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Pavement Whispers: Volume 286 December 1

Pavement Whispers: Volume 286 December 1

From news of Australia’s best bar team coming to The Valley to Eagle Street’s forthcoming Italian eatery, The Weekend Edition is always on the search for the latest food news in Brisbane, dedicated to ensuring its readers are in the know (while also supporting our local hospitality industry). When we put our ears to the pavement this week, this is what we found out …


COPPA
Eagle Street Pier’s metamorphosis is picking up steam, with the riverside precinct announcing that a familiar face would be inhabiting the space recently vacated by retired restaurateur John Kilroy’s long-running modern-Italian restaurant Il Centro. The Happy Fat Group – responsible for popular inner-city burger bar Red Hook – will be bringing its own Italian eatery COPPA to the precinct, marking the return of the concept after it closed its Creek Street location in March. COPPA will look to open in the Il Centro space early next year and will offer a seasonal food menu that blends coastal-Italian cuisine with Australian ingredients (COPPA’s Creek Street locale was a go-to for woodfired pizzetta, Italian-inspired snacks and negronis), suited perfectly to the venue’s revamped casual indoor and alfresco dining spaces. COPPA joins Cha Cha Char Steak & Lobster (another of John Kilroy’s concepts, this time purchased by Michael Tassis of Rico Bar & Dining) as two new faces arriving at the pier in coming months – we’ll be sure to keep you apprised of any new intel as it emerges!

La Costa and Cielo
If you’ve been lucky enough to visit internationally lauded Sydney bar Maybe Sammy, you can attest to its quality firsthand. Those that haven’t been able to make the pilgrimage to visit Australasia’s Best Bar needn’t worry, though – the Maybe Sammy team has partnered with some local hospitality operators to bring a slice of its scintillating hospitality north. Maybe Sammy’s ownership crew Stefano Cantino, Vince Lombardo and Andrea Gualdi have linked up with Eterna owners Stefano di Blasi and Edoardo Perlo to open La Costa – a multi-faceted bar and eatery taking over the Forester’s Hall building on Brunswick Street. The first stage of La Costa is set to be unveiled on Friday December 11, with La Costa Bar opening in the Brunswick Street-facing space and rooftop bar Cielo replacing Altitude at Foresters on level six. Both venues will be imbued with a splash of glamour inspired by Italy’s Amalfi Coast, with La Costa Bar expected to serve appetising morsels like DIY tapas boards, parmesan fries and crab bruschetta, while Cielo will boast a seafood-focused menu featuring kingfish ceviche with shaved fennel, grapefruit and dill, octopus carpaccio with fried capers, and prosciutto, bocconcini and honey en croute. Both bars will be slinging world-class drinks, with Maybe Sammy’s acclaimed approach to cocktails no doubt taking centre stage. Come January the team will look to open the second stage of La Costa’s offering, including the arrival of a restaurant and all-day wine bar. You can get more details on the exciting announcement here!

The Wolfe’s closure
Sad news emerged yesterday as Josue and Krystal Lopez announced the forthcoming closure of their beloved East Brisbane fine-diner The Wolfe. In a statement posted to the restaurant’s social media pages, the couple revealed that they would be winding down operations and stepping away from the labour-intensive schedule of operating the lauded eatery in order to spend more time with family, specifically their two young children and Josh’s dad, who is gravely ill. Josh and Krystal expressed their sincere thanks to their customers, suppliers and staff for their ongoing support throughout the tumultuous year. The final night of service will fall on New Year’s Eve, giving diners a few weeks to savour Josh’s award-winning fare crafted using local produce. Those eager to make a booking are encouraged to email or phone the restaurant ASAP!

WingFest at WingHAÜS by Bavarian
Fancy yourself a wing fanatic? Then best hotfoot it to Edward Street in The City – WingHAÜS by Bavarian is launching its three-month-long WingFest today, Tuesday December 1. The saucy celebration will see the sports bar and eatery introduce 13 new limited-edition house-made sauces and rubs to its menu, ranging from mild-yet-finger-licking to seriously sweat-inducing heat. During WingFest, diners can pick a sauce or rub to dip their classic, boneless or cauliflower wings into – each ten-piece serve of wings will receive a complimentary sauce, with additional sauces costing $3 each. So, what’s in the line-up? Those simply looking for flavour-packed mouthfuls can look to lip-smacking options such as salt and vinegar, nacho cheese, garlic and parmesan, and chicken salt. Novice spice seekers can opt for the mango habanero or Thai red, heat heroes can go for the hot-but-not-excessive Caribbean jerk, or those after for a real Idris Elba Hot Ones reaction can dunk their wings in the three-flame-earning Nashville and vindaloo flavours. WingFest is on now until Sunday February 28 – head to our Event Guide for more details.

If you’ve heard something that’s worth mentioning in The Weekend Edition’s Pavement Whispers, email [email protected].

The Stumble Guide is our comprehensive Brisbane dining guide with more than 2400 places to eat, drink, shop and play.



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