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Pavement Whispers: Volume 316 July 13

Pavement Whispers: Volume 316 July 13

From news of a globe-spanning foodie celebration to the new cake concept from the team at Florence, 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 …


Global Fiesta by Regional Flavours
Although our luggage continues to gather dust in the closet for the foreseeable future, our wanderlust grows more potent with each passing month. Until we can take to the skies and absorb another country’s culture in person, our tastebuds will have to do the travelling for us. On August 21 and 22, Global Fiesta by Regional Flavours will take our senses on a round-the-world holiday as Little Stanley Street, its surrounding lawns and River Quay Green come alive with scintillating sights, seductive sounds and salivation-worthy scents. Attendees will have the chance to stamp their epicurean passports across various zones, from enjoying exotic aperitifs and international brews at eatSouthBank’s Fiesta Bar to sampling morsels from 50 diverse food stalls (think creamy creamy linguine, pillowy baos and southern-style sizzling chicken) at gastronomic melting pot The Marketplace. Esteemed chefs like Louis Tikaram, Josh Lopez, Peter Kuruvita and Aunty Dale Chapman will be cooking up a swathe of global cuisine at the World Stage, while the Destination Stage will showcase diverse forms of expression from an impressive line-up of world-spanning song and dance performances. Those looking to kick back can do so at The Departure Lounge, where DJs will fill the air with relaxed beats, but energetic attendees can join a samba line or bop to the rhythm of Cuban dance along Little Stanley Street. Finally, Global Fiesta guests can sharpen their knowledge of herbs and spices with an educational excursion through the Epicurious Garden as part of the fiesta’s Spice Trail. Tickets for Global Fiesta by Regional Flavours go on sale this Thursday July 15 at 9:00 am – keep an eye on The Weekend Edition for details!

Floss
In addition to its menu of wholesome nutritious eats and sublime specialty coffee, fans of Camp Hill cafe Florence often rave about its phenomenal selection of baked goods. The popular suburban brunch spot and larder has cultivated a reputation for its cakes, pastries and biscuits over the years, to the point where the team is frequently approached with whole cake requests. Seeing an avenue to expand the business into sweet new territory, Florence owners Elizabeth Florence and Sam Pethely will soon launch a new speciality baked goods business called Floss. The crew has installed a dedicated pastry kitchen at the rear of Florence, with a team of pastry chefs working to craft a range of thoughtful and eye-catching cakes and baked goods for retail and wholesale customers. Launching at the end of July, Floss will cater to folks looking for something to celebrate a special occasion and those simply eager to indulge their sweet tooth. The ever-evolving selection will be crafted from fresh, seasonal and local ingredients, with the likes of whole cakes, single-serve bar cakes, filled doughnuts, honey-glazed bee stings, Monte Carlo-style biscuits and finger buns featuring in the Floss range. Retail customers will soon be able to order their selection via Floss’s website (with pick up available from Florence and Felix For Goodness in The City), while a small list of speciality coffee cafes will also be stocked with a rotating selection of Floss treats. We’ll have a closer look at the range when Floss officially launches later this month.

Apricot Coffee
We are suckers for a considered colour scheme, so it’s safe to say we’re already smitten with forthcoming Wavell Heights caffeine dispensary Apricot Coffee. The brainchild of sisters Chloe and Esme and their mother Trudi, Apricot Coffee is a 70s-inspired orange-hued shipping container situated on the corner of Kinmond Avenue and Jeffcott Street – next door to women’s health clinic Pear Exercise Physiology. While looking to help keep local energy levels high with its offering of Parallel Coffee, tea lattes and small treats, Apricot will also cater to pregnant and new mums visiting Pear, with decaf options, lactation cookies and plenty of other mum-friendly bites. Apricot Coffee is targeting a mid-August opening, launching with a takeaway offering with dine-in service to follow. Stay tuned for more on this colourful coffee spot soon!

The Green
Last week was a big week for those keeping tabs on James Street’s dining scene. In the coming months the celebrated strip will welcome two new top-flight eateries, starting next month with Lebanese-inspired restaurant, deli and plant store The Green. The concept comes from Angela Sclavos and Christina Habchi – owners and operators of popular pop-up nursery Green Space. The two will be expanding upon Green Space’s leafy focus substantially, creating a one-stop urban oasis in the site formerly home to REDSEA Gallery. A fit-out is currently underway, with the team opting for a brutalist design scheme of raw materiality offset by an abundance of foliage, as well as warm red hues inspired by the cedar trees of Lebanon as a nod to Angela and Christina’s Lebanese heritage. The Green will offer and approachable take on Lebanese cuisine that showcases the love and generosity synonymous with Middle Eastern cooking. Warren Turnbull has come onboard to oversee The Green’s kitchen as head chef, with an all-day menu featuring potential stand-outs like Lebanese-style sausage muffins, green shakshuka with smoked labne and swordfish skewers with chickpea miso and fermented vegetables, while a deli section will stock home-style food to take home and enjoy. The Green’s beverage list will offer ST. ALi coffee in the morning, as well as a host of Australian and Lebanese wines, beers and cocktails in the afternoon and evening, with signature concoctions taking a botanical focus to reflect The Green’s leafy origins. Plants remain a key focus of The Green’s retail component – prickly cacti, everyday houseplants and impressive sculptural plants will be available to purchase alongside bespoke ceramics from Australian and Japanese makers, gardening equipment and even gear for pets.

Sunshine
Also opening on James Street later this year is Sunshine, the newest concept from seasoned restaurateur Simon Gloftis (Hellenika, SK Steak & Oyster). Simon, alongside business partners Theo Kampolis and Kelvin Andrews, has secured the former home of Chow House for the new eatery, which will boast a different service model compared to his refined dining institutions. A major refurbishment process will see the interior of the space converted to house the kitchen, counter and condiment table, while the venue’s 80-patron outdoor dining space will draw aesthetic inspiration from modern Mykonos – think muted tones and coastal day-club vibes that will suit sun-soaked afternoon snacking and post-dusk dinners. Sunshine’s fare is inspired by Simon’s childhood, with nourishing all-vegetarian Mediterranean fare taking centre stage. The restaurant will offer counter service only, with trays of stuffed tomatoes, beans and salads on display for express point-and-plate efficiency across both dine-in and takeaway orders. Sunshine’s beverage offering will include juices, fresh lemonade iced tea, cocktails and organic biodynamic wines. Sunshine will open later in the year – we’ll have more info for you once it emerges!

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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