and I entered we were watched closely by the patrons, which was a little unnerving – perhaps it had something to do with my Steve Maddens making a right racket on the wooden floor?  The majority of diners consisted of couples looking dreamily into each other’s eyes (when they weren’t gawking at us) and having quiet, intimate conversation.  A little clinical and sterile was my immediate impression.

Our friends joined us shortly after and finally we were able to get a bit of laughter and ambience into the room.  The wait staff greeted us promptly and reminded us that we had signed up for the 6 course degustation menu.  We glanced over the set menu and all gave nods of approval.  We chose to have the wine degustation as well – why not let the experts chose the wine for us?

No one at our table had tried a degustation experience before.  Most of the courses on the set menu sounded mouth watering, but I had my doubts on how sufficient the portions would be. In the back of my mind I was flashing dollar signs – the degustation experience isn’t cheap, and this meal wasn’t on behalf of anyone’s corporate expense account.

The first tasty morsel was lobster, almond gazpacho, capers and lime meringue – very small, but a flavour sensation and it was served in the most fascinating conical shaped glass.  The second sample was one of my favourites – yellowtail kingfish with Japanese inspirations.  Again the serving was quite small but the fish was fresh, light and melted in your mouth.

The third plate was questionable….but perhaps my palate’s not cultured enough for this sort of experimental cuisine – it was foie gras in a white chocolate bonbon, with gingerbread, carrot and dark chocolate.  To be honest, the rich flavour of the duck pate didn’t mix well with the sweetness of the chocolate.  This dish didn’t really work for any of us at the table and it was too rich for me to finish (more dollar signs flashing).

From there, we were served slow cooked pork belly with apple, onion and rhubarb – another taste sensation with not a scrap left on the plate, except for my crunchy crackling (which I would have loved to pick up with my fingers and shovel into my mouth – not the kind of behaviour this establishment would encourage so thought it best to let go).

Now that we were into the main dishes I was really starting to enjoy the degustation experience – the portions were more liberal and the combination of flavours was unusual and delicious.  Next on the bill of fare was the stand out for me – venison with raspberry, beetroot, cocoa and hints of liquorice.  This was my first taste of venison and it fell gracefully away as I cut into it and melted in my mouth; the liquorice and cocoa worked well with this dish which really surprised everyone on the judges panel.

Onto the dessert items and the first was lightly poached peach with jasmine flower, lychee, sesame and almonds with a scoop of creamy vanilla ice cream.  MM thought this sort of food was best served at breakfast, but I thought it was a perfect balance of fresh and light with a little bit of sweetness.

Following this was a tray of petite fours which included a chunk of creamy aerated milk chocolate (MM thought perhaps they had sampled an aero bar from the local 7-11?!), compressed watermelon and a green tea sponge cake.  All in all a very nice, light finish to our meal.

The wines that complimented our meals were very well matched to the food that was presented.  There was a mix of

aged French red, white and sparkling wines as well as some locally grown and bottled.  We imbibed sufficient wine to warrant a taxi home, but with no hangover the next morning.

Would I return to Urbane?  Yep, no risk – but next time I will be dining from the a la carte menu.  The degustation was a great way to sample a range of items from the menu, but the portions are small and it’s a bit of a tease.

Unfortunately by the time we had finished it was almost midnight and we were feeling the pinch from a late night and full stomachs, so we chose not to have a night cap at The Laneway.  Its décor and ambience looks fresh and exciting for Brisbane and I can’t wait to sit at the bar and sample a fruity summer cocktail.

As we wandered back down Spencer Lane there was an old black and white movie being projected onto one of the laneway walls – very cool . I can’t wait to see more of this in Brisbane.

• Urbane Restaurant, 179 Mary St, Brisbane +61 7 3229 2271

We try to have a new food adventure at least once a week. But there are some times when you just need the old locale, a place where you can be guaranteed a quick, cheap and tasty feed. And then you arrive at 8.15pm and find the place packed to the rafters, so you go two doors down the street.

And that’s how we ended at Dakbla Restaurant.

The street signage touts Dakbla to be “Vietnamese and Asian cuisine”. Already, foodies will have been deterred by the boast of being able to produce all of Asia’s cuisines, or worse, lumping them all together. Nevertheless, the place was busy for a Tuesday night, with only a couple of small tables to spare.

