Ma Chim
From Indian street eats and out-of-the-box ramen joints to neighbourhood craft-beer pubs and intimate wine bars, Rosalie Village has flourished into one of Brisbane’s finest drinking and dining hubs. The precinct’s foodie evolution will continue this May with the opening of Ma Chim, a Thai-inspired eatery boasting its own hidden micro bar. The brainchild of Bowyo Muangsong (co-owner of Ping Pong in Newstead and executive chef of Yolk and Morning After) and her brother Yew Muangsong, Ma Chim (a Thai phrase that translates to ‘come and taste it’) will see the siblings showcase authentic flavours from across Thailand. Ma Chim will boast approximately 50 seats across indoor and outdoor spaces, with green garden-like tones and marble table tops, accented by pink and blue plates and cutlery imported from Thailand. In the kitchen, Bowyo and Yew will be serving a comprehensive menu that encompasses family recipes and regional specialties. The offering will start with snacks like Esan-style fermented pork and rice sausage, turmeric-pork satay skewers and honey-chicken baos, before expanding to include salads, grilled dishes, soups and hot-pot meals, noodle and rice dishes, mains, and curries (including a ten-hour slow-cooked beef cheek panang curry and a Maryland chicken massaman curry). Ma Chim will be licensed, with the bar dispensing Thai-inspired cocktails, beer buckets, soju and vino from Joval Wines. Ma Chim is set to open to the public in mid-to-late May – check in soon for a detailed look inside.
Come to Daddy
Great news, West Enders – a new inclusive community social club is opening soon on Montague Road. Come to Daddy is an LGBTIQA+ friendly bar and eatery taking shape in the space previously home to Ballistic Beer’s West End taphouse. Operated by seasoned drink slinger Billerwell Daye (whom inner-city imbibers might recognise from his time overseeing the bar at John Mills Himself), Come to Daddy looks to open its doors to all comers and build a following through unity, community and welcomeness. The venue’s bar will be dispensing a range of craft beers from local brewers, while a range of predominantly Australian spirits will funnel into a menu of signature cocktails. An on-site kitchen will dish out plates of pub-style bar food to start, but expect the offering to evolve to include finger food, shareable plates and the occasional big meal. Equipped with a stage, Come to Daddy will host a killer range of entertainment, from drag shows and open-mic nights to performances from small bands and singer-songwriters. Come To Daddy is looking to launch in mid-to-late April – read more about what’s planned here.
Fonzie Abbott Newstead
With its monochrome branding seen on shelves at cafes all across Brisbane, Fonzie Abbott is a familiar name in the local coffee game. The homegrown caffeine crew is set to expand its presence next month, when the team lifts the lid on a brand-new roastery and cafe in the industrial heart of Newstead. The warehouse space, found on Ross Street – just across the road from Bunnings – will see the Fonzie family up its production capacity while also giving coffee lovers the chance to sip super-fresh batches. The site will also boast a retail space, where folks will be able to nab bags of Fonzie Abbott beans, at-home brewing apparatus and merch. Fonzie Abbott Newstead officially opens to the public on Saturday April 20.
Black Hops Brewing
It’s uncertain times for the local craft-beer brewing scene, with seasoned suds maker Black Hops Brewing announcing last week that it was entering voluntary administration. In an announcement posted to its Instagram page, the Black Hops team revealed that it had made the tough decision, with circumstances leaving the Gold Coast-born brewery no alternative. While a restructuring effort is underway, the Black Hops team confirmed it would continue making beer and selling it direct through its own outlets and retail partners, while its taprooms are also expected to remain open. The crew has encouraged independent beer fans to swing by for a pint and to show support. Black Hops’ decision is the latest in a spate of similar announcements, with Sydney’s Akasha Brewing and Melbourne breweries Deeds Brewing and Hawkers Beer all recently entering voluntary administration.
