EatDrinkBrisbane

I’d like to kick off this week’s Quick Bites with some exciting, self-indulgent news…

EatDrinkBrisbane wins blog award!

We were one of the winners in the ‘Queensland’ category of the 2011 Iglu Blog Awards! I am chuffed, to say the least. Many congrats to my fellow awardees. A big thank you to all EDB readers out there too (I know you’re out there, Analytics don’t lie) for always visiting and supporting us. Whee!

New Ben & Jerry’s Flava Flav

Two new pint tub flavours have launched – New York Super Fudge Chunk, and Sweet Cream & Cookies. NYSFC is chocolate ice cream filled with white and dark choc chunks, pecans, walnuts, and chocolate-covered almonds. Nutty! Sweet Cream & Cookies sounds more up my alley – sweet cream ice cream with whole and broken chocolate sandwich cookies. You read my mind, B & J. Watch this space: EDB hopes to get our lips around some of this stuff soon!

Brr. Is it cold in Brisbane right now? It’s 20c? Well, goodness. You better eat to build that winter coat up.

1. South Bank Regional Flavours – until July 31

You know what I think of when I hear ‘regional flavours?’ FLAVA FLAV! Well, that and gourmet market stalls, cooking demos, sustainable gardens, and chatting to regional food producers. Regional Flavours is a signature South Bank event that celebrates all things regional and sustainable. There will be more than 100 market stalls, running until Sunday 31 July. Check out www.regionalflavours.com.au for more info.

 2. Christmas in July at Food & Soul – until July 31

Don’t you wish you could gorge yourself on prawns and roast ham more than once a year? Well, guess what – at Food & Soul you can! Their Christmas in July menu features ham, pudding, turkey, and short bread. It’s on until July 31. Visit their website for more information.

3. Vapiano Winter Yum-derland – limited time

Yay, winter. You can eat things like Chestnut, prune, and bittersweet chocolate dessert and hide the resulting belly bulge under a jacket. Indulge in desserts like this – as well as savory dishes and sweet winter cocktails – at Vapiano this season. Check out their menu online. Bring stretchy pants.

Ice cream, mushrooms, Korean BBQ, and whiskey, oh my! This edition of Quick Bites is a mixed foodie bag. Like that weird buffet you once went to that had the Korma next to the KFC-style chicken. Whatever. It works.

1. Australia’s Biggest Ice Cream Grab – Friday July 8
Ben & Jerry’s, my favorite men, are holding a huge giveaway – I’m talking more than 60 000 pints of ice cream! Whee! For a gold coin donation per pint, you can scoop to your heart’s content, knowing that all the money and any leftovers are being donated to Oz Harvest. It’s on at King George’s Square on Friday 8th July, from 12pm.

2. Johnny Walker Meets Korean BBQ – Wednesday July 13
Sounds weird but I think it will work. Enjoy an informal Johnny Walker (Black, Green, Gold, and Blue) tasting session at The Lark, as well as a Korean-inspired feast. Entry is $75, which includes an aperitif on arrival, whiskey tasting session, and a three course meal. Visit this site to RSVP - space is limited!

3. Mushroom Mania – July

Australia’s biggest food service promotion, Mushroom Mania, started on July 1. An expected 1600, restaurants, cafes, pubs and clubs will be showcasing their mushroom dishes all month long. Plus, there’s weekly prizes up for grabs! Visit www.mushroommania.com.au for more info.

It’s getting cold in Brisbane, huh? What is it, 18, 20c during the day? You’ve got to throw on a sweater? Poor darlings. (Come to Toronto in January when your boogers freeze and then come talk to me). Not to worry – there’s a slew of foodie events in Brisbane on to warm your spirit.

1. Winter Festival in Brisbane

King George Square is heating up this winter with the Winter Festival, on until June 26. Gourmet winter food, cosy indoor fires, and a Lipton Chai Latte Lodge will be welcome refreshment after you’ve been ripping it up on the outdoor ice skating rink. There will also be dishes from over 20 winter-y countries, as well as “Skate and Date” packages that feature food and wine. Visit http://www.winterfestival.com.au/brisbane.html

2. 1920′s Gangsters & Molls Prohibition Dinner

Contrary to the popular belief of 12-year-olds, ‘moll’ is not just an insult you scream across the playground. Molls, join some gangsters and flappers and enjoy a delicious dinner, dancing, drinks, prizes,jazz, and entertainment. It’s on July 5;  visit http://eventful.com/brisbane/events/1920s-gangsters-molls-prohibition-dinner-/E0-001-037339016-5 for more info.