I ordered the grilled pork vermicelli salad aka “summer noodles” ($10.90). It was fine – I was hungry and ate it all. But there was nothing special about it. The noodles were quite soggy, there was no separate serving of bean sprouts and coriander, and the vegies mixed in the salad were not terribly fresh. The meat was tender and tasty and probably saved the meal.

My other half ordered the flame grilled pork ($14.90). To me it looked like a plate of chopped pork pieces, on the bone, and a few slices of raw onion. The menu says there was also lemon grass. I am told that although the meat was quite tasty, the dish as a whole was unremarkable.

Service was friendly and efficient. Iced water was provided without having to ask and there were complementary slices of orange at the end of the meal.

This is not the first time, nor will it be the last time, that I eat at Dakbla. When I used to work up the road, Vietnamese was a once a week event, and you‘d get tired of eating at the one place, no matter how cheap or how good the food was. I have had at least one great meal at Dakbla – I think it was some sort of vegetarian salad.

However, there’s more than one Vietnamese restaurant in this little strip of shops and Dakbla would not be my first pick. If you must try Dakbla, then maybe lunch, when business is far quieter and the cook has time to prepare a meal, is the best time to go.

Food Bling Brisbane seemed to like it more, check out the review here.

• Dakbla Restaurant, 65 Hardgrave Rd, West End +61 7 3844 0594

Chances are most of us are always looking for ways to improve our health and fitness – but if you’re anything like me, this isn’t going to be achieved by spending hours on the machines in a pretty, image driven, look-at-me-I-go-to-the-gym gym, or by spending hundreds with a personal trainer.  I do a lot of free-of-charge running and riding through the streets of Brisbane to balance out my love for food and beer, but this can get monotonous too.

Every now and then it’s nice to mix it up with a bit of hardcore, intense, vein-bulging, weight lifting activity with someone yelling a bit of healthy banter across a sweaty room at you.  So if you are like me and don’t rate the fancy gyms around town, I’d recommend giving CrossFit Arena in South Brisbane a go.

CrossFit is the principal strength and conditioning program used by many police academies, martial artists, and elite/professional athletes worldwide.  The CrossFit program delivers fitness that is broad, general, scalable and inclusive and the specialty is in fact not specialising. Many sports and life in general reward this kind of fitness and on average, punish the specialists!

CrossFit is the true representation of the age-old term ‘Cross Training’ and for someone who’s been involved in the fitness industry for a long time for both work and pleasure, I have to say I like what I see.

There are several CrossFit programs/centres in Brisbane, but CrossFit Arena, a little sweat-box in South Brisbane, has been my home away from home over the last seven years and I’ve seen it go through some creative transitions, the latest of which I’m really impressed with.

Jarrod Bowe is the owner/trainer of CrossFit Arena and cut his teeth in Bushikai Muay Thai Kick Boxing. Jarrod is possibly the leanest, fittest guy I’ve ever met and easy on the eye as well (sorry boys).  When I first met him, he was leading a circuit class for the masters (read: oldies) swimmers and playing personal trainer to kick-boxing wannabes.

His little cement box gym has never been glamorous, it has minimal air flow, smells of sweat and doesn’t have fancy equipment – it’s very raw and real, but it’s always drawn a crowd.  These days, while kick boxing is still close to his heart, he’s jumped head first into the CrossFit philosophy and converted his gym into a new-look, new-feel arena for his underlings to sweat it out in a bit more style, but without losing that raw, unsophisticated feeling that keeps the patrons down to earth and realistic when it comes to keeping fit.

The CrossFit Arena is a great place to meet like-minded people, work hard and have fun. CrossFit sessions are of 1 hour duration, run twice daily in the CrossFit Arena and are attended by everyday, no frills men and women who are all in this to sweat hard and keep fit while encouraging their fellow compatriots to reach their goals and never give up.

• CrossFit Arena, Somerville Sports & Aquatic Centre, 4 Stephens Rd, South Brisbane +61 414 371 986

If you’re a fan of Lonely Planet too, now you have the chance to have a say about their work.

