The Weekend Edition - Sleep In. Slow Down. Enjoy.

helen bird

Helen Bird, Design Academic and Foodie


Live a humble life ...

In Short ...

When travelling about foreign cities and towns, it wasn’t the five-star restaurants that caught Helen Bird’s eye for a meal, but the authentic, easy foodstuffs offered by friendly street vendors. A foodie at heart and romantic about the cultural exchange one can have with strangers over a meal no matter how small, Helen was inspired to start Street Food Australia. The wheels began turning late last year, with the plan to have migrants and refugees serving up fresh fare from their varied cultures throughout the city over the next eight months to two years. The Hellhound Hotdogs vegan hot dog vendor is Brisbane’s only current contributor to this bicycle-driven food service, and Helen wants to grow this culture. While much of Brisbane’s best worldly cuisine is found in the outskirts of the burbs, Street Food Australia will allow city-based folk to also taste the exotic flavours entwined through our community. Activating the unused nooks and crannies throughout the city, this exciting venture will bring every corner of the world to the palate of Brisbane foodies. The Weekend Edition caught up with Helen to discover her weekend essentials.


How do you like to start your weekend?
Always on a Friday night! Food, drinks and friends essential.

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning?
S L O W is key. Make pots of tea, spend time with my wonderful partner, market breakfasts and coffee with friends.

How do you like to unwind?
I walk, a lot, everywhere, every day, I walk.

What are your essentials for a well-spent weekend?
A short list. Family, friends, food.

What’s something you’ve been meaning to do on the weekend but haven’t got around to yet?
Finish renovating my house …

What’s your favourite thing to do on a Sunday evening?
Right now, the woodfire at home is pretty central to all things ‘to do’ at night … so patting the dog and playing cards with my six-year-old in front of the fire.

What are you looking forward to next weekend?
Eating my way around Sydney’s food trucks … bloat.

What are you reading at the moment?
Do you really want to know? Helsinki Street Eats … anything work related! I must get back to reading novels.

What inspires you?
Play. We don’t play enough! My son reminds me how important this is, every day.

What was your childhood dream?
To be a carpenter (not the band).

What has been your greatest achievement?
I see life as a whole lot of small achievements, so I guess my life is the culmination of those. To be honest, I am uncomfortable with the word ‘GREATEST’. Street Food Australia is definitely the ‘BIGGEST’ project I’ve undertaken …

What is success to you?
I think success is doing whatever it is you do, and sleeping well at night, taking your friends with you, and tackling problems with integrity and creativity.

What are your words of wisdom?
Live a humble life. You have more space to play and more power to make decisions if you don’t have the bank breathing down your neck … buy less, do more.

Only a local would know … a chicken can beat a bush turkey in a fight.

FAVOURITE WEEKEND SPOT TO:

Perk up … Ugees Espresso, West End
Relax … Taking a long walk on Nudgee Beach
Dine …  Makanan Indonesian, West End
Indulge … The End for a single-origin brew
Shop … Northey Street Organic Market, Windsor
Catch-up … At home
Be inspired … I love catching a show at Brisbane Powerhouse – performers inspire me!



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