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Category: Eat + Drink

Home Category: Eat + Drink (Page 6)

Five new restaurants to try this winter

Staying on top of the Gold Coast’s latest restaurant openings is a full-time job – and one we take very, very seriously. We’ve hunted down, sipped and sampled the newest offerings and served them up right here, for you. Happy dining!

Papa Rolly’s, Carrara

Since opening their doors in April, Papa Rolly’s has cemented itself as the go-to neighbourhood Italian spot. It’s the kind of place where Nonna’s spirit lives on – slinging wood-fired pizzas, handmade pastas and gelato so good it might make you weep into your cannoli. It’s BYO wine, so grab that bottle you’ve been “saving,” and prepare for a carb-fueled family dinner, courtesy of the Gemelli family.

www.gemelliitalian.com.au/papa-rollys

Rossa Pizzeria, Southport

Yep, we’re serving up two servings of piping hot Italian. Rossa Pizzeria is where your pizza cravings meet their match, with wood-fired pies, housemade tiramisu, and live tunes that’ll have you dancing between bites. With its laid-back atmosphere and cheeky motto, “no great story ever started with a salad,” this is the spot to carb-load like a true Italian.

www.rossapizzeriabar.com.au

Lito, Burleigh Heads

More Italian – only this one is a ‘lito’ more elevated. LiTO has moved into Burleigh’s hottest new address, the Mondrian, and is ready for you to bring your appetite – and your best stories. As they say themselves, some restaurants are for eating: “LiTO is for feasting.” It’s your new favourite spot for long lunches, golden hour hangouts and a relaxing bite after a day at the pool club (check out Haven for more).

www.litoburleighheads.com

Mona Lisa’s Lair, Miami

Hidden away behind stained-glass windows in the bustling Miami Marketta, Mona Lisa’s Lair is a sultry speakeasy where Parisian charm meets Gold Coast cool – think velvet couches, candlelight and a champagne list straight from Paris’s Latin Quarter. Come for the fondue tart and coq au vin blanc, stay because the French man of your dreams could walk through at any second.

www.miamimarketta.com/restaurant-mona-lisas-lair

Familiar Spirits, Burleigh Heads

Tucked away in Burleigh’s industrial backstreets, Familiar Spirits isn’t your average distillery. Here, you’ll sip small-batch gin, snack on fancy cheese, and eye-off which bottle you’re going to take home to make your bar cart feel special. Run by a husband-and-wife duo, with dishes created by their sister and wine from their cousin’s vineyard, Familiar Spirits is truly a family affair.

www.familiarspirits.com.au

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The margarita movement: Why Gold Coasters are drinking differently

Going out for a drink has always been a treat, but it’s becoming increasingly tough to justify that second cocktail. And in a city where hospitality is king, it’s changing how Gold Coasters drink.

From beach picnics to backyard parties, socialising has become a little smaller, a little smarter – but no less spirited.

The phoenix rising from the ashes? The margarita.

No one knows this better than Jessie and Tommy, the dynamic duo behind Billinudgel’s AZTECA Margarita.

“I mean the margarita was pretty much built for the Gold Coast,” says Jessie, “hailing originally from the hot deserts of Mexico. It’s satisfyingly thirst-quenching and refreshing, with sugars, salts, vitamin C, B6, folate, potassium, antioxidants – all the things we need when we’re overheating and drinking.”

While tequila’s global popularity continues to rise, it’s on the coastlines of Australia that the margarita is really hitting its stride. Whether you’re poolside, beachside or throwing a long lunch at home, its zesty simplicity makes it an easy favourite.

And with going out becoming increasingly expensive, many are looking for quality options they can enjoy at home.

“Going out is really expensive right now and, to be honest, a lot of margaritas at venues aren’t that good,” Jessie admits. “We’re definitely seeing a lot more home drinking!”