Basically, Lonely Planet is looking to increase its Travellers’ Pulse panelist pool. The panel is a discussion forum where Lonely Planet engages travellers to listen to what they have to say about travel – where to go, how to plan, and other creative travel ideas.

Joining the panel is free and if you’re accepted to be a panelist, you will receive a free Lonely Planet 2010 calendar as a welcome gift. Not only will you get to talk about travel, but Lonely Planet regularly run promotions exclusively for panelists where you can win prizes such as Lonely Planet products and Amazon gift cards.

If you’d like to join this panel (numbers are limited) all you need to do is click the link below and take a short survey to register. Lonely Planet will look at the responses and depending on your age, travel experience and country of residence you might be selected!  The type of people needed on the panel changes from time to time, so if you aren’t suitable for the panel this time you might still be contacted to participate in the future. Applications close 28 February 2010.

https://www.travellerspulse.com/R.aspx?a=56&Source=BLOG

(Note that I’m not on the Lonely Planet Traveller’s Pulse panel – though I’ve put in an application as I think it’s such a cool thing to be involved in.)

I’m not even going to bother with the puns about ‘buzzing Buzz‘ or ‘lots of buzz about Buzz‘ – you’ve probably heard them all already.

So let me just say that bright and cheery Buzz (love the red and white stripey awnings) served up one of the most satisfying and delicious breakfasts that I’ve had in a while.

I’m a bit of a going-out-for-breakfast sceptic so it’s got to be pretty special to capture my attention. Buzz didn’t start off well with the confusing service (something about the chef being unable to mentally psych himself up for the lunch menu, could I please come back and order my portion of the table’s bill in 10 minutes) but the excellent food won me over.

First of all, a Di Bella cappucino ($3.50) which received a 8/10 rating from the coffee drinker. Then came a pair of berry hotcakes – crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside – served with grilled mango cheek, maple syrup and (bleh) commercial vanilla ice cream ($13.50); eggs benedict with the smoked salmon gingerly dipping its feet in some gooey hollandaise; and my fabulous French Toast ($13.50), unusually served with the ricotta sandwiched between thick slices of fried bread, artfully arranged in a pool of maple syrup and topped with lots of crunchy almond slivers for texture. It was definitely one of the better versions of French toast I’ve had in a while and for that alone it’s worth returning to Buzz – just look at that picture!

For another breakfast option right next door, try Depot Emporium.

Buzz Bistro, Shop 22, Emporium, 1000 Ann St, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3252 0511

The Emporium complex hasn’t changed much since my last visit – as I pulled into the last remaining car space I was flanked on both sides by a fancy Mercedes, behind me was a shiny new Porsche 911 Turbo and before I knew it, my little blue Mazda was suffering an inferiority complex. I sashayed over to the table where my friend was sipping his coffee and my mouth began watering at the thought of some crispy bacon and poached eggs Depot style.

The café was unusually quiet.  99% of my visits to Depot have involved waiting to be seated due to the vibrant venue being so popular, but always, always, always having my coffee/drink order taken immediately.  So how is it, that on a quiet day, they couldn’t manage to take my drink order until 10mins after I took my seat?  And then another 15mins to have our breakfast orders taken?  The wait staff were sluggish and could barely muster up the energy for a smile.

As I glanced around the fresh, sunny, alfresco-style premises to see if I could find Sam (the charismatic owner) floating around, my friend blurted out “I know what you’re thinking – Sam’s not here, he sold the business”.  Arrgh!  No wonder there were empty seats and the wait staff looked like a pen to the eye would be more enjoyable!

I sank into my seat and wondered how my much anticipated breakfast would be enjoyed…my animated mood was quickly fading.

Surprisingly, my skinny chocolate milkshake came back quite promptly in the old fashioned stainless steal milkshake mug, but to my disappointment it was only half-full.  My eggs were perfectly poached, however, the bacon was fatty and not crispy as I had requested.  JC’s hash browns looked plump, home made and tasty, and he was happy with his eggs.  The coffees were creamy and kicked as a good coffee should.

So the food is still ok, but the ambience and service was poor and disappointing.  What was once a buzzing, lively, well managed venue for breakfast, lunch and dinner seems to have fizzled and faded with the change of hands, to be yet another mediocre place to dine in one of Brisbane’s most happening suburbs. What a shame I’ve had to NOT Depot Emporium.

