EatDrinkBrisbane

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.

I’ve done some weird and wonderful things on New Years Eve.  I’ve eaten pavlova off the floor (long story). I’ve grumpily taken myself to bed at 11pm after a fight with friends. I’ve stood on Moggil Road and made suspicious gestures to passing buses.

Not really wanting to repeat any of the above (except maybe for the pavlova), I am really stuck for how to spend my last night of 2009 next week. There is this annoying pressure to do something on NYE, so if you’re like me, the following suggestions might help:

1. Suit up at the City Hall Ball. The theme this year is ‘Titanic’, and it’ll be the last event in the historic building before renovations start the next day. Tickets are $148, but you get a buffet, spirits, wine, beer, and five party zones. I’m not sure what a party zone is, but I’m hoping it’s a location on land and not a seedy pick up line. Tickets via Ticketmaster.

2. Ring in the New Year under the stars at Limes. The hotel’s rooftop bar is hosting a NYE party that promises to be lavish. Dress code is ‘penthouse style’. I’ll assume this means you still need to wear clothes. Ticket prices are erm, a little ambitious ($225), but entry includes an open bar with cocktails, DJs, and gourmet canapes. Book online.

3. Unmask at midnight at Uber. The West End bar is having a masquerade party, with free food from 7pm-9pm and a crapload of cool DJs. The best part? It’s only $10! Tickets available at the door, or phone 07 3846 6680.

“Hold up,” I hear you say. “I’m not made of money, A-dawg. What do I do if I’m short on cash?”

4. Emporium Hotel in the Valley will be hosting guitarist, Ron Walker, from 7pm-midnight. Entry is free!

5. Southbank is hosting the infamous fireworks once again. If you can grin and bear the crowds, it’s the best spot to watch the sky light up. Don’t become one of those angry people who scoff at fireworks. Enjoy them!

6. If you’re still stuck, chances are your usual or favourite bar will be open and operating as normal, no fancy event or pricetags attached. Or you can visit First Choice and politely inform your best friend they’ll be having a NYE BBQ at their place.

If all else fails? I know a ripper pavlova recipe.

Someone's been naughty.

Ho ho ho. That’s what the boys yell at me when I wear my spandex, cut-out body suit trimmed with fur. No, I kid. I am very anti-fur.

Christmas is indeed coming folks, so why not start the fat wagon a little earlier and embrace the festive spirit now? Go on. Buy that Homebrand fruit pudding from the supermarket. Get stuck into the candy canes. Buy an advent calendar and eat all the chocolates before the 24th.

Or, you could just do one of the following Christmas-y things that are coming up:

1. Make like Santa at the Little Stanley St markets. Santa clearly likes food. He also likes gifts. Why not combine the two, and check out ‘Christmas Magnifique’, held on Friday December 18. Little Stanley Street in South Bank will morph into a food haven, with lounge areas set up offering wine, tapas, beers, coffee, and pastries. Food from a variety of restaurants will be on offer, like La Via, dell ‘Ugo, Toscani’s, and Satay Hut. There will also be installations, gorgeous decorations, and sculptural lights. Afterwards, pick up a gift or two (or more food-whatever) at the markets, which are open until 10pm. Tickets are available via the website.

2.  Shun the big chain stores at the Handmade Expo. Look, I freaking love Myer. A trip to Coles gets me excited. Kmart? Forget about it. I’m there. But, there is something heartfelt about a unique gift that has been made with love. Check out the Handmade Expo’s Christmas Market, held next Saturday (December 12). The Expo will have Christmas gifts, handmade fudge, and other yummy treats.

3. Spread some cheer via the Foodbank. Remember, Christmas can be a pretty crappy time for a lot of people who are a little more disadvantaged than others. You can help by donating cans to Foodbank, a charity that collects food for charities and for the needy. There’s a cage outside supermarkets at Retail First centres, or you can drop them off to places like the CityNews office in Milton.

Most importantly, here is the other Christmasy-thing you can start doing right now. Bake. Bake your little heart out. It’s fun. It results in a nice gift. And raw cake batter is the bomb.