That demand has led to some clever product innovations – like AZTECA’s Cowboy Cubes, a bulk-format margarita mix designed for sharing. Dreamt up in response to rising interest from weddings, events and group holidays, the Cubes offer the same handcrafted liquid in a more practical, transport-friendly format.

“We were getting a lot of requests for bigger gatherings, but our usual glass bottles just didn’t make sense for that,” Jessie says. “The Cowboy Cubes are about making it easier to have great drinks anywhere. It’s the same liquid, in all four flavours – just cheaper.”

Don’t worry: the local bar scene isn’t going anywhere just yet. It’s always going to be hard to resist a good night out, and other alternatives to hand-made cocktails – like cocktails on tap – show the shift towards affordability.

But still, according to CGA data, more Australians are choosing to drink at home more frequently than in previous years.

Venues across the Gold Coast are doubling down on what makes a night out worth the price: quality ingredients, fresh flavours and a strong sense of place. Think curated cocktail menus, rooftop bars with a view and clever food pairings (all of which we have no shortage of on the Gold Coast).

At the same time, local businesses like AZTECA are improving our at-home offering with always fresh, always delicious cocktail mixes. And then there’s the ready-to-drink market, which has seen impressive growth in recent years. Maybe things aren’t so bad for consumers after all?

Our biggest takeaway: the margarita isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it’s coming home with you.

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Must-try Easter treats on the Gold Coast

Possibly the best thing about the Easter long weekend – even better than having four consecutive days off – is the food. Hot cross buns, Easter eggs, bunny-shaped chocolate… We could go on. Instead, we’ll let you taste for yourself. Here are some of the places we’ll be finding Easter treats this weekend.  

YOMG, Pacific Fair and Burleigh

They’re known for the fro-yo, but there’s another very good reason to head to YOMG this Easter long weekend – their pistachio choc fudge hot cross bun. Yep, you read that right. A toasted traditional fruit hot cross bun, drizzled in pistachio sauce and topped with chocolate fudge frozen yogurt and YOMG crumble. Run, don’t walk – it’s available until Thursday April 24 (unless sold out earlier).

www.yomg.com.au

Paddock Bakery, Miami

They’re our go-to every weekend, but especially during Easter. Right now, at Paddock Bakery, you can pick up a long weekend’s supply of hot cross buns – but that’s not all. They’re also doing an unreal chocolate pistachio nest cruffin AND a savoury Pad Thai-inspired nest, complete with egg noodles, a poached egg, baby carrots and more. They’ve seriously covered all the bases.

www.paddockbakery.com

Tarte Bakery, Burleigh Heads and Currumbin

Come for the fresh hot cross buns, stay for the hot cross bun churros. Tarte has taken their traditional spiced fruit hot cross buns, formed them into golden sticks and rolled in cinnamon sugar – the crispiest edges with the softest centre. With house dulce de leche on top, we fear they could ruin traditional hot cross buns for us forever.

www.tarte.com.au

Bam Bam Bakehouse, Mermaid Beach

Never one to be outdone – especially in the baked goods department – Bam Bam Bakehouse has no less than four brioche hot cross buns to try this Easter. Fancy a choc-caramel? How about custard? Or perhaps the classics – chocolate and traditional – will whet your whistle? And that’s not all. Try their ‘Big Brioche’ hot cross bun on for size, dusted with cinnamon spice mix and pumped full of Biscoff Mousseline. Wham, bam.

www.bambambakehouse.com

Custard Canteen, Tallebudgera

As Bam Bam’s little sister, it’s no surprise that Custard Canteen is also slinging delicious Easter treats this weekend. Only theirs is in the form of a twice-baked carrot cake croissant, layered with the most mouth-watering cream cheese icing. They’re open as usual all Easter long weekend, so there’s plenty of time to get your fix.

www.custardcanteen.com

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Behind the bar: Bartenders go head to head

On Monday April 14, at Isla Cantina, a select group of Gold Coast bartenders will go head-to-head in a mystery box-style cocktail competition. Here, we catch up with organiser Matt Barnett from Manly Spirits-Co to get the lowdown on the face-off – and what makes the Gold Coast’s bar scene so unique.