If you want to read about the HOT we previously gave Depot, click here.

• Depot Emporium, Shop 31, 1000 Ann Street, Fortitude Valley +61 7 3666 0188

Rest assured that your feedback is not disappearing into the ether! As a result of your suggestions, here are some things that I am planning to improve or implement in 2010.

• You like the restaurant/bar reviews. I’ll be introducing additional refined categories (maybe coffee? sushi?) so that you just don’t get a dump of restaurants when you click on ‘Restaurants and Cafes’.

• Ah, the eternal problem of the binary HOT or NOT rating system. I’ve had many suggestions to introduce a ‘lukewarm’ tag but I think I will continue to resist a graduated rating. I’ve started to be stricter with the rating. Basically, it boils down to ‘would I recommend this to my friends?’ – if not, because it’s not bad but not that great, then it gets a NOT.  Time and money are precious and I don’t want to be recommending you to places that are just meh.

• I hadn’t realised that my links to Google Maps were defaulting to Google Maps UK (I bought my laptop in the UK) and that was causing problems. So from now on, Google Maps Australia links only! I’ve also created a specific BNE: HOT OR NOT Google Map pinpointing all the places reviewed on the blog and will be publishing it soon. I’m just working through a backlog of posts.

• You like links to other blog posts about the same/thing place so you can get a few different opinions. Given that some of you found BNE: HOT OR NOT via other blogs, it’s only fair that I return the favour and take you other sites you might enjoy. I’ll also be updating the BNE HOT Reads shortly.

Finally, congratulations to the winner of the Aesop Jet Set kit, drawn out from the Kitchenaid – Kyliept. Kylie, please email your postal address to jetsettingjoyce@gmail.com to claim your prize!

Hillcoat dissects these questions in several layers and reveals that we are as human as the choices we make. His revelation is even more noteworthy considering the film mostly relies on focused acting and beautiful yet solemn cinematography.

The characters in the film do not have names. They’re simply cast as Man, Boy, and Woman, as names don’t really matter in post-apocalyptic tales. Everyone is the same, just flesh and blood. In this particular tale, the Man and Boy try to fend for themselves in the resulting cold and ash. Their main purpose is to make it south to a warmer climate, but they have no idea what awaits them there or what they would do next once and if they arrive. With this purpose in mind, the Man and Boy scavenge for food and avoid the cannibals on their way south.

Yes, that’s right. In The Road the majority of the human population turns cannibalistic in the absence of food. These herds hunt together like animals but still seem to have a certain air of modernity and civilisation about them. They live in houses and still eat from plates. Moreover, they have access to whatever technology that’s left behind. The Man and Boy, on the other hand, are dirty and live in the wild with nothing but a pistol with two bullets and a rusty shopping cart. They eat insects and whatever else they can find. They’re physically portrayed as animals, but it’s this conflicting depiction that grabs the viewer’s attention. The co-existence of civilisation and cannibalism really challenges our current understanding of what it means to be civilised and raises the question: do we have to be civilised to be human?

To answer that, we need to examine how we define ourselves. Humans have traditionally defined themselves and civilisation for that matter in relation to their superiority over animals, which includes technology, and their success at resisting animal instincts. It’s this relative definition that gives us a proud sense of who we are, but the danger lies herein. Relative definitions are not stable especially when the surrounding environment changes, and technology may be used for good or evil. What becomes acceptable may change if the relative point changes. It’s really in these moments when people find who they really are. They may break under the pressure or they may still be proud and do whatever’s humane and dignified. This central choice frames The Road, which deserves to be seen.

Despite being a little slow at times, The Road is blessed with great acting from Viggo Mortensen and Kodi Smit-McPhee. The father-and-son pair garner instant sympathy and we take on their journey seriously. Thanks to Hillcoat’s realistic approach and the non-existence of unnecessary visuals, their plight is made real, landing sci-fi material safely in the drama space.

On a recent visit with friends we had Turkish bread with homemade jam and homemade crumpets. Most of the foods are quite original, and a pleasant change from the usual breakfast staples of bacon, eggs and sausages with extra grease.