3. Teneriffe Festival

The annual Teneriffe Festival is on again. Dish Bistro will be serving ‘Feast on Florence St’, served at communal tables – just how they do it at festivals in Southern Europe. There are two sessions – lunch at 2pm and dinner at 6pm, with four courses and matching wines. It’s on Saturday, July 2 – visit www.teneriffefestival.org

The next couple of weeks are jammed with food, wine, and helping out charities. Excellent. Here’s a few events you may like to check out…

1. Anyone for a cuppa?

It’s Australia’s Biggest Morning tea TOMORROW. I like tea. I like mornings. I’ve also got a soft spot for Australia. The fact that this event benefits the Cancer Council is just the icing on the scone. You can hold your own event, or attend an ‘official’ morning tea, like the one the PCYC at Fortitude Valley is holding. Visit www.biggestmonringtea.com.au

2. Viva Italia!

It’s Italian Week! Cannoli, cars, cute boys – really, what hasn’t this country given us? Enjoy a variety of events all centered around Italian food, wine, music, entertainment, and fashion. Events are on at a variety of locations around Brisbane until June 2. Visit www.italianweek.com.au

3. Wine is good!

The Fine Wine Festival is on again! I went in 2009, and it made me develop a liking for expensive dessert wines. Thanks a lot, Fine Wine Festival. It’s on from June 17 – 19, at the Mercure Hotel in the CBD. Tickets start from $35. Visit www.winefestival.com.au

Update: the Wine Festival has been cancelled for this year

What up! There are a few things in this life that give me pleasure: chocolate. Pad Thai. Small, furry animals. This week’s Quick Bites looks at events in Brisbane that (sort of) feature this magic triumvirate.

1. Get out the elastic pants and prepare for the Chocolate Buffet. The 40 days and 40 nights of chocolate event is back at the Bistro Allure in the Sebel hotel. Just $25 gets you an absolute feast of chocolate cakes, puddings, slices, etc. For more information, pick up your jaw off the floor and then visit http://www.mirvachotels.com/sebel-king-george-square-brisbane/40-days-and-40-nights-of-chocolate

2. Get out your dream kitchen scrapbook. Dreamfarm (a Brisbane-based cooking gadget desinger) is hosting a coffee morning and gadet sale this Saturday. Joanna from Dreamfarm tells me it is “not quite a petting zoo, not quite a garden party, and not quite a cafe”. So I’m not totally sure on whether there will be baby lambs (squeee!) or wee piglets (oooh!), but you can count on grabbing a new kitchen tool at a steal. Plus there’s free espresso and treats! Yay! From 10am to 1pm, at 9 Amy Street Albion (Opposite the Breakfast Creek Hotel).

3. Get your Thai on. The inaugural Thai Culture and Food Festival is on this Sunday, October 3 from 10am to 8pm. There will be a Buddhist ceremony, Thai cultural shows, Muay Thai demos, plus heaps of Thai food, dessert,  and produce stalls. Visit http://www.thaifestvic.com/ for more info.

On September 5, it’s all about Papa Bear. Yes, Father’s Day may be another commercial holiday, and it may just be a cheap way to get us to buy more stuff, but it’s also a chance to celebrate your patriarch. And what better way to do that than with food?

Learn the Way of the BBQ

You may be like me, and already be awesome at using a BBQ. Or you could be one of those filthy people who never clean the grill, arguing that it’ll give the next batch of meat ‘extra flavour’. No matter what your skill level, The Barracks is running a free barbecue cooking demo on Saturday September 4. Outback Matty (Matthew McKenzie) will be playing host. Who is this hat-wearing young gun, you ask? Just Jamie Oliver’s protege. No big. Check it out from 11am-1pm. www.thebarracks.info
 
 Protect Papa’s Prostate

So I think I may have gone just a little too far with that title. But seriously, have you thought about hosting a BBQ for Father’s Day/Blue September? September is prostate cancer awareness month, and the Blue September group and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia are encouraging everyone to host BBQs and raise money. This disease is a bitch, and kills nearly 3300 men annually. This is EQUAL to the number of women who die from breast cancer annually. Consider the BBQ an added bonus in this terrific cause. Visit www.prostate.org.au or www.blueseptember.org

BBQ on the River

From a weird title to a downright boring one. Sorry. At least the activity I’m referring to is exciting – a special BBQ brunch on a beautiful riverside deck, followed by rock climbing, abseiling, or kayaking. It’s all happening at Riverlife Adventure Centre in Kangaroo Point on Sunday September 5. Tickets are$145  for a family of four. www.riverlife.com.au

May usually sticks in my mind because it’s the month where all the ladies of Brisbane whip out their boots, scarves, and jackets, and wear all three at once while complaining about the 24′c weather, and making “brr!” noises. Ladies, I love you, but please: suck it up. Turn your concentration instead to the two fantastic festivals bombarding Brisbane this month. May has now been reborn as the month of the Foodie Festival.

Italian Week

26 May to 2 June

Now in it’s fourth  year, Italian Week celebrates all things dolce. Events include a degustration dinner with Tuscan dishes at Cortina restaurant in Nundah; a barista course at Di Bella Coffee; and the Jan Powers ‘Il Mercato’ Italian Markets. There’s also entertainment, and cultural and sporting events, plus a two-day workshop at Vapiano restaurant exploring ‘la bella figura’ – the Italian figure. If that literally means an Italian figure, namely a twenty-something man with blue eyes, I’m there (who am I kidding – if it involves food, I’m there regardless).

Visit www.italianweek.com.au for a full list of events and locations.

Paniyiri

21-23 May

HONEYPUFFS HONEYPUFFS!! Oh yeah and Greek food stalls, entertainment, Effie, and a Zorba ‘Til Your Drop competition. Get those magical little balls of puffed sweetness at this always popular cultural event, held at Musgrave Park and The Greek Club, Edmondstone St, South Brisbane. Visit http://www.paniyiri.com/ for a full program.