How did the idea for this competition come about? 

It was actually a bartender who approached me to host a cocktail competition with Manly Spirits-co. After asking around to see if there was interest, it was obvious that the demand was there.

I’ve hosted a few different cocktail competitions during my career – some on a national level and some international (including Brookie’s Gin, Gin Mare and the Suntory Cup). Competitions are fun! They bring the industry together.

Most competitions are very structured and require bartenders to jump through many hoops that are set from big international brands. The prizes are big, like international travel, but so are the demands from the brands – often over several months. This competition breaks down the barriers to make it more of an even playing field.

Being a mystery box challenge, bartenders will be given a box of ingredients and ten minutes to come up with their best tasting cocktail to present to the judges and the crowd.

What has the process of pulling it all together been like? The highs, the lows, the surprises? 

It’s been a fun process planning with the team at Edgewater Dining and Isla Cantina. I’ve had the concept in mind for a little while, but I became especially keen after seeing other brands in the market doing the same thing year after year. When I shared this idea with Edgewater team, they were super keen to get on board.

Creating a theme or concept is a good place to start, and a good reward for winning is always well received [the winner of Monday’s competition will score a luxury stay at the Intercontinental Sanctuary Cove]. Putting yourself out there after all the hard work and preparation, only to get minimal response from bartenders to enter, is a low. But it’s a huge high to hear from bartenders who are super excited to get amongst it and compete – especially those who haven’t ever competed before. That’s awesome to see!

Why is the Gold Coast the perfect place for a competition like this?

The Gold Coast bar scene is booming. In the past few years so many new, quality venues have opened, attracting equally talented bartenders to service them. Most competitions happen in major cities like Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane, but the regional areas have great talent – they just don’t have the opportunity to showcase them in a competition.

What is it about our hospitality scene – particularly, our bar scene – that’s so unique?

I think it’s the lifestyle, and the cultural diversity the lifestyle and the region attract, that makes this scene unique. There’s also the talent and creativity of the bartenders and venue owners that live here – they craft the exciting new venue designs and creative spaces. Plus, the amazing quality of the local ingredients that are available to venues.

What challenges do local bartenders typically face? And how can we overcome them?

One of the challenges I see in the industry is the price of alcohol, especially spirits, which keeps thanks to the excise tax increasing every six months. You can now expect to pay $22 for a cocktail in most bars and restaurants. Some bartenders find it challenging to find inspiration and learn new cocktail trends. I would encourage them to taste as many cocktails as they can – even travelling to other cities – and chatting with the bartenders that make them.

What do you hope the entrants get out of this competition? And how about the audience?

I’m hoping we bring the industry together for some healthy competition, while also giving people some inspiration for new cocktails flavours and techniques. I’m also excited to showcase the talent we have here on the gold Coast – it’s not just found in the big cities.

It can be a bit intimidating to get behind the bar to make a drink when all eyes are on you, so hopefully it helps to improve the bartenders’ skills and professionalism, in a fun environment. I hope the audience appreciates the challenge for the bartenders, and that everyone makes lots of noise to cheer them on.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m hoping we see some delicious cocktails, some creative techniques and exciting flavour combinations. I’m also excited about creating a fun inclusive environment by removing some of the pretention from other cocktail competitions.

Don’t miss Manly Spirits-Co’s Cocktail Comp, taking place on Monday April 14 at Isla Cantina on Via Roma. It’s a 5pm start, and you’ll be able to enjoy a DJ, door prizes, industry price food and drinks and, of course, the exciting competition. Click here to RSVP.