Don’t expect a peaceful experience, though – the staff do not shy away from a bit of noisy banter with the locals. Between that, and the tapping of espresso machine filters and the Stanley Street traffic, it is not exactly serene. But it is fun.

• Desmond and Molly Jones, 615 Stanley St, Woolloongabba +61 7 3391 8594

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)

The Jetsetting Parents are pretty fussy with their sushi, but they can’t stop raving about LR Sushi at QueensPlaza. Apparently Brisbane office workers have also pegged it as a popular lunch spot. Eat Drink Brisbane also gave it a rave review.

Why? LR Sushi produce nori rolls with a difference. The high demand means a fast turnover of stock, and the large selection of rolls are mostly priced at an amazing $2 for the standard fillings. Most importantly, each roll is huge by normal standards, with the contents of each roll obviously fresh and the filling is not weighed down by gluggy, or worse, warm sushi rice.

My three rolls containing salmon and avocado, seaweed and tofu and teriyaki chicken made a filling and cheap lunch and if I worked in the city, I could imagine LR being my local lunch stop too.

For other sushi options in the city, try Top Sushi.

LR Sushi, QueensPlaza, Ground Level, Adelaide St, Brisbane +61 421 656 006 (also Felix Street, Brisbane)

Just a little reminder that the BNE: HOT OR NOT 2010 Reader Survey closes tomorrow (Sunday) at 5pm. As part of my New Years resolutions I wanted to really make an effort to improve the site so it is more useful and enjoyable for you all. I’d really appreciate your feedback so please take 2 minutes to complete an 8-question reader survey here.

As a thank you, if you enter your email address you will go into the draw for the lovely Jet Set kit from Aesop, my favourite skincare brand (RRP $34.90).  Thanks so much for the feedback, and good luck!

Up in the Air

Ryan Bingham (George Clooney) is a corporate downsizing gun-for-hire who flies around the country firing employees for bosses who are too cowardly to do the dirty work themselves. He’s a smooth operator, full of pretend concern and oft-repeated platitudes but with just the right amount of emotional distance to move in, do his job, and move out. He loves his work, mainly because it allows him stay on the road with no responsibilities and no emotional ties, with all of his life’s necessities neatly packed in his carry-on luggage. (There’s a funny scene where he talks about how to pick the fastest line when going through x-ray security – so true!).

His life is about to be turned upside down though when his boss hires Natalie (Anna Kendrick), a keen and perky young graduate who suggests that business costs could be reduced if the terminations are done via video-conference. With his lifestyle threatened, Bingham takes Natalie ‘on tour’ to show her what it’s really like to fire someone.

In another strand of the story, one night in yet another random hotel bar he meets Alex  (Vera Farmiga), a sexy and intelligent business woman who also seems to enjoy living life as a constant traveller and shares his fascination with collecting frequent flyer miles and loyalty cards. They have a brief affair and then begin to meet up in various cities. Slowly Ryan realises that she has gotten under his skin and that maybe hisitinerant lifestyle has its drawbacks.

Suave bachelor George Clooney is the perfect actor for the character of Bingham. Our gossip-mag knowledge of the poster boy for commitment phobia means that Clooney can convince us that someone wouldn’t be able to see the advantages in marriage or having a home and loves living a transient lifestyle. He has great chemistry with VeraFarmiga and Anna Kendrick and the writing from Jason Reitman (director of Juno and writer of Thank You For Smoking) is sharp and witty.

It’s not all beer and skittles though. Notice that the timeframes in the movie (such as at the conference the characters crash) are dated 2010 even though the movie was made in 2009, a device which keeps the film’s themes contemporary. While you’re laughing, Up in the Air also highlights that real people suffer when they lose their jobs.  Some of the footage you see are interviews with people who’ve been terminated. So their pain, disappointment, anger and humiliation are real, and it’s sobering to be reminded that for many people losing their job is the worse thing that’s ever happened to them.

Up in the Air is sophisticated, humorous and relevant and I really enjoyed it. I’m predicting it’ll win some major awards.

I have some double passes to see Up in the Air – if you’d like to go, please send an email to jetsettingjoyce@gmail.com with your postal address to go into the draw. Good luck!