Pavement Whispers: Volume 572 August 25
From news of L.P.O’s new kitchen and culinary residency series to the opening date of Haigh’s Chocolates first Queensland store, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know. When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …
L.P.O. Neighbourhood Wine Store
Exciting things are happening over at cherished Tarragindi wine repository L.P.O., with owners Daniel Wilson and Matt Okine gearing up to lift the cloche on the venue’s brand-new kitchen addition on Saturday September 5. The L-shaped kitchen has been installed in the rear of the space, with an attached storeroom transformed into a dining space that can accommodate eight guests across reservable ‘kitchen table’ seats (food will also be available throughout the broader venue). Devised as a way to showcase the talents and ideas of emerging local chefs, L.P.O.’s kitchen will host a number of temporary culinary residencies, with up-and-coming chef Jimmy Whitefield helming the kitchen for the initial six-month period.
Jimmy has been given free reign to devise a menu based on his own tastes and ideas, foregrounding locality and sustainability across a menu boasting modern European and modern Australian influences. The offering will consist of eight dishes that will rotate regularly, encompassing small snacks and more substantial plates designed to complement L.P.O.’s wine-bar format. Jimmy’s fare will be available alongside L.P.O.’s fluid by-the-glass list, working to match the acidity, texture and minerality of the drops on hand. L.P.O.’s kitchen will operate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, with the first of many monthly brunches expected to take place on the weekend of September 19 and 20. Stay tuned for more on L.P.O.’s foodie pivot in the coming weeks.
Haigh’s Chocolates
Chocolate fans, sharpen your sweet tooths – Haigh’s Chocolates has announced the official opening date of its hotly anticipated Westfield Mt Gravatt store (the first of three new Brisbane locations) is this Friday August 28 at 11:00 am. Located on Level 2, next to MECCA, the store will give Queenslanders the chance to enjoy the signature Haigh’s retail experience, with a smorgasbord of artisan chocolates available. Complimentary in-store tastings will be on offer, while the first 50 customers to visit and make a purchase at the Haigh’s Chocolates Mt Gravatt store will receive a free Milk Chocolate Midi Frog. Additionally, customers who spend $75 or more in-store will receive a complimentary packet of Milk Chocolate Speckles (offer valid from Friday August 28 to Friday September 4).
Charmjuree Thai
Racecourse Road is in the middle of a renaissance, with a number of exciting new outlets expected to soon call the strip home. Leading the pack is Charmjuree Thai, the latest restaurant from the team behind cherished Hendra eatery Thai Naramit. Set to officially open to the public on Wednesday September 9, Charmjuree is inspired by the charmjuree tree (Thai rain tree), which represents warmth, connection and gathering. The restaurant showcase authentic Thai flavours through a modern lens, plating up the likes of Thai baked prawns with glass noodles, seared scallops with seafood mayo, succulent wagyu skewers and honey ‘Gai Yang’ (barbecue chicken) with sticky rice. The fare will be joined by a menu of signature cocktails infused with quintessential Thai flavours – think golden mango-infused sips and velvety Thai green tea concoctions. Keen to know more? Rest assured we’ll be popping in to check this spot out once it opens.
CONA Cafe North Lakes
The CONA Cafe crew is expanding north, with a new, significantly larger location set to open at Westfield North Lakes this Thursday August 27. The cafe’s biggest outpost yet will expand on the brand’s offering with single-origin batch brews, cold brew, Uji matcha, signature coffees and canned iced drinks, alongside fresh sandwiches and wraps. The larger footprint will also make room for a full dine-in menu including dishes like pulled-pork tacos, traditional beef burgers, zucchini fritters, truffle mushroom linguini and chicken parmigiana. There’ll also be a tight selection of boozy beverages, including classic cocktails, beers and wines. To celebrate its opening day, CONA North Lakes will be slinging free coffees from 8:30–11:30 am.
SweetLeaf and LuLóu
A pair of brand-new culinary concepts are set to bring two distinct dining experiences to 70 Eagle Street later this year, marking the latest chapter for Kristina Carson and husband Vince’s growing hospitality group, HomeTeam. SweetLeaf will cater to time-poor city workers with freshly prepared meals designed for takeaway or communal dining, while next door, LuLóu will offer a more leisurely all-day experience spanning coffee meetings, long lunches and afternoon wines. The pair, joining HomeTeam’s existing venues MÁS Espresso and ELAN, are being brought to life by ALKOT Studio and Lowry Group, with the project also marking a return to Eagle Street for Kristina, whose hospitality journey began more than 20 years ago with a newsagency on the same strip. Click here for more information.
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