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Where to find a sweet treat

Ever said ‘I’ll just have one bite’, then proceeded to eat the entirety of the dessert that you’d got ‘for the table’, all by yourself? Welcome – you’re in good company. Here on the Gold Coast, we love a sweet treat. And luckily, we have no shortage of them.

Whether you’re in need of a mid-week pick-me-up, a weekend indulgence, or just an excuse to eat dessert before dinner (no judgment here), we’ve rounded up the best places to satisfy your sweet cravings.

Warning: Sugar highs ahead.

Frozen yoghurt

At this point, fro-yo should be our city’s official dish – we’re obsessed. Cold, creamy and piled high with toppings (which, let’s be real, are the best part), there are so many reasons to love frozen yoghurt. And we kind of blame Yo-Chi for our love affair with it. At any given time, especially at their Burleigh store, you’ll find a line up of locals and tourists waiting patiently for their fro-yo fix. This chain has even played a pivotal role in a viral TikTok drama – that’s how you know they’ve made it.

Then, of course, there’s YOMG, the new kid on the block. Specialising in not only fro-yo, but also burgers, shakes and loaded fries at their Pacific Fair location, YOMG is giving Yo-Chi a run for their money. And who doesn’t love a bit of healthy (or, depending on your toppings, not so healthy) competition? For Gold Coast fro-yo fans, it’s a win-win.

Cookies

Chewy, chunky and (ideally) chocolate-loaded, cookies are proof that delicious things can come in small packages. Gold Coast Cookies is basically the underground queen of cookies, supplying cafes all over the Coast (and beyond) with their gloriously thick, gooey creations. Then there’s Currumbin Cookies, another local legend, sneaking their buttery, golden treats into cafes and popping up at the Burleigh Market, where resisting a cookie purchase is actually impossible. And, of course, no cookie crawl is complete without a stop at Bam Bam Bakehouse or its equally iconic sister spot, Custard Canteen – both of which serve up cookies so good they might just ruin all other cookies for you. Fair warning.

Ice cream

If you’re an ice cream purist, a word of warning: we’re going to use gelato and ice cream interchangeably from here on out. We know it’s not technically accurate, but it’s a sacrifice we’re willing to make in the interest of brevity – we have a LOT to get through. Here’s the scoop: if you’re looking to sample some of the world’s biggest names in ice cream, you can do that at either Gelato Messina or La Macelleria (both have Gold Coast locations). If you’re looking for a local fix, Burleigh Gelato is hard to beat – both for the creaminess of their ice cream and the variety of flavours. Still hungry for more? Check out our other go-to ice cream spots, right here.

Pastries

Prepare to enter carb heaven. We may be half a world away from Paris, but buttery perfection is the pastry standard here on the Gold Coast. And we’re proud of it. Bam Bam Bakehouse has long been the gold standard, with croissant combinations so good they’ve been known to cause happy tears (and pique the interest of a certain Masterchef judge). Over at Tarte Bakery, their dine-in breakfasts get a lot of love, but their pastry game is just as strong – think indulgent danishes, buttery tarts, and flaky treats that pair perfectly with your morning coffee. And if you find yourself up in the lush surroundings of Tamborine Mountain, Franquette is a must. This little slice of France serves up authentic, oh-so-buttery croissants and pastries that will have you contemplating a one-way ticket to Paris. Head here for more.

Waffles

If waffles are your love language, you’re in luck – the Gold Coast speaks it fluently. Pop’s Milk Bar serves up thick, golden waffles in a retro American diner setting. Then there’s Cheeky Waffle, where the name says it all – their playful, novelty-shaped waffles are just as fun to eat as they are to post on Instagram. For something a little different, Bubbo Dessert takes waffles to the next level with their iconic Hong Kong-style waffles. Picture a gyros, except the flatbread is a bubble waffle and the fillings are ice cream, fruit and brownies (so basically nothing like a gyros). And, of course, you can’t forget the classic Pancake Diner, because any place that serves waffles and pancakes deserves a permanent spot in your dessert rotation.

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