Food Porn

I consider myself to be a fairly generous person. I bake people cakes for their birthday. I stand up for little old ladies on trains. Sometimes I let my friends have the last beer from the jug (sometimes).

But, when it comes to food samples, I am the cheapest, scungiest, Scrooge-like person around. I make an absolute beeline for those people in Woolies offering little product samples. D gets embarassed and hangs back. I tell him to man up and get in there.

Perhaps he can practice his food sampling skills at the Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show next weekend. I am rather excited about this. Finally, a place to appreciate food, wine, and not get judged for grabbing free samples. Here are the deets:

When: Friday November 6-Sunday November 8.
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (South Bank).
Time: 10am-6pm Friday and Saturday; 10am-5pm Sunday.
Cost: Tickets from $18 (concession); Masterclasses extra; Celebrity Theatre Shows $2.50 each (correct me if I’m wrong on this one, people; I’ve just done the math and bought a combined show+entry ticket for $20.50). Tickets available from Ticketek.
Attractions:
Celebrity Theatre: MasterChef’s George Calombaris and Gary Mehigan, Aria Restaurant’s Matt Moran, and Brett’s Wharf’s (and Ready Steady Cook’s!) Alistair McLeod are some of the maestros who will be cooking up a storm live on stage. Afterwards, chefs will be doing book signings.
Masterclasses: Classes include the Cheese Matters Masterclass, the Fresh Flavours of Asian Cooking class, The Tasty Meals on a Budget cooking class, and wine Masterclasses.
SAMPLES: Woo! Taste products from more than 300 exhibitors, and check out cooking equipment and accessories. Exhibitors include Allandale Wines, Barossa Valley Estate, Black Pearl Epicure, Campos Coffee, Newcastle’s Pudding Lady (this woman sounds amazing), Noosa Natural Chocolate Company, Tupperware, and Le Cordon Bleu Australia.
Specials: There will be special offers on a variety of food, wine, and cooking products. Bring your Visa, and a small child to carry your bags.
Other Stuff: For something more substantial, you can eat from the chef-designed menu at the on-site restaurant, Wild Oats. Here’s a chance to scoff some dishes from the likes of Matt Moran and Fifteen Melbourne’s Tobie Puttock for as little as $8 (dessert).

So? What are you doing still reading this and scratching your bum? Go get your ticket, fool!

Brisbane Good Food & Wine Show
Exhibition

Friday November 6-Sunday Novembre 8

Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Bank

http://www.goodfoodshow.com.au/

Giddy Up Baby, Giddy Up Giddy Up

Say whaaat? Sorry, I got distracted by that line. Melbourne Cup-AKA the Race that Stops a Nation, AKA Two Hour Office Lunch-is coming soon. If you’re not lucky enough to be at the track watching the actual race, here’s a selection of the hundreds of restaurants and bars out there happy to entertain and feed you all on November 3.

Chow down in class at Libertine at Petrie Terrace. The recently opened French-Viet restaurant and bar is offering a whopping eight course banquet for the Cup. Now, I’m not saying I couldn’t do eight courses-I have been known to pack away a good meal in my time. I’m just saying you better be careful: you’ll need to make room for the glass of Mumm Champers you’ll be served on arrival, plus a button popping if you’re in Fashions on the Field could be rather embarassing. Tickets are $95.

Party with a conscience at Woolloongabba’s Chalk Hotel. The popular bar and eatery is hosting an event that includes a cocktail on arrival, a four hour beverage package, a buffet, raffles, entertainment, and more. Plus, all proceeds go to the Leukaemia Foundation of Queensland. Tickets are $100, and things kick off at 11.45am.

Splash out at the Limes Hotel in the Valley. The roof-top bar and lounge is offering a gourmet luncheon catered by Philip Johnson (of a little bistro called E’cco? You may have heard of it). The $135 ticket prices may seem steep, but the eats are accompanied by entertainment, thousands of dollars worth of prizes, sweeps, a glass of Veuve Clicquot on arrival, and a Fashions on the Field event hosted by Mike Goldman (you know, that dude from Big Brother Uplate. I credit that show with getting me through all-nighters in high school).

