Feast on Brisbane #25

Six tummy rumbling eats, more budget dining finds, new local getaways, and truffle tips, it’s what you need to know about food in Brisbane this week in Feast on Brisbane #25. Now lockdown has lifted there’s plenty to tempt you out to eat and explore in this carefully curated collection.

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Feast on Brisbane #25 suckling pig The Arsonist

Schultz Family suckling roast pork at The Arsonist.

Table of Contents

Top Brisbane bites you need to know

Here’s six food finds for your eating pleasure in Feast on Brisbane #25.

HOT NEWS – Emeraude, formerly of Hampton, has a new home in Crows Nest, about two hours’ drive west of Brisbane. It’s the classic 105-year-old Nolan’s Block building on the New England Highway and renovations are involved. Congratulations to Amanda and Larry Hinds on finding a new home and we can’t wait to dine there. Here’s a bit about Emeraude at Hampton to jog your memory. The new venture will be a European style bistro to be known as Myrtille accompanied by a patisserie called Butter Cake. If you’ve eaten any of the delicious pastries that Amanda makes you will be very excited about the patisserie. The pop-up Emeraude events at Bunnyconnellen will continue until Myrtille opens in October. Amanda and Larry have a strong love of local produce which was instrumental in their success at Indulge Cafe in Bundaberg which became Queensland cafe of the year twice! Find out the secrets of their success in this podcast.
Truffle hunting on the Granite Belt. Yes! Dig for truffles with Barry the truffle dog and finish with a tasting at The Folly Truffles. You can also buy their truffles. Tours are run on Saturdays and Sundays and cost $100 per person or check out their farm gate sales. Find out more here.
Sunday night saw me dining at Manly’s new fire pit focused restaurant, The Arsonist. The air was thick with delicious aromas when we arrived, and the dishes lived up to the promise. The share menu is full of local flavours such as Hervey Bay scallops, Mooloolaba tuna, Longreach lamb, Schultz Family Farm suckling pig and Stockyard brisket. It’s heaven for meat lovers. Don’t miss the S’Mores. The Arsonist
Opening on July 9 at Albion is award-winning Gold Coast distiller Granddad Jack’s. With an old Collingwood Street factory as their new home, Granddad Jack’s will release a new Albion Gin followed by a new release every month. It’s bring your own food, so rock up here with your own platter or takeaway. Take a look at Granddad Jack’s on the Gold Coast in this top roundup of Gold Coast eats.
Look out for Brewtide at Albion in Craft’d Grounds. It will have 20 taps with 15 taps from artisan breweries from around Australia that they brew on-site. There are plans for brewery tours through the mill, grain store and brewing process.
New Fortitude Valley wine bar King has replaced The Strand in California Lane with a retro 80s theme and a stage for bands and drag shows from July 15.

Budget busters for clever dining

Leonards Bar & Bistro (located where The Euro used to be in Mary Street) has an Express Lunch menu with a glass of wine or beer for $25 available Monday to Friday.
Bisou Bisou, the new French restaurant in Hotel X has an express lunch deal that gives you two courses for $48 or three courses for $58. The Bisou Bisou menu is ever-changing and includes free parking at Hotel X.

Emporium Hotel swimming pool

Plan your next local escape

We are just out of another snap lockdown, but don’t let that put you off a travel experience, even if you don’t leave Brisbane!

New Brisbane hotel

A name change and new owner has seen The Fantauzzo morph into Crystalbrook Vincent to become the seventh property in the Crystalbook Collection. The new general manager is a long time Brisbane favourite Jeremy Nordkamp. The 500 fabulous Vincent Fantauzzo prints plus 180 other artworks remain but the hotel’s new focus on sustainability means that waste is out. The promise is for a single-use plastic-free environment and 100 per cent waste-free bathrooms. Check out these top Brisbane hotels and match your next stay to your personality.

Luxury on a budget

Emporium Hotel South Bank is opening up rooms to locals at special rates immediately following Brisbane’s recent lockdown. Available for 72 hours from 6 PM, Monday 5 July, those seeking a bit of relaxation and comfort in 5-star surrounds can enjoy 15 per cent off fully flexible rates and free valet parking. Available for stays until 29 July, guests can enjoy two people staying in a VISTA King suite from $239 or the RIVER King Suite with its extensive CBD, river and South Bank Parklands views from $309 including valet parking. Here’s what to expect from a stay at Emporium Hotel South Bank.

Granite Belt must do

Another reason to visit the Granite Belt for a real taste of winter. Ballandean Estate Wines have brought back At Our Table, a vineyard tour and degustation lunch held for one to eight visitors every Monday. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear about 25 years of winemaking in Ballandean direct from the Puglisi family, meet the winemaker and enjoy a two-course lunch in The Barrelroom. A bargain at $90. Find out more from Ballandean Estate.

Find of the week – a small truffle goes a long way

Truffles are in full season now and the easiest way to get your hands on a premium truffle is to order one from The Truffle Man. I used a small truffle (gifted) to create a roasted truffle chicken (stuff sliced truffle under the skin and roast on a bed of fresh herbs at 200 Celsius for about one hour for a large chicken – I bought an organic chicken from Harris Farm West End). I used a bit more with some cauliflower mash that also included a small amount of cream. The next morning there was truffle on my scrambled eggs and the rest is going to make truffled butter. Find out more from The Truffle Man. Here are my tips for buying truffles in Australia.

Food festival update

There are three top food festivals around Australia in July including one of my favourites, the Huon Valley Winter Fest. Closer to home the Moreton Bay Food and Wine Festival is sure to excite seafood lovers.

August is the busiest month with nine festivals. See your taste-tempting festival line up here.