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Pavement Whispers: Volume 290 January 12 Pavement Whispers: Volume 290 January 12 Pavement Whispers: Volume 290 January 12

Pavement Whispers: Volume 290 January 12

From news of a new wine bar in Fortitude Valley to six-course oyster feasts, 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 …


La Valle
As 2020 neared its close, some big names in Brisbane hospitality launched an impressive venture in the heart of Fortitude Valley. Stefano di Blasi and Edoardo Perlo of Salt Meats Cheese and Eterna linked up with the crew behind Sydney powerhouse Maybe Sammy to open La Costa Bar and Cielo Rooftop Bar in mid December. These two Italian-inspired locales, both hits from day dot, were the first stage of the group’s multi-venue roll-out at the old Foresters Hall building. This Friday January 15 will see the unveiling of stage two – laneway wine bar and bottle shop La Valle. Described as the wine cabinet for La Costa, Cielo, Eterna and Salt Meats Cheese, La Valle will operate under the mantra “il vino è vivo” (Italian for “wine is life”), showcasing 150 old-world and new-wave wines sourced from Italy, Spain, France, Chile and Australia, as well as beers, ciders, vermouths and batches of pre-made cocktails – all of which will be available to drink on site or purchase to take home. Served alongside La Valle’s range of libations will be four kinds of handmade focaccia (proved for 48 hours and stuffed with the likes of sliced mortadella and pecorino, porchetta and smoked-eggplant cream, caprese salad and prosciutto and rocket), backed by a selection of gourmet cheeses, charcuterie, tins of baby sardines, anchovies and mussels in escabeche, and marinated olives. La Valle’s Alfred Street space (formerly the home of The Valley Wine Bar) has been given a sprucing, with a colourful palette of orange, yellow and green applied to the interior. Music is also central to La Valle’s lively personality – guests can expect a soundtrack of hits from the 80s and 90s to accompany their drinking and dining experience. We’ll have a closer look at La Valle when it opens at the end of this week.

Australian Venue Co.’s Happy Days
Even though 2021 is off to a bit of a bumpy start, a bunch of venues are doing their darndest to make the year better from the jump. To satisfy your belly (and your wallet), many of Australian Venue Co.’s Queensland establishments are participating in the group’s Happy Days program. The premise of the program is simple – 70 pubs and bars across the state are offering guests 50 percent off bistro bills (when you order via your mobile) between 5:00–6:00 pm every day in January 2021. This means you can score a cheap feed every day this month from some of Brisbane’s best pubs and eateries. Venues participating in Happy Days include Buffalo Bar, Cleveland Sands Hotel, Darling & Co, Friday’s, Kingsley’s, Regatta Hotel (The Regatta Boatshed is not participating), The Wickham, Waterloo Hotel and many more. Head to the Australian Venue Co. website to see the full list of participating venues.

One Fish Two Fish’s Oyster Frenzy
After selling out seats for its 2020 iteration in 12 hours, One Fish Two Fish is once again hosting its popular Oyster Frenzy from January 22–24. Oyster lovers can book in for a six-course lunch or dinner on these days to enjoy a succession of oysters, each prepped and served a different way. This year, the feast will start simply with a course of natural oysters served with lemon and Tabasco. From here, guests will be treated to squid-ink tempura battered oysters with Asian salad and sriracha aioli, oysters with tarragon and garlic-butter pangrattato, oysters doused in oak-aged chardonnay mignonette granita, three-cheese baked oysters. and oysters topped with limoncello and finger-lime caviar. Diners will also be treated to a glass of prosecco or a Stone & Wood Pacific Ale on arrival. Seats for this Oyster Frenzy feast are limited and will be snatched up fast. Click here to make a booking.

El Camino Cantina’s Retro Ritas
Lively and rambunctious Tex-Mex destination El Camino Cantina is bringing together two of our greatest loves – margaritas and Australian lollies – for a nostalgia-inducing range of cocktails. El Camino’s Bowen Hills and Chermside locations will be dispensing four brand-new Retro Rita flavours inspired by some of the most iconic flavours of our childhood. The four flavours – Cruisy Guava, Fruit Tingle, The Cottee and The Vovo are available Cadillac-style or as part of a tasting paddle and will be available for a limited time only. Die-hard margarita maniacs can also vote for their favourite El Camino margarita flavours as part of its Hottest 100 Rita Countdown, with each location randomly selecting a participant to win margaritas for one year.

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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