Calm your race nerves at Watt at New Farm. The riverside restaurant is selling tickets to their Melbourne Cup ‘do for $95. This gets you an outdoor BBQ, canapes, champagne on arrival, a Thai mini foot spa, a cool on-site DJ, and sweeps and prizes. Bare feet, BBQ, bubbly: what horse race?

Be ab fab at Berkley’s on Ann in the CBD. City workers, there is a Melbourne Cup event for you too. Plus it involves British comedy! And a buffet! And bubbles! And, of course Berkley’s on Ann. ‘Patsy’ and ‘Eddie’ from Absolutely Fabulous will play host at the restaurant, all for the reasonable price of $42.50. Sounds fabulous, sweetie darling sweetie (etc.).

Please sir, can I have some more?

Cheap food, free food, and lots of food. Anyone would think Brisbaneites are greedy, gluttonous people. Personally, I’m a bit offended. Now if you’ll excuse me-I’m off to all-you-can-eat sushi.

1. Celebrate the return of the buffet at Siana. The chic riverside restaurant and bar has introduced a curry lunch buffet, available Monday to Thursday from 12pm-3pm. Three hours? I might need more time than that to get my fill of korma and naan. Oh well, at $20 a pop, I shouldn’t complain.

2.Think big. Think lots of people. Think a goal to raise lots of money. Think lots of snags. Think the Big City BBQ, on next Friday (16/10) in the CBD. The Riparian Plaza Forecourt will play host to this fundraiser barbie, as well as a plethora of entertainment, such as singer Guy Sebastian. It’s on from 11.30am-2pm, and all money raised benefits DRUG ARM Australiasia and the Lord Mayor’s Community Trust. Plus there will be something called ‘Brissie’s Longest Charity Snag’. I don’t know what this is but it sounds amazing. I envisage a really, really big sausage.

3. And now, in a shameless self-promoting plug (plus I’m sure there will be some leftover free food), I urge you all to get along to the Courier Mail Home and Design Show this weekend. Why? I’ll be there. Cooking. In a competition. I find this quite hilarious, and a bit disconcerting. How the hell am I going to stop myself from licking the bowl? I always, always lick the bowl. Raw cake batter is a true delicacy in my mind, and I might go mental having batter dregs stare at me tauntingly. The pressure is on. Oh yeah, and I hope my Oreo Cupcakes turn out well too and I win, etc. etc.

Eurotrip!!

Do you like food? Do you like attractive people? Do you like attractive people with exotic accents? Do you like attractive people with exotic accents serving you food? If you are nodding and frothing at the mouth right now, get ready: October is going to be a busy month for you.

1. Kick things off next weekend with EuroFest. Held at Surfers Paradise next Saturday (October 10), EuroFest promises food, drink, and performers from a variety of countries like Italy, Spain, France, and Ireland. Challenge an Irishman in the beer garden, woo an Italian at a food stall, and do a sexy little shuffle to some Spanish music. It’s on at Neal Shannon Park, it’s free, and things kick off at 11am. No guarantee of returning home in better shape than when you actually went to Europe.

2. Chow meets Ciao at New Farm Park. Fieritalia, AKA the Italian Festival, hits the popular riverside park in a couple of weeks (Sunday, October 18). Along with pasta making demos, classic Italian car exhibits, and a grape stomping competition, the $5 admission fee also gets you Italian food stalls, Italian beverage stalls, Italian live music, and Italian entertainment. Note: does not include actual Italian to take home. Check it out from 9am-5pm.

3. Ja, Ja, JA, JA JA, JA JAJAJAJAJA. Yes. It’s here. The big one. OKTOBERFEST! Whee. Ich bin excited. Ich bin looking forward to it. Ich nicht so gut at high school German. It’s on over two weekends (9-11 October, and 16-18 October) at the RNA Showgrounds. Ticket prices start from $10. There will be gingerbread, fresh pretzels, German pastries and cakes, German sausage, and of course, lots of Deutsch beer. Oh yeah, plus a bunch of other non food-and beer-related stuff (kiddie activities, music, dancing, rides, etc.). Wunderbar!