The Dish: Brisbane food news you might have missed this week
There’s a lot happening in Brisbane these days, almost too much to keep up with. The Dish is a rapid-fire rundown of Brisbane food news – quick taster-sized tidbits to keep you in the know and, perhaps, tickle your taste buds.
Festa Italiana is taking over Howard Smith Wharves for two weekends of feasting
Get ready to eat, sip and celebrate Italian-style as Festa Italiana rolls back into Howard Smith Wharves for two weekends of pure indulgence. From May 29 to June 8, the riverside precinct will transform into a sun-soaked slice of Italy, complete with authentic eats, spritz bars and Italo-Disco beats. Guest chef Orazio D’Elia of Sydney’s Da Orazio will be leading the food offering with his distinct Neapolitan flair, slinging juicy pollo al mattone chicken rolls and porchetta-stuffed focaccia, as well as his famed pasta dishes like the saucy strozzapreti. Chef Carmine Guarino will be dishing up Roman-style pizzas and natural wines with a side of old-school disco tunes, and nearby at Ciao Papi, executive chef Dean Anning will be serving a special set menu of bold Italian eats across both weekends. An authentic salumi bar will take over The Greenhouse, serving artisanal charcuterie, crispy fried calamari and deli-style goods, with live mozzarella-making demonstrations to delight passersby. A dedicated spritz bar will be pouring fun sips like Lambrusco spritzes and white peach Aperol slushies, while Felons Brewing Co. is set to join the action with an exclusive Italian lager brewed just for the festival. The third annual Festa Italiana will run from Thursday May 29 to Sunday June 1, and again from Thursday June 5 to Sunday June 8.
Gum Bistro takes on weekend brunch with its Up Before Noon service
Now well established as one of Brisbane’s best restaurants, the team behind Gum Bistro in West End is setting its alarms a little earlier, with a brand-new morning service set to launch over the Easter weekend. On Good Friday and Easter Saturday, Gum Bistro will open at 8:00 am for Up Before Noon, serving a bang tidy menu of unfussy fare that bridges the gap between breakfast and lunch. The menu will be available until 2:00 pm, and will feature the likes of eggs (your choice of soft boiled, fried or souffle style) on Riser sourdough, soldiers with soft-boiled egg and gravlax, 2GR wagyu strip with boudin noir, fried egg and petit hashbrown, and salad sandwiches. There’s also a clutch of Gum Bistro signatures if you’re dining closer to lunchtime, plus great filter brews from Light Coffee, mimosa spritzes and mezcal-laced bloody Marias. Head to the Gum Bistro website to make a booking.
Bottomless bao, beer and prosecco at Ping Pong
Pink-hued Thai eatery Ping Pong is giving foodies the chance to enjoy 90 minutes of unrestrained gastronomic ecstasy with its massive monthly special. Throughout April, from Monday to Wednesday between 5:00–8:00 pm, guests can pop in and enjoy one-and-a-half hours of bottomless boas, tap beer and prosecco. Ping Pong’s kitchen is pumping out six kinds of baos to enjoy, with fillings including sweet and sticky Sriracha-coated fried chicken with sesame, cucumber and kewpie, pork belly with green apple, yuzu mayo, crunchy chilli oil and onion jam, lamb rendang with kaffir lime yoghurt, fried shallot, crushed macadamia and curry leaves, and soft-shell crab with lettuce, gochujang mayo and Vietnamese mint. This deal is $88 per person – while no reservations are required, they are strongly encouraged – book a spot here.
Petite launches weekday lunch specials
We love a bougie lunch, especially one that doesn’t break the budget. This week, the team behind modern French-inspired restaurant Petite is launching a special weekday lunch menu filled to bursting point with brilliant bistro plates available for $30 each. From Wednesday March 26, guests can pop in for the likes of steak frites, pan-fried fish with beurre blanc and fries, chicken cordon blue with truffle jus and fries, beef bourguignon with vegetables, and a quiche of the day with salad. These dishes are available alongside a selection of add-on items, such as oysters with mignonette, baked scallop with celeriac cream and chorizo, onion tarte tatin with creme fraiche, and creme brulee. A condensed by-the-glass wine list will also be available alongside beers, ciders and non-alcoholic beverages.
Sate Sundays at Warisan
On the hunt for a killer Sunday lunch option? The crew at Indonesian-inspired eatery Warisan is putting on a salivation-worthy spread sure to satisfy. Every Sunday, Warisan is giving diners the chance to enjoy 90 minutes of all-you-can-eat sate, with a menu featuring beef sate with sweet soy sambar, chicken skewers with peanut sauce and marinated tofu sate with sweet chilli sauce, plus signature Warisan dishes like nasi goreng, kerupuk and stir-fried kangkung. The offering also includes drinks, including Revel’s lager, Brouhaha pale ales and Warisan’s fizzy punch. Bookings are essential – head to Warisan’s website to lock in a spot.
Subscribe for updates
Sushi and Sake pairing at Sokyo
If you’re yet to dine at The Star Brisbane’s crown-jewel restaurant Sokyo, we’ve got a great excuse to book in. The chic Japanese-inspired restaurant has just launched a brand-new sushi and sake experience, with head chef Alex Yu (known far and wide as Australia’s Sashimi Florist) and Sokyo’s head sommelier and sake specialist Jenny Wang collaborating on an exquisite set menu offering. The experience will see guests treated to a nine-course tasting menu featuring highlight dishes such as miso-glazed toothfish and steak tartare served atop a bed of wagyu fat hash browns, paired with five premium sakes and one dessert liquor. Click here to see the full menu, then head to the Sokyo website to make a booking.
Hungry for more? Keep up to date with Brisbane’s most anticipated openings with Pavement Whispers.