Barko & Co 2.0
Back in May, the Murillo family opened a phenomenal cafe on Teneriffe’s riverside stretch. Named Barko & Co, the eatery doubles as a fantastic healthy brunch option as well as a place to pick up environmentally conscious products and sustainably sourced coffee. Now the Murillo family is doubling up, with plans already in the works to bring Barko & Co 2.0 to West Village’s The Garden Pantry in West End by mid-October. Taking over the space that formerly housed Salt Meats Cheese, the Barko & Co team is looking to further the course of sustainable food consumption by creating a brand around that ethical mentality and spotlighting local social enterprise wherever possible. Barko & Co 2.o will see the Murillo family bring its health-oriented all-day breakfast menu and caffeine from its own Mr Coffee’s brand, while also altering the space to implement a bar area overlooking the grass. This portion will serve a Latin and California-inspired tapas and cocktail menu, with live-music performances helping to boost the atmosphere. Goods from local brands specialising in ethical and sustainably made products will also be available to purchase on site, and businesses eager to have their products showcased are encouraged to get in touch. The Murillos have also taken over a small kiosk space on the other side of The Garden Pantry, which will be turned into a healthy juice and smoothie dispensary, with a range of pre-made and make-your-own conceptions expected to be available. As for the Teneriffe location, it’s undergoing some changes too. Expect nighttime trading to commence in the coming months, complete with a liquor license and an expanded menu.
El Camino Cantina Chermside
Less than a year on from its arrival on King Street in Bowen Hills, famed Tex-Mex bar and eatery El Camino Cantina is expanding to Brisbane’s north. Rockpool Dining Group has announced that a second El Camino venue will open at Westfield Chermside’s outdoor dining and entertainment precinct in October, occupying the tenancy that once housed Hermosa. The 220-seat venue will translate El Camino Cantina’s lively atmosphere, complete with neon lights, fluorescent signage, bright artwork, bold rock posters and colourful calavera, built upon a foundation palette of weathered wood and reclaimed timbers, rustic recycled bricks and breeze blocks, decorative tiles and ornamental touches. El Camino Cantina’s food and drink offering will also be implemented, starting with the venue’s famous unlimited complimentary chips with salsa, and moving through the signature soft-shelled tacos, fajitas, burritos, quesadillas, buffalo wings, nachos and other classic Tex-Mex fare. Margarita lovers will be able to sip on shaken or frozen varieties, while beer lovers can quaff Australian craft and flagship Mexican draught and bottled cervezas. Stay tuned for a closer look when El Camino Cantina opens next month.
Blackbird x Adelaide Hills Gin Distillery
Ghanem Group’s popular riverside destination Blackbird Bar & Restaurant is teaming up with one of Australia’s preeminent gin distillers for a night of drinking and dining. Following on from The Boom Boom Room’s pop-up event with Four Pillars, Blackbird has recruited Sacha La Forgia – founder and head distiller of Adelaide Hills Gin Distillery – to help curate a culinary journey with gin as its spirit guide. Sacha and Blackbird’s head chef Anthony Donaldson have worked on a four-course dining experience, with each dish paired with a spectacular gin cocktail. For booking and menu information, click here.
La Macelleria All-you-can-eat Gelato Day
It’s a well-known fact that there’s always room for dessert, but does that apply to all-you-can-eat? La Macelleria is testing out how flexible our dessert stomachs really are with its second ever all-you-can-eat gelato day on Sunday October 27. The event is celebrating the first birthday of La Macelleria’s Coorparoo store with this gelato-based extravaganza, allowing ice-cream fiends to gorge on dozens of flavours (including special-edition flavours such as maple pecan pie, Earl Grey and yuzu sorbet, coconut, white chocolate and lime, saffron cream with dark rhum and pistachios, and lemon, lime and Angostura bitters. Only 300 tickets are available – click here to get your scoop on.
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