Project Salubrious
A chef with a resume boasting hatted and Michelin-starred experience is launching a detour-worthy cafe in Moreton Bay next Monday July 25. Kurt Lovell, who has worked at lauded culinary establishments including Marco Pierre White’s London institution The Mirabelle, Asiana in Madrid and Hamilton Island’s multi-award-winning Qualia, is the brain behind Project Salubrious – a destination cafe on Rowley Road in Burpengary that is celebrating the region’s abundance via a paddock-to-plate approach. Kurt will be putting his skills on display in the Project Salubrious offering, which will see seasonal and local whole ingredients (sourced from suppliers like Basilea Living Herbs, Blue Dog Farm, Ashbern Farms and Tin Shed Farm) transformed into dishes free from gluten, grains, dairy and refined-sugar. The cafe’s breakfast menu will include dishes like grilled chorizo and sweet potato and zucchini rosti with salad and poached eggs, apple and cinnamon tempura fritters with spiced berries, and poached eggs with bacon, Beachmere Bangers, kale and cherry tomatoes on almond and zucchini toast. At lunch, hearty options like braised lamb and fig with roast-carrot hummus, flat bread and cornichons, pork saltimbocca with parsnip, cauliflower and olive crush, and mushroom and silverbeet buckwheat risotto. Project Salubrious will also boast a cake cabinet filled with an array of Kurt’s signature desserts, with takeaway coffee, smoothies and keto-friendly toast will also be available. As for the space itself, Project Salubrious has been designed in collaboration with architect Rachel Towill, who has created an aesthetic created to bring folks together. A communal table spans the central dining area, with bar seating and a wheelchair-accessible timber deck looking over 18 hectares of nature reserve. The white and green tiling will serve to bring the outdoors into the light-filled space, with reclaimed materials adding a rustic touch. We’ll have a more in-depth look at Project Salubrious once it opens to the public – stay tuned!
Perhaps
In early August, Brisbane Quarter will welcome a colourful newcomer to its podium level dining hub – one described as perhaps Brisbane’s most Instagrammable space. Perhaps is a one-of-a-kind venue conceived by Alyssa Phadungkiat, the owner and operator of Phat Boy, Chai Thai, Phat Elephant and Chapter IV. The space is shaping up to be Alyssa’s most unique concept to date. At its core, the concept is a 50-seat private event space that unapologetically celebrates femininity and its fierce power. The venue (located next door to Phat Boy) will do this via a highly photogenic interior aesthetic boasting thousands of custom flowers, swinging chairs and vibrant neon signs. Those hosting a function at Perhaps will be able to personalise their event through a bunch of customisable aspects. A menu will feature eye-catching grazing tables, drool-worthy canapes and cocktails crafted especially for each event, while even the neons lights will be customisable. Perhaps will officially open on Friday August 5. Booking enquiries can be made via email.
Massimo reopening
As Brisbane’s flood recovery continues to progress, more and more tide-affected venues are reopening to the public. The latest to announce its imminent return is Massimo Restaurant & Bar, the riverside eatery renowned for its Italian-inspired fare and sensational riverside location. The Riverside Centre locale will officially reopen its doors on Thursday July 21, following hot on the heels of the relaunch of its sibling restaurant OPA Bar + Mezze. The Massimo team has taken the opportunity to overhaul some aspects of the restaurant’s identity ahead of reopening, instilling a newfound focus on the sun- and salt-soaked Amalfi Coast with a new interior look and a new menu to boot. Some of the tantalising new eats include whipped ricotta dip with house bread, chargrilled one-point lamb racks, spaghetti with whole marron, porchetta served with leek and lentils, slow-cooked beef cheek with bone marrow and vinegar gremolata, and house doughnuts filled with Nutella and pistachio cream. Keen to try the new-look Massimo? Bookings are now open for Thursday and beyond.
Plenty, Reuben’s Deli & Bar and Miss Jones closures
Brisbane’s cafe scene has suffered a few blows in the past week, with three popular cafes announcing their forthcoming closures. The team behind popular West End brunch spot Plenty revealed on social media that it will be closing its doors at the end of July, with final service taking place on Sunday July 31. Known for its ardent support of small-scale farmers and producers, Plenty’s ethos of operating outside of the mainstream supply chains in a sustainable manner endeared the cafe to consciously minded foodies and set an example that numerous other Brisbane cafes now follow. Last night, Peggy and Manny Rosenberg, owners of Paddington’s Reuben’s Deli & Bar, announced on Monday July 18 that they had sold their business to new owners, who would develop their own concept in the space and not trade as Reuben’s. During its three years of operation, Reuben’s (which has now closed) was widely regarded for its New York-style deli sandwiches and selection of local craft beers. Also closing its doors soon is pastel-hued New Farm eatery Miss Jones, which announced that its last day of trade on Sunday July 24. Although a sad loss for the inner-north brunch scene, there is a silver lining. Miss Jones isn’t saying goodbye forever – the cafe’s announcement also mentioned that it would reopen in a new location in 2023, encouraging fans to keep their eyes peeled for updates. Rest assured we’ll bring you news of Miss Jones’ resurrection when details emerge.
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Lead image credit: Judit Losh
